bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Integrated Multiscale Method for the Characterisation of Active Faults in Offshore Areas. The Case of Sant’Eufemia Gulf (Offshore Calabria, Italy)
Authors: Corradino M. , Pepe F. , Burrato P. , Kanari M. , Parrino N. , Bertotti G. , Bosman A. , Casalbore D. , Ferranti L. , Martorelli E. , Monaco C. , Sacchi M. , Tibor G.
Published: June 2021

Diagnostic morphological features (e.g., rectilinear seafloor scarps) and lateral offsets of the Upper Quaternary deposits are used to infer active faults in offshore areas. Although they deform a significant seafloor region, the active faults are not necessarily capable of producing large earthquakes as they correspond to shallow structures formed in response to local stresses. We present a multiscale approach to reconstruct the structural pattern in offshore areas and distinguish between shallow, non-seismogenic, active faults, and deep blind faults, potentially associated with large seismic moment release. The approach is based on the interpretation of marine seismic reflection data and quantitative morphometric analysis of multibeam bathymetry, and tested on the Sant’Eufemia Gulf (southeastern Tyrrhenian Sea). Data highlights the occurrence of three major tectonic events since the Late Miocene. The first extensional or transtensional phase occurred during the Late Miocene. Since the Early Pliocene, a right-lateral transpressional tectonic event caused the positive inversion of deep (>3 km) tectonic features, and the formation of NE-SW faults in the central sector of the gulf. Also, NNE-SSW to NE-SW trending anticlines (e.g., Maida Ridge) developed in the eastern part of the area. Since the Early Pleistocene (Calabrian), shallow (<1.5 km) NNE-SSW oriented structures formed in a left-lateral transtensional regime. The new results integrated with previous literature indicates that the Late Miocene to Recent transpressional/transtensional structures developed in an ∼E-W oriented main displacement zone that extends from the Sant’Eufemia Gulf to the Squillace Basin (Ionian offshore), and likely represents the upper plate response to a tear fault of the lower plate. The quantitative morphometric analysis of the study area and the bathymetric analysis of the Angitola Canyon indicate that NNE-SSW to NE-SW trending anticlines were negatively reactivated during the last tectonic phase. We also suggest that the deep structure below the Maida Ridge may correspond to the seismogenic source of the large magnitude earthquake that struck the western Calabrian region in 1905. The multiscale approach contributes to understanding the tectonic imprint of active faults from different hierarchical orders and the geometry of seismogenic faults developed in a lithospheric strike-slip zone orthogonal to the Calabrian Arc.
Crustal Structure Across the Northern Region of the Islas Marías Archipelago
Authors: Madrigal Luis Alfredo , Núñez Diana , Escalona-Alcázar Felipe de Jesús , Núñez-Cornú Francisco Javier
Published: June 2021

The tectonic interaction between the Rivera and North American plates north of the Bahía de Banderas is poorly understood. The nature of the crust and where the subduction ends in the western part of the Islas Marias Archipelago are still controversial. Based on new geophysical data provided by the TsuJal project, we present the shallow and deep crustal structure of the Rivera–North American plate contact zone along two seismic transects, TS09b and RTSIM01b, and the bathymetry obtained across the northern region of María Madre Island. Detailed bathymetric analysis allowed mapping of a series of lineaments along the study region, with two main preferred tendencies (020–050° and 290–320°) associated with the evolution of the Pacific-Rivera rise and the transform faults of the Gulf of California, respectively. The shallow structure is characterized by five sedimentary basins without deformation, whose horizons are subparallel, suggesting that the sediment deposition occurred after the extension process ended. The deep structure corresponds to a transition between oceanic crust (Rivera Plate), with an average thickness of ∼10 km to the Islas Marías Escarpment, and a thinned continental crust, whose thickness increases toward the continent until it reaches 28 km, with a dip angle of 7–10°. The absence of an accretionary prism suggests that the subduction process of the Rivera Plate beneath the North American Plate to the north of Islas Marías has ceased. In this study, we determined that the morphological expression of the northern limit of the Rivera Plate corresponds to the Islas Marías Escarpment.
Assessment of Modified RELAP5 MOD3.2 Against LBE Natural Circulation Test Loops
Authors: Lv Yufeng , Liu Xingmin , Li Weihan , Guo Chunqiu , Zhou Zhiwei
Published: June 2021

Motivated by the significant natural circulation capability of lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE)–cooled systems, the RELAP5 MOD3.2 code was modified for the analysis of LBE-cooled reactors and non-nuclear systems. The thermo-physical properties of LBE have been incorporated into the code without affecting the code’s original performance; new heat transfer correlations for liquid metal have been implemented. For the purpose of validating the modified code, experimental results of two different LBE natural circulation test loops were compared with the code simulation results. The first one was a natural circulation setup process test at a power of 22.5 kW performed at the Natural Circulation Experimental (NACIE) facility. The simulated inlet and outlet LBE temperatures across the heat source and mass flow rate of LBE agreed well with the test data. The second one was natural circulation conditions under five different power levels conducted at the Natural Circulation Capability Loop (NCCL) facility. The LBE temperature difference and mass flow rate under different power levels predicted by the code were consistent with the experimental data. Generally speaking, the modified code gives acceptable results, and the code could be applied for further LBE systems thermal-hydraulic analysis.
CFH and CFHR Copy Number Variations in C3 Glomerulopathy and Immune Complex-Mediated Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis
Authors: Piras Rossella , Breno Matteo , Valoti Elisabetta , Alberti Marta , Iatropoulos Paraskevas , Mele Caterina , Bresin Elena , Donadelli Roberta , Cuccarolo Paola , Smith Richard J. H. , Benigni Ariela , Remuzzi Giuseppe , Noris Marina
Published: June 2021

C3 Glomerulopathy (C3G) and Immune Complex-Mediated Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) are rare diseases characterized by glomerular deposition of C3 caused by dysregulation of the alternative pathway (AP) of complement. In approximately 20% of affected patients, dysregulation is driven by pathogenic variants in the two components of the AP C3 convertase, complement C3 (C3) and Factor B (CFB), or in complement Factor H (CFH) and Factor I (CFI), two genes that encode complement regulators. Copy number variations (CNVs) involving the CFH-related genes (CFHRs) that give rise to hybrid FHR proteins also have been described in a few C3G patients but not in IC-MPGN patients. In this study, we used multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to study the genomic architecture of the CFH-CFHR region and characterize CNVs in a large cohort of patients with C3G (n = 103) and IC-MPGN (n = 96) compared to healthy controls (n = 100). We identified new/rare CNVs resulting in structural variants (SVs) in 5 C3G and 2 IC-MPGN patients. Using long-read single molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT), we detected the breakpoints of three SVs. The identified SVs included: 1) a deletion of the entire CFH in one patient with IC-MPGN; 2) an increased number of CFHR4 copies in one IC-MPGN and three C3G patients; 3) a deletion from CFHR3-intron 3 to CFHR3-3′UTR (CFHR34–6Δ) that results in a FHR3-FHR1 hybrid protein in a C3G patient; and 4) a CFHR31–5-CFHR410 hybrid gene in a C3G patient. This work highlights the contribution of CFH-CFHR CNVs to the pathogenesis of both C3G and IC-MPGN.
IL-33 Gene Polymorphisms as Potential Biomarkers of Disease Susceptibility and Response to TNF Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, and Psoriatic Arthritis Patients
Authors: Iwaszko Milena , Wielińska Joanna , Świerkot Jerzy , Kolossa Katarzyna , Sokolik Renata , Bugaj Bartosz , Chaszczewska-Markowska Monika , Jeka Sławomir , Bogunia-Kubik Katarzyna
Published: June 2021

Objective

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) belong to inflammatory rheumatic diseases, the group of conditions of unknown etiology. However, a strong genetic component in their pathogenesis has been well established. A dysregulation of cytokine networks plays an important role in the development of inflammatory arthritis. Interleukin 33 (IL-33) is a recently identified member of the IL-1 family. To date, the significance of IL-33 in inflammatory arthritis has been poorly studied. This research aimed to investigate the potential of IL-33 gene polymorphisms to serve as biomarkers for disease susceptibility and TNF inhibitor response in RA, AS, and PsA patients.

Materials and Methods

In total, 735 patients diagnosed with RA, AS, and PsA and 229 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. Genotyping for three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the IL-33 gene, namely, rs16924159 (A/G), rs10975519 (T/C), and rs7044343 (C/T), was performed using polymerase chain reaction amplification employing LightSNiP assays.

Results

In the present study, the IL-33 rs10975519 CC genotype was associated with a decreased risk of developing RA in females, while the IL-33 rs16924159 polymorphism was associated with the efficacy of anti-TNF therapy and clinical parameters for RA and AS patients. The IL-33 rs16924159 AA genotype correlated with higher disease activity and worse clinical outcomes in RA patients treated with TNF inhibitors, and AS patients carrying the IL-33 rs16924159 AA genotype had higher disease activity and a worse response to anti-TNF therapy. That indicates a deleterious role of the IL-33 rs16924159 AA genotype in the context of RA, as well as AS.

Conclusions

The obtained results suggest that IL-33 gene polymorphisms might be potential candidate biomarkers of disease susceptibility and anti-TNF treatment response in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.
Association Between Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy During Sjӧgren’s Syndrome and Serologic Biomarkers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Berardicurti Onorina , Ruscitti Piero , Di Benedetto Paola , D’Andrea Settimio , Navarini Luca , Marino Annalisa , Cipriani Paola , Giacomelli Roberto
Published: June 2021

Objective

Patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) may develop a potentially severe disease with extra-glandular involvement and lymphoma insurgence. Minor salivary gland biopsy is routinely used in the disease diagnosis, but its potential role as a biomarker for clinical disease presentation and prognosis is still poorly understood.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on clinical presentation and prognosis in pSS patients who underwent minor salivary gland biopsy at diagnosis according to the PRISMA guidelines.

Results

We included five retrospective studies and 589 pSS patients. Ectopic GCs presence was not associated with a significant increase in the odds ratio for the clinical variables explored such as salivary gland swelling, arthritis, and Raynaud’s phenomenon. As far as serological features are concerned, ectopic GCs presence accounted for an increased ratio of antibodies anti-SSA (OR = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.25–7.85, p = 0.02, I2 = 79%), anti-SSB (OR = 3.94, 95% CI: 1.50–10.37, p = 0.0005, I2 = 80%), and RFs presence (OR = 3.12, 95% CI: 1.94–5.00, p < 0.00001, I2 = 0%).

Conclusions

This study showed that the association between ectopic GC in salivary glands identifies a clinical subset characterized by autoantibodies presence, and probably pSS patients affected from a more severe disease.
Exosomes and Melatonin: Where Their Destinies Intersect
Authors: Novais Adriana Alonso , Chuffa Luiz Gustavo de Almeida , Zuccari Débora Aparecida Pires de Campos , Reiter Russel J.
Published: June 2021

Cell-to-cell communication is a broad and complex process associated with regular stimuli to maintain healthy cell interactions. One of the agents capable of cellular communication is known as an exosome, a subset of extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by the cell membrane. The exosome contains a wide range of functional proteins, mRNAs and miRNAs, which have the potential to interact with healthy or diseased cells in the body. On the other hand, melatonin also acts as a cellular communicator, produced and released by the pineal gland in a circadian way and also, non-circadian melatonin is derived from the mitochondria of all normal cells. In addition to exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and anti-aging activities, melatonin has recently been studied by its influence on exosomes. This review summarizes the relationship between exosomes and melatonin in various pathological processes. There is robust evidence that their combination ameliorates inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion injury, hepatic metabolic disturbance, cancer immunosuppression status, degenerative processes like chronic kidney disease, vascular calcification, ageing, ischemic brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, colitis, wound healing and even embryonic development. Association of exosomes and melatonin represent a promising therapeutic tool, capable of interfering with basic molecular processes, such as oxidative stress and the inflammatory cascade, which support many pathophysiological aspects of diseases.
Augmenting the Transplant Team With Artificial Intelligence: Toward Meaningful AI Use in Solid Organ Transplant
Authors: Clement Jeffrey , Maldonado Angela Q.
Published: June 2021

Advances in systems immunology, such as new biomarkers, offer the potential for highly personalized immunosuppression regimens that could improve patient outcomes. In the future, integrating all of this information with other patient history data will likely have to rely on artificial intelligence (AI). AI agents can help augment transplant decision making by discovering patterns and making predictions for specific patients that are not covered in the literature or in ways that are impossible for humans to anticipate by integrating vast amounts of data (e.g. trending across numerous biomarkers). Similar to other clinical decision support systems, AI may help overcome human biases or judgment errors. However, AI is not widely utilized in transplant to date. In this rapid review, we survey the methods employed in recent research in transplant-related AI applications and identify concerns related to implementing these tools. We identify three key challenges (bias/accuracy, clinical decision process/AI explainability, AI acceptability criteria) holding back AI in transplant. We also identify steps that can be taken in the near term to help advance meaningful use of AI in transplant (forming a Transplant AI Team at each center, establishing clinical and ethical acceptability criteria, and incorporating AI into the Shared Decision Making Model).
Strain Evolution and Instability of an Anticyclonic Eddy From a Laboratory Experiment
Authors: Han Guoqing , Dong Changming , Yang Jingsong , Sommeria Joel , Stegner Alexandre , Caldeira Rui M. A.
Published: June 2021

Using the 13 m diameter LEGI-Coriolis rotating platform, the evolution processes of a generated anticyclonic eddy throughout its lifecycle are analyzed. Experimental results have shown that the eddy lasted for approximately 3T0, whereT0is the rotating period of 90 s. AfterT= 0.3T0, the eddy enters its mature phase, whereby following this event, eddy intensity slowly decreases from its maximum rotation speed. ByT= 2.6T0, the eddy enters a stage of rapid weakening. In its decay period, two underlying mechanisms for this decay have been identified as inertial instability and eddy–eddy interactions.
Remote, but Not Isolated—Microplastics in the Sub-surface Waters of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago
Authors: Jones-Williams Kirstie , Galloway Tamara S. , Peck Victoria L. , Manno Clara
Published: June 2021

As the remote Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) becomes increasingly connected to the rest of the world, there is an impetus to monitor the possible impact of this connectivity. The potential for increases in localised sources of plastic pollution resulting from the increasing navigability of the remote north has yet to be explored. Here we investigate microplastic samples which were collected aboard the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Amundsen in the summer of 2018 using the underway pump and a filtration system with Fourier transform infrared analysis. We investigate the character, abundance, and distribution of microplastic particles and fibres in the sub-surface waters across the Canadian Arctic and add to the limited dataset on plastic pollution in this region. We find that there are low concentrations of microplastics ranging from 0 to 0.282 n L–1 (average 0.031 ± 0.017 n L–1), comprising 71% polyester and acrylics. We investigate the size distribution of retained particles and fibres on three different filter mesh sizes connected to the underway pump (300, 100, and 50 μm) and find that a 300 μm mesh and a 100 μm mesh retain only 6 and 56%, respectively, of the total particles and fibres. We explore the role of shipping as a potential source of textile fibres and we suggest that future monitoring of plastics in the Canadian Arctic should use the current shipping fleet to monitor its own plastic footprint, utilising the underway pump and mesh sizes < 100 μm.
Increased Ion Conductivity in Composite Solid Electrolytes With Porous Co3O4 Cuboids
Authors: Zhou Qiongyu , Liu Songli , Zhang Shiju , Che Yong , Gan Li-Hua
Published: June 2021

Compared with the fagile ceramic solid electrolyte, Li-ion conducting polymer electrolytes are flexible and have better contact with electrodes. However, the ionic conductivity of the polymer electrolytes is usually limited because of the slow segment motion of the polymer. In this work, we introduce porous Co3O4 cuboids to Poly (Ethylene Oxide)-based electrolyte (PEO) to investigate the influence of these cuboids on the ionic conductivity of the composite electrolyte and the performance of the all-solid-state batteries. The experiment results showed the porous cuboid Co3O4 fillers not only break the order motion of segments of the polymer to increase the amorphous phase amount, but also build Li+ continuous migration pathway along the Co3O4 surface by the Lewis acid-base interaction. The Li+ conductivity of the composite polymer electrolyte reaches 1.6 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30°C. The good compatibility of the composite polymer electrolyte to Li metal anode and LiFePO4 cathode ensures good rate performance and long cycle life when applying in an all-solid-state LiFePO4 battery. This strategy points out the direction for developing the high-conducting composite polymer electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries.
Adhesion of Individual Attachment Setae of the Spider Cupiennius salei to Substrates With Different Roughness and Surface Energy
Authors: Poerschke Bastian , Gorb Stanislav N. , Schaber Clemens F.
Published: June 2021

Dynamic adhesion is a key ability for animals to climb smooth surfaces. Spiders evolved, convergent to geckos, a dry adhesive system made of setae branching into smaller microtrichia ending as spatulae. Several previous studies concentrated either on the whole adhesive claw tuft on the spider´s foot that consists of attachment setae or on the single adhesive contact elements, the microtrichia with spatula-shaped tips. Here, the adhesion of single setae of the spider Cupiennius salei was examined and the morphology of the pretarsus and the fine structure of the setae were studied in further detail. Using individual setae fixed to force sensing cantilevers, their adhesion at different contact angles with a glass substrate was measured as well as their adhesive performance on substrates with different roughness and on smooth surfaces with different surface energies. The results show an individual variability of the adhesive forces corresponding to the seta morphology and especially to the seta tip shape. The tip shapes of the setae vary largely even in neighboring setae of the pretarsal claw tuft that comprises approximately 2,400 setae. Regarding surface energy of the substrate, the adhesion force on hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene was 30% of that on a hydrophilic glass substrate, which points to the importance of both van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds in spider adhesion.
Long-Term Pulmonary Damage From SARS-CoV-2 in an Infant With Brief Unexplained Resolved Events: A Case Report
Authors: Nosetti Luana , Agosti Massimo , Franchini Massimo , Milan Valentina , Piacentini Giorgio , Zaffanello Marco
Published: June 2021

A brief unexplained resolved event (BRUE) is an event observed in a child under 1 year of age in which the observer witnesses a sudden, brief but resolved episode of change in skin color, lack of breathing, weakness or poor responsiveness. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). We report the case of a previously healthy, full-term infant infected with SARS-CoV-2 when he was 8 months old. Previous to this event, both his grandfather and great-uncle had died of severe pneumonia and his mother had developed respiratory symptoms and fever. Over the following month he was seen five times in the emergency room and was hospitalized twice for recurrent BRUE. At the first hospital admission, after the second emergency room visit, he twice tested positive for COVID-19 after nasopharyngeal swab tests. During his second hospital admission, after the fifth emergency room visit, chest computed tomography revealed typical SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. During a follow-up examination 6 months later, mild respiratory distress required administration of inhaled oxygen (0.5 L/min) and chest computed tomography disclosed a slight improvement in pulmonary involvement. The clinical manifestation of pulmonary complications from COVID-19 infection was unusual. This is the first report of an infant at high-risk for BRUE, which was the only manifestation of long-term lung involvement due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.
Hospitalization Costs of COVID-19 Cases and Their Associated Factors in Guangdong, China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Dong Moran , Yang Zuyao , Chen Yingyao , Sun Jiufeng , Ma Wenjun , Cheng Shouzhen , Sun Xiaoli , Xiao Jianpeng , He Guanhao , Hu Jianxiong , Wang Jiaqi , Chen Guimin , Zhou He , Yuan Lixia , Li Jiali , Li Xuan , Xu Hui , Wang Ruijie , Chen Dengzhou , Fang Ming , Liu Tao
Published: June 2021

Background: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant challenges to health system and consumed a lot of health resources. However, evidence on the hospitalization costs and their associated factors in COVID-19 cases is scarce.

Objectives: To describe the total and components of hospitalization costs of COVID-19 cases, and investigate the associated factors of costs.

Methods: We included 876 confirmed COVID-19 cases admitted to 33 designated hospitals from January 15th to April 27th, 2020 in Guangdong, China, and collected their demographic and clinical information. A multiple linear regression model was performed to estimate the associations of hospitalization costs with potential associated factors.

Results: The median of total hospitalization costs of COVID-19 cases was $2,869.4 (IQR: $3,916.8). We found higher total costs in male (% difference: 29.7, 95% CI: 15.5, 45.6) than in female cases, in older cases than in younger ones, in severe cases (% difference: 344.8, 95% CI: 222.5, 513.6) than in mild ones, in cases with clinical aggravation than those without, in cases with clinical symptoms (% difference: 47.7, 95% CI: 26.2, 72.9) than those without, and in cases with comorbidities (% difference: 21.1%, 21.1, 95% CI: 4.4, 40.6) than those without. We also found lower non-pharmacologic therapy costs in cases treated with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy (% difference: −47.4, 95% CI: −64.5 to −22.0) than cases without.

Conclusion: The hospitalization costs of COVID-19 cases in Guangdong were comparable to the national level. Factors associated with higher hospitalization costs included sex, older age, clinical severity and aggravation, clinical symptoms and comorbidities at admission. TCM therapy was found to be associated with lower costs for some non-pharmacologic therapies.
Case Report: Unravelling the Mysterious Lichtenberg Figure Skin Response in a Patient With a High-Voltage Electrical Injury
Authors: Lindford Andrew , Juteau Susanna , Jaks Viljar , Klaas Mariliis , Lagus Heli , Vuola Jyrki , Kankuri Esko
Published: June 2021

We describe a case of Lichtenberg Figures (LFs) following an electrical injury from a high-voltage switchgear in a 47 year-old electrician. LFs, also known as ferning pattern or keraunographic markings, are a pathognomonic skin sign for lightning strike injuries. Their true pathophysiology has remained a mystery and only once before described following an electical injury. The aim was to characterise the tissue response of LFs by performing untargeted non-labelled proteomics and immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded sections of skin biopsies taken from the area of LFs at presentation and at 3 months follow-up. Our results demonstrated an increase in dermal T-cells and greatly increased expression of the iron-binding glycoprotein lactoferrin by keratinocytes and lymphocytes. These changes in the LF-affected skin were associated with extravasation of red blood cells from dermal vessels. Our results provide an initial molecular and cellular insight into the tissue response associated with LFs.
Evidence of Common Isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae in Bovines and Humans in Emilia Romagna Region (Northern Italy)
Authors: Carra Elena , Russo Simone , Micheli Alessia , Garbarino Chiara , Ricchi Matteo , Bergamini Federica , Bassi Patrizia , Prosperi Alice , Piva Silvia , Cricca Monica , Schiavo Roberta , Merialdi Giuseppe , Serraino Andrea , Arrigoni Norma
Published: June 2021

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus, GBS) is one of the most important agents of bovine mastitis and causes remarkable direct and indirect economic losses to the livestock sector. Moreover, this species can cause severe human diseases in susceptible individuals. To investigate the zoonotic potential of S. agalactiae, 203 sympatric isolates from both humans and cattle, isolated in the same time frame (2018) and in the same geographic area (Emilia Romagna region, Northern Italy), were characterized by molecular capsular typing (MCT), pilus island typing (PI), and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). In addition, antibiotic-resistant phenotypes were investigated. The distribution of the allelic profiles obtained by combining the three genotyping methods (MCT-PI-MLST) resulted in 64 possible genotypes, with greater genetic variability among the human compared to the bovine isolates. Although the combined methods had a high discriminatory power (>96,2%), five genotypes were observed in both species (20,9% of the total isolates). Furthermore, some of these strains shared the same antibiotic resistance profiles. The finding of human and bovine isolates with common genotypes and antibiotic resistance profiles supports the hypothesis of interspecies transmission of S. agalactiae between bovines and humans.
Porcine RIG-I and MDA5 Signaling CARD Domains Exert Similar Antiviral Function Against Different Viruses
Authors: Li Shuangjie , Shao Qi , Zhu Yuanyuan , Ji Xingyu , Luo Jia , Xu Yulin , Liu Xueliang , Zheng Wanglong , Chen Nanhua , Meurens François , Zhu Jianzhong
Published: June 2021

The RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) RIG-I and MDA5 play critical roles in sensing and fighting viral infections. Although RIG-I and MDA5 have similar molecular structures, these two receptors have distinct features during activation. Further, the signaling domains of the N terminal CARD domains (CARDs) in RIG-I and MDA5 share poor similarity. Therefore, we wonder whether the CARDs of RIG-I and MDA5 play similar roles in signaling and antiviral function. Here we expressed porcine RIG-I and MDA5 CARDs in 293T cells and porcine alveolar macrophages and found that MDA5 CARDs exhibit higher expression and stronger signaling activity than RIG-I CARDs. Nevertheless, both RIG-I and MDA5 CARDs exert comparable antiviral function against several viruses. Transcriptome analysis showed that MDA5 CARDs are more effective in regulating downstream genes. However, in the presence of virus, both RIG-I and MDA5 CARDs exhibit similar effects on downstream gene transcriptions, reflecting their antiviral function.
Genome Evolution of Two Genetically Homogeneous Infectious Bursal Disease Virus Strains During Passages in vitro and ex vivo in the Presence of a Mutagenic Nucleoside Analog
Authors: Cubas-Gaona Liliana L. , Flageul Alexandre , Courtillon Céline , Briand Francois-Xavier , Contrant Maud , Bougeard Stephanie , Lucas Pierrick , Quenault Hélène , Leroux Aurélie , Keita Alassane , Amelot Michel , Grasland Béatrice , Blanchard Yannick , Eterradossi Nicolas , Brown Paul Alun , Soubies Sébastien Mathieu
Published: June 2021

The avibirnavirus infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is responsible for a highly contagious and sometimes lethal disease of chickens (Gallus gallus). IBDV genetic variation is well-described for both field and live-attenuated vaccine strains, however, the dynamics and selection pressures behind this genetic evolution remain poorly documented. Here, genetically homogeneous virus stocks were generated using reverse genetics for a very virulent strain, rvv, and a vaccine-related strain, rCu-1. These viruses were serially passaged at controlled multiplicities of infection in several biological systems, including primary chickens B cells, the main cell type targeted by IBDV in vivo. Passages were also performed in the absence or presence of a strong selective pressure using the antiviral nucleoside analog 7-deaza-2′-C-methyladenosine (7DMA). Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of viral genomes after the last passage in each biological system revealed that (i) a higher viral diversity was generated in segment A than in segment B, regardless 7DMA treatment and viral strain, (ii) diversity in segment B was increased by 7DMA treatment in both viruses, (iii) passaging of IBDV in primary chicken B cells, regardless of 7DMA treatment, did not select cell-culture adapted variants of rvv, preserving its capsid protein (VP2) properties, (iv) mutations in coding and non-coding regions of rCu-1 segment A could potentially associate to higher viral fitness, and (v) a specific selection, upon 7DMA addition, of a Thr329Ala substitution occurred in the viral polymerase VP1. The latter change, together with Ala270Thr change in VP2, proved to be associated with viral attenuation in vivo. These results identify genome sequences that are important for IBDV evolution in response to selection pressures. Such information will help tailor better strategies for controlling IBDV infection in chickens.
Heparan Sulfate Facilitates Spike Protein-Mediated SARS-CoV-2 Host Cell Invasion and Contributes to Increased Infection of SARS-CoV-2 G614 Mutant and in Lung Cancer
Authors: Yue Jingwen , Jin Weihua , Yang Hua , Faulkner John , Song Xuehong , Qiu Hong , Teng Michael , Azadi Parastoo , Zhang Fuming , Linhardt Robert J. , Wang Lianchun
Published: June 2021

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and has been a serious threat to global public health with limited treatment. Cellular heparan sulfate (HS) has been found to bind SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SV2-S) and co-operate with cell surface receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to mediate SARS-CoV-2 infection of host cells. In this study, we determined that host cell surface SV2-S binding depends on and correlates with host cell surface HS expression. This binding is required for SARS-Cov-2 virus to infect host cells and can be blocked by heparin lyase, HS antagonist surfen, heparin, and heparin derivatives. The binding of heparin/HS to SV2-S is mainly determined by its overall sulfation with potential, minor contribution of specific SV2-S binding motifs. The higher binding affinity of SV2-S G614 mutant to heparin and upregulated HS expression may be one of the mechanisms underlying the higher infectivity of the SARS-CoV-2 G614 variant and the high vulnerability of lung cancer patients to SARS-CoV-2 infection, respectively. The higher host cell infection by SARS-CoV-2 G614 variant pseudovirus and the increased infection caused by upregulated HS expression both can be effectively blocked by heparin lyase and heparin, and possibly surfen and heparin derivatives too. Our findings support blocking HS-SV2-S interaction may provide one addition to achieve effective prevention and/treatment of COVID-19.
Protective Effect of Chlorogenic Acid and Its Analogues on Lead-Induced Developmental Neurotoxicity Through Modulating Oxidative Stress and Autophagy
Authors: Ji Xiuna , Wang Baokun , Paudel Yam Nath , Li Zhihui , Zhang Shanshan , Mou Lei , Liu Kechun , Jin Meng
Published: June 2021

Lead (Pb) is among the deleterious heavy metal and has caused global health concerns due to its tendency to cause a detrimental effect on the development of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite being a serious health concern, treatment of Pb poisoning is not yet available, reflecting the pressing need for compounds that can relieve Pb-induced toxicity, especially neurotoxicity. In the quest of exploring protective strategies against Pb-induced developmental neurotoxicity, compounds from natural resources have gained increased attention. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) and its analogues neochlorogenic acid (NCGA) and cryptochlorogenic acid (CCGA) are the important phenolic compounds widely distributed in plants. Herein, utilizing zebrafish as a model organism, we modeled Pb-induced developmental neurotoxicity and investigated the protective effect of CGA, NCGA, and CCGA co-treatment. In zebrafish, Pb exposure (1,000 μg/L) for 5 days causes developmental malformation, loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons, and brain vasculature, as well as disrupted neuron differentiation in the CNS. Additionally, Pb-treated zebrafish exhibited abnormal locomotion. Notably, co-treatment with CGA (100 µM), NCGA (100 µM), and CCGA (50 µM) alleviated these developmental malformation and neurotoxicity induced by Pb. Further underlying mechanism investigation revealed that these dietary phenolic acid compounds may ameliorate Pb-induced oxidative stress and autophagy in zebrafish, therefore protecting against Pb-induced developmental neurotoxicity. In general, our study indicates that CGA, NCGA, and CCGA could be promising agents for treating neurotoxicity induced by Pb, and CCGA shows the strongest detoxifying activity.
Review of the Role of the Brain in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Omran Maryam , Belcher Elizabeth K. , Mohile Nimish A. , Kesler Shelli R. , Janelsins Michelle C. , Hohmann Andrea G. , Kleckner Ian R.
Published: June 2021

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, debilitating, and dose-limiting side effect of many chemotherapy regimens yet has limited treatments due to incomplete knowledge of its pathophysiology. Research on the pathophysiology of CIPN has focused on peripheral nerves because CIPN symptoms are felt in the hands and feet. However, better understanding the role of the brain in CIPN may accelerate understanding, diagnosing, and treating CIPN. The goals of this review are to (1) investigate the role of the brain in CIPN, and (2) use this knowledge to inform future research and treatment of CIPN. We identified 16 papers using brain interventions in animal models of CIPN and five papers using brain imaging in humans or monkeys with CIPN. These studies suggest that CIPN is partly caused by (1) brain hyperactivity, (2) reduced GABAergic inhibition, (3) neuroinflammation, and (4) overactivation of GPCR/MAPK pathways. These four features were observed in several brain regions including the thalamus, periaqueductal gray, anterior cingulate cortex, somatosensory cortex, and insula. We discuss how to leverage this knowledge for future preclinical research, clinical research, and brain-based treatments for CIPN.
Impaired Subjective Visual Vertical and Increased Visual Dependence in Older Adults With Falls
Authors: Totilienė Milda , Uloza Virgilijus , Lesauskaitė Vita , Damulevičienė Gytė , Kregždytė Rima , Kaski Diego , Ulozienė Ingrida
Published: June 2021

Aging affects the vestibular system and may disturb the perception of verticality and lead to increased visual dependence (VD). Studies have identified that abnormal upright perception influences the risk of falling. The aim of our study was to evaluate subjective visual vertical (SVV) and VD using a mobile virtual reality-based system for SVV assessment (VIRVEST) in older adults with falls and evaluate its relationship with clinical balance assessment tools, dizziness, mental state, and depression level. This study included 37 adults >65 years who experienced falls and 40 non-faller age-matched controls. Three tests were performed using the VIRVEST system: a static SVV, dynamic SVV with clockwise and counter-clockwise background stimulus motion. VD was calculated as the mean of absolute values of the rod tilt from each trial of dynamic SVV minus the mean static SVV rod tilt. Older adults who experienced falls manifested significantly larger biases in static SVV (p= 0.012), dynamic SVV (p< 0.001), and VD (p= 0.014) than controls. The increase in static SVV (odds ratio = 1.365,p= 0.023), dynamic SVV (odds ratio = 1.623,p< 0.001) and VD (odds ratio = 1.460,p= 0.010) tilt by one degree significantly related to falls risk in the faller group. Fallers who had a high risk of falling according to the Tinetti test exhibited significantly higher tilts of dynamic SVV than those who had a low or medium risk (p= 0.037). In the faller group, the increase of the dynamic SVV tilt by one degree was significantly related to falls risk according to the Tinetti test (odds ratio = 1.356,p= 0.049). SVV errors, particularly with the dynamic SVV test (i.e., greater VD) were associated with an increased risk of falling in the faller group. The VIRVEST system may be applicable in clinical settings for SVV testing and predicting falls in older adults.
Shrunken Social Brains? A Minimal Model of the Role of Social Interaction in Neural Complexity
Authors: Reséndiz-Benhumea Georgina Montserrat , Sangati Ekaterina , Sangati Federico , Keshmiri Soheil , Froese Tom
Published: June 2021

The social brain hypothesis proposes that enlarged brains have evolved in response to the increasing cognitive demands that complex social life in larger groups places on primates and other mammals. However, this reasoning can be challenged by evidence that brain size has decreased in the evolutionary transitions from solitary to social larger groups in the case of Neolithic humans and some eusocial insects. Different hypotheses can be identified in the literature to explain this reduction in brain size. We evaluate some of them from the perspective of recent approaches to cognitive science, which support the idea that the basis of cognition can span over brain, body, and environment. Here we show through a minimal cognitive model using an evolutionary robotics methodology that the neural complexity, in terms of neural entropy and degrees of freedom of neural activity, of smaller-brained agents evolved in social interaction is comparable to the neural complexity of larger-brained agents evolved in solitary conditions. The nonlinear time series analysis of agents' neural activity reveals that the decoupled smaller neural network is intrinsically lower dimensional than the decoupled larger neural network. However, when smaller-brained agents are interacting, their actual neural complexity goes beyond its intrinsic limits achieving results comparable to those obtained by larger-brained solitary agents. This suggests that the smaller-brained agents are able to enhance their neural complexity through social interaction, thereby offsetting the reduced brain size.
The Automatic but Flexible and Content-Dependent Nature of Syntax
Authors: Jiménez-Ortega Laura , Badaya Esperanza , Casado Pilar , Fondevila Sabela , Hernández-Gutiérrez David , Muñoz Francisco , Sánchez-García José , Martín-Loeches Manuel
Published: June 2021

Syntactic processing has often been considered an utmost example of unconscious automatic processing. In this line, it has been demonstrated that masked words containing syntactic anomalies are processed by our brain triggering event related potential (ERP) components similar to the ones triggered by conscious syntactic anomalies, thus supporting the automatic nature of the syntactic processing. Conversely, recent evidence also points out that regardless of the level of awareness, emotional information and other relevant extralinguistic information modulate conscious syntactic processing too. These results are also in line with suggestions that, under certain circumstances, syntactic processing could also be flexible and context-dependent. However, the study of the concomitant automatic but flexible conception of syntactic parsing is very scarce. Hence, to this aim, we examined whether and how masked emotional words (positive, negative, and neutral masked adjectives) containing morphosyntactic anomalies (half of the cases) affect linguistic comprehension of an ongoing unmasked sentence that also can contain a number agreement anomaly between the noun and the verb. ERP components were observed to emotional information (EPN), masked anomalies (LAN and a weak P600), and unmasked ones (LAN/N400 and P600). Furthermore, interactions in the processing of conscious and unconscious morphosyntactic anomalies and between unconscious emotional information and conscious anomalies were detected. The findings support, on the one hand, the automatic nature of syntax, given that syntactic components LAN and P600 were observed to unconscious anomalies. On the other hand, the flexible, permeable, and context-dependent nature of the syntactic processing is also supported, since unconscious information modulated conscious syntactic components. This double nature of syntactic processing is in line with theories of automaticity, suggesting that even unconscious/automatic, syntactic processing is flexible, adaptable, and context-dependent.
Enhanced Visual Feedback Using Immersive VR Affects Decision Making Regarding Hand Use With a Simulated Impaired Limb
Authors: Sakabe Naoko , Altukhaim Samirah , Hayashi Yoshikatsu , Sakurada Takeshi , Yano Shiro , Kondo Toshiyuki
Published: June 2021

The long-term effects of impairment have a negative impact on the quality of life of stroke patients in terms of not using the affected limb even after some recovery (i.e., learned non-use). Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has been introduced as a new approach for the treatment of stroke rehabilitation. We propose an IVR-based therapeutic approach to incorporate positive reinforcement components in motor coordination as opposed to constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT). This study aimed to investigate the effect of IVR-reinforced physical therapy that incorporates positive reinforcement components in motor coordination. To simulate affected upper limb function loss in patients, a wrist weight was attached to the dominant hand of participant. Participants were asked to choose their right or left hand to reach toward a randomly allocated target. The movement of the virtual image of the upper limb was reinforced by visual feedback to participants, that is, the participants perceived their motor coordination as if their upper limb was moving to a greater degree than what was occurring in everyday life. We found that the use of the simulated affected limb was increased after the visual feedback enhancement intervention, and importantly, the effect was maintained even after gradual withdrawal of the visual amplification. The results suggest that positive reinforcement within the IVR could induce an effect on decision making in hand usage.
Not Just a Pot: Visual Episodic Memory in Cannabis Users and Polydrug Cannabis Users: ROC and ERP Preliminary Investigation
Authors: Binkowska Alicja Anna , Jakubowska Natalia , Gaca Maciej , Galant Natalia , Piotrowska-Cyplik Agnieszka , Brzezicka Aneta
Published: June 2021

Background While research has consistently identified an association between long-term cannabis use and memory impairments, few studies have examined this relationship in a polydrug context (i.e., when combining cannabis with other substances).

Aims: In this preliminary study, we used event-related potentials to examine the recognition process in a visual episodic memory task in cannabis users (CU) and cannabis polydrug users (PU). We hypothesized that CU and PU will have both–behavioral and psychophysiological–indicators of memory processes affected, compared to matched non-using controls with the PU expressing more severe changes.

Methods 29 non-using controls (CG), 24 CU and 27 PU were enrolled into the study. All participants completed a visual learning recognition task while brain electrical activity was recorded. Event-related potentials were calculated for familiar (old) and new images from a signal recorded during a subsequent recognition test. We used receiver operating characteristic curves for behavioral data analysis.

Results The groups did not differ in memory performance based on receiver operating characteristic method in accuracy and discriminability indicators nor mean reaction times for old/new images. The frontal old/new effect expected from prior research was observed for all participants, while a parietal old/new effect was not observed. While, the significant differences in the late parietal component (LPC) amplitude was observed between CG and PU but not between CG and CU nor CU and PU. Linear regression analysis was used to examine the mean amplitude of the LPC component as a predictor of memory performance accuracy indicator. LPC amplitude predicts recognition accuracy only in the CG.

Conclusion The results showed alterations in recognition memory processing in CU and PU groups compared to CG, which were not manifested on the behavioral level, and were the most prominent in cannabis polydrug users. We interpret it as a manifestation of the cumulative effect of multiple drug usage in the PU group.
Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity of Peptides From Ethanol-Soluble Hydrolysates of Sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii) Cartilage
Authors: Yuan Li , Chu Qian , Wu Xiaoyun , Yang Bei , Zhang Wei , Jin Wengang , Gao Ruichang
Published: June 2021

Research has shown that cartilage containing chondroitin sulfate and protein presents versatile bioactivities. Chondroitin sulfate in cartilage is beneficial to activate the immune system while the protein/peptide has not been fully understood. The current study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ethanol-soluble hydrolysates of sturgeon cartilage (ESCH) prepared through hot-pressure, enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol extraction. UV spectrum, IR and agarose gel electrophoresis results suggested the successful exclusion of chondroitin sulfate from peptides. Nitric oxide (NO) floods in cells activated by inflammation. It was inhibited when administrated with ESCH. To further explain the observed anti-inflammatory activity, ESCH was separated with Sephadex G-15 into 3 components, among which F3 showed a higher NO inhibition rate and significantly reduced the production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6. In addition, the yield of IL-10 increased. Western blotting suggested that F3 downregulated the NO content and IL-6 level by suppressing Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) channels. Moreover, both ESCH and F3 showed DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging abilities which was possibly related to the anti-inflammatory property. These results indicated that ESCH behaved anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Cartilage may be a good source to produce anti-inflammatory peptides.