bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perception of The Practice of Dhikr Among ISRA-CCRC Clients
Authors: Sulaiman Sallam , Ismail Zainab , Muhamat @ Kawangit Razaleigh
Published: September 2021

Drug addiction cases in Malaysia are ever increasing with the majority of addicts are Malays (NADA 2017). While al-Quran explains that the prayer can restrain from illegal behaviours such as drugs abuse, little is known of how rehab centres’ clients perceive the practice of dhikr as part of their rehabilitative program. This study aims to examine clients’ perception of the practice of dhikr in ISRA (Islamic Spiritual Rehabilitation Approach) program settings. 244 Malay male respondents (61.5% single, 21-57 years-old) were randomly selected from three NADA rehabilitation centres. The practice of dhikr in this study comprised of four domains; (a) behavioural, (b) speech, (c) action, and (d) meaningfulness. Results showed that clients perceived more meaningfulness of dhikr than other domains, and that Malay drug addicts still had a high perception for the practice of dhikr. Findings showed that a higher level and understanding of dhikr practice can still be achieved by drug addicts with proper guidance and robust mechanisms. This study suggests that clients’ perception of the practice of dhikr is based on the combination of cultural, environmental and circumstantial settings.
Association Between Social Media Use and Depression Among University Students
Authors: Sallehuddin Hidayah , Sawai Rezki Perdani , Abdul Aziz Abdul Rashid , Kasmani Mohd Faizal
Published: September 2021

The most widely used social media such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook have changed the way we communicate with others especially amongst youth. It has been a major part of such activities in their lives. However, the most alarming situation is that youth are mostly students. It has been identified that those who spent more time online have evidenced more symptoms of depression. On that note, this study concerns to (i) identify the level of depression and (ii) to find out the relationship between social media and depression among them who are among undergraduate students. In order to retrieve the data, a set of questionnaire was distributed to 150 students of local university in Malaysia, that consists of three sections which are demographic information, Social Media Addiction Scale-Student Form (SMAS-SF) and Beck Depression Inventory 2nd Edition (BDI-II). There were two variables analyzed using Pearson correlation test. In short, the result showed that there is a correlation between social media and depression, r=0.199, n=150, p=<0.01. From this finding, it depicts that social media is significantly related and have positive relationship to depression among students involved. This study also provides such valuable information for counsellors and lecturers to identify students who have suffered depression and could help them to manage the problem. It also creates awareness among parents to be more alert with their children’s emotion.
Seasonal variations in migration strategy of a longdistance Arctic-breeding seabird
Authors: Seyer Y , Gauthier G , Bêty J , Therrien JF , Lecomte N
Published: September 2021

Long-distance migratory seabirds need to adjust their migration strategy according to internal (breeding, molting) and external factors (seasonality, resource availability). Time-minimizing strategies are common during spring migration to arrive at the optimal time to breed. We studied the annual movements and migration strategy of the long-tailed jaegerStercorarius longicaudus, a small arctic-nesting seabird. First, we documented year-round movements (routes, wintering sites) of male and female jaegers breeding in the Canadian Arctic. We then compared their migration strategies between seasons (phenology, stopover use, travel distance, speed) to determine whether they adopt a time-minimizing strategy in spring. Over 6 yr, we collected 43 tracks from geolocators deployed on Bylot and Igloolik Islands. Jaegers departed the breeding site over a 5 wk period and traveled on average 32375 km (round trip) before returning to breed, one of the longest documented migrations on Earth. Birds used a major stopover area east of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland in spring and fall, and wintered in high marine productivity areas of the South Atlantic. Unexpectedly, the spring migration was 40% longer and 32% slower than in fall, and birds increased their time spent on water (foraging and/or resting) by 61%. A time-minimizing strategy in fall may help to reach the wintering site rapidly and start molting early. In spring, a fly-and-forage strategy seems to be adopted to increase foraging effort, probably for the accumulation of body reserves before breeding and in anticipation of unfavorable conditions that may prevail at arrival on their arctic breeding site.
Socialtjänstens respons på "flyktingkrisen"
Authors: Backlund Åsa , Thorén Katarina , Lundström Tommy
Published: September 2021

Syftet med artikeln är att analysera organisering av och synen på mottagandet av ensamkommande barn inom socialtjänsten våren 2016 – en tidpunkt då antalet asylsökande ensamkommande barn nyligen nått en extrem omfattning under kort tid. Artikeln baseras på en totalundersökning (enkät) av socialtjänstens resurser, organisering och insatser i arbetet med ensamkommande barn och ungdomar. Resultatet visar att trots en statlig ambition om normalisering och integrering av mottagandet i den sociala barnavården, har en tydlig respons från socialtjänsten varit att specialisera verksamheten utifrån den ökande klientgruppen. Den här studien ger inget belägg för att specialiseringen lett till bättre kvalitet, tvärtom indikeras ett positivt samband mellan kvalitet och en integrerad organisation. Främst tyder studien på att resurser, övergripande samverkan och engagerade politiker har varit viktigt för hur man inom socialtjänsten uppfattar möjligheten att anpassa stödinsatser efter behov och att följa upp insatser. Noterbart med tanke på tidpunkten för studien är att  en majoritet av respondenterna (företrädesvis chefer inom socialtjänstens verksamhet för ensamkommande barn) var förhållandevis nöjda med det stöd som erbjöds till ensamkommande barn/ungdomar, dock påtalades brister i möjlighet att följa upp och tillgång till insatser som matchar målgruppens behov.
Integrative Functional Genomics Implicated the Key T-/B-Cell Deficiency Regulator RAG1 in Transarterial Chemoembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Xu Yeyang , Wang Teng , Zeng Jiajia , Wang Bowen , Zhou Liqing , Yang Ming , Zhang Li , Zhang Nasha
Published: September 2021

Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has significantly prolonged overall survival (OS) of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Unfortunately, there are still a portion of patients without therapeutic responses to TACE. Although genome-wide association studies identified multiple HCC susceptibility SNPs, it is still largely unclear how genome-wide identified functional SNPs impacting gene expression contribute to the prognosis of TACE-treated HCC patients. In this study, we developed an integrative functional genomics methodology to identify gene expression-related SNPs significantly contributing to prognosis of TACE-treated HCC patients across the whole genome. Employing integration of data from expression quantitative trait locus (eQTLs) analyses of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) as well as the 1000 Genomes project, we successfully annotated 60 gene expression-related SNPs which are associated with OS of the TCGA patients. After genotyping these 60 SNPs in our TACE cohort, we identified four SNPs (rs12574873, rs12513391, rs34597395, and rs35624901) which are significantly associated with OS of HCC patients treated with TACE. For instance, multivariate Cox proportional hazards model indicated that the rs35624901 Deletion.Deletion (Del.Del) genotype carriers had markedly prolonged OS and a 55% decreased death risk compared with individuals with the GG genotype after TACE therapy (p = 8.3 × 10–5). In support of this, the rs35624901 Del.Del genotype is correlated to higher expression of RAG1, a key T-/B-cell deficiency regulator. Our findings reported the first evidence supporting the prognostic value of four eQTL SNPs in TACE-treated HCC patients. Importantly, our data implicated that antitumor immunity might contribute to TACE efficiency for unresectable HCC patients.
Exhausting T Cells During HIV Infection May Improve the Prognosis of Patients with COVID-19
Authors: Lin Hua-Song , Lin Xiao-Hong , Wang Jian-Wen , Wen Dan-Ning , Xiang Jie , Fan Yan-Qing , Li Hua-Dong , Wu Jing , Lin Yi , Lin Ya-Lan , Sun Xu-Ri , Chen Yun-Feng , Chen Chuan-Juan , Lian Ning-Fang , Xie Han-Sheng , Lin Shou-Hong , Xie Qun-Fang , Li Chao-Wei , Peng Fang-Zhan , Wang Ning , Lin Jian-Qing , Chen Wan-Jin , Huang Chao-Lin , Fu Ying
Published: September 2021

T-cell reduction is an important characteristic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and its immunopathology is a subject of debate. It may be due to the direct effect of the virus on T-cell exhaustion or indirectly due to T cells redistributing to the lungs. HIV/AIDS naturally served as a T-cell exhaustion disease model for recognizing how the immune system works in the course of COVID-19. In this study, we collected the clinical charts, T-lymphocyte analysis, and chest CT of HIV patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection who were admitted to Jin Yin-tan Hospital (Wuhan, China). The median age of the 21 patients was 47 years [interquartile range (IQR) = 40–50 years] and the median CD4 T-cell count was 183 cells/μl (IQR = 96–289 cells/μl). Eleven HIV patients were in the non-AIDS stage and 10 were in the AIDS stage. Nine patients received antiretroviral treatment (ART) and 12 patients did not receive any treatment. Compared to the reported mortality rate (nearly 4%–10%) and severity rate (up to 20%–40%) among COVID-19 patients in hospital, a benign duration with 0% severity and mortality rates was shown by 21 HIV/AIDS patients. The severity rates of COVID-19 were comparable between non-AIDS (median CD4 = 287 cells/μl) and AIDS (median CD4 = 97 cells/μl) patients, despite some of the AIDS patients having baseline lung injury stimulated by HIV: 7 patients (33%) were mild (five in the non-AIDS group and two in the AIDS group) and 14 patients (67%) were moderate (six in the non-AIDS group and eight in the AIDS group). More importantly, we found that a reduction in T-cell number positively correlates with the serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), which is contrary to the reported findings on the immune response of COVID-19 patients (lower CD4 T-cell counts with higher levels of IL-6 and CRP). In HIV/AIDS, a compromised immune system with lower CD4 T-cell counts might waive the clinical symptoms and inflammatory responses, which suggests lymphocyte redistribution as an immunopathology leading to lymphopenia in COVID-19.
Emerging Skill in Multi-Year Prediction of the Indian Ocean Dipole
Authors: Feba F. , Ashok Karumuri , Collins Matthew , Shetye Satish R.
Published: September 2021

The Indian Ocean Dipole is a leading phenomenon of climate variability in the tropics, which affects the global climate. However, the best lead prediction skill for the Indian Ocean Dipole, until recently, has been limited to ~6 months before the occurrence of the event. Here, we show that multi-year prediction has made considerable advancement such that, for the first time, two general circulation models have significant prediction skills for the Indian Ocean Dipole for at least 2 years after initialization. This skill is present despite ENSO having a lead prediction skill of only 1 year. Our analysis of observed/reanalyzed ocean datasets shows that the source of this multi-year predictability lies in sub-surface signals that propagate from the Southern Ocean into the Indian Ocean. Prediction skill for a prominent climate driver like the Indian Ocean Dipole has wide-ranging benefits for climate science and society.
Serum Metabolic Profiles of Chinese Women With Perimenopausal Obesity Explored by the Untargeted Metabolomics Approach
Authors: Ding Shanshan , Chen Mingyi , Liao Ying , Chen Qiliang , Lin Xuejuan , Chen Shujiao , Chai Yujuan , Li Candong , Asakawa Tetsuya
Published: September 2021

By far, no study has focused on observing the metabolomic profiles in perimenopause-related obesity. This study attempted to identify the metabolic characteristics of subjects with perimenopause obesity (PO). Thirty-nine perimenopausal Chinese women, 21 with PO and 18 without obesity (PN), were recruited in this study. A conventional ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight/mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF/MS) followed by principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used as untargeted metabolomics approaches to explore the serum metabolic profiles. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and MetaboAnalyst were used to identify the related metabolic pathways. A total of 46 differential metabolites, along with seven metabolic pathways relevant to PO were identified, which belonged to lipid, amino acids, carbohydrates, and organic acids. As for amino acids, we found a significant increase in l-arginine and d-ornithine in the positive ion (POS) mode and l-leucine, l-valine, l-tyrosine, and N-acetyl-l-tyrosine in the negative ion (NEG) mode and a significant decrease in l-proline in the POS mode of the PO group. We also found phosphatidylcholine (PC) (16:0/16:0), palmitic acid, and myristic acid, which are associated with the significant upregulation of lipid metabolism. Moreover, the serum indole lactic acid and indoleacetic acid were upregulated in the NEG mode. With respect to the metabolic pathways, the d-arginine and d-ornithine metabolisms and the arginine and proline metabolism pathways in POS mode were the most dominant PO-related pathways. The changes of metabolisms of lipid, amino acids, and indoleacetic acid provided a pathophysiological scenario for Chinese women with PO. We believe that the findings of this study are helpful for clinicians to take measures to prevent the women with PO from developing severe incurable obesity-related complications, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Explaining the Geographic Pattern of Plant Invasion in 67 Nature Reserves in China
Authors: Chen Shengbin , Chen Zhiyang , Huang Wenjie , Shao Changliang , Mao Lingfeng , Slik Johan Willem Frederik
Published: September 2021

Biological invasion is a serious threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function in nature reserves. However, the knowledge of the spatial patterns and underlying mechanisms of plant invasions in nature reserves is still limited. Based on a recent dataset on both invasive and native plants in 67 nature reserves of China, we used correlation, regression, and variation partitioning methods to statistically assess the relative roles of the “human activity,” “biotic acceptance,” and “environmental heterogeneity” hypotheses in explaining the geographic pattern of plant invasion. A total of 235 invasive plant species were compiled from 67 nature reserves. The high explanatory power of the human activity variables supported the human activity hypothesis. The biotic acceptance hypothesis was weakly supported since no significant correlations between climatic variables and invasion levels were found when the effects of the other factors were controlled. The environmental heterogeneity hypothesis was partially supported, since the number of native plants, representing environmental heterogeneity at fine-scale explained remarkable proportion of spatial variance of invasive plants but not that of the proportion of invasive plants. We predict that nature reserves with high plant diversity affected by rapid economic development and increasing temperature will face a serious threat of exotic plant invasion. In conclusion, our results provide crucial clues for understanding geographic variance of plant invasion in China’s nature reserves and spatial risk assessment.
Genome-Wide DNA Methylation and Hydroxymethylation Changes Revealed Epigenetic Regulation of Neuromodulation and Myelination in Yak Hypothalamus
Authors: Chai Zhixin , Wu Zhijuan , Ji Qiumei , Wang Jikun , Wang Jiabo , Wang Hui , Zhang Chengfu , Zhong Jincheng , Xin Jinwei
Published: September 2021

Both 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) are important epigenetic modifications in neurodevelopment. However, there is little research examining the genome-wide patterns of 5mC and 5hmC in brain regions of animals under natural high-altitude conditions. We used oxidative reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (oxRRBS) to determine the 5mC and 5hmC sites in the brain, brainstem, cerebellum, and hypothalamus of yak and cattle. We reported the first map of genome-wide DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in the brain, brainstem, cerebellum, and hypothalamus of yak (living at high altitudes) and cattle. Overall, we found striking differences in 5mC and 5hmC between the hypothalamus and other brain regions in both yak and cattle. Genome-wide profiling revealed that 5mC level decreased and 5hmC level increased in the hypothalamus than in other regions. Furthermore, we identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and differentially hydroxymethylated regions (DhMRs), most of which overlapped with each other. Interestingly, transcriptome results for these brain regions also showed distinctive gene levels in the hypothalamus. Finally, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) regulated by DMRs and DhMRs may play important roles in neuromodulation and myelination. Overall, our results suggested that mediation of 5mC and 5hmC on epigenetic regulation may broadly impact the development of hypothalamus and its biological functions.
Lipidomic Analyses Reveal Modulation of Lipid Metabolism by the PFAS Perfluoroundecanoic Acid (PFUnDA) in Non-Obese Diabetic Mice
Authors: Hyötyläinen Tuulia , Bodin Johanna , Duberg Daniel , Dirven Hubert , Nygaard Unni C. , Orešič Matej
Published: September 2021

Exposure to Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to multiple undesirable health outcomes across a full lifespan, both in animal models as well as in human epidemiological studies. Immunosuppressive effects of PFAS have been reported, including increased risk of infections and suppressed vaccination responses in early childhood, as well as association with immunotoxicity and diabetes. On a mechanistic level, PFAS exposure has been linked with metabolic disturbances, particularly in lipid metabolism, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly characterized. Herein we explore lipidomic signatures of prenatal and early-life exposure to perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnDA) in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice; an experimental model of autoimmune diabetes. Female NOD mice were exposed to four levels of PFUnDA in drinking water at mating, during gestation and lactation, and during the first weeks of life of female offspring. At offspring age of 11–12 weeks, insulitis and immunological endpoints were assessed, and serum samples were collected for comprehensive lipidomic analyses. We investigated the associations between exposure, lipidomic profile, insulitis grade, number of macrophages and apoptotic, active-caspase-3-positive cells in pancreatic islets. Dose-dependent changes in lipidomic profiles in mice exposed to PFUnDA were observed, with most profound changes seen at the highest exposure levels. Overall, PFUnDA exposure caused downregulation of phospholipids and triacylglycerols containing polyunsaturated fatty acids. Our results show that PFUnDA exposure in NOD mice alters lipid metabolism and is associated with pancreatic insulitis grade. Moreover, the results are in line with those reported in human studies, thus suggesting NOD mice as a suitable model to study the impacts of environmental chemicals on T1D.
Case Report: Neuroblastoma Breakpoint Family Genes Associate With 1q21 Copy Number Variation Disorders
Authors: Zhu Lijuan , Su Xiaoji
Published: September 2021

Microduplications and reciprocal microdeletions of chromosome 1q21. 1 and/or 1q21.2 have been linked to variable clinical features, but the underlying pathogenic gene(s) remain unclear. Here we report that distinct microduplications were detected on chromosome 1q21.2 (GRCh37/hg19) in a mother (255 kb in size) and her newborn daughter (443 kb in size), while the same paternal locus was wild-type. Although the two microduplications largely overlap in genomic sequence (183 kb overlapping), the mother showed no clinical phenotype while the daughter presented with several features that are commonly observed on 1q21 microduplication or microdeletion patients, including developmental delay, craniofacial dysmorphism, congenital heart disease and sensorineural hearing loss. NBPF15 and NBPF16, two involved genes that are exclusively duplicated in the proband, may be the cause of the clinical manifestations. This study supports an association between NBPF genes and 1q21 copy number variation disorders.
CENPN Acts as a Novel Biomarker that Correlates With the Malignant Phenotypes of Glioma Cells
Authors: Wu Hailong , Zhou Yan , Wu Haiyang , Xu Lixia , Yan Yan , Tong Xiaoguang , Yan Hua
Published: September 2021

Background: Gliomas are the most common intracranial malignant neoplasms and have high recurrence and mortality rates. Recent literatures have reported that centromere protein N (CENPN) participates in tumor development. However, the clinicopathologic significance and biological functions of CENPN in glioma are still unclear.

Methods: Clinicopathologic data and gene expression profiles of glioma cases downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) databases were utilized to determine the associations between the expression of CENPN and clinical features of glioma. Kaplan-Meier and ROC curves were plotted for prognostic analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) were applied to identify immune-related functions and pathways associated with CENPN’ differential expression. In vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the impacts of CENPN on human glioma cells.

Results: Elevated CENPN expression was associated with unfavorable clinical variables of glioma patients, which was validated in clinical specimens obtained from our institution by immunohistochemical staining (IHC). The GSEA and ssGSEA results revealed that CENPN expression was strongly correlated with inflammatory activities, immune-related signaling pathways and the infiltration of immune cells. Cell experiments showed that CENPN deficiency impaired cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability and increased glioma apoptosis.

Conclusion: CENPN could be a promising therapeutic target for glioma.
Low Soluble Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 Levels After Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Predict Moderate or Severe Chronic GvHD and Inferior Overall Survival
Authors: Kordelas Lambros , Buttkereit Ulrike , Heinemann Falko M. , Horn Peter A. , Giebel Bernd , Beelen Dietrich W. , Reinhardt H. Christian , Rebmann Vera
Published: September 2021

Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) is an inhibitory co-receptor required for regulating immune responsiveness and maintaining immune homeostasis. As PD-1 can be released as bioactive soluble molecule, we investigated the clinical significance of soluble PD-1 (sPD-1) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) regarding graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), relapse, and overall survival (OS) in a mono-centric cohort of 82 patients. Compared to pre-HSCT and to healthy controls, post-HSCT sPD-1 plasma levels were significantly increased during an observation time of three months. Univariate analysis revealed that low sPD-1 plasma levels at month one, two or three post HSCT were associated with acute GvHD grade III-IV, the onset of moderate/severe chronic GvHD (cGvHD) and inferior OS, DFS, and TRM, respectively. No relationship was detected to relapse rates. sPD-1 plasma levels were significantly increased in ATG-treated patients compared to ATG-untreated patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that a low sPD-1 plasma levels status at one or two month(s) after HSCT is an independent indicator for inferior OS, DFS, or TRM. A low sPD-1 plasma levels status at month three post HSCT is predictive for the onset of moderate/severe cGvHD. Thus, our study pinpoints the soluble inhibitory co-receptor PD-1 as a promising candidate molecule for the prediction of clinical HSCT outcome.
Preliminary Evidence for IL-10-Induced ACE2 mRNA Expression in Lung-Derived and Endothelial Cells: Implications for SARS-Cov-2 ARDS Pathogenesis
Authors: Albini Adriana , Calabrone Luana , Carlini Valentina , Benedetto Nadia , Lombardo Michele , Bruno Antonino , Noonan Douglas M.
Published: September 2021

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a receptor for the spike protein of SARS-COV-2 that allows viral binding and entry and is expressed on the surface of several pulmonary and non-pulmonary cell types, with induction of a “cytokine storm” upon binding. Other cell types present the receptor and can be infected, including cardiac, renal, intestinal, and endothelial cells. High ACE2 levels protect from inflammation. Despite the relevance of ACE2 levels in COVID-19 pathogenesis, experimental studies to comprehensively address the question of ACE2 regulations are still limited. A relevant observation from the clinic is that, besides the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and IL-1β, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 is also elevated in worse prognosis patients. This could represent somehow a “danger signal”, an alarmin from the host organism, given the immuno-regulatory properties of the cytokine. Here, we investigated whether IL-10 could increase ACE2 expression in the lung-derived Calu-3 cell line. We provided preliminary evidence of ACE2 mRNA increase in cells of lung origin in vitro, following IL-10 treatment. Endothelial cell infection by SARS-COV-2 is associated with vasculitis, thromboembolism, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. We confirmed ACE2 expression enhancement by IL-10 treatment also on endothelial cells. The sartans (olmesartan and losartan) showed non-statistically significant ACE2 modulation in Calu-3 and endothelial cells, as compared to untreated control cells. We observed that the antidiabetic biguanide metformin, a putative anti-inflammatory agent, also upregulates ACE2 expression in Calu-3 and endothelial cells. We hypothesized that IL-10 could be a danger signal, and its elevation could possibly represent a feedback mechanism fighting inflammation. Although further confirmatory studies are required, inducing IL-10 upregulation could be clinically relevant in COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and vasculitis, by reinforcing ACE2 levels.
Investigating the Prevailing Hydrodynamics Around a Cold-Water Coral Colony Using a Physical and a Numerical Approach
Authors: Bartzke Gerhard , Siemann Lennart , Büssing Robert , Nardone Paride , Koll Katinka , Hebbeln Dierk , Huhn Katrin
Published: September 2021

Framework-forming cold-water corals provide a refuge for numerous organisms and, consequently, the ecosystems formed by these corals can be considered as impressive deep-sea biodiversity hotspots. If suitable environmental conditions for coral growth persist over sufficiently long periods of time in equilibrium with continuous sediment input, substantial accumulations of coral mound deposits consisting of coral fragments and baffled sediments can form. Although this conceptual approach is widely accepted, little is known about the prevailing hydrodynamics in their close proximity, which potentially affect sedimentation patterns. In order to refine the current understanding about the hydrodynamic mechanisms in the direct vicinity of a model cold-water coral colony, a twofold approach of a laboratory flume experiment and a numerical model was set up. In both approaches the flow dynamics around a simplified cold-water coral colony used as current obstacle were investigated. The flow measurements of the flume provided a dataset that served as the basis for validation of the numerical model. The numerical model revealed data from the vicinity of the simplified cold-water coral, such as the pressure field, velocity field, or the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) in high resolution. Features of the flow like the turbulent wake and streamlines were also processed to provide a more complete picture of the flow that passes the simplified cold-water coral colony. The results show that a cold-water coral colony strongly affects the flow field and eventually the sediment dynamics. The observed decrease in flow velocities around the cold water-coral hints to a decrease in the sediment carrying potential of the flowing water with consequences for sediment deposition.
Natural Horizontal Gene Transfer of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Campylobacter spp. From Turkeys and Swine
Authors: Guernier-Cambert Vanina , Trachsel Julian , Maki Joel , Qi Jing , Sylte Matthew J. , Hanafy Zahra , Kathariou Sophia , Looft Torey
Published: September 2021

Antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter constitutes a serious threat to public health. The clonal expansion of resistant strains and/or the horizontal spread of resistance genes to other strains and species can hinder the clinical effectiveness of antibiotics to treat severe campylobacteriosis. Still, gaps exist in our understanding of the risks of acquisition and spread of antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter. While the in vitro transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes between Campylobacter species via natural transformation has been extensively demonstrated, experimental studies have favored the use of naked DNA to obtain transformants. In this study, we used experimental designs closer to real-world conditions to evaluate the possible transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes between Campylobacter strains of the same or different species (Campylobacter coli or Campylobacter jejuni) and originating from different animal hosts (swine or turkeys). This was evaluated in vitro through co-culture experiments and in vivo with dual-strain inoculation of turkeys, followed by whole genome sequencing of parental and newly emerged strains. In vitro, we observed four independent horizontal gene transfer events leading to the acquisition of resistance to beta-lactams (blaOXA), aminoglycosides [aph(2′′)-If and rpsL] and tetracycline [tet(O)]. Observed events involved the displacement of resistance-associated genes by a mutated version, or the acquisition of genomic islands harboring a resistance determinant by homologous recombination; we did not detect the transfer of resistance-carrying plasmids even though they were present in some strains. In vivo, we recovered a newly emerged strain with dual-resistance pattern and identified the replacement of an existing non-functional tet(O) by a functional tet(O) in the recipient strain. Whole genome comparisons allowed characterization of the events involved in the horizontal spread of resistance genes between Campylobacter following in vitro co-culture and in vivo dual inoculation. Our study also highlights the potential for antimicrobial resistance transfer across Campylobacter species originating from turkeys and swine, which may have implications for farms hosting both species in close proximity.
Influence of Diet on the Effect of the Probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei in Rats Suffering From Allergic Asthma
Authors: Xie Ao , Song Jiaping , Lu Shan , Liu Yinhui , Tang Li , Wen Shu
Published: September 2021

Mounting evidence suggests that probiotics can be used to treat allergic asthma by modulating the gut microbiota, and that the effects of probiotics may be influenced by environmental factors such as diet. We conducted a rat model with allergic asthma (AA) modulated byLactobacillus paracasei, feeding up with high-fat or high-fiber diets based on collecting data from 85 questionnaires. The systemic proinflammatory cytokines were detected by ELISA and the overall structure of fecal microbiota was analyzedvia16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results showed consumption of a high-fiber diet alleviated the allergic symptoms and airway inflammation, and led to improving the imbalance of T-helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2 cells with increased expression of interferon-γ and decreased expression of interleukin-4. Whereas, the high-fat diet had deteriorating implications and skewed the inflammatory perturbation. Furthermore, abundances of phylum Bacteroidetes, families Muribaculaceae, Tannerellaceae, Prevotellaceae, Enterococcaceae, genera Allobaculum, Parabacteroides, and Enterococcus were enriched inL.paracasei-modulating rats fed with high-fiber diet. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, families Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae, genera Blautia, unidentified_Ruminococcaceae, unidentified_Clostridiales and Oscillibacter were in relatively high abundance in the rats administered high-fat diet. Association between changed microbiota and inflammatory cytokines was also conferred. These data indicated that the efficacy ofL.paracaseiin allergic asthma was influenced by different dietary patterns. Hence, diet is important for probiotic therapy when managing allergic asthma.
Transcriptome-Guided Insights Into Plastic Degradation by the Marine Bacterium
Authors: Kumari Alka , Bano Nasreen , Bag Sumit Kumar , Chaudhary Doongar R. , Jha Bhavanath
Published: September 2021

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a common single-use plastic that accumulated in the environment because of its non-degradable characteristics. In recent years, microbes from different environments were found to degrade plastics and suggested their capability to degrade plastics under varying environmental conditions. However, complete degradation of plastics is still a void for large-scale implications using microbes because of the lack of knowledge about genes and pathways intricate in the biodegradation process. In the present study, the growth and adherence of marine Bacillus species AIIW2 on PET surface instigating structural deterioration were confirmed through weight loss and hydrophobicity reduction, as well as analyzing the change in bond indexes. The genome-wide comparative transcriptomic analysis of strain AIIW2 was completed to reveal the genes during PET utilization. The expression level of mRNA in the strain AIIW2 was indexed based on the log-fold change between the presence and absence of PET in the culture medium. The genes represent carbon metabolism, and the cell transport system was up-regulated in cells growing with PET, whereas sporulation genes expressed highly in the absence of PET. This indicates that the strain AIIW2 hydrolyzes PET and assimilated via cellular carbon metabolism. A protein–protein interaction network was built to obtain the interaction between genes during PET utilization. The genes traced to degrade PET were confirmed by detecting the hydrolytic product of PET, and genes were cloned to improve PET utilization by microbial system as an eco-friendly solution.
Neural Burst Firing and Its Roles in Mental and Neurological Disorders
Authors: Shao Jie , Liu Yunhui , Gao Dashuang , Tu Jie , Yang Fan
Published: September 2021

Neural firing patterns are critical for specific information coding and transmission, and abnormal firing is implicated in a series of neural pathologies. Recent studies have indicated that enhanced burst firing mediated by T-type voltage-gated calcium channels (T-VGCCs) in specific neuronal subtypes is involved in several mental or neurological disorders such as depression and epilepsy, while suppression of T-VGCCs relieve related symptoms. Burst firing consists of groups of relatively high-frequency spikes separated by quiescence. Neurons in a variety of brain areas, including the thalamus, hypothalamus, cortex, and hippocampus, display burst firing, but the ionic mechanisms that generating burst firing and the related physiological functions vary among regions. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the mechanisms underlying burst firing in various brain areas, as well as the roles of burst firing in several mental and neurological disorders. We also discuss the ion channels and receptors that may regulate burst firing directly or indirectly, with these molecules highlighted as potential intervention targets for the treatment of mental and neurological disorders.
Hemodynamic and Morphological Parameters of Ruptured Mirror Posterior Communicating Artery Aneurysms
Authors: Yuan Jinlong , Huang Chenlei , Li Zhenbao , Jiang Xiaochun , Zhao Xintong , Wu Degang , Lai Nianshen , Liu Jiaqiang , Zhang Bingbing , Qin Feiyun , Xia Dayong , Fang Xinggen
Published: September 2021

Objective: Morphological and hemodynamic parameters might predict rupture of intracranial aneurysms (IAs). A practical model for the study is patients with ruptured mirror IAs in which one is ruptured and the other is unruptured. Although there have been analyses of the morphology and hemodynamics of ruptured mirror posterior communicating artery aneurysms (PComAAs), the sample sizes in these studies were small and only considered hemodynamics or morphological characters. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the morphological and hemodynamic parameters associated with ruptured mirror PComAAs.

Methods: We considered 72 patients with ruptured mirror PComAAs using computational fluid dynamics (CFDs). Ruptured mirror PComAAs were divided into ruptured and unruptured groups. Fourteen morphological and eight hemodynamic parameters were calculated and compared. Significant parameters were analyzed by the multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated for all independent risk factors to determine the predictability and identify the optimal threshold.

Results: Four hemodynamic and three morphological parameters were significantly different between ruptured and unruptured groups: normalized wall shear stress (NWSS), mean WSS, low wall shear WSS area (LSA%), size, aspect ratio (AR), size ratio (SR), and inflow angle (IA). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that AR, SR, NWSS, mean WSS, and LSA% were all independent factors significantly associated with PComAAs rupture. The ROC analysis for independent risk factors indicated that AR (0.751), NWSS (0.755), mean WSS (0.69), and LSA (0.778) had merely acceptable AUC values. Only SR (0.803) had a high acceptable AUC value. The threshold value of SR was 1.96.

Conclusions: SR (>1.96) was the most significant parameter associated with IA rupture, whereas AR, NWSS, mean WSS, and LSA independently characterized the status of IA rupture.
Brain-Computer Interface Training With Functional Electrical Stimulation: Facilitating Changes in Interhemispheric Functional Connectivity and Motor Outcomes Post-stroke
Authors: Sinha Anita M. , Nair Veena A. , Prabhakaran Vivek
Published: September 2021

While most survivors of stroke experience some spontaneous recovery and receive treatment in the subacute setting, they are often left with persistent impairments in upper limb sensorimotor function which impact autonomy in daily life. Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology has shown promise as a form of rehabilitation that can facilitate motor recovery after stroke, however, we have a limited understanding of the changes in functional connectivity and behavioral outcomes associated with its use. Here, we investigate the effects of EEG-based BCI intervention with functional electrical stimulation (FES) on resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and motor outcomes in stroke recovery. 23 patients post-stroke with upper limb motor impairment completed BCI intervention with FES. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans and behavioral data were collected prior to intervention, post- and 1-month post-intervention. Changes in rsFC within the motor network and behavioral measures were investigated to identify brain-behavior correlations. At the group-level, there were significant increases in interhemispheric and network rsFC in the motor network after BCI intervention, and patients significantly improved on the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) and SIS domains. Notably, changes in interhemispheric rsFC from pre- to both post- and 1 month post-intervention correlated with behavioral improvements across several motor-related domains. These findings suggest that BCI intervention with FES can facilitate interhemispheric connectivity changes and upper limb motor recovery in patients after stroke.
Sensory-Evoked 40-Hz Gamma Oscillation Improves Sleep and Daily Living Activities in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Authors: Cimenser Aylin , Hempel Evan , Travers Taylor , Strozewski Nathan , Martin Karen , Malchano Zach , Hajós Mihály
Published: September 2021

Pathological proteins contributing to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are known to disrupt normal neuronal functions in the brain, leading to unbalanced neuronal excitatory-inhibitory tone, distorted neuronal synchrony, and network oscillations. However, it has been proposed that abnormalities in neuronal activity directly contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease, and in fact it has been demonstrated that induction of synchronized 40 Hz gamma oscillation of neuronal networks by sensory stimulation reverses AD-related pathological markers in transgenic mice carrying AD-related human pathological genes. Based on these findings, the current study evaluated whether non-invasive sensory stimulation inducing cortical 40 Hz gamma oscillation is clinically beneficial for AD patients. Patients with mild to moderate AD (n = 22) were randomized to active treatment group (n = 14; gamma sensory stimulation therapy) or to sham group (n = 8). Participants in the active treatment group received precisely timed, 40 Hz visual and auditory stimulations during eye-closed condition to induce cortical 40 Hz steady-state oscillations in 1-h daily sessions over a 6-month period. Participants in the sham group were exposed to similar sensory stimulation designed to not evoke cortical 40 Hz steady-state oscillations that are observed in the active treatment patients. During the trial, nighttime activities of the patients were monitored with continuous actigraphy recordings, and their functional abilities were measured by Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study – Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL) scale. Results of this study demonstrated that 1-h daily therapy was well tolerated throughout the 6-month treatment period by all subjects. Patients receiving gamma sensory stimulation showed significantly reduced nighttime active periods, in contrast, to deterioration in sleep quality in sham group patients. Patients in the sham group also showed the expected, significant decline in ADCS-ADL scores, whereas patients in the gamma sensory stimulation group fully maintained their functional abilities over the 6-month period. These findings confirm the safe application of 40 Hz sensory stimulation in AD patients and demonstrate a high adherence to daily treatment. Furthermore, this is the first time that beneficial clinical effects of the therapy are reported, justifying expanded and longer trials to explore additional clinical benefits and disease-modifying properties of gamma sensory stimulation therapy.

Clinical Trial Registration:clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT03556280.
Globin Digest Improves Visceral Adiposity Through UCP1 Upregulation in Diet-Induced Obese Zebrafish and Mice
Authors: Zang Liqing , Shimada Yasuhito , Nakayama Hiroko , Matsuoka Izumi , Kim Youngil , Chu Djong-Chi , Juneja Lekh Raj , Tsuruta Rika , Sasakawa Yuka , Kuroyanagi Junya , Nishimura Norihiro
Published: September 2021

Globin digest (GD), a bioactive oligopeptide derived from porcine hemoglobin proteins, has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects on improving postprandial hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and liver injury. We previously reported the lipid-lowering effects of GD using a zebrafish obesogenic test. Here, we sought to evaluate the effect of GD on visceral adiposity and the underlying molecular mechanisms using zebrafish and mouse obesity models. GD ameliorated dyslipidemia and suppressed the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in adult obese zebrafish. Transcriptomic analysis by RNA sequencing of GD-treated adult zebrafish revealed that GD upregulated UCP1-related pathways. Further, we performed mouse experiments and found that GD intake (2 mg/g body weight/day) was associated with lowered plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, decreased VAT accumulation, and improved adipocyte hypertrophy with the upregulation of Ucp1 expression in white adipose tissue at both the mRNA and protein levels. Taken together, these results indicate that GD improves visceral adiposity by upregulating UCP1 expression, providing a novel perspective on combating obesity.
RGB Three-Channel SWE-Based Ultrasomics Model: Improving the Efficiency in Differentiating Focal Liver Lesions
Authors: Cheng Mei-Qing , Xian Meng-Fei , Tian Wen-Shuo , Li Ming-De , Hu Hang-Tong , Li Wei , Zhang Jian-Chao , Huang Yang , Xie Xiao-Yan , Lu Ming-De , Kuang Ming , Wang Wei , Ruan Si-Min , Chen Li-Da
Published: September 2021

Objective

To explore a new method for color image analysis of ultrasomics and investigate the efficiency in differentiating focal liver lesions (FLLs) by Red, Green, and Blue (RGB) three-channel SWE-based ultrasomics model.

Methods

One hundred thirty FLLs were randomly divided into training set (n = 65) and validation set (n = 65). The RGB three-channel and direct conversion methods were applied to the same color SWE images. Ultrasomics features were extracted from the preprocessing images establishing two feature data sets. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression model was applied for feature selection and model construction. Two models, named RGB model (based on RGB three-channel conversion) and direct model (based on direct conversion), were used to differentiate FLLs. The diagnosis performance of the two models was evaluated by area under the curve (AUC), calibration curves, decision curves, and net reclassification index (NRI).

Results

In the validation cohort, the AUC of the direct model and RGB model in characterization on FLLs were 0.813 and 0.926, respectively (p = 0.038). Calibration curves and decision curves indicated that the RGB model had better calibration efficiency and provided greater clinical benefits. NRI revealed that the RGB model correctly reclassified 7% of malignant cases and 25% of benign cases compared to the direct model (p = 0.01).

Conclusion

The RGB model generated by RGB three-channel method yielded better diagnostic efficiency than the direct model established by direct conversion method. The RGB three-channel method may be promising on ultrasomics analysis of color images in clinical application.