bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pregnancy Outcomes of Different Endometrial Preparation in Patients With a History of Cesarean Section
Authors: Gan Run Xin , Li Yuan , Song Juan , Wen Quan , Lu Guang Xiu , Lin Ge , Gong Fei
Published: June 2022

Objective

To investigate the efficacies of three cycle regimens in women receiving frozen embryo transfer with a history of cesarean section: natural cycle treatment, hormone replacement therapy and treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

patients (N = 6,159) with a history of caesarean section who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study from January 2014 to December 2019 at the CITIC-Xiangya Hospital of Reproduction and Genetics. Reproductive outcomes of patients in the natural cycle (n = 4,306) versus hormone replacement therapy (n = 1,007) versus gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist + hormone replacement therapy groups (n = 846) were compared. Continuous data were analyzed using Student’s t-test, and categorical variables were analyzed using the χ2 test. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the possible relationships between the types of endometrial preparation and pregnancy outcomes after adjusting for confounding factors.

Results

The unadjusted odds of the miscarriage rate of singleton pregnancies were significantly higher in the hormone replacement therapy compared with the natural cycle (25.5% versus 20.4%, respectively). After adjusting for possible confounding factors, the early miscarriage rate and the miscarriage rate of singleton pregnancies remained significantly higher in the hormone replacement therapy than the natural cycle. The clinical pregnancy rates in the natural cycle, hormone replacement therapy and gonadotropin- releasing hormone agonist + hormone replacement therapy of women with a history of cesarean section was 48.8%, 48% and 47.1%, respectively, and the live birth rates were 37%, 34.1% and 35.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

In women undergoing frozen embryo transfer with a history of cesarean section, hormone replacement therapy for endometrial preparation was associated with a higher early miscarriage rate, albeit after statistical adjustment for confounding factors. However, the risk observed was little and did not influence the overall reproductive performances.
A Baseline for Skeletal Investigations in Medaka (Oryzias latipes): The Effects of Rearing Density on the Postcranial Phenotype
Authors: Di Biagio Claudia , Dellacqua Zachary , Martini Arianna , Huysseune Ann , Scardi Michele , Witten Paul Eckhard , Boglione Clara
Published: June 2022

Oryzias latipesis increasingly used as a model in biomedical skeletal research. The standard approach is to generate genetic variants with particular skeletal phenotypes which resemble skeletal diseases in humans. The proper diagnosis of skeletal variation is key for this type of research. However, even laboratory rearing conditions can alter skeletal phenotypes. The subject of this study is the link between skeletal phenotypes and rearing conditions. Thus, wildtype medaka were reared from hatching to an early juvenile stage at low (LD: 5 individuals/L), medium (MD: 15 individuals/L), and high (HD: 45 individuals/L) densities. The objectives of the study are: (I) provide a comprehensive overview of the postcranial skeletal elements in medaka; (II) evaluate the effects of rearing density on specific meristic counts and on the variability in type and incidence of skeletal anomalies; (III) define the best laboratory settings to obtain a skeletal reference for a sound evaluation of future experimental conditions; (IV) contribute to elucidating the structural and cellular changes related to the onset of skeletal anomalies. The results from this study reveal that rearing densities greater than 5 medaka/L reduce the animals’ growth. This reduction is related to decreased mineralization of dermal (fin rays) and perichondral (fin supporting elements) bone. Furthermore, high density increases anomalies affecting the caudal fin endoskeleton and dermal rays, and the preural vertebral centra. A series of static observations on Alizarin red S whole mount-stained preural fusions provide insights into the etiology of centra fusion. The fusion of preural centra involves the ectopic formation of bony bridges over the intact intervertebral ligament. An apparent consequence is the degradation of the intervertebral ligaments and the remodeling and reshaping of the fused vertebral centra into a biconoid-shaped centrum. From this study it can be concluded that it is paramount to take into account the rearing conditions, natural variability, skeletal phenotypic plasticity, and the genetic background along with species-specific peculiarities when screening for skeletal phenotypes of mutant or wildtype medaka.
Reproducibility of Densitometric and Biomechanical Assessment of the Mouse Tibia From In Vivo Micro-CT Images
Authors: Oliviero Sara , Cheong Vee San , Roberts Bryant C. , Orozco Diaz Carlos Amnael , Griffiths William , Bellantuono Ilaria , Dall’Ara Enrico
Published: June 2022

Interventions for bone diseases (e.g. osteoporosis) require testing in animal models before clinical translation and the mouse tibia is among the most common tested anatomical sites. In vivo micro-Computed Tomography (microCT) based measurements of the geometrical and densitometric properties are non-invasive and therefore constitute an important tool in preclinical studies. Moreover, validated micro-Finite Element (microFE) models can be used for predicting the bone mechanical properties non-invasively. However, considering that the image processing pipeline requires operator-dependant steps, the reproducibility of these measurements has to be assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra- and inter-operator reproducibility of several bone parameters measured from microCT images. Ten in vivo microCT images of the right tibia of five mice (at 18 and 22 weeks of age) were processed. One experienced operator (intra-operator analysis) and three different operators (inter-operator) aligned each image to a reference through a rigid registration and selected a volume of interest below the growth plate. From each image the following parameters were measured: total bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD), BMC in 40 subregions (ten longitudinal sections, four quadrants), microFE-based stiffness and failure load. Intra-operator reproducibility was acceptable for all parameters (precision error, PE < 3.71%), with lowest reproducibility for stiffness (3.06% at week 18, 3.71% at week 22). The inter-operator reproducibility was slightly lower (PE < 4.25%), although still acceptable for assessing the properties of most interventions. The lowest reproducibility was found for BMC in the lateral sector at the midshaft (PE = 4.25%). Densitometric parameters were more reproducible than most standard morphometric parameters calculated in the proximal trabecular bone. In conclusion, microCT and microFE models provide reproducible measurements for non-invasive assessment of the mouse tibia properties.
Total Flavonoids of Drynariae Rhizoma Improve Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis of Rats: UHPLC-MS-Based Qualitative Analysis, Network Pharmacology Strategy and Pharmacodynamic Validation
Authors: Zhang Fangqing , Li Qiuyue , Wu Jiashuo , Ruan Haonan , Sun Chuanrui , Zhu Jia , Song Qinghui , Wei Xu , Shi Yue , Zhu Liguo
Published: June 2022

Background

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is a common form of secondary osteoporosis caused by the protracted or a large dosage of glucocorticoids (GCs). Total flavonoids of Drynariae rhizoma (TFDR) have been widely used in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis (POP). However, their therapeutic effects and potential mechanism against GIOP have not been fully elucidated.

Methods

Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESIQ-TOF-MS) experiments were performed for qualitative analysis. We performed hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) analysis to detect the changes in bone microstructure. The changes in biochemical parameters in the serum samples were determined by performing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The prediction results of network pharmacology were verified via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to elucidate the potential mechanism of TFDR against GIOP.

Results

A total of 191 ingredients were identified in vitro and 48 ingredients in vivo. In the in-vivo experiment, the levels of the serum total cholesterol (TC), the serum triglyceride (TG), Leptin (LEP), osteocalcin (OC), osteoprotegerin (OPG), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) and type-I collagen carboxy-terminal peptide (CTX-1) in the TFDR group significantly changed compared with those in the GIOP group. Moreover, the TFDR group showed an improvement in bone mineral density and bone microstructure. Based on the results of network pharmacology analysis, 67 core targets were selected to construct the network and perform PPI analysis as well as biological enrichment analysis. Five of the targets with high “degree value” had differential gene expression between groups using qRT-PCR.

Conclusion

TFDR, which may play a crucial role between adipose metabolism and bone metabolism, may be a novel remedy for the prevention and clinical treatment of GIOP.
What’s It Worth? Estimating the Potential Value of Early Warnings of Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms for Managing Freshwater Reservoirs in Kansas, United States
Authors: Pindilli Emily J. , Loftin Keith
Published: June 2022

Cyanobacterial blooms are an issue drawing increasing concern in freshwater lakes and reservoirs in the United States due to the real and sometimes perceived harms they can cause through cyanotoxin production or other effects. These types of blooms are often referred to as cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs). Cyanotoxin exposure can potentially lead to human health effects through recreation and consumption of drinking water and may impact fisheries, wildlife, domestic pets, and livestock. Characterizing the societal impacts of cyanotoxin production, exposure, and effects and estimating the potential value of information of an early warning system can inform and support freshwater lake and reservoir management decisions and future research directions. A Bayesian decision tree analysis was utilized to identify uses, users, and benefits of the information provided by this research. Specifically, the potential value related to a cyanoHAB early warning system, based on potential toxicity, was analyzed that would provide information two additional days earlier relative to cyanoHAB toxicity. The evaluation considers the application of this information for freshwater lake management - whether or not to post an advisory or warning to avoid recreational water contact. The model was parameterized with data from the state of Kansas and the value of avoided foregone recreation and avoided health effects was derived. The estimated annual value of information ranges between $565 thousand to $2.3 million (2018 United States Dollars (USD)) for the state of Kansas alone based on provided assumptions. The results demonstrate a lower bound of the value of a cyanoHAB early warning system and suggest additional research to understand how the use and value of this information could support research prioritization and further illustrate the return on research investment. This analysis does not incorporate the full suite of potential societal costs that may be associated with a cyanoHAB event such as drinking water treatment, impacts to irrigation, or power generation.
Customary Rights and Freshwater Ecology in Pluralistic Societies on the Monsoonal Island of Sumba (Eastern Indonesia)
Authors: Fowler Cynthia T.
Published: June 2022

This article evaluates the ways water is made and unmade on Sumba Island when subjected to tensions between Indigenous and off-island political ecologies. Located in the eastern Indian Ocean, Sumba has a semi-arid, monsoonal climate with an uplifted coral reef geological structure where a spatially and temporally dynamic hydrological system shapes people’s access to freshwater. Customary adat societies on the island have histories of struggling to maintain the integrity of their own political ecologies, further increasing the precarity of their access to freshwater. The topic of the research reported on in this paper was determined through collaboration with members of the Kodi community in western Sumba who urged the author to study the problem of water. This article highlights ongoing threats to the further degradation of local societies’ rights to control their customary territories and freshwater within them by summarizing the phenomena of water grabbing in Indonesia. Zooming in on three projects that manifest as water grabs, this article finds, respectively, that water grabbing occurs under the guise of forest protection and production, behind the veil of philanthropy, and for economic development with military backing. In all three cases, water grabs take place in the context of a decentralizing nation-state where the ways adat is understood and the ways laws regarding it have been interpreted and enacted have changed through time and have varied between communities, partly in relation to the societies’ proximity to centers of colonial and postcolonial power as well as the development of activities in their territories. On Sumba the content of adat and relationships among distinct adat societies evolves on a bioculturally diverse island that is home to numerous Indigenous ethnolinguistic communities. Consequently, people’s responses to interventions into their political ecologies vary. More broadly, the context for this study is the intersections of water grabbing and social change during the Reformasi, the post-Suharto era of decentralization in Indonesia.
Grazing Significantly Increases N2O Emission Rates in Alpine Meadows of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Li Wei , Xu Qingmin , Zhou Huakun , Du Yangong
Published: June 2022

Alpine meadows are robust nitrous oxide (N2O) sources that continually experience overgrazing on the Tibetan Plateau. However, the mechanisms underlying N2O fluxes are poorly understood. The effects of grazing activity on grassland N2O emission rates, soil and plant characteristics were investigated using a meta-analysis approach. This study revealed that the effect size of grazing was 0.31 ± 0.08 on N2O emission rates (p < 0.0001), and N2O fluxes increased by 36.27% than control. Light, moderate, and high grazing increased N2O emission rates by 34.62, 19.48, and 62.16%, respectively. The effect size of moderate grazing was significantly lower than that of high grazing (p < 0.05). The effect size of grazing on pH was significant (p < 0.05), and pH increased by 6.51% compared with control. Both soil ammonia and nitrate levels increased by 12.24 and 8.60%, respectively. However, grazing decreased soil total carbon, total phosphorus, and available phosphorus by 14.4, 10.25, and 10.15%, respectively. Grazing significantly decreased plant diversity (p < 0.05), richness, and aboveground biomass by 15.16, 23.7, and 30.7% (p < 0.01), respectively (p < 0.01). Aboveground biomass significantly influenced effect size on N2O emissions, explaining 13.36% of the variations. The direct coefficient of aboveground biomass on effect sizes was −0.631 based on the structural equation model. Although grazing significantly decreased aboveground biomass and diversity, moderate grazing is optimal for mitigating N2O emissions on the Tibetan Plateau.
Responses of Land-Use Changes to Drought and its Disparate Impact on Livelihoods of Farmers and Herders in the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Northwestern China
Authors: Zhang Bailin , Ma Ruiyang , Qu Yanbo , Li Yan , Jiang Guanghui , Zhou Jian
Published: June 2022

The agro-pastoral ecotone is an ecologically fragile region where drought is the main factor influencing land use and livelihoods. In this paper, we took two farmer villages and two herder villages in Ar Horqin Banner, located in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northwestern China, as the research areas, and where we conducted participatory rural appraisal and questionnaire survey to analyze the responses of land-use changes to drought and its disparate impact on the livelihoods of farmers and herders. Results show that: 1) Under drought, farmers tended to abandon rain-fed land, and herders tended to abandon grassland. 2) The livelihood activities of farmers were more stable than those of herders under drought. Farmers abandoned rain-fed farming, and herders just retained cattle rearing. The per capita net income of each farmer in Pingandi and Fenghuangling in the drought year of 2016 was only 9.27% and 12.52% lower than those in 2012, respectively, which was 132.88% and 128.25% lower than those in 2012 of each herder in Wuriduhubu and Haolibao. 3) Diversified livelihoods, especially non-agricultural ones, are the key to ensuring the sustainable livelihoods of farmers and herders. It is an effective way for farmers to encourage more labor force to emigrate to non-agricultural sectors. Regarding herders, it is urgent to develop artificial pastures and animal products processing industry with the support of government.
The Relationship Between Fiscal Decentralization and China’s Low Carbon Environmental Governance Performance: The Malmquist Index, an SBM-DEA and Systematic GMM Approaches
Authors: Xia Jing , Zhan Xuegang , Li Rita Yi Man , Song Lingxi
Published: June 2022

Despite the People’s Republic of China government being the most aggressive in pursuing the carbon neutrality goal, it remains the world’s largest carbon emitter and polluting country. This study used 31 provinces’ panel data from 2010 to 2019 to compare fiscal decentralization’s impact on regional carbon emissions. It applied SBM-DEA undesirable models to calculate the Malmquist index and study environmental governance performance. It then used the systematic GMM model to explore fiscal decentralization’s influence on environmental governance performance. It is found that fiscal decentralization in eastern China exhibited a strong positive relationship with environmental governance performance. With high tax autonomy, local governments implemented the best tax policies for clean production, raising enthusiasm for enterprises’ green production. Nevertheless, there was no relationship between fiscal decentralization and environmental governance in poorer central and western regions with less tax collected. Benefits that arose from fiscal decentralization were limited. Moreover, more elite officials working in affluent cities and wealthier citizens have a higher expectation of environmental governance. These lead to better environmental and carbon emission policies. This paper also brings policy implications: 1) the central government should raise local government flexibility to use financial resources for environmental management. 2) Local government performance appraisal should include environmental protection (including carbon emission control). 3) The production taxes retained by local governments should be minimized to reduce governments’ incentives to obtain taxes from polluting/high energy consumption industries. 4) Raise government officials’ income in poorer regions to attract talented officials to work.
The Impact of Electronic Commerce on China’s Energy Consumption
Authors: Chen Weitao
Published: June 2022

The rapid development of e-commerce in China in recent years has transformed China’s economic and social production landscape as well as people’s lifestyles. In addition, it has an increasing impact on China’s energy consumption. Based on Melitz [Econometrica, 2003, 71 (6), 1695–1725], this paper introduces the energy efficiency parameters to propose a theoretical analysis model, and performs theoretical and empirical analysis of the impact of e-commerce on China’s energy consumption using panel data at the provincial level in China. This paper suggests that the development of e-commerce can significantly enhance China’s energy output efficiency, reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP, and curb the excessive growth of total energy consumption. Meanwhile, increased investment in energy conservation, technological progress, and optimized energy consumption structure can also help decrease China’s energy consumption per unit of GDP, thus decreasing environmental pollution. Finally, this paper proposes policy suggestions to lower energy consumption per unit of GDP and control the excessive growth of China’s total energy consumption. Compared with existing studies, the main contributions of this paper are as follows. First, because there are only a few studies on e-commerce and energy consumption, this paper further supplements and enriches relevant literature. Second, this paper proposes a theoretical model regarding the impact of e-commerce development on energy consumption, adding a new perspective to research. Third, there is a lack of adequate studies on the development of China’s e-commerce landscape. While using China’s e-commerce development index data at the provincial level, this paper sets up a panel data regression model and performs in-depth analysis of the impact of e-commerce development on China’s energy consumption.
Genomic Insights Into the Demographic History of the Southern Chinese
Authors: Huang Xiufeng , Xia Zi-Yang , Bin Xiaoyun , He Guanglin , Guo Jianxin , Adnan Atif , Yin Lianfei , Huang Youyi , Zhao Jing , Yang Yidong , Ma Fuwei , Li Yingxiang , Hu Rong , Yang Tianle , Wei Lan-Hai , Wang Chuan-Chao
Published: June 2022

Southern China is the birthplace of rice-cultivating agriculture and different language families and has also witnessed various human migrations that facilitated cultural diffusions. The fine-scale demographic historyin situthat forms present-day local populations, however, remains unclear. To comprehensively cover the genetic diversity in East and Southeast Asia, we generated genome-wide SNP data from 211 present-day Southern Chinese and co-analyzed them with ∼1,200 ancient and modern genomes. In Southern China, language classification is significantly associated with genetic variation but with a different extent of predictability, and there is strong evidence for recent shared genetic history particularly in Hmong–Mien and Austronesian speakers. A geography-related genetic sub-structure that represents the major genetic variation in Southern East Asians is established pre-Holocene and its extremes are represented by Neolithic Fujianese and First Farmers in Mainland Southeast Asia. This sub-structure is largely reduced by admixture in ancient Southern Chinese since > ∼2,000BP, which forms a “Southern Chinese Cluster” with a high level of genetic homogeneity. Further admixture characterizes the demographic history of the majority of Hmong–Mien speakers and some Kra-Dai speakers in Southwest China happened ∼1,500–1,000BP, coeval to the reigns of local chiefdoms. In Yellow River Basin, we identify a connection of local populations to genetic sub-structure in Southern China with geographical correspondence appearing > ∼9,000BP, while the gene flow likely closely related to “Southern Chinese Cluster” since the Longshan period (∼5,000–4,000BP) forms ancestry profile of Han Chinese Cline.
Spatial and Ecological Scaling of Stability in Spatial Community Networks
Authors: Jarillo Javier , Cao-García Francisco J. , De Laender Frederik
Published: June 2022

There are many scales at which to quantify stability in spatial and ecological networks. Local-scale analyses focus on specific nodes of the spatial network, while regional-scale analyses consider the whole network. Similarly, species- and community-level analyses either account for single species or for the whole community. Furthermore, stability itself can be defined in multiple ways, including resistance (the inverse of the relative displacement caused by a perturbation), initial resilience (the rate of return after a perturbation), and invariability (the inverse of the relative amplitude of the population fluctuations). Here, we analyze the scale-dependence of these stability properties. More specifically, we ask how spatial scale (local vs. regional) and ecological scale (species vs. community) influence these stability properties. We find that regional initial resilience is the weighted arithmetic mean of the local initial resiliences. The regional resistance is the harmonic mean of local resistances, which makes regional resistance particularly vulnerable to nodes with low stability, unlike regional initial resilience. Analogous results hold for the relationship between community- and species-level initial resilience and resistance. Both resistance and initial resilience are “scale-free” properties: regional and community values are simply the biomass-weighted means of the local and species values, respectively. Thus, one can easily estimate both stability metrics of whole networks from partial sampling. In contrast, invariability generally is greater at the regional and community-level than at the local and species-level, respectively. Hence, estimating the invariability of spatial or ecological networks from measurements at the local or species level is more complicated, requiring an unbiased estimate of the network (i.e., region or community) size. In conclusion, we find that scaling of stability depends on the metric considered, and we present a reliable framework to estimate these metrics.
Maximizing Molecular Data From Low-Quality Fluid-Preserved Specimens in Natural History Collections
Authors: Bernstein Justin M. , Ruane Sara
Published: June 2022

Over the past decade, museum genomics studies have focused on obtaining DNA of sufficient quality and quantity for sequencing from fluid-preserved natural history specimens, primarily to be used in systematic studies. While these studies have opened windows to evolutionary and biodiversity knowledge of many species worldwide, published works often focus on the success of these DNA sequencing efforts, which is undoubtedly less common than obtaining minimal or sometimes no DNA or unusable sequence data from specimens in natural history collections. Here, we attempt to obtain and sequence DNA extracts from 115 fresh and 41 degraded samples of homalopsid snakes, as well as from two degraded samples of a poorly known snake,Hydrablabes periops.Hydrablabeshas been suggested to belong to at least two different families (Natricidae and Homalopsidae) and with no fresh tissues known to be available, intractable museum specimens currently provide the only opportunity to determine this snake’s taxonomic affinity. Although our aim was to generate a target-capture dataset for these samples, to be included in a broader phylogenetic study, results were less than ideal due to large amounts of missing data, especially using the same downstream methods as with standard, high-quality samples. However, rather than discount results entirely, we used mapping methods with references and pseudoreferences, along with phylogenetic analyses, to maximize any usable molecular data from our sequencing efforts, identify the taxonomic affinity ofH. periops, and compare sequencing success between fresh and degraded tissue samples. This resulted in largely complete mitochondrial genomes for five specimens and hundreds to thousands of nuclear loci (ultra-conserved loci, anchored-hybrid enrichment loci, and a variety of loci frequently used in squamate phylogenetic studies) from fluid-preserved snakes, including a specimen ofH. periopsfrom the Field Museum of Natural History collection. We combined ourH. periopsdata with previously published genomic and Sanger-sequenced datasets to confirm the familial designation of this taxon, reject previous taxonomic hypotheses, and make biogeographic inferences forHydrablabes. A secondH. periopsspecimen, despite being seemingly similar for initial raw sequencing results and after being put through the same protocols, resulted in little usable molecular data. We discuss the successes and failures of using different pipelines and methods to maximize the products from these data and provide expectations for others who are looking to use DNA sequencing efforts on specimens that likely have degraded DNA.

Life Science Identifier (Hydrablabes periops)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F2AA44 E2-D2EF-4747-972A-652C34C2C09D.
Insights Gained From Zebrafish Models for the Ciliopathy Joubert Syndrome
Authors: Rusterholz Tamara D. S. , Hofmann Claudia , Bachmann-Gagescu Ruxandra
Published: June 2022

Cilia are quasi-ubiquitous microtubule-based sensory organelles, which play vital roles in signal transduction during development and cell homeostasis. Dysfunction of cilia leads to a group of Mendelian disorders called ciliopathies, divided into different diagnoses according to clinical phenotype constellation and genetic causes. Joubert syndrome (JBTS) is a prototypical ciliopathy defined by a diagnostic cerebellar and brain stem malformation termed the “Molar Tooth Sign” (MTS), in addition to which patients display variable combinations of typical ciliopathy phenotypes such as retinal dystrophy, fibrocystic renal disease, polydactyly or skeletal dystrophy. Like most ciliopathies, JBTS is genetically highly heterogeneous with ∼40 associated genes. Zebrafish are widely used to model ciliopathies given the high conservation of ciliary genes and the variety of specialized cilia types similar to humans. In this review, we compare different existing JBTS zebrafish models with each other and describe their contributions to our understanding of JBTS pathomechanism. We find that retinal dystrophy, which is the most investigated ciliopathy phenotype in zebrafish ciliopathy models, is caused by distinct mechanisms according to the affected gene. Beyond this, differences in phenotypes in other organs observed between different JBTS-mutant models suggest tissue-specific roles for proteins implicated in JBTS. Unfortunately, the lack of systematic assessment of ciliopathy phenotypes in the mutants described in the literature currently limits the conclusions that can be drawn from these comparisons. In the future, the numerous existing JBTS zebrafish models represent a valuable resource that can be leveraged in order to gain further insights into ciliary function, pathomechanisms underlying ciliopathy phenotypes and to develop treatment strategies using small molecules.
Naïve Primary Mouse CD8+ T Cells Retain In Vivo Immune Responsiveness After Electroporation-Based CRISPR/Cas9 Genetic Engineering
Authors: Pfenninger Petra , Yerly Laura , Abe Jun
Published: June 2022

CRISPR/Cas9 technology has revolutionized genetic engineering of primary cells. Although its use is gaining momentum in studies on CD8+T cell biology, it remains elusive to what extent CRISPR/Cas9 affectsin vivofunction of CD8+T cells. Here, we optimized nucleofection-based CRISPR/Cas9 genetic engineering of naïve andin vitro-activated primary mouse CD8+T cells and tested theirin vivoimmune responses. Nucleofection of naïve CD8+T cells preserved theirin vivoantiviral immune responsiveness to an extent that is indistinguishable from non-nucleofected cells, whereas nucleofection ofin vitro-activated CD8+T cells led to slightly impaired expansion/survival at early time point after adoptive transfer and more pronounced contraction. Of note, different target proteins displayed distinct decay rates after gene editing. This is in stark contrast to a comparable period of time required to complete gene inactivation. Thus, for optimal experimental design, it is crucial to determine the kinetics of the loss of target gene product to adapt incubation period after gene editing. In sum, nucleofection-based CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing achieves efficient and rapid generation of mutant CD8+T cells without imposing detrimental constraints on theirin vivofunctions.
Metabolic Profiling at COVID-19 Onset Shows Disease Severity and Sex-Specific Dysregulation
Authors: Ceballos Francisco C. , Virseda-Berdices Ana , Resino Salvador , Ryan Pablo , Martínez-González Oscar , Peréz-García Felipe , Martin-Vicente María , Brochado-Kith Oscar , Blancas Rafael , Bartolome-Sánchez Sofía , Vidal-Alcántara Erick Joan , Albóniga-Díez Oihane Elena , Cuadros-González Juan , Blanca-López Natalia , Martínez Isidoro , Martinez-Acitores Ignacio Ramirez , Barbas Coral , Fernández-Rodríguez Amanda , Jiménez-Sousa María Ángeles
Published: June 2022

Background

metabolic changes through SARS-CoV-2 infection has been reported but not fully comprehended. This metabolic dysregulation affects multiple organs during COVID-19 and its early detection can be used as a prognosis marker of severity. Therefore, we aimed to characterize metabolic and cytokine profile at COVID-19 onset and its relationship with disease severity to identify metabolic profiles predicting disease progression.

Material and Methods

we performed a retrospective cross-sectional study in 123 COVID-19 patients which were stratified as asymptomatic/mild, moderate and severe according to the highest COVID-19 severity status, and a group of healthy controls. We performed an untargeted plasma metabolic profiling (gas chromatography and capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (GC and CE-MS)) and cytokine evaluation.

Results

After data filtering and identification we observed 105 metabolites dysregulated (66 GC-MS and 40 CE-MS) which shown different expression patterns for each COVID-19 severity status. These metabolites belonged to different metabolic pathways including amino acid, energy, and nitrogen metabolism among others. Severity-specific metabolic dysregulation was observed, as an increased transformation of L-tryptophan into L-kynurenine. Thus, metabolic profiling at hospital admission differentiate between severe and moderate patients in the later phase of worse evolution. Several plasma pro-inflammatory biomarkers showed significant correlation with deregulated metabolites, specially with L-kynurenine and L-tryptophan. Finally, we describe a strong sex-related dysregulation of metabolites, cytokines and chemokines between severe and moderate patients. In conclusion, metabolic profiling of COVID-19 patients at disease onset is a powerful tool to unravel the SARS-CoV-2 molecular pathogenesis.

Conclusions

This technique makes it possible to identify metabolic phenoconversion that predicts disease progression and explains the pronounced pathogenesis differences between sexes.
Tregs in Autoimmunity: Insights Into Intrinsic Brake Mechanism Driving Pathogenesis and Immune Homeostasis
Authors: Bednar Kyle J. , Lee Jee Ho , Ort Tatiana
Published: June 2022

CD4+CD25highFoxp3+ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) are functionally characterized for their ability to suppress the activation of multiple immune cell types and are indispensable for maintaining immune homeostasis and tolerance. Disruption of this intrinsic brake system assessed by loss of suppressive capacity, cell numbers, and Foxp3 expression, leads to uncontrolled immune responses and tissue damage. The conversion of Tregs to a pathogenic pro-inflammatory phenotype is widely observed in immune mediated diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms that underpin the control of Treg stability and suppressive capacity are incompletely understood. This review summarizes the concepts of Treg cell stability and Treg cell plasticity highlighting underlying mechanisms including translational and epigenetic regulators that may enable translation to new therapeutic strategies. Our enhanced understanding of molecular mechanism controlling Tregs will have important implications into immune homeostasis and therapeutic potential for the treatment of immune-mediated diseases.
Global Synthesis of Air-Sea CO2 Transfer Velocity Estimates From Ship-Based Eddy Covariance Measurements
Authors: Yang Mingxi , Bell Thomas G. , Bidlot Jean-Raymond , Blomquist Byron W. , Butterworth Brian J. , Dong Yuanxu , Fairall Christopher W. , Landwehr Sebastian , Marandino Christa A. , Miller Scott D. , Saltzman Eric S. , Zavarsky Alexander
Published: June 2022

The air-sea gas transfer velocity (K660) is typically assessed as a function of the 10-m neutral wind speed (U10n), but there remains substantial uncertainty in this relationship. HereK660of CO2derived with the eddy covariance (EC) technique from eight datasets (11 research cruises) are reevaluated with consistent consideration of solubility and Schmidt number and inclusion of the ocean cool skin effect.K660shows an approximately linear dependence with the friction velocity (u*) in moderate winds, with an overall relative standard deviation (relative standard error) of about 20% (7%). The largest relative uncertainty inK660occurs at low wind speeds, while the largest absolute uncertainty inK660occurs at high wind speeds. There is an apparent regional variation in the steepness of theK660-u*relationships: North Atlantic ≥ Southern Ocean > other regions (Arctic, Tropics). Accounting for sea state helps to collapse some of this regional variability inK660using the wave Reynolds number in very large seas and the mean squared slope of the waves in small to moderate seas. The grand average of EC-derivedK660(−1.47 + 76.67u*+ 20.48u*2 or 0.36 + 1.203U10n+ 0.167U10n2)is similar at moderate to high winds to widely used dual tracer-basedK660parametrization, but consistently exceeds the dual tracer estimate in low winds, possibly in part due to the chemical enhancement in air-sea CO2exchange. Combining the grand average of EC-derivedK660with the global distribution of wind speed yields a global average transfer velocity that is comparable with the global radiocarbon (14C) disequilibrium, but is ~20% higher than what is implied by dual tracer parametrizations. This analysis suggests that CO2fluxes computed using aU10n2dependence with zero intercept (e.g., dual tracer) are likely underestimated at relatively low wind speeds.
A Novel Machine-Learning Framework With a Moving Platform for Maritime Drift Calculations
Authors: Bhaganagar Kiran , Kolar Prasanna , Faruqui Syed Hasib Akhter , Bhattacharjee Diganta , Alaeddini Adel , Subbarao Kamesh
Published: June 2022

A novel data-driven conceptual framework using a moving platform was developed to accurately estimate the drift of objects in the marine environment in real time using a combination of a perception-based sensing technology and deep-learning algorithms. The framework for conducting field experiments to establish the drift properties of moving objects is described. The objective of this study was to develop and test the integrated technology and determine the leeway drift characteristics of a full-scale three-dimensional mannequin resembling a person in water (PIW) and of a rectangular pelican box to accurately forecast the trajectory and the drift characteristics of the moving objects in real time. The wind and ocean current speeds were measured locally for the entire duration of the tests. A sensor hardware platform with a light detector and ranging sensor (LiDAR), stereoscopic depth cameras, a global positioning system, an inertial measurement unit, and operating software was designed and constructed by the team. It was then mounted on a boat (mobile test platform) to collect data. Tests were conducted by deploying the drifting objects from the mobile test platform into Galveston Bay and tracking them in real time. A framework was developed for applying machine learning and localization concepts on the data obtained from the sensors to determine the leeway trajectory, drift velocity, and leeway coefficients of the drifting objects in real time. Consistent trends in the downwind and crosswind leeway drift coefficients were observed for the pelican (significantly influenced by the wind) and PIW (influenced by the winds and currents).
Microbiome Differentiation Among Coexisting Nematode Species in Estuarine Microhabitats: A Metagenetic Analysis
Authors: Vafeiadou Anna-Maria , Derycke Sofie , Rigaux Annelien , De Meester Nele , Guden Rodgee Mae , Moens Tom
Published: June 2022

Resource partitioning is a mechanism for niche differentiation which can facilitate coexistence of species at local scales. Insights into resource use and niche differentiation of functionally similar and/or taxonomically closely related species are scant, especially so for small organisms that dominate marine sediments in terms of abundance and species richness. In this study we characterized the microbiomes of 10 bacterivorous nematode species co-occurring in various estuarine microhabitats using 16S rRNA metabarcoding to address their resource utilization. We investigated microbiome diversity and composition of nematodes collected from six microhabitats in the field: Fucus spiralis, Fucus vesiculosus, fresh and decomposing thalli of Ulva sp., and attached and detached leaves of Spartina anglica. The 10 species belonged to three different families, and included congeneric and morphologically cryptic species. The microbiome of species sharing their microhabitats showed a substantial overlap, suggesting that resource differentiation of species within a microhabitat was rather limited at time of sampling. Microbiomes of the same nematode species found in different microhabitats were also not strongly differentiated. Temporal divergence in resource use may occur, as suggested by temporally divergent microbiome composition of nematodes associated with Ulva sp. The observed high intraspecific variability in microbiome composition of nematodes may be the principal factor explaining the lack of microbiome differentiation among species or microhabitats and may illustrate individual specialization in resource use as a consequence of substantial intraspecific competition.
Red Pigmentation Can Be Used to Reliably Distinguish Between Live Calanus finmarchicus and Calanus glacialis Females in the Fram Strait
Authors: Lindeque Penelope K. , Hann Isabelle , Parry Helen E. , Cook Kathryn B. , Lindley Anthony J. W. , Mayor Daniel J.
Published: June 2022

Copepods from the genus Calanus provide an important lipid-rich food source in the Arctic marine foodweb. Despite extensive research on Calanus finmarchicus and Calanus glacialis, accurately identifying adults to species level remains challenging due to similar morphologies. Although these species co-occur in many regions, the distribution of C. finmarchicus and C. glacialis correspond to Atlantic and Arctic water masses respectively and are frequently used as climate indicators. Correct identification is therefore vital for understanding the phenotypic plasticity of these species and the impacts climate change will have on Calanus-dominated marine ecosystems. In this study, prosome length and percentage of red pigmentation (redness) of genital somites, the antennae, and throughout the whole body were determined for 139 females of C. finmarchicus and C. glacialis from the Fram Strait. Molecular analysis of a 16S rDNA barcode confirmed that the best morphological features for resolving the identity of these two species were the redness of the antennae and the redness of the genital somites. Overall accuracy of using antennae redness and genital somite redness to discriminate between the two species were the same, yet each of these explanatory variables had different specificity; C. finmarchicus were more accurately identified by the absence of redness in the genital somites, whereas C. glacialis were more accurately identified using antennae redness. Given the ecological importance of these congeners, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the reliability of using morphological characteristics to identify Calanus to species level, especially when sorting live specimens for climate-related ecological experiments.
The Qigong of Prolong Life With Nine Turn Method Relieve Fatigue, Sleep, Anxiety and Depression in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study
Authors: Xie Fangfang , You Yanli , Guan Chong , Xu Jiatuo , Yao Fei
Published: June 2022

Background

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complex disease of unknown etiology and mechanism. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Prolong Life with Nine Turn Method (PLWNT) Qigong exercise on CFS focusing on fatigue, sleep quality, depression, and anxiety.

Methods

A total of 90 participants diagnosed with CFS were randomly assigned into two parallel groups: PLWNT and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The participants in the PLWNT or CBT group participated in qigong exercise or cognitive behavior education program, respectively, once a week in-person and were supervised online during the remaining 6 days at home, over 12 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome was fatigue (Multi-dimensional Fatigue Inventory 20 [MFI-20]), and secondary outcomes were sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]), anxiety, depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]), and changes in the Neuropeptide Y (NPY) of peripheral blood.

Results

The within-group comparisons of the PLWNT and CBT groups revealed significant improvement in both groups in MFI-20, PSQI, and HADS scores (P < 0.05). No significant difference were found between the PLWNT and CBT groups, even though the effective rate of the PLWNT group was 62.22%, which is slightly than 50.00% of the CBT group. The fatigue scores in the PLWNT group were positively correlated with sleep degree (r = 0.315) and anxiety degree (r = 0.333), only anxiety degree (r = 0.332) was found to be positively correlated with fatigue in the CBT group. The analysis of peripheral blood showed that NPY decreased after PLWNT intervention but increased significantly in the CBT.

Conclusion

The PLWNT qigong exercise has potential to be an effective rehabilitation method for CFS symptoms including fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression. Future studies should expand study sample size for in-depth investigation to determine the optimal frequency and intensity of PLWNT qigong intervention in CFS patients. The study was registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov database on April 12, 2018, with registration number NCT03496961.