bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The mouse model of fragile X syndrome exhibits deficits in contagious itch behavior
Authors: Gonzales-Rojas Rodrigo , Rana Amtul-Noor , Mason Peter , Renfro Christopher , Annaluru Vallabhi , Panda Shree , Lee Hye Young
Published: October 2020

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) imitate observed behavior less than age-matched and typically developing peers, resulting in deterred learning ability and social interaction. However, this deficit lacks preclinical assessment tools. A previous study has shown that mice exhibit contagious itch behavior while viewing a scratching demonstrator mouse, as opposed to an ambulating demonstrator mouse, but whether autism mouse models imitate observed scratching behavior remains unknown. Here, we investigated contagious itch behavior in the mouse model of fragile X syndrome (FXS), a common form of inherited intellectual disabilities with a high risk for ASDs. We found that the mouse model of FXS shows deficits in contagious itch behavior. Our findings can be used as a new preclinical assessment tool for measuring imitative deficits in the study of neurodevelopmental disorders including FXS.
The utility of PET/CT in large vessel vasculitis
Authors: Ben Shimol Jennifer , Amital Howard , Lidar Merav , Domachevsky Liran , Shoenfeld Yehuda , Davidson Tima
Published: October 2020

18F-FDG PET/CT occupies a growing role in the diagnosis of large vessel vasculitis (LVV), illustrating enhanced uptake in the lining of large vessels. A retrospective single center study was conducted of patients who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT scans between 2009 and 2019 at Sheba Medical Center, Israel. The imaging results were analyzed for evidence of LVV. We reviewed the PET/CT scans of 126 patients and identified 57 studies that either showed evidence of active LVV or that had been performed in patients previously treated for systemic vasculitis. In 6 patients with fevers of unknown origin and elevated inflammatory markers, PET/CT revealed LVV. Six of 13 patients previously treated for systemic vasculitis demonstrated persistent large vessel uptake. LVV was identified in 8 patients with other autoimmune diseases, and in 4 diagnosed with infectious aortitis. In 26 patients who underwent malignancy surveillance, PET/CT revealed more localized large vessel wall inflammation. Our results illustrate that PET/CT may identify large vessel wall inflammation in patients with a suspicion of LVV, and incidentally in patients who undergo malignancy surveillance. PET/CT may also help delineate the presence and extent of vessel inflammation in patients with LVV and in those with other autoimmune diseases.
Reduced numbers of T cells and B cells correlates with persistent SARS-CoV-2 presence in non-severe COVID-19 patients
Authors: Liu Bing , Han Junyan , Cheng Xiaohuan , Yu Long , Zhang Li , Wang Wei , Ni Lan , Wei Chaojie , Huang Yafei , Cheng Zhenshun
Published: October 2020

COVID-19 has been widely spreading. We aimed to examine adaptive immune cells in non-severe patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 shedding. 37 non-severe patients with persistent SARS-CoV-2 presence that were transferred to Zhongnan hospital of Wuhan University were retrospectively recruited to the PP (persistently positive) group, which was further allocated to PPP group (n = 19) and PPN group (n = 18), according to their testing results after 7 days (N = negative). Epidemiological, demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed. Data from age- and sex-matched non-severe patients at disease onset (PA [positive on admission] patients, n = 37), and lymphocyte subpopulation measurements from matched 54 healthy subjects were extracted for comparison (HC). Compared with PA patients, PP patients had much improved laboratory findings. The absolute numbers of CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and NK cells were significantly higher in PP group than that in PA group, and were comparable to that in healthy controls. PPP subgroup had markedly reduced B cells and T cells compared to PPN group and healthy subjects. Finally, paired results of these lymphocyte subpopulations from 10 PPN patients demonstrated that the number of T cells and B cells significantly increased when the SARS-CoV-2 tests turned negative. Persistent SARS-CoV-2 presence in non-severe COVID-19 patients is associated with reduced numbers of adaptive immune cells. Monitoring lymphocyte subpopulations could be clinically meaningful in identifying fully recovered COVID-19 patients.
Autonomous materials discovery driven by Gaussian process regression with inhomogeneous measurement noise and anisotropic kernels
Authors: Noack Marcus M. , Doerk Gregory S. , Li Ruipeng , Streit Jason K. , Vaia Richard A. , Yager Kevin G. , Fukuto Masafumi
Published: October 2020

A majority of experimental disciplines face the challenge of exploring large and high-dimensional parameter spaces in search of new scientific discoveries. Materials science is no exception; the wide variety of synthesis, processing, and environmental conditions that influence material properties gives rise to particularly vast parameter spaces. Recent advances have led to an increase in the efficiency of materials discovery by increasingly automating the exploration processes. Methods for autonomous experimentation have become more sophisticated recently, allowing for multi-dimensional parameter spaces to be explored efficiently and with minimal human intervention, thereby liberating the scientists to focus on interpretations and big-picture decisions. Gaussian process regression (GPR) techniques have emerged as the method of choice for steering many classes of experiments. We have recently demonstrated the positive impact of GPR-driven decision-making algorithms on autonomously-steered experiments at a synchrotron beamline. However, due to the complexity of the experiments, GPR often cannot be used in its most basic form, but rather has to be tuned to account for the special requirements of the experiments. Two requirements seem to be of particular importance, namely inhomogeneous measurement noise (input-dependent or non-i.i.d.) and anisotropic kernel functions, which are the two concepts that we tackle in this paper. Our synthetic and experimental tests demonstrate the importance of both concepts for experiments in materials science and the benefits that result from including them in the autonomous decision-making process.
Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with clipless intrafascial neurovascular bundle-sparing approach: surgical technique and one-year functional and oncologic outcomes
Authors: Shin Tae Young , Lee Yong Seong
Published: October 2020

Various neurovascular bundle-sparing techniques have been introduced to maximize recovery of erectile function after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). The clipless intrafascial neurovascular bundle-sparing technique aims to preserve periprostatic structures and neurovascular bundles as much as possible by avoiding clipping of the vascular pedicles. This study reports 1-year functional and oncologic outcomes and postoperative complications in 105 patients with intact preoperative erectile function who underwent a modified clipless intrafascial neurovascular bundle-sparing RARP. Intact erectile function was defined as score ≥ 21 on the Sexual Health Inventory for Men questionnaire or ability to have sexual intercourse. Median follow-up was 26.5 months (IQR 15.25–48). Postoperative erectile function recovery rates were 71.4%, 81.9%, 88.6%, 92.4%, and 94.3% at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively. The rate of positive surgical margins was 16.2% overall and 11.8% in patients with stage pT2 disease. The biochemical recurrence rate was 6.7% overall. The modified clipless intrafascial neurovascular bundle-sparing technique is safe and feasible and can achieve excellent recovery of erectile function after RARP. Further large-scale prospective comparative studies are warranted.
Sisters in structure but different in character, some benzaldehyde and cinnamaldehyde derivatives differentially tune Aspergillus flavus secondary metabolism
Authors: Bisceglie Franco , Degola Francesca , Rogolino Dominga , Giannelli Gianluigi , Orsoni Nicolò , Spadola Giorgio , Pioli Marianna , Restivo Francesco M. , Carcelli Mauro , Pelosi Giorgio
Published: October 2020

Great are the expectations for a new generation of antimicrobials, and strenuous are the research efforts towards the exploration of diverse molecular scaffolds—possibly of natural origin – aimed at the synthesis of new compounds against the spread of hazardous fungi. Also high but winding are the paths leading to the definition of biological targets specifically fitting the drug’s structural characteristics. The present study is addressed to inspect differential biological behaviours of cinnamaldehyde and benzaldehyde thiosemicarbazone scaffolds, exploiting the secondary metabolism of the mycotoxigenic phytopathogen Aspergillus flavus. Interestingly, owing to modifications on the parent chemical scaffold, some thiosemicarbazones displayed an increased specificity against one or more developmental processes (conidia germination, aflatoxin biosynthesis, sclerotia production) of A. flavus biology. Through the comparative analysis of results, the ligand-based screening strategy here described has allowed us to delineate which modifications are more promising for distinct purposes: from the control of mycotoxins contamination in food and feed commodities, to the environmental management of microbial pathogens, to the investigation of specific structure–activity features for new generation drug discovery.
Wireless, non-invasive, wearable device for continuous remote monitoring of hemodynamic parameters in a swine model of controlled hemorrhagic shock
Authors: Nachman Dean , Constantini Keren , Poris Gal , Wagnert-Avraham Linn , Gertz S. David , Littman Romi , Kabakov Eli , Eisenkraft Arik , Gepner Yftach
Published: October 2020

Accurate and continuous monitoring of critically ill patients is frequently achieved using invasive catheters, which is technically complex. Our purpose was to evaluate the validity and accuracy of a photoplethysmography (PPG)-based remote monitoring device compared to invasive methods of arterial line (AL) and Swan-Ganz (SG) catheters in a swine model of controlled hemorrhagic shock. Following a baseline phase, hemorrhagic shock was induced in 11 pigs by bleeding 35% of their blood volume, followed by a post-bleeding follow-up phase. Animals were monitored concomitantly by the PPG device, an AL and a SG catheter, for a median period of 447 min. Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively), and cardiac output (CO) were recorded continuously. The complete data set consisted of 1312 paired observations. Correlations between the PPG-based technique and the invasive methods were significant (p < 0.001) during baseline, bleeding and follow-up phases for HR (r = 0.90–0.98), SBP (r = 0.90–0.94), DBP (r = 0.89–0.93), and CO (r = 0.76–0.90). Intraclass correlations for all phases combined were 0.96, 0.92, 0.93 and 0.87 for HR, SBP, DBP and CO, respectively. Correlations for changes in CO, SBP and DBP were significant (p < 0.001) and strong (r > 0.88), with concordance rates (determined by quadrant plots) of 86%, 66% and 68%, respectively. The novel PPG-based device was accurate and valid compared to existing invasive techniques and might be used for continuous monitoring in several clinical settings following further studies.
Hydrostatic pressure can induce apoptosis of the skin
Authors: Le Tien Minh , Morimoto Naoki , Ly Nhung Thi My , Mitsui Toshihito , Notodihardjo Sharon Claudia , Munisso Maria Chiara , Kakudo Natsuko , Moriyama Hiroyuki , Yamaoka Tetsuji , Kusumoto Kenji
Published: October 2020

We previously showed that high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment at 200 MPa for 10 min induced complete cell death in skin and skin tumors via necrosis. We used this technique to treat a giant congenital melanocytic nevus and reused the inactivated nevus tissue as a dermis autograft. However, skin inactivated by HHP promoted inflammation in a preclinical study using a porcine model. Therefore, in the present study, we explored the pressurization conditions that induce apoptosis of the skin, as apoptotic cells are not believed to promote inflammation, so the engraftment of inactivated skin should be improved. Using a human dermal fibroblast cell line in suspension culture, we found that HHP at 50 MPa for ≥ 36 h completely induced fibroblast cell death via apoptosis based on the morphological changes in transmission electron microscopy, reactive oxygen species elevation, caspase activation and phosphatidylserine membrane translocation. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling and cleaved caspase-3 showed most cells in the skin inactivated by pressurization to be apoptotic. Consequently, in vivo grafting of apoptosis-induced inactivated skin resulted in successful engraftment and greater dermal cellular density and macrophage infiltration than our existing method. Our finding supports an alternative approach to hydrostatic pressure application.
A brain network that supports consensus-seeking and conflict-resolving of college couples’ shopping interaction
Authors: Jo HanShin , Chen Chiu-Yueh , Chen Der-Yow , Weng Ming-Hung , Kung Chun-Chia
Published: October 2020

One of the typical campus scenes is the social interaction between college couples, and the lesson couples must keep learning is to adapt to each other. This fMRI study investigated the shopping interactions of 30 college couples, one lying inside and the other outside the scanner, beholding the same item from two connected PCs, making preference ratings and subsequent buy/not-buy decisions. The behavioral results showed the clear modulation of significant others’ preferences onto one’s own decisions, and the contrast of the “shop-together vs. shop-alone”, and the “congruent (both liked or disliked the item, 68%) vs. incongruent (one liked but the other disliked, and vice versa)” together trials, both revealed bilateral temporal parietal junction (TPJ) among other reward-related regions, likely reflecting mentalizing during preference harmony. Moreover, when contrasting “own-high/other-low vs. own-low/other-high” incongruent trials, left anterior inferior parietal lobule (l-aIPL) was parametrically mapped, and the “yield (e.g., own-high/not-buy) vs. insist (e.g., own-low/not-buy)” modulation further revealed left lateral-IPL (l-lIPL), together with left TPJ forming a local social decision network that was further constrained by the mediation analysis among left TPJ–lIPL–aIPL. In sum, these results exemplify, via the two-person fMRI, the neural substrate of shopping interactions between couples.
A FDG-PET radiomics signature detects esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients who do not benefit from chemoradiation
Authors: Li Yimin , Beck Marcus , Päßler Tom , Lili Chen , Hua Wu , Mai Ha Dong , Amthauer Holger , Biebl Matthias , Thuss-Patience Peter C. , Berger Jasmin , Stromberger Carmen , Tinhofer Ingeborg , Kruppa Jochen , Budach Volker , Hofheinz Frank , Lin Qin , Zschaeck Sebastian
Published: October 2020

Detection of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) who do not benefit from standard chemoradiation (CRT) is an important medical need. Radiomics using 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is a promising approach. In this retrospective study of 184 patients with locally advanced ESCC. 152 patients from one center were grouped into a training cohort (n = 100) and an internal validation cohort (n = 52). External validation was performed with 32 patients treated at a second center. Primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS), secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and local control (LC). FDG-PET radiomics features were selected by Lasso-Cox regression analyses and a separate radiomics signature was calculated for each endpoint. In the training cohort radiomics signatures containing up to four PET derived features were able to identify non-responders in regard of all endpoints (DFS p < 0.001, LC p = 0.003, OS p = 0.001). After successful internal validation of the cutoff values generated by the training cohort for DFS (p = 0.025) and OS (p = 0.002), external validation using these cutoffs was successful for DFS (p = 0.002) but not for the other investigated endpoints. These results suggest that pre-treatment FDG-PET features may be useful to detect patients who do not respond to CRT and could benefit from alternative treatment.
Natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana rosette area unveils new genes involved in plant development
Authors: González Rubén , Butković Anamarija , Rivarez Mark Paul Selda , Elena Santiago F.
Published: October 2020

Growth is a complex trait influenced by multiple genes that act at different moments during the development of an organism. This makes it difficult to spot its underlying genetic mechanisms. Since plant growth is intimately related to the effective leaf surface area (ELSA), identifying genes controlling this trait will shed light on our understanding of plant growth. To find new genes with a significant contribution to plant growth, here we used the natural variation in Arabidopsis thaliana to perform a genome-wide association study of ELSA. To do this, the projected rosette area of 710 worldwide distributed natural accessions was measured and analyzed using the genome-wide efficient mixed model association algorithm. From this analysis, ten genes were identified having SNPs with a significant association with ELSA. To validate the implication of these genes into A. thaliana growth, six of them were further studied by phenotyping knock-out mutant plants. It was observed that rem1.2, orc1a, ppd1, and mcm4 mutants showed different degrees of reduction in rosette size, thus confirming the role of these genes in plant growth. Our study identified genes already known to be involved in plant growth but also assigned this role, for the first time, to other genes.
A recursive framework for predicting the time-course of drug sensitivity
Authors: Qian Cheng , Emad Amin , Sidiropoulos Nicholas D.
Published: October 2020

The biological processes involved in a drug’s mechanisms of action are oftentimes dynamic, complex and difficult to discern. Time-course gene expression data is a rich source of information that can be used to unravel these complex processes, identify biomarkers of drug sensitivity and predict the response to a drug. However, the majority of previous work has not fully utilized this temporal dimension. In these studies, the gene expression data is either considered at one time-point (before the administration of the drug) or two time-points (before and after the administration of the drug). This is clearly inadequate in modeling dynamic gene–drug interactions, especially for applications such as long-term drug therapy. In this work, we present a novel REcursive Prediction (REP) framework for drug response prediction by taking advantage of time-course gene expression data. Our goal is to predict drug response values at every stage of a long-term treatment, given the expression levels of genes collected in the previous time-points. To this end, REP employs a built-in recursive structure that exploits the intrinsic time-course nature of the data and integrates past values of drug responses for subsequent predictions. It also incorporates tensor completion that can not only alleviate the impact of noise and missing data, but also predict unseen gene expression levels (GEXs). These advantages enable REP to estimate drug response at any stage of a given treatment from some GEXs measured in the beginning of the treatment. Extensive experiments on two datasets corresponding to multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon are included to showcase the effectiveness of REP.
Phylogenetic diversity shapes salt tolerance in Phragmites australis estuarine populations in East China
Authors: Lambertini Carla , Guo Wen-Yong , Ye Siyuan , Eller Franziska , Guo Xiao , Li Xiu-Zhen , Sorrell Brian K. , Speranza Maria , Brix Hans
Published: October 2020

Estuaries are dynamic and selective environments that provide frequent opportunities for the turnover of Phragmites australis populations. We studied Phragmites genetic diversity patterns in three of the major deltas of China, viz. the Yellow River, the Yangtze and the Liaohe, in relation to Phragmites global phylogeography and soil salinity. We found that two distantly related P. australis haplotypes, each with intercontinental distribution, co-occur in these deltas in China. One is European Phragmites (Haplotype O) and is related to P. japonicus; the other (Haplotype P) has its range in East Asia and Australia and is related to the Asian tropical species P. karka. The two haplotypes have differing salt tolerance, with Haplotype O in areas with the highest salinity and Haplotype P in areas with the lowest. Introgressed hybrids of Haplotype P with P. karka, and F1 hybrids with Haplotype O, have higher salt tolerance than Haplotype P. Phylogenetic diversity appears as the factor that better explains population structure and salinity tolerance in these estuaries. Future research may explain whether the two P. australis haplotypes evolved in East Asia, and East Asia is a center of Phragmites diversity, or are introduced and a threat to P. japonicus and P. karka.
Simpler and effective radiological evaluations for modiolar proximity of a slim modiolar cochlear implant electrode
Authors: Lee Sang-Yeon , Han Jin Hee , Carandang Marge , Bae Yun Jung , Choi Byung Yoon
Published: October 2020

A new slim modiolar electrode (CI532/632) has been reported to ensure better modiolar proximity than conventional electrodes. Better modiolar proximity has been proposed to yield better electrode discrimination capability and potentially better speech outcomes, necessitating its efficient measurement. Currently, intracochlear positional index (ICPI), the most reliable indicator for evaluating modiolar proximity, has been measured exclusively through ‘metal artifact-less’ cone beam CT. However, popular use of this index is precluded due to lack of cone beam CT in many institutions. Thus, eyes are now on elucidation of easy-to-measure indicators of modiolar proximity derived from conventional CT, which is accessible in all centers. We observed that enhanced tomographic resolution significantly reduces partial volume artifacts, providing better visualization of modiolus-electrode distance. Aided by ultra-high kernel specification with high-resolution index, we developed a novel and easy-to-measure, conventional CT-specific indicator, “modified ICPI”, for evaluation of modiolar proximity. Further, we showed that it closely correlates with the previously proposed parameter of modiolar proximity, the spiral diameter, measured from post-insertion radiograph, reiterating the value of X-ray-based spiral diameter. Through this study, we have taken a step toward the stage of immediate visual feedback regarding modiolar proximity and changes in insertion technique intraoperatively, ensuring optimal modiolar proximity.
Respiration and brain neural dynamics associated with interval timing during odor fear learning in rats
Authors: Dupin Maryne , Garcia Samuel , Messaoudi Belkacem , Doyère Valérie , Mouly Anne-Marie
Published: October 2020

In fear conditioning, where a conditioned stimulus predicts the arrival of an aversive stimulus, the animal encodes the time interval between the two stimuli. Here we monitored respiration to visualize anticipatory behavioral responses in an odor fear conditioning in rats, while recording theta (5–15 Hz) and gamma (40–80 Hz) brain oscillatory activities in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), basolateral amygdala (BLA), dorsomedial striatum (DMS) and olfactory piriform cortex (PIR). We investigated the temporal patterns of respiration frequency and of theta and gamma activity power during the odor-shock interval, comparing two interval durations. We found that akin to respiration patterns, theta temporal curves were modulated by the duration of the odor-shock interval in the four recording sites, and respected scalar property in mPFC and DMS. In contrast, gamma temporal curves were modulated by the interval duration only in the mPFC, and in a manner that did not respect scalar property. This suggests a preferential role for theta rhythm in interval timing. In addition, our data bring the novel idea that the respiratory rhythm might take part in the setting of theta activity dynamics related to timing.
HLA-A alleles including HLA-A29 affect the composition of the gut microbiome: a potential clue to the pathogenesis of birdshot retinochoroidopathy
Authors: Sternes Peter R. , Martin Tammy M. , Paley Michael , Diamond Sarah , Asquith Mark J. , Brown Matthew A. , Rosenbaum James T.
Published: October 2020

Birdshot retinochoroidopathy occurs exclusively in individuals who are HLA-A29 positive. The mechanism to account for this association is unknown. The gut microbiome has been causally implicated in many immune-mediated diseases. We hypothesized that HLA-A29 would affect the composition of the gut microbiome, leading to a dysbiosis and immune-mediated eye disease. Fecal and intestinal biopsy samples were obtained from 107 healthy individuals from Portland, Oregon environs, 10 of whom were HLA-A29 positive, undergoing routine colonoscopy. Bacterial profiling was achieved via 16S rRNA metabarcoding. Publicly available whole meta-genome sequencing data from the Human Microbiome Project (HMP), consisting of 298 healthy controls mostly of US origin, were also interrogated. PERMANOVA and sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLSDA) demonstrated that subjects who were HLA-A29 positive differed in bacterial species composition (beta diversity) compared to HLA-A29 negative subjects in both the Portland (p = 0.019) and HMP cohorts (p = 0.0002). The Portland and HMP cohorts evidenced different subsets of bacterial species associated with HLA-A29 status, likely due to differences in the metagenomic techniques employed. The functional composition of the HMP cohort did not differ overall (p = 0.14) between HLA-A29 positive and negative subjects, although some distinct pathways such as heparan sulfate biosynthesis showed differences. As we and others have shown for various HLA alleles, the HLA allotype impacts the composition of the microbiome. We hypothesize that HLA-A29 may predispose chorioretinitis via an altered gut microbiome.
Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 modulates autophagic activity in retinal pigment epithelial cells
Authors: Koller Andreas , Bruckner Daniela , Aigner Ludwig , Reitsamer Herbert , Trost Andrea
Published: October 2020

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which is among the tissues in the body that are exposed to the highest levels of phagocytosis and oxidative stress, is dependent on autophagy function. Impaired autophagy and continuous cellular stress are associated with various disorders, such as dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a disease for which effective therapies are lacking. Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor (CysLTR) 1 is a potential modulator of autophagy; thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of CysLTR1 in autophagy regulation in the RPE cell line ARPE-19. The polarized ARPE-19 monolayer exhibited expression of CysLTR1, which was colocalized with β-tubulin III. In ARPE-19 cells, autophagic activity was rhythmically regulated and was increased upon CysLTR1 inhibition by Zafirlukast (ZK) treatment. H2O2 affected the proautophagic regulatory effect of ZK treatment depending on whether it was applied simultaneously with or prior to ZK treatment. Furthermore, mRNA levels of genes related to the leukotriene system, autophagy and the unfolded protein response were positively correlated. As CysLTR1 is involved in autophagy regulation under basal and oxidative stress conditions, a dysfunctional leukotriene system could negatively affect RPE functions. Therefore, CysLTR1 is a potential target for new treatment approaches for neurodegenerative disorders, such as AMD.
Comprehensive proteomic investigation of infectious and inflammatory changes in late preterm prelabour rupture of membranes
Authors: Vajrychová Marie , Stráník Jaroslav , Pimková Kristýna , Barman Malin , Kukla Rudolf , Zedníková Petra , Bolehovská Radka , Plíšková Lenka , Hornychová Helena , Andrýs Ctirad , Tambor Vojtěch , Lenčo Juraj , Jacobsson Bo , Kacerovský Marian
Published: October 2020

Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes beyond the 34th week of gestation (late PPROM) is frequently associated with the risk of the microbial invasion of the amniotic fluid (MIAC) and histological chorioamnionitis (HCA). Hence, we employed a Tandem Mass Tag-based approach to uncover amniotic fluid proteome response to the presence of MIAC and HCA in late PPROM. Protein dysregulation was associated with only five cases in the group of 15 women with confirmed MIAC and HCA. Altogether, 138 amniotic fluid proteins were changed in these five cases exclusively. These proteins were particularly associated with excessive neutrophil responses to infection, such as neutrophil degranulation and extracellular trap formation. We believe that the quantification of these proteins in amniotic fluid may assist in revealing women with the highest risk of excessive inflammatory response in late PPROM.
Brown rats and house mice eavesdrop on each other’s volatile sex pheromone components
Authors: Varner Elana , Jackson Hanna , Mahal Manveer , Takács Stephen , Gries Regine , Gries Gerhard
Published: October 2020

Mammalian pheromones often linger in the environment and thus are particularly susceptible to interceptive eavesdropping, commonly understood as a one-way dyadic interaction, where prey sense and respond to the scent of a predator. Here, we tested the “counterespionage” hypothesis that predator and prey co-opt each other’s pheromone as a cue to locate prey or evade predation. We worked with wild brown rats (predator of mice) and wild house mice (prey of brown rats) as model species, testing their responses to pheromone-baited traps at infested field sites. The treatment trap in each of two trap pairs per replicate received sex attractant pheromone components (including testosterone) of male mice or male rats, whereas corresponding control traps received only testosterone, a pheromone component shared between mouse and rat males. Trap pairs disseminating male rat pheromone components captured 3.05 times fewer mice than trap pairs disseminating male mouse pheromone components, and no female mice were captured in rat pheromone-baited traps, indicating predator aversion. Indiscriminate captures of rats in trap pairs disseminating male rat or male mouse pheromone components, and fewer captures of rats in male mouse pheromone traps than in (testosterone-only) control traps indicate that rats do eavesdrop on the male mouse sex pheromone but do not exploit the information for mouse prey location. The counterespionage hypothesis is supported by trap catch data of both mice and rats but only the mice data are in keeping with our predictions for motive of the counterespionage.
Increasing relevance of Gram-positive cocci in urinary tract infections: a 10-year analysis of their prevalence and resistance trends
Authors: Gajdács Márió , Ábrók Marianna , Lázár Andrea , Burián Katalin
Published: October 2020

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the third most common types of infection in human medicine worldwide. There is increasing appreciation for the pathogenic role of Gram-positive cocci (GPC) in UTIs, as they have a plethora of virulence factors, maintaining their pathogenicity and high affinity for the epithelial cells of the urinary tract. The study was carried out using microbiological data collected corresponding to the period between 2008 and 2017. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method and E-tests. The age range of patients affected from the outpatient and inpatient groups differed significantly (43 [range 0.7–99] vs. 68 [range 0.4–99] years; p = 0.008). 3962 GPCs were obtained from inpatient and 4358 from outpatient samples, corresponding to 20.5 ± 2.8% (range 17.5–26.8%) and 20.6 ± 2.6% (range 17.8–26.0%) of all positive urine samples (p > 0.05); in both groups, Enterococcus spp. were the most prevalent (outpatients: 79.6%; inpatients: 88.5%). High-level aminoglycoside resistance in enterococci was noted in 31.0–46.6% of cases. A pronounced increase in the number of MRSA was seen in the second half of the study period (0.6–1.9% vs. 9.8–11.6%; p = 0.038). The ratio of VRE isolates was 0.16%, no VISA/VRSA isolates were detected.
Pathogenic germline variants are associated with poor survival in stage III/IV melanoma patients
Authors: Aoude Lauren G. , Bonazzi Vanessa F. , Brosda Sandra , Patel Kalpana , Koufariotis Lambros T. , Oey Harald , Nones Katia , Wood Scott , Pearson John V. , Lonie James M. , Arneil Melissa , Atkinson Victoria , Smithers B. Mark , Waddell Nicola , Barbour Andrew P.
Published: October 2020

Patients with late stage resected cutaneous melanoma have poor overall survival (OS) and experience irreversible adverse events from systemic therapy. There is a clinical need to identify biomarkers to predict outcome. Performing germline/tumour whole-exome sequencing of 44 stage III/IV melanoma patients we identified pathogenic germline mutations in CDKN2A, CDK4, ATM, POLH, MRE11A, RECQL4 and XPC, affecting 7/44 patients. These mutations were associated with poor OS (p = 0.0082). We confirmed our findings in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) human skin cutaneous melanoma cohort where we identified pathogenic variants in 40/455 patients (p = 0.0203). Combining these cohorts (n = 499) further strengthened these findings showing germline carriers had worse OS (p = 0.0009). Additionally, we determined whether tumour mutation burden (TMB) or BRAF status were prognostic markers of survival. Low TMB rate (< 20 Mut/Mb; p = 0.0034) and BRAF p.V600 mutation (p = 0.0355) were associated with worse progression-free survival. Combining these biomarkers indicated that V600 mutant patients had significantly lower TMB (p = 0.0155). This was confirmed in the TCGA (n = 443, p = 0.0007). Integrative analysis showed germline mutation status conferred the highest risk (HR 5.2, 95% CI 1.72–15.7). Stage IV (HR 2.5, 0.74–8.6) and low TMB (HR 2.3, 0.57–9.4) were similar, whereas BRAF V600 status was the weakest prognostic biomarker (HR 1.5, 95% CI 0.44–5.2).
The protective role of miR-223 in sepsis-induced mortality
Authors: Liu Dan , Wang Zhiding , Wang Huijuan , Ren Feifei , Li Yanqin , Zou Sifan , Xu Jianqiao , Xie Lixin
Published: October 2020

Lymphocyte apoptosis appears to play an important role in immunodysfunction in sepsis. We investigated the role of miR-223 in cell proliferation and apoptosis to identify potential target downstream proteins in sepsis. We recruited 143 patients with sepsis and 44 healthy controls from the Chinese PLA General Hospital. Flow cytometry was used to sort monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils from fresh peripheral blood. A miR-223 mimic and inhibitor were used for transient transfection of Jurkat T cells. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to assess expression of the miRNAs in cells. Western blot analysis was performed to measure protein expression. We evaluated the cell cycle and apoptosis by using flow cytometry (FCM) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Expression of miR-223 was significantly higher in the survivor group than in the nonsurvivor group. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that SOFA scores correlated negatively with miR-223 and monocyte counts, with β coefficients (95% CI) of − 0.048 (− 0.077, − 0.019) and − 47.707 (− 83.871, − 11.543), respectively. miR-223 expression also correlated negatively with the percentage of apoptosis in lymphocytes. The rate of apoptosis in the miR-223 mimic group was significantly lower than that of the negative control, with an adverse outcome observed in the miR-223 inhibitor group. We also found that miR-223 enhanced the proliferation of Jurkat T cells and that inhibiting miR-223 had an inhibitory effect on the G1/S transition. We conclude that miR-223 can serve as a protective factor in sepsis by reducing apoptosis and enhancing cell proliferation in lymphocytes by interacting with FOXO1. Potential downstream molecules are HSP60, HSP70, and HTRA.
Long-lived charged states of single porphyrin-tape junctions under ambient conditions
Authors: Leary Edmund , Kastlunger Georg , Limburg Bart , Rincón-García Laura , Hurtado-Gallego Juan , González M. Teresa , Bollinger Gabino Rubio , Agrait Nicolás , Higgins Simon J. , Anderson Harry L. , Stadler Robert , Nichols Richard J.
Published: October 2020

Controlling the charge state of a molecule wired in a two-terminal single-molecule junction at room temperature is a key challenge in molecular electronics in relation to the development of molecular memory and other computational componentry.
The dual alkylation of the C(sp3)–H bond of cyclic α-methyl-N-sulfonyl imines via the sequential condensation/hydride transfer/cyclization process
Authors: Yuan Kejin , Dong Fengying , Yin Xiangcong , Li Shuai-Shuai , Wang Liang , Xu Lubin
Published: October 2020

The dual alkylation of the C(sp3)–H bond of the cyclic α-methyl-N-sulfonyl imine has been achieved through the piperidine-promoted cascade condensation/[1,5]-hydride transfer/cyclization from cyclic α-methyl-N-sulfonyl imine and o-aminobenzaldehyde in trifluoroethanol.
Fabrication and characterization of silicon oxycarbide fibre-matsviaelectrospinning for high temperature applications
Authors: Ren Zhongkan , Gervais Christel , Singh Gurpreet
Published: October 2020

Electrospinning of ceramic mats for high temperature applications.
Stereoselective synthesis and application of isopulegol-based bi- and trifunctional chiral compounds
Authors: Le Tam Minh , Huynh Thu , Endre Gábor , Szekeres András , Fülöp Ferenc , Szakonyi Zsolt
Published: October 2020

A new family of isopulegol-based bi- and trifunctional chiral ligands such as triols, tetrols, aminodiols and aminotriols was developed from commercially available (−)-isopulegol with antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities.
Synthesis, study of antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity of imidazo pyridine fused triazole analogues
Authors: Nandikolla Adinarayana , Srinivasarao Singireddi , Karan Kumar Banoth , Murugesan Sankaranarayanan , Aggarwal Himanshu , Major Louise L. , Smith Terry K. , Chandra Sekhar Kondapalli Venkata Gowri
Published: October 2020

Thirty-five novel 1,2,3-triazole analogues of imidazo-[1,2-a]-pyridine-3-carboxamides were designed, synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity against L. major and T. brucei parasites, respectively.
Exploring the acidity of a functionalized mesoporous polymer catalyst (P-SO3H) for glyceroltert-butyl ether synthesis
Authors: Kanakikodi Kempanna S. , Churipard Sathyapal R. , Shanbhag Ganapati V. , Halgeri A. B. , Kesava Raju Ch. Siva , Valavarasu G. , Reddy R. Sudarshan , Choudary N. V. , Maradur Sanjeev P.
Published: October 2020

Etherification of glycerol with alcohols/olefins is of great importance in the chemical processing industry for the valorization of biomass feedstocks.
Impact of post-harvest storage and freezing of palm fruits on the extraction yield and quality of African crude palm oil extracted in the laboratory
Authors: Nanda Doris , Kansci Germain , Rafflegeau Sylvain , Bourlieu Claire , Ngando Ebongue Georges , Genot Claude
Published: October 2020

In the frame of African artisanal small-scale extraction of palm oil, the effects of post-harvest storage time and freezing of palm fruits on the extraction yield and quality of crude palm oil (CPO) were studied at laboratory scale using a process mimicking artisanal extraction. The extraction yield and free fatty acid (FFA) content of CPO increased with the length of fruit storage time at room temperature and freezing. FFA, total fatty acid and triacylglycerol profiles indicated a lack of specificity of the lipases at work. During post-harvest storage, the carotenoid content of CPO decreased slightly, tocopherols and tocotrienols (tocols) remained steady, while lipid oxidation remained at a very low level. For frozen fruits, carotene and tocol contents decreased sharply as a function of storage time, thought remaining quite high, but decreasing amounts of secondary oxidation products were detected. The FFA content and lipid oxidation level were highly correlated, indicating a pro-oxidant effect of FFAs. To conclude, three days of storage prior to artisanal extraction seemed the best trade-off between extraction yield and CPO quality. Combined storage at room temperature and freezing of palm fruits led to a large range of FFA contents in CPO. Optimization of the FFA contents of artisanal CPOs in line with local consumer’s demand calls for an assessment of their functional properties and sensory perception of foods formulated with CPOs.
Surgery without Scars: Right Lateral Access for Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Wilbring Manuel , Matschke Klaus Ehrhard , Alexiou Konstantin , Di Eusanio Marco , Kappert Utz
Published: October 2020

As part of an institutionally driven holistic concept, named the “360-degree approach,” all established surgical access routes —full sternotomy, partial upper sternotomy, and right anterolateral thoracotomy using the second interspace—are supported. The surgical toolbox now is completed by adding a further approach: through a 5- to7-cm skin incision in the right anterior axillary line, the third interspace is used for a minimally invasive aortic valve surgery providing striking exposition of the aortic valve and resulting in superior cosmetics with nearly no visible scars. The choice for the one or other method is institutionally driven and based on risk profiles, as well as anatomical and physiognomic considerations.
A Further Case of Larsen's Syndrome: Clinical and Genotypic Challenges in Diagnosis
Authors: Arora Veronica , Pal Swasti , Kulshreshtha Samarth , Verma Ishwar C.
Published: October 2020

Larsen's syndrome is characterized by dislocation of multiple large joints, digital anomalies, craniofacial dysmorphism, and short stature. In this paper, we describe a case of a 5-month-old boy with a triad of cardinal features in association with other signs. The diagnosis was confirmed by exome sequencing, which led to the identification of a novel missense variant NM_001457.4:c.4928C > G (p.Ala1643Gly) in the FLNB gene. We describe the role of protein modelling for the establishment of pathogenicity of this variant. We also outline the challenges in genetic diagnosis due to variable expressivity of the variant and discuss the clinicogenetic profile of previously reported patients with Larsen's syndrome in India.
Correction: ‘Is climate science taking over the science?’: A corpus-based study of competing stances on bias, dogma and expertise in the blogosphere
Authors: Pérez-González Luis
Published: October 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
An integrated rule-based power management and dynamic feed-forward low voltage ride through scheme for a grid-connected hybrid energy system
Authors: Roy Amit Kumar , Biswal Gyan Ranjan , Basak Prasenjit
Published: October 2020

Power generation from a grid-integrated renewable energy generator embedded with backup sources to form a hybrid energy system possesses convincing features of high efficiency and zero emissions. Control for felicitating apt power sharing and for providing ancillary services such as low voltage ride through (LVRT) is necessary for the compliance of grid codes. However, the simultaneous control coordination for meeting these control objectives is challenging due to the dynamic nature of renewable generators and utility grid. Hence, this paper proposes an integrated power management strategy (PMS) and LVRT control scheme for such systems. A wind energy conversion system backed up by a battery energy storage system, proton exchange fuel cell, and electrolyzer is considered in this work. A reduced rule-based power management control scheme is proposed for the considered system where the request made by the grid operator is kept in priority. Further, a dynamic current feed-forward based LVRT control scheme based on negative sequence current minimization is presented for the grid-interfaced inverter. The inverter control is coupled with an inherent mode selection capability between the grid feeding mode and LVRT mode in order to realize the proposed integrated control objectives. The validation of the proposed PMS and LVRT control is justified by detailing relevant mathematical control models and also by realizing practical case scenarios such as variable wind speed, load demand, grid power request, and occurrences of balanced and unbalanced voltage sag. The obtained simulation results show the cordial response of the system with the proposed control strategies.
A Thermal Thickening System Based on the Self-Assembly of a Zwitterionic Hydrophobic Association Polymer and Surfactant
Authors: Liu Lang , Gou Shaohua , Ma Yongtao , Zhou Lihua , He Yang , Liu Ling , Tang Lan , Fang Shenwen
Published: October 2020

The zwitterionic monomer, 1-(2-hydroxypropyl-sulfo)-acrylamide ethyl-N,N-dimethyl ammonium chloride (MeSA) was copolymerised with acrylamide (AM), acrylic acid (AA), and a hydrophobic monomer N,N-diallyl oleamide (DNDA) to obtain the zwitterionic hydrophobic association polymer AM/AA/DNDA/MeSA. The structure of the hydrophobic association polymer was characterised by 1H NMR, FT-IR, and intrinsic viscosity studies. The self-assembly system of the polymer and the surfactant Tween-40 was then formed, and the rheological properties and adsorptive performance of the self-assembly system were investigated. The result showed that the polymer–surfactant self-assembly system had good properties such as thickening, temperature resistance, salt resistance, and shear resistance. It is shown that the thermal thickening phenomenon, which allows the system to be used as a good petrochemical product in a high-temperature environment, provides a vital research foundation for the future application of this kind of self-assembly system.
La belle infidèle orientale
Authors: Wang Hanchi (Emilie)
Published: October 2020

LeSūtra du diamanttraduit en chinois par Kumārajīva est un des textes les plus répandus du bouddhisme mahāyāna, signifiant « Grand Véhicule ». Depuis le XIXe siècle, il fait l’objet d'études interlinguistiques qui comparent les traductions du mahāyāna avec les versions sanskrites. Les traductions sont alors considérées comme étant moins fidèles surtout au niveau du texte même. Cependant, l’idée de correction littérale est inconciliable avec l’ « original ». Dans cet article, nous abordons d’abord le problème des « textes sources » dans la littérature bouddhique, mais aussi celui de la méthode prédominante dans l’étude bouddhique contemporaine. Enfin, du point de vue de la traductologie, nous essayons de recadrer la perspective des études comparatives des textes bouddhiques afin d'envisager un dialogue interdisciplinaire.