bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Marginalization and Mobilization: The Roots of Female Legislators’ Collaborative Advantage in the States
Authors: Swift Clint S. , VanderMolen Kathryn
Published: April 2021

Scholars have argued that female legislators are more prone to collaborate than their male counterparts. Though collaboration may be more or less evident in particular situations, we seek to more clearly establish the mechanism behind women’s collaborative activity using the framework of marginalization. In this paper, we use cosponsorship data from 74 state legislative chambers from 2011–2014 to analyze collaborative patterns and mobilizing institutions. We find female legislators are more collaborative than men, and that their collaborative advantage strengthens in chambers where women are systematically excluded from leadership positions. The advantage also extends to bipartisan collaboration, but only in less polarized settings with women’s caucuses. Furthermore, our findings imply that as women are integrated into leadership collaboration will actually decline, especially within their own party. We believe these results are important for understanding both the roots of collaborative behavior among female legislators and consequences of chambers that marginalize women from leadership positions.
Impact of the Boreal Summer Intraseasonal Oscillation on Typhoon Tracks in the Western North Pacific and the Prediction Skill of the ECMWF Model
Authors: Nakano M. , Vitart F. , Kikuchi K.
Published: April 2021

The tropical intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) strongly influences tropical cyclone (TC) genesis. However, little is known concerning its impact on TC tracks. Here, we examine how TC tracks in the western North Pacific are modulated by the boreal summer ISO (BSISO) during each month of the TC season (June–October) using the best track data and how well the modulation are reproduced in the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model forecasts. The results reveal that the impact of the BSISO on the typhoon tracks varies month to month. The ECMWF model successfully reproduces this impact up to a month in advance. A simple advection model shows that the reproduction of the modulations in the TC genesis location leads to accurate TC track forecasts. These results suggest that the BSISO is one of the major sources of TC track predictability at the subseasonal time scale (2 weeks to 2 months).
Long‐Range Forecasting as a Past Value Problem: Untangling Correlations and Causality With Scaling
Authors: Del Rio Amador L. , Lovejoy S.
Published: April 2021

Conventional long‐range weather prediction is an initial value problem that uses the current state of the atmosphere to produce ensemble forecasts. Purely stochastic predictions for long‐memory processes are “past value” problems that use historical data to provide conditional forecasts. Teleconnection patterns, defined from cross‐correlations, are important for identifying possible dynamical interactions, but they do not necessarily imply causation. Using the precise notion of Granger causality, we show that for long‐range stochastic temperature forecasts, the cross‐correlations are only relevant at the level of the innovations–not temperatures. This justifies the Stochastic Seasonal to Interannual Prediction System (StocSIPS) that is based on a (long memory) fractional Gaussian noise model. Extended here to the multivariate case (m‐StocSIPS) produces realistic space‐time temperature simulations. Although it has no Granger causality, emergent properties include realistic teleconnection networks and El Niño events and indices.
Global Chlorophyll a Concentrations of Phytoplankton Functional Types With Detailed Uncertainty Assessment Using Multisensor Ocean Color and Sea Surface Temperature Satellite Products
Authors: Xi Hongyan , Losa Svetlana N. , Mangin Antoine , Garnesson Philippe , Bretagnon Marine , Demaria Julien , Soppa Mariana A. , Hembise Fanton d'Andon Odile , Bracher Astrid
Published: April 2021

First, we retune an algorithm based on empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) for globally retrieving the chlorophyll a concentration (Chl‐a) of phytoplankton functional types (PFTs) from multisensor merged ocean color (OC) products. The retuned algorithm, referred to as EOF‐SST hybrid algorithm, is improved by: (i) using 23% more matchups between the updated global in situ pigment database and satellite remote sensing reflectance (Rrs) products, and (ii) including sea surface temperature (SST) as an additional input parameter. In addition to the Chl‐a of the six PFTs (diatoms, haptophytes, dinoflagellates, green algae, prokaryotes, and Prochlorococcus), the fractions of prokaryote and Prochlorococcus Chl‐a to total Chl‐a (TChl‐a), are also retrieved by the EOF‐SST hybrid algorithm. Matchup data are separated for low and high‐temperature regimes based on different PFT dependences on SST, to establish SST‐separated hybrid algorithms which demonstrate further improvements in performance as compared to the EOF‐SST hybrid algorithm. The per‐pixel uncertainty of the retrieved TChl‐a and PFT products is estimated by taking into account the uncertainties from both input data and model parameters through Monte Carlo simulations and analytical error propagation. The algorithm and its method to determine uncertainties can be transferred to similar OC products until today, enabling long‐term continuous satellite observations of global PFT products. Satellite PFT uncertainty is essential to evaluate and improve coupled ecosystem‐ocean models which simulate PFTs, and furthermore can be used to directly improve these models via data assimilation.
Observational Quantification of Aerosol Invigoration for Deep Convective Cloud Lifecycle Properties Based on Geostationary Satellite
Authors: Pan Zengxin , Rosenfeld Daniel , Zhu Yannian , Mao Feiyue , Gong Wei , Zang Lin , Lu Xin
Published: April 2021

Aerosols affect cloud microstructure, dynamics, and precipitation by acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and ice nuclei with a large uncertainty for deep convective clouds (DCCs). Here, we quantify the relationships between aerosols and DCC properties after isolating aerosol impacts from meteorology based on the METEOSAT geostationary satellite and Modern‐Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Application Version 2 (MERRA‐2) reanalysis data. Results show that fine aerosols (radius <1 µm), which serve as the best proxy for CCN from MERRA‐2, exhibit the strongest aerosol invigoration for DCC compared with aerosol optical depth and coarse aerosols. Overall, added fine aerosols result in colder cloud top temperatures (CTTs), longer lifetime, and more rainfall amounts, especially over land. As CTT decreases monotonically with added aerosols, cloud lifetime and rainfall amount reach a maximum at aerosol loading of 5 and 1.5 µg/m3 over land and ocean, respectively. Added precipitable water (PW) vapor and convective available potential energy (CAPE) are conducive to the development of more vigorous DCC. For fixed PW and CAPE, CTT decreases by up to −12.2°C ± 0.5°C with fine aerosol concentration over land and up to −4.4°C ± 1.0°C over ocean. The DCC lifetime is lengthened by a factor of 1.3 ± 0.1 from clean condition to optimal aerosol loading over land. A respective enhancement in rainfall amounts over land is indicated by a factor of 2.6 ± 0.4. The decreases in lifetime and rainfall beyond the optimal aerosol concentration are likely due to less aerosol wet scavenging from smaller and less rainy DCCs. The increases in the lifetime and rainfall amounts over ocean are much weaker.
The Crustal Stress Field Inferred From Focal Mechanisms in Northern Chile
Authors: Herrera Carlos , Cassidy John F. , Dosso Stan E. , Dettmer Jan , Bloch Wasja , Sippl Christian , Salazar Pablo
Published: April 2021

We ​study the spatial variability of the crustal stress in northern Chile. A margin‐parallel compressive crustal stress regime is inferred along the coastal region between 19° and 23.5°S, similar to stress observations in Cascadia and Japan. The Andean Precordillera shows a distinct stress field associated with a strike‐slip faulting regime around 21°S. These results are constrained by over a decade of observations, for which earthquake catalogs report thousands of events in the continental crust. We present focal mechanisms for 817 of these crustal earthquakes, including mechanism qualities. The best mechanisms were grouped and inverted to infer the stress‐field variability. We interpret the margin‐parallel compression to be caused by the concave shape of the margin and the locking of the plate interface. The inferred strike‐slip regime in the Andes agrees with previous studies and has been proposed to be mostly caused by local stresses imposed by a thicker crust.
Application Potential of Satellite Thermal Anomaly Products in Updating Industrial Emission Inventory of China
Authors: Li Rong , Tao Minghui , Zhang Meigen , Chen Liangfu , Wang Lili , Wang Yi , He Xinjie , Wei Lifei , Mei Xin , Wang Jun
Published: April 2021

Establishing dynamic and timely industrial emissions inventory accurately is usually challenging due to a long update cycle of the time‐consuming bottom‐up methods. The daily Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) thermal anomaly product at a high resolution of 375 m can detect spatial location and fire radiative power (FRP) of thermal anomalies including industrial heat sources. We explore potential of VIIRS product in updating industrial emission inventory. Industrial heat sources in China are identified and further compared with industrial emissions from Multi‐resolution Emission Inventory for China. The correlations (R2) between VIIRS FRP and industrial emissions are 0.86 in regions dominated by coal‐consuming activities and 0.9 for these with fragmented small‐scale plants and light industries. Our results suggest that VIIRS thermal product can provide a dynamic and quantitative constraint of activation levels and spatial allocation of emission from industrial heat sources.
Long‐Term (1979‐Present) Total Water Storage Anomalies Over the Global Land Derived by Reconstructing GRACE Data
Authors: Li Fupeng , Kusche Jürgen , Chao Nengfang , Wang Zhengtao , Löcher Anno
Published: April 2021

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission has monitored global total water storage anomalies (TWSA) with an unprecedented accuracy since 2002. Yet, many applications require a longer record, that is, extending prior to the GRACE period. Here, we present a new global reconstruction of long‐term (1979–2020) TWSA fields by combining machine learning with time series decomposition and statistical decomposition techniques. We find that the long‐term TWSA reconstructed from GRACE fits well with the GRACE‐FO observation over most grids (0.5° resolution) of the global land and successfully reproduces the strong El Niño signal. Comparisons to Satellite Laser Ranging solutions and to observed global mean sea level change suggest our reconstruction (doi: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.z612jm6bt) is more reliable than previously published products. This study provides a viable approach for both reconstructing past TWSA and filling the GRACE data gap at the global scale.
Effect of Buoyant Sediment Overlying Subducting Plates on Trench Geometry: 3D Viscoelastic Free Subduction Modeling
Authors: Keum Jae‐Yoon , So Byung‐Dal
Published: April 2021

Buoyant trench sediment generates an isostatic restoring force that opposes the slab pull of subducting plates; however, the influence of this force on subduction dynamics is poorly understood. Here, we performed three‐dimensional free subduction simulations adopting a variety of sediment distributions along a trench to investigate the correlation between trench motions and heterogeneous buoyant forces. Two endmembers, sediment‐rich and sediment‐starved centers, induced convex and concave trenches, respectively. The trench curvatures obtained from the natural subduction zones are well constrained by our models over wide magnitudes (1–9 km) and wavelengths (100–400 km) of deficient and excess sediments. Conversely, a uniform sediment distribution leads to an extremely narrow range of trench curvatures. These results imply that trench sediment contributes significantly to deviated curvatures along trench strikes. Finally, we observed stress localization at shallow slab hinges that lie beneath abundant sediments, clarifying the relationship between sediment thickness and subduction earthquakes.
High Pressure‐Temperature Single‐Crystal Elasticity of Grossular: Implications for the Low‐Velocity Layer in the Bottom Transition Zone
Authors: Wei Wei , Mao Zhu , Sun Ningyu , Sun Daoyuan , Tkachev Sergey N.
Published: April 2021

We determined the single‐crystal elasticity of Fe3+‐bearing grossular using Brillouin scattering up to 22 GPa and 1,000 K. Using the obtained results, we modeled mantle velocity profiles to investigate the origin of low‐velocity zones (LVZs) in the bottom 100 km of the mantle transition zone. Our modeling revealed that although a water‐saturated transition zone could be seismically detected as the LVZs, it would also cause a negative velocity jump across the 520‐km discontinuity, which has not been seismically detected. However, mid‐ocean ridge basalts (MORB) with an FeO content of 10–17 wt.% in garnet will have VS 2.0(5)%–3.0(5)% lower than that in the pyrolitic mantle. Oxidizing (FeO = 17 wt.%, Fe3+/(Fe2+ + Fe3+) = 0.3–0.8) or lowering the Ca content of garnet to 1.4 wt.% can further decrease the VS of MORB. Such Fe‐enriched, oxidized MORB or Ca‐depleted, oxidized MORB, with a 3.5(5)%–7.6(5)% lower VS and distinct dln ρ/dln VS ratio, have a seismic signature consistent with the observed LVZs in the region.
Respiratory muscle function in the newborn: a narrative review
Authors: Dassios Theodore , Vervenioti Aggeliki , Dimitriou Gabriel
Published: April 2021

Our aim was to summarise the current evidence and methods used to assess respiratory muscle function in the newborn, focusing on current and future potential clinical applications. The respiratory muscles undertake the work of breathing and consist mainly of the diaphragm, which in the newborn is prone to dysfunction due to lower muscle mass, flattened shape and decreased content of fatigue-resistant muscle fibres. Premature infants are prone to diaphragmatic dysfunction due to limited reserves and limited capacity to generate force and avoid fatigue. Methods to assess the respiratory muscles in the newborn include electromyography, maximal respiratory pressures, assessment for thoraco-abdominal asynchrony and composite indices, such as the pressure–time product and the tension time index. Recently, there has been significant interest and a growing body of research in assessing respiratory muscle function using bedside ultrasonography. Neurally adjusted ventilator assist is a novel ventilation mode, where the level of the respiratory support is determined by the diaphragmatic electrical activity. Prolonged mechanical ventilation, hypercapnia and hypoxia, congenital anomalies and systemic or respiratory infection can negatively impact respiratory muscle function in the newborn, while caffeine and synchronised or volume-targeted ventilation have a positive effect on respiratory muscle function compared to conventional, non-triggered or pressure-limited ventilation, respectively.

Impact

Respiratory muscle function is impaired in prematurely born neonates and infants with congenital anomalies, such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Respiratory muscle function is negatively affected by prolonged ventilation and infection and positively affected by caffeine and synchronised compared to non-synchronised ventilation modes.

Point-of-care diaphragmatic ultrasound and neurally adjusted ventilator assist are recent diagnostic and therapeutic technological developments with significant clinical applicability.
Transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy: theoretical considerations and a practical approach to an unrefined diagnosis
Authors: Young Joanna A. , Pallas Christopher R. , Knovich Mary Ann
Published: April 2021

Transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) is an increasingly recognized complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) with high morbidity and mortality. The triad of endothelial cell activation, complement dysregulation, and microvascular hemolytic anemia has the potential to cause end organ dysfunction, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death, but clinical features mimic other disorders following HSCT, delaying diagnosis. Recent advances have implicated complement as a major contributor and the therapeutic potential of complement inhibition has been explored. Eculizumab has emerged as an effective therapy and narsoplimab (OMS721) has been granted priority review by the FDA. Large studies performed mostly in pediatric patients suggest that earlier recognition and treatment may lead to improved outcomes. Here we present a clinically focused summary of recently published literature and propose a diagnostic and treatment algorithm.
Mirtronic miR-4646-5p promotes gastric cancer metastasis by regulating ABHD16A and metabolite lysophosphatidylserines
Authors: Yang Liping , Hou Yixuan , Du Yan-e , Li Qiao , Zhou Fanlin , Li Yu , Zeng Huan , Jin Ting , Wan Xueying , Guan Shengdong , Wang Rui , Liu Manran
Published: April 2021

The aberrant classical miRNAs are considered to play significant roles in tumor progression. However, it remains unclear for nonclassical miRNAs, a set of Drosha-independent miRNAs in the process of various biology. Here, we reveal that a nonclassical miR-4646-5p plays a pivotal role in gastric cancer (GC) metastasis. MiR-4646-5p, one of Drosha-independent mirtronic miRNA, is aberrant up-regulated in Drosha-low expressed GC and Drosha-knockdown gastric cancer cells. Mirtronic miR-4646-5p is a specific transcription splicing product of intron 3 of the host gene Abhd16a with the aid of SRSF2. The enhanced miR-4646-5p can stabilize HIF1A by targeting PHD3 to positive feedback regulate Abhd16a and miR-4646-5p itself expressions. ABHD16A, as an emerging phosphatidylserine-specific lipase, involves in lipid metabolism leading to lysophosphatidylserines (lyso-PSs) accumulation, which stimulates RhoA and downstream LIMK/cofilin cascade activity through GPR34/Gi subunit, thus causes metastasis of gastric cancer. In addition, miR-4646-5p/PHD3/HIF1A signaling can also up-regulate RhoA expression and synergistically promote gastric cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Our study provides new insights of nonclassical mirtronic miRNA on tumor progress and may serve as a new diagnostic biomarker for gastric cancer. MiR-4646-5p and its host gene Abhd16a mediated abnormal lipid metabolism may be a new target for clinical treatment of gastric cancer.
Overexpression of circRNA SNRK targets miR-103-3p to reduce apoptosis and promote cardiac repair through GSK3β/β-catenin pathway in rats with myocardial infarction
Authors: Zhu Yeqian , Zhao Pengcheng , Sun Ling , Lu Yao , Zhu Wenwu , Zhang Jian , Xiang Chengyu , Mao Yangming , Chen Qiushi , Zhang Fengxiang
Published: April 2021

Ischemic cardiomyopathy seriously endangers human health leading to a poor prognosis. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the primary etiology, and the pathophysiological process concludes with the death of cardiomyocytes caused by acute and persistent ischemia and hypoxia in the coronary arteries. We identified a circRNA (circSNRK) which was downregulated in rats with myocardial infarction (MI), however, the role it plays in the MI environment is still unclear. This study contained experiments to investigate the role of circSNRK in the regulation of cardiac survival and explore the mechanisms underlying circSNRK functions. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to determine the circSNRK expression patterns in hearts. Gain-of-function assays were also conducted in vitro and in vivo to determine the role of circSNRK in cardiac repair. qRT-PCR, western blot, and luciferase reporter assays were used to study circRNA interactions with micro RNAs (miRNAs). Overexpression of circSNRK in cardiomyocytes reduced apoptosis and increased proliferation. Adeno associated virus 9 (AAV9) mediated myocardium overexpression of circSNRK in post MI hearts reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, promoted cardiomyocyte proliferation, enhanced angiogenesis, and improved cardiac functions. Overall, upregulation of circSNRK promotes cardiac survival and functional recovery after MI. Mechanistically, circSNRK regulates cardiomyocyte apoptosis and proliferation by acting as a miR-103-3p sponge and inducing increased expression of SNRK which can bind GSK3β to regulate its phosphorylated activity. And thus circSNRK may be a promising therapeutic target for improving clinical prognosis after MI.
Germline variants in UNC13D and AP3B1 are enriched in COVID-19 patients experiencing severe cytokine storms
Authors: Luo Hui , Liu Dan , Liu Wenbing , Wang Gaoxiang , Chen Liting , Cao Yang , Wei Jia , Xiao Min , Liu Xin , Huang Gang , Wang Wei , Zhou Jianfeng , Wang Qian-fei
Published: April 2021

Critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized by severe cytokine storms, a hyperinflammatory condition intimately related to the development of fatal outcomes. Why some individuals seem particularly vulnerable to severe cytokine storms is still unknown. Primary immunodeficiency (PID)-related genes are inherited factors that dysregulate host inflammatory responses to infection, especially hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)-related genes, established as contributors to the development of excessive cytokine storms. We analyzed the association between PID gene variants with severe cytokine storms in COVID-19. We conducted whole-exome sequencing in 233 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and identified four PID gene (UNC13D, AP3B1, RNF168, DHX58) variants were significantly enriched in COVID-19 patients experiencing severe cytokine storms. The total percentage of COVID-19 patients with variants in UNC13D or AP3B1, two typical HLH genes, was dramatically higher in high-level cytokine group than in low-level group (33.3 vs. 5.7%, P < 0.001). Germline variants in UNC13D and AP3B1 were associated with the development of severe cytokine storms, fatal outcomes in COVID-19. These findings advance the understanding of individual susceptibility to severe cytokine storms and help optimize the current management of COVID-19.
On the origin of the widespread self-compatible allotetraploid Capsella bursa-pastoris (Brassicaceae)
Authors: Bachmann Jörg A. , Tedder Andrew , Fracassetti Marco , Steige Kim A. , Lafon-Placette Clément , Köhler Claudia , Slotte Tanja
Published: April 2021

Polyploidy, or whole-genome duplication, is a common speciation mechanism in plants. An important barrier to polyploid establishment is a lack of compatible mates. Because self-compatibility alleviates this problem, it has long been hypothesized that there should be an association between polyploidy and self-compatibility (SC), but empirical support for this prediction is mixed. Here, we investigate whether the molecular makeup of the Brassicaceae self-incompatibility (SI) system, and specifically dominance relationships among S-haplotypes mediated by small RNAs, could facilitate loss of SI in allopolyploid crucifers. We focus on the allotetraploid species Capsella bursa-pastoris, which formed ~300 kya by hybridization and whole-genome duplication involving progenitors from the lineages of Capsella orientalis and Capsella grandiflora. We conduct targeted long-read sequencing to assemble and analyze eight full-length S-locus haplotypes, representing both homeologous subgenomes of C. bursa-pastoris. We further analyze small RNA (sRNA) sequencing data from flower buds to identify candidate dominance modifiers. We find that C. orientalis-derived S-haplotypes of C. bursa-pastoris harbor truncated versions of the male SI specificity gene SCR and express a conserved sRNA-based candidate dominance modifier with a target in the C. grandiflora-derived S-haplotype. These results suggest that pollen-level dominance may have facilitated loss of SI in C. bursa-pastoris. Finally, we demonstrate that spontaneous somatic tetraploidization after a wide cross between C. orientalis and C. grandiflora can result in production of self-compatible tetraploid offspring. We discuss the implications of this finding on the mode of formation of this widespread weed.
Large-scale sequencing of flatfish genomes provides insights into the polyphyletic origin of their specialized body plan
Authors: Lü Zhenming , Gong Li , Ren Yandong , Chen Yongjiu , Wang Zhongkai , Liu Liqin , Li Haorong , Chen Xianqing , Li Zhenzhu , Luo Hairong , Jiang Hui , Zeng Yan , Wang Yifan , Wang Kun , Zhang Chen , Jiang Haifeng , Wan Wenting , Qin Yanli , Zhang Jianshe , Zhu Liang , Shi Wei , He Shunping , Mao Bingyu , Wang Wen , Kong Xiaoyu , Li Yongxin
Published: April 2021

The evolutionary and genetic origins of the specialized body plan of flatfish are largely unclear. We analyzed the genomes of 11 flatfish species representing 9 of the 14 Pleuronectiforme families and conclude that Pleuronectoidei and Psettodoidei do not form a monophyletic group, suggesting independent origins from different percoid ancestors. Genomic and transcriptomic data indicate that genes related to WNT and retinoic acid pathways, hampered musculature and reduced lipids might have functioned in the evolution of the specialized body plan of Pleuronectoidei. Evolution of Psettodoidei involved similar but not identical genes. Our work provides valuable resources and insights for understanding the genetic origins of the unusual body plan of flatfishes.
PathoNet introduced as a deep neural network backend for evaluation of Ki-67 and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in breast cancer
Authors: Negahbani Farzin , Sabzi Rasool , Pakniyat Jahromi Bita , Firouzabadi Dena , Movahedi Fateme , Kohandel Shirazi Mahsa , Majidi Shayan , Dehghanian Amirreza
Published: April 2021

The nuclear protein Ki-67 and Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have been introduced as prognostic factors in predicting both tumor progression and probable response to chemotherapy. The value of Ki-67 index and TILs in approach to heterogeneous tumors such as Breast cancer (BC) that is the most common cancer in women worldwide, has been highlighted in literature. Considering that estimation of both factors are dependent on professional pathologists’ observation and inter-individual variations may also exist, automated methods using machine learning, specifically approaches based on deep learning, have attracted attention. Yet, deep learning methods need considerable annotated data. In the absence of publicly available benchmarks for BC Ki-67 cell detection and further annotated classification of cells, In this study we propose SHIDC-BC-Ki-67 as a dataset for the aforementioned purpose. We also introduce a novel pipeline and backend, for estimation of Ki-67 expression and simultaneous determination of intratumoral TILs score in breast cancer cells. Further, we show that despite the challenges that our proposed model has encountered, our proposed backend, PathoNet, outperforms the state of the art methods proposed to date with regard to harmonic mean measure acquired. Dataset is publicly available inhttp://shiraz-hidc.comand all experiment codes are published inhttps://github.com/SHIDCenter/PathoNet.
Changes in complement activation products after anti-VEGF injection for choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration and pachychoroid disease
Authors: Tanaka Keiichiro , Oguchi Yasuharu , Omori Tomoko , Ishida Yumi , Shintake Hiroaki , Tomita Ryutaro , Kasai Akihito , Ogasawara Masashi , Sugano Yukinori , Itagaki Kanako , Ojima Akira , Machida Takeshi , Sekine Hideharu , Sekiryu Tetsuju
Published: April 2021

We evaluated changes in the complement system resulting from anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in eyes with age-related choroidal neovascularization (CNV) including neovascular age-related macular degeneration, pachychoroid neovasculopathy, and polypoidal choroidal neovasculopathy. We measured the concentrations of the complement activation products (C3a, C4a), VEGF, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in the aqueous humor during intravitreal anti-VEGF injections for CNV. The VEGF level decreased significantly (P < 0.001), while the C3a and C4a levels increased significantly (P < 0.001 for both comparisons) 1 month after two monthly anti-VEGF injections. The VEGF level was correlated with the C3a (R = 0.328, P = 0.007) and C4a (R = − 0.237, P = 0.055) levels at baseline, but the correlation between the VEGF and C3a levels (R = − 0.148, P = 0.242) changed significantly (P = 0.028 by analysis of covariance) after anti-VEGF treatment. The C3a increase after anti-VEGF therapy did not change the visual outcomes in eyes with CNV for 1 year. Dysregulation of the complement system can be induced after anti-VEGF therapy.
A deep learning model to detect pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma on endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy
Authors: Naito Yoshiki , Tsuneki Masayuki , Fukushima Noriyoshi , Koga Yutaka , Higashi Michiyo , Notohara Kenji , Aishima Shinichi , Ohike Nobuyuki , Tajiri Takuma , Yamaguchi Hiroshi , Fukumura Yuki , Kojima Motohiro , Hirabayashi Kenichi , Hamada Yoshihiro , Norose Tomoko , Kai Keita , Omori Yuko , Sukeda Aoi , Noguchi Hirotsugu , Uchino Kaori , Itakura Junya , Okabe Yoshinobu , Yamada Yuichi , Akiba Jun , Kanavati Fahdi , Oda Yoshinao , Furukawa Toru , Yano Hirohisa
Published: April 2021

Histopathological diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) on endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) specimens has become the mainstay of preoperative pathological diagnosis. However, on EUS-FNB specimens, accurate histopathological evaluation is difficult due to low specimen volume with isolated cancer cells and high contamination of blood, inflammatory and digestive tract cells. In this study, we performed annotations for training sets by expert pancreatic pathologists and trained a deep learning model to assess PDAC on EUS-FNB of the pancreas in histopathological whole-slide images. We obtained a high receiver operator curve area under the curve of 0.984, accuracy of 0.9417, sensitivity of 0.9302 and specificity of 0.9706. Our model was able to accurately detect difficult cases of isolated and low volume cancer cells. If adopted as a supportive system in routine diagnosis of pancreatic EUS-FNB specimens, our model has the potential to aid pathologists diagnose difficult cases.
Features of sacral alar fatigue fractures in adolescent athletes with overuse
Authors: Tatsumura Masaki , Eto Fumihiko , Nagashima Katsuya , Okuwaki Shun , Gamada Hisanori , Iwabuchi Sho , Ogawa Takeshi , Mammoto Takeo , Hirano Atsushi , Yamazaki Masashi
Published: April 2021

Three types of sacral alar fatigue fractures are elderly, postnatal, and sport-related. They are most prevalent in athletes during adulthood; there are few reports of sacral alar fatigue fractures in young athletes. The purpose of this study was to analyze sacral alar fatigue fractures in adolescent athletes. Of the 920 patients hospitalized with low back pain, 13 were diagnosed with sacral alar fatigue fractures with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities. We investigated age, sex, sports discipline, span from symptom onset to consultation, laterality, complication with spondylolysis, computed tomography (CT) findings, and treatment span. The average age was 14.5 years old (8-men and 5-women). The most frequent discipline was basketball. The span to consultation was 13.2 days. The number of right-side cases was 9. Seven cases were complicated by bilateral spondylolysis. MRI abnormalities were observed in all the cases. Only two patients showed abnormal findings on CT. Averagely 67 days after treatment, participants returned to their sports. Sacral alar fatigue fractures suggest that the span from onset to consultation is short. Fracture lines are often unclear on CT, and MRI is useful for diagnosis. More than half of the cases in this study were complicated by lumbar spondylolysis.
Gene expression rearrangements denoting changes in the biological state
Authors: Gonzalez Augusto , Nieves Joan , Leon Dario A. , Bringas Vega Maria Luisa , Sosa Pedro Valdes
Published: April 2021

In many situations, the gene expression signature is a unique marker of the biological state. We study the modification of the gene expression distribution function when the biological state of a system experiences a change. This change may be the result of a selective pressure, as in the Long Term Evolution Experiment with E. Coli populations, or the progression to Alzheimer disease in aged brains, or the progression from a normal tissue to the cancer state. The first two cases seem to belong to a class of transitions, where the initial and final states are relatively close to each other, and the distribution function for the differential expressions is short ranged, with a tail of only a few dozens of strongly varying genes. In the latter case, cancer, the initial and final states are far apart and separated by a low-fitness barrier. The distribution function shows a very heavy tail, with thousands of silenced and over-expressed genes. We characterize the biological states by means of their principal component representations, and the expression distribution functions by their maximal and minimal differential expression values and the exponents of the Pareto laws describing the tails.
Investigation of antioxidant and anticancer activities of unsaturated oligo-galacturonic acids produced by pectinase of Streptomyces hydrogenans YAM1
Authors: Hosseini Abari Afrouzossadat , Amini Rourani Hamed , Ghasemi Seyed Mahdi , Kim Hyun , Kim Yun-Gon
Published: April 2021

Pectin, a diverse carbohydrate polymer in plants consists of a core of α-1,4-linked D-galacturonic acid units, includes a vast portion of fruit and agricultural wastes. Using the wastes to produce beneficial compounds is a new approach to control the negative environmental impacts of the accumulated wastes. In the present study, we report a pectinase producing bacterium Streptomyces hydrogenans YAM1 and evaluate antioxidative and anticancer effects of the oligosaccharides obtained from pectin degradation. The production of oligosaccharides due to pectinase activity was detected by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Our results revealed that S. hydrogenans YAM1 can degrade pectin to unsaturated pectic oligo-galacturonic acids (POS) with approximately 93% radical scavenging activity in 20 mg/mL which it is more than 50% of the same concentration of pectin. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that MCF-7 cells viability decreased more than 32 and 92% following treatment with 6 and 20 mg/mL POS after 24 h, respectively. It is suggested that pectin degradation by S. hydrogenans YAM1 is not only a new approach to produce highly active compounds from fruit wastes, but also is an effective method to remove fibrous pollutants from different environments.
Enhanced ultraviolet absorption in graphene by aluminum and magnesium hole-arrays
Authors: Cheng Xueling , Wang Yunshan
Published: April 2021

Optoelectronic devices in the UV range have many applications including deep-UV communications, UV photodetectors, UV spectroscopy, etc. Graphene has unique exciton resonances, that have demonstrated large photosensitivity across the UV spectrum. Enhancing UV absorption in graphene has the potential to boost the performance of the various opto-electronic devices. Here we report numerical study of UV absorption in graphene on aluminum and magnesium hole-arrays. The absorption in a single-layer graphene on aluminum and magnesium hole-arrays reached a maximum value of 28% and 30% respectively, and the absorption peak is tunable from the UV to the visible range. The proposed graphene hybrid structure does not require graphene to be sandwiched between different material layers and thus is easy to fabricate and allows graphene to interact with its surroundings.
A randomized controlled trial of ovarian reserve preservation and hemostasis during ovarian cystectomy
Authors: Park Soo Jin , Seol Aeran , Lee Nara , Lee Seungmee , Kim Hee Seung ,   PRAHA Study Group, Seol Aeran , Lee Eunji , Yim Ga Won , Paik Haerin , Kim Hee Seung , Lim Hyunji , Kim Jae-Weon , Mun Jaehee , Kim Junhwan , Lee Nara , Lee Seungmee , Park Soo Jin
Published: April 2021

The preservation of ovarian reserve during laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) ovarian cystectomy is crucial for reproductive-age women. This study was a single-blinded, single-center, and randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of hemostatic agents on the preservation of ovarian reserve and hemostasis during LESS ovarian cystectomy. Patients with unilateral ovarian cyst were randomized to the hemostatic agent and coagulation groups according to the hemostasis method. Afterwards, the patients underwent LESS ovarian cystectomy, and hemostasis was performed after ovarian cyst excision according to the assigned hemostasis method. If hemostasis was not completed within 10 min. After discharge, the patients were followed until 3 months after surgery. We compared the hemoglobin, anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, and ovarian volumes before surgery, and 2 days, 1 week, and 3 months after surgery (3 M-POST), and the decline ratio between the two groups. The decline ratio of serum AMH levels was greater at 3 M-POST in the coagulation than in the hemostatic agent group (median intention-to-treat [ITT], − 36.7 vs. − 13.3%; per-protocol [PP], − 36.8 vs. − 13.3%; P < 0.05). Notably, the difference of the decline ratio of serum AMH levels was only shown in endometriosis patients (median; ITT, − 50.7 vs. − 14.4%; PP, − 50.7% vs. − 14.4%; P < 0.05), while there was no difference in non-endometriosis patients. In conclusion, Hemostatic agents may be non-inferior to bipolar coagulation for preserving ovarian reserve and hemostasis during LESS ovarian cystectomy, in particular, for endometriosis patients. (Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03374397).
Edaphic and climatic factors influence on the distribution of soil transmitted helminths in Kogi East, Nigeria
Authors: Yaro Clement Ameh , Kogi Ezekiel , Luka Sodangi Abdulkarim , Nassan Mohamed A. , Kabir Junaidu , Opara Kenneth Nnamdi , Hetta Helal F. , Batiha Gaber El-Saber
Published: April 2021

The need for a reliable risk map in the control of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in Kogi East, North Central Nigeria is very important. This study was carried out to determine the effect of environmental risk factors on geospatial distribution of STHs. Epidemiological data were obtained from a district-wide survey conducted in 2018 in Kogi East. Edaphic and climatic factors were downloaded as spatial layers from international recognised health data resources centres. A total of 24 environmental factors were used in determining the risk map of STHs using MaxEnt tool. The predicted high-risk areas of A. lumbricoides, hookworms and S. stercoralis were the central part of Kogi East covering parts of Dekina, Ofu, Igalamela-Odolu, Olamaboro and Omala LGAs with probability of 0.8 to 1.00. Among the factors investigated; Temperature [mean diurnal temperature range (BIO2), temperature annual range (BIO7) and maximum temperature of the warmest month (BIO5)], precipitation [precipitation of the wettest quarter (BIO16)], and soil clay contents were the five factors that exerted most significant influence on the geospatial distribution of STHs in Kogi East, Nigeria. Public health control programmes on STHs should target high-risk areas by including them in mass drug administration, health education as well as provision of water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructures.
A survival analysis of surgically treated incidental low-grade glioma patients
Authors: Zeng Lingcheng , Mei Qi , Li Hua , Ke Changshu , Yu Jiasheng , Chen Jian
Published: April 2021

To evaluate the surgical effect on survival in patients with incidental low-grade glioma (LGG) through comparison between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. The medical records of surgically treated adult cerebral incidental LGG (iLGG) patients in our department between January 2008 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The survival of patients was calculated starting from the initial imaging diagnosis. Factors related to progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and malignant progression-free survival (MPFS) were statistically analyzed. Seventy-five iLGG patients underwent surgery: 49 in the asymptomatic group, who underwent surgery in the asymptomatic period, and 26 in the symptomatic group, who underwent surgery after the tumor had grown and the patients had developed tumor-related symptoms. Significantly more tumors were initially located adjacent to the functional area in the symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the total resection rate between the two groups. The incidence of postoperative complications (15.4%) and postoperative epilepsy (23.1%) was higher in the symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group (4.1% and 10.2%, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that surgical timing, namely, surgery performed before or after symptom occurrence, had no significant effect on PFS, OS or MPFS, while total resection significantly prolonged PFS, OS and MPFS, and the pathology of oligodendroglioma was positively correlated with PFS and OS (P < 0.05). Surgical timing for iLGGs should facilitate total resection. If total resection can be achieved, even after symptom occurrence, patients can achieve comparable survival benefits to those treated with surgery in the asymptomatic phase.
Optimisation of T2 and T2* sequences in MRI for better quantification of iron on transfused dependent sickle cell patients
Authors: Ahmed Azza , Baldo Amani , Sulieman A. , Mirghani Hind , Abolaban Fouad A. , Suliman I. I. , Salih Isam
Published: April 2021

This work aimed to investigate the effect of different shim techniques, voxel sizes, and repetition time (TR) on using theT2 and T2* sequences to determine their optimum settings to investigate the quantification of iron in transfused dependent sickle cell patients. The effect of each of these parameters was investigated on phantoms of different Gadolinium (Gd) concentrations, on 10 volunteers and 25 patients using a1 5T MRI Philips scanner. No significant difference between the three shim techniques was noticed in either T2 or T2* sequence measurements. Pixel sizes of 1 × 1 and 2 × 2 mm provided optimum results for T2 measurements. At 1 × 1 mm pixel size the T2* measurements experienced less error in measurements than the size of 2.5 × 2.5 mm used in the literature. Even though the slice thickness variation did not provide any changes in T2 measurements, the 12 mm provided optimum T2* measurements. TR variation did not yield significant changes on either T2 or T2* measurements. These results indicate that both T2 and T2* sequences can be further improved by providing more reliable measurements and reducing acquisition time.
Immuno-profiling and cellular spatial analysis using five immune oncology multiplex immunofluorescence panels for paraffin tumor tissue
Authors: Parra Edwin Roger , Ferrufino-Schmidt Maria C. , Tamegnon Auriole , Zhang Jiexin , Solis Luisa , Jiang Mei , Ibarguen Heladio , Haymaker Cara , Lee J. Jack , Bernatchez Chantale , Wistuba Ignacio Ivan
Published: April 2021

Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) has arisen as an important tool for immuno-profiling tumor tissues. We updated our manual protocol into an automated protocol that allows the use of up to seven markers in five mIF panels to apply to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor tissues. Using a tyramide signal amplification system, we optimized five mIF panels that included cytokeratin to characterize malignant cells (MCs), immune checkpoint markers (i.e., PD-L1, B7-H3, B7-H4, IDO-1, VISTA, LAG3, ICOS, TIM3, and OX40), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytic markers (i.e., CD3, CD8, CD45RO, granzyme B, PD-1, and FOXP3), and markers to characterize myeloid-derived suppressor cells (i.e., CD68, CD66b, CD14, CD33, Arg-1, and CD11b). To determine analytical reproducibility and the impact of those panels for immuno-profiling tumor tissues, we performed an exploratory analysis in a set of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples. The slides were scanned, and the different cell phenotypes were quantified by simultaneous co-localizations with the markers using image analysis software. Comparison between the time points of staining showed high analytical reproducibility. The analysis of NSCLC cases showed an immunosuppressive microenvironment with PD-L1/PD-1 expression as a predominant axis. Interestingly, high density of MCs expressing B7-H4 was correlated with recurrence. Unexpectedly, MCs expressing OX40 were also detected, and those cells were a closer distance to CD3+T-cells than were MCs expressing other immune checkpoints. Two different cellular patterns of spatial distribution were determined according the CD3 distribution, and the predominant pattern was related with active immunosuppressive interaction with MCs. Our study shows that these five mIF panels can identify multiple targets in a single cell with high reproducibility. The study of different cell populations and their spatial relationship can open new ideas for therapeutic approaches.
Author Correction: Discovering the bacteriome of Vitis vinifera cv. Pinot Noir in a conventionally managed vineyard
Authors: Gamalero Elisa , Bona Elisa , Novello Giorgia , Boatti Lara , Mignone Flavio , Massa Nadia , Cesaro Patrizia , Berta Graziella , Lingua Guido
Published: April 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
The freezing behavior of aqueousn-alcohol nanodroplets
Authors: Sun Tong , Ben-Amotz Dor , Wyslouzil Barbara E.
Published: April 2021

Surface partitioning of short chain alcohols moderates their effect on ice formation.
Understanding thioamitide biosynthesis using pathway engineering and untargeted metabolomics
Authors: Eyles Tom H. , Vior Natalia M. , Lacret Rodney , Truman Andrew W.
Published: April 2021

Heterologous expression, pathway mutations and detailed metabolomic analysis were used to deduce a model for the biosynthesis of thiostreptamide S4, which belongs the thioamitide family of antitumour RiPPs.
Establishment of primary reference measurement procedures and reference materials for EGFR variant detection in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Xia , Zhang Yongzhuo , Niu Chunyan , Wang Shangjun , Li Liang , Guo Yong , Zhu Lingxiang , Jin Xiaohua , Gao Huafang , Xu Wentao , Zhu Pengyu , Lan Qingkuo , Du Meihong , Cheng Xiaoyan , Gao Yunhua , Dong Lianhua
Published: April 2021

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based mutation detection is promising to change the clinical practice of genotype-directed therapy for cancer.
Inhibition of cancer-cell migration by tetraspanin CD9-binding peptide
Authors: Suwatthanarak Thanawat , Tanaka Masayoshi , Miyamoto Yoshitaka , Miyado Kenji , Okochi Mina
Published: April 2021

A CD9-binding peptide (RSHRLRLH), screened from EWI-2, was characterized, and its inhibition effect on cancer-cell migration and invasion was demonstrated.
Correction: Imaging the reactivity and width of graphene's boundary region
Authors: AlSalem Huda S. , Al-Goul Soha T. , Ferrari Alejandro García-Miranda , Brownson Dale A. C. , Velarde Luis , Koehler Sven P. K.
Published: April 2021

Correction for ‘Imaging the reactivity and width of graphene's boundary region’ by Huda S. AlSalem et al., Chem. Commun., 2020, 56, 9612–9615, DOI: 10.1039/D0CC02675A.
Discriminating the influence of thermal excitation and the presence of structural isomers on the Stark and Zeeman effect of AlSn12 clusters by combined electric and magnetic beam deflection experiments
Authors: Rivic Filip , Fuchs Thomas M. , Schäfer Rolf
Published: April 2021

A combination of electric and magnetic beam deflection experiments shows a connection between non-polar and superatomic species for AlSn12 clusters.