bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-dose drug heat map based on organoid array chip for drug selection with high safety and efficacy
Authors: Lee Sang-Yun , Teng Yvonne , Son Miseol , Ku Bosung , Moon Ho Sang , Tergaonkar Vinay , Chow Pierce Kah-Hoe , Lee Dong Woo , Nam Do-Hyun
Published: May 2021

An organoid array chip was developed by adopting a micropillar and microwell structure to test safety and efficacy of drugs using high dose drug heat map. In the chip, we encapsulated patient-derived cells in alginate and grow them to maturity for more than 7 days to form cancer organoids. When screening drug compounds in a high-density organoid array due to lack of number of patient-derived cells, changing media without damage of organoids is a very tedious and difficult process. Organoids grown in conventional well plates needed too many cells and were also easily damaged due to multiple pipetting during maintenance culture or during experimental procedures. To solve those problem, we applied a micropillar and microwell structure to the organoid array. We used patient-derived cells from patients with Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common and lethal form of central nervous system cancer, to validate the array chip performance. After forming more than 100µm-diameter organoids in 12 × 36 pillar array chip (25mm × 75mm), we tested 70 drug compounds (6 replicates) with high high-dose to find out high safety and efficacy drug candidates. Comparing the drug response of organoids derived from normal cells and cancer cells, we identified four compounds (Dacomitinib, Cediranib, Ly2835219, BGJ398) as drug candidates without toxicity to GBM cells.
The depletion mechanism can actuate bacterial aggregation by self-produced exopolysaccharides and determine species distribution and composition in bacterial aggregates
Authors: Secor Patrick R. , Michaels Lia A. , Bublitz DeAnna C. , Jennings Laura K. , Singh Pradeep K.
Published: May 2021

Bacteria causing chronic infections are often found in cell aggregates suspended in polymer secretions, and aggregation may be a factor in infection persistence. One aggregation mechanism, called depletion aggregation, is driven by physical forces between bacteria and polymers. Here we investigated whether the depletion mechanism can actuate the aggregating effects of P. aeruginosa exopolysaccharides for suspended (i.e. not surface attached) bacteria, and how depletion affects bacterial inter-species interactions. We found cells overexpressing the exopolysaccharides Pel and Psl, but not alginate remained aggregated after depletion-mediating conditions were reversed. In co-culture, depletion aggregation had contrasting effects on P. aeruginosa’s interactions with coccus- and rod-shaped bacteria. Depletion caused S. aureus (cocci) and P. aeruginosa (rods) to segregate from each other, S. aureus to resist secreted P. aeruginosa antimicrobial factors, and the species to co-exist. In contrast, depletion aggregation caused P. aeruginosa and Burkholderia sp. to intermix, enhancing type VI secretion inhibition of Burkholderia by P. aeruginosa, leading to P. aeruginosa dominance. These results show that in addition to being a primary cause of aggregation in polymer-rich suspensions, physical forces inherent to the depletion mechanism can actuate the aggregating effects of self-produced exopolysaccharides and determine species distribution and composition of bacterial communities.
Cardiac dysfunction affects eye development and vision by reducing supply of lipids in fish
Authors: Sørhus Elin , Meier Sonnich , Donald Carey E. , Furmanek Tomasz , Edvardsen Rolf B. , Lie Kai K.
Published: May 2021

Developing organisms are especially vulnerable to environmental stressors. We aimed to understand the underlying mechanisms of phenanthrene (Phe) and crude oil induced eye malformations. We exposed Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) embryos to a known L-type calcium channel blocker, nicardipine hydrochloride (Nic), and compared to early embryonic crude oil (Oil) and late embryonic Phe toxicity. All treatments lead to severe, eye, jaw and spinal deformities at early larval stages. At 3 days post hatching, larvae from all treatments and corresponding controls were dissected. Eyes, trunk, head and yolk sac were subjected to lipid profiling, and eyes were also subjected to transcriptomic profiling. Changes in lipid profiles and the transcriptome suggested that the dysfunctional and abnormal eyes in our treatments were due to both disruption of signaling pathways and insufficient supply of essential fatty acids and other nutrients form the yolk.
Super-Resolution Imaging by Dual Iterative Structured Illumination Microscopy
Authors: Löschberger Anna , Novikau Yauheni , Netz Ralf , Spindler Marie-Christine , Benavente Ricardo , Klein Teresa , Sauer Markus , Kleppe Dr. Ingo
Published: May 2021

Three-dimensional (3D) multicolor super-resolution imaging in the 50-100 nm range in fixed and living cells remains challenging. We extend the resolution of structured illumination microscopy (SIM) by an improved nonlinear iterative reconstruction algorithm that enables 3D multicolor imaging with improved spatiotemporal resolution at low illumination intensities. We demonstrate the performance ofdual iterativeSIM (diSIM) imaging cellular structures in fixed cells including synaptonemal complexes, clathrin coated pits and the actin cytoskeleton with lateral resolutions of 60-100 nm with standard fluorophores. Furthermore, we visualize dendritic spines in 70 µm thick brain slices with an axial resolution < 200 nm. Finally, we image dynamics of the endoplasmatic reticulum and microtubules in living cells with up to 255 frames/s.
Exploring firm-level innovation and productivity in India
Authors: Mishra Aswini Kumar , Sinha Abhishek Kumar , Khasnis Abhijeet , Vadlamani Sai Theja
Published: May 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the impact of innovation on the productivity of firms in India using the data from the World Enterprise Survey. This paper first classifies three different types of innovation measures then further analyses their relation with the productivity of the firms.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used for this study has incorporated the structural Crépon-Douget-Mairesse (CDM) model wherein productivity is measured using both the innovation inputs and the innovation outputs. Three main equations have been used to quantify this relation includes the knowledge intensity function, innovation function and the productivity equation.

Findings

Findings indicate that decision to invest in research and development (R&D) is influenced negatively by financial obstacles and trade obstacles and positively influenced by telecommunication obstacles, government obstacles and the size of the firm in India. Similarly, financial obstacles and the size of the firm are affecting the firm’s research expenditure per employee. Also, financial obstacles seem to hinder the research intensity and larger firms seem to have higher research intensity. The size of the firm contributes significantly to product innovation. However, R&D spending seems to be negatively related to the innovation outcome. The findings relating to productivity shows neither product nor process innovation outputs, independently are not contributing significantly to the productivity of firms. However, product and process innovation, together serve as innovation outputs is a significant contributor to firm productivity. On the other hand, organisational innovation contributes significantly to the productivity of the firms in a negative manner.

Originality/value

The findings relating to productivity shows neither product nor process innovation outputs, independently are not contributing significantly to the productivity of firms (which has been measured by sales per worker is impacted by the capital and the labour inputs). However, product and process innovation, together serve as innovation outputs is a significant contributor to firm productivity. On the other hand, organisational innovation contributes significantly to the productivity of the firms in a negative manner. The reason could be due to the fact that the definition of organisational innovation incorporates both dissolutions and mergers.
A sociological study of patterns and determinants of child labour in India
Authors: Sahoo Barsa Priyadarsinee
Published: May 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the patterns and incidence of child labour in India and to examine the magnitude of child labour across different social groups. It analyses the impact of the socio-economic background of the children on their participation in the labour market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper primarily relies on the data collected from secondary sources. The census of India data and the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) 66th round data (2009–2010) on employment and unemployment in India for the study. The dependent variable on child labour has been computed by the author for the analysis in the paper.

Findings

The findings of the paper suggest that poverty is not the only determinant of child labour, but gender and caste of a person is also a significant factor for child labour. The study found that children from lower-caste backgrounds in India seem to participate more in the labour market. In terms of gender, the study found that boys are more likely to engage in economic activities or paid jobs while girls are more likely to engage in household activities.

Originality/value

Data used in this paper has been extracted by the author from unit level data provided by NSSO. The variables used for the analysis in the presented paper has been constructed by the author and the figures provided are the result of the author’s estimation on data.
Urban ecosystem health assessment and obstacle factor diagnosis using a comprehensive assessment model for Nanjing, China
Authors: Xie Xue , Fang Bin , Li Xin , He Shasha
Published: May 2021

An urban ecosystem carries the burden of urbanization and records the changes in the ecological environment . A scientific evaluation of the urban ecosystem can effectively assess and identify any system damage and degradation caused by nature or by human activities. In this paper, we construct an urban ecosystem health assessment system on the basis of a pressure–state–response (PSR)/vigor–organization–resilience (VOR) model along with the socioeconomic and remote sensing data related to Nanjing. Meanwhile, the factors hindering the stainable development of the Nanjing ecosystem are discussed. The results indicated that the health of the urban ecosystem in Nanjing is generally on the rise, improving from poor in 2000 to good in 2017; from the results obtained via the PSR model, the state layer continues to decrease, whereas the pressure and response layers continue to increase; the VOR model demonstrated that the urban ecosystem in Nanjing has been relatively stable over the past 20 years, and the obstacle degree model demonstrated that, over the next 10 years, the obstacle factors will be concentrated in the response layer in the early stage and in the pressure layer in the later period, mainly because of the pressure brought about by population growth.
Beyond cytokines: Influences of the endocrine system on human immune homeostasis
Authors: Milling Simon
Published: May 2021

The immune system must be tightly controlled to prevent potentially damaging over‐response to pathogens and must also be actively maintained in a responsive state when no immediate threat is present. These processes of control and maintenance are important for sustaining a state of immune homeostasis and are controlled by a network of cellular and molecular interactions. Here, we highlight a recent publication in Immunology (2021) where the authors have examined the effects of the thyroid and pituitary hormones, thyrotrophin and thyroxine, on immune homeostasis in humans. This work reveals homeostatic effects of these hormones on T cells and B cells and raises the possibility that the endocrine system might be manipulated to modulate the immune response.
RHEDAR study: Determination of the risk of gastrointestinal hemorrhage in treatment with dabigatran, acenocoumarol and rivaroxaban
Authors: Agudo‐Fernández Sandra , Castaño Milla Carlos , González Blanco Ana , Olmos Jerez José Antonio , Calvo Morillas Isabel , Sancho Del Val Lorena
Published: May 2021

Background and Aim

Atrial fibrillation is a major cause of death and disability due to stroke. Vitamin K antagonist drugs are effective for prevention, but they have a narrow therapeutic range and multiple pharmacological interactions. In recent years, new therapeutic alternatives have been searched to minimize complications. The main objective is to evaluate the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in anticoagulated patients and compare the classic treatment with new anticoagulants.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding in patients treated with acenocoumarol/dabigatran/rivaroxaban, between 2012 and 2016. We compared the classic with the new anticoagulant group, and a multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determinate the risk factors of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Results

A total of 1213 patients were selected, 52.7% male patients, a mean age of 72.6 years old (± 14.563). 73.6% had atrial fibrilation. 14.5% of patients used acetylsalicylic acid, and 4% clopidogrel. 67.2% had a high‐risk CHADS‐2 Score, and 36.9% a high‐risk HAS‐BLED Score. We determined a 5.6% (68) of gastrointestinal bleeding, without differences according to anticoagulant used. The multivariate model showed a greater risk for digestive hemorrhage in patients with a previous hemorrhagic event (odds ratio [OR] = 2.422 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.101–5.327) and the concomitant therapy with clopidogrel (OR = 2.373 95% CI: 0.996–5.652).

Conclusions

No differences were found in the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding between the different anticoagulants. A previous gastrointestinal bleeding were considered independent risk factor. The HAS‐BLED score should be taken into account to make clinical decisions about to prescribe anticoagulant treatment.
Contents of nutrition care services among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic: An Exit interview
Authors: Saronga Naomi , Burrows Tracy L. , Collins Clare E. , Mosha Idda H. , Sunguya Bruno F. , Rollo Megan E.
Published: May 2021

Background

Focused antenatal care currently implemented in Tanzania recommends that women receive nutrition care during routine clinic visits. However, little detail is documented in regard to the nutrition information provided to pregnant women during these visits. The present study aimed to investigate whether pregnant women recalled nutrition information or support provided and, if so, who provided this during routine antenatal clinic visits. The secondary aim was to determine how pregnant women intended to implement the information and what mode of delivery was preferred for receiving nutrition information.

Methods

An exploratory cross‐sectional study comprising exit interviews was conducted with 50 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in three regional referral hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Results

All participants (n = 50) reported receiving nutrition care from healthcare workers in regard to; haemoglobin checks (79% of participants), iron and folic acid supplementation (70%), weight measurement (70%), eating advice (60%), and dietary intake assessment (38%). However, the information recalled on each category was inconsistent. For 60% of participants, nurses were reported as the source of nutrition care during pregnancy, followed by medical doctors (22%). The most preferable mode for receiving nutrition information was reported as individual face‐to‐face sessions with health practitioners, followed by mobile phone. All of the participants who received nutrition information indicated that they intended to implement.

Conclusions

Nurses were the main source of nutrition information for pregnant women attending antenatal clinics, followed by medical doctors. However, the content of nutrition information recalled by participants was inconsistent. Healthcare facilities need to implement strategies to ensure pregnant women understand and can implement nutrition information provided by healthcare workers during routine antenatal care.
Predictors of posttraumatic growth of intensive care unit nurses in Korea
Authors: Chang Ae Kyung , Yoon Hyejin , Jang Ji Hyun
Published: May 2021

Aim

Nurses working in intensive care units are repeatedly exposed to trauma (e.g., verbal or physical abuse by confused patients, and unexpected death). However, after experiencing traumatic events, not all intensive care unit nurses develop psychopathological issues, including posttraumatic stress disorder. Therefore, this study aims to examine the level of posttraumatic growth and psychosocial factors such as posttraumatic stress symptoms, deliberate rumination, wisdom, and self‐compassion to predict posttraumatic growth in Korean intensive care unit nurses.

Methods

A total of 156 intensive care unit nurses participated in this cross‐sectional survey. Posttraumatic growth, posttraumatic stress symptoms, deliberate rumination, wisdom, and self‐compassion were measured using validated self‐report scales, and data were analyzed by descriptive statistics.

Result

Posttraumatic growth was found to be comparatively low in intensive care unit nurses, while multiple regression showed that positive self‐compassion was the most significant predictor for posttraumatic growth, followed by wisdom, age, and deliberate rumination. All together four variables explained 30% of the variance in posttraumatic growth.

Conclusion

Findings from this study suggest that intensive care unit nurses' posttraumatic growth may be enhanced by increasing positive self‐compassion, wisdom, and deliberate rumination. Therefore, a paradigm shift focusing on possible positive pathways, such as development of mental health programs to improve posttraumatic growth for intensive care unit nurses is required rather than focusing on management of posttraumatic stress disorder. The results of this study could provide theoretical guidance to seek more effective and integrated intervention strategies for intensive care unit nurses.
Neural basis of affective touch and pain: A novel model suggests possible targets for pain amelioration
Authors: Meijer Larissa L. , Ruis Carla , van der Smagt Maarten J. , Scherder Erik J. A. , Dijkerman H. Chris
Published: May 2021

Pain is one of the most common health problems and has a severe impact on quality of life. Yet, a suitable and efficient treatment is still not available for all patient populations suffering from pain. Interestingly, recent research shows that low threshold mechanosensory C‐tactile (CT) fibres have a modulatory influence on pain. CT‐fibres are activated by slow gentle stroking of the hairy skin, providing a pleasant sensation. Consequently, slow gentle stroking is known as affective touch. Currently, a clear overview of the way affective touch modulates pain, at a neural level, is missing. This review aims to present such an overview. To explain the interaction between affective touch and pain, first the neural basis of the affective touch system and the neural processing of pain will be described. To clarify these systems, a schematic illustration will be provided in every section. Hereafter, a novel model of interactions between affective touch and pain systems will be introduced. Finally, since affective touch might be suitable as a new treatment for chronic pain, possible clinical implications will be discussed.
Topical Band‐pass Filter Cream (TBFC)‐assisted home‐based NB‐UVB: A must‐know Alternative to artificial phototherapy
Authors: Sonthalia Sidharth
Published: May 2021

Background

Treatment‐refractory lesions of vitiligo and psoriasis are typically associated with significant psychological morbidity. Although narrowband‐ultraviolet B (NB‐UVB) phototherapy remains one of the safest and effective treatment modalities, the cost and logistics related to the access and high cost of therapy delivered artificially via devices/chambers become highly restrictive. The use of topical Photocil®, a novel topical band‐pass filter cream (TBFC), that selectively filters solar radiation, biasing toward delivery of 311–313 nm (action spectrum of NB‐UVB) to the treated lesions, following the exposure of TBFC‐smeared lesions to natural sunlight offsets many aforementioned limitations of artificial phototherapy. The non‐inferior efficacy of Photocil® as an alternative to artificial NB‐UVB has recently been reported in patients with lighter skin phototypes (SPT) with non‐segmental vitiligo and psoriasis.

Objectives

To demonstrate the high efficacy‐cum‐safety of the novel approach in repigmenting treatment‐refractory segmental vitiligo (SV) in an adult man with SPT‐V and discuss the essentials of successful administration of NB‐UVB using this approach.

Methods

The baseline clinical details and therapeutic outcome of 12‐week protocol of TBFC‐assisted NB‐UVB (with details of step‐by‐step administration including precautions) in SV of the aforementioned patient are discussed.

Results

Up to 75% repigmentation without any remarkable adverse effects was noted with persistent efficacy over the next 12 weeks.

Conclusion

The device‐free home‐based TBFC‐assisted NB‐UVB delivery using natural sunlight offers a viable, convenient, and cost‐effective alternative to artificial phototherapy for successful treatment of vitiligo; with its utility proven even in SV that too in individual(s) with darker SPT.
Telephone veteran peer coaching for mental health treatment engagement among rural veterans: The importance of secondary outcomes and qualitative data in a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Seal Karen H. , Pyne Jeffrey M. , Manuel Jennifer K. , Li Yongmei , Koenig Christopher J. , Zamora Kara A. , Abraham Traci H. , Mesidor Marie M. , Hill Coleen , Uddo Madeline , Hamilton Michelle , Borsari Brian , Bertenthal Daniel , Casey James J. , Kelly P. Adam
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To determine the effectiveness of telephone motivational coaching delivered by veteran peers to improve mental health (MH) treatment engagement among veterans.

Methods

Veterans receiving primary care from primarily rural VA community‐based outpatient clinics were enrolled. Veterans not engaged in MH treatment screening positive for ≥1 MH problem(s) were randomized to receive veteran peer‐delivered feedback on MH screen results and referrals plus 4 sessions of telephone motivational coaching (intervention) versus veteran peer‐delivered MH results and referrals without motivational coaching (control). Blinded telephone assessments were conducted at baseline, 8, 16, and 32 weeks. Cox proportional hazard models compared MH clinician‐directed treatment initiation between groups; descriptive analyses compared MH treatment retention, changes in MH symptoms, quality of life, and self‐care.

Findings

Among 272 veterans screening positive for ≥1 MH problem(s), 45% who received veteran peer telephone motivational coaching versus 46% of control participants initiated MH treatment (primary outcome) (hazard ratio: 1.09, 95% CI: 0.76‐1.57), representing no between‐group differences. In contrast, veterans receiving veteran peer motivational coaching achieved significantly greater improvements in depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and cannabis use scores, quality of life domains, and adoption of some self‐care strategies than controls (secondary outcomes). Qualitative data revealed that veterans who received veteran peer motivational coaching may no longer have perceived a need for MH treatment.

Conclusions

Among veterans with MH problems using predominantly rural VA community clinics, telephone peer motivational coaching did not enhance MH treatment engagement, but instead had positive effects on MH symptoms, quality of life indicators, and use of self‐care strategies.
Rural‐urban differences in uptake of diabetes self‐management education among Medicare beneficiaries: Results from the 2016 to 2018 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey
Authors: Luo Huabin , Basu Rashmita , Bell Ronny A. , Rafferty Ann P. , Zeng Xiaoming , Qu Haiyan , Dove Cameron
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To assess rural‐urban differences in participation rates of diabetes self‐management education and associated factors among Medicare beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods

Data were from the 2016 to 2018 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS). Participation in diabetes self‐management education was self‐reported. The study sample included 3,799 beneficiaries aged 65 years and older with self‐reported T2DM. Logistic regression was used to assess the association of participation in diabetes self‐management education and residential location. Sampling weights embedded in the MCBS were incorporated into all analyses.

Findings

Overall, the participation rate of diabetes self‐management education was 46.8% (95% CI: 44.4%‐49.2%). The rate was 40.3% for beneficiaries in rural areas, 48.0% for suburban areas, and 47.3% for urban areas. About 31% of beneficiaries newly diagnosed with diabetes did not participate within the past year. Controlling for other covariates, beneficiaries in rural areas were less likely to have participated in diabetes self‐management education (AOR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55‐0.95) than those living in urban areas. Asian Americans were less likely to have participated (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28‐0.84) than Whites. Those who were older, with lower education, and lower income levels were less likely to have participated (P < .05).

Conclusions

Recent MCBS data indicate that more than half of Medicare beneficiaries with T2DM did not participate in diabetes self‐management education, and the participation rate in rural areas was 7 percentage points lower than that ​in urban areas. The study findings highlight challenges to maximize the benefits of participating in diabetes self‐management education, particularly in rural areas.
Clinical impact of sexual dimorphism in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Authors: Burra Patrizia , Bizzaro Debora , Gonta Anna , Shalaby Sarah , Gambato Martina , Morelli Maria Cristina , Trapani Silvia , Floreani Annarosa , Marra Fabio , Brunetto Maurizia Rossana , Taliani Gloria , Villa Erica ,   the Special Interest Group Gender in Hepatology of the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (AISF)
Published: May 2021

NAFLD/NASH is a sex‐dimorphic disease, with a general higher prevalence in men. Women are at reduced risk of NAFLD compared to men in fertile age, whereas after menopause women have a comparable prevalence of NAFLD as men. Indeed, sexual category, sex hormones and gender habits interact with numerous NAFLD factors including cytokines, stress and environmental factors and alter the risk profiles and phenotypes of NAFLD. In the present review, we summarized the last findings about the influence of sex on epidemiology, pathogenesis, progression in cirrhosis, indication for liver transplantation and alternative therapies, including lifestyle modification and pharmacological strategies. We are confident that an appropriate consideration of sex, age, hormonal status and sociocultural gender differences will lead to a better understanding of sex differences in NAFLD risk, therapeutic targets and treatment responses and will aid in achieving sex‐specific personalized therapies.
Gender blindness: On health and welfare technology, AI and gender equality in community care
Authors: Frennert Susanne
Published: May 2021

Digital health and welfare technologies and artificial intelligence are proposed to revolutionise healthcare systems around the world by enabling new models of care. Digital health and welfare technologies enable remote monitoring and treatments, and artificial intelligence is proposed as a means of prediction instead of reaction to individuals’ health and as an enabler of proactive care and rehabilitation. The digital transformation not only affects hospital and primary care but also how the community meets older people's needs. Community care is often provided by informal and formal care‐givers, most of whom are women. Gender equality is at the heart of many national strategies, but do all genders have equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities when it comes to community care and its digital transformation? The digital transformation of community care is entangled with how care is provided to older people and the working conditions of community‐care professionals. Current and, even more so, future community‐care systems are and will be partly constituted by networks of technological artefacts. These health and welfare technological artefacts and the discourse surrounding them mediate and constitute social relations and community care. This article looks into how health and welfare technology and artificial intelligence‐based devices and systems mediate and constitute gender relations in community care and presents an argument for reflexivity, embodiment, pluralism, participation and ecology as an alternative strategy to treating community care as one‐size‐fit‐all and being blind to gender‐related issues.
Divergent terrestrial responses of soil N2O emissions to different levels of elevated CO2and temperature
Authors: Wang Xiaohan , Li Yu'e , Waqas Muhammad Ahmed , Wang Bin , Hassan Waseem , Qin Xiaobo
Published: May 2021

Understanding the responses of soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from terrestrial ecosystems to future CO2enrichment and warming is critical for the development of mitigation and adaptation policies. The effects of continuous increase in elevated CO2(EC) and elevated temperature (ET) on N2O emissions are not fully known. We synthesized 209 measurements from 70 published studies and carried out a meta‐analysis to examine individual and interactive effects of EC and ET on N2O emissions from grasslands, croplands and forests. On average, a significant increase of 23% in N2O emissions was observed under EC across all case studies. EC did not affect N2O emissions from grasslands or forests, but significantly increased N2O emissions in croplands by 38%. The extent of ET effects on N2O emissions was nonsignificant and there was no significant difference in N2O emission responses among these three terrestrial systems. ET only promoted N2O emissions in forest by about 32% when ET was less than 2°C. The interactive effect of EC and ET on N2O emissions was significantly synergistic, showing a greater increase than the sum of the effects caused by EC and ET alone. Our findings indicated that the combination of EC and ET substantially promoted soil N2O and highlighted the urgent need to explore its mechanisms to better understand N2O responses under future climate change.
Acceleration of Trichinella spiralis worm expulsion by leukotriene B4 receptor binding inhibition
Authors: Kang Shin Ae , Yu Hak Sun
Published: May 2021

Aims

Helminth infection typically induces a Th2 inflammatory response that is characterized by eosinophilia, high levels of IgE and mast cells. LTB4 is generated from innate immune cells, such as neutrophils, macrophages and mast cells, in response to a range of stimuli. It mainly acts on myeloid leukocytes, inducing the activation of integrins, adhesion to endothelium walls, and chemotaxis.

Methods and results

The objective of the present study was to determine the role of the LTB4 receptor in Trichinella spiralis expulsion. We treated mice with the LTB4 receptor antagonist before infection with T. spiralis. We observed that the number of mast cells and worm infection decreased following treatment with the BLT antagonist during the intestinal phase. We also demonstrated that blocking the LTB4 receptor inhibited neutrophil and eosinophil infiltration.

Conclusions

Further studies are required to investigate the specific mechanism of mast cell number decrease and worm infection and the in vitro interactions between LTB4 and worm expulsion.
Nitrogen leaching from tile‐drained fields and lysimeters receiving contrasting rates and sources of nitrogen
Authors: Wallman Magdalena , Delin Sofia
Published: May 2021

Leaching of nitrogen from arable land can lead to pollution of groundwater and surface water. Various measures have been implemented in agriculture to reduce leaching, but there is still potential to do more. To find the best agricultural management regime to limit the problem, leaching from soils under different management must be measured. Different methods to estimate leaching are available, but they have not been thoroughly evaluated. This study compared (a) leaching of nitrogen from five different fertilizer treatments differing in amount and source (mineral and organic) of nitrogen and (b) two different methods for measuring leaching (tile‐drained field plots and lysimeters). Nitrogen leaching from five different fertilizer treatments was studied for three years in a tile‐drained field facility and for three of the treatments also for 16 months in a lysimeter facility. Leaching from organic and mineral nitrogen sources was similar in the three‐year field study. Mineral nitrogen input above the economic optimum tended to give greater leaching (by 24%–43%) than nitrogen input at the expected optimum. Measurements in lysimeters and tile‐drained field plots gave similar results, although leaching values tended to be slightly higher (by 18%–25%) in the tile‐drained field. Overall, both facilities give reliable estimates of nitrogen leaching and are suitable for leaching studies.
STZ‐diabetic rat heart maintains developed tension amplitude by increasing sarcomere length and crossbridge density
Authors: Isola Raffaella , Broccia Francesca , Casti Alberto , Loy Francesco , Isola Michela , Vargiu Romina
Published: May 2021

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

In the papillary muscle from type I diabetic rats, does diabetes‐associated altered ventricular function result from changes of acto‐myosin interactions and are these modifications attributable to a possible sarcomere rearrangement?

What is the main finding and its importance?

For the first time, we showed that type‐I diabetes altered sarcomeric ultrastructure, as seen by transmission electron microscopy, consistent with physiological parameters. The diabetic condition induced slower timing parameters, which is compatible with a diastolic dysfunction. At the sarcomeric level, augmented β‐myosin heavy chain content and increased sarcomere length and crossbridges' number preserve myocardial stroke and could concur to maintain the ejection fraction.

We investigated whether diabetes‐associated altered ventricular function, in a type I diabetes animal model, results from a modification of acto‐myosin interactions, through the in vitro recording of left papillary muscle mechanical parameters and examination of sarcomere morphology by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Experiments were performed on streptozotocin‐induced diabetic and age‐matched control female Wistar rats. Mechanical isometric and isotonic indexes and timing parameters were determined. Using Huxley's equations, we calculated mechanics, kinetics and energetics of myosin crossbridges. Sarcomere length and A‐band length were measured on TEM images. Type I and III collagen and β‐myosin heavy chain (MHC) expression were determined by immunoblotting. No variation in resting and developed tension or maximum extent of shortening was evident between groups, but diabetic rats showed lower maximum shortening velocity and prolonged timing parameters. Compared to controls, diabetics also displayed a higher number of crossbridges with lower unitary force. Moreover, no change in type I and III collagen was associated to diabetes, but pathological rats showed a two‐fold enhancement of β‐MHC content and longer sarcomeres and A‐band, detected by ultrastructural morphometry. Overall, these data address whether a preserved systolic function accompanied by an altered diastolic phase results from a recruitment of super‐relaxed myosin heads or the phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain site in myosin. Although the early signs of diabetic cardiomyopathy were well expressed, the striking finding of our study was that, in diabetics, sarcomere modification may be a possible compensatory mechanism that preserves systolic function.
Evolution of Gases From the Pyrolysis of Raw and Torrefied Biomass and From the Oxy-Combustion of Their Bio-Chars
Authors: Meng Xiaoxiao , Zhou Wei , Rokni Emad , Yang Xigang , Levendis Yiannis A.
Published: May 2021

The current research assessed the evolution of gases from pyrolysis of biomass and from the subsequent combustion of bio-chars. Raw and torrefied biomass was pyrolyzed in nitrogen or carbon dioxide under high heating rates (104 K/s) and high temperatures (1450 K). Pyrolyzates gases were monitored for carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur oxides. Subsequently, generated bio-chars were burned in both conventional (air) and simulated oxy-combustion (O2/CO2) gases. In principle, the oxy-combustion of renewable biomass coupled with carbon capture and utilization/sequestration can help remove atmospheric CO2. Pyrolysis of biomass in CO2 generated lower char yields, lower SO2 and NO, and higher CO2, CO, and HCN mole fractions, compared with pyrolysis in N2. HCN was the most prominent among all measured nitrogen-bearing gases (HCN, NH3, and NO) from biomass pyrolysis. Compared with their combustion in air, bio-chars burned more effectively in 30%O2/79%CO2 and less effectively in 21%O2/79%CO2. Emissions of CO were the lowest in 21%O2/79%CO2. Emissions of HCN were the highest in air combustion and decreased with increasing O2 mole fraction in oxy-combustion; emissions of NO were highest in 30%O2/79%CO2, and emissions of NO were dominant during bio-char oxy-combustion compared with other N-compounds. In oxy-combustion, bio-chars released the lowest emissions of SO2. Finally, the emissions of CO, NO, HCN, and SO2 from the combustion of distiller’s dried grains with solubles bio-chars were higher than those from rice husk bio-chars because of different physicochemical properties.
Bacterial Diversity Profiling of the New Zealand Parasitic Blowfly Lucilia sericata Based on 16S rRNA Gene Amplicon Sequencing
Authors: Palevich Nikola , Maclean Paul H. , Carvalho Luis , Jauregui Ruy
Published: May 2021

Here, we present a 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequence data set and profiles demonstrating the bacterial diversity of larval and adult
Lucilia sericata
, collected from Ashhurst, New Zealand (May 2020). The two dominant genera among adult male and female
L. sericata
were
Serratia
and
Morganella
(phylum
Proteobacteria
), while the larvae were also dominated by the genera
Lactobacillus
,
Carnobacterium
, and
Lactococcus
(phylum
Firmicutes
).
Transcriptome RNA Sequencing Data Set of Differential Gene Expression in Escherichia coli BW25113 Wild-Type and
slyA
Mutant Strains
Authors: Ojo Olabisi , Scott Derrick , Iwalokun Bamidele , Odetoyin Babatunde , Grove Anne
Published: May 2021

Escherichia coli
laboratory strains remain instrumental for the development of tools and techniques in molecular microbiology. The transcriptional regulator SlyA, associated with host-derived oxidative stress, antibiotic resistance, and virulence, is prominent in
Enterobacteriaceae
. Here, we announce a transcriptome data set detailing the global gene expression in
E. coli
BW25113 and its
sly
A mutant.
Covariation of the Fecal Microbiome with Diet in Nonpasserine Birds
Authors: Xiao Kangpeng , Fan Yutan , Zhang Zhipeng , Shen Xuejuan , Li Xiaobing , Liang Xianghui , Bi Ran , Wu Yajiang , Zhai Junqiong , Dai Junwei , Irwin David M. , Chen Wu , Shen Yongyi
Published: May 2021

Our study identified food source, rather than host phylogeny, as the main factor modulating the gut microbiome diversity of nonpasserine birds, after minimizing the effects of other complex interfering factors such as weather, season, and geography. Adaptive evolution of microbes to food types formed a dietary-microbiome-host interaction reciprocal state.
Metagenomics and Quantitative Stable Isotope Probing Offer Insights into Metabolism of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degraders in Chronically Polluted Seawater
Authors: Sieradzki Ella T. , Morando Michael , Fuhrman Jed A.
Published: May 2021

Oil spills in the marine environment have a devastating effect on marine life and biogeochemical cycles through bioaccumulation of toxic hydrocarbons and oxygen depletion by hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria. Oil-degrading bacteria occur naturally in the ocean, especially where they are supported by chronic inputs of oil or other organic carbon sources, and have a significant role in degradation of oil spills.
Laparoscopic gynaecological surgery in the context of maintaining normal intracranial pressure
Authors: Xiao Joyce Shuang , Leong Kenneth , Meads Alan , Nanayakkara Pav
Published: May 2021

A nulliparous patient in her early 20s was referred to a fertility specialist for fertility preservation, before commencing chemo–radiation therapy for a recently diagnosed malignant brain tumour. Two weeks prior, she had presented with seizures and undergone emergency craniotomy and tumour resection. Taking into consideration of the tight time frame and her comorbidities, several measures were undertaken to minimise the potential increase in intracranial pressure that may lead to cerebral oedema during laparoscopy. Preoperatively, the anaesthetist administered 8 mg dexamethasone as prophylaxis. Intraoperatively, the degree of head-down tilt was minimised to 10, which was just adequate to displace bowel cranially for visualisation of pelvic structures. Finally, a shorter operative time was achieved by ensuring the most senior surgeon performed the operation, and the procedure itself was altered from the standard approach of ovarian harvesting to unilateral oophorectomy. The patient made a quick recovery and was discharged home day 1 postoperatively.
Understanding compositional stability in mixedwood forests of eastern North America
Authors: Kern Christel C. , Waskiewicz Justin D. , Frelich Lee , Muñoz Delgado Bethany L. , Kenefic Laura S. , Clark Kenneth L. , Kabrick John M.
Published: May 2021

Mixedwood forest composition, or co-dominance of hardwood and softwood species, has been interpreted as both stable and unstable. Through review of existing theory, we propose a conceptual model to understand mixedwood compositional stability in boreal and temperate forests of eastern North America. We first review the current theory that the strength of neighborhood effects (i.e., species ability to self-replace under their own canopy) is essential to understanding stability such that when self-replacement is strong for both dominant hardwood and softwood species, composition is stable except at extreme disturbance severities. In contrast, when mixedwood forests are dominated by negligible or weak affinities to self-replace, composition is unstable and sensitive to changes in disturbance. Our new concept further posits that changes in both the disturbance severity and its vertical direction are essential to understanding stability. For example, where moderate-severity surface fires (which impact forests from below) cease and are replaced by moderate-severity blowdowns (which impact forests from above), instability can occur even when disturbance severity is unchanged. We therefore pose and discuss an extension to current theory to provide a new unifying concept of stability for mixedwood forests and, more broadly, for mixed-species forests.
Search for the singlet vector-like lepton at future $$e^+ e^-$$ colliders
Authors: Shang Liangliang , Wang Mengmeng , Heng Zhaoxia , Yang Bingfang
Published: May 2021

Searching for the new particles beyond the standard model (SM) is an important way to probe new physics beyond the SM. In one class of new particles there are nonchiral color singlet fermions that couple to the SM leptons, that is vector-like leptons (VLLs), which have been widely concerned in experiment and theory. The existing literature shows that the singlet VLLs suffer from a big difficult challenge for discovery at future proton-proton colliders. In this paper, we study the prospects of searching for the singlet VLLs in pure leptonic and fully hadronic channels at $$e^+ e^-$$

e
+

e
-

colliders. We find that there is an opportunity for excluding the region $$m_{\tau ^{\prime \pm }} \in $$

m

τ

′
±

∈

[180 GeV, 240 GeV] with $${\mathcal {L}}$$
L
$$\in $$
∈
[$$3.0\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

3.0

fb

-
1

, $$14.9\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

14.9

fb

-
1

] ([$$0.1\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

0.1

fb

-
1

, $$0.3\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

0.3

fb

-
1

]) at ILC of $$\sqrt{s} = 500\ \hbox { GeV}$$

s

=
500

GeV

, the region $$m_{\tau ^{\prime \pm }} \in $$

m

τ

′
±

∈

[240 GeV, 450 GeV] with $${\mathcal {L}} \in $$

L
∈

[$$9.9\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

9.9

fb

-
1

, $$23.1\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

23.1

fb

-
1

] ([$$0.2\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

0.2

fb

-
1

, $$0.3\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

0.3

fb

-
1

]) at ILC of $$\sqrt{s} = 1000\ \hbox { GeV}$$

s

=
1000

GeV

and the region $$m_{\tau ^{\prime \pm }} \in $$

m

τ

′
±

∈

[450 GeV, 700 GeV] with $${\mathcal {L}} \in $$

L
∈

[$$52.1\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

52.1

fb

-
1

, $$197.9\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

197.9

fb

-
1

] ([$$2.21\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

2.21

fb

-
1

, $$4.5\hbox { fb}^{-1}$$

4.5

fb

-
1

]) at CLIC of $$\sqrt{s} = 1500\ \hbox {GeV}$$

s

=
1500

GeV

in the pure leptonic (fully hadronic) channel. It is more optimistic for excluding and discovering the singlet VLL through the fully hadronic channel at future high energy $$e^+ e^-$$

e
+

e
-

colliders.
Visual Semantic-Based Representation Learning Using Deep CNNs for Scene Recognition
Authors: Gupta Shikha , Sharma Krishan , Dinesh Dileep Aroor , Thenkanidiyoor Veena
Published: May 2021

In this work, we address the task of scene recognition from image data. A scene is a spatially correlated arrangement of various visual semantic contents also known as concepts, e.g., “chair,”  “car,”  “sky,”  etc. Representation learning using visual semantic content can be regarded as one of the most trivial ideas as it mimics the human behavior of perceiving visual information. Semantic multinomial (SMN) representation is one such representation that captures semantic information using posterior probabilities of concepts. The core part of obtaining SMN representation is the building of concept models. Therefore, it is necessary to have ground-truth (true) concept labels for every concept present in an image. Moreover, manual labeling of concepts is practically not feasible due to the large number of images in the dataset. To address this issue, we propose an approach for generating pseudo-concepts in the absence of true concept labels. We utilize the pre-trained deep CNN-based architectures where activation maps (filter responses) from convolutional layers are considered as initial cues to the pseudo-concepts. The non-significant activation maps are removed using the proposed filter-specific threshold-based approach that leads to the removal of non-prominent concepts from data. Further, we propose a grouping mechanism to group the same pseudo-concepts using subspace modeling of filter responses to achieve a non-redundant representation. Experimental studies show that generated SMN representation using pseudo-concepts achieves comparable results for scene recognition tasks on standard datasets like MIT-67 and SUN-397 even in the absence of true concept labels.