bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Circular RNA Transcriptomes in Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis Reveals Disease-specific Expression Profiles
Authors: Moldovan Liviu Ionut , Tsoi Lam Alex , Weidinger Stephen , Gudjonsson Johann , Kjems Jørgen , Kristensen Lasse Sommer
Published: May 2020

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis, two chronic inflammatory skin diseases, affect a large number of individuals worldwide, and are associated with various comorbidities. Circular RNA (circRNA) constitute a major class of non-coding RNAs that have been implicated in many human diseases, although their potential involvement in inflammatory skin diseases remains elusive.

Objectives

To compare and contrast the circRNA expression landscapes in paired lesional and non-lesional skin from psoriasis and AD patients relative to skin from unaffected individuals. Moreover, to correlate circRNA expression to disease severity.

Methods

We analyzed high-depth RNA-seq data from paired lesional and non-lesional skin samples from 27 AD patients, 28 psoriasis patients, and 38 healthy controls. CircRNAs and their cognate linear transcripts were quantified using the circRNA detection algorithm, CIRI2.

Results

We identified 39,286 unique circRNAs in total and found that psoriasis and AD lesional skin could be distinguished from non-lesional and healthy skin based on circRNA expression landscapes. In general, circRNAs were less abundant in lesional relative to non-lesional and healthy skin. Differential expression analyses revealed many significantly downregulated circRNAs, mainly in psoriasis lesional skin, and a strong correlation between psoriasis and AD-related circRNA expression changes was observed. A subset of circRNAs, including ciRS-7, was specifically dysregulated in psoriasis and show promise as biomarkers for discriminating AD from psoriasis.

Conclusion

Psoriasis and circRNA transcriptomes share expression features, including a global downregulation, but only psoriasis is characterized by several circRNAs being dysregulated independently of their cognate linear transcripts.
Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19 outbreak in Bangladeshi people: An online-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Ferdous Most. Zannatul , Saiful Islam Md. , Sikder Md. Tajuddin , Mosaddek Abu Syed Md. , Zegarra-Valdivia J. A. , Gozal David
Published: May 2020

In Bangladesh, an array of measures have been adopted to control the rapid spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. Such general population control measures could significantly influence perception, knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. Here, we assessed KAP towards COVID-19 immediately after the lock-down measures were implemented and during the rapid rise period of the outbreak. Online-based cross-sectional study conducted from March 29 to April 19, 2020, involving Bangladeshi residents aged 12-64 years, recruited via social media. After consenting, participants completed an online survey assessing socio-demographic variables, perception, and KAP towards COVID-19. Of the 2017 survey participants, 59.8% were male, the majority were students (71.2%), aged 21-30 years (57.9%), having a bachelor's degree (61.0%), having family income >30,000 BDT (50.0%), and living in urban areas (69.8). The survey revealed that 48.3% of participants had more accurate knowledge, 62.3% had more positive attitudes, and 55.1% had more frequent practices regarding COVID-19 prevention. Majority (96.7%) of the participants agreed COVID-19 is a dangerous disease, almost all (98.7%) participants wore a face mask in crowded places, 98.8% agreed to report a suspected case to health authorities, and 93.8% implemented washing hands with soap and water. In multiple logistic regression analyses, COVID-19 more accurate knowledge was associated with age and residence. Sociodemographic factors such as being older, higher education, employment, monthly family income >30,000 BDT, and having more frequent prevention practices were the more positive attitude factors. More frequent prevention practice factors were associated with female sex, older age, higher education, family income > 30,000 BDT, urban area residence, and having more positive attitudes. To improve KAP of general populations is crucial during the rapid rise period of a pandemic outbreak such as COVID-19. Therefore, development of effective health education programs that incorporate considerations of KAP-modifying factors is needed.
THE LOW-HARM SCORE FOR PREDICTING MORTALITY IN PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID-19: A MULTICENTRIC VALIDATION STUDY
Authors: Soto-Mota Adrian , Marfil-Garza Braulio A. , Rodríguez Erick Martínez , Rodríguez José Omar Barreto , Romo Alicia Estela López , Minutti Paolo Alberti , Loya Juan Vicente Alejandre , Talavera Félix Emmanuel Pérez , Cervera Freddy José Ávila , Burciaga Adriana Velazquez , Aramburo Oscar Morado , Olguín Luis Alberto Piña , Soto-Rodríguez Adrian , Prado Andrés Castañeda , Doherty Patricio Santillán , Galindo Juan O Galindo , García Luis Alberto Guízar , Gordillo Daniel Hernández , Mejía Juan Gutiérrez
Published: May 2020

- Importance

Many COVID-19 prognostic factors for disease severity have been identified and many scores have already been proposed to predict death and other outcomes. However, hospitals in developing countries often cannot measure some of the variables that have been reported as useful.

- Objective

To assess the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the novel LOW-HARM score (Lymphopenia, Oxygen saturation, White blood cells, Hypertension, Age, Renal injury, and Myocardial injury).

- Design

The score was designed using data from already published cohorts of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Afterwards, it was calculated it in 438 consecutive hospital admissions at twelve different institutions in ten different cities in Mexico.

- Setting

Twelve hospitals in ten different cities in Mexico.

- Participants

Data from 438 patients was collected. Data from 400 patients (200 deaths and 200 survivors) was included in the analysis.

- Exposure

All patients had an infection with SARS-CoV-2 confirmed by PCR.

- Main Outcome

The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of different cut-offs of the LOW-HARM score to predict death.

- Results

Mean scores at admission and their distributions were significantly lower in patients who were discharged compared to those who died during their hospitalization 10 (SD: 17) vs 70 (SD: 28). The overall AUC of the model was 95%. A cut-off > 65 points had a specificity of 98% and a positive predictive value of 96%. More than a third of the cases (36%) in the sample had a LOW-HARM score > 65 points.

- Conclusions and relevance

The LOW-HARM score measured at admission is highly specific and useful for predicting mortality. It is easy to calculate and can be updated with individual clinical progression.

KEY POINTS

Question

Is it possible to predict mortality in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 using easy-to-access and easy-to-measure variables?

Findings

The LOW-HARM score (Lymphopenia, Oxygen saturation, White blood cells, Hypertension, Age, Renal injury, and Myocardial injury) is a one-hundred-point score that, when measured at admission, had an overall AUC of 95% for predicting mortality. A cut-off of ≥ 65 points had a specificity of 98% and a positive predictive value of 96%.

Meaning

The LOW-HARM score measured at admission is highly specific and useful for predicting mortality in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. In our sample, more than a third of patients met the proposed cut-off.
Knowledge, attitude, practice and fear of COVID-19: A cross-cultural study
Authors: Ali Mohammad , Uddin Zakir , Banik Palash Chandra , Hegazy Fatma A. , Zaman Shamita , Ambia Abu Saleh Mohammed , Siddique Md. Kaoser Bin , Islam Rezoana , Khanam Fatema , Bahalul Sayed Mohammad , Sharker Md Ahiduzzaman , Hossain F M Akram , Ahsan Gias U
Published: May 2020

Background

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP), and Fear toward COVID-19 are an important issue when designing public health approaches to control the spread of this highly contagious disease like COVID-19 during the global pandemic period. Studies with KAP and fear measures are limited only regional or country level, not yet with global or cross-cultural populations. The study is aimed to measure KAP and fear level towards COVID-19 and explore its cross-cultural variances in knowledge by socio-demographic factors among the general population of 8 different countries over 5 continents.

Method

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in April 2020 among 1296 participants using the Google form platform. Considering the social distancing formula and pandemic situation, we collect data using popular social media networks. Univariate and bivariate analyses were used to explore the collected data on KAP, fear, and sociodemographic factors.

Result

Overall knowledge score was 9.7 (out of 12) and gender differences (female vs male: 9.8 vs 9.5) were significant (p=0.008) in the bivariate analysis. Knowledge score variances found significant in some regions by gender, marital status and education qualification. The highest and lowest mean knowledge scores were recorded in the Middle East (10.0) and Europe (9.3). Despite having a high fear score (22.5 out of 35), 78.35% of respondents were in a positive attitude and 81.7% in good practice level. Fear score rankings: Middle East (1st; 23.8), Europe (2nd; 23.2); Africa (3rd; 22.7); South Asia (4th; 22.1); Oceania (5th; 21.9); and North America (6th; 21.7). We didn’t find a correlation between fear and knowledge.

Limitation

Due to the nature of the online survey, aged and rural populations are under-representing (e.g. more than half of the responders are 16-29 age group).

Conclusion

KAP and fear variation exist among geographical regions. Gender, marital status and education qualification are factors in knowledge variances for some regions. KAP and fear measures can assist health education programs considering some sociodemographic factors and regions during an outbreak of highly contagious disease and, which can uplift a positive attitude and good practice.

Highlights

Cross-cultural KAP and fear toward COVID-19 are evaluated

Respondents from Europe scored less knowledge on COVID 19 but had more good knowledge level

About 80% participants had positive attitude and good practice behavior.

Interestingly, Participants in Oceania avoided more crowded places whereas, in Europe worn more masks during outing as a measure of prevention

Participants in Middle East had the highest score in fear, and fear was independent of knowledge
The Potential Impact of Intensified Community Hand Hygiene Interventions on Respiratory tract Infections: A Modelling Study
Authors: Pham Thi Mui , Mo Yin , Cooper Ben S.
Published: May 2020

Increased hand hygiene amongst the general public has been widely promoted as one of the most important non-pharmaceutical interventions for reducing transmission during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and is likely to continue to play a key role in long-term efforts to suppress transmission before a vaccine can be deployed. For other respiratory tract infections community hand hygiene interventions are supported by evidence from randomised trials, but information on how effectiveness in reducing transmission scales with achieved changes in hand hygiene behaviour is lacking. This information is of critical importance when considering the potential value of substantially enhancing community hand hygiene frequency to help suppress COVID-19. Here, we developed a simple model-based framework for understanding the key determinants of the effectiveness of changes in hand hygiene behaviour in reducing transmission and use it to explore the potential impact of interventions aimed at achieving large-scale population-wide changes in hand hygiene behaviour. Our analyses show that the effect of hand hygiene is highly dependent on the duration of viral persistence on hands and that hand washing needs to be performed very frequently or immediately after hand contamination events in order to substantially reduce the probability of infection. Hand washing at a lower frequency, such as every 30 minutes or with a delay of 15 minutes after contamination events, may be adequate to reduce the probability of infection when viral survival on hands is longer, such as when hands are contaminated with mucus. Immediate hand washing after contamination is more effective than hand washing at fixed-time intervals even when the total number of hand washing events is similar. This event-prompted hand washing strategy is consistently more effective than fixed-time strategy regardless of hand contamination rates and should be highlighted in hand hygiene campaigns.
Can herd immunity be achieved without breaking ICUs?
Authors: De Brouwer Edward , Raimondi Daniele , Moreau Yves
Published: May 2020

The current COVID-19 pandemic led to the rapid overload of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in countries where the outbreaks was not quickly controlled. The containment measures put in place to control the outbreaks had a huge social and economic impacts, and countries are looking for strategies to relax these measures while maintaining the R_0 close or below 1, in an attempt to safely reach herd immunity. In this paper we analyse the feasibility of reaching herd immunity without saturating ICUs across countries. We provide an online tool, available at www.about-the-curve.net that simulates the time required for such a scenario with a SIR model. For United States, we find that a minimum of 5 months would be required, 22 months for UK, 1 year for Italy and 9 months for Belgium.
COVINet: A deep learning-based and interpretable prediction model for the county-wise trajectories of COVID-19 in the United States
Authors: Jiang Yukang , Tian Ting , Zhou Wenting , Zhang Yuting , Li Zhongfei , Wang Xueqin , Zhang Heping
Published: May 2020

The cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the United States since January 2020. There were over 103 million confirmed cases and over one million deaths as of March 23, 2023. We propose a COVINet by combining the architecture of both Long Short-Term Memory and Gated Recurrent Unit and incorporating actionable covariates to offer high-accuracy prediction and explainable response. First, we train COVINet models for confirmed cases and total deaths with five input features, compare their Mean Absolute Errors (MAEs) and Mean Relative Errors (MREs) and benchmark COVINet against ten competing models from the United States CDC in the last four weeks before April 26, 2021. The results show that COVINet outperforms all competing models for MAEs and MREs when predicting total deaths. Then, we focus on the prediction for the most severe county in each of the top 10 hot-spot states using COVINet. The MREs are small for all predictions made in the last 7 or 30 days before March 23, 2023. Beyond predictive accuracy, COVINet offers high interpretability, enhancing the understanding of pandemic dynamics. This dual capability positions COVINet as a powerful tool for informing effective strategies in pandemic prevention and governmental decision-making.
Snx4-mediated nucleophagy targets transcription factors controllingATGgene expression
Authors: Hanley Sara E. , Willis Stephen D. , Cooper Katrina F.
Published: May 2020

Autophagy is controlled in part by the repression and activation of Autophagy-related (ATG) gene transcription. Here, we demonstrate that the conserved Cdk8 Kinase Module (CKM) of the mediator complex represses transcription of severalATGgenes. To relieve this repression following nitrogen starvation, Med13 is rapidly degraded via a novel selective autophagy mechanism. This pathway requires the core autophagy machinery but is independent of known nucleophagy systems. It requires the cytosolic filament nucleoporin Gle1, the sorting nexin Snx4-Atg20 heterodimer, and the scaffold protein Atg17. This suggests a model where Med13 traverses through the nuclear pore complex, passing from Gle1 to Snx4. Snx4 then transports Med13 to autophagosomes by binding to Atg17. This previously unidentified nucleophagy pathway also mediates the autophagic degradation of two transcriptional activators ofATGgenes (Rim15, Msn2) suggesting that this mechanism targets transcription factors that regulate ATG expression. This system provides a new level of selectivity, permitting the cell to fine-tune the autophagic response by controlling the turnover of both positive and negativeATGtranscription factors.
Evaluation of performance of two SARS-CoV-2 Rapid whole-blood finger-stick IgM-IgG Combined Antibody Tests
Authors: Prazuck Thierry , Colin Mathilda , Giachè Susanna , Gubavu Camélia , Seve Aymeric , Rzepecki Vincent , Chevereau-Choquet Marie , Kiani Catherine , Rodot Victor , Lionnet Elsa , Courtellemont Laura , Guinard Jérôme , Pialoux Gilles , Hocqueloux Laurent
Published: May 2020

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is responsible for the infectious respiratory disease called COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease). In response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic, Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) have been developed to detect specific antibodies, IgG and IgM, to SARS-CoV-2 virus in human whole blood. We conducted a real-life study to evaluate the performance of two RDTs, COVID-PRESTO® and COVID-DUO®, compared to the gold standard, RT-PCR.

Methods

RT-PCR testing of SARS-Cov-2 was performed from nasopharyngeal swab specimens collected in adult patients visiting the infectious disease department at the hospital (Orléans, France). Fingertip whole blood samples taken at different time points after onset of the disease were tested with RDTs. The specificity and sensitivity of the rapid test kits compared to test of reference (RT-PCR) were calculated.

Results

Among 381 patients with symptoms of COVID-19 who went to the hospital for a diagnostic, 143 patients were RT-PCR negative. Results of test with RDTs were all negative for these patients, indicating a specificity of 100% for both RDTs.

In the RT-PCR positive subgroup (n=238), 133 patients were tested with COVID-PRESTO® and 129 patients were tested with COVID-DUO® (24 patients tested with both). The further the onset of symptoms was from the date of collection, the greater the sensitivity. The sensitivity of COVID-PRESTO® test ranged from 10.00% for patients having experienced their 1st symptoms from 0 to 5 days ago to 100% in patients where symptoms had occurred more than 15 days before the date of tests. For COVID-DUO® test, the sensitivity ranged from 35.71% [0-5 days] to 100% (> 15 days).

Conclusion

COVID-PRESTO® and DUO® RDTs turned out to be very specific (none false positive) and to be sensitive enough after 15 days from onset of symptom. These easy to use IgG/IgM combined test kits are the first ones allowing a screening with capillary blood sample, by typing from a finger prick. These rapid tests are particularly interesting for screening in low resource settings.
Archiving experience: an exploration of the challenges of preserving virtual reality
Authors: Lischer-Katz Zack
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the opportunities and challenges that immersive virtual reality (VR) technologies pose for archival theory and practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper reviews research on VR adoption in information institutions and the preservation challenges of VR to identify ways in which VR has the potential to disrupt existing archival theory and practice.

Findings

Existing archival approaches are found to be disrupted by the multi-layered structural characteristics of VR, the part–whole relationships between the technological elements of VR environments and the three-dimensional content they contain and the immersive, experiential nature of VR experiences. This paper argues that drawing on perspectives from phenomenology and digital materiality is helpful for addressing the preservation challenges of VR.

Research limitations/implications

The findings extend conceptualizations of preservation by identifying gaps in existing preservation approaches to VR and stressing the importance of “experience” as a central element of archival practice and by emphasizing the embodied dimensions of interpreting archival records and the multiple scales of materiality that archival researchers and practitioners should consider to preserve VR.

Practical implications

These findings provide guidance for digital curators and preservationists by outlining the current thinking on VR preservation and the impact of VR on digital preservation strategies.

Originality/value

This paper gives new insight into VR as an emerging area of concern to digital curation and preservation and expands archival thinking with new conceptualizations that disrupt existing paradigms.
Influence of maternal region of birth on neonatal outcomes of babies born small
Authors: Young Nicole E. , Davies‐Tuck Miranda , Malhotra Atul
Published: May 2020

Aim

To compare neonatal outcomes of small for gestational age (SGA) infants born to South Asian (SA)‐born women and Australian/New Zealand (ANZ)‐born women.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study at a hospital network in Australia. Maternal and neonatal data were collected for infants born SGA between 2013 and 2017 to SA‐ or ANZ‐born women. Rates of perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidities were analysed between groups.

Results

A total of 1018 SA and 959 ANZ SGA infants were included. SA SGA babies were older (median [IQR] 39 [38‐40] weeks) and heavier (2590 [2310‐2780] grams) compared to ANZ SGA babies (38 [37‐40] weeks and 2480 [2059‐2740] grams; P < .001 for both). After adjustment for differences in demographics, SA SGA babies were 1.5 times more likely to develop hypothermia (CI: 1.16‐1.88, P = .001), but 60% less likely to be born with a major congenital malformation (CI: 0.24‐0.67, P = .001) and 36% less likely to need gavage feeding (CI: 0.43‐0.93, P = .02) compared to ANZ SGA babies.

Conclusion

Small for gestational age babies of SA‐born women have different neonatal outcomes as compared to those born to ANZ‐born women. Further research into influence of maternal region of birth on placental function, organogenesis and body composition of SGA babies is warranted.
How management of grief associated with ending the life of an animal is taught to Australasian veterinary students
Authors: Littlewood KE , Beausoleil NJ , Stafford KJ , Stephens C , Collins T , Fawcett A , Hazel S , Lloyd JKF , Mallia C , Richards L , Wedler NK , Zito S
Published: May 2020

Objective

Veterinarians have an important role in supporting and understanding their clients' grief. Veterinary schools have a duty to teach students how best to manage grief – both that of the students/future veterinarians and the clients. This study explores how grief management, associated with ending the life of an animal, was taught to students in eight Australasian veterinary schools.

Methods

A questionnaire‐style interview guide was used by a representative at each university to conduct structured interviews with educators in a snowball sampling approach. Educators were interviewed about the teaching of grief management for four categories of animals: livestock, equine, companion and avian/wildlife. The terms used by participants to describe what they taught were grouped into common themes. Teaching was defined by individual participants and included structured and unstructured approaches. The stage in the degree (preclinical or clinical years) that grief management was taught in the veterinary curriculum and by whom (e.g. clinicians or psychologists) is also described.

Results

Grief management was taught more in preclinical than clinical years. However, due to how grief was characterised, much of this teaching was general ‘nonspecific' teaching that included all categories of animals. Client grief was taught more generically, whereas, grief of veterinarians was taught using specific examples given by clinicians.

Conclusion

A more robust end‐of‐life (EoL) management curriculum that includes all aspects of grief management is likely to increase job satisfaction, client happiness and professional satisfaction.
Towards Development‐Oriented Foreign Policy in Latin America: The Cases of Ecuador and Chile
Authors: Minke Contreras Johannes
Published: May 2020

Latin American nations have, in varying degrees, struggled to form a foreign policy which successfully incorporates developmental issues. Through an institutional analysis, this article identifies the institutional frameworks within which a development‐oriented foreign policy (DOFP) is more prone to emerge. It is argued that DOFP has not been able to be consolidated, as foreign policy has primarily remained a tool for regime survival. This is largely because of the institutional exclusiveness and presidentialism embedded in Latin American diplomacy – making foreign policy notoriously vulnerable to regime appropriation. By conducting a comparison between Ecuadorean and Chilean foreign policy, the article sheds light on the institutional components which have allowed the latter to successfully incorporate a development agenda and the former to stumble in its efforts.
B cells in autoimmune diseases of the central nervous system
Authors: Noto Daisuke , Miyake Sachiko
Published: May 2020

B cells are key players in humoral immune responses and have important roles in inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Accumulating evidence has shown that antibody‐independent B‐cell functions, antigen presentation to T cells and the production of cytokines, are involved in the pathogenesis of CNS inflammatory diseases. However, the precise pathomechanisms of impaired B‐cell tolerance and the production of autoantibodies against CNS autoantigens are still unknown. In this review, we summarize the effector functions of B cells in the pathogenesis of the CNS autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.
Abstracts presented at the European Association for Osseointegration (EAO) Congresses: Publication fate and discrepancies with full‐length articles
Authors: Wu Xinyu , Yan Qi , Riley Philip , Hua Fang , Shi Bin , Glenny Anne‐Marie , Tu Yu‐Kang
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To investigate the full publication proportion (FPP) of abstracts presented at the 2010 and 2011 EAO Congresses, analyse the discrepancies between abstracts and their full publications, and explore potential predictors of FPP and discrepancies.

Methods

Abstracts presented at the 2010 and 2011 EAO Congresses were retrieved. Associated full publications were identified by searching PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar. Discrepancies between abstracts and full publications were identified, classified and evaluated using a discrepancy score. The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to describe cumulative FPP over time. Predictors for FPP and the discrepancy score were analysed using cox regression modelling and a linear regression model, respectively.

Results

850 abstracts were included. The overall FPP was 36.4% with a median time lapse of 12 months. Higher FPP were significantly associated with oral presentation (HR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.68–3.22; p < .001), multiple affiliations (HR = 1.32; 95% CI: 1.00–1.73; p = .048) and presence of statistical tests (HR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.36–2.32; p < .001). 91.3% pairs had at least one minor change from the abstract, and 70.9% had at least one major change. Greater discrepancy score was significantly associated with longer time lapse (B = 0.06; 95% CI: 0.04–0.08; p < .001) and being clinical research (B = 1.30; 95% CI: 0.52–2.08; p = .001).

Conclusions

Thirty‐six per cent of abstracts presented at the EAO Congresses were published. Among these, more than two‐thirds showed at least one major change in their full publications. Abstracts presented in oral implantology conferences should not be relied upon to inform practice.
Juxtacrine signalling via Notch and ErbB receptors in the switch to fate commitment of bone marrow‐derived Schwann cells
Authors: Shea Graham Ka‐Hon , Tai Evelyn Wing‐Yin , Leung Katherine Ho‐Yan , Mung Alan Kwan‐Long , Li Maximilian Tak‐Sui , Tsui Alex Yat‐Ping , Tam Anthony Kin‐Wai , Shum Daisy Kwok‐Yan , Chan Ying‐Shing
Published: May 2020

The phenotypic instability of adult tissue‐derived Schwann cell‐like cells (SCLCs) as revealed upon withdrawal of glia‐inducing culture supplements limits their clinical utility for cell therapy and disease modelling. We previously overcame this limitation by co‐culturing bone marrow‐derived SCLCs with neurons purified from developing rat and subsequently human sensory neurons such that direct contact between cell types accomplished the cell‐intrinsic switch to the Schwann cell fate. Here, our search for juxtacrine instructive signals found both Notch ligands and neuregulin‐1 type III localized on the surface of DRG neurons via live cell immunocytochemistry. Bypassing ligand‐induced release of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) by transient transfection of SCLCs with the pAdlox/V5‐His‐NICD construct was shown to upregulate ErbB2/3. Interaction of ErbB2/3 with neuregulin‐1 type III (NRG1 type III) as presented on neurons then mediated the switch to the Schwann cell fate as demonstrated by expression of S100β/p75/ Sox10/Krox20. In contrast, treatment of cocultures with γ‐secretase inhibitor perturbed Notch signalling in SCLCs and consequently deterred both upregulation of ErbB2/3 and the transition to the Schwann cell fate. Taken together, juxtacrine signalling via Notch is key to the upregulation of ErbB receptors for neuregulin‐driven commitment of SCLCs to the Schwann cell fate.
Contrasted patterns of local adaptation to climate change across the range of an evergreen oak, Quercus aquifolioides
Authors: Du Fang K. , Wang Tianrui , Wang Yuyao , Ueno Saneyoshi , de Lafontaine Guillaume
Published: May 2020

Long‐lived tree species are genetically differentiated and locally adapted with respect to fitness‐related traits, but the genetic basis of local adaptation remains largely unresolved. Recent advances in population genetics and landscape genomic analyses enable identification of putative adaptive loci and specific selective pressures acting on local adaptation. Here, we sampled 60 evergreen oak (Quercus aquifolioides) populations throughout the species' range and pool‐sequenced 587 individuals at drought‐stress candidate genes. We analyzed patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation for 381 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 65 candidate genes and eight microsatellites. Outlier loci were identified by genetic differentiation analysis and genome–environment associations. The response pattern of genetic variation to environmental gradient was assessed by linear isolation‐by‐distance/environment tests, redundancy analysis, and nonlinear methods. SNPs and microsatellites revealed two genetic lineages: Tibet and Hengduan Mountains–Western Sichuan Plateau (HDM‐WSP), with reduced genetic diversity in Tibet lineage. More outlier loci were detected in HDM‐WSP lineage than Tibet lineage. Among these, three SNPs in two genes responded to dry season precipitation in the HDM‐WSP lineage but not in Tibet. By contrast, genetic variation in the Tibet lineage was related to geographic distance instead of the environment. Furthermore, risk of nonadaptedness (RONA) analyses suggested HDM‐WSP lineage will have a better capacity to adapt in the predicted future climate compared with the Tibet lineage. We detected genetic imprints consistent with natural selection and molecular adaptation to drought on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) over a range of long‐lived and widely distributed oak species in a changing environment. Our results suggest that different within‐species adaptation processes occur in species occurring in heterogeneous environments.
Micro‐ and nano‐scale mineralogical characterization of Fe(II)‐oxidizing bacterial stalks
Authors: Vigliaturo Ruggero , Marengo Alessandra , Bittarello Erica , Pérez‐Rodríguez Ileana , Dražić Goran , Gieré Reto
Published: May 2020

Neutrophilic, microaerobic Fe(II)‐oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) from marine and freshwater environments are known to generate twisted ribbon‐like organo‐mineral stalks. These structures, which are extracellularly precipitated, are susceptible to chemical influences in the environment once synthesized. In this paper, we characterize the minerals associated with freshwater FeOB stalks in order to evaluate key organo‐mineral mechanisms involved in biomineral formation. Micro‐Raman spectroscopy and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed that FeOB isolated from drinking water wells in Sweden produced stalks with ferrihydrite, lepidocrocite and goethite as main mineral components. Based on our observations made by micro‐Raman Spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscope combined with electron energy‐loss spectroscopy, we propose a model that describes the crystal‐growth mechanism, the Fe‐oxidation state, and the mineralogical state of the stalks, as well as the biogenic contribution to these features. Our study suggests that the main crystal‐growth mechanism in stalks includes nanoparticle aggregation and dissolution/re‐precipitation reactions, which are dominant near the organic exopolymeric material produced by the microorganism and in the peripheral region of the stalk, respectively.
Precipitation‐drainage cycles lead to hot moments in soil carbon dioxide dynamics in a Neotropical wet forest
Authors: Fernandez‐Bou Angel Santiago , Dierick Diego , Allen Michael F. , Harmon Thomas C.
Published: May 2020

Soil CO2concentrations and emissions from tropical forests are modulated seasonally by precipitation. However, subseasonal responses to meteorological events (e.g., storms, drought) are less well known. Here, we present the effects of meteorological variability on short‐term (hours to months) dynamics of soil CO2concentrations and emissions in a Neotropical wet forest. We continuously monitored soil temperature, moisture, and CO2for a three‐year period (2015–2017), encompassing normal conditions, floods, a dry El Niño period, and a hurricane. We used a coupled model (Hydrus‐1D) for soil water propagation, heat transfer, and diffusive gas transport to explain observed soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil CO2concentration responses to meteorology, and we estimated soil CO2efflux with a gradient‐flux model. Then, we predicted changes in soil CO2concentrations and emissions under different warming climate change scenarios. Observed short‐term (hourly to daily) soil CO2concentration responded more to precipitation than to other meteorological variables (including lower pressure during the hurricane). Observed soil CO2failed to exhibit diel patterns (associated with diel temperature fluctuations in drier climates), except during the drier El Niño period. Climate change scenarios showed enhanced soil CO2due to warmer conditions, while precipitation played a critical role in moderating the balance between concentrations and emissions. The scenario with increased precipitation (based on a regional model projection) led to increases of +11% in soil CO2concentrations and +4% in soil CO2emissions. The scenario with decreased precipitation (based on global circulation model projections) resulted in increases of +4% in soil CO2concentrations and +18% in soil CO2emissions, and presented more prominent hot moments in soil CO2outgassing. These findings suggest that soil CO2will increase under warmer climate in tropical wet forests, and precipitation patterns will define the intensity of CO2outgassing hot moments.
The Stereotypical Image of a Person With Migraine According to Mass Media
Authors: Gvantseladze Khatia , Do Thien Phu , Hansen Jakob Møller , Shapiro Robert E. , Ashina Messoud
Published: May 2020

Background

People with migraine have historically been depicted as “frail and perfectionist women.” While these presentations are from a different cultural context, we may today still be at risk of stereotyping and stigmatizing this patient group. Portrayals of people with migraine on the Internet and in mass media offer a window of how society today views this patient group. The aim of this study was to explore how persons with migraine are being portrayed according to 2 popular sources of photographic images.

Methods

Using the search term “migraine,” we retrieved the 200 highest‐indexed images of people with migraine from each of 2 popular image‐searching websites, Shutterstock and Google Images. For each included image, we analyzed different attributes including (1) gender; (2) age; (3) race; (4) body type; (5) posture; (6) extent of eye closure; (7) clothing attire; (8) environment/setting; (9) lighting; (10) position of left hand; and (11) position of right hand.

Results

We included 283 images. The 283 images depicted 305 persons with migraine. The images representing persons with migraine were predominately female (82%), of adult age (90%), white (64%), and with an ectomorph body type (86%). The eyes were closed in most of the portrayals (82%). The hands were on both temporal regions at the same time in half of the portrayals (49%).

Conclusion

The demographics in terms of gender, race, and age reflect large population studies of migraine; however, we are concerned about the stereotypical depiction of “acute pain behavior” (ie, eye closed, hands on temples) on these images as this is inconsistent with the actual presentations of people with migraine in our clinical experience. This disparity may both derive from, and further contribute to, social stigmatization and lack of public and employer validation of migraine‐related disability. We suggest that future efforts in migraine advocacy may focus on ensuring the portrayal in mass media of an accurate representation of people with migraine.
Anti‐inflammatory effect of omega unsaturated fatty acids and dialysable leucocyte extracts on collagen‐induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice
Authors: Pérez‐Martínez Pamela I. , Rojas‐Espinosa Oscar , Hernández‐Chávez Víctor G. , Arce‐Paredes Patricia , Estrada‐Parra Sergio
Published: May 2020

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disabling autoimmune disease with a high global prevalence. Treatment with disease‐modifying anti‐arthritic drugs (DIMARDs) has been routinely used with beneficial effects but with adverse long‐term consequences; novel targeted biologics and small‐molecule inhibitors are promising options. In this study, we investigated whether purified omega unsaturated fatty acids (ω‐UFAs) and dialysable leukocyte extracts (DLEs) prevented the development of arthritis in a model of collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. We also investigated whether the transcription factor NF‐κB and the NLRP3 inflammasome were involved in the process and whether their activity was modulated by treatment. The development of arthritis was evaluated for 84 days following treatment with nothing, dexamethasone, DLEs, docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, and oleic acid. Progression of CIA was monitored by evaluating clinical manifestations, inflammatory changes, and histological alterations in the pads’ articular tissues. Both DLEs and ω‐UFAs led to an almost complete inhibition of the inflammatory histopathology of CIA and this was concomitant with the inhibition of NF‐kB and the inhibition of the activation of NLRP3. These data suggest that ω‐UFAs and DLEs might have NF‐κB as a common target and that they might be used as ancillary medicines in the treatment of arthritis.
Immunopathological characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 cases in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Tan Mingkai , Liu Yanxia , Zhou Ruiping , Deng Xilong , Li Fang , Liang Kaiyan , Shi Yaling
Published: May 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a respiratory disorder caused by the highly contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The immunopathological characteristics of patients with COVID‐19, either systemic or local, have not been thoroughly studied. In the present study, we analysed both the changes in the number of various immune cell types as well as cytokines important for immune reactions and inflammation. Our data indicate that patients with severe COVID‐19 exhibited an overall decline of lymphocytes including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, B cells and natural killer cells. The number of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells was moderately increased in patients with mild COVID‐19. Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐10 and C‐reactive protein were remarkably up‐regulated in patients with severe COVID‐19. In conclusion, our study shows that the comprehensive decrease of lymphocytes, and the elevation of IL‐6, IL‐10 and C‐reactive protein are reliable indicators of severe COVID‐19.
Psychological distance reduces the effect of internalized stigma on mental health treatment decisions
Authors: Hughes Colleen , Fujita Kentaro , Krendl Anne C.
Published: May 2020

Although stigma is a major barrier to treatment for those with mental health concerns, it is poorly understood when stigma is more or less influential in mental health treatment decisions. In the current work, we examined whether psychological distance—the removal of an event from direct experience—reduced the influence of internalized stigma on willingness to seek treatment. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that psychological distance versus proximity (e.g., seeking treatment in three months vs. in two days, respectively) decreases the negative influence of stigma on willingness to seek treatment. We focused on a population for whom mental health treatment decisions are personally‐relevant: individuals who had previously sought mental health treatment. Experiment 1 showed that the extent to which these individuals internalized (i.e., personally endorsed) stigma about mental illness predicted lower intentions to make an appointment with a mental health care provider for themselves (but not another person). Experiment 2 replicated this result using a different measure of psychological distance (temporal distance) and extended this finding to behavior (time spent reading mental health resources). Overall, this research demonstrated that internalized stigma disrupts mental health treatment‐seeking intentions and behaviors when they are psychologically proximal, but not when they are distant. Potential applications of these results are discussed.
Establishment and characterization of a novel ‘double‐hit’ follicular lymphoma cell line, FL‐SJC
Authors: Chen Min , Jiang Guoxiong , Liu Yichen , Li Dongya , Li Tiantian , Peng Jie , Jiang Qian , You Haiyan , Ba Rong , Pan Jinlan , Li Mei , Long Weiguo , Yan Jinsong , Zhu Yan , Wang Yun , Xi Xiaodong , Mao Jianhua , Shi Xiaofeng
Published: May 2020

About 5 per cent of follicular lymphoma (FL) cases are double‐hit (DH) lymphomas. Double‐hit follicular lymphoma (DHFL) cell lines can improve our understanding and drug development on FL. But there are only few DHFL cell lines. Here, we established a new MYC/BCL2 DHFL cell line, FL‐SJC. The cells were obtained from the hydrothorax of a patient with MYC/BCL2 DHFL and cultured for 140 passages in vitro. FL‐SJC cells demonstrated CD19++, CD20+, CD22++, HLA‐DR+, CD10+, CD38+, Lambda+ CD23‐, CD5‐ and Kappa‐. The chromosome karyotypic analysis confirmed the co‐existence of t(8;22)(q24;q11) and t(14;18)(q32;q21), as well as additional abnormalities involving chromosomes 2 and 3. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis (FISH) showed IGH/BCL2 fusion gene and the MYC rearrangement. In addition, the FL‐SJC cells displayed KMT2D/MLL2 and CREBBP gene mutations. After subcutaneous inoculation of FL‐SJC cells, the SCID mice developed solid tumour masses within 6‐8 weeks. FL‐SJC cells were proven to be free of Epstein‐Barr (EB) virus infection and be multidrug‐resistant. In a conclusion, the FL‐SJC cell line has been identified as a novel MYC/BCL2 double‐hit follicular lymphoma that can be used as a potentially available tool for the clinical and basic research, together with the drug development for MYC/BCL2 DHFL.
Evolution of treefrogs' calls in tropical islands might be under directional selection
Authors: Rebouças Raoni , Augusto‐Alves Guilherme , Toledo Luís Felipe
Published: May 2020

Animals that present migration restrictions are especially interesting to study isolation effects in the context of island biogeography theory. Among these effects, behavioral traits are one of the least studied subjects. The treefrog Boana albomarginata presents gigantism in some Atlantic islands and, therefore, examining its advertisement calls may be an opportunity to test the Island Rule with a behavioral trait. Hence, we compared calls, body and tympanum sizes of populations of this species in Brazilian islands and mainland sites. We tested if call frequencies of island individuals differed from mainland ones, also considering the influence of body size and its relationship with tympanum diameter. One of the island population had larger body size and lower call frequencies than any other populations. We suggest that to be a result of directional selection. We also observed lack of correlation between body size and advertisement call frequencies in some populations, implying that males and females cannot use calls as a proxy of the calling male's size, which may indicate a rare case of relaxed selection. Therefore, this is the first evidence of relaxed selection in animal communication, as a consequence of recent insularity.
Foster rather than biological parental telomere length predicts offspring survival and telomere length in king penguins
Authors: Viblanc Vincent A. , Schull Quentin , Stier Antoine , Durand Laureline , Lefol Emilie , Robin Jean‐Patrice , Zahn Sandrine , Bize Pierre , Criscuolo François
Published: May 2020

Because telomere length and dynamics relate to individual growth, reproductive investment and survival, telomeres have emerged as possible markers of individual quality. Here, we tested the hypothesis that, in species with parental care, parental telomere length can be a marker of parental quality that predicts offspring phenotype and survival. In king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus), we experimentally swapped the single egg of 66 breeding pairs just after egg laying to disentangle the contribution of prelaying parental quality (e.g., genetics, investment in the egg) and/or postlaying parental quality (e.g., incubation, postnatal feeding rate) on offspring growth, telomere length and survival. Parental quality was estimated through the joint effects of biological and foster parent telomere length on offspring traits, both soon after hatching (day 10) and at the end of the prewinter growth period (day 105). We expected that offspring traits would be mostly related to the telomere lengths (i.e., quality) of biological parents at day 10 and to the telomere lengths of foster parents at day 105. Results show that chick survival up to 10 days was negatively related to biological fathers’ telomere length, whereas survival up to 105 days was positively related to foster fathers’ telomere lengths. Chick growth was not related to either biological or foster parents’ telomere length. Chick telomere length was positively related to foster mothers’ telomere length at both 10 and 105 days. Overall, our study shows that, in a species with biparental care, parents’ telomere length is foremost a proxy of postlaying parental care quality, supporting the “telomere – parental quality hypothesis.”
Dilating and contracting arbitrarily
Authors: Builes David , Horowitz Sophie , Schoenfield Miriam
Published: May 2020

Standard accuracy‐based approaches to imprecise credences have the consequence that it is rational to move between precise and imprecise credences arbitrarily, without gaining any new evidence. Building on the Educated Guessing Framework of Horowitz (2019), we develop an alternative accuracy‐based approach to imprecise credences that does not have this shortcoming. We argue that it is always irrational to move from a precise state to an imprecise state arbitrarily, however it can be rational to move from an imprecise state to a precise state arbitrarily.