bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On‐line coupling pressurised liquid extraction with two‐dimensional counter current chromatography for isolation of natural acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from Astragalus membranaceus
Authors: Li Sainan , Liu Chunming , Zhang Yuchi , Tsao Rong
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Radix Astragali, the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fish.) Bge. (family Fabaceae), which is known as Huangqi in China, has been proven to be an immunostimulant, diuretic, antidiabetic, analgesic, and it has also been used as a health food supplement in some Asian populations and also serves as a lead herb in many traditional Chinese medicine formulations as well as in Chinese ethnic tonifying soups.

Objective

Screening and purification of bioactive compounds from natural products is challenging work due to their complexity. We present the first report on the use of pressurised liquid extraction and on‐line two‐dimensional counter current chromatography as an efficient medium for scaled‐up extraction and separation of six bioactive compounds from Astragalus membranaceus.

Method

We applied the established method with ultrafiltration‐liquid chromatography to screen acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which were then evaluated and confirmed for anti‐Alzheimer activity using PC12 cell model.

Results

Six major compounds, namely, calycosin‐7‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside, pratensein‐7‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside, formononetin‐7‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside, calycosin, genistein, and formononetin, with acetylcholinesterase binding affinities were identified and isolated from the raw plant materials via two sets of n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/0.2% acetic acid (first‐stage counter current chromatography) and n‐hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (second‐stage counter current chromatography) solvent systems: 1.87:1.0:1.33 and 5.62:1.0:2.42:5.25, v/v/v/v, which were optimised by a mathematical model.

Conclusion

Therefore, a useful platform for the large‐scale production of bioactive and nutraceutical ingredients was developed herein. With the on‐line system developed here, we present a feasible, selective, and effective strategy for rapid screening and identification of enzyme inhibitors from complex mixtures.
ℓ2–ℓ∞ proportional–integral observer design for systems with mixed time‐delays under round–robin protocol
Authors: Zhao Di , Wang Zidong , Wei Guoliang , Alsaadi Fuad E.
Published: November 2020

In this article, the design problem of ℓ2–ℓ∞ proportional–integral observer (PIO) is investigated for a class of discrete‐time systems with mixed time‐delays. The mixed time‐delays comprise both the discrete time‐varying delays and infinitely distributed delays. The round–robin protocol (RRP) is employed to schedule the data transmissions from the sensors to the observer so as to mitigate the communication burden and prevent the data collisions. A novel PIO is developed whose observer gain is dependent on the data transmission order as a reflection of the effects induced by the RRP scheduling. By resorting to the token‐dependent Lyapunov functional and the matrix inequality technique, the desired PIO is designed with exponentially stable error dynamics of the state estimation and guaranteed ℓ2–ℓ∞ disturbance attenuation/resistance capacity. Finally, a simulation example is exploited to verify the validity of the proposed observer design method.
Men's health policy: it is time for action
Authors: Baker Peter
Published: November 2020

The COVID‐19 pandemic has highlighted the many health problems that men face. Formal policy specifically addressing men's health is far from universal; however, new opportunities are emerging to develop policy and, resultantly, to take long overdue action on men's health needs.
Public health education initiatives for testicular torsion
Authors: Green Charles , Stubbs Vicky , Green James SA
Published: November 2020

Preventable loss of an organ through lack of knowledge could be seen as shocking in the twenty‐first century. That is why a campaign to improve knowledge about and awareness of testicular torsion is underway.
Liver lesions: types, risk factors, investigations and treatment
Authors: Laing Richard W , Mirza Darius F
Published: November 2020

Liver lesions are common although many need no intervention. However, patients who are identified as having a liver lesion require specialist referral for multidisciplinary discussion about further investigation and management.
Getunnelte subkutane endoskopische Unterdrucktherapie
Authors: Müller J. , Müller C. , Loske G.
Published: November 2020

Einleitung

Bei einer 69-jährigen Patientin kam es nach Umwandlung eines doppelläufigen in ein endständiges Kolostoma zu einer Wundheilungsstörung, welche aufgrund der Nähe zum Stoma schwer zu behandeln war. Wir entwickelten eine getunnelte subkutane endoskopische Unterdrucktherapie, um die Wunde verschlossen zu halten, sodass eine uneingeschränkte Funktion des Stomas möglich blieb.

Methode

Es wurden drei verschiedene offenporige Schlauchdrainagen verwendet. An das distale Ende einer Magensonde wurde entweder ein offenporiger PU-Schwamm (OPD), eine dünne, doppellagige Drainagefolie (OFD) oder ein mit der Drainagefolie umhüllter PU-Schwamm (OPFD) mittels Naht fixiert. Diese Drainagetypen unterscheiden sich im Durchmesser sowie in der Ansaugwirkung auf das Wundgewebe. Der parastomale Abszess wurde chirurgisch eröffnet und gespült. Daraufhin konnte der offenporige PU-Schwamm in die Wunde eingebracht werden. Der Unterdruckschlauch wurde über eine kleine Inzision wundfern ausgeleitet. Nach Wundverschluss per Naht konnte die Stomaplatte problemlos aufgeklebt werden. Ein Vakuum mit −125 mm Hg wurde etabliert. Die weiteren Verbandswechsel beinhalteten eine endoskopische Inspektion. Bei den erstmaligen Verbandswechseln von großporiger OPD und kleinporigerer OPFD musste die Wunde neu eröffnet und wieder chirurgisch verschlossen werden. Bei sauberen, granulierenden Wundverhältnissen wurde das Verbandsregime auf die kleinlumige OFD rotiert. Dieser Drainagetyp konnte ausschließlich endoskopisch gewechselt werden, eine weitere Wunderöffnung war nicht mehr notwendig.

Ergebnis

Durch die OPD konnte initial ein großflächiges Débridement und eine Wundverkleinerung erreicht werden, die Wunde musste für die Verbandswechsel jedoch wiedereröffnet werden. Auch bei der folgenden OPFD wurde die Wunde für den Verbandswechsel erneut eröffnet. Die doppellagige Folie um den PU-Schwamm führte hier zu einer geringeren Ansaugwirkung. Letztlich wurde mit der OFD eine rein endoskopisch zu versorgende Drainage etabliert, die keine weitere Manipulation an der Haut erforderte. Nach 16 Tagen endete die Therapie mit einer ausgeheilten Wunde und problemloser Stomaversorgung.
Evaluation des Projekts zur Einführung von Laienreanimation an Schulen in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Authors: Felzen Marc , Schröder Hanna , Beckers Stefan K. , Böttiger Bernd W. , Rott Nadine , Koch-Schultze Ruth , Wingen Sabine , Meißner Andreas , Santowski Iris , Picker Olaf , Rahe-Meyer Niels , Dumcke Rico , Wegner Claas , van Aken Hugo , Gottschalk Antje , Weber Oliver , Rossaint Rolf
Published: November 2020

Hintergrund

Wiederbelebungsunterricht ist nicht in allen Schulen Deutschlands verpflichtend, dieser beschränkt sich trotz niedriger Laienreanimationsrate aktuell auf einzelne, z. T verpflichtende Projekte in unterschiedlichen Bundesländern. Aus diesem Grunde hat das Ministerium für Schule und Bildung Nordrhein-Westfalen per Runderlass im März 2017 das Projekt „Laienreanimation an Schulen in NRW“ initiiert.

Fragestellung

Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Evaluation dieses Projekts.

Material und Methoden

Alle weiterführenden Schulen in Nordrhein-Westfalen wurden zur Teilnahme am Projekt eingeladen. Aus jedem Regierungsbezirk nahmen ärztliche Partner teil, welche Wiederbelebungstrainings mit bereits bestehenden Konzepten zum Lehrer- oder Schülertraining durchführten. Nach einer 3‑jährigen Laufzeit erfolgte die Evaluation anhand von standardisierten Fragebögen für Schuldezernenten, Lehrer und Schüler.

Ergebnisse

Insgesamt konnten durch das Projekt mehr als 40.000 Schüler aus 249 Schulen in NRW mit 6 unterschiedlichen Konzepten in Wiederbelebung trainiert werden. Fragen bezüglich Wiederbelebungsmaßnahmen konnten durch 85 % der Schüler richtig beantwortet werden. Die Schüler fühlen sich insgesamt sicher in Wiederbelebungsmaßnahmen. Der Investitionsbedarf für alle Schulen liegt bei einmalig zwischen 4 und 6,5 Mio. € sowie rund 340.000 € in jedem Haushaltsjahr.

Diskussion

Eine gesetzliche Verpflichtung und Finanzierung von Wiederbelebungstrainings sind unerlässlich für eine flächendeckende Durchführung. Alle durchgeführten Konzepte sind effektiv, dementsprechend kann jede Schule ein auf ihre Bedürfnisse abgestimmtes Konzept auswählen und dieses bestenfalls gestuft anwenden. Die Schulung von Lehrern sollte gezielt auf Wiederbelebung ausgerichtet sein.
Non-local mean denoising using multiple PET reconstructions
Authors: Arabi Hossein , Zaidi Habib
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Non-local mean (NLM) filtering has been broadly used for denoising of natural and medical images. The NLM filter relies on the redundant information, in the form of repeated patterns/textures, in the target image to discriminate the underlying structures/signals from noise. In PET (or SPECT) imaging, the raw data could be reconstructed using different parameters and settings, leading to different representations of the target image, which contain highly similar structures/signals to the target image contaminated with different noise levels (or properties). In this light, multiple-reconstruction NLM filtering (MR-NLM) is proposed, which relies on the redundant information provided by the different reconstructions of the same PET data (referred to as auxiliary images) to conduct the denoising process.

Methods

Implementation of the MR-NLM approach involved the use of twelve auxiliary PET images (in addition to the target image) reconstructed using the same iterative reconstruction algorithm with different numbers of iterations and subsets. For each target voxel, the patches of voxels at the same location are extracted from the auxiliary PET images based on which the NLM denoising process is conducted. Through this, the exhaustive search scheme performed in the conventional NLM method to find similar patches of voxels is bypassed. The performance evaluation of the MR-NLM filter was carried out against the conventional NLM, Gaussian and bilateral post-reconstruction approaches using the experimental Jaszczak phantom and 25 whole-body PET/CT clinical studies.

Results

The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in the experimental Jaszczak phantom study improved from 25.1 when using Gaussian filtering to 27.9 and 28.8 when the conventional NLM and MR-NLM methods were applied (pvalue < 0.05), respectively. Conversely, the Gaussian filter led to quantification bias of 35.4%, while NLM and MR-NLM approaches resulted in a bias of 32.0% and 31.1% (pvalue < 0.05), respectively. The clinical studies further confirm the superior performance of the MR-NLM method, wherein the quantitative bias measured in malignant lesions (hot spots) decreased from − 12.3 ± 2.3% when using the Gaussian filter to − 3.5 ± 1.3% and − 2.2 ± 1.2% when using the NLM and MR-NLM approaches (pvalue < 0.05), respectively.

Conclusion

The MR-NLM approach exhibited promising performance in terms of noise suppression and signal preservation for PET images, thus translating into higher SNR compared to the conventional NLM approach. Despite the promising performance of the MR-NLM approach, the additional computational burden owing to the requirement of multiple PET reconstruction still needs to be addressed.
Polytypism of Cronstedtite From Nagybörzsöny, Hungary
Authors: Hybler Jiří , Dolníček Zdeněk , Sejkora Jiří , Števko Martin
Published: November 2020

The present study provides an example of the accurate identification of polytypes of trioctahedral 1:1 layered silicates from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collected with the aid of a four-circle diffractometer equipped with an area detector. Single crystals of the mineral cronstedtite from the Nagybörzsöny gold ore deposit, northern Hungary, were studied. The chemical composition of some crystals was determined by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The precession-like images of the reciprocal space (RS) sections created by the diffractometer software and presented in the study were used to determine the OD (ordered-disordered) subfamilies (Bailey’s groups A, B, C, D) and particular polytypes. With one exception, all crystals studied belong to subfamily A. The rare polytype 1M, a = 5.51, b = 9.54, c = 7.33 Å, β = 104.5°, space group Cm is relatively abundant in this occurrence. Another polytype 3T, a = 5.51, c = 21.32 Å, space group P31 was also found. Both polytypes occur separately or in mixed, mostly 1M dominant crystals. Some 1M polytype crystals are twinned by order 3 reticular merohedry with a 120° rotation along the chex axis as the twin operation. A rare 1M+3T mixed crystal with 1M part twinned also contains a small amount of subfamily C. A possible presence of the most common 1T polytype of this subfamily cannot be confirmed because of overlap of the characteristic reflections with those of 3T. Several completely disordered crystals produced diffuse streaks instead of discrete characteristic reflections on the RS sections. The EPMA revealed Fe, Si, traces of Mg, Al, S, and Cl. One black crystal originally considered to be cronstedtite was identified as (111) twinned sphalerite. Some crystals of cronstedtite are covered partially by a honey-brown crust or small crystals of siderite.
Self-employment as a stepping stone to better labor market matching: a comparison between immigrants and natives
Authors: Ulceluse Magdalena
Published: November 2020

The paper investigates the relation between overeducation and self-employment, in a comparative analysis between immigrants and natives. Using the EU Labour Force Survey for the year 2012 and controlling for a list of demographic characteristics and general characteristics of 30 destination countries, it finds that the likelihood of being overeducated decreases for self-employed immigrants, with inconclusive results for self-employed natives. The results shed light on the extent to which immigrants adjust to labor market imperfections and barriers to employment and might help explain the higher incidence of self-employment that immigrants exhibit, when compared to natives. This is the first study to systematically study the nexus between overeducation and self-employment in a comparative framework. Moreover, the paper tests the robustness of the results by employing two different measures of overeducation, contributing to the literature of the measurement of overeducation.
The impact of isolation precautions on caregiver-infant interactions in the neonatal intensive care unit: A case–control study
Authors: Gardea Rebekah C. , Petershack Matthew , Cantey Joseph B.
Published: November 2020

This case–control study investigated the association between isolation precautions and the frequency of infant–caregiver interaction in the NICU. Interactions were discretely counted; cases and controls were matched by isolation status. Cases had fewer interactions than controls (median, 4 vs 8; P < .0001). Further research is needed to determine whether this reduction impacts patient outcomes.
Associations between cola consumption and bone mineral density in Korean adolescents and young adults: a cross-sectional study using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008–2011
Authors: Kim Yun-A , Yoo Jun-Hyun
Published: November 2020

The present study aimed to elucidate the relationship between cola consumption and bone mineral density (BMD) in Korean adolescents and young adults. We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2011. A total of 2499 adolescents and young adults aged 12–25 years were included. The study participants were classified as cola drinkers and non-cola drinkers according to 24-h dietary recall data. BMD was measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry. In the male population, whole body, whole femur and femoral neck BMD in cola drinkers were lower than that of non-cola drinkers by 4% (95% CI −0⋅071, −0⋅007), 5% (−0⋅092, −0⋅012) and 5% (−0⋅090, −0⋅001), respectively. In both sex groups, cola drinkers had less frequent milk consumption than non-cola drinkers. However, there were no significant differences in cola consumption according to calcium intake in both sexes. In conclusion, cola intake and BMD were inversely associated with Korean male adolescents and young adults. Considering the importance of peak bone mass attainment at adolescents and the increasing trend in carbonated beverage consumption in South Korea, further studies are needed to elucidate the causality between cola intake and lower BMD.
Exceptional Subjects: Koreans, Settler Colonialism, and Imperial Subjecthood in the Russian Far East, 1860s–1917
Authors: Glebov Sergey
Published: November 2020

This article traces debates and policies of the Russian imperial administrators toward the Korean population in the Far Eastern provinces of the Russian Empire. Koreans were initially treated as de facto members of the peasant estate, and in the 1890s many were granted the status of Russian subjects. Yet the rise of settler colonialism and a nationalizing empire from the 1880s, and especially after the Russian revolution of 1905, complicated the issue of Korean subjecthood and led to policies that excluded Koreans from the regulations normally applicable to peasants, such as the right to increased land allotments. At the same time, the neotraditionalist approach to the management of difference in the empire was still present in the 1910s, albeit never clearly articulated to compete with the nationalizing idiom.
Unique foetal diagnosis of aorto-pulmonary collaterals in right atrial isomerism
Authors: Mawad Wadi , Dutil Nathalie , Thakur Varsha
Published: November 2020

Right atrial isomerism is associated with complex cardiac malformations, particularly single-ventricle lesions; right atrial isomerism is rarely associated with aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries. We report a foetal diagnosis of right atrial isomerism, with an unbalanced atrioventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, total anomalous venous drainage, and significant aorto-pulmonary collaterals diagnosed at 22 weeks’ gestation.
Family caregivers’ perceived communication self-efficacy with physicians
Authors: Wittenberg Elaine , Kerr Anna M. , Goldsmith Joy V.
Published: November 2020

Objective

Family-centered health care requires successful communication between patient, family caregivers, and healthcare providers. Among all providers, physicians are most likely to interact with caregivers. Using the Family Caregiver Communication Typology, this study examined perceived communication self-efficacy with physicians among four types of caregivers: Manager, Partner, Carrier, and Lone.

Method

A cross-sectional online survey included the Family Communication Typology Tool, Communication Perceived Self-Efficacy Scale, the Caregiver Quality of Life-Revised Index, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) questionnaire.

Results

An online survey of 220 family caregivers currently caring for an adult family member revealed significant differences in communication self-efficacy among family caregiver communication types, revealing that Partner caregivers have the highest perceived communication self-efficacy, and that for some caregiver types, higher perceived communication self-efficacy is associated with certain quality of life dimensions.

Significance of results

Differences in communication self-efficacy with physicians among the four caregiver communication types (Manager, Partner, Carrier, and Lone) provide further evidence that the typology represents variance in caregiver communication abilities. Development of future medical curricula targeting communication skill training should include an overview of the typology and communication strategies as these may increase effective communication between physicians and caregivers.
Provisional focal stenting of complex femoropopliteal lesions using the Multi-LOC multiple stent delivery system – 12-month results from the LOCOMOTIVE EXTENDED study
Authors: Amendt Klaus , Zeller Thomas , Proczka Robert , Beschorner Ulrich , Troisi Nicola , Waliszewski Matthias , Langhoff Ralf , Krankenberg Hans , Hansch Andreas , Krcmar Tomislav , Vidjak Vinko , Nolte-Ernsting Claus , Hansen Alexander , Sigl Martin
Published: November 2020

Summary: Background: This study aimed to evaluate a Multiple Stent Delivery System for provisional focal stenting of the femoropopliteal artery. Patient and methods: The LOCOMOTIVE EXTENDED study (Multi-LOC for flOw liMiting Outcomes after plain old balloon angioplasty and/or drug-coated balloon Treatment in the infrainguinal position with the objectIVE to implant multiple stent segments) is a prospective, single-arm, multicentre observational study. The Multi-LOC Multiple Stent Delivery System (B.Braun, Melsungen, Germany) was used for provisional focal stenting of the femoropopliteal artery. We enrolled 357 patients with 449 femoropopliteal lesions; all had flow-limiting dissections or recoil following angioplasty. Eligibility included Rutherford classification 2 to 5 with a de novo or non-stented restenotic femoropopliteal lesion undergoing plain balloon or drug-coated balloon angioplasty. The 6- and 12-month efficacy endpoints encompassed target lesion revascularisation and primary patency rates. Results: The mean patient age was 71 ± 10 years. The mean lesion length was 16.0 ± 9.7 cm; 44.5% were TASC II C/D lesions and 31.4% were chronic total occlusions. By operator choice, 45% of the patients underwent drug-coated balloon angioplasty. On average, 4.0 stents (each 13 mm long) were placed in each lesion, resulting in a scaffolding proportion of 56% of the total lesion length with a technical success rate of 98.3%. At 6 and 12 months, the freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularisation was 95.5% and 88.7% and the primary patency rates were 88.7% and 82.3%, respectively. At 12 months, significant improvements were noted in Rutherford categories and ankle-brachial indices. In multiple regression analyses, both diabetes mellitus and no distal run-off vessel showed a trend toward worse TLR, while other factors such as DCB predilation or the lesion length were not predictive. Conclusions: The LOCOMOTIVE EXTENDED study demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the Multi-LOC stent system for focal provisional stenting of complex femoropopliteal lesions.
Examining the Use of Police and Ambulance Data in Suicide Research
Authors: Meurk Carla , Wittenhagen Lisa , Steele Megan L. , Ferris Laura , Edwards Bronwen , Bosley Emma , Heffernan Ed
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Background: Police and paramedics are often the first to respond to individuals in suicide crisis and have an important role to play in facilitating optimal care pathways. Yet, little evidence exists to inform these responses. Data linkage provides one approach to examining this knowledge gap. Aim: We identified studies that examined suicide behaviors and linked to police or ambulance data. Method: A systematic search of PubMed and Scopus was undertaken to identify data linkage studies that: (1) examined suicide behaviors, and (2) included police or ambulance data. Studies were reviewed to identify: aims; suicide behaviors examined; how these were measured; how the cohort was defined; topic area; and what datasets were linked. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Six studies included police data, and two studies included ambulance data. No study included both. Two topic areas were identified: (1) suicide-related contact with police or ambulance services; and (2) associations between suicidal behaviors and violence, victimization, and criminality. Limitations: Limitations to the review include the potential to have missed studies that investigated or reported on suicidality under the guise of mental health problems; complexities and nuances arising from the role of police data in coronial investigations; and limitations in the number of databases searched. Conclusion: Police and ambulance data represent a currently underutilized source of valuable information relevant to suicide crises, and further research should aim to address this gap.
Boosting Weather Prediction with Machine Learning
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: November 2020

WeatherBench is a data set compiled to serve as a standard for evaluating new approaches to artificial intelligence–driven weather forecasting.
Urban Scaling as Validation for Predictions of Imperviousness From Population
Authors: Brelsford Christa , Coon Ethan T. , Moran Edward , Allen‐Dumas Melissa
Published: November 2020

Strategies for creating quantitative projections for human systems, especially impervious surfaces, are necessary to consider the human drivers of climate and ecosystem change. There are models that generate predictions of how impervious surfaces may change in response to different potential futures, but few tools exist for validating those predictions. We seek to fill that gap. We demonstrate a statistically robust sublinear scaling relationship between population and urban imperviousness across a 15 year history. We show that Integrated Climate and Land‐Use Scenarios (ICLUS) urbanization projections are also consistent with theory. These results demonstrate a theory that can be used to validate other models' predictions of urban growth and land cover change, analogous to the ways in which allometric scaling laws in biology have been used to validate process‐based models of ecosystem composition under different climate scenarios.
Thermokarst Disturbance Drives Concentration and Composition of Metals and Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds in Lakes of the Western Canadian Arctic
Authors: Thienpont Joshua R. , Eickmeyer David C. , Kimpe Linda E. , Blais Jules M.
Published: November 2020

When assessing the environmental impact of petroleum hydrocarbon exploitation, it can be challenging to differentiate anthropogenic from natural hydrocarbon sources. For example, areas underlain by permafrost may be affected by erosion of hydrocarbon‐rich deposits from thermokarst activity, complicating environmental assessments of human impacts from petroleum extraction. Here we examined polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and metals in sediment cores from lakes affected to varying degrees by thawing permafrost. We used a paired‐lake design on lakes with pronounced shoreline retrogressive thaw slumps and compared them to nearby lakes in undisturbed (no retrogressive thaw slump) systems in the Mackenzie Delta uplands (Northwest Territories, Canada). Total organic carbon (TOC)‐normalized concentrations of parent and alkylated PACs were higher in surface sediments of slump‐affected lakes. Slump‐affected lakes were also enriched in metals related to local shale‐based, Quaternary deposits (e.g., Ca, Sr, and Mn) when compared to reference lakes where surficial materials were not exposed by thermokarst activity. Diagnostic ratios of specific PACs suggested that slump‐affected lakes also had a greater influence from petroleum‐based compounds, likely sourced from the local geology. Higher PAC concentrations and petrogenic composition were best explained as a combination of low TOC availability and increased inputs of previously bound hydrocarbons from the catchment due to permafrost erosion.
White matter microarchitecture and structural network integrity correlate with children intelligence quotient
Authors: Suprano Ilaria , Kocevar Gabriel , Stamile Claudio , Hannoun Salem , Fourneret Pierre , Revol Olivier , Nusbaum Fanny , Sappey-Marinier Dominique
Published: November 2020

The neural substrate of high intelligence performances remains not well understood. Based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) which provides microstructural information of white matter fibers, we proposed in this work to investigate the relationship between structural brain connectivity and intelligence quotient (IQ) scores. Fifty-seven children (8–12 y.o.) underwent a MRI examination, including conventional T1-weighted and DTI sequences, and neuropsychological testing using the fourth edition of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV), providing an estimation of the Full-Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) based on four subscales: verbal comprehension index (VCI), perceptual reasoning index (PRI), working memory index (WMI), and processing speed index (PSI). Correlations between the IQ scores and both graphs and diffusivity metrics were explored. First, we found significant correlations between the increased integrity of WM fiber-bundles and high intelligence scores. Second, the graph theory analysis showed that integration and segregation graph metrics were positively and negatively correlated with WISC-IV scores, respectively. These results were mainly driven by significant correlations between FSIQ, VCI, and PRI and graph metrics in the temporal and parietal lobes. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that intelligence performances are related to the integrity of WM fiber-bundles as well as the density and homogeneity of WM brain networks.
Rethinking glottal midline detection
Authors: Kist Andreas M. , Zilker Julian , Gómez Pablo , Schützenberger Anne , Döllinger Michael
Published: November 2020

A healthy voice is crucial for verbal communication and hence in daily as well as professional life. The basis for a healthy voice are the sound producing vocal folds in the larynx. A hallmark of healthy vocal fold oscillation is the symmetric motion of the left and right vocal fold. Clinically, videoendoscopy is applied to assess the symmetry of the oscillation and evaluated subjectively. High-speed videoendoscopy, an emerging method that allows quantification of the vocal fold oscillation, is more commonly employed in research due to the amount of data and the complex, semi-automatic analysis. In this study, we provide a comprehensive evaluation of methods that detect fully automatically the glottal midline. We used a biophysical model to simulate different vocal fold oscillations, extended the openly available BAGLS dataset using manual annotations, utilized both, simulations and annotated endoscopic images, to train deep neural networks at different stages of the analysis workflow, and compared these to established computer vision algorithms. We found that classical computer vision perform well on detecting the glottal midline in glottis segmentation data, but are outperformed by deep neural networks on this task. We further suggest GlottisNet, a multi-task neural architecture featuring the simultaneous prediction of both, the opening between the vocal folds and the symmetry axis, leading to a huge step forward towards clinical applicability of quantitative, deep learning-assisted laryngeal endoscopy, by fully automating segmentation and midline detection.
MicroRNA retrocopies generated via L1-mediated retrotransposition in placental mammals help to reveal how their parental genes were transcribed
Authors: Pan Cheng-Tsung , Lin Yeong-Shin
Published: November 2020

In mammalian genomes, most retrocopies emerged via the L1 retrotransposition machinery. The hallmarks of an L1-mediated retrocopy, i.e., the intronlessness, the presence of a 3′ poly-A tail, and the TSDs at both ends, were frequently used to identify retrotransposition events. However, most previous studies only focused on protein-coding genes as their possible parental sources and thus only a few retrocopies derived from non-coding genes were reported. Remarkably, none of them was from microRNAs. Here in this study, we found several retrocopies generated from the mir-302–367 cluster gene (MIR302CHG), and identified a novel alternatively spliced exon encoding mir-302a. The other recognized microRNA retrotransposition events are primate-specific with mir-373 and mir-498 as their parental genes. The 3′ poly-A tracts of these two retrocopy groups were directly attached to the end of the microRNA precursor homologous regions, which suggests that their parental transcripts might alternatively terminate at the end of mir-373 and mir-498. All the three parental microRNAs are highly expressed in specific tissues with elevated retrotransposon activity, such as the embryonic stem cells and the placenta. This might be the reason that our first microRNA retrocopy findings were derived from these three microRNA genes.
TRPM2 promotes autophagic degradation in vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Zhao Qiannan , Li Jingxuan , Ko Wing-Hung , Kwan Yiu-Wa , Jiang Liwen , Sun Lei , Yao Xiaoqiang
Published: November 2020

Transient receptor potential channel M2 (TRPM2) is a Ca2+-permeable channel that is activated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). In many cell types, ROS activate TRPM2 to induce excessive Ca2+ influx, resulting in Ca2+ overload and consequent cell death. Recent studies suggest that TRPM2 may also regulate autophagy in pericytes and cancer cells by acting on the early step of autophagy, i.e. autophagic induction. However, there is no report on the role of TRPM2 in autophagic degradation, which is the late stage of autophagy. In the present study, we found abundant TRPM2 expression in lysosomes/autolysosomes in the primary cultured mouse aortic smooth muscle cells (mASMCs). Nutrient starvation stimulated autophagic flux in mASMCs mainly by promoting autophagic degradation. This starvation-induced autophagic degradation was reduced by TRPM2 knockout. Importantly, starvation-induced lysosomal/autolysosomal acidification and cell death were also substantially reduced by TRPM2 knockout. Taken together, the present study uncovered a novel mechanism that lysosomal TRPM2 facilitates lysosomal acidification to stimulate excessive autolysosome degradation and consequent cell death.
Modeling the effects of hyaluronic acid degradation on the regulation of human astrocyte phenotype using multicomponent interpenetrating polymer networks (mIPNs)
Authors: Jimenez-Vergara Andrea C. , Van Drunen Rachel , Cagle Tyler , Munoz-Pinto Dany J.
Published: November 2020

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a highly abundant component in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and a fundamental element to the architecture and the physiology of the central nervous system (CNS). Often, HA degradation occurs when an overreactive inflammatory response, derived from tissue trauma or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, causes the ECM in the CNS to be remodeled. Herein, we studied the effects of HA content as a key regulator of human astrocyte (HAf) reactivity using multicomponent interpenetrating polymer networks (mIPNs) comprised of Collagen I, HA and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate. The selected platform facilities the modulation of HA levels independently of matrix rigidity. Total astrocytic processes length, number of endpoints, the expression of the quiescent markers: Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family Member L1 (ALDH1L1) and Glutamate Aspartate Transporter (GLAST); the reactive markers: Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and S100 Calcium-Binding Protein β (S100β); and the inflammatory markers: Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS), Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNFα), were assessed. Cumulatively, our results demonstrated that the decrease in HA concentration elicited a reduction in the total length of astrocytic processes and an increase in the expression of HAf reactive and inflammatory markers.
A novel noninvasive approach for evaluating work of breathing indices in a developmental rat model using respiratory inductance plethysmography
Authors: Zhu Yan , Aghai Zubair H. , Betal Suhita Gayen Nee , Favara Michael , Fong Gina , Rahman Tariq , Shaffer Thomas H.
Published: November 2020

Pulmonary function testing (PFT) is an important component for evaluating the outcome of experimental rodent models of respiratory diseases. Respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) provides a noninvasive method of PFT requiring minimal cooperation. RIP measures work of breathing (WOB) indices including phase angle (Ф), percent rib cage (RC %), breaths per minute (BPM), and labored breathing index (LBI) on an iPad. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of a recently developed research instrument, pneuRIP, for evaluation of WOB indices in a developmental rat model. Sprague Dawley rats (2 months old) were commercially acquired and anaesthetised with isoflurane. The pneuRIP system uses two elastic bands: one band (RC) placed around the rib cage under the upper armpit and another band (AB) around the abdomen. The typical thoracoabdominal motion (TAM) plot showed the abdomen and rib cage motion in synchrony. The plots of phase angle and LBI as a function of data point number showed that values were within the range. The distribution for phase angle and LBI was within a narrow range. pneuRIP testing provided instantaneous PFT results. This study demonstrated the utility of RIP as a rapid, noninvasive approach for evaluating treatment interventions in the rodent model.
Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity after COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Azam Mahalul , Sulistiana Rina , Ratnawati Martha , Fibriana Arulita Ika , Bahrudin Udin , Widyaningrum Dian , Aljunid Syed Mohamed
Published: November 2020

Present study aimed to estimate the incidence of recurrent SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity after recovery from COVID-19 and to determine the factors associated with recurrent positivity. We searched the PubMed, MedRxiv, BioRxiv, the Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry for studies published to June 12, 2020. Studies were reviewed to determine the risk of bias. A random-effects model was used to pool results. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2. Fourteen studies of 2568 individuals were included. The incidence of recurrent SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 14.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 11.44–18.19%). The pooled estimate of the interval from disease onset to recurrence was 35.4 days (95% CI 32.65–38.24 days), and from the last negative to the recurrent positive result was 9.8 days (95% CI 7.31–12.22 days). Patients with younger age and a longer initial illness were more likely to experience recurrent SARS-CoV-2 positivity, while patients with diabetes, severe disease, and a low lymphocyte count were less likely to experience. Present study concluded that the incidence of recurrent SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 14.8% suggesting further studies must be conducted to elucidate the possibility of infectious individuals with prolonged or recurrent RNA positivity.
Quantifying human mobility behaviour changes during the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States
Authors: Pan Yixuan , Darzi Aref , Kabiri Aliakbar , Zhao Guangchen , Luo Weiyu , Xiong Chenfeng , Zhang Lei
Published: November 2020

Since the first case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was confirmed in Wuhan, China, social distancing has been promoted worldwide, including in the United States, as a major community mitigation strategy. However, our understanding remains limited in how people would react to such control measures, as well as how people would resume their normal behaviours when those orders were relaxed. We utilize an integrated dataset of real-time mobile device location data involving 100 million devices in the contiguous United States (plus Alaska and Hawaii) from February 2, 2020 to May 30, 2020. Built upon the common human mobility metrics, we construct a Social Distancing Index (SDI) to evaluate people’s mobility pattern changes along with the spread of COVID-19 at different geographic levels. We find that both government orders and local outbreak severity significantly contribute to the strength of social distancing. As people tend to practice less social distancing immediately after they observe a sign of local mitigation, we identify several states and counties with higher risks of continuous community transmission and a second outbreak. Our proposed index could help policymakers and researchers monitor people’s real-time mobility behaviours, understand the influence of government orders, and evaluate the risk of local outbreaks.
The earliest diverging extant scleractinian corals recovered by mitochondrial genomes
Authors: Seiblitz Isabela G. L. , Capel Kátia C. C. , Stolarski Jarosław , Quek Zheng Bin Randolph , Huang Danwei , Kitahara Marcelo V.
Published: November 2020

Evolutionary reconstructions of scleractinian corals have a discrepant proportion of zooxanthellate reef-building species in relation to their azooxanthellate deep-sea counterparts. In particular, the earliest diverging “Basal” lineage remains poorly studied compared to “Robust” and “Complex” corals. The lack of data from corals other than reef-building species impairs a broader understanding of scleractinian evolution. Here, based on complete mitogenomes, the early onset of azooxanthellate corals is explored focusing on one of the most morphologically distinct families, Micrabaciidae. Sequenced on both Illumina and Sanger platforms, mitogenomes of four micrabaciids range from 19,048 to 19,542 bp and have gene content and order similar to the majority of scleractinians. Phylogenies containing all mitochondrial genes confirm the monophyly of Micrabaciidae as a sister group to the rest of Scleractinia. This topology not only corroborates the hypothesis of a solitary and azooxanthellate ancestor for the order, but also agrees with the unique skeletal microstructure previously found in the family. Moreover, the early-diverging position of micrabaciids followed by gardineriids reinforces the previously observed macromorphological similarities between micrabaciids and Corallimorpharia as well as its microstructural differences with Gardineriidae. The fact that both families share features with family Kilbuchophylliidae ultimately points towards a Middle Ordovician origin for Scleractinia.
Comparative analysis of transcriptomic profile, histology, and IDH mutation for classification of gliomas
Authors: Tran Paul M. H. , Tran Lynn K. H. , Nechtman John , dos Santos Bruno , Purohit Sharad , Satter Khaled Bin , Dun Boying , Kolhe Ravindra , Sharma Suash , Bollag Roni , She Jin-Xiong
Published: November 2020

Gliomas are currently classified through integration of histology and mutation information, with new developments in DNA methylation classification. However, discrepancies exist amongst the major classification methods. This study sought to compare transcriptome-based classification to the established methods. RNAseq and microarray data were obtained for 1032 gliomas from the TCGA and 395 gliomas from REMBRANDT. Data were analyzed using unsupervised and supervised learning and other statistical methods. Global transcriptomic profiles defined four transcriptomic glioma subgroups with 91.4% concordance with the WHO-defined mutation subtypes. Using these subgroups, 168 genes were selected for the development of 1000 linear support vector classifiers (LSVC). Based on plurality voting of 1000 LSVC, the final ensemble classifier confidently classified all but 17 TCGA gliomas to one of the four transcriptomic profile (TP) groups. The classifier was validated using a gene expression microarray dataset. TP1 cases include IDHwt, glioblastoma high immune infiltration and cellular proliferation and poor survival prognosis. TP2a is characterized as IDHmut-codel, oligodendrogliomas with high tumor purity. TP2b tissue is mostly composed of neurons and few infiltrating malignant cells. TP3 exhibit increased NOTCH signaling, are astrocytoma and IDHmut-non-codel. TP groups are highly concordant with both WHO integrated histology and mutation classification as well as methylation-based classification of gliomas. Transcriptomic profiling provides a robust and objective method to classify gliomas with high agreement to the current WHO guidelines and may provide additional survival prediction to the current methods.
Continuous and non-invasive thermography of mouse skin accurately describes core body temperature patterns, but not absolute core temperature
Authors: van der Vinne Vincent , Pothecary Carina A. , Wilcox Sian L. , McKillop Laura E. , Benson Lindsay A. , Kolpakova Jenya , Tam Shu K. E. , Krone Lukas B. , Fisk Angus S. , Wilson Tatiana S. , Yamagata Tomoko , Cantley James , Vyazovskiy Vladyslav V. , Peirson Stuart N.
Published: November 2020

Body temperature is an important physiological parameter in many studies of laboratory mice. Continuous assessment of body temperature has traditionally required surgical implantation of a telemeter, but this invasive procedure adversely impacts animal welfare. Near-infrared thermography provides a non-invasive alternative by continuously measuring the highest temperature on the outside of the body (Tskin), but the reliability of these recordings as a proxy for continuous core body temperature (Tcore) measurements has not been assessed. Here, Tcore (30 s resolution) and Tskin (1 s resolution) were continuously measured for three days in mice exposed to ad libitum and restricted feeding conditions. We subsequently developed an algorithm that optimised the reliability of a Tskin-derived estimate of Tcore. This identified the average of the maximum Tskin per minute over a 30-min interval as the optimal way to estimate Tcore. Subsequent validation analyses did however demonstrate that this Tskin-derived proxy did not provide a reliable estimate of the absolute Tcore due to the high between-animal variability in the relationship between Tskin and Tcore. Conversely, validation showed that Tskin-derived estimates of Tcore reliably describe temporal patterns in physiologically-relevant Tcore changes and provide an excellent measure to perform within-animal comparisons of relative changes in Tcore.
ZnAl nano layered double hydroxides for dual functional CRISPR/Cas9 delivery and enhanced green fluorescence protein biosensor
Authors: Rabiee Navid , Bagherzadeh Mojtaba , Ghadiri Amir Mohammad , Salehi Ghazal , Fatahi Yousef , Dinarvand Rassoul
Published: November 2020

Evaluation of the effect of different parameters for designing a non-viral vector in gene delivery systems has great importance. In this manner, 2D crystals, precisely layered double hydroxides, have attracted the attention of scientists due to their significant adjustability and low-toxicity and low-cost preparation procedure. In this work, the relationship between different physicochemical properties of LDH, including pH, size, zeta potential, and synthesis procedure, was investigated and optimized for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery and reverse fluorescence response to the EGFP. In this manner, ZnAl LDH and ZnAl HMTA LDH were synthesized and characterized and applied in the HEK-293 cell line to deliver CRISPR/Cas9. The results were optimized by different characterizations as well as Gel Electrophoresis and showed acceptable binding ability with the DNA that could be considered as a promising and also new gold-standard for the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9. Also, the relationship of the presence of tertiary amines (in this case, hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) as the templates) in the structure of the ZnAl LDH, as well as the gene delivery application, was evaluated. The results showed more than 79% of relative cell viability in most of the weight ratios of LDH to CRISPR/Cas9; fully quenching the fluorescence intensity of the EGFP/LDH in the presence of 15 µg mL−1 of the protoporphyrins along with the detection limit of below 2.1 µg mL−1, the transfection efficiency of around 33% of the GFP positive cell for ZnAl LDH and more than 38% for the ZnAl LDH in the presence of its tertiary amine template.