bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory effect of positional syllable frequency in Spanish 2nd and 4th grade readers
Authors: Luque J. L. , Álvarez C. J. , Bordoy S. , Giménez A. , López-Pérez P. J. , López-Zamora M.
Published: November 2020

The inhibitory effect of positional syllable frequency is a well-known phenomenon in visual word recognition: words with high-frequency syllables require extra time for deactivating the lexical syllabic neighbors. The inhibitory effect implies that a connection exists between graphemes, phonemes, the first syllable, and the phonological lexicon. However, experimental results of the first developmental stages of occurrence are scarce and inconclusive. A second- and fourth-grade sample of typical school readers participated in a lexical decision task containing high/low frequency words and high/low syllable frequency words. Our primary hypothesis was that the inhibitory effect would be found on both school grade groups. We did not predict significant differences in magnitude of effect between second- and fourth-grade participants. A general inhibitory effect was found, and separate analyses by school grade groups also indicated significant inhibitory effects. Furthermore, second- and fourth-grade children showed small sizes of the inhibitory effect, resembling the sizes found in adult normal readers. Our results suggest that Spanish readers reach a functional connection between syllables and words at an early stage. The straightforward theoretical implication is that the inhibitory effect relies heavily on the structural properties of the lexical access system that are acquired at an early age.
Development and validation of the patient history COVID-19 (PH-Covid19) scoring system: a multivariable prediction model of death in Mexican patients with COVID-19
Authors: Mancilla-Galindo J. , Vera-Zertuche J. M. , Navarro-Cruz A. R. , Segura-Badilla O. , Reyes-Velázquez G. , Tepepa-López F. J. , Aguilar-Alonso P. , Vidal-Mayo J. de J. , Kammar-García A.
Published: November 2020

Most of the existing prediction models for COVID-19 lack validation, are inadequately reported or are at high risk of bias, a reason which has led to discourage their use. Few existing models have the potential to be extensively used by healthcare providers in low-resource settings since many require laboratory and imaging predictors. Therefore, we sought to develop and validate a multivariable prediction model of death in Mexican patients with COVID-19, by using demographic and patient history predictors. We conducted a national retrospective cohort study in two different sets of patients from the Mexican COVID-19 Epidemiologic Surveillance Study. Patients with a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV-2 and complete unduplicated data were eligible. In total, 83 779 patients were included to develop the scoring system through a multivariable Cox regression model; 100 000, to validate the model. Eight predictors (age, sex, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunosuppression, hypertension, obesity and chronic kidney disease) were included in the scoring system called PH-Covid19 (range of values: −2 to 25 points). The predictive model has a discrimination of death of 0.8 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.796–0.804). The PH-Covid19 scoring system was developed and validated in Mexican patients to aid clinicians to stratify patients with COVID-19 at risk of fatal outcomes, allowing for better and efficient use of resources.
The Opera and the Omnibus: Material Culture, Urbanism and Boieldieu'sLa dame blanche
Authors: Vilkner Nicole
Published: November 2020

In the summer of 1828, the Entreprise générale des Dames Blanches launched a fleet of white omnibuses onto the streets of Paris. These public transportation vehicles were named and fashioned after Boieldieu'sopéra comique La dame blanche(1825): their rear doors were decorated with scenes of Scotland, their flanks painted with gesturing opera characters, and their mechanical horns trumpeted fanfares through the streets. The omnibuses offered one of the first mass transportation systems in the world and were an innovation that transformed urban circulation. During their thirty years of circulation, the omnibuses also had a profound effect on the reception history of Boieldieu's opera. When the omnibuses improved the quality of working- and middle-class life, bourgeois Parisians applauded the vehicles’ egalitarian business model, and Boieldieu's opera became unexpectedly entwined in the populist rhetoric surrounding the omnibus. Viewing opera through the lens of the Dames Blanches, Parisians conflated the sounds of opera and street, as demonstrated by Charles Valentin Alkan's piano pieceLes omnibus, Op. 2 (1829), which combines operatic idioms and horn calls. Through these examples and others, this study examines the complex ways that material culture affects the dissemination and reception of a musical work.
Gender and Violence against Political Candidates: Lessons from Sri Lanka
Authors: Bjarnegård Elin , Håkansson Sandra , Zetterberg Pär
Published: November 2020

A nascent body of literature has highlighted the violence (broadly defined) that women sometimes face as they enter politics. Some interpretations depict this violence as primarily gender motivated: women politicians are targeted because they are women. Another interpretation is that violence in some contexts is an everyday political practice targeting men and women alike. However, because we lack large-scale, systematic comparisons of men's and women's exposure to election violence, we know little about the extent to which—and how—candidate sex shapes this form of violence. We address this research gap by using original survey data on 197 men and women political candidates in the 2018 Sri Lankan local elections. Sri Lanka is a suitable case for analysis because it is a postconflict country in which political violence has been endemic and the number of women candidates has increased rapidly due to gender quota adoption. Overall, we find large similarities in men's and women's exposure to violence, suggesting that violence sometimes is part of a larger political practice. However, we find that women are exposed to forms of intimidation of a sexual nature more often than men. This finding demonstrates the need for gender-sensitive analyses of election violence.
NHS Health Checks for people with mental ill-health 2013–2017: an observational study
Authors: Garriga C. , Robson J. , Coupland C. , Hippisley-Cox J.
Published: November 2020

Aims

People living with serious mental ill-health experience adverse cardiovascular outcomes causing some of the greatest health inequality gaps in England, UK. We describe uptake of the NHS Health Check programme in people with mental ill-health, and rates of new diagnoses and management of cardiovascular risk factors in those who attend NHS Health Checks in comparison to those people without mental ill-health.

Methods

We used a large nationally representative database of people registered with general practitioners in England (QResearch). Between 2013 and 2017, we analysed attendance at NHS Health Checks and outcomes in the succeeding 12 months, in people with serious mental illness (SMI) including psychoses and in people prescribed long-term antidepressant medications (LTAD), with comparison to attendees who did not have these conditions. Hazard ratios (HR) were used to describe the association between outcomes and SMI and LTAD adjusting for sociodemographic variables.

Results

In those eligible for the NHS Health Check programme, we found a higher percentage of people with SMI attended an NHS Health Check (65 490, 19.8%) than those without SMI (524 728, 16.6%); adjusted HR 1.05 [95% confidence interval 1.02–1.08]. We also observed a higher percentage of attendance in people on LTAD (46 437, 20.1%) compared to people who were not prescribed LTAD (543 781, 16.7%); adjusted HR 1.10 (1.08–1.13). People with SMI were more likely to be identified with chronic kidney disease (CKD, HR 1.23, 1.12–1.34) and type 2 diabetes (HR 1.14, 1.03–1.25) within the 12 months following their NHS Health Check compared with those without SMI. People on LTAD were more likely to be identified with CKD (HR 1.55, 1.42–1.70) and type 2 diabetes (HR 1.45, 1.31–1.60) and also hypertension, cardiovascular disease, non-diabetic hyperglycaemia, familial hypercholesterolemia and dementia within the 12 months following their NHS Health Check. Statins were more likely to be prescribed to NHS Health Check attendees with SMI and those on LTAD than those without these conditions; HR 1.31 (1.25–1.38) and 1.91 (1.82–2.01), respectively. Antihypertensives were more likely to be prescribed to those on LTAD; HR 1.21 (1.14–1.29).

Conclusions

We found evidence that people with SMI or on LTAD treatment were 5–10% more likely to access NHS Health Checks than people without these conditions. People with SMI or on LTAD treatment who attended NHS Health Checks had higher rates of diagnosis of CKD, type 2 diabetes and some other relevant co-morbidities and increased treatment with statins and also anti-hypertensive medication in people on LTAD. This is likely to contribute to equitable reduction in adverse cardiovascular events for people with mental ill-health.
Veränderung der Lern- und Leistungsmotivation bei ersten Unterrichtserfahrungen in einem Erweiterungsfach
Authors: Grassinger Robert , Reisch Denise
Published: November 2020

Zusammenfassung. Der Fächerkanon, in dem Schülerinnen und Schüler während eines Schuljahres unterrichtet werden, ändert sich während der Schullaufbahn. Wie sich die fachbezogene Lern- und Leistungsmotivation in einem Erweiterungsfach in den ersten Schulwochen in Abhängigkeit erster Unterrichtserfahrungen und in Abhängigkeit der ersten Note bei einer Klassenarbeit im Erweiterungsfach verändert, steht im Fokus der vorliegenden Arbeit. Vor dem Hintergrund eines Erwartungs-Wert-Modells der Lern- und Leistungsmotivation wurden fachbezogen das Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept, die Erfolgserwartung und die subjektiven Werte (persönliche, intrinsische, utilitaristische) der Erweiterungsfächer Physik, Französisch und Latein vor der Erweiterung des Fächerkanons, nach 3 bis 5 Wochen Unterrichtserfahrungen und im Zuge der Rückgabe der ersten Klassenarbeit bei 365 Schülerinnen und Schülern erfasst. Die Analyse der motivationalen Veränderungen erfolgte mithilfe von Neighbor-Change-Modellen. Es zeigte sich, dass vor ersten eigenen Unterrichtserfahrungen das fachbezogene Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept und die Erfolgserwartung im Erweiterungsfach (Physik respektive zweite Fremdsprache) von der Leistung in fachähnlichen Fächern (Mathematik respektive Englisch) beeinflusst sind. Während erster Unterrichtserfahrungen waren positive Veränderungen im Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept und der Erfolgserwartung zu beobachten. Die erste Note im Erweiterungsfach hingegen war mit ungünstigen Veränderungen im Fähigkeitsselbstkonzept, der Erfolgserwartung und dem persönlichen Wert assoziiert.
Fehler und ihre Bedeutung im mathematischen Lernprozess
Authors: Nolte Marianne
Published: November 2020

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Die Auseinandersetzung mit Fehlern stellt im Mathematikunterricht eine wichtige Grundlage dar, um Lernprozesse von Schüler_innen zu unterstützen. Mit der aktuellen Einstellung zu Lehr- Lernprozessen bekommt ein fehlerfreundlicher Unterricht eine besondere Bedeutung, um einerseits einen Zugang zu Denkprozessen der Lernenden und andererseits Hinweise für didaktisch-methodische Maßnahmen im Unterricht zu erhalten. Methoden: Der Artikel stellt, basierend auf wichtiger und aktueller Literatur zu dem Thema, Aspekte zusammen, aus denen die Vielfalt verschiedener Subthemen zu Fehlern deutlich wird. Ergebnis/Diskussion: Es wird herausgearbeitet, dass neben einem fehlerfreundlichen Klima im Unterricht eine inhaltsspezifische Auseinandersetzung mit Fehlerschwerpunkten, eine Befassung mit Fehlermustern und eine Kategorisierung von Fehlern grundlegend für den Unterricht sind. Dabei kommt dem Lehrerprofessionswissen eine besondere Bedeutung zu. Zum Einfluss des Umfelds liegen bislang wenig Studien vor.
The Effectiveness of Active Learning Strategies in Gatekeeper Training on Behavioral Outcomes
Authors: Godoy Garraza Lucas , Kuiper Nora , Cross Wendi F. , Hicks Brandee , Walrath Christine
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Background: Studies of suicide prevention gatekeeper trainings (GKT) show temporary enhancements in short-term behavioral outcomes and limited enhancements in intermediate behavioral outcomes. Aims: We aimed to examine the impact of two training enhancements (role-play and booster) on intermediate GKT outcomes. Method: The study used a factorial randomized controlled design to assign participants to one of four groups. Three indicators of gatekeeper behavior at 6-month follow-up were the primary outcomes of interest. We used propensity score-based techniques to address observed imbalances. Results: At 6 months, among participants assigned to role-play, a significantly larger proportion of those assigned to booster performed identifications and referrals followed by a notification to the referral source, and followed by escorting the youth to the resource. Limitations: While observed imbalances were addressed, unobserved differences may persist. The validity of self-reported indicators to measure actual behavior remains unknown. Conclusion: Results suggest that active learning strategies can, in combination, enhance the effectiveness of trainings. The strategies seem to increase the comprehensiveness of gatekeeper behaviors.
Celebrity Suicide
Authors: Hedman-Robertson Amy S. , Sage Starr K.
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Background: Increased suicides following media coverage of celebrities' suicide deaths have been documented in several countries. Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide were published to provide guidance for media professionals when covering suicide. Research indicates guidelines have been poorly followed. Aim: We aimed to determine whether the recommendations were similarly observed when studying two online news organizations' coverage of a celebrity's suicide. Method: In the 3 days following a high-profile celebrity's death, two US cable networks' news websites were studied to compare how the death was reported. Online articles were reviewed using a coding rubric organized by six themes and 21 coding categories. Results: Between the two organizations, 34 articles were published. Regarding the recommendations, neither source followed all of the recommendations, as measured in this study. Source A fared better in providing help-seeking information. Limitations: Only two news organizations were studied for a 3-day period. Online videos, print articles, and social media were excluded. Conclusion: The suicide of a celebrity received repetitive media coverage with little emphasis on prevention or help-seeking. The recommendations were not consistently followed by the two news websites included in this review.
Sociodemographic Differences in Time Trends of Suicidal Thoughts and Suicide Attempts Among Adolescents Living in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Authors: van Vuuren Cornelia Leontine , van der Wal Marcel Franciscus , Cuijpers Pim , Chinapaw Mai Jeanette Maidy
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Background: Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts among adolescents are major public health problems. More insight into secular changes in suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts among adolescents from various sociodemographic groups is crucial for adequate and targeted policy-making and prevention. We therefore examined 5-year time trends in suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts among adolescents and potential differences in time trends between sociodemographic groups. Methods: Logistic regression analyses were based on annually repeated cross-sectional data including 26,273 multi-ethnic students (13–14 years old) in the second year of various levels of secondary education in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Results: Overall, the prevalence of adolescents in Amsterdam with suicidal thoughts decreased from 17.6% during 2010–2011 to 13.2% during 2014–2015. The prevalence of adolescents reporting suicide attempts decreased from 2.9% to 1.9% over the observed 5-year period. We found differences in these time trends between subgroups based on ethnicity and educational level. Limitations: The use of confidential and self-reported data could have biased the results. Conclusion: In order for prevention policy to be effective it is important to pay attention to changes in risk groups for suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts over time.
Alexithymia in People With Recurrent Suicide Attempts
Authors: Bergmans Yvonne , Guimond Tim , Lambert Clare , McInerney Shane , O'Brien Kristen
Published: November 2020

Abstract. Background: Alexithymia, an inability to identify or describe emotions, is associated with suicidality yet the correlation with single or repeated suicide attempts is less clear. Aims: We aimed to assess the modifiability of alexithymia following a group psychosocial intervention focused on improving emotional literacy in those with a history of recurrent suicide attempts (RSA). Method: A total of 169 participants with self-reported RSA completed pre- and postgroup assessments of a 20-week group therapy intervention. Questionnaires assessed alexithymia, depression, impulsivity, and hopelessness; the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was the primary outcome. Data were analyzed using multiple imputation. Results: Participants had on average 7.8 lifetime suicide attempts, 73% were female, and 16.6% had a >13-point reduction in TAS-20 scores after 20 weeks. Directed acyclic graph (DAG) analysis demonstrated significant relationships between alexithymia, depression, hopelessness, problem-solving, and satisfaction with life. Age of onset of suicidality was the only factor predictive of postintervention TAS-20 score in univariate linear regression. Limitations: The study limitations were its sample size, insufficient resources, and missing data. Conclusion: A change in TAS scores indicated that alexithymia can be a modifiable treatment target. Being able to identify and describe feelings may lead to improvement in depression, hopelessness, problem-solving, and satisfaction with life in this population.
Mercury's Interior Structure Constrained by Density and P‐Wave Velocity Measurements of Liquid Fe‐Si‐C Alloys
Authors: Knibbe J. S. , Rivoldini A. , Luginbuhl S. M. , Namur O. , Charlier B. , Mezouar M. , Sifre D. , Berndt J. , Kono Y. , Neuville D. R. , van Westrenen W. , Van Hoolst T.
Published: November 2020

Experimental measurements of density by X‐ray absorption and of P‐wave velocity by ultrasonic techniques of liquid Fe‐(<17 wt%) Si‐(<4.5 wt%) C alloys at pressures up to 5.8 GPa are presented. These data are used to construct an Fe‐Si‐C liquid mixing model and to characterize interior structure models of Mercury with liquid outer core composed of Fe‐Si‐C. The interior structure models are constrained by geodetic measurements of the planet, such as the obliquity and libration of Mercury. The results indicate that S and/or C with concentrations at the wt% level are likely required in Mercury's core to ensure the existence of an inner core with a radius (below ∼1,200 km) that is consistent with reported dynamo simulations for Mercury's magnetic field. Interior structure models with more than 14 wt% Si in the core, estimated for Mercury by assuming an EH chondrite‐like bulk composition, are only feasible if the obliquity of Mercury is near the upper limit of observational uncertainties (2.12 arcmin) and the mantle is dense (3.43–3.68 g·cm−3). Interior structure models with the central obliquity value (2.04 arcmin) and less than 7.5 wt% Si in the core, consistent with estimates of Mercury's core composition from an assumed CB chondrite‐like bulk composition, are compatible with 3.15–3.35 g·cm−3 mantle densities and an inner core radius below 1,200 km. Interior structure models with the obliquity of Mercury near the lower observational uncertainty limit (1.96 arcmin) have a low‐density mantle (2.88–3.03 g·cm−3), less than 4 wt% Si in the core, and an inner core radius larger than 1,600 km.
Little Effect of Land Use on N2O and NO Emission Pulses Following Rewetting of Dry Soils Across Seasonally Dry sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Hickman Jonathan E. , Kaya Bocary , Kebede Abhraham , Kandji Serigne , Fitch Laura , Neill Christopher , Nyadzi Gerson , Diru Willy , Palm Cheryl A.
Published: November 2020

In seasonally dry ecosystems, which are common in sub‐Saharan Africa, precipitation after dry periods can cause large pulses of nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas, and of nitric oxide (NO), a precursor to tropospheric ozone pollution. Agricultural practices can change soil characteristics, affecting trace N gas emissions. To evaluate the effects of land use on trace gas pulses at the start of the rainy season, we conducted laboratory measurements of N2O and NO fluxes from soils collected from four pairs of agricultural and natural savannah sites across the Sudano‐Sahelian zone. We also conducted in situ wetting experiments, measuring NO fluxes from fallow sandy soils in Tanzania and NO and N2O fluxes from clayey soils in Kenya with different histories of fertilizer use. In incubation studies, NO increased by a factor of 7 to 25 following wetting, and N2O fluxes shifted from negative to positive; cumulative NO fluxes were an order of magnitude larger than cumulative N2O fluxes. In Kenya and Tanzania, NO increased by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude after wetting, and N2O increased by a factor of roughly 5 to 10. Cumulative NO fluxes ranged from 87 to 115 g NO‐N ha−1 across both countries—a substantial proportion of annual emissions—compared to roughly 1 g N2O‐N in Kenya. There were no effects of land use or fertilization history on the magnitude of NO or N2O pulses, though land use may have been confounded with differences in soil texture potentially limiting the ability to detect land use effects.
Single-cell network biology for resolving cellular heterogeneity in human diseases
Authors: Cha Junha , Lee Insuk
Published: November 2020

Understanding cellular heterogeneity is the holy grail of biology and medicine. Cells harboring identical genomes show a wide variety of behaviors in multicellular organisms. Genetic circuits underlying cell-type identities will facilitate the understanding of the regulatory programs for differentiation and maintenance of distinct cellular states. Such a cell-type-specific gene network can be inferred from coregulatory patterns across individual cells. Conventional methods of transcriptome profiling using tissue samples provide only average signals of diverse cell types. Therefore, reconstructing gene regulatory networks for a particular cell type is not feasible with tissue-based transcriptome data. Recently, single-cell omics technology has emerged and enabled the capture of the transcriptomic landscape of every individual cell. Although single-cell gene expression studies have already opened up new avenues, network biology using single-cell transcriptome data will further accelerate our understanding of cellular heterogeneity. In this review, we provide an overview of single-cell network biology and summarize recent progress in method development for network inference from single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. Then, we describe how cell-type-specific gene networks can be utilized to study regulatory programs specific to disease-associated cell types and cellular states. Moreover, with scRNA data, modeling personal or patient-specific gene networks is feasible. Therefore, we also introduce potential applications of single-cell network biology for precision medicine. We envision a rapid paradigm shift toward single-cell network analysis for systems biology in the near future.
CDX2 inhibits epithelial–mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer by modulation of Snail expression and β-catenin stabilisation via transactivation of PTEN expression
Authors: Yu Junhui , Li Shan , Xu Zhengshui , Guo Jing , Li Xiaopeng , Wu Yunhua , Zheng Jianbao , Sun Xuejun
Published: November 2020

Background

Emerging evidence suggests the involvement of caudal-related homoeobox transcription factor 2 (CDX2) in tumorigenesis of various cancers. Although CDX2 functions in cancer invasion and metastasis, fewer studies focus on the role of CDX2 during the induction of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

Immunohistochemical analysis of CDX2 was performed. A series of in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted to reveal the role of CDX2 in the invasion and metastasis of CRC.

Results

CDX2 was downregulated in CRC tissues and reduced CDX2 correlated with poor prognosis. Knockdown of CDX2 promoted colon cancer cell invasion in vitro and facilitated liver metastasis in vivo with inducing EMT phenotypes. Further investigation indicated that CDX2 retarded Akt and GSK-3β phosphorylation, and thereby diminished Snail expression, β-catenin stabilisation and nuclear translocation. The depletion of β-catenin neutralised the regulation of Slug and ZEB1 by CDX2 knockdown. Mechanistically, CDX2 antagonised PI3K/Akt activity in CRC by modulating PTEN expression. CDX2 directly bound to the promoter of PTEN and transactivated its expression.

Conclusions

Our study first uncovered that CDX2 inhibits EMT and metastasis of CRC by regulation of Snail expression and β-catenin stabilisation via transactivation of PTEN expression.
The lingering mysteries of metastatic recurrence in breast cancer
Authors: Riggio Alessandra I. , Varley Katherine E. , Welm Alana L.
Published: November 2020

Despite being the hallmark of cancer that is responsible for the highest number of deaths, very little is known about the biology of metastasis. Metastatic disease typically manifests after a protracted period of undetectable disease following surgery or systemic therapy, owing to relapse or recurrence. In the case of breast cancer, metastatic relapse can occur months to decades after initial diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we provide an overview of the known key factors that influence metastatic recurrence, with the goal of highlighting the critical unanswered questions that still need to be addressed to make a difference in the mortality of breast cancer patients.
The fibrotic and immune microenvironments as targetable drivers of metastasis
Authors: Boulter Luke , Bullock Esme , Mabruk Zeanap , Brunton Valerie G.
Published: November 2020

Although substantial progress has been made over the past 40 years in treating patients with cancer, effective therapies for those who are diagnosed with advanced metastatic disease are still few and far between. Cancer cells do not exist in isolation: rather, they exist within a complex microenvironment composed of stromal cells and extracellular matrix. Within this tumour microenvironment exists an interplay between the two main stromal cell subtypes, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and immune cells, that are important in controlling metastasis. A complex network of paracrine signalling pathways between CAFs, immune cells and tumour cells are involved at multiple stages of the metastatic process, from invasion and intravasation at the primary tumour site to extravasation and colonisation in the metastatic site. Heterogeneity and plasticity within stromal cell populations also contribute to the complexity. Although many of these processes are likely to be common to a number of metastatic sites, we will describe in detail the interplay within the liver, a preferred site of metastasis for many tumours. A greater understanding of these networks provides opportunities for the design of new therapeutic approaches for targeting the metastatic disease.
Legumain is a predictor of all-cause mortality and potential therapeutic target in acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Yang Hui , He Yuhu , Zou Pu , Hu Yilei , Li Xuping , Tang Liang , Zhu Zhaowei , Tai Shi , Tu Tao , Xiao Yichao , Chen Mingxian , Wu Chenlu , Zhou Shenghua
Published: November 2020

The prognostic impact of extracellular matrix (ECM) modulation and its regulatory mechanism post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI), require further clarification. Herein, we explore the predictive role of legumain—which showed the ability in ECM degradation—in an AMI patient cohort and investigate the underlying mechanisms. A total of 212 AMI patients and 323 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Moreover, AMI was induced in mice by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending artery and fibroblasts were adopted for mechanism analysis. Based on the cut-off value for the receiver-operating characteristics curve, AMI patients were stratified into low (n = 168) and high (n = 44) plasma legumain concentration (PLG) groups. However, PLG was significantly higher in AMI patients than that in the healthy controls (median 5.9 μg/L [interquartile range: 4.2–9.3 μg/L] vs. median 4.4 μg/L [interquartile range: 3.2–6.1 μg/L],P < 0.001). All-cause mortality was significantly higher in the high PLG group compared to that in the low PLG group (median follow-up period, 39.2 months; 31.8% vs. 12.5%;P = 0.002). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high PLG was associated with increased all-cause mortality after adjusting for clinical confounders (HR = 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4–7.0,P = 0.005). In accordance with the clinical observations, legumain concentration was also increased in peripheral blood, and infarcted cardiac tissue from experimental AMI mice. Pharmacological blockade of legumain with RR-11a, improved cardiac function, decreased cardiac rupture rate, and attenuated left chamber dilation and wall thinning post-AMI. Hence, plasma legumain concentration is of prognostic value in AMI patients. Moreover, legumain aggravates cardiac remodelling through promoting ECM degradation which occurs, at least partially, via activation of the MMP-2 pathway.
Retraction Note: Type IV collagen α1-chain noncollagenous domain blocks MMP-2 activation both in-vitro and in-vivo
Authors: Sudhakar Yakkanti Akul , Verma Raj Kumar , Pawar Smita C.
Published: November 2020

Editor's Note: this Article has been retracted; the Retraction Note is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-76500-9
Selecting the most important self-assessed features for predicting conversion to mild cognitive impairment with random forest and permutation-based methods
Authors: Gómez-Ramírez Jaime , Ávila-Villanueva Marina , Fernández-Blázquez Miguel Ángel
Published: November 2020

Alzheimer’s Disease is a complex, multifactorial, and comorbid condition. The asymptomatic behavior in the early stages makes the identification of the disease onset particularly challenging. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is an intermediary stage between the expected decline of normal aging and the pathological decline associated with dementia. The identification of risk factors for MCI is thus sorely needed. Self-reported personal information such as age, education, income level, sleep, diet, physical exercise, etc. is called to play a key role not only in the early identification of MCI but also in the design of personalized interventions and the promotion of patients empowerment. In this study, we leverage a large longitudinal study on healthy aging in Spain, to identify the most important self-reported features for future conversion to MCI. Using machine learning (random forest) and permutation-based methods we select the set of most important self-reported variables for MCI conversion which includes among others, subjective cognitive decline, educational level, working experience, social life, and diet. Subjective cognitive decline stands as the most important feature for future conversion to MCI across different feature selection techniques.
A potential energy and mutual information based link prediction approach for bipartite networks
Authors: Kumar Purushottam , Sharma Dolly
Published: November 2020

Link prediction in networks has applications in computer science, graph theory, biology, economics, etc. Link prediction is a very well studied problem. Out of all the different versions, link prediction for unipartite graphs has attracted most attention. In this work we focus on link prediction for bipartite graphs that is based on two very important concepts—potential energy and mutual information. In the three step approach; first the bipartite graph is converted into a unipartite graph with the help of a weighted projection, next the potential energy and mutual information between each node pair in the projected graph is computed. Finally, we present Potential Energy-Mutual Information based similarity metric which helps in prediction of potential links. To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm four similarity metrics, namely AUC, Precision, Prediction-power and Precision@K were calculated and compared with eleven baseline algorithms. The Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the baseline algorithms.
An efficient machine learning-based approach for screening individuals at risk of hereditary haemochromatosis
Authors: Martins Conde Patricia , Sauter Thomas , Nguyen Thanh-Phuong
Published: November 2020

Hereditary haemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disease, where HFE C282Y homozygosity accounts for 80–85% of clinical cases among the Caucasian population. HH is characterised by the accumulation of iron, which, if untreated, can lead to the development of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Since iron overload is preventable and treatable if diagnosed early, high-risk individuals can be identified through effective screening employing artificial intelligence-based approaches. However, such tools expose novel challenges associated with the handling and integration of large heterogeneous datasets. We have developed an efficient computational model to screen individuals for HH using the family study data of the Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening (HEIRS) cohort. This dataset, consisting of 254 cases and 701 controls, contains variables extracted from questionnaires and laboratory blood tests. The final model was trained on an extreme gradient boosting classifier using the most relevant risk factors: HFE C282Y homozygosity, age, mean corpuscular volume, iron level, serum ferritin level, transferrin saturation, and unsaturated iron-binding capacity. Hyperparameter optimisation was carried out with multiple runs, resulting in 0.94 ± 0.02 area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUCROC) for tenfold stratified cross-validation, demonstrating its outperformance when compared to the iron overload screening (IRON) tool.
Molecular cloning and expression analysis of sucrose phosphate synthase genes in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)
Authors: Huang Tangwei , Luo Xinglu , Wei Maogui , Shan Zhongying , Zhu Yanmei , Yang Yanni , Fan Zhupeng
Published: November 2020

Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), a key rate-limiting enzyme in the sucrose biosynthesis pathway in plants, is encoded by a multi-gene family. Until recently, the identification and characterization of the SPS gene family have been performed for dozens of plant species; however, few studies have involved a comprehensive analysis of the SPS family members in tropical crops, such as cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). In the current study, five SPS genes (MeSPS1, MeSPS2, MeSPS3, MeSPS4, and MeSPS5) were isolated from cassava, and their sequence characteristics were comprehensively characterized. These MeSPS genes were found distributed on five chromosomes (Chr2, Chr14, Chr15, Chr16, and Chr18). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the MeSPS protein sequences were clustered into three families, together with other SPS sequences from both dicot and monocot species (families A, B, and C). The spatio-temporal expression pattern analysis of MeSPS genes showed a tissue-specific and partially overlapping expression pattern, with the genes mainly expressed in source tissues during cassava growth and development. Correlation analysis revealed that the expression of MeSPS genes correlated positively with root starch content, indicating that the expression of MeSPS genes might accelerate the rate of starch accumulation in the roots of cassava plants.
Characterization and classification of Romanian acacia honey based on its physicochemical parameters and chemometrics
Authors: Crăciun Mihaela Emanuela , Pârvulescu Oana Cristina , Donise Andreea Cristina , Dobre Tănase , Stanciu Dumitru Radu
Published: November 2020

Three groups of Romanian acacia honey, i.e., pure, directly adulterated (by mixing the pure honey with three sugar syrups), and indirectly adulterated (by feeding the bees with the same syrups), were characterized and discriminated based on their physicochemical parameters. Moisture, ash, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), reducing sugars (fructose and glucose), and sucrose contents, free acidity, diastase activity, ratio between stable carbon isotopes of honey and its proteins (δ13CH and δ13CP) were evaluated. Adulteration led to a significant increase in sucrose content, HMF level, and Δδ13C = δ13CH‒δ13CP as well a decrease in reducing sugar content and diastase activity. Principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were applied to experimental data in order to distinguish between pure and adulterated honey. The most relevant discriminative parameters were diastase activity, HMF, sucrose, and reducing sugar contents. Posterior classification probabilities and classification functions obtained by LDA revealed that 100% of honey samples were correctly assigned to their original group.
Association between the severity of hearing loss and the risk of dementia within the 2010–2017 national insurance service survey in South Korea
Authors: Chang Young-Soo , Rah Yoon Chan , Lee Min Kyu , Park Seongbin , Kim Bongseong , Han Kyungdo , Choi June
Published: November 2020

Hearing loss and dementia are highly prevalent neurologic conditions in older adults that can considerably impact the quality of life and create social and familial burdens. To investigate the impact of hearing loss on the risk of developing dementia in a nationwide long-term follow-up study using data obtained from the South Korean National Health Information Database. Retrospective medical data for patients of all ages were extracted from the database between January 2010 and December 2017. According to the national disability registry, the degree of severe-profound hearing loss is classified into six grades. We categorized hearing loss into three groups based on the disability registry severity: (1) severe hearing disability (HD), defined as 1st to 3rd grade disabling hearing loss; (2) non-severe HD, 4th and 5th grade disabling hearing loss; and (3) ipsilateral HD, 6th grade disabling hearing loss. After adjusting for potential confounding variables, the hazard ratio (HR) for all dementia types was 1.336 (95% CI 1.306–1.367) in the severe HD group, 1.312 (95% CI 1.286–1.338) in the non-severe HD group, and 1.257 (95% CI 1.217–1.299) in the ipsilateral HD group. On assessing by the age group, the risk of all dementia types in patients younger than 65 years was as follows: HR 1.933 (95% CI 1.779–2.101), 1.880 (95% CI 1.732–2.041), and 1.601 (95% CI 1.435–1.787) in the severe, non-severe, and ipsilateral HD groups, respectively. This study demonstrates that the impact of hearing loss on dementia incidence is severity-dependent, and the risk increases in patients younger than 65 years of age.
Ischial tuberosity: new donor site for bone grafts in animal cleft research
Authors: Möhlhenrich Stephan Christian , Kniha Kristian , Magnuska Zuzanna , Gremse Felix , Peters Florian , Danesh Gholamreza , Hölzle Frank , Modabber Ali
Published: November 2020

In the context of cleft repair in animal research in rat models, different areas can be used for bone grafting. The aim of the present study was to present the tuberosity of the ischium as a new donor site and to evaluate its quality in relation to an artificial alveolar cleft. Four weeks after creating experimental alveolar clefts in seven Wistar rats, the repair was performed in the now twelve-week-old male animals using bone blocks grafted from the ischial tuberosity. Two days before surgery and two as well as twenty-eight days after surgery, microCT scans were performed, and the grafted bone blocks were analyzed regarding height, width, thickness, and volume. Additionally, bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume fraction (BV/TV) were measured in the repaired cleft. The mean bone volume of the graft was about 19.77 ± 7.77mm3. Immediately after jaw reconstruction the BMD and BV/TV were about 0.54 ± 0.05 g/cm3 and 54.9 ± 5.07% for the transplant and about 1.13 ± 0.08 g/cm3 and 94.5 ± 3.70%, respectively, for the surrounding bone. Four weeks later the BMD and BV/TV were about 0.57 ± 0.13 g/cm3 and 56.60 ± 13.70% for the transplant and about 11.17 ± 0.07 g/cm3 and 97.50 ± 2.15%, respectively, for the surrounding bone. A hip fracture was found in four of the animals after surgery. The ischial tuberosity offers large bone blocks, which are sufficient for cleft repair in the rat model. However, the bone quality regarding BMD and BV/TV is less compared with the surrounding bone of the alveolar cleft, even after a period of 4 weeks, despite recognizable renovation processes.
Author Correction: The effector AWR5 from the plant pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum is an inhibitor of the TOR signalling pathway
Authors: Popa Crina , Li Liang , Gil Sergio , Tatjer Laura , Hashii Keisuke , Tabuchi Mitsuaki , Coll Núria S. , Ariño Joaquín , Valls Marc
Published: November 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Presence of anthraquinone in coffee and tea samples. An improved methodology based on mass spectrometry and a pilot monitoring programme
Authors: Díaz-Galiano Francisco José , Murcia-Morales Maria , Gómez-Ramos María del Mar , Ferrer Carmen , Fernández-Alba Amadeo R.
Published: November 2020

The developed method prevents the occurrence of matrix interferences in the analysis of anthraquinone in coffee and tea.
High temperature quantum tunnelling of magnetization and thousand kelvin anisotropy barrier in a Dy2 single-molecule magnet
Authors: Wu Haipeng , Li Min , Xia Zhengqiang , Montigaud Vincent , Cador Olivier , Le Guennic Boris , Ke Hongshan , Wang Wenyuan , Xie Gang , Chen Sanping , Gao Shengli
Published: November 2020

The control of the crystal field environment within the cis/trans stereoisomers allowed the observation of a significantly enhanced anisotropy barrier to 1300 K and magnetic hysteresis opened up to 16 K.
Theoretical study on conformational energies of transition metal complexes
Authors: Bursch Markus , Hansen Andreas , Pracht Philipp , Kohn Julia T. , Grimme Stefan
Published: November 2020

Conformational energies are an important chemical property for which a performance assessment of theoretical methods is mandatory. Efficient low-cost methods are valuable for the generation and energetic ranking of conformers.
Evidence of a new phase in gypsum–anhydrite transformations under microwave heating byin situdielectric analysis and Raman spectroscopy
Authors: López-Buendía Angel M. , García-Baños Beatriz , Urquiola M. Mar , Catalá-Civera José M. , Peñaranda-Foix Felipe L.
Published: November 2020

New insights into mineral transformations under microwave heating through advancedin situdielectric and Raman analysis.
Improving detection capability for single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with microdroplet sample introduction
Authors: Kocic Jovana , Günther Detlef , Hattendorf Bodo
Published: November 2020

Improved detection efficiency and microdroplet sample introduction in single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry allow for accurate sizing and counting of nanoparticles in suspension at the single digit nm scale.
Addressing molecular optomechanical effects in nanocavity-enhanced Raman scattering beyond the single plasmonic mode
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Esteban Ruben , Boto Roberto A. , Urbieta Mattin , Arrieta Xabier , Shan ChongXin , Li Shuzhou , Baumberg Jeremy J. , Aizpurua Javier
Published: November 2020

A full multimodal description of a plasmonic cavity within a continuum-field model of molecular optomechanics provides new insights into vibrational dynamics and nonlinearities of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS).
Retraction: Investigation of yellow horn (Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge) transcriptome in response to different abiotic stresses: a comparative RNA-Seq study
Authors: Lang Yanhe , Liu Zhi , Zheng Zhimin
Published: November 2020

Retraction of ‘Investigation of yellow horn (Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge) transcriptome in response to different abiotic stresses: a comparative RNA-Seq study’ by Yanhe Lang et al., RSC Adv., 2020, 10, 6512–6519, DOI: 10.1039/C9RA09535G.
The VANDELS survey: The relation between the UV continuum slope and stellar metallicity in star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 3
Authors: Calabrò A. , Castellano M. , Pentericci L. , Fontanot F. , Menci N. , Cullen F. , McLure R. , Bolzonella M. , Cimatti A. , Marchi F. , Talia M. , Amorín R. , Cresci G. , De Lucia G. , Fynbo J. , Fontana A. , Franco M. , Hathi N. P. , Hibon P. , Hirschmann M. , Mannucci F. , Santini P. , Saxena A. , Schaerer D. , Xie L. , Zamorani G.
Published: November 2020

The estimate of stellar metallicities (Z*) of high-z galaxies are of paramount importance in order to understand the complexity of dust effects and the reciprocal interrelations among stellar mass, dust attenuation, stellar age, and metallicity. Benefiting from uniquely deep far-UV spectra of > 500 star-forming galaxies at redshifts 2 <  z <  5 extracted from the VANDELS survey and stacked in bins of stellar mass (M*) and UV continuum slope (β), we estimate their stellar metallicities Z* from stellar photospheric absorption features at 1501 and 1719 Å, which are calibrated with Starburst99 models and are largely unaffected by stellar age, dust, IMF, nebular continuum, or interstellar absorption. Comparing them to photometric-based spectral slopes in the 1250–1750 Å range, we find that the stellar metallicity increases by ∼0.5 dex from β ∼ −2 to β ∼ −1 (1 ≲ A1600 ≲ 3.2), and a dependence with β holds at fixed UV absolute luminosity MUV and stellar mass up to ∼109.65 M⊙. As a result, metallicity is a fundamental ingredient for properly rescaling dust corrections based on MUV and M*. Using the same absorption features, we analyzed the mass-metallicity relation (MZR), and find it to be consistent with the previous VANDELS estimation based on a global fit of the FUV spectra. Similarly, we do not find a significant evolution between z ∼ 2 and z ∼ 3.5. Finally, the slopes of our MZR and Z* − β relation are in agreement with the predictions of well-studied semi-analytic models (SAM) of galaxy formation, while some tensions remain concerning the absolute metallicity normalization. The relation between the UV slope and stellar metallicity is fundamental to the exploitation of large volume surveys with next-generation telescopes and for the physical characterization of galaxies in the first billion years of our Universe.
Determination of Contours of Flooded Areas Due to Possible Accident of Zhinvali (Georgia) Earth Dam and Calculation of the Hydrodynamic Parameters of a Destructive Wave at a Dam
Authors: Gavardashvili Givi , Supatashvili Tamriko , Kukhalashvili Edward , Natroshvili George , Qufarashvili Irma , Iremashvili Inga , Bziava Konstantin
Published: November 2020

Using theoretical and field studies, computer software programs (VOLNA-4, and MIKE-21, ) and GIS technology, and taking into account the possible accident (destruction) of the Earth Dam with a height of 102 meters, the contours of the riverbed of flooded territories in riverbeds for rivers Aragvi and Mtkvari have been defined in the given article considering the configuration of the water-catchment basins of rivers.

By means of basic differential equations of hydraulics, geometrical dimensions of Zhinvali Earth Dam, hydrological basic parameters of the reservoir, and computer software, the basic hydrodynamic parameters of the destructive wave at the Zhinvali Earth Dam are calculated taking into account the time of flow movement.