bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The endangered Brown Shrike subspecies Lanius cristatus superciliosus has a male-biased sex ratio and only early arriving males are paired
Authors: MIZUMURA HARUKA , KUBOTA KOHEI , HIGUCHI HIROYOSHI
Published: June 2021

Along with many long-distance migrant passerine species in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, the migratory Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus superciliosus has been sharply declining throughout its breeding range. Its breeding range in Japan shrank by 90.9% between the 1910s and 2010s. In contrast, the closely related but resident Bull-headed Shrike L. bucephalus bucephalus has been gradually declining but is still a common resident in Japan. To better understand the drastic decline of Brown Shrike, we compared the pairing success during three consecutive breeding seasons of these two species. About 60–70% of Brown Shrike males were unpaired, which was much higher than the percentage of unpaired male Bull-headed Shrike (c.0–20%). Brown Shrike males arriving later did not pair because the population’s sex proportion is heavily biased toward males. One of the factors of male-biased population of Brown Shrike may be female-biased mortality in wintering sites, or on the migratory journey, and tracking studies will be required to test this.
Palliative care and aggressive interventions after falling: A Nationwide Inpatient Sample analysis
Authors: Ho Vanessa P. , Bensken Wyatt P. , Koroukian Siran M.
Published: June 2021

Objective

The purpose of this study is to identify whether there is an opportunity for improvement to provide palliative care services after a serious fall. We hypothesized that (1) palliative care services would be utilized in less than 10% of patients over the age of 65 who fall and (2) more than 20% of patients would receive aggressive life-sustaining treatments (LSTs) prior to death.

Methods

Using the 2017 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we identified patients who were admitted to the hospital with a fall (ICD-10 W00-W19) and were hospitalized at least two days with valid discharge data. Palliative care services (Z51.5) or LSTs (cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ventilation, reintubation, tracheostomy, feeding tube placement, vasopressors, transfusion, total parenteral nutrition, and hemodialysis) were identified with ICD-10 codes. We examined the use of palliative care or LSTs by discharge destination (home, facility, and death). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with palliative care.

Results

In total, 155,241 patients were identified (median 82 years old, interquartile range 74–88); 2.5% died in hospital, and 69.4% were transferred to a facility. Palliative care occurred in 4.5% of patients, and LST occurred in 15.1%. Patients who died were significantly more likely to have had palliative care (50.1% vs. 3.4% of home or facility discharges) and were more likely to have an LST [53.0% vs. 9.8% (home) vs. 15.9% (facility)]. Palliative care was associated with both death [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 19.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 18.39–21.41, p < 0.001] and LST (AOR 1.36, 95% CI 1.27–1.46, p < 0.001).

Significance of results

Palliative care is associated with both death and LST, suggesting that physicians use palliative care as a last resort after aggressive measures have been exhausted. Patients who fall would likely benefit from the early use of palliative care to align future goals of care.
Interaction of contact herbicides and timing of dicamba exposure on soybean
Authors: Castner Mason C. , Norsworthy Jason K. , Barber L. Tom , Roberts Trenton L. , Gbur Edward E.
Published: June 2021

Dicamba residues in sprayers are difficult to remove and may interact with subsequent herbicides, including contact herbicides labeled for use in soybean. Without proper tank cleanout, applicators treating dicamba-resistant and non–dicamba resistant crops are at risk of contaminating the spray solution with dicamba residue from previous applications. Experiments were conducted in Fayetteville, AR, in 2018 and 2019, with the first experiment evaluating consequences of dicamba tank contamination with contact herbicides and the second experiment addressing the impact of dicamba exposure on a glufosinate-resistant soybean cultivar relative to a contact herbicide application. Experiments for tank contamination and timing of dicamba exposure were designed as a three-factor and a two-factor randomized complete block with four replications, respectively, considering site-year as a fixed effect in each experiment. Dicamba at 0, 0.056, 0.56, and 5.6 g ae ha−1 was applied alone, with glufosinate, with acifluorfen, or with glufosinate plus acifluorfen to V3 soybean. Dicamba applied in combination with contact herbicides exacerbated visible auxin symptomology over dicamba alone at 21 and 28 d after treatment (DAT), while dicamba at 5.6 g ae ha−1 reduced soybean height. Injury and height reductions caused by dicamba mixtures with contact herbicides did not reduce grain yield. In the second experiment, dicamba was applied at 2.8 g ae ha−1 at VC, V1, V2, and V3 and at 3, 7, and 10 d after a glufosinate application to V3 soybean (DATV3). Greater soybean injury was observed when dicamba exposure followed a glufosinate application than when dicamba preceded glufosinate or was applied in a mixture with glufosinate, with yield reductions resulting from 7 and 10 DATV3 dicamba applications. Dicamba exposure in the presence of contact herbicides resulted in increased auxin symptomology and can be intensified if soybean are exposed to dicamba following a contact herbicide application.
Widespread Hydration of the Back Arc and the Link to Variable Hydration of the Incoming Plate in the Lesser Antilles From Rayleigh Wave Imaging
Authors: Harmon Nicholas , Rychert Catherine A. , Goes Saskia , Maunder Benjamin , Collier Jenny , Henstock Timothy , Lynch Lloyd , Rietbrock Andreas ,   the VoiLA Working Group
Published: June 2021

Subduction zone dynamics are important for a better understanding of natural hazards, plate tectonics, and the evolution of the planet. Despite this, the factors dictating the location and style of volcanism are not well‐known. Here we present Rayleigh Wave imaging of the Lesser Antilles subduction zone using the ocean bottom and land seismic data collected as a part of the VoiLA experiment. This region is an important global endmember that represents a slow (<19 mm/yr) convergence rate of old (80–120 Ma), Atlantic lithosphere formed at a slow spreading ridge. We image the fast slab, the fast‐overriding plate and the slow mantle wedge across the entire arc. We find slow velocity anomalies (∼4.1 km/s) in the mantle wedge directly beneath the arc with local minima beneath Dominica/Martinique, Montserrat and the Grenadines. We observe that slow velocities in the wedge extend 200 km into the back arc west of Martinique. The slowest mantle wedge velocity anomaly is more muted than several global wedges, likely reflecting the lower temperatures and less partial melt predicted for the Antilles. Subducted fracture zones and plate boundaries are a potential source of hydration, since they are located near the anomalies, although not directly beneath them. To match our observations, geodynamic models with a broadly hydrated mantle wedge are required, which can be achieved via deep hydration of the slab, and fluid release further into the back arc. In addition, 3‐D flow and melt migration or ponding are required to explain the shape and location of our anomalies.
Reduced Ocean Carbon Sink in the South and Central North Sea (2014–2018) Revealed From FerryBox Observations
Authors: Macovei V. A. , Petersen W. , Brix H. , Voynova Y. G.
Published: June 2021

Surface seawater carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) in the south‐central North Sea was measured between 2014 and 2018 using FerryBox‐integrated membrane sensors on ships‐of‐opportunity. Average annual pCO2 variability was biologically controlled, with thermal effects modulating its amplitude. Deseasonalized winter trends of seawater pCO2 were positive (4.4 ± 2.0–8.4 ± 2.9 µatm yr−1), biogeochemically driven, stronger than the atmospheric pCO2 trend, and more pronounced than previous analyses. The trends calculated including all deseasonalized monthly averages were even higher (9.7 ± 2.8–12.2 ± 1.4 µatm yr−1). During our investigation, the southern study area became a stronger source and the northern part became a weaker sink for atmospheric carbon. Overall, average sea‐air CO2 flux in our study area, from the Skagerrak to the Southern Bight (53°N), changed from −0.75 ± 0.61 mmol m−2 day−1 in 2014 to +0.20 ± 0.96 mmol m−2 day−1 in 2018.
The Impact of COVID‐19 on CO2 Emissions in the Los Angeles and Washington DC/Baltimore Metropolitan Areas
Authors: Yadav Vineet , Ghosh Subhomoy , Mueller Kimberly , Karion Anna , Roest Geoffrey , Gourdji Sharon M. , Lopez‐Coto Israel , Gurney Kevin R. , Parazoo Nicholas , Verhulst Kristal R. , Kim Jooil , Prinzivalli Steve , Fain Clayton , Nehrkorn Thomas , Mountain Marikate , Keeling Ralph F. , Weiss Ray F. , Duren Riley , Miller Charles E. , Whetstone James
Published: June 2021

Responses to COVID‐19 have resulted in unintended reductions of city‐scale carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Here, we detect and estimate decreases in CO2 emissions in Los Angeles and Washington DC/Baltimore during March and April 2020. We present three lines of evidence using methods that have increasing model dependency, including an inverse model to estimate relative emissions changes in 2020 compared to 2018 and 2019. The March decrease (25%) in Washington DC/Baltimore is largely supported by a drop in natural gas consumption associated with a warm spring whereas the decrease in April (33%) correlates with changes in gasoline fuel sales. In contrast, only a fraction of the March (17%) and April (34%) reduction in Los Angeles is explained by traffic declines. Methods and measurements used herein highlight the advantages of atmospheric CO2 observations for providing timely insights into rapidly changing emissions patterns that can empower cities to course‐correct CO2 reduction activities efficiently.
Catalpol ameliorates depressive-like behaviors in CUMS mice via oxidative stress-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome and neuroinflammation
Authors: Wang Ya-lin , Wu Hao-ran , Zhang Shan-shan , Xiao Hong-lei , Yu Jin , Ma Yuan-yuan , Zhang Yao-dong , Liu Qiong
Published: June 2021

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether catalpol exhibited neuroprotective effects in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice through oxidative stress-mediated nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin-domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and neuroinflammation. Deficits in behavioral tests, including open field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), and elevated plus-maze test (EPM), were ameliorated following catalpol administration. To study the potential mechanism, western blots, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis and immunofluorescence imaging were performed on the hippocampus samples. We found that the defects of behavioral tests induced by CUMS could be reversed by the absence of NLRP3 and NLRP3 inflammasome might be involved in the antidepressant effects of catalpol on CUMS mice. Similar to the NLRP3 inflammasome, the expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and inducible nitride oxide synthase (iNOS) were increased after CUMS. The current study demonstrated that catalpol possessed anti-inflammatory effect on CUMS mice and inhibited microglial polarization to the M1 phenotype. In addition, the activity of mitochondrial oxidative stress might be involved in the NLRP3 activation, which was proved by the downregulation of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), and cleaved IL-1β, after the administration of mitochondrion-targeted antioxidant peptide SS31. Taken together, we provided evidence that catalpol exhibited antidepressive effects on CUMS mice possibly via the oxidative stress-mediated regulation of NLRP3 and neuroinflammation.
Genome wide study of tardive dyskinesia in schizophrenia
Authors: Lim Keane , Lam Max , Zai Clement , Tay Jenny , Karlsson Nina , Deshpande Smita N. , Thelma B. K. , Ozaki Norio , Inada Toshiya , Sim Kang , Chong Siow-Ann , Lencz Todd , Liu Jianjun , Lee Jimmy
Published: June 2021

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a severe condition characterized by repetitive involuntary movement of orofacial regions and extremities. Patients treated with antipsychotics typically present with TD symptomatology. Here, we conducted the largest GWAS of TD to date, by meta-analyzing samples of East-Asian, European, and African American ancestry, followed by analyses of biological pathways and polygenic risk with related phenotypes. We identified a novel locus and three suggestive loci, implicating immune-related pathways. Through integratingtrans-ethnic fine mapping, we identified putative credible causal variants for three of the loci. Post-hoc analysis revealed that SNPs harbored inTNFRSF1BandCALCOCO1independently conferred three-fold increase in TD risk, beyond clinical risk factors like Age of onset and Duration of illness to schizophrenia. Further work is necessary to replicate loci that are reported in the study and evaluate the polygenic architecture underlying TD.
Crisis in care homes: the dentists don’t come
Authors: Patel Rakhee , Mian Mamoona , Robertson Claire , Pitts Nigel B. , Gallagher Jennifer E.
Published: June 2021

Aim/Objectives

To present the findings of the challenges relating to access to dental care for older people in care homes from the Fluoride Interventions in Care Homes (FInCH) Trial.

Methods

Thematic analysis of 11 interviews / focus groups with care home managers and care staff were carried out against a framework informed by the literature drawing on lived experiences.

Results

The challenges identified mapped to Penchanksy and Thomas’s (1981) five dimensions of access but also highlighted themes specifically relevant to the care home population. These include a lack of suitable services for routine and urgent domiciliary and clinic care, complex referral processes, operational challenges in the need for appropriate care chaperones, expectations of information for dental charge exemption and capacity / consent processes within the home.

Discussion

There is a malalignment of dental services offered to meet the needs of care home residents which has resulted in a reactive dental care system that is not fit for purpose and an entire generation of older people living in care with dental neglect.

Conclusion

Urgent action is needed to commission not only the appropriate quantities of both routine and urgent dental care, but ensure it is delivered by clinicians who are appropriately skilled to meet the high levels of dental needs in an increasingly medically and behaviourally complex care home population. In line with eye tests and prescribing at the very least, free routine dental examinations should be offered to all care home residents, creating the opportunity for advice and prevention, and enabling care home residents to function and be free of pain.

Trial Registration

The FinCH Trial registration EudraCT number 2017-002248-34.
Integrating longitudinal clinical laboratory tests with targeted proteomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal the landscape of host responses in COVID-19
Authors: Tan Yun , Zhang Wei , Zhu Zhaoqin , Qiao Niu , Ling Yun , Guo Mingquan , Yin Tong , Fang Hai , Xu Xiaoguang , Lu Gang , Zhang Peipei , Yang Shuangshuang , Fu Ziyu , Liang Dongguo , Xie Yinyin , Zhang Ruihong , Jiang Lu , Yu Shuting , Lu Jing , Jiang Fangying , Chen Jian , Xiao Chenlu , Wang Shengyue , Chen Shuo , Bian Xiu-Wu , Lu Hongzhou , Liu Feng , Chen Saijuan
Published: June 2021

The pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) involves a multitude of host responses, yet how they unfold during the course of disease progression remains unclear. Here, through integrative analysis of clinical laboratory tests, targeted proteomes, and transcriptomes of 963 patients in Shanghai, we delineate the dynamics of multiple circulatory factors within the first 30 days post-illness onset and during convalescence. We show that hypercortisolemia represents one of the probable causes of acute lymphocytopenia at the onset of severe/critical conditions. Comparison of the transcriptomes of the bronchoalveolar microenvironment and peripheral blood indicates alveolar macrophages, alveolar epithelial cells, and monocytes in lungs as the potential main sources of elevated cytokines mediating systemic immune responses and organ damages. In addition, the transcriptomes of patient blood cells are characterized by distinct gene regulatory networks and alternative splicing events. Our study provides a panorama of the host responses in COVID-19, which may serve as the basis for developing further diagnostics and therapy.
Therapeutic vaccine for chronic diseases after the COVID-19 Era
Authors: Nakagami Hironori , Hayashi Hiroki , Shimamura Munehisa , Rakugi Hiromi , Morishita Ryuichi
Published: June 2021

There is currently a respiratory disease outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). After rapid development, RNA vaccines and adenoviral vector vaccines were approved within a year, which has demonstrated the strong impact of preventing infectious diseases using gene therapy technology. Furthermore, intensive immunological analysis has been performed to evaluate the efficiency and safety of these vaccines, potentially allowing for rapid progress in vaccine technology. After the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era, the novel vaccine technology developed will expand to other vaccines. We have been developing vaccines for chronic diseases, such as hypertension, for >10 years. Regarding the development of vaccines against self-antigens (i.e., angiotensin II), the vaccine should efficiently induce a blocking antibody response against the self-antigen without activating cytotoxic T cells. Therefore, the epitope vaccine approach has been proposed to induce antibody production in response to a combination of a B cell epitope and exogenous T cell epitopes through major histocompatibility complex molecules. When these vaccines are established as therapeutic options for hypertension, their administration regimen, which might be a few times per year, will replace daily medication use. Thus, therapeutic vaccines for hypertension may be a novel option to control the progression of cerebrovascular diseases. Hopefully, the accumulation of immunological findings and vaccine technology advances due to COVID-19 will provide a novel concept for vaccines for chronic diseases.
Experimental quantum kernel trick with nuclear spins in a solid
Authors: Kusumoto Takeru , Mitarai Kosuke , Fujii Keisuke , Kitagawa Masahiro , Negoro Makoto
Published: June 2021

The kernel trick allows us to employ high-dimensional feature space for a machine learning task without explicitly storing features. Recently, the idea of utilizing quantum systems for computing kernel functions using interference has been demonstrated experimentally. However, the dimension of feature spaces in those experiments have been smaller than the number of data, which makes them lose their computational advantage over explicit method. Here we show the first experimental demonstration of a quantum kernel machine that achieves a scheme where the dimension of feature space greatly exceeds the number of data using 1H nuclear spins in solid. The use of NMR allows us to obtain the kernel values with single-shot experiment. We employ engineered dynamics correlating 25 spins which is equivalent to using a feature space with a dimension over 1015. This work presents a quantum machine learning using one of the largest quantum systems to date.
The stem cell revolution: on the role of CD164 as a human stem cell marker
Authors: Watt Suzanne M. , Bühring Hans-Jörg , Simmons Paul J. , Zannettino Andrew W. C.
Published: June 2021

Accurately defining hierarchical relationships between human stem cells and their progeny, and using this knowledge for new cellular therapies, will undoubtedly lead to further successful treatments for life threatening and chronic diseases, which represent substantial burdens on patient quality of life and to healthcare systems globally. Clinical translation relies in part on appropriate biomarker, in vitro manipulation and transplantation strategies. CD164 has recently been cited as an important biomarker for enriching both human haematopoietic and skeletal stem cells, yet a thorough description of extant human CD164 monoclonal antibody (Mab) characteristics, which are critical for identifying and purifying these stem cells, was not discussed in these articles. Here, we highlight earlier but crucial research describing these relevant characteristics, including the differing human CD164 Mab avidities and their binding sites on the human CD164 sialomucin, which importantly may affect subsequent stem cell function and fate.
Peganum harmala enhanced GLP-1 and restored insulin signaling to alleviate AlCl3-induced Alzheimer-like pathology model
Authors: Saleh Rofida A. , Eissa Tarek F. , Abdallah Dalaal M. , Saad Muhammed A. , El-Abhar Hanan S.
Published: June 2021

Peganum harmala (P. harmala) is a folk medicinal herb used in the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt) as a remedy for central disorders. The main constituents, harmine and harmaline, have displayed therapeutic efficacy against Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, the P. harmala potential on sensitizing central insulin to combat AD remains to be clarified. An AD-like rat model was induced by aluminum chloride (AlCl3; 50 mg/kg/day for six consecutive weeks; i.p), whereas a methanolic standardized P. harmala seed extract (187.5 mg/kg; p.o) was given to AD rats starting 2 weeks post AlCl3 exposure. Two additional groups of rats were administered either the vehicle to serve as the normal control or the vehicle + P. harmala seed extract to serve as the P. harmala control group. P. harmala enhanced cognition appraised by Y-maze and Morris water maze tests and improved histopathological structures altered by AlCl3. Additionally, it heightened the hippocampal contents of glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 and insulin, but abated insulin receptor substrate-1 phosphorylation at serine 307 (pS307-IRS-1). Besides, P. harmala increased phosphorylated Akt at serine 473 (pS473-Akt) and glucose transporter type (GLUT)4. The extract also curtailed the hippocampal content of beta amyloid (Aβ)42, glycogen synthase (GSK)-3β and phosphorylated tau. It also enhanced Nrf2, while reduced lipid peroxides and replenished glutathione. In conclusion, combating insulin resistance by P. harmala is a novel machinery in attenuating the insidious progression of AD by enhancing both insulin and GLP-1 trajectories in the hippocampus favoring GLUT4 production.
Gene expression changes and DNA damage after ex vivo exposure of peripheral blood cells to various CT photon spectra
Authors: Kaatsch Hanns Leonhard , Becker Benjamin Valentin , Schüle Simone , Ostheim Patrick , Nestler Kai , Jakobi Julia , Schäfer Barbara , Hantke Thomas , Brockmann Marc A. , Abend Michael , Waldeck Stephan , Port Matthias , Scherthan Harry , Ullmann Reinhard
Published: June 2021

Dual-energy CT provides enhanced diagnostic power with similar or even reduced radiation dose as compared to single-energy CT. Its principle is based on the distinct physical properties of low and high energetic photons, which, however, may also affect the biological effectiveness and hence the extent of CT-induced cellular damage. Therefore, a comparative analysis of biological effectiveness of dual- and single-energy CT scans with focus on early gene regulation and frequency of radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) was performed. Blood samples from three healthy individuals were irradiated ex vivo with single-energy (80 kV and 150 kV) and dual-energy tube voltages (80 kV/Sn150kV) employing a modern dual source CT scanner resulting in Volume Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol) of 15.79–18.26 mGy and dose length product (DLP) of 606.7–613.8 mGy*cm. Non-irradiated samples served as a control. Differential gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was analyzed 6 h after irradiation using whole transcriptome sequencing. DSB frequency was studied by 53BP1 + γH2AX co-immunostaining and microscopic evaluation of their focal accumulation at DSBs. Neither the analysis of gene expression nor DSB frequency provided any evidence for significantly increased biological effectiveness of dual-energy CT in comparison to samples irradiated with particular single-energy CT spectra. Relative to control, irradiated samples were characterized by a significantly higher rate of DSBs (p < 0.001) and the shared upregulation of five genes, AEN, BAX, DDB2, FDXR and EDA2R, which have already been suggested as radiation-induced biomarkers in previous studies. Despite steadily decreasing doses, CT diagnostics remain a genotoxic stressor with impact on gene regulation and DNA integrity. However, no evidence was found that varying X-ray spectra of CT impact the extent of cellular damage.
A convolutional neural network for estimating synaptic connectivity from spike trains
Authors: Endo Daisuke , Kobayashi Ryota , Bartolo Ramon , Averbeck Bruno B. , Sugase-Miyamoto Yasuko , Hayashi Kazuko , Kawano Kenji , Richmond Barry J. , Shinomoto Shigeru
Published: June 2021

The recent increase in reliable, simultaneous high channel count extracellular recordings is exciting for physiologists and theoreticians because it offers the possibility of reconstructing the underlying neuronal circuits. We recently presented a method of inferring this circuit connectivity from neuronal spike trains by applying the generalized linear model to cross-correlograms. Although the algorithm can do a good job of circuit reconstruction, the parameters need to be carefully tuned for each individual dataset. Here we present another method using a Convolutional Neural Network for Estimating synaptic Connectivity from spike trains. After adaptation to huge amounts of simulated data, this method robustly captures the specific feature of monosynaptic impact in a noisy cross-correlogram. There are no user-adjustable parameters. With this new method, we have constructed diagrams of neuronal circuits recorded in several cortical areas of monkeys.
Spin polarized density functional theory calculations of the electronic structure and magnetism of the 112 type iron pnictide compound $$\hbox {EuFeAs}_2$$
Authors: Nejadsattari Farshad , Stadnik Zbigniew M.
Published: June 2021

Using density-functional theory, we investigate the electronic, magnetic, and hyperfine-interaction properties of the 112-type iron-pnictide compound $${\hbox {EuFeAs}}_2$$

EuFeAs
2

, which is isostructural to the high-temperature iron-based superconductor $${\hbox {Ca}}_{1-x}{\hbox {La}}_x{\hbox {FeAs}}_2$$

Ca

1
-
x

La
x

FeAs
2

. We show that the band structure of $${\hbox {EuFeAs}}_2$$

EuFeAs
2

is similar to that of the 112-type compounds’ family, with hole-like and electron-like bands at the Brillouin-zone center and corners, respectively. We demonstrate that the bands near the Fermi level originate mainly from the Fe atoms. The presence of a mixture of ionic and covalent bonding is predicted from the charge-density and atom-resolved density-of-states calculations. There is good agreement between the calculated hyperfine-interaction parameters with those obtained from the $$^{57}$$

57

Fe and $$^{151}$$

151

Eu Mössbauer measurements. The spatial distribution of atoms in $${\hbox {EuFeAs}}_2$$

EuFeAs
2

leads to an in-plane 2D magnetism. Moreover, ab-initio calculations predict the compound’s magnetic moment and the magnetic moments of each constituent atom. Also, the density of states profile provides insight into the relative magnitude of these moments. Electronic structure calculations and Fermi surface topology reveal various physical and chemical properties of $${\hbox {EuFeAs}}_2$$

EuFeAs
2

. Valence electron density maps indicate the co-existence of a wide range of chemical bonds in this system, and based on structural properties, the transport characteristics are deduced and discussed. A thorough analysis of the atomic structure of $${\hbox {EuFeAs}}_2$$

EuFeAs
2

and its role in the bond formation is presented.
Visual gamma oscillations predict sensory sensitivity in females as they do in males
Authors: Manyukhina Viktoriya O. , Rostovtseva Ekaterina N. , Prokofyev Andrey O. , Obukhova Tatiana S. , Schneiderman Justin F. , Stroganova Tatiana A. , Orekhova Elena V.
Published: June 2021

Gamma oscillations are driven by local cortical excitatory (E)–inhibitory (I) loops and may help to characterize neural processing involving excitatory-inhibitory interactions. In the visual cortex reliable gamma oscillations can be recorded with magnetoencephalography (MEG) in the majority of individuals, which makes visual gamma an attractive candidate for biomarkers of brain disorders associated with E/I imbalance. Little is known, however, about if/how these oscillations reflect individual differences in neural excitability and associated sensory/perceptual phenomena. The power of visual gamma response (GR) changes nonlinearly with increasing stimulation intensity: it increases with transition from static to slowly drifting high-contrast grating and then attenuates with further increase in the drift rate. In a recent MEG study we found that theGR attenuationpredicted sensitivity to sensory stimuli in everyday life in neurotypical adult men and in men with autism spectrum disorders. Here, we replicated these results in neurotypical female participants. TheGR enhancementwith transition from static to slowly drifting grating did not correlate significantly with the sensory sensitivity measures. These findings suggest that weak velocity-related attenuation of the GR is a reliable neural concomitant of visual hypersensitivity and that the degree of GR attenuation may provide useful information about E/I balance in the visual cortex.
Tidally modified western boundary current drives interbasin exchange between the Sea of Okhotsk and the North Pacific
Authors: Shu Hung-Wei , Mitsudera Humio , Yamazaki Kaihe , Nakamura Tomohiro , Kawasaki Takao , Nakanowatari Takuya , Nishikawa Hatsumi , Sasaki Hideharu
Published: June 2021

The interbasin exchange between the Sea of Okhotsk and the North Pacific governs the intermediate water ventilation and fertilization of the nutrient-rich subpolar Pacific, and thus has an enormous influence on the North Pacific. However, the mechanism of this exchange is puzzling; current studies have not explained how the western boundary current (WBC) of the subarctic North Pacific intrudes only partially into the Sea of Okhotsk. High-resolution models often exhibit unrealistically small exchanges, as the WBC overshoots passing by deep straits and does not induce exchange flows. Therefore, partial intrusion cannot be solely explained by large-scale, wind-driven circulation. Here, we demonstrate that tidal forcing is the missing mechanism that drives the exchange by steering the WBC pathway. Upstream of the deep straits, tidally-generated topographically trapped waves over a bank lead to cross-slope upwelling. This upwelling enhances bottom pressure, thereby steering the WBC pathway toward the deep straits. The upwelling is identified as the source of joint-effect-of-baroclinicity-and-relief (JEBAR) in the potential vorticity equation, which is caused by tidal oscillation instead of tidally-enhanced vertical mixing. The WBC then hits the island chain and induces exchange flows. This tidal control of WBC pathways is applicable on subpolar and polar regions globally.
Increased resting-state cerebellar-cortical connectivity in breast cancer survivors with cognitive complaints after chemotherapy
Authors: Park Hye Yoon , Lee Hyeongrae , Sohn Joohyuk , An Suk Kyoon , Namkoong Kee , Lee Eun
Published: June 2021

Cognitive complaints after chemotherapy are common in breast cancer patients, but the neural bases for these complaints remain unclear. This pilot study explored resting-state functional connectivity (FC) as a marker of subtle cognitive changes in breast cancer patients who experience cognitive complaints. Chemotherapy-treated (n = 20, at least 6 months off therapy) and untreated (n = 17, disease-control) female breast cancer patients with cognitive complaints and healthy controls (n = 20) were recruited. The FC of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was calculated, and any correlations between this FC and neuropsychological assessments were determined. Chemotherapy-treated patients with cognitive complaints displayed increased FC between the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and both the contralateral cerebellar lobule VII and the cerebellar vermis XI, compared to the disease-control and healthy-control groups, despite unimpaired neuropsychological performance. The increased FC was negatively correlated with executive function and attention in breast cancer survivors with cognitive complaints. Our pilot study findings provide evidence that cerebellar-cortical FC changes may be a pathophysiological basis for chemotherapy-related cognitive complaints. In addition, the FC changes have the potential to reflect minor or compensated cognitive function impairment in breast cancer patients.
Fingerprints of nonequilibrium stationary distributions in dispersion relations
Authors: Ourabah Kamel
Published: June 2021

Distributions different from those predicted by equilibrium statistical mechanics are commonplace in a number of physical situations, such as plasmas and self-gravitating systems. The best strategy for probing these distributions and unavailing their origins consists in combining theoretical knowledge with experiments, involving both direct and indirect measurements, as those associated with dispersion relations. This paper addresses, in a quite general context, the signature of nonequilibrium distributions in dispersion relations. We consider the very general scenario of distributions corresponding to a superposition of equilibrium distributions, that are well-suited for systems exhibiting only local equilibrium, and discuss the general context of systems obeying the combination of the Schrödinger and Poisson equations, while allowing the Planck’s constant to smoothly go to zero, yielding the classical kinetic regime. Examples of media where this approach is applicable are plasmas, gravitational systems, and optical molasses. We analyse in more depth the case of classical dispersion relations for a pair plasma. We also discuss a possible experimental setup, based on spectroscopic methods, to directly observe these classes of distributions.
Comparison of the sensitivity of Western blotting between PVDF and NC membranes
Authors: Xiang Yufang , Zheng Yuanyuan , Liu Shaobo , Liu Gang , Li Zhi , Dong Weijie
Published: June 2021

Western blotting (WB) is one of the most widely used techniques to identify proteins as well as post translational modifications of proteins. The selection of electroblotted membrane is one of the key factors affecting the detection sensitivity of the protein which is transferred from gel to membrane in WB. The most common used membranes are polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and nitrocellulose (NC) membranes. Which membrane of these two is more suitable for WB has not been reported so far. Here, by incubating proteins which were transferred to PVDF or NC membranes with a series of antibodies and different types of lectins, we investigated the relationship between the binding ability of these two membranes to proteins or glycoproteins and the molecular weight of the target protein. The antibody re-probed ability of the two membranes was also explored. Moreover, we verified the above results by directly incubating proteins having different molecular weights onto PVDF or NC membranes. Bound proteins were stained with direct blue-71, and the staining intensity was quantitated by scanning and densitometry.
Decoding empagliflozin’s molecular mechanism of action in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction using artificial intelligence
Authors: Bayes-Genis Antoni , Iborra-Egea Oriol , Spitaleri Giosafat , Domingo Mar , Revuelta-López Elena , Codina Pau , Cediel Germán , Santiago-Vacas Evelyn , Cserkóová Adriana , Pascual-Figal Domingo , Núñez Julio , Lupón Josep
Published: June 2021

The use of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors to treat heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is under investigation in ongoing clinical trials, but the exact mechanism of action is unclear. Here we aimed to use artificial intelligence (AI) to characterize the mechanism of action of empagliflozin in HFpEF at the molecular level. We retrieved information regarding HFpEF pathophysiological motifs and differentially expressed genes/proteins, together with empagliflozin target information and bioflags, from specialized publicly available databases. Artificial neural networks and deep learning AI were used to model the molecular effects of empagliflozin in HFpEF. The model predicted that empagliflozin could reverse 59% of the protein alterations found in HFpEF. The effects of empagliflozin in HFpEF appeared to be predominantly mediated by inhibition of NHE1 (Na+/H+ exchanger 1), with SGLT2 playing a less prominent role. The elucidated molecular mechanism of action had an accuracy of 94%. Empagliflozin’s pharmacological action mainly affected cardiomyocyte oxidative stress modulation, and greatly influenced cardiomyocyte stiffness, myocardial extracellular matrix remodelling, heart concentric hypertrophy, and systemic inflammation. Validation of these in silico data was performed in vivo in patients with HFpEF by measuring the declining plasma concentrations of NOS2, the NLPR3 inflammasome, and TGF-β1 during 12 months of empagliflozin treatment. Using AI modelling, we identified that the main effect of empagliflozin in HFpEF treatment is exerted via NHE1 and is focused on cardiomyocyte oxidative stress modulation. These results support the potential use of empagliflozin in HFpEF.
Tumor metabolism and associated serum metabolites define prognostic subtypes of Asian hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Pomyen Yotsawat , Budhu Anuradha , Chaisaingmongkol Jittiporn , Forgues Marshonna , Dang Hien , Ruchirawat Mathuros , Mahidol Chulabhorn , Wang Xin Wei ,   the TIGER-LC Consortium, Pupacdi Benjarath , Rabibhadana Siritida , Phonphutkul Kannikar , Lertprasertsuke Nirush , Chotirosniramit Anon , Auewarakul Chirayu U. , Ungtrakul Teerapat , Budhisawasdi Vajarabhongsa , Pairojkul Chawalit , Sangrajang Suleeporn , Harris Curtis C. , Loffredo Christopher A. , Wiltrout Robert
Published: June 2021

Treatment effectiveness in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) depends on early detection and precision-medicine-based patient stratification for targeted therapies. However, the lack of robust biomarkers, particularly a non-invasive diagnostic tool, precludes significant improvement of clinical outcomes for HCC patients. Serum metabolites are one of the best non-invasive means for determining patient prognosis, as they are stable end-products of biochemical processes in human body. In this study, we aimed to identify prognostic serum metabolites in HCC. To determine serum metabolites that were relevant and representative of the tissue status, we performed a two-step correlation analysis to first determine associations between metabolic genes and tissue metabolites, and second, between tissue metabolites and serum metabolites among 49 HCC patients, which were then validated in 408 additional Asian HCC patients with mixed etiologies. We found that certain metabolic genes, tissue metabolites and serum metabolites can independently stratify HCC patients into prognostic subgroups, which are consistent across these different data types and our previous findings. The metabolic subtypes are associated with β-oxidation process in fatty acid metabolism, where patients with worse survival outcome have dysregulated fatty acid metabolism. These serum metabolites may be used as non-invasive biomarkers to define prognostic tumor molecular subtypes for HCC.
Analyses of the relationship between hyperuricemia and osteoporosis
Authors: Lee Jung Woo , Kwon Bong Cheol , Choi Hyo Geun
Published: June 2021

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between hyperuricemia and osteoporosis in a Korean population. Data from participants of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study who were ≥ 40 years old were collected from 2004 to 2016. Among 173,209 participants, 11,781 with hyperuricemia (> 7.0 mg/dL in men and > 6.0 mg/dL in women) and 156,580 controls were selected based on serum measurements. Odds ratios (ORs) of osteoporosis between individuals with hyperuricemia and controls were analyzed using a logistic regression model. In the adjusted model, age, sex, income group, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia history and nutritional intake were adjusted. The adjusted OR (aOR) of osteoporosis was 0.79 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.71–0.87, P < 0.001]. In subgroup analyses according to age and sex, statistical significance was observed in men > 60 years old and in women > 50 years old. In another subgroup analysis according to past medical history, significant differences were found according to hypertension (aOR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.73–0.94, and 0.75, 95% CI = 0.64–0.87), diabetes mellitus (aOR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.69–0.86), and hyperlipidemia (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.61–0.89, and 0.81, 95% CI = 0.72–0.91). This study demonstrated that hyperuricemia was associated with a decreased risk of osteoporosis.
Molecular insight into COF monolayers for urea sorption in artificial kidneys
Authors: Jahromi Ahmad Miri , Khedri Mohammad , Ghasemi Mehdi , Omrani Sina , Maleki Reza , Rezaei Nima
Published: June 2021

Urea removal from an aqueous solution is considered a challenge in the biological process. The state of complete kidney destruction is known as an end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Kidney transplant and hemodialysis are the most common methods for confronting ESRD. More recently, wearable artificial kidney (WAK) devices have shown a significant improvement in urea removal performance. However, low efficiency in physical adsorbents is a barrier in developing them. For the first time, the urea adsorption capacity of five types of last-generation covalent organic framework (COF) nanosheets (NSs) was investigated in this study by applying molecular dynamics (MD) simulation tools. To this end, different analyses have been performed to evaluate the performance of each nanoparticle. The MD all-atom (AA) results demonstrated that all introduced COF NSs had urea removal capacity. Among the five NSs, TPA-COF was shown to have the best outcomes. Moreover, coarse-grained (CG) and density functional theory (DFT) simulations were conducted, and the results show that the TPA-COF nanoparticle modified with –OH functional group has even better properties for urea adsorption. The present molecular study sheds new light on COF NSs as an adsorbent for urea removal.
Predictive values of early head computed tomography for survival outcome after cardiac arrest in childhood: a pilot study
Authors: Tetsuhara Kenichi , Kaku Noriyuki , Watanabe Yuka , Kumamoto Masaya , Ichimiya Yuko , Mizuguchi Soichi , Higashi Kanako , Matsuoka Wakato , Motomura Yoshitomo , Sanefuji Masafumi , Hiwatashi Akio , Sakai Yasunari , Ohga Shouichi
Published: June 2021

Predicting outcomes of children after cardiac arrest (CA) remains challenging. To identify useful prognostic markers for pediatric CA, we retrospectively analyzed the early findings of head computed tomography (CT) of patients. Subjects were non-traumatic, out-of-hospital CA patients < 16 years of age who underwent the first head CT within 24 h in our institute from 2006 to 2018 (n = 70, median age: 4 months, range 0–163). Of the 24 patients with return of spontaneous circulation, 14 survived up to 30 days after CA. The degree of brain damage was quantitatively measured with modified methods of the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (mASPECTS) and simplified gray-matter-attenuation-to-white-matter-attenuation ratio (sGWR). The 14 survivors showed higher mASPECTS values than the 56 non-survivors (p = 0.035). All 3 patients with mASPECTS scores ≥ 20 survived, while an sGWR ≥ 1.14 indicated a higher chance of survival than an sGWR < 1.14 (54.5% vs. 13.6%). Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging for survivors validated the correlation of the mASPECTS < 15 with severe brain damage. Thus, low mASPECTS scores were associated with unfavorable neurological outcomes on the Pediatric Cerebral Performance Category scale. A quantitative analysis of early head CT findings might provide clues for predicting survival of pediatric CA.
Genetic dependency of Alzheimer’s disease-associated genes across cells and tissue types
Authors: Jaladanki Suraj K. , Elmas Abdulkadir , Malave Gabriel Santos , Huang Kuan-lin
Published: June 2021

Effective treatments targeting disease etiology are urgently needed for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although candidate AD genes have been identified and altering their levels may serve as therapeutic strategies, the consequence of such alterations remain largely unknown. Herein, we analyzed CRISPR knockout/RNAi knockdown screen data for over 700 cell lines and evaluated cellular dependencies of 104 AD-associated genes previously identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and gene expression network studies. Multiple genes showed widespread cell dependencies across tissue lineages, suggesting their inhibition may yield off-target effects. Meanwhile, several genes including SPI1, MEF2C, GAB2, ABCC11, ATCG1 were identified as genes of interest since their genetic knockouts specifically affected high-expressing cells whose tissue lineages are relevant to cell types found in AD. Overall, analyses of genetic screen data identified AD-associated genes whose knockout or knockdown selectively affected cell lines of relevant tissue lineages, prioritizing targets for potential AD treatments.
PB01 suppresses radio-resistance by regulating ATR signaling in human non-small-cell lung cancer cells
Authors: Kim Tae Woo , Hong Da-Won , Hong Sung Hee
Published: June 2021

Despite the common usage of radiotherapy for the treatment of human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), cancer therapeutic efficacy and outcome with ionizing radiation remains a challenge. Here, we report the antitumor effects and mechanism of a novel benzothiazole derivative PB01 (4-methoxy-cyclohexane carboxylic acid [2-(3,5-dimethyl-isoxazole-4-yl) sulpanil-benzothiazole-6-yl]-amide) in radiation-resistant human NSCLC cells. PB01 treatment is cytotoxic because it induces reactive oxygen species, ER stress, Bax, cytochrome c expression, the ATR-p53-GADD45ɑ axis, and cleavage of caspase-3 and -9. Additionally, we found that radio-resistant A549 and H460 subclones, named A549R and H460R, respectively, show enhanced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), whereas PB01 treatment inhibits EMT and mediates cell death through ER stress and the ATR axis under radiation exposure in radio-resistant A549R and H460R cells. Together, these results suggest that PB01 treatment can overcome radio-resistance during radiotherapy of NSCLC.
Author Correction: MRGPRX2-mediated mast cell response to drugs used in perioperative procedures and anaesthesia
Authors: Navinés-Ferrer Arnau , Serrano-Candelas Eva , Lafuente Alberto , Muñoz-Cano Rosa , Martín Margarita , Gastaminza Gabriel
Published: June 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.