bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel and accurate full-length HTT mouse model for Huntington’s disease
Authors: Shenoy Sushila A , Zheng Sushuang , Liu Wencheng , Dai Yuanyi , Liu Yuanxiu , Hou Zhipeng , Mori Susumu , Duan Wenzhen , Li Chenjian
Published: June 2021

Here we report the generation and characterization of a novel Huntington’s disease (HD) mouse model BAC226Q by using a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) system, expressing full-length human HTT with ∼226 CAG-CAA repeats and containing endogenous human HTT promoter and regulatory elements. BAC226Q recapitulated a full-spectrum of age-dependent and progressive HD-like phenotypes without unwanted and erroneous phenotypes. BAC226Q mice developed normally, and gradually exhibited HD-like mood and cognitive phenotypes at 2 months. From 3-4 months, BAC226Q mice showed robust progressive motor deficits. At 11 months, BAC226Q mice showed significant reduced life span, gradual weight loss and exhibit neuropathology including significant brain atrophy specific to striatum and cortex, striatal neuronal death, widespread huntingtin inclusions and reactive pathology. Therefore, the novel BAC226Q mouse accurately recapitulating robust, age-dependent, progressive HD-like phenotypes will be a valuable tool for studying disease mechanisms, identifying biomarkers and testing gene-targeting therapeutic approaches for HD.
Reconstitution of the DTX3L-PARP9 complex reveals determinants for high affinity heterodimer formation and enzymatic function
Authors: Ashok Yashwanth , Vela-Rodriguez Carlos , Yang Chunsong , Alanen Heli I. , Liu Fan , Paschal Bryce M. , Lehtiö Lari
Published: June 2021

Ubiquitination and ADP-ribosylation are post-translational modifications that play major roles in pathways like DNA damage response and infection, making them attractive targets for therapeutic intervention. DTX3L, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, forms a heterodimer with PARP9. The complex has ubiquitin ligase activity and also ADP-ribosylates the C-terminus of ubiquitin on Gly76. NAD+-dependent ADP-ribosylation of ubiquitin by DTX3L-PARP9 prevents ubiquitin from conjugating to protein substrates. By using individually produced proteins, we have studied the interaction between DTX3L and PARP9. We identify that the D3 domain (230 – 510) of DTX3L mediates interaction with PARP9 with nanomolar affinity and an apparent 1:1 stoichiometry. Our results also suggest the formation of a higher molecular weight oligomer mediated by the N-terminus of DTX3L (1-200). Furthermore, we show that ADP-ribosylation of ubiquitin at Gly76 is a reversible modification that can be removed by several macrodomain-type hydrolases. Our study provides a framework to understand how DTX3L-PARP9 mediates ADP-ribosylation and ubiquitination in an inter-regulatory manner.
Embryonic development of fully biocompatible organic light-emitting diodes
Authors: Matarèse Bruno F.E.
Published: June 2021

Prototype fully biocompatible organic light-emitting diodes are investigated, with a view to creating a suitable and high-performance light source as a medical implant device. A selection of organic LED materials that have potential suitability for the biological environment are examined. First, the biocompatibility of selected OLED materials was evaluated by the study of cell adhesion and cytotoxicity of HeLa cells cultured on the candidate materials. Thus it was possible to design a device structure composed entirely of biocompatible materials. Second, the characterization of the electroluminescence properties of the prototype OLED is shown and its limitation evaluated. Third, the aqueous stability of the fully biocompatible light source is examined. There is strong evidence that fully biocompatible and stable light-emitting implant devices can be easily constructed. This is the first time a fully biocompatible organic light-emitting diode, albeit embryonic, is reported, with the hope that it may lead to further research to optimize the device performance. Some suggestions on suitable device properties towards in vivo transition are provided.
Cross-species metabolomic analysis of DDT and Alzheimer’s disease-associated tau toxicity
Authors: Kalia Vrinda , Niedzwiecki Megan M. , Bradner Joshua M. , Lau Fion K. , Bucher Meghan L. , Manz Katherine E. , Fuentes Zoe Coates , Pennell Kurt D. , Picard Martin , Walker Douglas I. , Hu William T. , Jones Dean P. , Miller Gary W.
Published: June 2021

Background

The formation of hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) protein tangles in neurons is a pathological marker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Exposure to the pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) has been associated with increased risk of AD.

Objectives

To determine if there was a connection between DDT exposure and tau toxicity we investigated whether exposure to DDT can exacerbate tau protein toxicity in C. elegans. In addition, we examined the association between p-tau protein and metabolism in a human population study and in a transgenic C. elegans strain neuronally expressing a mutant tau protein fragment that is prone to aggregation.

Methods

In the human population study, we used a metabolome-wide association framework to determine the association between p-tau measured in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and metabolomic features measured in both plasma (n = 142) and CSF (n = 78) using high-resolution metabolomics (HRM). Using the same HRM method, we determined changes in metabolomic features in the transgenic C. elegans strain compared to its control strain. Metabolites associated with p-tau in both species were analyzed for overlap. We also examined the effect of DDT and aggregating tau protein on growth, swim behavior, mitochondrial function, metabolism, learning, and lifespan in C. elegans.

Results

Plasma and CSF-derived features associated with p-tau level were related to drug, amino acid, fatty acid and mitochondrial metabolism pathways. Five metabolites overlapped between plasma and C. elegans, and 4 between CSF and C. elegans. DDT exacerbated the inhibitory effect of aggregating tau protein on growth and basal respiration. In the presence of aggregating tau protein, DDT induced more curling and was associated with reduced levels of amino acids but increased levels of uric acid and adenosylselenohomocysteine. Developmental exposure to DDT blunted the lifespan reduction caused by aggregating tau protein.

Conclusion

The model organism C. elegans can complement human studies by providing a means to study mechanisms of environmental toxicants. Specifically, our C. elegans data show that DDT exposure and tau protein aggregation both inhibit mitochondrial function and DDT exposure can exacerbate the mitochondrial inhibitory effects of tau protein aggregation providing a plausible explanation for the observed human associations.
The voltage and spiking responses of subthreshold resonant neurons to structured and fluctuating inputs: persistence and loss of resonance and variability
Authors: Pena Rodrigo F. O. , Rotstein Horacio G.
Published: June 2021

We systematically investigate the response of neurons to oscillatory currents and synaptic-like inputs and we extend our investigation to non-structured synaptic-like spiking inputs with more realistic distributions of presynaptic spike times. We use two types of chirp-like inputs consisting of (i) a sequence of cycles with discretely increasing frequencies over time, and (ii) a sequence having the same cycles arranged in an arbitrary order. We develop and use a number of frequency-dependent voltage response metrics to capture the different aspects of the voltage response, including the standard impedance (Z) and the peak-to-trough amplitude envelope (VENV) profiles. We show that Z-resonant cells (cells that exhibit subthreshold resonance in response to sinusoidal inputs) also show VENV-resonance in response to sinusoidal inputs, but generally do not (or do it very mildly) in response to square-wave and synaptic-like inputs. In the latter cases the resonant response using Z is not predictive of the preferred frequencies at which the neurons spike when the input amplitude is increased above subthreshold levels. We also show that responses to conductance-based synaptic-like inputs are attenuated as compared to the response to current-based synaptic-like inputs, thus providing an explanation to previous experimental results. These response patterns were strongly dependent on the intrinsic properties of the participating neurons, in particular whether the unperturbed Z-resonant cells had a stable node or a focus. In addition, we show that variability emerges in response to chirp-like inputs with arbitrarily ordered patterns where all signals (trials) in a given protocol have the same frequency content and the only source of uncertainty is the subset of all possible permutations of cycles chosen for a given protocol. This variability is the result of the multiple different ways in which the autonomous transient dynamics is activated across cycles in each signal (different cycle orderings) and across trials. We extend our results to include high-rate Poisson distributed current- and conductance-based synaptic inputs and compare them with similar results using additive Gaussian white noise. We show that the responses to both Poisson-distributed synaptic inputs are attenuated with respect to the responses to Gaussian white noise. For cells that exhibit oscillatory responses to Gaussian white noise (band-pass filters), the response to conductance-based synaptic inputs are low-pass filters, while the response to current-based synaptic inputs may remain band-pass filters, consistent with experimental findings. Our results shed light on the mechanisms of communication of oscillatory activity among neurons in a network via subthreshold oscillations and resonance and the generation of network resonance.
Marginally compact phase and ordered ground states in a model polymer with side spheres
Authors: Škrbić Tatjana , Hoang Trinh Xuan , Giacometti Achille , Maritan Amos , Banavar Jayanth R.
Published: June 2021

We present the results of a quantitative study of the phase behavior of a model polymer chain with side spheres using two independent computer simulation techniques. We find that the mere addition of side spheres results in key modifications of standard polymer behavior. One obtains a novel marginally compact phase at low temperatures, the structures in this phase are reduced in dimensionality and are ordered, they include strands assembled into sheets and a variety of helices, and at least one of the transitions on lowering the temperature to access these ordered states is found to be first order. Our model serves to partially bridge conventional polymer phases with biomolecular phases.
Multi-echo Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping: How to Combine Echoes for Accuracy and Precision at 3 T
Authors: Biondetti Emma , Karsa Anita , Grussu Francesco , Battiston Marco , Yiannakas Marios C. , Thomas David L. , Shmueli Karin
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To compare different multi-echo combination methods for MRI quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). Given the current lack of consensus, we aimed to elucidate how to optimally combine multi-echo gradient-recalled echo (GRE) signal phase information, either before or after applying Laplacian-base methods (LBMs) for phase unwrapping or background field removal.

Methods

Multi-echo GRE data were simulated in a numerical head phantom, and multiecho GRE images were acquired at 3 T in ten healthy volunteers. To enable image-based estimation of GRE signal noise, five volunteers were scanned twice in the same session without repositioning. Five QSM processing pipelines were designed: one applied nonlinear phase fitting over echo times (TEs) before LBMs; two applied LBMs to the TE-dependent phase and then combined multiple TEs via either TE-weighted or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)-weighted averaging; two calculated TE-dependent susceptibility maps via either multi-step or single-step QSM and then combined multiple TEs via magnitude-weighted averaging. Results from different pipelines were compared using visual inspection; summary statistics of susceptibility in deep gray matter, white matter, and venous regions; phase noise maps (error propagation theory); and, in the healthy volunteers, regional fixed bias analysis (Bland-Altman) and regional differences between the means (nonparametric tests).

Results

Nonlinearly fitting the multi-echo phase over TEs before applying LBMs provided the highest regional accuracy of χ and the lowest phase noise propagation compared to averaging the LBM-processed TE-dependent phase. This result was especially pertinent in high-susceptibility venous regions.

Conclusion

For multi-echo QSM, we recommend combining the signal phase by nonlinear fitting before applying LBMs.
Accurate viral genome reconstruction and host assignment with proximity-ligation sequencing
Authors: Uritskiy Gherman , Press Maximillian , Sun Christine , Huerta Guillermo Domínguez , Zayed Ahmed A. , Wiser Andrew , Grove Jonas , Auch Benjamin , Eacker Stephen M. , Sullivan Shawn , Bickhart Derek M. , Smith Timothy P. L. , Sullivan Matthew B. , Liachko Ivan
Published: June 2021

Viruses play crucial roles in the ecology of microbial communities, yet they remain relatively understudied in their native environments. Despite many advancements in high-throughput whole-genome sequencing (WGS), sequence assembly, and annotation of viruses, the reconstruction of full-length viral genomes directly from metagenomic sequencing is possible only for the most abundant phages and requires long-read sequencing technologies. Additionally, the prediction of their cellular hosts remains difficult from conventional metagenomic sequencing alone. To address these gaps in the field and to accelerate the study of viruses directly in their native microbiomes, we developed an end-to-end bioinformatics platform for viral genome reconstruction and host attribution from metagenomic data using proximity-ligation sequencing (i.e., Hi-C). We demonstrate the capabilities of the platform by recovering and characterizing the metavirome of a variety of metagenomes, including a fecal microbiome that has also been sequenced with accurate long reads, allowing for the assessment and benchmarking of the new methods. The platform can accurately extract numerous near-complete viral genomes even from highly fragmented short-read assemblies and can reliably predict their cellular hosts with minimal false positives. To our knowledge, this is the first software for performing these tasks. Being significantly cheaper than long-read sequencing of comparable depth, the incorporation of proximity-ligation sequencing in microbiome research shows promise to greatly accelerate future advancements in the field.
Facultative release from developmental constraints through polyphenism promotes adaptively flexible maturation
Authors: Rhebergen Flor T. , Smallegange Isabel M.
Published: June 2021

The timing of maturation, a critical fitness determinant, is influenced by developmental and energetic constraints, particularly when growth is poor in adverse conditions. Such constraints can be altered through developmental plasticity. Thus, in theory, plasticity in energetically costly sexually selected morphologies can promote life history flexibility in variable environments. We experimentally tested this hypothesis in bulb mites(Rhizoglyphus robini)that polyphenically develop as armed fighters with enlarged legs or as scramblers without modified legs. We found that (i) mites enter metamorphosis earlier if they develop as scramblers, (ii) mites accelerate the onset of metamorphosis when they sense resource limitation, and (iii) scrambler expression increases under increased competition for food, enabling males to mature early and escape juvenile mortality. We propose that life history plasticity can evolve through polyphenic release from sexually selected constraints, making the evolutionary dynamics of secondary sexual traits and life history traits, typically studied separately, interdependent.
Modeling Progression of Single Cell Populations Through the Cell Cycle as a Sequence of Switches
Authors: Zinovyev Andrei , Sadovsky Michail , Calzone Laurence , Fouché Aziz , Groeneveld Clarice S. , Chervov Alexander , Barillot Emmanuel , Gorban Alexander N.
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Cell cycle is the most fundamental biological process underlying the existence and propagation of life in time and space. It has been an object for mathematical modeling for long, with several alternative mechanistic modeling principles suggested, describing in more or less details the known molecular mechanisms. Recently, cell cycle has been investigated at single cell level in snapshots of unsynchronized cell populations, exploiting the new methods for transcriptomic and proteomic molecular profiling. This raises a need for simplified semi-phenomenological cell cycle models, in order to formalize the processes underlying the cell cycle, at a higher abstracted level. Here we suggest a modeling framework, recapitulating the most important properties of the cell cycle as a limit trajectory of a dynamical process characterized by several internal states with switches between them. In the simplest form, this leads to a limit cycle trajectory, composed by linear segments in logarithmic coordinates describing some extensive (depending on system size) cell properties. We prove a theorem connecting the effective embedding dimensionality of the cell cycle trajectory with the number of its linear segments. We also develop a simplified kinetic model with piecewise-constant kinetic rates describing the dynamics of lumps of genes involved in S-phase and G2/M phases. We show how the developed cell cycle models can be applied to analyze the available single cell datasets and simulate certain properties of the observed cell cycle trajectories. Based on our modeling, we can predict with good accuracy the cell line doubling time from the length of cell cycle trajectory.
Regulome-wide association study identifies enhancer properties associated with risk for schizophrenia
Authors: Casella Alex M. , Colantuoni Carlo , Ament Seth A.
Published: June 2021

Genetic risk for complex traits is strongly enriched in non-coding genomic regions involved in gene regulation, especially enhancers. However, we lack adequate tools to connect the characteristics of these disruptions to genetic risk. Here, we propose RWAS (Regulome Wide Association Study), a new framework to identify the characteristics of enhancers that contribute to genetic risk for disease. Applying our technique to interrogate genetic risk for schizophrenia, we found that risk-associated enhancers in this disease are predominantly active in the brain, evolutionarily conserved, and AT-rich. The association between AT percentage and risk corresponds to an overrepresentation in risk-associated enhancers for the binding sites of transcription factors that recognize AT-rich cis-regulatory motifs. Several of the TFs identified in our model as being overrepresented in risk-associated enhancers, including MEF2C, are master regulators of neuronal development. The genes that encode several of these TFs are themselves located at genetic risk loci for schizophrenia. This list also includes brain-expressed TFs that have not previously been linked to schizophrenia. In summary, we developed a generalizable approach that integrates GWAS summary statistics with enhancer characteristics to identify risk factors in tissue-specific regulatory regions.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

Enhancers are regulatory regions that influence gene expression via the binding of transcription factors. Risk for many heritable diseases is enriched in regulatory regions, including enhancers. In this study, we introduce a novel method of testing for association between enhancer attributes and risk and use this method to determine the enhancer characteristics that are associated with risk for schizophrenia. We found that enhancers associated with schizophrenia risk are both evolutionarily conserved and in physical contact with mutation-intolerant genes, many of which have neurodevelopmental functions. Risk-associated enhancers are also AT-rich and contain binding sites for neurodevelopmental transcription factors.
MMMVI: Detecting SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in Metagenomic Wastewater Samples
Authors: Barker Dillon O.R. , Buchanan Cody J. , Landgraff Chrystal , Taboada Eduardo N.
Published: June 2021

Motivation

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Variants of Concern (VOCs) and Variants of Interest (VOIs) are lineages that represent a greater risk to public health, and can be differentiated from the wildtype virus based on unique profiles of signature mutations. Metagenomic sequence analysis of wastewater represents an emerging form of surveillance that can capture early signal for these variants in a community prior to detection through public health testing or genomic surveillance activities. However, because multiple viral genomes are likely to be present in a metagenomic sample, additional analytical scrutiny of the sequencing reads beyond variant calling is needed to increase confidence in diagnostic determinations.

Results

Where multiple signature mutations are present on a given read, they can be used as enhanced biomarkers to confirm the presence of a VOC/VOI in the sample. We have developed MMMVI, a tool to aggregate and report on the likely presence of a VOC/VOI in a set of metagenomic reads based on the detection of reads bearing multiple signature mutations.

Availability

MMMVI is implemented in Python, and is available under the MIT licence from https://github.com/dorbarker/voc-identify/

Contact

dillon.barker@canada.ca
Early functional mismatch between breast cancer cells and their tumour microenvironment suppresses long term growth
Authors: Rosell Anna Perdrix , Maiques Oscar , Chakravarty Probir , Ombrato Luigi , Sanz-Moreno Victoria , Malanchi Ilaria
Published: June 2021

Cancer cells thrive embedded in a fine-tuned cellular and extracellular environment or tumour microenvironment (TME). There is a general understanding of a co-evolution between cancer cells and their surrounding TME, pointing at a functional connection between cancer cells characteristics and the perturbations induced in their surrounding tissue. However, whether this functional connection needs to be set from the start or if aggressive cancer cells can always be dominating their microenvironment has never been formally proven with a dedicated experimental setting where malignant cells can be challenged to grow in a different TME from the one they would naturally create. Here we generated an experimental setting where we transiently perturb the secretory profile of aggressive breast cancer cells without affecting their intrinsic growth ability. This led to the initial establishment of an atypical TME. Interestingly, even if initially tumours are formed, this atypical TME evolves to impair long term in vivo cancer growth. Using a combination of in vivo transcriptomics, protein arrays and in vitro co-cultures, we found that the atypical TME culminates in the infiltration of macrophages with STAT1high activity. These macrophages show strong anti-tumoural functions which reduce long-term tumour growth, despite lacking canonical M1 markers. Importantly, gene signatures of the mesenchymal compartment of the TME, as well as the anti-tumoural macrophages show striking prognostic power-correlating with less aggressive human breast cancers.
Leaving the military to work in civilian society: career adaptability by South Korean short- and mid-term veterans
Authors: Oh Jihye , Shirmohammadi Melika , Jeong Shinhee , Wang Jia
Published: June 2021

Purpose

Military officials who become accustomed to the distinct culture of the military face a variety of challenges when attempting to transition into the civilian workforce as veterans. These hardships even pertain to short- and mid-term veterans (SMVs) who leave the military at early career stages to pursue alternative career options. In this study, the authors explored the career construction decisions made by South Korean SMVs who left their military careers and successfully transitioned into the civilian workforce.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a phenomenology approach and conducted a semi-structured interview with 19 SMVs to unpack their career transition experiences.

Findings

The authors identified the motivational factors that encourage SMVs to develop their four career adaptabilities and illustrated the necessity for such qualities pre- and post-transition. Furthermore, the authors characterized each individual experience by the theoretical constructs of career adaptability and highlighted the contextual characteristics that prompted the emergence of career adaptability.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the understanding of career mobility at early career stages and how career adaptability is developed and manifested in the context of transitioning from the military to civilian society.
Modeling the participation in physical exercises by university academic community in Sri Lanka
Authors: Sisira Kumara Ajantha , Sachitra Vilani
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The World Health Organization issued its global action plan on physical activities 2018–2030, emphasizing the importance of context-specific evidence on the subject. Accordingly, this study aims to provide unique and important policy insights on trends and drivers of participation in physical exercises by academic community in Sri Lankan universities.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, we collected cross-sectional data (n = 456) in 2020 using a survey, and first, estimated a double-hurdle model to uncover covariates influencing likelihood and intensity of physical exercises overall. Second, count-data models are estimated to capture regularity of key exercises.

Findings

The results reveal that about 50% of members do not participate in any general physical exercise. Older members (marginal effect (ME) = 3.764, p < 0.01), non-Buddhists (ME = 54.889, p < 0.01) and alcohol consumers (ME = 32.178, p < 0.05) exhibit a higher intensity of participating in exercises overall. The intensity is lower for rural members (ME = −63.807, p < 0.01) and those with health insurance covers (ME = −31.447, p < 0.05). Individuals diagnosed for chronic illnesses show a higher likelihood of exercising but, their time devotion is limited. The number of children the academic staff members have as parents reduces the likelihood, but for those who choose to exercise have higher time devotion with increased number of children. The covariates play a similar role in determining regularity of key exercises: walking, jogging and exercising on workout machines.

Research limitations/implications

The results imply a need to promote exercising in general and particularly among younger, healthy, insured and female individuals living in rural sector.

Originality/value

The study covers an under-researched professional sub-group in an under-researched developing context, examining both the likelihood and regularity of exercising as both dimensions are equally important for individuals to maintain healthy lives.
Multiple directorships and earnings quality: Does investor protection matter?
Authors: Abd Alhadi Saleh , Senik Rosmila , Johari Jalila , Said Ridzwana Mohd , Nahar Hairul Suhaimi
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether higher earnings quality is related to the existence of multiple directorships among corporate boards and whether this relationship varies with the quality of investor protection.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used a dynamic panel data modelling on the sample of 2,090 firm-year observations over the period from 2007 to 2016 in Malaysia. The generalized method of moments estimators were used to deal with endogeneity and other econometric problems.

Findings

This study finds that the accumulation of several outside directorships is negatively associated with the firm's earnings quality, as measured by the magnitude of discretionary accruals. More importantly, the findings provide evidence that multiple directors are more efficient in improving earnings quality in healthy investor protection environment.

Practical implications

The appointment of directors should be based on market-based and not on a relationship (i.e. financial and industry professionals).

Originality/value

The results highlight the importance of interaction between internal and external governance mechanisms to improve the firm's financial performance, investment and market efficiency. High-quality investor protection and law enforcement are significant for enhancing the monitoring role of multiple directorships in improving earnings quality.
Categorising green building features in developing countries: the case of South Africa
Authors: Owoha Faith , Simpeh Eric Kwame , Fapohunda Julius Ayodeji , Ahadzie Divine Kwaku , Mensah Henry
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the concept of green building by determining a suitable system for categorising green building features (GBFs) that are considered significant in enhancing the value of a building in a developing economy with particular reference to South Africa. The motivation for categorising the features is based on the perception that the upsurge in adopting green building and sustainability has ushered in a new and formidable set of challenges to practising professionals in terms of recognising the most significant value-adding GBFs.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative approach was adopted, involving randomly selected construction professionals within the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical analysis tools.

Findings

Based on the mean ranking analysis, the top three most important features, amongst others, were kitchen and water-closet (WC) water efficient fittings, megawatt photovoltaic solar plant and water metering for monitoring and leak detection. Additionally, an exploratory factor analysis revealed that the underlying grouped features were “recycled materials and high-performance building energy design”, “water-saving and solar technologies”, “biometric system and acoustical feature”, “sensor control and natural daylight design”, “daylight harnessing feature”, “high-performance hydrologic strategy and noise control feature” and “special utility feature and water efficiency technologies”.

Research limitations/implications

This study was conducted and limited only to the Western Cape Province of South Africa. However, the findings have practical significance to the generality of green building projects and may serve as a useful guide for other developing countries.

Originality/value

This study broadens the viewpoint of construction professionals to recognise and prioritise the most important GBFs in South Africa that increase the value of a building. To create a system for assessing the sustainability of a building, the seven components and the features associated with them may be useful.
The effect of concentration and silica surface modification on the poly(butyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate) properties
Authors: Buhin Šturlić Zrinka , Leskovac Mirela , Žižek Krunoslav , Lučić Blagojević Sanja
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to prepare stabile emulsions with 0–15% of colloidal silica and high monomer/water ratio and to investigate the influence of silica addition and surface modification on the polyacrylate properties.

Design/methodology/approach

Improving the properties of the composite can be achieved by optimizing the compatibility between the phases of the composite system with improving the interactions at the matrix/filler interface. Therefore, the silica surface was modified with nonionic emulsifier octylphenol ethoxylate, cationic initiator 2,2'-azobis-(amidinopropane dihydrochloride) and 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane and polyacrylate/silica nanocomposites were prepared via in situ emulsion polymerization. Particle size distribution, rheological properties of the emulsions and morphology, thermal properties and mechanical properties of the film prepared from the emulsions were investigated.

Findings

Polyacrylate/silica systems with unmodified silica, silica modified with nonionic emulsifier and cationic initiator have micrometer, while pure PA matrix and systems with silica modified with silane have nanometer particle sizes. Addition and surface modification of the filler increased emulsion viscosity. Agglomeration of silica particles in composites was reduced with silica surface modification. Silica filler improves thermal stability and tensile strength of polyacrylate.

Originality/value

This paper provides broad spectrum of information depending on filler surface modification and latex preparation via in situ emulsion polymerization and properties with high amount of filler and monomer/water ratio with the aim that prepared latex is suitable for film formation and final application.
Influence of fibre properties and its proportion on filtration behaviour of thermo-bonded multilayer nonwoven
Authors: Nallathambi Gobi
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of fibre properties on filtration behavior. Air pollution is a major threat to human beings due to industrialization and urbanization. Among various particles in the atmospheric air, PM 2.5 causes various respiratory problems to human beings and also causes premature engine wear. The primary importance for the filters is higher filtration efficiency with lower pressure drop.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, nonwoven filters were developed with different diameters of polyester fibres such as 0.8d, 1.2d and 6d fibres and different proportions of fibres were used. The Kuwabara cell model was used to derive certain parameters and its effects were analysed. The effect of basis length, solid volume fraction and porosity on filtration behavior was discussed in detail.

Findings

The filtration efficiency is higher for particle size from 1–3 µm, when different layers of polyester fibres are used with coarser fibres as the top layer and finer as the bottom layer. The filtration performance is better for layered nonwoven than unimodal nonwoven. The higher proportion of micro-denier fibres results in higher filtration efficiency with higher pressure drop.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed research is more suitable for the particle size of more than 1 µm because of the fibre diameters and its achievable porosity. The filtration efficiency can be increased further by increasing the mass per unit area, which also increases the pressure and is not recommended.

Originality/value

The effect of triple-layers with different diameters of fibres on filtration was analysed. Due to the variation in diameters of fibres in different layers, the filtration performance varies.
Improving the shape stability and enhancing the properties of layer dependent material extruded biodegradable polylactic acid for thin implants
Authors: Ekinci Alper , Han Xiaoxiao , Gleadall Andrew , Johnson Andrew Allan
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to establish an appropriate annealing method, which is necessary for shape stability and to evaluate their potential degradation performance of 1-, 3- and 5-layer material extruded polylactic-acid specimens by enhancing their thermal and mechanical properties.

Design/methodology/approach

The distortion of each layered printed specimen subjected to degradation was calculated in x- and y-direction. Each layered specimen was subjected to annealing at 70°C, 80°C and 90°C for 2 h and at 80°C for 1, 4, 8 and 16 h. Thermal, molecular weight and mechanical properties were calculated using, differential scanning calorimetry, gel permeation chromatography and tensile testing machine, respectively.

Findings

In the x-direction, distortion was 16.08 mm for one-layer non-annealed printed specimens and decreased by 73% and 83% for 3- and 5-layer, respectively, while each layered non-annealed specimen subjected to degradation at 37°C for one month. Within the outlined study, annealing treatment enhances properties such as the degree of crystallinity (%χ) up to 34%, Young’s modulus (E) by 30% and ultimate tensile strength by 20% compared to the non-annealed specimens.

Practical implications

The future research accomplishments will be concentrated on the design, development and optimisation of degraded biomedical implants using material extrusion thin films including drug delivery system and fixation plates.

Originality/value

The printed thin specimens subjected to degradation were investigated. This research developed a new understanding of the effect of the annealing temperature and time on the mechanical, thermal and molecular weight properties for each layered specimen.
Fatal systemic (paradoxical) air embolism diagnosed by postmortem funduscopy
Authors: Bradley Lucy M. , McDonald Anna G. , Lantz Patrick E.
Published: June 2021

Air embolism is often unrecognized and underreported. Published case reports or case series describe only rare fundal examinations of retinal air emboli (RAE)—a distinctive sign of systemic air embolism. We report an infant, found unresponsive at home, who died in the emergency department after unsuccessful resuscitative efforts. Before the autopsy, diagnostic RAE were recognized and imaged during postmortem funduscopy. Postmortem radiography and an autopsy confirmed systemic (paradoxical) air embolism due to inflicted abdominal and thoracic blunt force injuries. While a few descriptions and illustrations of RAE occur in case reports, we found no published photographic images of RAE in infants, children, or adults. This case report describes and photographically documents classic RAE associated with fatal systemic (paradoxical) air embolism. Complementing postmortem radiography and judicious autopsy techniques, the detection of RAE can aid pathologists in diagnosing systemic air embolism.
Neovascular age‐related macular degeneration at treatment intervals of 14 weeks or greater
Authors: Cornish Elisa E. , Nguyen Vuong , Young Stephanie , Fraser‐Bell Samantha , Guymer Robyn , Squirrell David , Barthelmes Daniel , Gillies Mark C.
Published: June 2021

Background

We assessed the proportion of eyes with neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD) in routine clinical practice that reach ≥14 week treatment intervals and their outcomes.

Method

We analysed data from the Fight Retinal Blindness! (FRB!) Project database, a prospectively designed registry of ‘real‐world’ outcomes. Treatment‐naive eyes starting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors for nAMD from 1st January 2006 were included. Eyes were defined to have reached the ≥14 week treatment interval if they received ≥2 consecutive injections at treatment intervals of ≥14 week but not exceeding 26 weeks. Outcomes were reported in a subgroup of eyes that had 12 months of follow‐up from reaching this interval.

Results

Of the 3907 treatment‐naïve eyes that started treatment during the identified periods on a treat‐and‐extend regimen and received at least 8 injections over the first 2 years, 402 (10%) eyes received at least 2 consecutive injections at an interval of ≥14 week during their follow‐up. Fifty‐two percent of these eyes maintained vision to 12 months, however only 40% stayed at this interval and 25% of the lesions reactivated.

Conclusion

We found that only 10% of eyes with nAMD were extended beyond a 13‐week injection interval and that over half had returned to a shorter interval by 12 months. Eyes that stayed at this extended treatment interval maintained stable vision. More data on the outcomes of eyes treated with intervals longer than 3 months are required to establish whether emerging VEGF inhibitors provide a more sustained effect than the currently available drugs.
Decoding location‐specific and location‐invariant stages of numerosity processing in subitizing
Authors: Wurm Moritz F. , Tagliabue Chiara F. , Mazza Veronica
Published: June 2021

Extracting the number of objects in perceived scenes is a fundamental cognitive ability. Number processing is proposed to rely on two consecutive stages: an early object location map that captures individuated objects in a location‐specific way and a subsequent location‐invariant representation that captures numerosity at an abstract level. However, it is unclear whether this framework applies to small numerosities that can be individuated at once (“subitized”). Here, we reanalyzed data from two electroencephalography (EEG) experiments using multivariate pattern decoding to identify location‐specific and location‐invariant stages of numerosity processing in the subitizing range. In these experiments, one to three targets were presented in the left or right hemifield, which allowed for decoding target numerosity within each hemifield separately (location specific) or across hemifields (location invariant). Experiment 1 indicated the presence of a location‐specific stage (180–200 ms after stimulus), followed by a location‐invariant stage (300 ms after stimulus). A time‐by‐channel searchlight analysis revealed that the early location‐specific stage is most evident at occipital channels, whereas the late location‐invariant stage is most evident at parietal channels. Experiment 2 showed that both location‐specific and location‐invariant components are engaged only during tasks that explicitly require numerosity processing, ruling out automatic, and passive recording of numerosity. These results suggest that numerosity coding in subitizing is strongly grounded on an attention‐based, location‐specific stage. This stage overlaps with the subsequent activation of a location‐invariant stage, where a full representation of numerosity is finalized. Taken together, our findings provide clear evidence for a temporal and spatial segregation of location‐specific and location‐invariant numerosity coding of small object numerosities.
Fine granular area formation by damage‐induced shear strain localization in very‐high‐cycle fatigue
Authors: Zhang Huan‐Jie , Yu Feng , Li Shu‐Xin , He En‐Guang
Published: June 2021

A new perspective of damage‐induced shear strain localization is proposed to elucidate the formation mechanism of fine granular area (FGA) generated in a high‐strength steel under very‐high‐cycle fatigue (VHCF). The development of local shear strain, effective resolved shear stress, and damage evolution at the vicinity of an inclusion has been predicted by crystal plasticity finite element method (CPFEM) coupled with damage at stress ratios of R = −1, 0.1, and 0.5. The microstructure of FGA is characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and transmission Kikuchi diffraction. The experimental results show that the FGA consists of high‐density dislocations, subgrains, and fine grains with high‐angle grain boundaries. The simulation results find that the negative local effective stress ratio is compulsory to FGA formation in VHCF. Finally, the tendency of decreasing FGA formation with increasing global stress ratio is explained, and the conventional FGA formation mechanism is extended.
Effect of different soaking and germination methods on bioactive compounds of germinated brown rice
Authors: Munarko Hadi , Sitanggang Azis Boing , Kusnandar Feri , Budijanto Slamet
Published: June 2021

Germination of brown rice can be completed by full soaking and partial soaking methods. This study aimed to analyse the influence of germination methods on the bioactive accumulations in germinated brown rice (GBR). Germination was conducted in four treatments: (i) membrane reactor with full (RFS) and (ii) partial soaking method soaking (RAG), (iii) manual soaking for complete germination (MFS) and (iv) partial manual soaking in combination with atmospheric germination (MAG). The results showed that soaking BR in membrane reactor accelerated the shoots' growth and increased GABA (γ‐aminobutyric acid) content compared with the manual soaking method. The RAG treatment achieved higher GABA content (up to 125 mg/100 g), total phenolic and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity than other germination methods. The main finding of this research indicates that membrane reactor effectively enhances the growth of sprouts. The combination of partial soaking in membrane reactor and atmospheric germination (RAG) is a suited method to increase GABA accumulation in GBR.
Expression and prognostic relevance of long noncoding RNAs CRNDE and AOX2P in adult acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Hola Mona A. M. , Ali Mohamed A. M. , ElNahass Yasser , Salem Tarek A. E. , Mohamed Mohamed R.
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Several long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to play a critical role in the tumorigenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and altered expression of certain lncRNAs has been recognized as a potential prognostic marker in AML patients. Here, we sought to determine whether the expression of the lncRNA colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) and aldehyde oxidase 2 pseudogene (AOX2P) is associated with clinicopathological features and clinical outcome of patients with AML.

Methods

CRNDE and AOX2P expression levels were measured in diagnostic blood samples from 200 adult patients with de novo AML, along with 50 healthy control blood samples, using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). The association of CRNDE and AOX2P expression with the clinicopathological characteristics and outcome of AML patients was analyzed.

Results

Upregulated CRNDE expression was independently associated with lower complete remission (CR) rates in the whole cohort of AML (P < .001). AOX2P overexpression was identified as an independent adverse prognostic marker for CR in the CN‐AML (P = .009) and non‐t (15;17) AML (P < .001) subgroups. Patients with high CRNDE expression had a significantly shorter event‐free survival (EFS, whole cohort of AML: P = .017; CN‐AML: P = .001; non‐t (15;17) AML: P = .006) and inferior overall survival (OS, whole cohort of AML: P = .002; t(15;17) AML: P = .001) than those with low CRNDE expression. EFS and OS did not differ significantly between patients with high AOX2P expression and those with low expression.

Conclusion

Aberrantly upregulated CRNDE expression and, to a lesser extent, AOX2P overexpression, are associated with poor prognosis in AML patients, suggesting that the determination of CRNDE and, perhaps, AOX2P, expression level at diagnosis provides valuable prognostic information, allows refinement of risk stratification, and helps clinical decision‐making in AML.
Exploring experiences of COVID‐19‐positive individuals from social media posts
Authors: Guo Jia‐Wen , Sisler Shawna M. , Wang Ching‐Yu , Wallace Andrea S.
Published: June 2021

Aims

This study aimed to explore the experience of individuals who claimed to be COVID‐19 positive via their Twitter feeds.

Background

Public social media data are valuable to understanding people's experiences of public health phenomena. To improve care to those with COVID‐19, this study explored themes from Twitter feeds, generated by individuals who self‐identified as COVID‐19 positive.

Design

This study utilized a descriptive design for text analysis for social media data.

Methods

This study analysed social media text retrieved by tweets of individuals in the United States who self‐reported being COVID‐19 positive and posted on Twitter in English between April 2, 2020, and April 24, 2020. In extracting embedded topics from tweets, we applied topic modelling approach based on latent Dirichlet allocation and visualized the results via LDAvis, a related web‐based interactive visualization tool.

Results

Three themes were mined from 721 eligible tweets: (i) recognizing the seriousness of the condition in COVID‐19 pandemic; (ii) having symptoms of being COVID‐19 positive; and (iii) sharing the journey of being COVID‐19 positive.

Conclusion

Leveraging the knowledge and context of study themes, we present experiences that may better reflect patient needs while experiencing COVID‐19. The findings offer more descriptive support for public health nursing and other translational public health efforts during a global pandemic.