bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Food insecurity, diet quality and body composition: data from the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) pilot survey in urban Soweto, South Africa
Authors: Kehoe Sarah H , Wrottesley Stephanie V , Ware Lisa , Prioreschi Alessandra , Draper Catherine , Ward Kate , Lye Stephen , Norris Shane A
Published: February 2021

Objective:

To determine whether food security, diet diversity and diet quality are associated with anthropometric measurements and body composition among women of reproductive age. The association between food security and anaemia prevalence was also tested.

Design:

Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative (HeLTI) study. Food security and dietary data were collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Hb levels were measured using a HemoCue, and anaemia was classified as an altitude-adjusted haemoglobin level < 12·5 g/dl. Body size and composition were assessed using anthropometry and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Setting:

The urban township of Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Participants:

Non-pregnant women aged 18–25 years (n 1534).

Results:

Almost half of the women were overweight or obese (44 %), and 9 % were underweight. Almost a third of women were anaemic (30 %). The prevalence rates of anaemia and food insecurity were similar across BMI categories. Food insecure women had the least diverse diets, and food security was negatively associated with diet quality (food security category v. diet quality score: B = –0·35, 95 % CI –0·70, –0·01, P = 0·049). Significant univariate associations were observed between food security and total lean mass. However, there were no associations between food security and body size or composition variables in multivariate models.

Conclusions:

Our data indicate that food security is an important determinant of diet quality in this urban-poor, highly transitioned setting. Interventions to improve maternal and child nutrition should recognise both food security and the food environment as critical elements within their developmental phases.
Dietary supplements in the USA: problematic trends
Authors: Denham Bryan E
Published: February 2021

More than 25 years have passed since the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 classified dietary supplements as a subcategory of food, thereby exempting manufacturers from providing premarket evidence of product safety and efficacy. In this commentary, I discuss problems in the supplement industry through an examination of cases introduced or decided in US federal courts between 2010 and 2019. More than half the cases located involved defendants charged with introducing misbranded food or drugs into interstate commerce. Contaminants included anabolic steroids, erectile dysfunction medications, weight-loss drugs, workout stimulants and mind-altering substances. As the article points out, raw powders obtained in bulk quantities facilitate the practice of ‘home brewing’ and the introduction of prescription drugs into dietary supplements.
Implementation science in nutrition: a summary and synthesis
Authors: Sarma Haribondhu
Published: February 2021

Objective:

This paper aimed to summarise and critically synthesise the key findings of the articles included in the supplement entitled ‘Nutrition Implementation Science: The Experience of a Large-Scale Home Fortification in Bangladesh’.

Design:

Commentary, summary and synthesis.

Settings:

Low- and middle-income country.

Results:

The supplement included six articles, including this summary paper. The second article presented an implementation science framework that facilitated conceptualising and evaluating the home-fortification programme in Bangladesh implemented by the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC). The framework encompasses five components: identifying an ‘effective’ intervention; scaling-up and implementation fidelity; course corrections during implementation and assessing the implementation’s effectiveness; promoting sustainability of interventions and consideration of a concurrent evaluation to identify ‘effective’ interventions and to assess the process and outcome indicators of implementation. The other four articles in this supplement addressed the different components of the framework. For example, the third article addressed the implementation fidelity of a home-fortification programme, and the fourth article described the use of concurrent evaluation to course correct the implementation plan that resulted in improved implementation fidelity. The fifth article explained the outcome of course correction in the programme coverage, and the sixth article described the cost-effectiveness of the BRAC home-fortification programme.

Conclusions:

Overall, the supplement provides a comprehensive understanding of nutrition implementation science, which is very new in the field. The lessons learned in this supplement may enhance the capacity of researchers, policymakers and key stakeholders in the nutrition field to scale up new nutrition interventions and sustain them until malnutrition is alleviated.
Designing online grocery stores to support healthy eating for weight loss
Authors: Harnack Lisa , Redden Joseph , French Simone , Sherwood Nancy E , Rivera Gabrielle , Valluri Sruthi , Tahir Muna
Published: February 2021

Objectives:

The current study aimed to identify features to include in online grocery stores to support healthful food purchasing by those striving to lose weight.

Design:

A Value Proposition Design approach was used to gain shopper insights, devise potential online grocery store features and obtain feedback on these features.

Setting:

Telephone interviews were conducted to gain insight into shoppers’ needs and perceptions. Results were used by the research team to identify potential online grocery shopping features that may support healthful purchase decisions, and interviews were conducted with a different sample of shoppers to gather feedback on features.

Participants:

Insight (n 25) and feedback (n 25) interviews were conducted with convenience samples of adults trying to lose weight.

Results:

Participants were primarily female, white, college educated and with obesity or overweight. Online grocery features devised by the research team based on findings from the insight interviews included (1) shopping cart nutrition rating tool; (2) healthy meal planning tool; (3) interactive healthy eating inspiration aisle and (4) healthy shopping preference settings option. Findings from the feedback interviews indicated that the healthy meal planning tool, healthy shopping preference settings option and shopping cart nutrition rating tool features were positively rated by most participants.

Conclusions:

There are multiple features grocers should consider including in their online stores to attract and support customers striving to eat healthy for weight loss.
The View from Six Years Atop the Masthead of JGR: Oceans
Authors: Brewer Peter
Published: February 2021

The outgoing editor in chief of JGR: Oceans reflects on his tenure and developments in ocean science research over recent years.
Exome-wide age-of-onset analysis reveals exonic variants in ERN1 and SPPL2C associated with Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: He Liang , Loika Yury , Park Yongjin ,   Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) consortium, Bennett David A. , Kellis Manolis , Kulminski Alexander M. ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: February 2021

Despite recent discoveries in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of genomic variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), its underlying biological mechanisms are still elusive. The discovery of novel AD-associated genetic variants, particularly in coding regions and from APOEε4 non-carriers, is critical for understanding the pathology of AD. In this study, we carried out an exome-wide association analysis of age-of-onset of AD with ~20,000 subjects and placed more emphasis on APOEε4 non-carriers. Using Cox mixed-effects models, we find that age-of-onset shows a stronger genetic signal than AD case-control status, capturing many known variants with stronger significance, and also revealing new variants. We identified two novel variants, rs56201815, a rare synonymous variant in ERN1, and rs12373123, a common missense variant in SPPL2C in the MAPT region in APOEε4 non-carriers. Besides, a rare missense variant rs144292455 in TACR3 showed the consistent direction of effect sizes across all studies with a suggestive significant level. In an attempt to unravel their regulatory and biological functions, we found that the minor allele of rs56201815 was associated with lower average FDG uptake across five brain regions in ADNI. Our eQTL analyses based on 6198 gene expression samples from ROSMAP and GTEx revealed that the minor allele of rs56201815 was potentially associated with elevated expression of ERN1, a key gene triggering unfolded protein response (UPR), in multiple brain regions, including the posterior cingulate cortex and nucleus accumbens. Our cell-type-specific eQTL analysis using ~80,000 single nuclei in the prefrontal cortex revealed that the protective minor allele of rs12373123 significantly increased the expression of GRN in microglia, and was associated with MAPT expression in astrocytes. These findings provide novel evidence supporting the hypothesis of the potential involvement of the UPR to ER stress in the pathological pathway of AD, and also give more insights into underlying regulatory mechanisms behind the pleiotropic effects of rs12373123 in multiple degenerative diseases including AD and Parkinson’s disease.
Neurosteroid allopregnanolone (3α,5α-THP) inhibits inflammatory signals induced by activated MyD88-dependent toll-like receptors
Authors: Balan Irina , Aurelian Laure , Schleicher Riana , Boero Giorgia , O’Buckley Todd , Morrow A. Leslie
Published: February 2021

We have shown that endogenous neurosteroids, including pregnenolone and 3α,5α-THP inhibit toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signal activation in mouse macrophages and the brain of alcohol-preferring (P) rat, which exhibits innate TLR4 signal activation. The current studies were designed to examine whether other activated TLR signals are similarly inhibited by 3α,5α-THP. We report that 3α,5α-THP inhibits selective agonist-mediated activation of TLR2 and TLR7, but not TLR3 signaling in the RAW246.7 macrophage cell line. The TLR4 and TLR7 signals are innately activated in the amygdala and NAc from P rat brains and inhibited by 3α,5α-THP. The TLR2 and TLR3 signals are not activated in P rat brain and they are not affected by 3α,5α-THP. Co-immunoprecipitation studies indicate that 3α,5α-THP inhibits the binding of MyD88 with TLR4 or TLR7 in P rat brain, but the levels of TLR4 co-precipitating with TRIF are not altered by 3α,5α-THP treatment. Collectively, the data indicate that 3α,5α-THP inhibits MyD88- but not TRIF-dependent TLR signal activation and the production of pro-inflammatory mediators through its ability to block TLR-MyD88 binding. These results have applicability to many conditions involving pro-inflammatory TLR activation of cytokines, chemokines, and interferons and support the use of 3α,5α-THP as a therapeutic for inflammatory disease.
Inhibition of intervertebral disc disease progression via the circPKNOX1–miR-370-3p–KIAA0355 axis
Authors: Huang Yizhen , Gao Jun , Wang Jianle , Ye Huali , Yao Teng , Xu Yining , Chen Zizheng , Shen Shuying , Ma Jianjun
Published: February 2021

The molecular mechanism underlying the development of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is not completely understood. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a significant role in the occurrence and development of various diseases, and studies have shown that circPKNOX1 is involved in the compensatory response of extracellular matrix synthesis and secretion of the nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. However, the mechanism through which circRNAs regulate IVDD progression remains unclear; therefore, in this study, we explored the significance of circPKNOX1 in IVDD. The expression of circRNAs in NP cells of normal and degenerative patients was detected using microarray analysis, and the role of circPKNOX1 in IVDD was confirmed using RT-qPCR. The interaction networks of circRNAs, miRNAs, and miRNA target genes were detected using bioinformatics analysis, RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization, and immunofluorescence analysis. We found that the expression of circPKNOX1 decreased in IVDD cells. The expression of circPKNOX1 in NP cells, observed using RT-qPCR and western blotting, was consistent with that observed using array screening. Overexpression of circPKNOX1 increased the expression of collagen II, aggrecan, and SOX9 and decreased that of ADAMTS4, ADAMTS-5, MMP3, and MMP13. We further demonstrated that circPKNOX1 played the role of a sponge by competitively binding miR-370-3p to reverse the inhibition of KIAA0355 expression. Our findings indicated that circPKNOX1 affected the progression of IVDD by regulating the expression of KIAA0355 via miR-370-3p. Therefore, circPKNOX1-based therapy may serve as an effective IVDD treatment strategy.
GRAding of functional and anatomical response to DExamethasone implant in patients with Diabetic Macular Edema: GRADE-DME Study
Authors: Rodríguez-Valdés Patricio J. , Rehak Matus , Zur Dinah , Sala-Puigdollers Anna , Fraser-Bell Samantha , Lupidi Marco , Chhablani Jay , Cebeci Zafer , Laíns Inês , Chaikitmongkol Voraporn , Fung Adrian T. , Okada Mali , Unterlauft Jan Darius , Smadar Lital , Loewenstein Anat , Iglicki Matias , Busch Catharina
Published: February 2021

To analyze functional and anatomical response patterns to dexamethasone (DEX) implant in diabetic macular edema (DME), to describe proportion of responders and non-responders, and to propose a new DME grading system. Retrospective, multicenter, observational cohort study. Naïve and non-naïve DME patients were treated with DEX, with visual acuity (VA) ≥ 0.2 logMAR and central subfield thickness (CST) of ≥ 300 µm. Functional and anatomical responses were graded after 2 and 4 months, and categorized as early and stable improvement, early and progressive improvement, pendular response, delayed improvement, and persistent non-response. 417 eyes were included (175 treatment naïve eyes). Compared to non-naïve eyes, naïve eyes showed a very good functional response (VA gain ≥ 10 letters) more frequently after 2 and 4 months (56% and 57% [naïve] vs. 33% and 28% [non-naïve], p < 0.001). A VA gain < 5 letters (non-response) after 2 and 4 months was seen in 18% and 16% of naïve eyes, and in 49% and 53% of non-naïve eyes (p < 0.001). A lack of anatomical response was rare in both groups, but more frequently in non-naïve eyes (12% vs. 4%, p = 0.003). Functionally and anatomically, naïve eyes showed most frequently an early and stable improvement (functionally: 77/175 44%; anatomically: 123/175 eyes, 70%). Most non-naïve eyes experienced no significant improvement functionally (97/242 eyes, 40%), despite a mostly early and stable improvement anatomical response pattern (102/242 eyes, 42%). Functional but not anatomical response patterns were influenced by baseline VA. Naïve and non-naïve eyes show different functional and anatomical response patterns to DEX implant. Functional non-responders are rare in naïve eyes, whereas anatomical non-response is unusual in both groups.
(E)-N-(2-(3, 5-Dimethoxystyryl) phenyl) furan-2-carboxamide (BK3C231) induces cytoprotection in CCD18-Co human colon fibroblast cells through Nrf2/ARE pathway activation
Authors: Tan Huan Huan , Thomas Noel Francis , Inayat-Hussain Salmaan Hussain , Chan Kok Meng
Published: February 2021

Cytoprotection involving the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway is an important preventive strategy for normal cells against carcinogenesis. In our previous study, the chemopreventive potential of (E)-N-(2-(3, 5-Dimethoxystyryl) phenyl) furan-2-carboxamide (BK3C231) has been elucidated through its cytoprotective effects against DNA and mitochondrial damages in the human colon fibroblast CCD-18Co cell model. Therefore this study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying BK3C231-induced cytoprotection and the involvement of the Nrf2/ARE pathway. The cells were pretreated with BK3C231 before exposure to carcinogen 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide (4NQO). BK3C231 increased the protein expression and activity of cytoprotective enzymes namely NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), as well as restoring the expression of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) back to the basal level. Furthermore, dissociation of Nrf2 from its inhibitory protein, Keap1, and ARE promoter activity were upregulated in cells pretreated with BK3C231. Taken together, our findings suggest that BK3C231 exerts cytoprotection by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway which leads to ARE-mediated upregulation of cytoprotective proteins. This study provides new mechanistic insights into BK3C231 chemopreventive activities and highlights the importance of stilbene derivatives upon development as a potential chemopreventive agent.
A plant plasma-membrane H+-ATPase promotes yeast TORC1 activation via its carboxy-terminal tail
Authors: Saliba Elie , Primo Cecilia , Guarini Nadia , André Bruno
Published: February 2021

The Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1) involved in coordination of cell growth and metabolism is highly conserved among eukaryotes. Yet the signals and mechanisms controlling its activity differ among taxa, according to their biological specificities. A common feature of fungal and plant cells, distinguishing them from animal cells, is that their plasma membrane contains a highly abundant H+-ATPase which establishes an electrochemical H+ gradient driving active nutrient transport. We have previously reported that in yeast, nutrient-uptake-coupled H+ influx elicits transient TORC1 activation and that the plasma-membrane H+-ATPase Pma1 plays an important role in this activation, involving more than just establishment of the H+ gradient. We show here that the PMA2 H+-ATPase from the plant Nicotiana plumbaginifolia can substitute for Pma1 in yeast, to promote H+-elicited TORC1 activation. This H+-ATPase is highly similar to Pma1 but has a longer carboxy-terminal tail binding 14–3–3 proteins. We report that a C-terminally truncated PMA2, which remains fully active, fails to promote H+-elicited TORC1 activation. Activation is also impaired when binding of PMA2 to 14–3–3 s is hindered. Our results show that at least some plant plasma-membrane H+-ATPases share with yeast Pma1 the ability to promote TORC1 activation in yeast upon H+-coupled nutrient uptake.
Exploratory analysis of immunization records highlights decreased SARS-CoV-2 rates in individuals with recent non-COVID-19 vaccinations
Authors: Pawlowski Colin , Puranik Arjun , Bandi Hari , Venkatakrishnan A. J. , Agarwal Vineet , Kennedy Richard , O’Horo John C. , Gores Gregory J. , Williams Amy W. , Halamka John , Badley Andrew D. , Soundararajan Venky
Published: February 2021

Clinical studies are ongoing to assess whether existing vaccines may afford protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection through trained immunity. In this exploratory study, we analyze immunization records from 137,037 individuals who received SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests. We find that polio, Haemophilus influenzae type-B (HIB), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), Varicella, pneumococcal conjugate (PCV13), Geriatric Flu, and hepatitis A/hepatitis B (HepA–HepB) vaccines administered in the past 1, 2, and 5 years are associated with decreased SARS-CoV-2 infection rates, even after adjusting for geographic SARS-CoV-2 incidence and testing rates, demographics, comorbidities, and number of other vaccinations. Furthermore, age, race/ethnicity, and blood group stratified analyses reveal significantly lower SARS-CoV-2 rate among black individuals who have taken the PCV13 vaccine, with relative risk of 0.45 at the 5 year time horizon (n: 653, 95% CI (0.32, 0.64), p-value: 6.9e−05). Overall, this study identifies existing approved vaccines which can be promising candidates for pre-clinical research and Randomized Clinical Trials towards combating COVID-19.
Postural adjustments impairments in elderly people with chronic low back pain
Authors: Garcez Daniela Rosa , da Silva Almeida Gizele Cristina , Silva Carlos Felipe Oliveira , de Souza Nascimento Tainá , de Athayde Costa e Silva Anselmo , Kleiner Ana Francisca Rozin , da Silva Souza Givago , Yamada Elizabeth Sumi , Callegari Bianca
Published: February 2021

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is associated with postural control impairments and is highly prevalent in elderly people. The objective of this study is to verify whether anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) and compensatory postural adjustments (CPAs) are affected by CLBP in elderly people by assessing their postural control during a self-initiated perturbation paradigm induced by rapid upper arm movement when pointing to a target. The participants’ lower limb muscle onset and center of pressure (COP) displacements were assessed prior to perturbation and throughout the entire movement. T0 moment (i.e., the beginning of the movement) was defined as the anterior deltoid (DEL) onset, and all parameters were calculated with respect to it. The rectus femoris (RT), semitendinosus (ST), and soleous (SOL) showed delayed onset in the CLBP group compared with the control group: RF (control: − 0.094 ± 0.017 s; CLBP: − 0.026 ± 0.012 s, t = 12, p < 0.0001); ST (control: − 0.093 ± 0.013 s; CLBP: − 0.018 ± 0.019 s, t = 12, p < 0.0001); and SOL (control: − 0.086 ± 0.018 s; CLBP: − 0.029 ± 0.015 s, t = 8.98, p < 0.0001). In addition, COP displacement was delayed in the CLBP group (control: − 0.035 ± 0.021 s; CLBP: − 0.015 ± 0.009 s, t = 3; p = 0.003) and presented a smaller amplitude during APA COPAPA [control: 0.444 cm (0.187; 0.648); CLBP: 0.228 cm (0.096; 0.310), U = 53, p = 0.012]. The CLBP group required a longer time to reach the maximum displacement after the perturbation (control: 0.211 ± 0.047 s; CLBP 0.296 ± 0.078 s, t = 3.582, p = 0.0013). This indicates that CLBP elderly patients have impairments to recover their postural control and less efficient anticipatory adjustments. Our results suggest that people with CLBP have altered feedforward hip and ankle muscle control, as shown from the SOL, ST, and RT muscle onset. This study is the first study in the field of aging that investigates the postural adjustments of an elderly population with CLBP. Clinical assessment of this population should consider postural stability as part of a rehabilitation program.
Faecal bacterial composition in horses with and without free faecal liquid: a case control study
Authors: Lindroth Katrin M. , Dicksved Johan , Pelve Erik , Båverud Viveca , Müller Cecilia E.
Published: February 2021

Free faecal liquid (FFL) is a condition in horses which manifests as differential defecation of solid and liquid phases of faeces. The etiology of FFL is currently unknown, but deviances in the hindgut microbiota has been suggested to be of importance. The present study aimed to compare the faecal bacterial composition of farm-matched horses with (case, n = 50) and without (control, n = 50) FFL. Samples were collected at three different occasions. The V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified and sequenced using Illumina sequencing. Also, samples were cultivated for detection ofClostridioides difficileandClostridium perfringens. Analysis revealed similar faecal bacterial composition between case and control horses, but an effect of sampling period (p = 0.0001). Within sampling periods, 14 genera were present in higher or lower proportions in case compared to control horses in at least one sampling period. Compared to controls, case horses had higher relative abundance ofAlloprevotella(adjusted p < 0.04) and lower relative abundance ofBacillusspp.(adjusted p < 0.03) in at least two sampling periods. All horses tested negative forC. difficileandC. perfringensby culture of faeces. Further studies are required to establish the clinical relevance of specific bacterial taxa in FFL.
Inhibition of casein kinase 1 δ/ε improves cognitive performance in adult C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Mahoney Heather , Peterson Emily , Justin Hannah , Gonzalez David , Cardona Christopher , Stevanovic Korey , Faulkner John , Yunus Amara , Portugues Alexandra , Henriksen Amy , Burns Camden , McNeill Cameron , Gamsby Joshua , Gulick Danielle
Published: February 2021

Time-of-day effects have been noted in a wide variety of cognitive behavioral tests, and perturbation of the circadian system, either at the level of the master clock in the SCN or downstream, impairs hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. A number of kinases, including the serine-threonine casein kinase 1 (CK1) isoforms CK1δ/ε, regulate the timing of the circadian period through post-translational modification of clock proteins. Modulation of these circadian kinases presents a novel treatment direction for cognitive deficits through circadian modulation. Here, we tested the potential for PF-670462, a small molecule inhibitor of CK1δ/ε, to improve cognitive performance in C57BL/6J mice in an array of behavioral tests. Compared to vehicle-treated mice tested at the same time of the circadian day, mice treated with PF-670462 displayed better recall of contextual fear conditioning, made fewer working memory errors in the radial arm water maze, and trained more efficiently in the Morris Water Maze. These benefits were accompanied by increased expression of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) in the amygdala in response to an acute learning paradigm. Our results suggest the potential utility of CK1δ/ε inhibition in improving time-of-day cognitive performance.
Chemokinesis-driven accumulation of active colloids in low-mobility regions of fuel gradients
Authors: Moran Jeffrey L. , Wheat Philip M. , Marine Nathan A. , Posner Jonathan D.
Published: February 2021

Many motile cells exhibit migratory behaviors, such as chemotaxis (motion up or down a chemical gradient) or chemokinesis (dependence of speed on chemical concentration), which enable them to carry out vital functions including immune response, egg fertilization, and predator evasion. These have inspired researchers to develop self-propelled colloidal analogues to biological microswimmers, known as active colloids, that perform similar feats. Here, we study the behavior of half-platinum half-gold (Pt/Au) self-propelled rods in antiparallel gradients of hydrogen peroxide fuel and salt, which tend to increase and decrease the rods’ speed, respectively. Brownian Dynamics simulations, a Fokker–Planck theoretical model, and experiments demonstrate that, at steady state, the rods accumulate in low-speed (salt-rich, peroxide-poor) regions not because of chemotaxis, but because of chemokinesis. Chemokinesis is distinct from chemotaxis in that no directional sensing or reorientation capabilities are required. The agreement between simulations, model, and experiments bolsters the role of chemokinesis in this system. This work suggests a novel strategy of exploiting chemokinesis to effect accumulation of motile colloids in desired areas.
A high-density electroencephalography study reveals abnormal sleep homeostasis in patients with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder
Authors: Valomon Amandine , Riedner Brady A. , Jones Stephanie G. , Nakamura Keith P. , Tononi Giulio , Plante David T. , Benca Ruth M. , Boly Melanie
Published: February 2021

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is characterized by disrupting motor enactments during REM sleep, but also cognitive impairments across several domains. In addition to REM sleep abnormalities, we hypothesized that RBD patients may also display EEG abnormalities during NREM sleep. We collected all-night recordings with 256-channel high-density EEG in nine RBD patients, predominantly early-onset medicated individuals, nine sex- and age- matched healthy controls, and nine additional controls with matched medications and comorbidities. Power spectra in delta to gamma frequency bands were compared during both REM and NREM sleep, between phasic and tonic REM sleep, and between the first versus last cycle of NREM sleep. Controls, but not RBD patients, displayed a decrease in beta power during phasic compared to tonic REM sleep. Compared to controls, RBD patients displayed a reduced decline in SWA from early to late NREM sleep. Overnight changes in the distribution of the amplitude of slow waves were also reduced in RBD patients. Without suppression of beta rhythms during phasic REM sleep, RBD patients might demonstrate heightened cortical arousal, favoring the emergence of behavioral episodes. A blunted difference between REM sleep sub-stages may constitute a sensitive biomarker for RBD. Moreover, reduced overnight decline in SWA suggests a reduced capacity for synaptic plasticity in RBD patients, which may favor progression towards neurodegenerative diseases.
First-principles insights into the electronic structure, optical and band alignment properties of earth-abundant Cu2SrSnS4 solar absorber
Authors: Dzade Nelson Y.
Published: February 2021

Cu2SrSnS4 (CSTS) is a promising alternative candidate to Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) for single- or multi-junction photovoltaics (PVs) owing to its efficient light-absorbing capability, earth-abundant, nontoxic constituents, and suitable defect properties. However, as a novel absorber material, several fundamental properties need to be characterized before further progress can be made in CSTS photovoltaics. In this letter, hybrid density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to comprehensively characterize for the first time, the electronic structure, band alignment, and optical properties of CSTS. It is demonstrated that CSTS possesses the ideal electronic structure (direct band gap of 1.98 eV and small photocarrier effective masses) and optical properties (high extinction coefficient and wide absorption) suitable for photovoltaic applications. Simulated X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) valence band spectra using variable excitation energies show that Cu-3d electronic state dominates the valence band maximum of CSTS. Furthermore, the vacuum-aligned band diagram between CSTS and other common absorbers (CZTS, CIGS, CdTe) and the common n-type partner materials (CdS, ZnO) was constructed, which indicate staggered type-II band alignment at the CSTS/CdS and CSTS/ZnO interfaces. Based on these results, interface band offset engineering and alternative device architectures are suggested to improve charge carrier separation and power conversion efficiencies of CSTS.
LRP1 mediates the IGF-1-induced GLUT1 expression on the cell surface and glucose uptake in Müller glial cells
Authors: Actis Dato Virginia , Sánchez María Cecilia , Chiabrando Gustavo Alberto
Published: February 2021

Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) is involved in the normal development and survival of retinal cells. Low-density lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein-1 (LRP1) plays a key role on the regulation of several membrane proteins, such as the IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R). In brain astrocytes, LRP1 interact with IGF-1R and the glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1), regulating the glucose uptake in these cells. Although GLUT1 is expressed in retinal Müller Glial Cells (MGCs), its regulation is not clear yet. Here, we investigated whether IGF-1 modulates GLUT1 traffic to plasma membrane (PM) and glucose uptake, as well as the involvement of LRP1 in this process in the human Müller glial-derived cell line (MIO-M1). We found that IGF-1 produced GLUT1 translocation to the PM, in a time-dependent manner involving the intracellular signaling activation of MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt pathways, and generated a significant glucose uptake. Moreover, we found a molecular association between LRP1 and GLUT1, which was significantly reduced by IGF-1. Finally, cells treated with specific siRNA for LRP1 showed an impaired GLUT1 expression on PM and decreased glucose uptake induced by IGF-1. We conclude that IGF-1 regulates glucose homeostasis in MGCs involving the expression of LRP1.
DNA traces the origin of honey by identifying plants, bacteria and fungi
Authors: Wirta Helena , Abrego Nerea , Miller Kirsten , Roslin Tomas , Vesterinen Eero
Published: February 2021

The regional origin of a food product commonly affects its value. To this, DNA-based identification of tissue remains could offer fine resolution. For honey, this would allow the usage of not only pollen but all plant tissue, and also that of microbes in the product, for discerning the origin. Here we examined how plant, bacterial and fungal taxa identified by DNA metabarcoding and metagenomics differentiate between honey samples from three neighbouring countries. To establish how the taxonomic contents of honey reflect the country of origin, we used joint species distribution modelling. At the lowest taxonomic level by metabarcoding, with operational taxonomic units, the country of origin explained the majority of variation in the data (70–79%), with plant and fungal gene regions providing the clearest distinction between countries. At the taxonomic level of genera, plants provided the most separation between countries with both metabarcoding and metagenomics. The DNA-based methods distinguish the countries more than the morphological pollen identification and the removal of pollen has only a minor effect on taxonomic recovery by DNA. As we find good resolution among honeys from regions with similar biota, DNA-based methods hold great promise for resolving honey origins among more different regions.
Cyclase-associated protein 2 (CAP2) controls MRTF-A localization and SRF activity in mouse embryonic fibroblasts
Authors: Kepser Lara-Jane , Khudayberdiev Sharof , Hinojosa Laura Soto , Macchi Chiara , Ruscica Massimiliano , Marcello Elena , Culmsee Carsten , Grosse Robert , Rust Marco B.
Published: February 2021

Recent studies identified cyclase-associated proteins (CAPs) as important regulators of actin dynamics that control assembly and disassembly of actin filaments (F-actin). While these studies significantly advanced our knowledge of their molecular functions, the physiological relevance of CAPs largely remained elusive. Gene targeting in mice implicated CAP2 in heart physiology and skeletal muscle development. Heart defects in CAP2 mutant mice were associated with altered activity of serum response factor (SRF), a transcription factor involved in multiple biological processes including heart function, but also skeletal muscle development. By exploiting mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from CAP2 mutant mice, we aimed at deciphering the CAP2-dependent mechanism relevant for SRF activity. Reporter assays and mRNA quantification by qPCR revealed reduced SRF-dependent gene expression in mutant MEFs. Reduced SRF activity in CAP2 mutant MEFs was associated with altered actin turnover, a shift in the actin equilibrium towards monomeric actin (G-actin) as well as and reduced nuclear levels of myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A), a transcriptional SRF coactivator that is shuttled out of the nucleus and, hence, inhibited upon G-actin binding. Moreover, pharmacological actin manipulation with jasplakinolide restored MRTF-A distribution in mutant MEFs. Our data are in line with a model in which CAP2 controls the MRTF-SRF pathway in an actin-dependent manner. While MRTF-A localization and SRF activity was impaired under basal conditions, serum stimulation induced nuclear MRTF-A translocation and SRF activity in mutant MEFs similar to controls. In summary, our data revealed that in MEFs CAP2 controls basal MRTF-A localization and SRF activity, while it was dispensable for serum-induced nuclear MRTF-A translocation and SRF stimulation.
Olanzapine induced reproductive toxicity in male rats
Authors: Ardıç Cankız Mina , Ilgın Sinem , Baysal Merve , Karaduman A. Burak , Kılıç Volkan , Aydoğan-Kılıç Gözde , Uçarcan Şeyda , Atlı-Eklioğlu Özlem
Published: February 2021

Although it is reported that olanzapine (OLZ), which is an atypical antipsychotic drug, causes sexual dysfunction in men, it is noteworthy that there is not any study evaluating the toxic effects of OLZ on the male reproductive system. In the scope of this research, it was aimed to assess the reproductive toxic effects of OLZ by oral administration of 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg of it to male rats for 28 days. For this purpose, sperm concentration, motility and morphology, and DNA damage were determined, and histopathological examination of testis tissue was carried out in rats. Also, the levels of serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone, which play roles in the regulation of reproductive functions, and the levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) which play roles in reproductive pathologies as oxidative stress biomarkers, were determined. According to the results, normal sperm morphology was decreased in 5 ve 10 mg/kg OLZ-administered groups, and pathological findings were evident in the testicular structure of the OLZ-administered group when compared with the control group. It was determined that serum LH, FSH, and testosterone levels were decreased in the OLZ-administered group. Also, decreases of GSH levels in testis tissue were determined and evaluated as the markers of the oxidative stress induced by OLZ in the testis. In conclusion, it was determined that reproductive toxic effects were induced in rats by OLZ administration. This pathology was accompanied by alterations of the hormone levels and testicular oxidative stress.
Donepezil for mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Baik Kyoungwon , Kim Seon Myeong , Jung Jin Ho , Lee Yang Hyun , Chung Seok Jong , Yoo Han Soo , Ye Byoung Seok , Lee Phil Hyu , Sohn Young H. , Kang Seung Wan , Kang Suk Yun
Published: February 2021

We investigated the efficacy of donepezil for mild cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD-MCI). This was a prospective, non-randomized, open-label, two-arm study. Eighty PD-MCI patients were assigned to either a treatment or control group. The treatment group received donepezil for 48 weeks. The primary outcome measures were the Korean version of Mini-Mental State Exam and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores. Secondary outcome measures were the Clinical Dementia Rating, Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III, Clinical Global Impression scores. Progression of dementia was assessed at 48-week. Comprehensive neuropsychological tests and electroencephalography (EEG) were performed at baseline and after 48 weeks. The spectral power ratio of the theta to beta2 band (TB2R) in the electroencephalogram was analyzed. There was no significant difference in the primary and secondary outcome measures between the two groups. However, the treatment group showed a significant decrease in TB2R at bilateral frontotemporoparietal channels compared to the control group. Although we could not demonstrate improvements in the cognitive functions, donepezil treatment had a modulatory effect on the EEG in PD-MCI patients. EEG might be a sensitive biomarker for detecting changes in PD-MCI after donepezil treatment.
Statistical parametric mapping of three-dimensional local activity distribution of skeletal muscle using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Authors: Yamaguchi Satoshi , Watanabe Makoto , Hattori Yoshinori
Published: February 2021

Analysis of the internal local activity distribution in human skeletal muscles is important for managing muscle fatigue/pain and dysfunction. However, no method is established for three-dimensional (3D) statistical analysis of features of activity regions common to multiple subjects during voluntary motor tasks. We investigated the characteristics of muscle activity distribution from the data of ten healthy subjects (29 ± 1 year old, 2 women) during voluntary teeth clenching under two different occlusal conditions by applying spatial normalization and statistical parametric mapping (SPM) to analysis of muscle functional magnetic resonance imaging (mfMRI) using increase in transverse relaxation time (T2) of the skeletal muscle induced by exercise. The expansion of areas with significant T2 increase was observed in the masticatory muscles after clenching with molar loss comparing with intact dentition. The muscle activity distribution characteristics common to a group of subjects, i.e., the active region in the temporal muscle ipsilateral to the side with the molar loss and medial pterygoid muscle contralateral to the side with the molar loss, were clarified in 3D by applying spatial normalization and SPM to mfMRI analysis. This method might elucidate the functional distribution within the muscles and the localized muscular activity related to skeletal muscle disorders.
Irreversibility minimization analysis of ferromagnetic Oldroyd-B nanofluid flow under the influence of a magnetic dipole
Authors: Ramzan Muhammad , Howari Fares , Chung Jae Dong , Kadry Seifedine , Chu Yu-Ming
Published: February 2021

Studies highlighting nanoparticles suspensions and flow attributes in the context of their application are the subject of current research. In particular, the utilization of these materials in biomedical rheological models has gained great attention. Magneto nanoparticles have a decisive role in the ferrofluid flows to regulate their viscoelastic physiognomies. Having such substantial interest in the flow of ferrofluids our objective is to elaborate the melting heat transfer impact in a stretched Oldroyd-B flow owing to a magnetic dipole in the presence of entropy generation optimization. Buongiorno nanofluid model expounding thermophoretic and Brownian features are considered. Moreover, activation energy with chemical reaction is also considered. The Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model is affianced instead of conventional Fourier law. The renowned bvp4c function of MATLAB is utilized to handle the nonlinearity of the system. Impacts of miscellaneous parameters are portrayed through graphical fallouts and numeric statistics. Results divulge that the velocity and temperature profiles show the opposite trend for growing estimates of the ferromagnetic parameter. It is also noticed that the temperature ratio parameter diminishes the entropy profile. Moreover, it is seen that the concentration profile displays a dwindling trend for the Brownian motion parameter and the opposite trend is witnessed for the thermophoretic parameter.
Controlling wave fronts with tunable disordered non-Hermitian multilayers
Authors: Novitsky Denis V. , Lyakhov Dmitry , Michels Dominik , Redka Dmitrii , Pavlov Alexander A. , Shalin Alexander S.
Published: February 2021

Unique and flexible properties of non-Hermitian photonic systems attract ever-increasing attention via delivering a whole bunch of novel optical effects and allowing for efficient tuning light-matter interactions on nano- and microscales. Together with an increasing demand for the fast and spatially compact methods of light governing, this peculiar approach paves a broad avenue to novel optical applications. Here, unifying the approaches of disordered metamaterials and non-Hermitian photonics, we propose a conceptually new and simple architecture driven by disordered loss-gain multilayers and, therefore, providing a powerful tool to control both the passage time and the wave-front shape of incident light with different switching times. For the first time we show the possibility to switch on and off kink formation by changing the level of disorder in the case of adiabatically raising wave fronts. At the same time, we deliver flexible tuning of the output intensity by using the nonlinear effect of loss and gain saturation. Since the disorder strength in our system can be conveniently controlled with the power of the external pump, our approach can be considered as a basis for different active photonic devices.
The morphologic correlation between vortex transformation and upper critical field line in opal-based nanocomposites
Authors: Lee M. K. , Charnaya E. V. , Mühlbauer S. , Jeng U. , Chang L. J. , Kumzerov Yu. A.
Published: February 2021

In this study, we investigate metallic nanocomposites to elucidate the properties of nanostructured conventional superconductors. Liquid tin, indium, and mercury are loaded into opal matrices by high pressure up to 10 kbar. The opal templates preserve the 3D dendritic morphology of confined superconducting metals to model a dendritic second phase with particular grain shape in bulk superconductors observed by a DualBeam microscope. We carry out measurements of the dc and ac magnetizations to study the superconducting phase diagrams, vortex dynamics, and impact of grain morphology in the opal composites. Besides, we apply the small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) to deny a regular vortex structure. The phase diagrams reveal an enhanced upper critical field Hc2(0) and curvature crossover in the upper critical field line. We also calculate the vortex activation barriers Ua and observe a transformation in the vortex system. According to the field dependence of Ua, the vortex structure transformation highly correlates with the curvature crossover in the upper critical field line. Our observations suggest that the similarity in the normalized phase diagrams and field dependences of Ua in the three nanocomposites is owing to their particular morphology of confinement.
The role of gut microbiota and amino metabolism in the effects of improvement of islet β-cell function after modified jejunoileal bypass
Authors: Tan Cai , Zheng Zhihua , Wan Xiaogang , Cao Jiaqing , Wei Ran , Duan Jinyuan
Published: February 2021

The change in gut microbiota is an important mechanism of the amelioration of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after bariatric surgery. Here, we observe that the modified jejunoileal bypass effectively decreases body weight gain, fasting blood glucose, and lipids level in serum; additionally, islet β-cell function, glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance were markedly ameliorated. The hypoglycemic effect and the improvement in islet β-cell function depend on the changes in gut microbiota structure. modified jejunoileal bypass increases the abundance of gut Escherichia coli and Ruminococcus gnavus and the levels of serum glycine, histidine, and glutamine in T2DM rats; and decreases the abundance of Prevotella copri and the levels of serum branched chain amino acids, which are significantly related to the improvement of islet β-cell function in T2DM rats. Our results suggest that amino acid metabolism may contribute to the islet β-cell function in T2DM rats after modified jejunoileal bypass and that improving gut microbiota composition is a potential therapeutic strategy for T2DM.
Inter-limb weight transfer strategy during walking after unilateral transfemoral amputation
Authors: Amma Ryo , Hisano Genki , Murata Hiroto , Major Matthew J. , Takemura Hiroshi , Hobara Hiroaki
Published: February 2021

Although weight transfer is an important component of gait rehabilitation, the biomechanical strategy underlying the vertical ground reaction force loading/unloading in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation between intact and prosthetic limbs remains unclear. We investigated weight transfer between limbs at different walking speeds in 15 individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation and 15 individuals without amputation as controls, who walked on an instrumented treadmill. The normalized unloading and loading rates were calculated as the slope of decay and rise phase of the vertical ground reaction force, respectively. We performed linear regression analyses for trailing limb’s unloading rate and leading limb’s loading rate between the prosthetic, intact, and control limbs. While loading rate increased with walking speed in all three limbs, the greatest increase was observed in the intact limb. In contrast to the other limbs, the prosthetic limb unloading rate was relatively insensitive to speed changes. Consequently, the regression line between trailing prosthetic and leading intact limbs deviated from other relationships. These results suggest that weight transfer is varied whether the leading or trailing limb is the prosthetic or intact side, and the loading rate of the leading limb is partially affected by the unloading rate of the contralateral trailing limb.