bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Music on Outcomes of Birth Asphyxia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Konar Mithun Chandra , Islam Kamirul , Sil Archan , Nayek Kaustav , Barik Kanailal
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Birth asphyxia may cause neuro-developmental impairment in the affected newborns especially those who had hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy. Music therapy has been observed to help in reducing pain and stress in newborns and improve neurodevelopmental outcome.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to determine the effects of music therapy on the outcomes of birth asphyxia.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial involving 3095 newborns born between January 2013 and August 2019 with birth asphyxia was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit of Burdwan Medical College. They were distributed in two groups—A (received music therapy along with coventional management) and B (only received conventional management), using computer-generated randomization. Pain score was assessed during any painful procedure and the neurodevelopmental outcome was measured at 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th months. p < 0.01 was considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 3095 newborns were included with a mean gestation of 34.3 ± 2.1 weeks and 56.7% of them were male. Mean hospital stay, oxygen dependency, requirement of mechanical ventilation and incidence of apnea were significantly lesser among newborns of group A. Newborns of group B showed a significantly higher mean pain score, whereas newborns in Group A exhibited significantly greater mental and motor neurodevelopmental quotients.

Conclusions

Music therapy was observed to help in reducing hospital stay, oxygen dependency, incidences of apnea, pain during procedures and also resulted in better neurodevelopmental outcome. However, before generalizing the findings, further multi-centric research should be undertaken.
Foot Length for Gestational Age Assessment and Identification of High-Risk Infants: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Tergestina Mintoo , Chandran Shanu , Kumar Manish , Rebekah Grace , Ross Benjamin J
Published: February 2021

The knowledge of the gestational age of the newborn is essential for management. In the absence of a dating scan, the postnatal assessment scores have drawbacks of being difficult to learn and administer in the community. The measurement of the foot length is easy, reproducible and offers an objective assessment. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation of postnatal (<48 h) foot length measurement (with calipers) with gestational age as determined by antenatal dating ultrasound, create a predictive model for the same and propose foot length measurement cutoffs for <37 and <34 weeks of gestation. Secondary objectives were to assess the correlation between foot length as measured with calipers and that measured with a ruler and a paper footprint. This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Among the 520 babies assessed, the correlation of foot length with gestational age was 0.89. Operational cutoffs for the categories of <37 and <34 weeks at a sensitivity of 95% were <70 and <65 mm, respectively. The Pearson’s correlation between foot length as measured by caliper and ruler was 0.95 and between caliper and paper footprint was 0.87. This study correlating foot length and gestational age has the potential to help neonatal care providers make informed management decisions, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Rethinking neglected tropical disease prevalence survey design and analysis: a geospatial paradigm
Authors: Diggle Peter J , Amoah Benjamin , Fronterre Claudio , Giorgi Emanuele , Johnson Olatunji
Published: February 2021

Current methods for the design and analysis of neglected tropical disease prevalence surveys largely rely on classical survey sampling ideas that treat prevalence data from different locations as an independent random sample from the probability distribution induced by a random sampling design. We set out an alternative, explicitly geospatial paradigm that can deliver much more precise estimates of the geospatial variation in prevalence over a country or region of interest. We describe the advantages of this approach under three headings: streamlining, whereby more precise results can be obtained with smaller sample sizes; integrating, whereby a joint analysis of data from two or more diseases can bring further gains in precision; and adapting, whereby the choice of future sampling location is informed by past data.
Nursing practice environment and care quality in nursing homes
Authors: White Elizabeth , Woodford Erin , Britton Julie , Newberry Lynn W. , Pabico Christine
Published: February 2021

A case study of the Pathway to Excellence in Long-Term Care® model
What Medical Conditions Limit or Medically Disqualify Truck Drivers
Authors: Thiese Matthew S. , Moffitt Gary , Hanowski Richard J. , Kales Stefanos N. , Porter Richard J. , Hartenbaum Natalie , Hegmann Kurt T.
Published: February 2021

Commercial Motor Vehicle drivers must be medically certified to obtain/maintain a commercial driver license. 88,246 exams from 2005 to 2012 were analyzed for relationships between health and certification length. Relationships were quantified using adjusted odds ratios (ORs). Most conditions and/or examination findings had statically significantly limited medical certification. Obesity > 35 kg/m2, hypertension and diabetes mellitus requiring medication were most common. Significant and meaningful relationships were found for opioid or benzodiazepine use (OR = 7.30), heart disease (OR = 5.19), musculoskeletal conditions (OR = 5.13), seizures (10.18), stroke (OR = 6.73), neurological (OR = 18.51) and vascular (OR = 11.83). Drivers with 2 or more of 13 medical conditions were statistically significantly more likely to have limited medical certification (OR = 122.35) or disqualification (OR = 4.91). Drivers with any condition are more likely to have limited medical certification. There is variability in medical certification lengths related to medical conditions and differences between examiners.
Phylogeny of Salmonella enterica subspecies arizonae by whole-genome sequencing reveals high incidence of polyphyly and low phase 1 H antigen variability
Authors: Shariat Nikki W. , Timme Ruth E. , Walters Abigail T.
Published: February 2021

Salmonella enterica

subspecies

arizonae

is frequently associated with animal reservoirs, particularly reptiles, and can cause illness in some mammals, including humans. Using whole-genome sequencing data, core genome phylogenetic analyses were performed using 112 

S

.

enterica

subsp.

arizonae

isolates, representing 46 of 102 described serovars. Nearly one-third of these are polyphyletic, including two serovars that appear in four and five distinct evolutionary lineages. Subspecies arizonae has a monophasic H antigen. Among the 46 serovars investigated, only 8 phase 1 H antigens were identified, demonstrating high conservation for this antigen. Prophages and plasmids were found throughout this subspecies, including five novel prophages. Polyphyly was also reflected in prophage content, although some clade-specific enrichment for some phages was observed. IncFII(S) was the most frequent plasmid replicon identified and was found in a quarter of

S. enterica

subsp.

arizonae

genomes.

Salmonella

pathogenicity islands (SPIs) 1 and 2 are present across all

Salmonella

, including this subspecies, although effectors sipA, sptP and arvA in SPI-1 and sseG and ssaI in SPI-2 appear to be lost in this lineage. SPI-20, encoding a type VI secretion system, is exclusive to this subspecies and is well maintained in all genomes sampled. A number of fimbral operons were identified, including the sas operon that appears to be a synapomorphy for this subspecies, while others exhibited more clade-specific patterns. This work reveals evolutionary patterns in

S. enterica

subsp.

arizonae

that make this subspecies a unique lineage within this very diverse species.
PBP4 and PBP5 are involved in regulating exopolysaccharide synthesis during Escherichia coli biofilm formation
Authors: Mallick Sathi , Kiran Shanti , Maiti Tapas Kumar , Ghosh Anindya S.
Published: February 2021

Escherichia coli

low-molecular-mass (LMM) Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) help in hydrolysing the peptidoglycan fragments from their cell wall and recycling them back into the growing peptidoglycan matrix, in addition to their reported involvement in biofilm formation. Biofilms are external slime layers of extra-polymeric substances that sessile bacterial cells secrete to form a habitable niche for themselves. Here, we hypothesize the involvement of

Escherichia coli

LMM PBPs in regulating the nature of exopolysaccharides (EPS) prevailing in its extra-polymeric substances during biofilm formation. Therefore, this study includes the assessment of physiological characteristics of

E. coli

CS109 LMM PBP deletion mutants to address biofilm formation abilities, viability and surface adhesion. Finally, EPS from parent CS109 and its ΔPBP4 and ΔPBP5 mutants were purified and analysed for sugars present. Deletions of LMM PBP reduced biofilm formation, bacterial adhesion and their viability in biofilms. Deletions also diminished EPS production by ΔPBP4 and ΔPBP5 mutants, purification of which suggested an increased overall negative charge compared with their parent. Also, EPS analyses from both mutants revealed the appearance of an unusual sugar, xylose, that was absent in CS109. Accordingly, the reason for reduced biofilm formation in LMM PBP mutants may be speculated as the subsequent production of xylitol and a hindrance in the standard flow of the pentose phosphate pathway.
The Oregon Child Absenteeism Due to Respiratory Disease Study (ORCHARDS): Rationale, Objectives, and Design
Authors: Temte Jonathan L. , Barlow Shari , Goss Maureen , Temte Emily , Schemmel Amber , Maerz Bradley , Bell Cristalyne , Comp Lily , Arnold Mitchell , Breunig Kimberly , Clifford Sarah , Reisdorf Erik , Shult Peter , Wedig Mary , Haupt Thomas , Conway James , Gangnon Ronald , Fowlkes Ashley , Uzicanin Amra
Published: February 2021

Background

Influenza viruses pose significant disease burdens through annual seasonal outbreaks and unpredictable pandemics. Existing influenza surveillance programs have relied heavily on reporting of medically attended influenza (MAI). Continuously monitoring cause-specific school absenteeism may identify local acceleration of seasonal influenza activity. The Oregon Child Absenteeism Due to Respiratory Disease Study (ORCHARDS; Oregon, WI) implements daily school-based monitoring of influenza-like illness–specific student absenteeism (a-ILI) in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 schools and assesses this approach for early detection of accelerated influenza and other respiratory pathogen transmission in schools and surrounding communities.

Methods

Starting in September 2014, ORCHARDS combined automated reporting of daily absenteeism within 6 schools and home visits to school children with acute respiratory infections (ARI). Demographic, epidemiological, and symptom data are collected along with respiratory specimens. Specimens are tested for influenza and other respiratory viruses. Household members can opt into a supplementary household transmission study. Community comparisons are possible using a pre-existing, long-standing, and highly effective influenza surveillance program, based on MAI at 5 primary care clinics in the same geographical area.

Results

Over the first 5 years, a-ILI occurred on 6,634 (0.20%) of 3,260,461 student school days. Viral pathogens were detected in 64.5% of the 1,728 children with ARI who received a home visit. Influenza was the most commonly detected virus, noted in 23.3% of ill students. Influenza (p<0.001) and adenovirus (P=0.004) were significantly associated with a-ILI.

Conclusion

ORCHARDS uses a community-based design to detect influenza trends over multiple seasons and to evaluate the utility of absenteeism for early detection of accelerated influenza and other respiratory pathogen transmission in schools and surrounding communities. Initial findings suggest the study design is succeeding in collecting appropriate data to achieve study objectives.
Glutamate levels across deep brain structures in patients with a psychotic disorder and its relation with cognitive functioning
Authors: Broeders Tommy A.A. , Bhogal Alex A. , Morsinkhof Lisan M. , Schoonheim Menno M. , Röder Christian H. , Edens Mirte , Klomp Dennis W.J. , Wijnen Jannie P. , Vinkers Christiaan H.
Published: February 2021

Patients with psychotic disorders often show prominent cognitive impairment. Glutamate seems to play a prominent role, but knowledge on its role in deep gray matter regions is limited and previous studies have yielded heterogeneous results. The aim was to evaluate glutamate levels within deep gray matter structures in patients with a psychotic disorder in relation to cognitive functioning, using advanced spectroscopic acquisition, reconstruction and post-processing techniques. A 7 tesla MRI scanner combined with a unique lipid suppression coil and subject specific water signal suppression pulses were used to acquire high-resolution magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging data. Anatomical scans were used to perform tissue fraction correction and registration to a standard brain for group comparison in specifically delineated brain regions. The brief assessment of cognition in schizophrenia was used to evaluate cognitive status. Average glutamate levels across deep gray matter structures (i.e. caudate, pallidum, putamen, and thalamus) in patients with a psychotic disorder (n=16, 4 females) were lower compared to healthy controls (n=23, 7 females). Stratified analyses showed lower glutamate levels in the caudate and putamen but not in the pallidum or thalamus. Average glutamate levels across deep gray matter structures were positively correlated with cognition, particularly to psychomotor speed. We find reduced glutamate levels across deep brain structures such as the caudate and putamen in patients with a psychotic disorder that are linked to psychomotor speed. Our results underscore the potential role of detailed in vivo glutamate assessments to understand cognitive deficits in patients with psychotic disorders.
Neurofilament light protein as a blood biomarker for Huntington’s disease in children
Authors: Byrne Lauren M , Schultz Jordan L , Rodrigues Filipe B , van der Plas Ellen , Langbehn Douglas , Nopoulos Peg , Wild Edward J
Published: February 2021

Juvenile-onset Huntington’s disease (JoHD) is a rare, particularly devastating form of Huntington’s Disease (HD) for which clinical diagnosis is challenging and robust outcome measures are lacking. Neurofilament light protein (NfL) in plasma has emerged as a prognostic biomarker for adult-onset HD. We report that plasma NfL is elevated in JoHD and premanifest HD mutation-carrying children. Quantifying plasma NfL may improve clinical diagnosis and therapeutic trial design in the pediatric population.
Living with relatives offsets the harm caused by pathogens in natural populations
Authors: Bensch Hanna M. , O’Connor Emily , Cornwallis Charlie K.
Published: February 2021

Living with relatives can be highly beneficial, enhancing reproduction and survival. However, high relatedness can increase susceptibility to pathogens, a phenomenon known as the ‘monoculture effect’. Here we examine if the benefits of living with relatives offsets the harm caused by pathogens, and if this depends if species typically live with kin. Using comparative meta-analysis across plants, animals and bacteria (nspecies= 56), we show that high within-group relatedness increases mortality when pathogens are present. Contrastingly, mortality decreased with relatedness when pathogens were rare, particularly in species that live with kin. Variation in pathogen abundances was lower across groups of relatives, but rates of mortality were more unpredictable. The effects of within-group relatedness were only evident when pathogens were manipulated, suggesting that the harm caused by pathogens is masked by the benefits of living with relatives. These results highlight the importance of kin selection for understanding disease spread in natural populations.
CDK4/6 inhibitors induce replication stress to cause long-term cell cycle withdrawal
Authors: Crozier Lisa , Foy Reece , Mouery Brandon L. , Whitaker Robert H. , Corno Andrea , Spanos Christos , Ly Tony , Cook Jeanette Gowen , Saurin Adrian T.
Published: February 2021

Abstract

CDK4/6 inhibitors arrest the cell cycle in G1-phase. They are approved to treat breast cancer and are also undergoing clinical trials against a range of other tumour types. To facilitate these efforts, it is important to understand why a cytostatic arrest in G1 causes long-lasting effects on tumour growth. Here we demonstrate that a prolonged G1-arrest following CDK4/6 inhibition downregulates replisome components and impairs origin licencing. This causes a failure in DNA replication after release from that arrest, resulting in a p53-dependent withdrawal from the cell cycle. If p53 is absent, then cells bypass the G2-checkpoint and undergo a catastrophic mitosis resulting in excessive DNA damage. These data therefore link CDK4/6 inhibition to genotoxic stress; a phenotype that is shared by most other broad-spectrum anti-cancer drugs. This provides a rationale to predict responsive tumour types and effective combination therapies, as demonstrated by the fact that CDK4/6 inhibition induces sensitivity to chemotherapeutics that also cause replication stress.
Plant pathogens convergently evolved to counteract redundant nodes of an NLR immune receptor network
Authors: Derevnina Lida , Contreras Mauricio P. , Adachi Hiroaki , Upson Jessica , Cruces Angel Vergara , Xie Rongrong , Sklenar Jan , Menke Frank L.H. , Mugford Sam T. , MacLean Dan , Ma Wenbo , Hogenhout Saskia , Goverse Aska , Maqbool Abbas , Wu Chih-Hang , Kamoun Sophien
Published: February 2021

In plants, NLR (nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing) proteins can form receptor networks to confer hypersensitive cell death and innate immunity. One class of NLRs, known as NRCs (NLR required for cell death), are central nodes in a complex network that protects against multiple pathogens and comprises up to half of the NLRome of solanaceous plants. Given the prevalence of this NLR network, we hypothesized that pathogens convergently evolved to secrete effectors that target NRC activities. To test this, we screened a library of 167 bacterial, oomycete, nematode and aphid effectors for their capacity to suppress the cell death response triggered by the NRC-dependent disease resistance proteins Prf and Rpi-blb2. Among five of the identified suppressors, one cyst nematode protein and one oomycete protein suppress the activity of autoimmune mutants of NRC2 and NRC3, but not NRC4, indicating that they specifically counteract a subset of NRC proteins independently of their sensor NLR partners. Whereas the cyst nematode effector SPRYSEC15 binds the nucleotide-binding domain of NRC2 and NRC3, the oomycete effector AVRcap1b suppresses the response of these NRCs via the membrane trafficking-associated protein NbTOL9a (Target of Myb 1-like protein 9a). We conclude that plant pathogens have evolved to counteract central nodes of the NRC immune receptor network through different mechanisms. Coevolution with pathogen effectors may have driven NRC diversification into functionally redundant nodes in a massively expanded NLR network.
High-throughput selection of microalgae based on biomass accumulation rates in production environments using PicoShell Particles
Authors: van Zee Mark , de Rutte Joseph , Rumyan Rose , Williamson Cayden , Burnes Trevor , Radakovits Randor , Eugenio Andrew Sonico , Badih Sara , Lee Dong-Hyun , Archang Maani , Di Carlo Dino
Published: February 2021

Production of high-energy lipids by microalgae may provide a sustainable, renewable energy source that can help tackle climate change. However, microalgae engineered to produce more lipids usually grow slowly, leading to reduced overall yields. Unfortunately, tools that enable the selection of cells based on growth while maintaining high biomass production, such as well-plates, water-in-oil droplet emulsions, and nanowell arrays do not provide production-relevant environments that cells experience in scaled-up cultures (e.g. bioreactors or outdoor cultivation farms). As a result, strains that are developed in the lab often do not exhibit the same beneficial phenotypic behavior when transferred to industrial production. Here we introduce PicoShells, picoliter-scale porous hydrogel compartments, that can enable >100,000 individual cells to be compartmentalized, cultured in production-relevant environments, and selected based on growth and biomass accumulation traits using standard flow cytometers. PicoShells consist of a hollow inner cavity where cells are encapsulated, and a porous outer shell that allows for continuous solution exchange with the external environment so that nutrients, cell-communication factors, and cytotoxic cellular byproducts can transport freely in and out of the inner cavity. PicoShells can also be placed directly into shaking flasks, bioreactors, or other production-relevant environments. We experimentally demonstrate thatChlorellasp. andSaccharomyces cerevisiaegrow to significantly larger colony sizes in PicoShells than in water-in-oil droplet emulsions (P < 0.05). We have also demonstrated that PicoShells containing faster biomass accumulatingChlorellaclonal colonies can be selected using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter and re-grown. Using the PicoShell process, we select aChlorellapopulation that accumulates biomass 8% faster than does an un-selected population after a single selection cycle.
Two transcriptionally distinct pathways drive female development in a reptile with both genetic and temperature dependent sex determination
Authors: Whiteley Sarah L. , Holleley Clare E. , Wagner Susan , Blackburn James , Deveson Ira W. , Graves Jennifer A. Marshall , Georges Arthur
Published: February 2021

How temperature determines sex remains unknown. A recent hypothesis proposes that conserved cellular mechanisms (calcium and redox; ‘CaRe’ status) sense temperature and identify genes and regulatory pathways likely to be involved in driving sexual development. We take advantage of the unique sex determining system of the model organism,Pogona vitticeps, to assess predictions of this hypothesis.P. vitticepshas ZZ male: ZW female sex chromosomes whose influence can be overridden in genetic males by high temperatures, causing male-to-female sex reversal. We compare a developmental transcriptome series of ZWf females and temperature sex reversed ZZf females. We demonstrate that early developmental cascades differ dramatically between genetically driven and thermally driven females, later converging to produce a common outcome (ovaries). We show that genes proposed as regulators of thermosensitive sex determination play a role in temperature sex reversal. Our study greatly advances the search for the mechanisms by which temperature determines sex.

Author Summary

In many reptiles and fish, environment can determine, or influence, the sex of developing embryos. How this happens at a molecular level that has eluded resolution for half a century of intensive research. We studied the bearded dragon, a lizard that has sex chromosomes (ZZ male and ZW female), but in which that temperature can override ZZ sex chromosomes to cause male to female sex reversal. This provides an unparalleled opportunity to disentangle, in the same species, the biochemical pathways required to make a female by these two different routes. We sequenced the transcriptomes of gonads from developing ZZ reversed and normal ZW dragon embryos and discovered that different sets of genes are active in ovary development driven by genotype or temperature. Females whose sex was initiated by temperature showed a transcriptional profile consistent with the recently-proposed Calcium-Redox hypotheses of cellular temperature sensing. These findings are an important for understanding how the environment influences the development of sex, and more generally how the environment can epigenetically modify the action of genes.
Characterization of the NiRAN domain from RNA-dependent RNA polymerase provides insights into a potential therapeutic target against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Dwivedy Abhisek , Mariadasse Richard , Ahmad Mohammed , Chakraborty Sayan , Kar Deepsikha , Tiwari Satish , Majumdar Tanmay , Jeyakanthan Jeyaraman , Biswal Bichitra K.
Published: February 2021

Apart from the canonical fingers, palm and thumb domains, the RNA dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) from the viral order Nidovirales possess two additional domains. Of these, the function of the Nidovirus RdRp associated nucleotidyl transferase domain (NiRAN) remains unanswered. The elucidation of the 3D structure of RdRp from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), provided the first ever insights into the domain organisation and possible functional characteristics of the NiRAN domain. Using in silico tools, we predict that the NiRAN domain assumes a kinase or phosphotransferase like fold and binds nucleoside triphosphates at its proposed active site. Additionally, using molecular docking we have predicted the binding of three widely used kinase inhibitors and five well characterized anti-microbial compounds at the NiRAN domain active site along with their drug-likeliness as well as DFT properties. For the first time ever, using basic biochemical tools, this study shows the presence of a kinase like activity exhibited by the SARS-CoV-2 RdRp. Interestingly, the proposed kinase inhibitors and a few of the predicted nucleotidyl transferase inhibitors significantly inhibited the aforementioned enzymatic activity. In line with the current global COVID-19 pandemic urgency and the emergence of newer strains with significantly higher infectivity, this study provides a new anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug target and potential lead compounds for drug repurposing against SARS-CoV-2.
Polar and non-polar fractions of deep fried edible oils induce differential cytotoxicity and hemolysis
Authors: Sneha P. , Paul Yemeema , Venugopal Mithula , Narayanankutty Arunaksharan
Published: February 2021

Edible oils are the essential part of diet, however, deep frying process induce oxidative changes in these oils, making them unsuitable for consumption. Deep frying generates various noxious polar and non-polar aldehydes and carbonyls, which may be polar or non-polar in nature. The present study thus evaluated the cytotoxic and hemolytic effects of polar and non-polar fractions of different deep fried edible oils. There observed a significantly elevated level of lipid peroxidation products in the polar fraction of deep fried sunflower (FSO-P) and rice bran oils (FRO-P). The treatment with these fractions induced cytotoxicity in cultured colon epithelial cells, with a higher intensity in FSO-P and FRO-P. Further, an increased TBARS level and catalase activity in RBCs treated with FSO-P and FRO-P led to hemolysis. In comparison, the fried coconut oil (FCO) fractions were less toxic and hemolytic; in addition, the non-polar fraction was more toxic, compared to FCO-P fraction.
‘Nepotistic journals’: a survey of biomedical journals
Authors: Scanff Alexandre , Naudet Florian , Cristea Ioana , Moher David , Bishop Dorothy V M , Locher Clara
Published: February 2021

Context

Convergent analyses in different disciplines support the use of the Percentage of Papers by the Most Prolific author (PPMP) as a red flag to identify journals that can be suspected of questionable editorial practices. We examined whether this index, complemented by the Gini index, could be useful for identifying cases of potential editorial bias, using a large sample of biomedical journals.

Methods

We extracted metadata for all biomedical journals referenced in the National Library of Medicine, with any attributed Broad Subject Terms, and at least 50 authored (i.e. by at least one author) articles between 2015 and 2019, identifying the most prolific author (i.e. the person who signed the most papers in each particular journal). We calculated the PPMP and the 2015-2019 Gini index for the distribution of articles across authors. When the relevant information was reported, we also computed the median publication lag (time between submission and acceptance) for articles authored by any of the most prolific authors and that for articles not authored by prolific authors. For outlier journals, defined as a PPMP or Gini index above the 95th percentile of their respective distributions, a random sample of 100 journals was selected and described in relation to status on the editorial board for the most prolific author.

Results

5 468 journals that published 4 986 335 papers between 2015 and 2019 were analysed. The PPMP 95thpercentile was 10.6% (median 2.9%). The Gini index 95thpercentile was 0.355 (median 0.183). Correlation between the two indices was 0.35 (95CI 0.33 to 0.37). Information on publication lag was available for 2 743 journals. We found that 277 journals (10.2%) had a median time lag to publication for articles by the most prolific author(s) that was shorter than 3 weeks, versus 51 (1.9%) journals with articles not authored by prolific author(s). Among the random sample of outlier journals, 98 provided information about their editorial board. Among these 98, the most prolific author was part of the editorial board in 60 cases (61%), among whom 25 (26% of the 98) were editors-in-chief.

Discussion

In most journals publications are distributed across a large number of authors. Our results reveal a subset of journals where a few authors, often members of the editorial board, were responsible for a disproportionate number of publications. The papers by these authors were more likely to be accepted for publication within 3 weeks of their submission. To enhance trust in their practices, journals need to be transparent about their editorial and peer review practices.
Knowledge and Awareness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among Chinese dental students——a comparison study
Authors: Deng Chengdan , Ma Huangshui , Shou Yuke , Zhao Yuxuan , Li Yang , Shi Bing
Published: February 2021

Backgroud

This study aimed to measure the knowledge and awareness of COVID-19 among Chinese dental students during the global outbreak recently.

Method

A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed among dental students and nonmedical college students in China. All the participants were required to anonymously answer a reliable online questionnaire, which covered 3 different fields of COVID-19. Average scores of dental students (D group), including junior (JD group) and senior dental students (SD group), and nonmedical college students (N group) were compared respectively. Chi-square test and independent sample T test were taken for statistical analysis with SPSS.12.

Results

Totally 497 questionnaires were collected, including 224 from dental students and 273 from non-medical students. The overall average score was 57±19.2. The average scores of dental students were 64.5±18. The D group had significantly higher scores on the total score, section scores, and 20 questions respectively than with the N group. No significant differences were found on 5 questions. Compared with the N group, the SD group won on all three sections while JD group failed to win on the diagnose section.

Conclusion

Although the dental student showed good awareness regarding the clinical aspects of COVID-19 than non-medical students, there are still some weakness in the part of treatment and prevention, which need to be strengthened for better prepare during work. Besides, the low accuracy rate of lower grade dental students is also worth noting.
The impact of genetic background and sex on the phenotype of IL-23 induced murine arthritis
Authors: Haley Emma , Matmusaev Mederbek , Hossain Imtiyaz N. , Davin Sean , Martin Tammy M. , Ermann Joerg
Published: February 2021

Background

Overexpression of IL-23 in adult mice by means of hydrodynamic tail vein injection of IL-23 minicircles has been reported to result in spondyloarthritis-like disease. The impact of genetic background and sex on the disease phenotype in this model has not been investigated.

Methods

We compared male B10.RIII mice with male C57BL/6 mice, and male with female B10.RIII mice after hydrodynamic injection of IL-23 enhanced episomal vector (EEV) at 8-12 weeks of age. We monitored clinical arthritis scores, paw swelling, and body weight. Animals were euthanized after two weeks and tissues were harvested for histology, flow cytometry and gene expression analysis. Serum cytokine levels were determined by ELISA.

Findings

Male B10.RIII mice developed arthritis in the forepaws and feet within 6 days after IL-23 EEV injection; they also exhibited psoriasis-like skin disease, colitis, weight loss, and osteopenia. In contrast to previous reports, we did not observe spondylitis or uveitis. Male C57BL/6 mice injected with IL-23 EEV had serum IL-23 levels comparable with B10.RIII mice and developed skin inflammation, colitis, weight loss, and osteopenia but failed to develop arthritis. Female B10.RIII mice had more severe arthritis than male B10.RIII mice but did not lose weight.

Conclusions

Systemic IL-23 overexpression results in spondyloarthritis-like disease in B10.RIII mice. The development of extra-articular manifestations but absence of arthritis in C57BL/6 mice suggests organ-specific genetic control mechanisms of IL-23 driven inflammation. Discrepancies regarding the phenotype of IL-23 induced disease in different labs and the sexual dimorphism observed in this study warrant further exploration.
Sex Differences in Solute and Water Handling in the Human Kidney: Modeling and Functional Implications
Authors: Hu Rui , McDonough Alicia A. , Layton Anita T.
Published: February 2021

Besides the excretion of metabolic wastes, the kidneys regulate homeostasis of electrolytes, pH, metabolites, volume and blood pressure. Sex differences in kidney function and blood pressure have been widely described across many species. Immunoblot analysis has revealed that the kidney of a female rat is not simply a smaller version of a male kidney. Rather, male and female rat kidneys exhibit dimorphic patterns of transporter expression and salt handling, the functional implications of which have been analyzed in a series of previously published modeling studies of rat kidney function. In the present study, we extend the analysis to the human kidney: we developed sex-specific models of solute and water transport in the human kidney, and identified epithelial transport parameters, consistent with patterns found in male and female rats, that yield urine output and excretion rates consistent with known human values. The model predicts that the lower sodium hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) activity in women reduces the fractional reabsorption of Na+, K+, Cl-, and water along the proximal tubule, compared to men, and that the larger load on the distal nephron can be handled by enhanced activities in key Na+transporter such as epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) in women. Model simulations further indicate that the larger distal transport capacity and proximal transport reserve may better prepare women for elevated demands of pregnancy and lactation. The larger distal transport capacity may also contribute to reduced efficacy of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors to lower blood pressure in women.

Author summary

The kidneys maintain homeostasis by controlling the amount of water, ions, and other substances in the blood. That function is accomplished by the nephrons, which transform glomerular filtrate into urine by an exquisite transport process mediated by a number of membrane transporters. Recently, the distribution of renal transporters along the nephron has been shown to be markedly different between male and female rodents. We postulate that similar sexual dimorphism exists between men and women, and we seek to reveal its physiological implications. We hypothesize that the larger abundance of a renal Na+transport in the proximal tubules in females may also better prepare them for the fluid retention adaptations required during pregnancy and lactation, durint which renal and systemic hemodynamics are both drastically altered by the marked volume expansion and vasodilation. Also, kidneys play a key role in blood pressure regulation, and a popular class of anti-hypertensive medications, angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitors, have been reported to be less effective in women. Model simulations suggest that the blunted natriuretic and diuretic effects of ACE inhibition in women can be attributed, in part, to their higher distal baseline transport capacity.
How public reaction to disease information across scales and the impacts of vector control methods influence disease prevalence and control efficacy
Authors: Jiao Jing , Suarez Gonzalo P. , Fefferman Nina H.
Published: February 2021

With the development of social media, the information about vector-borne disease incidence over broad spatial scales can cause demand for local vector control before local risk exists. Anticipatory intervention may still benefit local disease control efforts; however, infection risks are not the only focal concerns governing public demand for vector control. Concern for environmental contamination from pesticides and economic limitations on the frequency and magnitude of control measures also play key roles. Further, public concern may be focused more on ecological factors (i.e., controlling mosquito populations) or on epidemiological factors (i.e., controlling infection-carrying mosquitoes), which may lead to very different control outcomes. Here we introduced a generic Ross-MacDonald model, incorporating these factors under three spatial scales of disease information: local, regional, and global. We tailored and parameterized the model for Zika virus transmitted byAedes aegyptimosquito. We found that overreaction caused by larger-scale incidence information could decrease average human infections per patch breeding capacity, however, the associated increase in total control effort plays a larger role, which leads to an overall decrease in control efficacy. The shift of focal concerns from epidemiological to ecological risk could relax the negative effect of overreaction on control efficacy when mosquito breeding capacity populations are expected to be large. This work demonstrates that, depending on expected total mosquito breeding capacity population size, and weights of different focal concerns, large-scale disease information can reduce disease infections without lowering control efficacy. Our findings provide guidance for vector-control strategies by considering public reaction through social media.
The purine nucleoside phosphorylasepnp-1regulates epithelial cell resistance to infection inC. elegans
Authors: Tecle Eillen , Chhan Crystal B. , Franklin Latisha , Underwood Ryan S. , Hanna-Rose Wendy , Troemel Emily R.
Published: February 2021

Intestinal epithelial cells are subject to attack by a diverse array of microbes, including intracellular as well as extracellular pathogens. While defense in epithelial cells can be triggered by pattern recognition receptor-mediated detection of microbe-associated molecular patterns, there is much to be learned about how they sense infection via perturbations of host physiology, which often occur during infection. A recently described host defense response in the nematodeC. eleganscalled the Intracellular Pathogen Response (IPR) can be triggered by infection with diverse natural intracellular pathogens, as well as by perturbations to protein homeostasis. From a forward genetic screen, we identified theC. elegansortholog of purine nucleoside phosphorylasepnp-1as a negative regulator of IPR gene expression, as well as a negative regulator of genes induced by extracellular pathogens. Accordingly,pnp-1mutants have resistance to both intracellular and extracellular pathogens. Metabolomics analysis indicates thatC. elegans pnp-1likely has enzymatic activity similar to its human ortholog, serving to convert purine nucleosides into free bases. Classic genetic studies have shown how mutations in human purine nucleoside phosphorylase cause immunodeficiency due to T-cell dysfunction. Here we show thatC. elegans pnp-1acts in intestinal epithelial cells to regulate defense. Altogether, these results indicate that perturbations in purine metabolism are likely monitored as a cue to promote defense against epithelial infection in the nematodeC. elegans.

Author summary

All life requires purine nucleotides. However, obligate intracellular pathogens are incapable of generating their own purine nucleotides and thus have evolved strategies to steal these nucleotides from host cells in order to support their growth and replication. Using the small roundwormC. elegans,we show that infection with natural obligate intracellular pathogens is impaired by loss ofpnp-1,theC. elegansortholog of the vertebrate purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP), which is an enzyme involved in salvaging purines. Loss ofpnp-1leads to altered levels of purine nucleotide precursors and increased expression of Intracellular Pathogen Response genes, which are induced by viral and fungal intracellular pathogens ofC. elegans.In addition, we find that loss ofpnp-1increases resistance to extracellular pathogen infection and increases expression of genes involved in extracellular pathogen defense. Interestingly, studies from 1975 found that mutations in human PNP impair T-cell immunity, whereas our findings here indicateC. elegans pnp-1regulates intestinal epithelial immunity. Overall, our work indicates that host purine homeostasis regulates resistance to both intracellular and extracellular pathogen infection.
Revisiting a GWAS peak inArabidopsis thalianareveals possible confounding by genetic heterogeneity
Authors: Sasaki Eriko , Köcher Thomas , Filiault Danièle L , Nordborg Magnus
Published: February 2021

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have become a standard approach for exploring the genetic basis of phenotypic variation. However, correlation is not causation, and only a tiny fraction of all associations have been experimentally confirmed. One practical problem is that a peak of association does not always pinpoint a causal gene, but may instead be tagging multiple causal variants. In this study, we reanalyze a previously reported peak associated with flowering time traits in Swedish inArabidopsis thaliana. The peak appeared to pinpoint theAOP2/AOP3cluster of glucosinolate biosynthesis genes, which is known to be responsible for natural variation in herbivore resistance. Here we propose an alternative hypothesis, by demonstrating that theAOP2/AOP3flowering association can be wholly accounted for by allelic variation in two flanking genes with clear roles in regulating flowering:NDX1, a regulator of the main flowering time controllerFLC, andGA1, which plays a central role in gibberellin synthesis and is required for flowering under some conditions. In other words, we propose that theAOP2/AOP3flowering-time association is yet another example of a spurious, “synthetic” association, arising from trying to fit a single-locus model in the presence of two statistically associated causative loci.
Induction of exaggerated cytokine production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein S1 and its inhibition by dexamethasone
Authors: Olajide Olumayokun A , Iwuanyanwu Victoria U , Lepiarz-Raba Izabela , Al-Hindawi Alaa A
Published: February 2021

An understanding of the pathological inflammatory mechanisms involved in SARS-CoV-2 virus infection is necessary in order to discover new molecular pharmacological targets for SARS-CoV-2 cytokine storm. In this study, the effects of a recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein S1 was investigated in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Stimulation of PBMCs with spike glycoprotein S1 (100 ng/mL) resulted in significant elevation in the production of TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β and IL-8. However, pre-treatment with dexamethasone (100 nM) caused significant reduction in the release of these cytokines. Further experiments revealed that S1 stimulation of PBMCs increased phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and IκBα, and IκBα degradation. DNA binding of NF-κB p65 was also significantly increased following stimulation with spike glycoprotein S1. Treatment of PBMCs with dexamethasone (100 nM) or BAY11-7082 (1 µM) resulted in inhibition of spike glycoprotein S1-induced NF-κB activation. Activation of p38 MAPK by S1 was blocked in the presence of dexamethasone and SKF 86002. CRID3, but not dexamethasone pre-treatment produced significant inhibition of S1-induced activation of NLRP3/caspase-1. Further experiments revealed that S1-induced increase in the production of TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β and IL-8 was reduced in the presence of BAY11-7082 and SKF 86002, while CRID3 pre-treatment resulted in the reduction of IL-1β production. These results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein S1 stimulated PBMCs to release pro-inflammatory cytokines through mechanisms involving activation of NF-κB, p38 MAPK and NLRP3 inflammasome. It is proposed that the clinical benefits of dexamethasone in COVID-19 is possibly due to its anti-inflammatory activity in reducing SARS-CoV-2 cytokine storm.
MSX2 safeguards syncytiotrophoblast fate of human trophoblast stem cells
Authors: Hornbachner Ruth , Lackner Andreas , Haider Sandra , Knöfler Martin , Mechtler Karl , Latos Paulina A.
Published: February 2021

The majority of placental pathologies are associated with failures in trophoblast differentiation, yet the underlying transcriptional regulation is poorly understood. Here, we use human trophoblast stem cells to elucidate the function of the transcription factor MSX2 in trophoblast specification. We show that depletion of MSX2 de-represses the syncytiotrophoblast program, while forced expression of MSX2 blocks it. We demonstrate that a large proportion of the affected genes are directly bound and regulated by MSX2 and identify components of the SWI/SNF complex as its strong interactors. Our findings uncover the pivotal role of MSX2 in cell fate decisions that govern human placental development and function.