bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting drug retention of Janus kinase inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the ANSWER cohort study
Authors: Ebina Kosuke , Hirano Toru , Maeda Yuichi , Yamamoto Wataru , Hashimoto Motomu , Murata Koichi , Onishi Akira , Jinno Sadao , Hara Ryota , Son Yonsu , Amuro Hideki , Takeuchi Tohru , Yoshikawa Ayaka , Katayama Masaki , Yamamoto Keiichi , Okita Yasutaka , Hirao Makoto , Etani Yuki , Kumanogoh Atsushi , Okada Seiji , Nakata Ken
Published: January 2022

This multi-center, retrospective study aimed to clarify the factors affecting drug retention of the Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) including baricitinib (BAR) and tofacitinib (TOF) in patients with RA. Patients were as follows; females, 80.6%; age, 60.5 years; DAS28-ESR, 4.3; treated with either BAR (n = 166) or TOF (n = 185); bDMARDs- or JAKi-switched cases (76.6%). The reasons for drug discontinuation were classified into four major categories. The drug retention was evaluated at 24 months using the Kaplan–Meier method and multivariate Cox proportional hazards modelling adjusted by confounders. Discontinuation rates for the corresponding reasons were as follows; ineffectiveness (22.3%), toxic adverse events (13.3%), non-toxic reasons (7.2%) and remission (0.0%). Prior history of anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody (aIL-6R) ineffectiveness significantly increased the risk of treatment discontinuation due to ineffectiveness (p = 0.020). Aging (≥ 75 years) (p = 0.028), usage of PSL ≥ 5 mg/day (p = 0.017) and female sex (p = 0.041) significantly increased the risk of treatment discontinuation due to toxic adverse events. Factors not associated with treatment discontinuation were: number of prior bDMARDs or JAKi, concomitant MTX usage, difference of JAKi, and prior use of TNF inhibitor, CTLA4-Ig or other JAKi.
Influence of brain atrophy using semiquantitative analysis in [123I]FP-CIT single-photon emission computed tomography by a Monte Carlo simulation study
Authors: Nosaka Hiroki , Onoguchi Masahisa , Tsushima Hiroyuki , Suda Masaya , Kurata Satoshi , Onoma Ayano , Murakawa Ryosuke
Published: January 2022

The specific binding ratio (SBR) is an objective indicator of N-ω-fluoropropyl-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-[123I] iodophenyl) nortropane ([123I]FP-CIT) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) that could be used for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. One of the issues of the SBR analysis is that the setting position of the volume of interest (VOI) may contain cerebral ventricles and cerebral grooves. These areas may become prominent during the brain atrophy analysis; however, this phenomenon has not been evaluated enough. This study thus used Monte Carlo simulations to examine the effect of brain atrophy on the SBR analysis. The brain atrophy model (BAM) used to simulate the three stages of brain atrophy was made using a morphological operation. Brain atrophy levels were defined in the descending order from 1 to 3, with Level 3 indicating to the most severe damage. Projection data were created based on BAM, and the SPECT reconstruction was performed. The ratio of the striatal to background region accumulation was set to a rate of 8:1, 6:1, and 4:1. The striatal and the reference VOI mean value were decreased as brain atrophy progressed. Additionally, the Bolt’s analysis methods revealed that the reference VOI value was more affected by brain atrophy than the striatal VOI value. Finally, the calculated SBR value was overestimated as brain atrophy progressed, and a similar trend was observed when the ratios of the striatal to background region accumulation were changed. This study thus suggests that the SBR can be overestimated in cases of advanced brain atrophy.
O-ring-induced transverse aortic constriction (OTAC) is a new simple method to develop cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in mice
Authors: Nakao Yasuhisa , Aono Jun , Hamaguchi Mika , Takahashi Kayo , Sakaue Tomohisa , Inoue Katsuji , Ikeda Shuntaro , Yamaguchi Osamu
Published: January 2022

Suture-based transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice is one of the most frequently used experimental models for cardiac pressure overload-induced heart failure. However, the incidence of heart failure in the conventional TAC depends on the operator’s skill. To optimize and simplify this method, we proposed O-ring-induced transverse aortic constriction (OTAC) in mice. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to OTAC, in which an o-ring was applied to the transverse aorta (between the brachiocephalic artery and the left common carotid artery) and tied with a triple knot. We used different inner diameters of o-rings were 0.50 and 0.45 mm. Pressure overload by OTAC promoted left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. OTAC also increased lung weight, indicating severe pulmonary congestion. Echocardiographic findings revealed that both OTAC groups developed LV hypertrophy within one week after the procedure and gradually reduced LV fractional shortening. In addition, significant elevations in gene expression related to heart failure, LV hypertrophy, and LV fibrosis were observed in the LV of OTAC mice. We demonstrated the OTAC method, which is a simple and effective cardiac pressure overload method in mice. This method will efficiently help us understand heart failure (HF) mechanisms with reduced LV ejection fraction (HFrEF) and cardiac hypertrophy.
Cultivated and wild pearl millet display contrasting patterns of abundance and co-occurrence in their root mycobiome
Authors: Mofini Marie-Thérèse , Diedhiou Abdala G. , Simonin Marie , Dondjou Donald Tchouomo , Pignoly Sarah , Ndiaye Cheikh , Min Doohong , Vigouroux Yves , Laplaze Laurent , Kane Aboubacry
Published: January 2022

Fungal communities associated with roots play a key role in nutrient uptake and in mitigating the abiotic and biotic stress of their host. In this study, we characterized the roots mycobiome of wild and cultivated pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br., synonym: Cenchrus americanus (L.) Morrone] in three agro-ecological areas of Senegal following a rainfall gradient. We hypothesized that wild pearl millet could serve as a reservoir of endophytes for cultivated pearl millet. We therefore analyzed the soil factors influencing fungal community structure and whether cultivated and wild millet shared the same fungal communities. The fungal communities associated with pearl millet were significantly structured according to sites and plant type (wild vs cultivated). Besides, soil pH and phosphorus were the main factors influencing the fungal community structure. We observed a higher fungal diversity in cultivated compared to wild pearl millet. Interestingly, we detected higher relative abundance of putative pathotrophs, especially plant pathogen, in cultivated than in wild millet in semi-arid and semi-humid zones, and higher relative abundance of saprotrophs in wild millet in arid and semi-humid zones. A network analysis based on taxa co-occurrence patterns in the core mycobiome revealed that cultivated millet and wild relatives had dissimilar groups of hub taxa. The identification of the core mycobiome and hub taxa of cultivated and wild pearl millet could be an important step in developing microbiome engineering approaches for more sustainable management practices in pearl millet agroecosystems.
Assessment of factors associated with PSA level in prostate cancer cases and controls from three geographical regions
Authors: Karunasinghe Nishi , Minas Tsion Zewdu , Bao Bo-Ying , Lee Arier , Wang Alice , Zhu Shuotun , Masters Jonathan , Goudie Megan , Huang Shu-Pin , Jenkins Frank J. , Ferguson Lynnette R.
Published: January 2022

It is being debated whether prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening effectively reduces prostate cancer mortality. Some of the uncertainty could be related to deficiencies in the age-based PSA cut-off thresholds used in screening. Current study considered 2779 men with prostate cancer and 1606 men without a cancer diagnosis, recruited for various studies in New Zealand, US, and Taiwan. Association of PSA with demographic, lifestyle, clinical characteristics (for cases), and the aldo–keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) rs12529 genetic polymorphisms were analysed using multiple linear regression and univariate modelling. Pooled multivariable analysis of cases showed that PSA was significantly associated with demographic, lifestyle, and clinical data with an interaction between ethnicity and age further modifying the association. Pooled multivariable analysis of controls data also showed that demographic and lifestyle are significantly associated with PSA level. Independent case and control analyses indicated that factors associated with PSA were specific for each cohort. Univariate analyses showed a significant age and PSA correlation among all cases and controls except for the US-European cases while genetic stratification in cases showed variability of correlation. Data suggests that unique PSA cut-off thresholds factorized with demographics, lifestyle and genetics may be more appropriate for prostate cancer screening.
Degenerative joint disease induced by repeated intra-articular injections of monosodium urate crystals in rats as investigated by translational imaging
Authors: Accart Nathalie , Dawson Janet , Obrecht Michael , Lambert Christian , Flueckiger Manuela , Kreider Julie , Hatakeyama Shinji , Richards Peter J. , Beckmann Nicolau
Published: January 2022

The objective of this work was to assess the consequences of repeated intra-articular injection of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals with inflammasome priming by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in order to simulate recurrent bouts of gout in rats. Translational imaging was applied to simultaneously detect and quantify injury in different areas of the knee joint. MSU/LPS induced joint swelling, synovial membrane thickening, fibrosis of the infrapatellar fat pad, tidemark breaching, and cartilage invasion by inflammatory cells. A higher sensitivity to mechanical stimulus was detected in paws of limbs receiving MSU/LPS compared to saline-injected limbs. In MSU/LPS-challenged joints, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed increased synovial fluid volume in the posterior region of the joint, alterations in the infrapatellar fat pad reflecting a progressive decrease of fat volume and fibrosis formation, and a significant increase in the relaxation time T2 in femoral cartilage, consistent with a reduction of proteoglycan content. MRI also showed cyst formation in the tibia, femur remodeling, and T2 reductions in extensor muscles consistent with fibrosis development. Repeated intra-articular MSU/LPS injections in the rat knee joint induced pathology in multiple tissues and may be a useful means to investigate the relationship between urate crystal deposition and the development of degenerative joint disease.
Slope stability calculation method for highwall mining with open-cut mines
Authors: Jiang Juyu , Lu Ye , Wang Dong , Han Xinping
Published: January 2022

Slope stability is a prominent problem for the efficient application and promotion of highwall mining technology, especially when mining residual coal under high and steep end-slope conditions. This study proposes the concept of target time pillar strength based on the required coal pillar service time. Creep tests were performed to measure the time-varying properties of coal shear strength parameters under different loads, and a time-varying function was established by regression. The highwall mining length is divided into three categories based on discontinuous structural plane theory, including goaf, yielding, and elastic zones, all of which are considered to have resistances against shear stress. The basal coal seam is prone to weakening owing to the weight of overlying strata, which may shift the slope failure mode from circular to sliding along the weak layer. Numerical modeling was used to study the influence of the bearing stress and target time strength on the development of the yielding zone at the coal pillar ribs. The coefficients of the three zones were determined, and the temporal and spatial evolution patterns of the shear strength parameters of the weak layer were acquired. A slope stability calculation method is proposed based on rigid body-limit equilibrium theory that can quantify the influence of highwall mining operations on slope stability, which is significant for popularizing highwall mining technology.
Real-world effectiveness of liraglutide versus dulaglutide in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: a retrospective study
Authors: Tanaka Kenichi , Okada Yosuke , Tokutsu Akemi , Tanaka Yoshiya
Published: January 2022

Real-world data comparing the effectiveness of various glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are limited. We investigated the clinical effectiveness of liraglutide and dulaglutide in Japanese T2DM in a real-world setting. This retrospective study included 179 patients with T2DM who were treated with GLP-1 RA for at least 12 months (liraglutide, n = 97; dulaglutide, n = 82). We used stabilized propensity score-based inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to reduce selection bias and confounding by observed covariates. Changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at the end of the 12-month treatment were evaluated. After adjustment by stabilized propensity score-based IPTW, no significant differences were observed in patient characteristics between the liraglutide and dulaglutide groups. HbA1c was significantly lower at 12 months in both groups (liraglutide, 8.9 to 7.4%; dulaglutide, 8.7 to 7.5%). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed no differences in the extent of changes in HbA1c at 12 months between the two agents. High baseline HbA1c, the addition of GLP-1 RA treatment modality, and in-hospital initiation of GLP-1 RA treatment were identified as significant contributing factors to HbA1c reduction. The effects of liraglutide and dulaglutide on lowering HbA1c levels at 12 months were comparable in a real-world setting.
Validation of satellite-based sea surface temperature products against in situ observations off the western coast of Sumatra
Authors: Moteki Qoosaku
Published: January 2022

This study validated the sea surface temperature (SST) datasets from the Group for High-Resolution SST Multi Product Ensemble (GMPE), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Optimal Interpolation (OI) SST version 2 and 2.1 (OIv2 and OIv2.1), and Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Ocean, Phase II (ECCO2) in the area off the western coast of Sumatra against in situ observations. Furthermore, the root mean square differences (RMSDs) of OIv2, OIv2.1, and ECCO2 were investigated with respect to GMPE, whose small RMSD < 0.2 K against in situ observations confirmed its suitability as a reference. Although OIv2 showed a large RMSD (1–1.5 K) with a significant negative bias, OIv2.1 (RMSD < 0.4 K) improved remarkably. In the average SST distributions for December 2017, the differences among the 4 datasets were significant in the areas off the western coast of Sumatra, along the southern coast of Java, and in the Indonesian inland sea. These results were consistent with the ensemble spread distribution obtained with GMPE. The large RMSDs of OIv2 corresponded to high clouds, and it was suggested that the change in the satellites used for SST estimation contributed to the improvement in OIv2.1.
Confocal microscopy analysis reveals that only a small proportion of extracellular vesicles are successfully labelled with commonly utilised staining methods
Authors: Melling Genevieve E. , Conlon Ross , Pantazi Paschalia , Dellar Elizabeth R. , Samuel Priya , Baena-Lopez Luis Alberto , Simpson Jeremy C. , Carter David R. F.
Published: January 2022

Assessing genuine extracellular vesicle (EV) uptake is crucial for understanding the functional roles of EVs. This study measured the bona fide labelling of EVs utilising two commonly used fluorescent dyes, PKH26 and C5-maleimide-Alexa633. MCF7 EVs tagged with mEmerald-CD81 were isolated from conditioned media by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and characterised using Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), MACsPlex immunocapture assay and immunoblots. These fluorescently tagged EVs were subsequently stained with C5-maleimide-Alexa633 or PKH26, according to published protocols. Colocalisation of dual-labelled EVs was assessed by confocal microscopy and quantified using the Rank-Weighted Colocalisation (RWC) algorithm. We observed strikingly poor colocalisation between mEmerald-CD81-tagged EVs and C5-Maleimide-Alexa633 (5.4% ± 1.8) or PKH26 (4.6% ± 1.6), that remained low even when serum was removed from preparations. Our data confirms previous work showing that some dyes form contaminating aggregates. Furthermore, uptake studies showed that maleimide and mEmerald-CD81-tagged EVs can be often located into non-overlapping subcellular locations. By using common methods to isolate and stain EVs we observed that most EVs remained unstained and most dye signal does not appear to be EV associated. Our work shows that there is an urgent need for optimisation and standardisation in how EV researchers use these tools to assess genuine EV signals.
Research on quantum cognition in autonomous driving
Authors: Song Qingyuan , Wang Wen , Fu Weiping , Sun Yuan , Wang Denggui , Gao Zhiqiang
Published: January 2022

Autonomous vehicles for the intention of human behavior of the estimated traffic participants and their interaction is the main problem in automatic driving system. Classical cognitive theory assumes that the behavior of human traffic participants is completely reasonable when studying estimation of intention and interaction. However, according to the quantum cognition and decision theory as well as practical traffic cases, human behavior including traffic behavior is often unreasonable, which violates classical cognition and decision theory. Based on the quantum cognitive theory, this paper studies the cognitive problem of pedestrian crossing. Through the case analysis, it is proved that the Quantum-like Bayesian (QLB) model can consider the reasonability of pedestrians when crossing the street compared with the classical probability model, being more consistent with the actual situation. The experiment of trajectory prediction proves that the QLB model can cover the edge events in interactive scenes compared with the data-driven Social-LSTM model, being more consistent with the real trajectory. This paper provides a new reference for the research on the cognitive problem of intention on bounded rational behavior of human traffic participants in autonomous driving.
Transcriptomics and network analysis highlight potential pathways in the pathogenesis of pterygium
Authors: de Guimarães Juliana Albano , Hounpke Bidossessi Wilfried , Duarte Bruna , Boso Ana Luiza Mylla , Viturino Marina Gonçalves Monteiro , de Carvalho Baptista Letícia , de Melo Mônica Barbosa , Alves Monica
Published: January 2022

Pterygium is a common ocular surface condition frequently associated with irritative symptoms. The precise identity of its critical triggers as well as the hierarchical relationship between all the elements involved in the pathogenesis of this disease are not yet elucidated. Meta-analysis of gene expression studies represents a novel strategy capable of identifying key pathogenic mediators and therapeutic targets in complex diseases. Samples from nine patients were collected during surgery after photo documentation and clinical characterization of pterygia. Gene expression experiments were performed using Human Clariom D Assay gene chip. Differential gene expression analysis between active and atrophic pterygia was performed using limma package after adjusting variables by age. In addition, a meta-analysis was performed including recent gene expression studies available at the Gene Expression Omnibus public repository. Two databases including samples from adults with pterygium and controls fulfilled our inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was performed using the Rank Production algorithm of the RankProd package. Gene set analysis was performed using ClueGO and the transcription factor regulatory network prediction was performed using appropriate bioinformatics tools. Finally, miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was reconstructed using up-regulated genes identified in the gene set analysis from the meta-analysis and their interacting miRNAs from the Brazilian cohort expression data. The meta-analysis identified 154 up-regulated and 58 down-regulated genes. A gene set analysis with the top up-regulated genes evidenced an overrepresentation of pathways associated with remodeling of extracellular matrix. Other pathways represented in the network included formation of cornified envelopes and unsaturated fatty acid metabolic processes. The miRNA-mRNA target prediction network, also reconstructed based on the set of up-regulated genes presented in the gene ontology and biological pathways network, showed that 17 target genes were negatively correlated with their interacting miRNAs from the Brazilian cohort expression data. Once again, the main identified cluster involved extracellular matrix remodeling mechanisms, while the second cluster involved formation of cornified envelope, establishment of skin barrier and unsaturated fatty acid metabolic process. Differential expression comparing active pterygium with atrophic pterygium using data generated from the Brazilian cohort identified differentially expressed genes between the two forms of presentation of this condition. Our results reveal differentially expressed genes not only in pterygium, but also in active pterygium when compared to the atrophic ones. New insights in relation to pterygium’s pathophysiology are suggested.
Automating microsatellite screening and primer design from multi-individual libraries using Micro-Primers
Authors: Alves Filipe , Martins Filipa M. S. , Areias Miguel , Muñoz-Mérida Antonio
Published: January 2022

Analysis of intra- and inter-population diversity has become important for defining the genetic status and distribution patterns of a species and a powerful tool for conservation programs, as high levels of inbreeding could lead into whole population extinction in few generations. Microsatellites (SSR) are commonly used in population studies but discovering highly variable regions across species’ genomes requires demanding computation and laboratorial optimization. In this work, we combine next generation sequencing (NGS) with automatic computing to develop a genomic-oriented tool for characterizing SSRs at the population level. Herein, we describe a new Python pipeline, named Micro-Primers, designed to identify, and design PCR primers for amplification of SSR loci from a multi-individual microsatellite library. By combining commonly used programs for data cleaning and microsatellite mining, this pipeline easily generates, from a fastq file produced by high-throughput sequencing, standard information about the selected microsatellite loci, including the number of alleles in the population subset, and the melting temperature and respective PCR product of each primer set. Additionally, potential polymorphic loci can be identified based on the allele ranges observed in the population, to easily guide the selection of optimal markers for the species. Experimental results show that Micro-Primers significantly reduces processing time in comparison to manual analysis while keeping the same quality of the results. The elapsed times at each step can be longer depending on the number of sequences to analyze and, if not assisted, the selection of polymorphic loci from multiple individuals can represent a major bottleneck in population studies.
ECG monitoring of post-stroke occurring arrhythmias: an observational study using 7-day Holter ECG
Authors: Carrarini Claudia , Di Stefano V. , Russo M. , Dono F. , Di Pietro M. , Furia N. , Onofrj M. , Bonanni L. , Faustino M. , De Angelis M. V.
Published: January 2022

Post-stroke arrhythmias represent a risk factor for complications and worse prognosis after cerebrovascular events. The aims of the study were to detect the rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) and other cardiac arrhythmias after acute ischemic stroke, by using a 7-day Holter ECG which has proved to be superior to the standard 24-h recording, and to evaluate the possible association between brain lesions and arrhythmias. One hundred and twenty patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke underwent clinical and neuroimaging assessment and were monitored with a 7-day Holter ECG. Analysis of the rhythm recorded over 7 days was compared to analysis limited at the first 24 h of monitoring. 7-day Holter ECG detected AF in 4% of patients, supraventricular extrasystole (SVEB) in 94%, ventricular extrasystole (VEB) in 88%, short supraventricular runs (SVRs) in 54%, supraventricular tachycardia in 20%, and bradycardia in 6%. Compared to the first 24 h of monitoring, 7-Holter ECG showed a significant higher detection for all arrhythmias (AF p = 0.02; bradycardia p = 0.03; tachycardia p = 0.0001; SVEB p = 0.0002; VEB p = 0.0001; SVRs p = 0.0001). Patients with SVRs and bradycardia were older (p = 0.0001; p = 0.035) and had higher CHA2DS2VASc scores (p = 0.004; p = 0.026) respectively, in the comparison with patients without these two arrhythmias. An association was found between SVEB and parietal (p = 0.013) and temporal (p = 0.013) lobe lesions, whereas VEB correlated with insular involvement (p = 0.002). 7-day Holter ECG monitoring proved to be superior as compared to 24-h recording for the detection of all arrhythmias, some of which (SVEB and VEB) were associated with specific brain areas involvement. Therefore, 7-day Holter ECG should be required as an effective first-line approach to improve both diagnosis and therapeutic management after stroke.
Transcriptomes of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from juvenile dermatomyositis patients show elevated inflammation even when clinically inactive
Authors: Roberson Elisha D. O. , Mesa Rosana A. , Morgan Gabrielle A. , Cao Li , Marin Wilfredo , Pachman Lauren M.
Published: January 2022

In juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), the most common pediatric inflammatory myopathy, weakness is accompanied by a characteristic rash that often becomes chronic and is associated with vascular damage. We hoped to understand the molecular underpinnings of JDM, particularly when untreated, which would facilitate the identification of novel mechanisms and clinical targets that might disrupt disease progression. We studied the RNA-Seq data from untreated JDM peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs; n = 11), PBMCs from a subset of the same patients when clinically inactive (n = 8/11), and separate samples of untreated JDM skin and muscle (n = 4 each). All JDM samples were compared to non-inflammatory control tissues. The untreated JDM PBMCs showed a strong signature for type1 interferon response, along with IL-1, IL-10, and NF-κB. Surprisingly, PBMCs from clinically inactive JDM individuals had persistent immune activation that was enriched for IL-1 signaling. JDM skin and muscle both showed evidence for type 1 interferon activation and genes related to antigen presentation and decreased expression of cellular respiration genes. Additionally, we found that PBMC gene expression correlates with disease activity scores (DAS; skin, muscle, and total domains) and with nailfold capillary end row loop number (an indicator of microvascular damage). This includedotoferlin, which was significantly increased in untreated JDM PBMCs and correlated with all 3 DAS domains. Overall, these data demonstrate that PBMC transcriptomes are informative of molecular disruptions in JDM and provide transcriptional evidence of chronic inflammation despite clinical quiescence.
Next generation sequencing is a highly reliable method to analyze exon 7 deletion of survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene
Authors: Zhao Sumin , Wang Yaoshen , Xin Xiuqing , Fang Zhonghai , Fan Linlin , Peng Zhiyu , Han Rui , Shi Chaonan , Zhang Yixiang , Fan Chuang , Sun Jun , He Xuelian
Published: January 2022

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most common and severe genetic diseases. SMA carrier screening is an effective way to identify couples at risk of having affected children. Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based expanded carrier screening could detect SMN1 gene copy number without extra experiment and with high cost performance. However, its performance has not been fully evaluated. Here we conducted a systematic comparative study to evaluate the performance of three common methods. 478 samples were analyzed with multiplex ligation probe amplification (MLPA), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and NGS, simultaneously. Taking MLPA-based results as the reference, for 0 copy, 1 copy and ≥ 2 copy SMN1 analysis with NGS, the sensitivity, specificity and precision were all 100%. Using qPCR method, the sensitivity was 100%, 97.52% and 94.30%, respectively; 98.63%, 95.48% and 100% for specificity; and 72.72%, 88.72% and 100% for precision. NGS repeatability was higher than that of qPCR. Moreover, among three methods, NGS had the lowest retest rate. Thus, NGS is a relatively more reliable method for SMN1 gene copy number detection. In expanded carrier screening, compared with the combination of multiple methods, NGS method could reduce the test cost and simplify the screening process.
Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis for male breast cancer compared to female breast cancer
Authors: Yao Nan , Shi Wenzai , Liu Tong , Siyin Sarah Tan , Wang Weiqi , Duan Ning , Xu Guoshuai , Qu Jun
Published: January 2022

Male breast cancer (MBC) is rare. Due to limited information, MBC has always been understudied. We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study using data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. The clinical and biological features of female breast cancer (FBC) patients were compared with MBC patients. Cox regression models and competing risks analyses were used to identify risk factors associated with cancer-related survival in MBC and FBC groups. Results showed that MBC patients suffered from higher TNM stages, tumor grades, and a higher percentage of hormone receptor-positive tumors, compared with FBC patients (all p < 0.05). In addition, the breast tumor locations varied a lot between males and females (p < 0.05). FBC patients were associated with superior overall survival than MBC patients. Results from multivariate cox regression and competing risks analyses showed age, race, T, N, M-stages, tumor grades, estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) overexpression were independent prognosis factors in FBC patients (all p < 0.05). MBC patients had similar risk factors to FBC patients, but PR and HER-2 status did not independently influence survival (all p > 0.05). Tumor location was an independent prognostic factor for both gender groups.
The rexinoid V-125 reduces tumor growth in preclinical models of breast and lung cancer
Authors: Reich Lyndsey A. , Moerland Jessica A. , Leal Ana S. , Zhang Di , Carapellucci Sarah , Lockwood Beth , Jurutka Peter W. , Marshall Pamela A. , Wagner Carl E. , Liby Karen T.
Published: January 2022

Rexinoids are ligands which activate retinoid X receptors (RXRs), regulating transcription of genes involved in cancer-relevant processes. Rexinoids have anti-neoplastic activity in multiple preclinical studies. Bexarotene, used to treat cutaneous T cell lymphoma, is the only FDA-approved rexinoid. Bexarotene has also been evaluated in clinical trials for lung and metastatic breast cancer, wherein subsets of patients responded despite advanced disease. By modifying structures of known rexinoids, we can improve potency and toxicity. We previously screened a series of novel rexinoids and selected V-125 as the lead based on performance in optimized in vitro assays. To validate our screening paradigm, we tested V-125 in clinically relevant mouse models of breast and lung cancer. V-125 significantly (p < 0.001) increased time to tumor development in the MMTV-Neu breast cancer model. Treatment of established mammary tumors with V-125 significantly (p < 0.05) increased overall survival. In the A/J lung cancer model, V-125 significantly (p < 0.01) decreased number, size, and burden of lung tumors. Although bexarotene elevated triglycerides and cholesterol in these models, V-125 demonstrated an improved safety profile. These studies provide evidence that our screening paradigm predicts novel rexinoid efficacy and suggest that V-125 could be developed into a new cancer therapeutic.
High frequency of social polygyny reveals little costs for females in a songbird
Authors: Santoro Simone , Fernández-Díaz Pilar , Canal David , Camacho Carlos , Garamszegi László Z. , Martínez-Padilla Jesús , Potti Jaime
Published: January 2022

Mating system theory predicts that social polygyny—when one male forms pair bonds with two females—may evolve by female choice in species with biparental care. Females will accept a polygynous male if the benefit of mating with a male providing high-quality genes or rearing resources outweighs the cost of sharing mate assistance in parental care. Based on this rationale, we hypothesise that the population frequency of social polygyny (FSP) varies due to changes in mate sharing costs caused by changing environmental conditions. We predicted that: (1) polygamous females (i.e. mated with a polygynous male) pay a survival cost compared to monogamous females; (2) FSP would be higher in years with better rearing conditions and (3) the difference in survival rates between monogamous and polygamous females would be small following years with higher FSP. We tested these predictions using regression and multistate analyses of capture-recapture data of pied flycatchers,Ficedula hypoleuca, in central Spain collected over 26 years (1990–2016). Monogamous females had a higher mean survival rate than polygamous females (prediction 1), but there was no difference in survival between polygynous and monogamous males. In addition, FSP was positively associated with annual reproductive success (a proxy of the quality of rearing conditions—prediction 2). Finally, following years with high FSP, the survival of polygamous females was similar to that of monogamous females (prediction 3), while the chance of breeding in a polygamous state for 2 years in a row increased for both males and females. Our findings suggest that fluctuating environmental conditions may be a necessary but neglected aspect of understanding social polygyny mechanisms.
Air pollution from gas refinery through contamination with various elements disrupts semiarid Zagros oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) forests, Iran
Authors: Dadkhah-Aghdash Hamed , Zare-Maivan Hassan , Heydari Mehdi , Sharifi Mohsen , Lucas-Borja Manuel Esteban , Naidu Ravi
Published: January 2022

Soils and oak trees (Quercus brantii Lindl.) in Zagros forests are suffering from the air pollution caused by the Ilam Gas Refinery. Thus, for the first time, we investigated the contamination level of sulfur and trace elements in these ecosystems. Sampling of soil and tree leaves was carried out in different seasons of 2019 and at different distances from the gas refinery. The results showed that soils and leaves at the various distances compared with control distance (10,000 m) were more affected by the gas refinery. Distance from the pollution source and physicochemical properties of soils were the main factors affecting contamination of soil elements contents. The soils with pollution load indices (PLI) of 4.54 were in the highly polluted category. Sulfur was at highly polluted category in soils and were highly enriched in trees. The trees mainly absorbed studied elements via their aerial organs. Our findings indicated that oak trees with the highest value of metal accumulation index are influence tools for monitoring various elements in the polluted air produced by the gas refinery. It is recommended that the ecosystem components near the refinery be studied to accurately evaluate disorders in the food chain.
Immense variability in the sea surface temperature near macro tidal flat revealed by high-resolution satellite data (Landsat 8)
Authors: Lee Seung-Tae , Cho Yang-Ki , Kim Duk-jin
Published: January 2022

Sea surface temperature (SST) is crucial for understanding the physical characteristics and ecosystems of coastal seas. SST varies near the tidal flat, where exposure and flood recur according to the tidal cycle. However, the variability of SST near the tidal flat is poorly understood owing to difficulties in making in-situ observations. The high resolution of Landsat 8 enabled us to determine the variability of SST near the macro tidal flat. The spatial distribution of the SST extracted from Landsat 8 changed drastically. The seasonal SST range was higher near the tidal flat than in the open sea. The maximum seasonal range of coastal SST exceeded 23 °C, whereas the range in the open ocean was approximately 18 °C. The minimum and maximum horizontal SST gradients near the tidal flat were approximately − 0.76 °C/10 km in December and 1.31 °C/10 km in June, respectively. The heating of sea water by tidal flats in spring and summer, and cooling in the fall and winter might result in a large horizontal SST gradient. The estimated heat flux from the tidal flat to the seawater based on the SST distribution shows seasonal change ranging from − 4.85 to 6.72 W/m2.
Exploring the magnetohydrodynamic stretched flow of Williamson Maxwell nanofluid through porous matrix over a permeated sheet with bioconvection and activation energy
Authors: Abdal Sohaib , Siddique Imran , Alrowaili Dalal , Al-Mdallal Qasem , Hussain Sajjad
Published: January 2022

The evolution of compact density heat gadgets demands effective thermal transportation. The notion of nanofluid plays active role for this requirements. A comparative account for Maxwell nanofluids and Williamson nanofluid is analyzed. The bioconvection of self motive microorganisms, non Fourier heat flux and activation energy are new aspects of this study. This article elaborates the effects of viscous dissipation, Cattaneo–Christov diffusion for Maxwell and Williamson nanofluid transportation that occurs due to porous stretching sheet. The higher order non-linear partial differential equations are solved by using similarity transformations and a new set of ordinary differential equations is formed. For numerical purpose, Runge–Kutta method with shooting technique is applied. Matlab plateform is used for computational procedure. The graphs for various profiles .i.e. velocity, temperature, concentration and concentration of motile micro-organisms are revealed for specific non-dimensional parameters. It is observed that enhancing the magnetic parameter M, the velocity of fluid decreases but opposite behavior happens for temperature, concentration and motile density profile. Also the motile density profile decrease down for Pe and Lb. The skin friction coefficient is enhanced for both the Williamson and Maxwell fluid.
Construction of a colorimetric sensor array based on the coupling reaction to identify phenols
Authors: Zhong Haotian , Xue Yuting , Liu Bin , Chen Zhengbo , Li Kai , Zuo Xia
Published: January 2022

We report a colorimetric sensor array, which uses two nanozymes as electronic tongues for fingerprint identification of six phenols. The six phenols at 50 nM have their own response patterns. The sensor array had distinguished the six phenols in actual samples successfully.
Hyaluronan-coated Prussian blue nanoparticles relieve LPS-induced peritonitis by suppressing oxidative species generation in tissue-resident macrophages
Authors: Mathew Ansuja Pulickal , Rajendrakumar Santhosh Kalash , Mohapatra Adityanarayan , Vasukutty Arathy , Revuri Vishnu , Mondal Jagannath , Lee Yong-Kyu , Lee Jae Young , Park In-Kyu
Published: January 2022

A versatile anti-inflammatory agent, hyaluronic acid-coated Prussian blue (HAPB) nanoparticles mitigated systemic inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) through scavenging intracellular hydrogen peroxide in tissue-resident macrophages.
Water extract ofFerula lehmanni Boiss.prevents high-fat diet-induced overweight and liver injury by modulating the intestinal microbiota in mice
Authors: Ye Yuting , Shi Lin , Wang Peng , Yang Minmin , Zhan Ping , Tian Honglei , Liu Jianshu
Published: January 2022

In this paper, we investigated the main mechanism by which WEFL prevents HFD-induced weight gain, liver steatosis, and liver injury in mice, and found that this beneficial effect is mainly derived from polyphenols.
Plasmonic nanobar-on-mirror antenna with giant local chirality: a new platform for ultrafast chiral single-photon emission
Authors: Hu Huatian , Chen Wen , Han Xiaobo , Wang Kai , Lu Peixiang
Published: January 2022

A new design for ultrafast chiral single-photon emission using a plasmonic nanobar-on-mirror antenna. Simultaneously, giant Purcell factors (Fp > 1000 folds) with high degree of circular polarization (DCP > 70%) are expected.
Dual agonist immunostimulatory nanoparticles combine with PD1 blockade for curative neoadjuvant immunotherapy of aggressive cancers
Authors: Atukorale Prabhani U. , Moon Taylor J. , Bokatch Alexandr R. , Lusi Christina F. , Routhier Jackson T. , Deng Victoria J. , Karathanasis Efstathios
Published: January 2022

Neoadjuvant combination immunotherapy based on a potent immunostimulatory nanoparticle resulted in significant efficacy, curative responses, and protective immunological memory.
Ultrafine Mo2C nanoparticles embedded in an MOF derived N and P co-doped carbon matrix for an efficient electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction in zinc–air batteries
Authors: Ye Lin , Ying Yiran , Sun Dengrong , Qiao Jinli , Huang Haitao
Published: January 2022

Ultrafine Mo2C (1.5–2.0 nm) highly dispersed in a porous N/P co-doped carbon matrix derived from molybdenum-based polyoxometalates (PMo12) encapsulated in ZIF-8 shows excellent performance in an ORR and zinc–air batteries.
Diazaborines oxidize slowly with H2O2 but rapidly with peroxynitrite in aqueous buffer
Authors: Haggett Jack G. , Han Gun Su , Moser Angela R. , Golzwarden Julian V. A. , Vyas Shubham , Domaille Dylan W.
Published: January 2022

Diazaborines react slowly with H2O2 but rapidly with ONOO−, offering a new platform for discriminating between these two cellular ROS.
A general model for the ideal chain length distributions of polymers made with reversible deactivation
Authors: Kearns Madison M. , Morley Colleen N. , Parkatzidis Kostas , Whitfield Richard , Sponza Alvaro D. , Chakma Progyateg , De Alwis Watuthanthrige Nethmi , Chiu Melanie , Anastasaki Athina , Konkolewicz Dominik
Published: January 2022

A general model is developed for the distribution of polymers made with reversible deactivation. The model is applied to a range of experimental systems including RAFT, cationic and ATRP.
Synergic effect of aqueous extracts of Ocimum sanctum and Trigonella foenum-graecum L on the in situ green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and as a preventative agent against antibiotic-resistant food spoiling organisms
Authors: Changez Mohammad , Anwar Mohammad Faiyaz , Al-Ghenaime Said , Kapoor Sumeet , Balushi Rayya Al , Chaudhuri Antara
Published: January 2022

Combining Ocimum sanctum and Trigonella foenum-graecum L leaf water extracts synergistically act as a reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of narrow polydisperse silver nanoparticles with controlled sizes depending on the precursor (AgNO3) concentration.
Phenylene segments of zigzag carbon nanotubes synthesized by metal-mediated dimerization
Authors: Chen Xuan-Wen , Chu Ke-Shan , Wei Rong-Jing , Qiu Zhen-Lin , Tang Chun , Tan Yuan-Zhi
Published: January 2022

Two types of macrocycles were synthesized by gold-mediated dimerization, representing the phenylene cutouts of zigzag carbon nanotubes. These macrocycles showed intriguing optical and supramolecular assembly properties.
Microstructured nitrogen-doped graphene-Sn composites as a negative electrode for high performance lithium-ion hybrid supercapacitors
Authors: Granados-Moreno Miguel , Moreno-Fernández Gelines , Cid Rosalía , Gómez-Urbano Juan Luis , Carriazo Daniel
Published: January 2022

Microstructured nitrogen-doped graphene-Sn synthetized in one step for high performance and long-term cycling stability lithium-ion capacitors.
Mesoporous Co–O–C nanosheets for electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide in acidic medium
Authors: Jing Lingyan , Tian Qiang , Su Panpan , Li Haitao , Zheng Yao , Tang Cheng , Liu Jian
Published: January 2022

Mesoporous Co–O–C nanosheets enabled highly active, stable, and selective H2O2 electrosynthesis in acid. Practical application was demonstrated via the effective electro-Fenton degradation of organic pollutants for on-site/-demand water treatment.
Correction: Thiostannate coordination transformation-induced self-crosslinking chalcogenide aerogel with local coordination control and effective Cs+ remediation functionality
Authors: Kang Yeo Kyung , Lee Heehyeon , Cam Ha Thanh Duy , Won Jong Kook , Jo Hongil , Ok Kang Min , Ahn Sangdoo , Kang Byungman , Ahn Kyunghan , Oh Youngtak , Kim Myung-Gil
Published: January 2022

Correction for ‘Thiostannate coordination transformation-induced self-crosslinking chalcogenide aerogel with local coordination control and effective Cs+ remediation functionality’ by Yeo Kyung Kang et al., J. Mater. Chem. A, 2020, 8, 3468–3480, DOI: 10.1039/C9TA11282K.
A solution-processable near-infrared thermally activated delayed fluorescent dye with a fused aromatic acceptor and aggregation induced emission behavior
Authors: Congrave Daniel G. , Drummond Bluebell H. , Gu Qinying , Montanaro Stephanie , Francis Haydn , Riesgo-González Víctor , Zeng Weixuan , Matthews Campbell S. B. , Dowland Simon , Wright Iain A. , Grey Clare P. , Friend Richard H. , Bronstein Hugo
Published: January 2022

Here a new electron donor is developed to endow a near-IR TADF molecule with good solubility for solution processing and AIE behavior. This is the first AIE TADF material with all PL > 700 nm.
Comparing the microstructure and photovoltaic performance of 3 perylene imide acceptors with similar energy levels but different packing tendencies
Authors: Adel Rana , Gala Elena , Alonso-Navarro Matías J. , Gutierrez-Fernandez Edgar , Martín Jaime , Stella Marco , Martinez-Ferrero Eugenia , de la Peña Alejandro , Harbuzaru Alexandra , Ramos M. Mar , Ortiz Rocío Ponce , Segura José L. , Campoy-Quiles Mariano
Published: January 2022

We have synthetized a series of perylene imide molecules with varying structure from planar to three-dimensional. The best photovoltaic performance is obtained when each acceptor is paired with a donor polymer with complementary packing tendency.