bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Perceived Social Support: Differences by Sex and Relationship
Authors: Coventry William L. , Gillespie Nathan A. , Heath Andrew C. , Martin Nicholas G.
Published: January 2022

Previous research has shown that self-reports of the amount of social support are heritable. Using the Kessler perceived social support (KPSS) measure, we explored sex differences in the genetic and environmental contributions to individual differences. We did this separately for subscales that captured the perceived support from different members of the network (spouse, twin, children, parents, relatives, friends and confidant). Our sample comprised 7059 male, female and opposite-sex twin pairs aged 18−95 years from the Australian Twin Registry. We found tentative support for different genetic mechanisms in males and females for support from friends and the average KPSS score of all subscales, but otherwise, there are no sex differences. For each subscale alone, the additive genetic (A) and unique environment (E) effects were significant. By contrast, the covariation among the subscales was explained — in roughly equal parts — by A, E and the common environment, with effects of different support constellations plausibly accounting for the latter. A single genetic and common environment factor accounted for between half and three-quarters of the variance across the subscales in both males and females, suggesting little heterogeneity in the genetic and environmental etiology of the different support sources.
Diversity of Growth Rates Maximizes Phytoplankton Productivity in an Eddying Ocean
Authors: Freilich Mara A. , Flierl Glenn , Mahadevan Amala
Published: January 2022

In the subtropical gyres, phytoplankton rely on eddies for transporting nutrients from depth to the euphotic zone. But, what controls the rate of nutrient supply for new production? We show that vertical nutrient flux both depends on the vertical motion within the eddying flow and varies nonlinearly with the phytoplankton growth rate. Flux is maximized when the growth rate matches the inverse of the decorrelation timescale for vertical motion. Using a three‐dimensional ocean model and a linear nutrient uptake model, we find that phytoplankton productivity is maximized for a growth rate of 1/3 day−1, which corresponds to the timescale of submesoscale dynamics. Variability in the frequency of vertical motion across different physical features of the flow favors phytoplankton production with different growth rates. Such a growth‐transport feedback can generate diversity in the phytoplankton community structure at submesoscales and higher net productivity in the presence of community diversity.
ANU GRACE Data Analysis: Orbit Modeling, Regularization and Inter‐satellite Range Acceleration Observations
Authors: Allgeyer S. , Tregoning P. , McQueen H. , McClusky S. C. , Potter E.‐K. , Pfeffer J. , McGirr R. , Purcell A. P. , Herring T. A. , Montillet J.‐P.
Published: January 2022

Several different basis functions have been used to represent the Earth's gravity field in order to generate estimates of mass variations on Earth from the analysis of data of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (grace) and its successor grace Follow‐On missions, including spherical harmonics, mass concentration elements (mascons) and slepian functions. Each approach depends inherently upon accurate modeling of the orbits of the pair of satellites as they revolve around the Earth, so that the observations of inter‐satellite changes in range (or, more specifically, range rate) can be exploited to identify mass variations. We have developed software using a classical orbit modeling approach, mascons and 24‐hr orbit integration, to estimate simultaneously corrections to orbital parameters and the temporal gravity field from grace data. Rather than using the range rate, we use the range acceleration as the inter‐satellite observable as it aids in localizing the mass variations. Level‐1 B range acceleration observations contain high levels of high‐frequency noise that inhibits their usefulness for this purpose. Instead, we generate range acceleration observations by numerical differentiation of the Level‐1B range rate prefit residuals. Simulations show that the gravity signal is not attenuated in this process. Our monthly estimates of mass anomalies from grace data (2003–2016) agree well with previous studies, both spatially and temporally. When converted to spherical harmonics our time series of C2,0, derived from grace data alone, are close to the independent estimates from satellite laser ranging, but the overall solution is improved by substituting the SLR C2,0.
The Influence of the Ailaoshan‐Red River Shear Zone on the Mineralization of the Beiya Deposit on the Southeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau Revealed by a 3‐D Magnetotelluric Survey
Authors: Yu Nian , Wang Enci , Wang Xuben , Kong Wenxin , Li Dewei , Li Ruiheng
Published: January 2022

The Beiya gold polymetallic ore deposit is one of the largest gold deposit in the world. Previous studies have suggested the formation of the Beiya deposit is closely related to the porphyritic alkaline intrusions. Different tectonic models have been proposed by geologists to explain the alkaline intrusions. However, no consensus has been reached and data for imaging of the deep crustal structure is lacking. In this study, we use magnetotelluric data to image the 3‐D crustal structure beneath the Beiya deposit and adjacent areas. The 3‐D electrical resistivity model is characterized by two conductors and three resistors, which depicts the magmatic system and fluids migration path related to the Beiya deposit. One shallow conductor beneath the Beiya deposit is suggested to represent a cooled magma chamber, which provided essential heat and metal‐rich fluids to the Beiya deposit. The shallow conductor is connected to a deep conductor located beneath the Ailaoshan‐Red River shear zone. Thus, magmas originated from mantle upwelling in an extensional tectonic background is believed to provide the heat that melted the crust and generated intermediate melts, the Ailaoshan‐Red River shear zone is proposed to facilitate ascending of partial melts from the base of the crust. Moreover, two resistors encircles the shallow conductor at upper crustal depths could have acted as an impermeable barrier that helped further subtraction of metal‐rich fluids. The Beiya gold polymetallic deposit is believed to be a typical porphyry‐skarn deposit formed closely related to the Ailaoshan‐Red River shear zone in an extensional tectonic setting.
Decadal Variabilities in Tropospheric Nitrogen Oxides Over United States, Europe, and China
Authors: Jiang Zhe , Zhu Rui , Miyazaki Kazuyuki , McDonald Brian C. , Klimont Zbigniew , Zheng Bo , Boersma K. Folkert , Zhang Qiang , Worden Helen , Worden John R. , Henze Daven K. , Jones Dylan B. A. , Denier van der Gon Hugo A. C. , Eskes Henk
Published: January 2022

Global trends in tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have changed dramatically in the past decade. Here, we investigate tropospheric NO2 variabilities over United States, Europe, and E. China in 2005–2018 to explore the mechanisms governing the variation of this critical pollutant. We found large uncertainties in the trends of anthropogenic nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, for example, the reductions of NOx emissions, derived with different approaches and data sets, are in the range of 35%–50% over the United States and 15%–45% over Europe in 2005–2018. By contrast, the analysis in this work indicates declines of anthropogenic NOx emissions by about 40% and 25% over the United States and Europe, respectively, in 2005–2018, and about 20% over E. China in 2012–2018. However, the shift of major NOx sources from power generation to industrial and transportation sectors has led to noticeable diminishing effects in emission controls. Furthermore, satellite measurements exhibit the influence of NO2 background levels over the United States and Europe, which offset the impacts of anthropogenic emission declines, resulting in flatter trends of tropospheric NO2 over the United States and Europe. Our analysis further reveals underestimation of background NO2 by chemical transport models, which can lead to inaccurate interpretations of satellite measurements. We use surface in‐situ NO2 observations to diagnose the satellite‐observed NO2 trends and find top‐down NOx emissions over urban grids represent the changes in anthropogenic NOx emissions better. This work highlights the importance of comprehensive applications of different analysis approaches to better characterizing atmospheric composition evolution.
Australian Fire Emissions of Carbon Monoxide Estimated by Global Biomass Burning Inventories: Variability and Observational Constraints
Authors: Desservettaz Maximilien J. , Fisher Jenny A. , Luhar Ashok K. , Woodhouse Matthew T. , Bukosa Beata , Buchholz Rebecca R. , Wiedinmyer Christine , Griffith David W. T. , Krummel Paul B. , Jones Nicholas B. , Deutscher Nicholas M. , Greenslade Jesse W.
Published: January 2022

Australian fires are a primary driver of variability in Australian atmospheric composition and contribute significantly to regional and global carbon budgets. However, biomass burning emissions from Australia remain highly uncertain. In this work, we use surface in situ, ground‐based total column and satellite total column observations to evaluate the ability of two global models (GEOS‐Chem and ACCESS‐UKCA) and three global biomass burning emission inventories (FINN1.5, GFED4s, and QFED2.4) to simulate carbon monoxide (CO) in the Australian atmosphere. We find that emissions from northern Australia savanna fires are substantially lower in FINN1.5 than in the other inventories. Model simulations driven by FINN1.5 are unable to reproduce either the magnitude or the variability of observed CO in northern Australia. The remaining two inventories perform similarly in reproducing the observed variability, although the larger emissions in QFED2.4 combined with an existing high bias in the southern hemisphere background lead to large CO biases. We therefore recommend GFED4s as the best option of the three for global modeling studies with focus on Australia or the Southern Hemisphere. Near fresh fire emissions, the higher resolution ACCESS‐UKCA model is better able to simulate surface CO than GEOS‐Chem, while GEOS‐Chem captures more of the observed variability in the total column and remote surface air measurements. We also show that existing observations in Australia can only partially constrain global model estimates of biomass burning. Continuous measurements in fire‐prone parts of Australia are needed, along with updates to global biomass burning inventories that are validated with Australian data.
On the Precipitation‐Induced Uncertainties in Process‐Based Hydrological Modeling in the Mekong River Basin
Authors: Kabir Tamanna , Pokhrel Yadu , Felfelani Farshid
Published: January 2022

Numerous studies have examined the reliability of various precipitation products over the Mekong River Basin (MRB) and modeled its basin hydrology. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies on precipitation‐induced uncertainties in hydrological simulations using process‐based land surface models. This study examines the propagation of precipitation uncertainty into hydrological simulations over the entire MRB using the Community Land Model version 5 (CLM5) at a high spatial resolution of 0.05° (∼5 km) and without any parameter calibration. Simulations conducted using different precipitation datasets are compared to investigate the discrepancies in streamflow, terrestrial water storage (TWS), soil moisture, and evapotranspiration (ET) caused by precipitation uncertainty. Results indicate that precipitation is a key determinant of simulated streamflow in the MRB; peak flow and soil moisture are particularly sensitive to precipitation input. Further, precipitation data with a higher spatial resolution did not improve the simulations, contrary to the common perception that using meteorological forcing with higher spatial resolution would improve hydrological simulations. In addition, since high flow indicators are particularly influenced by precipitation data, the choice of precipitation data could directly impact flood pulse simulations in the MRB. Notable differences are also found among TWS, soil moisture, and ET simulated using different precipitation products. Moreover, TWS, soil moisture, and ET exhibit a varying degree of sensitivity to precipitation uncertainty. This study provides crucial insights on precipitation‐induced uncertainties in process‐based hydrological modeling and uncovers these uncertainties in the MRB.
ZC3H15 promotes gastric cancer progression by targeting the FBXW7/c-Myc pathway
Authors: Hou Jianbing , Huang Pan , Lan Chao , Geng Shengjun , Xu Minghao , Liu Yudong , Chang Hongbo , Wang Zhongze , Gu Hongyu , Wang Yi , Yang Guang , Cui Hongjuan
Published: January 2022

Zinc finger CCCH-type containing 15 (ZC3H15), a highly conserved eukaryotic protein, which was associated with several cellular processes and was ubiquitously expressed in various human tissues. Recent studies indicated that ZC3H15 was involved in tumorigenesis and may be a potential biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the biological function and molecular mechanism of ZC3H15 in gastric cancer (GC) have not been studied. In this study, we revealed that ZC3H15 was highly expressed in GC and high ZC3H15 expression was closely linked to poor survival of patients with GC. We found that ZC3H15 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by increasing c-Myc expression. Next, we found that ZC3H15 could modulate c-Myc protein stability by suppressing the transcription of FBXW7, which was mainly responsible for c-Myc degradation. Moreover, silencing of FBXW7 in ZC3H15-knockdown GC cells could partly abrogate the effects induced by ZC3H15 downregulation. Taken together, our data unearth the important roles of ZC3H15 in GC development and suggest that ZC3H15 may be a potential target for the treatment of GC.
Unexpected thermal conductivity enhancement in aperiodic superlattices discovered using active machine learning
Authors: Roy Chowdhury Prabudhya , Ruan Xiulin
Published: January 2022

While machine learning (ML) has shown increasing effectiveness in optimizing materials properties under known physics, its application in discovering new physics remains challenging due to its interpolative nature. In this work, we demonstrate a general-purpose adaptive ML-accelerated search process that can discover unexpected lattice thermal conductivity (κl) enhancement in aperiodic superlattices (SLs) as compared to periodic superlattices, with implications for thermal management of multilayer-based electronic devices. We use molecular dynamics simulations for high-fidelity calculations of κl, along with a convolutional neural network (CNN) which can rapidly predict κl for a large number of structures. To ensure accurate prediction for the target unknown SLs, we iteratively identify aperiodic SLs with structural features leading to locally enhanced thermal transport and include them as additional training data for the CNN. The identified structures exhibit increased coherent phonon transport owing to the presence of closely spaced interfaces.
Behavioural and neuroplastic effects of a double-blind randomised controlled balance exercise trial in people with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Freidle Malin , Johansson Hanna , Ekman Urban , Lebedev Alexander V. , Schalling Ellika , Thompson William H. , Svenningsson Per , Lövdén Martin , Abney Alonso , Albrecht Franziska , Steurer Hanna , Leavy Breiffni , Holmin Staffan , Hagströmer Maria , Franzén Erika
Published: January 2022

Balance dysfunction is a disabling symptom in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Evidence suggests that exercise can improve balance performance and induce neuroplastic effects. We hypothesised that a 10-week balance intervention (HiBalance) would improve balance, other motor and cognitive symptoms, and alter task-evoked brain activity in people with PD. We performed a double-blind randomised controlled trial (RCT) where 95 participants with PD were randomised to either HiBalance (n = 48) or a control group (n = 47). We found no significant group by time effect on balance performance (b = 0.4 95% CI [−1, 1.9], p = 0.57) or on our secondary outcomes, including the measures of task-evoked brain activity. The findings of this well-powered, double-blind RCT contrast previous studies of the HiBalance programme but are congruent with other double-blind RCTs of physical exercise in PD. The divergent results raise important questions on how to optimise physical exercise interventions for people with PD.

Preregistration clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03213873.
A kinematic and EMG dataset of online adjustment of reach-to-grasp movements to visual perturbations
Authors: Furmanek Mariusz P. , Mangalam Madhur , Yarossi Mathew , Lockwood Kyle , Tunik Eugene
Published: January 2022

Control of reach-to-grasp movements for deft and robust interactions with objects requires rapid sensorimotor updating that enables online adjustments to changing external goals (e.g., perturbations or instability of objects we interact with). Rarely do we appreciate the remarkable coordination in reach-to-grasp, until control becomes impaired by neurological injuries such as stroke, neurodegenerative diseases, or even aging. Modeling online control of human reach-to-grasp movements is a challenging problem but fundamental to several domains, including behavioral and computational neuroscience, neurorehabilitation, neural prostheses, and robotics. Currently, there are no publicly available datasets that include online adjustment of reach-to-grasp movements to object perturbations. This work aims to advance modeling efforts of reach-to-grasp movements by making publicly available a large kinematic and EMG dataset of online adjustment of reach-to-grasp movements to instantaneous perturbations of object size and distance performed in immersive haptic-free virtual environment (hf-VE). The presented dataset is composed of a large number of perturbation types (10 for both object size and distance) applied at three different latencies after the start of the movement.
Development and validation of a novel qualitative test for plasma fibrinogen utilizing clot waveform analysis
Authors: Suzuki Atsuo , Suzuki Nobuaki , Kanematsu Takeshi , Shinohara Sho , Kurono Hiroshi , Arai Nobuo , Okamoto Shuichi , Suzuki Naruko , Tamura Shogo , Kikuchi Ryosuke , Katsumi Akira , Kojima Tetsuhito , Matsushita Tadashi
Published: January 2022

Plasma fibrinogen is commonly examined by Clauss fibrinogen assay, which cannot distinguish between quantitative and qualitative fibrinogen anomalies. However, our previously reported Clauss fibrinogen assay utilizing clot waveform analysis (Clauss-CWA) provides additional information that contributes to the classification of fibrinogen anomalies. In this study, we adopted the Clauss-CWA method for an autoanalyzer to automatically measure the antigenic estimate (eAg) of fibrinogen in addition to the functional amount (Ac), and to thus provide the Ac/eAg ratio as a qualitative indicator. Performance was validated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and precision recall (PR) curve analyses using a patient cohort, consisting of a training cohort (n = 519) and a validation cohort (n = 523), both of which contained cases of congenital (hypo)dysfibrinogenemia as qualitative defects. We obtained an optimal cutoff of 0.65 for Ac/eAg by ROC curve analysis of the training cohort, offering superior sensitivity (> 0.9661) and specificity (1.000). This cutoff was validated in the validation cohort, providing positive predictive value > 0.933 and negative predictive value > 0.998. PR curve analysis also showed that Clauss-CWA provided excellent performance for detecting qualitative fibrinogen anomalies. The Clauss-CWA method may represent a useful approach for detecting qualitative fibrinogen abnormalities in routine laboratory testing.
Electrophysiological evidence of the amodal representation of symmetry in extrastriate areas
Authors: Rampone Giulia , Adam Martyna , Makin Alexis D. J. , Tyson-Carr John , Bertamini Marco
Published: January 2022

Extrastriate visual areas are strongly activated by image symmetry. Less is known about symmetry representation at object-level rather than image-level. Here we investigated electrophysiological responses to symmetry, generated by amodal completion of partially-occluded polygon shapes. We used a similar paradigm in four experiments (N = 112). A fully-visible abstract shape (either symmetric or asymmetric) was presented for 250 ms (t0). A large rectangle covered it entirely for 250 ms (t1) and then moved to one side to reveal one half of the shape hidden behind (t2, 1000 ms). Note that at t2 no symmetry could be extracted from retinal image information. In half of the trials the shape was the same as previously presented, in the other trials it was replaced by a novel shape. Participants matched shapes similarity (Exp. 1 and Exp. 2), or their colour (Exp. 3) or the orientation of a triangle superimposed to the shapes (Exp. 4). The fully-visible shapes (t0–t1) elicited automatic symmetry-specific ERP responses in all experiments. Importantly, there was anexposure-dependent symmetry-response to the occluded shapes that were recognised as previously seen (t2). Exp. 2 and Exp.4 confirmed this second ERP (t2) did not reflect a reinforcement of a residual carry-over response from t0. We conclude that the extrastriate symmetry-network can achieve amodal representation of symmetry from occluded objects that have been previously experienced as wholes.
Phosphorylation of endogenous α-synuclein induced by extracellular seeds initiates at the pre-synaptic region and spreads to the cell body
Authors: Awa Shiori , Suzuki Genjiro , Masuda-Suzukake Masami , Nonaka Takashi , Saito Minoru , Hasegawa Masato
Published: January 2022

Accumulation of phosphorylated α-synuclein aggregates has been implicated in several diseases, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and is thought to spread in a prion-like manner. Elucidating the mechanisms of prion-like transmission of α-synuclein is important for the development of therapies for these diseases, but little is known about the details. Here, we injected α-synuclein fibrils into the brains of wild-type mice and examined the early phase of the induction of phosphorylated α-synuclein accumulation. We found that phosphorylated α-synuclein appeared within a few days after the intracerebral injection. It was observed initially in presynaptic regions and subsequently extended its localization to axons and cell bodies.　These results suggest that extracellular α-synuclein fibrils are taken up into the presynaptic region and seed-dependently convert the endogenous normal α-synuclein that is abundant there to an abnormal phosphorylated form, which is then transported through the axon to the cell body.
Complex networks analysis reinforces centrality hematological role on aerobic–anaerobic performances of the Brazilian Paralympic endurance team after altitude training
Authors: Breda Fabio Leandro , Manchado-Gobatto Fúlvia Barros , de Barros Sousa Filipe Antônio , Beck Wladimir Rafael , Pinto Allan , Papoti Marcelo , Scariot Pedro Paulo Menezes , Gobatto Claudio Alexandre
Published: January 2022

This study investigated the 30-days altitude training (2500 m, LHTH-live and training high) on hematological responses and aerobic–anaerobic performances parameters of high-level Paralympic athletes. Aerobic capacity was assessed by 3000 m run, and anaerobic variables (velocity, force and mechanical power) by a maximal 30-s semi-tethered running test (AO30). These assessments were carried out at low altitude before (PRE) and after LHTH (5–6 and 15–16 days, POST1 and POST2, respectively). During LHTH, hematological analyzes were performed on days 1, 12, 20 and 30. After LHTH, aerobic performance decreased 1.7% in POST1, but showed an amazing increase in POST2 (15.4 s reduction in the 3000 m test, 2.8%). Regarding anaerobic parameters, athletes showed a reduction in velocity, force and power in POST1, but velocity and power returned to their initial conditions in POST2. In addition, all participants had higher hemoglobin (Hb) values at the end of LHTH (30 days), but at POST2 these results were close to those of PRE. The centrality metrics obtained by complex networks (pondered degree, pagerank and betweenness) in the PRE and POST2 scenarios highlighted hemoglobin, hematocrit (Hct) and minimum force, velocity and power, suggesting these variables on the way to increasing endurance performance. The Jaccard’s distance metrics showed dissimilarity between the PRE and POST2 graphs, and Hb and Hct as more prominent nodes for all centrality metrics. These results indicate that adaptive process from LHTH was highlighted by the complex networks, which can help understanding the better aerobic performance at low altitude after 16 days in Paralympic athletes.
Assessing rodents as carriers of pathogenic Leptospira species in the U.S. Virgin Islands and their risk to animal and public health
Authors: Hamond Camila , Browne A. Springer , de Wilde Leah H. , Hornsby Richard L. , LeCount Karen , Anderson Tammy , Stuber Tod , Cranford Hannah M. , Browne Stephanie K. , Blanchard Gerard , Horner David , Taylor Marissa L. , Evans Michael , Angeli Nicole F. , Roth Joseph , Bisgard Kristine M. , Salzer Johanna S. , Schafer Ilana J. , Ellis Brett R. , Alt David P. , Schlater Linda , Nally Jarlath E. , Ellis Esther M.
Published: January 2022

Leptospirosis is a global zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. We sought to determine if rodents in U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) are carriers of Leptospira. In total, 140 rodents were sampled, including 112 Mus musculus and 28 Rattus rattus. A positive carrier status was identified for 64/140 (45.7%); 49 (35.0%) were positive by dark-field microscopy, 60 (42.9%) by culture, 63 (45.0%) by fluorescent antibody testing, and 61 (43.6%) by real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR). Molecular typing indicated that 48 isolates were L. borgpetersenii and 3 were L. kirschneri; the remaining nine comprised mixed species. In the single culture-negative sample that was rtPCR positive, genotyping directly from the kidney identified L. interrogans. Serotyping of L. borgpetersenii isolates identified serogroup Ballum and L. kirschneri isolates as serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae. These results demonstrate that rodents are significant Leptospira carriers and adds to understanding the ecoepidemiology of leptospirosis in USVI.
Quantification of surface charging memory effect in ionization wave dynamics
Authors: Viegas Pedro , Slikboer Elmar , Bonaventura Zdenek , Garcia-Caurel Enric , Guaitella Olivier , Sobota Ana , Bourdon Anne
Published: January 2022

The dynamics of ionization waves (IWs) in atmospheric pressure discharges is fundamentally determined by the electric polarity (positive or negative) at which they are generated and by the presence of memory effects, i.e. leftover charges and reactive species that influence subsequent IWs. This work examines and compares positive and negative IWs in pulsed plasma jets (1 $$\upmu $$
μ
s on-time), showing the difference in their nature and the different resulting interaction with a dielectric BSO target. For the first time, it is shown that a surface charging memory effect is produced, i.e. that a significant amount of surface charges and electric field remain in the target in between discharge pulses (200 $$\upmu $$
μ
s off-time). This memory effect directly impacts IW dynamics and is especially important when using negative electric polarity. The results suggest that the remainder of surface charges is due to the lack of charged particles in the plasma near the target, which avoids a full neutralization of the target. This demonstration and the quantification of the memory effect are possible for the first time by using an unique approach, assessing the electric field inside a dielectric material through the combination of an advanced experimental technique called Mueller polarimetry and state-of-the-art numerical simulations.
Predictors of stroke favorable functional outcome in Guinea, results from the Conakry stroke registry
Authors: Cisse Fode Abass , Ligot Noémie , Conde Kaba , Barry Djigué Souleymane , Toure Lamine Mohamed , Konate Mamadi , Soumah Mohamed Fode , Diawara Karinka , Traore Mohamed , Naeije Gilles
Published: January 2022

Low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) now bear most of the stroke burden. In LMICs, stroke epidemiology and health care systems are different from HICs. Therefore, a high-income country (HIC)-based predictive model may not correspond to the LMIC stroke context. Identify the impact of modifiable variables in acute stroke management in Conakry, Guinea as potential predictors of favorable stroke outcome. Data were extracted from the Conakry stroke registry that includes 1018 patients. A logistic regression model was built to predict favorable stroke outcomes, defined as mRS 0–2. Age, admission NIHSS score, mean arterial blood pressure and capillary glycemia were chosen as covariates. Delay to brain CT imaging under 24 h from symptom onset, fever, presence of sores and abnormal lung auscultation were included as factors. NIHSS score on admission, age and ischemic stroke were included in the null model as nuisance parameters to determine the contribution of modifiable variables to predict stroke favorable outcome. Lower admission NIHSS, brain CT imaging within 24 h of symptoms onset and lower mean arterial blood pressure emerged as a significant positive predictors of favorable stroke outcome with respective odd ratios (OR) of 1.35 [1.28–1.43], 2.1 [1.16–3.8] and 1.01 [1.01–1.04]. The presence of fever or sores impacted negatively stroke favorable outcomes with OR of 0.3 [0.1–0.85] and 0.25 [0.14–0.45]. The area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of the model was 0.86. This model explained 44.5% of the variability of the favorable stroke outcome with 10.2% of the variability explained by the modifiable variables when admission NIHSS, and ischemic stroke were included in the null model as nuisance parameter. In the Conakry stroke registry, using a logistic regression to predict stroke favorable outcome, five variables that led to an AUC of 0.86: admission NIHSS, early brain CT imaging, fever, sores and mean blood pressure. This paves the way for future public health interventions to test whether modulating amendable variables leads to increased favorable stroke outcomes in LMICs.
Impact of reduced uterine perfusion pressure model of preeclampsia on metabolism of placenta, maternal and fetal hearts
Authors: McClements Lana , Richards Claire , Patel Nikayla , Chen Hao , Sesperez Kimberly , Bubb Kristen J. , Karlstaedt Anja , Aksentijevic Dunja
Published: January 2022

Preeclampsia is a cardiovascular pregnancy complication characterised by new onset hypertension and organ damage or intrauterine growth restriction. It is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal mortality in pregnancy globally. Short of pre-term delivery of the fetus and placenta, treatment options are limited. Consequently, preeclampsia leads to increased cardiovascular disease risk in both mothers and offspring later in life. Here we aim to examine the impact of the reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model of preeclampsia on the maternal cardiovascular system, placental and fetal heart metabolism. The surgical RUPP model was induced in pregnant rats by applying silver clips around the aorta and uterine arteries on gestational day 14, resulting in ~ 40% uterine blood flow reduction. The experiment was terminated on gestational day 19 and metabolomic profile of placentae, maternal and fetal hearts analysed using high-resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy. Impairment of uterine perfusion in RUPP rats caused placental and cardiac hypoxia and a series of metabolic adaptations: altered energetics, carbohydrate, lipid and amino acid metabolism of placentae and maternal hearts. Comparatively, the fetal metabolic phenotype was mildly affected. Nevertheless, long-term effects of these changes in both mothers and the offspring should be investigated further in the future.
Noise exposure levels predict blood levels of the inner ear protein prestin
Authors: Parker Ashley , Parham Kourosh , Skoe Erika
Published: January 2022

Serological biomarkers of inner ear proteins are a promising new approach for studying human hearing. Here, we focus on the serological measurement of prestin, a protein integral to a human’s highly sensitive hearing, expressed in cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs). Building from recent nonhuman studies that associated noise-induced OHC trauma with reduced serum prestin levels, and studies suggesting subclinical hearing damage in humans regularly engaging in noisy activities, we investigated the relation between serum prestin levels and environmental noise levels in young adults with normal clinical audiograms. We measured prestin protein levels from circulating blood and collected noise level data multiple times over the course of the experiment using body-worn sound recorders. Results indicate that serum prestin levels have a negative relation with noise exposure: individuals with higher routine noise exposure levels tended to have lower prestin levels. Moreover, when grouping participants based on their risk for a clinically-significant noise-induced hearing loss, we found that prestin levels differed significantly between groups, even though behavioral hearing thresholds were similar. We discuss possible interpretations for our findings including whether lower serum levels may reflect subclinical levels of OHC damage, or possibly an adaptive, protective mechanism in which prestin expression is downregulated in response to loud environments.
New risk scoring system for predicting 3-month mortality after acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Sakamoto Susumu , Shimizu Hiroshige , Isshiki Takuma , Nakamura Yasuhiko , Usui Yusuke , Kurosaki Atsuko , isobe Kazutoshi , Takai Yujiro , Homma Sakae
Published: January 2022

Acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) is often fatal. A straightforward staging system for AE-IPF would improve prognostication, guide patient management, and facilitate research. The aim of study is to develop a multidimensional prognostic AE-IPF staging system that uses commonly measured clinical variables. This retrospective study analyzed data from 353 consecutive patients with IPF admitted to our hospital during the period from January 2008 through January 2018. Multivariate analysis of information from a database of 103 recorded AE-IPF cases was used to identify factors associated with 3-month mortality. A clinical prediction model for AE-IPF was developed by using these retrospective data. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of this model. Logistic regression analysis showed that PaO2/FiO2 ratio, diffuse HRCT pattern, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly associated with 3-month mortality; thus, PaO2/FiO2 ratio < 250 (P), CRP ≥ 5.5 (C), and diffuse HRCT pattern (radiological) (R) were included in the final model. A model using continuous predictors and a simple point-scoring system (PCR index) was developed. For the PCR index, the area under the ROC curve was 0.7686 (P < 0.0001). The sensitivity of the scoring system was 78.6% and specificity was 67.8%. The PCR index identified four severity grades (0, 1, 2, and 3), which were associated with a 3-month mortality of 7.7%, 29.4%, 54.8%, and 80%, respectively. The present PCR models using commonly measured clinical and radiologic variables predicted 3-month mortality in patients with AE-IPF.
Priming cardiovascular exercise improves complex motor skill learning by affecting the trajectory of learning-related brain plasticity
Authors: Lehmann Nico , Villringer Arno , Taubert Marco
Published: January 2022

In recent years, mounting evidence from animal models and studies in humans has accumulated for the role of cardiovascular exercise (CE) in improving motor performance and learning. Both CE and motor learning may induce highly dynamic structural and functional brain changes, but how both processes interact to boost learning is presently unclear. Here, we hypothesized that subjects receiving CE would show a different pattern of learning-related brain plasticity compared to non-CE controls, which in turn associates with improved motor learning. To address this issue, we paired CE and motor learning sequentially in a randomized controlled trial with healthy human participants. Specifically, we compared the effects of a 2-week CE intervention against a non-CE control group on subsequent learning of a challenging dynamic balancing task (DBT) over 6 consecutive weeks. Structural and functional MRI measurements were conducted at regular 2-week time intervals to investigate dynamic brain changes during the experiment. The trajectory of learning-related changes in white matter microstructure beneath parieto-occipital and primary sensorimotor areas of the right hemisphere differed between the CE vs. non-CE groups, and these changes correlated with improved learning of the CE group. While group differences in sensorimotor white matter were already present immediately after CE and persisted during DBT learning, parieto-occipital effects gradually emerged during motor learning. Finally, we found that spontaneous neural activity at rest in gray matter spatially adjacent to white matter findings was also altered, therefore indicating a meaningful link between structural and functional plasticity. Collectively, these findings may lead to a better understanding of the neural mechanisms mediating the CE-learning link within the brain.
Malignant prediction of incidental findings using ring-type dedicated breast positron emission tomography
Authors: Sasada Shinsuke , Masumoto Norio , Emi Akiko , Kadoya Takayuki , Okada Morihito
Published: January 2022

The classification according to uptake patterns and metabolic parameters on ring-type dedicated breast positron emission tomography (dbPET) is useful for detecting breast cancer. This study investigated the performance of dbPET for incidental findings that were not detected by mammography and ultrasonography. In 1,076 patients with breast cancer who underwent dbPET, 276 findings were incidentally diagnosed before treatment. Each finding was categorized as focus (uptake size ≤ 5 mm), mass (> 5 mm), or non-mass (multiple uptake) according to uptake patterns. Non-mass uptakes were additionally classified based on their distributions as—linear, focal, segmental, regional, or diffuse. Thirty-two findings (11.6%) were malignant and 244 (88.4%) were benign. Visually, 227 (82.3%) findings were foci, 7 (2.5%) were masses, and 42 (15.2%) were non-masses. Malignant rates of focus, mass, and non-mass were 9.7%, 28.6%, and 19.0%, respectively. In the non-mass findings, 23 were regional and diffuse distributions, and presented as benign lesions. Focus uptake with low lesion-to-background ratio (LBR) and no hereditary risk were relatively low (2.7%) in breast cancer. In multivariate analysis, LBR and hereditary risk were significantly associated with breast cancer (p = 0.006 and p = 0.013, respectively). Uptake patterns, LBR, and hereditary risk are useful for predicting breast cancer risk in incidental dbPET findings.
A cucurbit[8]uril-stabilized 3D charge transfer supramolecular polymer with a remarkable confinement effect for enhanced photocatalytic proton reduction and thioether oxidation
Authors: Lei Zhuo , Li Qian , Sun Jian-Da , Wang Ze-Kun , Wang Hui , Li Zhan-Ting , Zhang Dan-Wei
Published: January 2022

A water-soluble porous supramolecular polymer is assembled through a CB[8]-based 2 + 2 host–guest binding motif, which can greatly increase the efficiency of photocatalysis.
Electrochemical reduction of NO catalyzed by boron-doped C60 fullerene: a first-principles study
Authors: Saeidi Nasibeh , Esrafili Mehdi D. , Jahanbin Sardroodi Jaber
Published: January 2022

Using DFT calculations, the potential of B-doped C60 fullerene is evaluated for electrochemical reduction of nitrogen monoxide. The B-doped C60 exhibits exceptional catalytic activity and high selectivity for reduction of nitrogen monoxide.
Integrated in silico – in vitro strategy for the discovery of potential xanthine oxidase inhibitors from Egyptian propolis and their synergistic effect with allopurinol and febuxostat
Authors: Ghallab Dina S. , Shawky Eman , Metwally Ali M. , Celik Ismail , Ibrahim Reham S. , Mohyeldin Mohamed M.
Published: January 2022

Xanthine oxidase (XO) has been well-recognized as a validated target for the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout.
Unravelling the antifungal and antiprotozoal activities and LC-MS/MS quantification of steroidal saponins isolated fromPanicum turgidum
Authors: Zaki Ahmed A. , Kaddah Mohamed M. Y. , Abulkhair Hamada S. , Ashour Ahmed
Published: January 2022

Bioassay-guided investigation ofPanicum turgidumextract resulted in the identification of seven steroidal saponins (Turgidosterones 1–7).
Self-targeting of zwitterion-based platforms for nano-antimicrobials and nanocarriers
Authors: Wang Da-Yuan , Su Linzhu , Yang Guang , Ren Yijin , Zhang Mingqing , Jing Haoren , Zhang Xipeng , Bayston Roger , van der Mei Henny C. , Busscher Henk J. , Shi Linqi
Published: January 2022

Different anionic and cationic groups occurring in zwitterions, and the pH responsive groups required for self-targeting. The different steps in self-targeting are outlined in the outer circle, numbered in the order of occurrence during self-targeting.
Antibacterial thyme oil-loaded zwitterionic emulsion hydrogels
Authors: Lu Gangchen , Shen Xin , Xiao Dongdong , Rong Liduo , Mao Zhiping , Wang Bijia , Sui Xiaofeng , Zhao Meixin , Feng Xueling
Published: January 2022

An emulsion hydrogel composed of thyme-oil and PSBMA was prepared by enzyme-mediated polymerization, holding promise as an antibacterial wound dressing with sustained drug release.
La balance bénéfices-risques des contraceptions hormonales estroprogestatives
Authors: Plu-Bureau Geneviève , Raccah-Tebeka Brigitte
Published: January 2022

La contraception hormonale estroprogestative (COP) reste la stratégie contraceptive la plus utilisée, notamment en France. Si la balance bénéfices-risques est, pour la très grande majorité des femmes, très favorable, son utilisation doit être extrêmement prudente dans certaines situations cliniques et, en particulier, chez les femmes à risque vasculaire. Il est donc indispensable de renseigner l’ensemble des facteurs de risque vasculaire avant toute prescription de COP, quelle que soit sa voie d’administration. D’un point de vue carcinologique, si l’utilisation de la COP est associée à une discrète augmentation du risque de cancer du sein, les bénéfices méconnus, persistant de nombreuses années après son arrêt, vis-à-vis du risque de cancer de l’ovaire et de l’endomètre, contrebalancent largement ce risque mammaire. Enfin, la COP apporte des avantages non contraceptifs, notamment dans les situations cliniques telles que les dysménorrhées ou l’endométriose invalidante, améliorant profondément la qualité de vie des femmes. Il est donc nécessaire d’évaluer très précisément le contexte clinique de chaque femme afin d’adapter la meilleure stratégie contraceptive en minimisant les risques et pour bénéficier des avantages potentiels.
On the position of ReasonP
Authors: Yang Barry Chung-Yu
Published: January 2022

The position of the reason-asking ‘why’ has been under much discussion for the past few years. Although some have suggested that it is situated within the CP domain, its exact position varies depending on different proposals. Meanwhile, a noncanonicalwhy-like ‘what’ has also attracted much attention. Some assume it to be merged to the top of a sentence while some assume it to be merged lower. In this study, new evidence is provided to show that in Chinese the reason-asking ‘why’ should be merged to the Int(errogative)P in the CP zone, confirmingRizzi’s (2001)andTsai’s (2008)claims, whereas thewhy-like ‘what’ should be merged as low as invP but target the topmost of a clause, supposedly ForceP, by covert movement.
Steering ethics toward social justice
Authors: Boéri Julie
Published: January 2022

The interpreting field has not been impervious to the call for dismantling patterns of injustice that extend down to the communication encounter. However, its engagement with socio-political commitment and change remains largely constrained by a deontological and liberal tradition. To decenter interpreting from this tradition and to steer its ethics toward social justice, this paper proposes a meta-ethical approach to and a model of interpreting. It explores activist interpreting in the global justice movement from three complementary standpoints: interpreting in the encounter (micro), politics of organization (macro) and enquiry (meso). The case study shows that social justice does not only concern the leverage of citizens’ benefits in the welfare state, but also consists of a communicational and social performance. The model can equip researchers to harness the liberatory potential of praxes, discourses and epistemologies found in the social movement milieu to refashion ethical language and thought in the field.
Propulsion system shaft line analysis of a 70.000 dwt LNG tanker
Authors: Stan Liviu-Constantin , Alexandra-Nicoleta Gordes , Adriana-Georgiana Agape
Published: January 2022

In the presented project, a study was made on the propulsion installation on board the LNG tanker with a load capacity of 70,000 dwt. In this regard, all the steps regarding the calculation and design of the main elements of this type of installation were followed, such as the propulsion engine, the propeller and the shaft lines. At the end of the shaft sizing stage, a simulation was performed in a specialized software to analyse and verify the evolution of the component elements in an operation scenario.