bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soybean yield in integrated crop–livestock system in comparison to soybean–maize succession system
Authors: Muniz Mariane Porto , Costa Kátia Aparecida de Pinho , Severiano Eduardo da Costa , Bilego Ubirajara Oliveira , Almeida Dieimisson Paulo , Furtini Neto Antonio Eduardo , Vilela Lourival , Lana Marcos Alberto , Leandro Wilson Mozena , Dias Mariana Borges de Castro
Published: May 2021

Among integrated crop–livestock systems, forage succession is an advantageous strategy for the use of pasture to feed cattle in periods of low rainfall, as well as for the generation of biomass for the no-till system for the next crop. Different species have different abilities to accumulate nutrients in their biomass, which are then released into the soil through the decomposition of crop residues. This study aimed to evaluate soybean yield in an integrated crop–livestock system in comparison to soybean–maize succession system through the production, decomposition and nutrient accumulation in the biomass. The experiment had a randomized block design with four replicates. The treatments were three cropping systems: integrated crop–livestock with Paiaguas palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguas), integrated crop–livestock with Tamani guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. BRS Tamani) and maize grown in succession to soybean. The results showed that the use of the integrated crop–livestock system in the form of forage succession provided greater soil cover and nutrient cycling as a result of the better utilization of the animal's excreta, than the cropping of maize in succession and resulted in higher soybean productivity, thus contributing to agricultural sustainability. Paiaguas palisadegrass and Tamani guinea grass showed a C:N ratio greater than 30:1, indicating slow decomposition of plant residues. The forages accumulated amounts of nutrients in their biomass that met the soybean demand, resulting in higher grain yield.
Increased early motivational response to food in adolescent anorexia nervosa revealed by magnetoencephalography
Authors: Romero Frausto Hugo , Roesmann Kati , Klinkenberg Isabelle A. G. , Rehbein Maimu A. , Föcker Manuel , Romer Georg , Junghoefer Markus , Wessing Ida
Published: May 2021

Background

It remains unclear to what extent reduced nutritional intake in anorexia nervosa (AN) is a consequence of a reduced motivational response to food. Although self-reports typically suggest AN patients have a reduced appetitive response, behavioral and neurophysiological measures have revealed evidence for both increased and reduced attentional biases towards food stimuli. The mechanisms influencing food perception in AN, might be clarified using time-sensitive magnetoencephalography (MEG) to differentiate the early (more automatic processing) stages from the late (more controlled) stages.

Methods

MEG was recorded in 22 partially weight-restored adolescent AN patients and 29 age- and gender-matched healthy control (HC) participants during a rapid serial visual presentation paradigm using 100 high-calorie food, 100 low-calorie food, and 100 non-food pictures. Neural sources of event-related fields were estimated using the L2-Minimum-Norm method and analyzed in early (50–300 ms) and late (350–500 ms) time intervals.

Results

AN patients rated high-calorie food as less palatable and reported overall less food craving than HC participants. Nevertheless, in response to food pictures AN patients showed relative increased neural activity in the left occipito-temporal and inferior frontal regions in the early time interval. No group differences occurred in the late time interval.

Conclusions

MEG results speak against an overall reduced motivational response to food in AN. Instead, relative increased early food processing in the visual cortex suggests greater motivated attention. A greater appetitive response to food might be an adaptive mechanism in a state of undernourishment. Yet, this relative increased food processing in AN was no longer present later, arguably reflecting rapid downregulation.
Recent Warming Fuels Increased Organic Carbon Export From Arctic Permafrost
Authors: Zhang Xiaowen , Bianchi Thomas S. , Hanna Andrea J. M. , Shields Michael R. , Izon Gareth , Hutchings Jack A. , Ping Chien‐Lu , Kanevskiy Mikhail , Haghipour Negar , Eglinton Timothy I.
Published: May 2021

Climate‐driven thawing of Arctic permafrost renders its vast carbon reserves susceptible to microbial degradation, serving as a potentially potent positive feedback hidden within the climate system. While seemingly intuitive, the relationship between thermally driven permafrost losses and organic carbon (OC) export remains largely unexplored in natural settings. Filling this knowledge gap, we present down‐core bulk and compound‐specific radiocarbon records of permafrost change from a sediment core taken within the Alaskan Colville River delta spanning the last c. 2,700 years. Fingerprinted by significantly older radiocarbon ages of bulk OC and long‐chain fatty acids, these data expose a thermally driven increase in permafrost OC export and/or deepening of mobilizable permafrost layers over the last c. 160 years after the Little Ice Age. Comparison of OC content and radiocarbon data between recent and Roman warming episodes likely implies that the rate of warming, alongside the prevailing boundary conditions, may dictate the ultimate fate of the Arctic's permafrost inventory. Our findings highlight the importance of leveraging geological records as archives of Arctic permafrost mobilization dynamics with temperature change.
T-cell-based immunotherapy of acute myeloid leukemia: current concepts and future developments
Authors: Daver Naval , Alotaibi Ahmad S. , Bücklein Veit , Subklewe Marion
Published: May 2021

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous disease linked to a broad spectrum of molecular alterations, and as such, long-term disease control requires multiple therapeutic approaches. Driven largely by an improved understanding and targeting of these molecular aberrations, AML treatment has rapidly evolved over the last 3–5 years. The stellar successes of immunotherapies that harness the power of T cells to treat solid tumors and an improved understanding of the immune systems of patients with hematologic malignancies have led to major efforts to develop immunotherapies for the treatment of patients with AML. Several immunotherapies that harness T cells against AML are in various stages of preclinical and clinical development. These include bispecific and dual antigen receptor-targeting antibodies (targeted to CD33, CD123, CLL-1, and others), chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, and T-cell immune checkpoint inhibitors (including those targeting PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, and newer targets such as TIM3 and STING). The current and future directions of these T-cell-based immunotherapies in the treatment landscape of AML are discussed in this review.
Single-cell profiling of tumor heterogeneity and the microenvironment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wu Fengying , Fan Jue , He Yayi , Xiong Anwen , Yu Jia , Li Yixin , Zhang Yan , Zhao Wencheng , Zhou Fei , Li Wei , Zhang Jie , Zhang Xiaosheng , Qiao Meng , Gao Guanghui , Chen Shanhao , Chen Xiaoxia , Li Xuefei , Hou Likun , Wu Chunyan , Su Chunxia , Ren Shengxiang , Odenthal Margarete , Buettner Reinhard , Fang Nan , Zhou Caicun
Published: May 2021

Lung cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease. Cancer cells and cells within the tumor microenvironment together determine disease progression, as well as response to or escape from treatment. To map the cell type-specific transcriptome landscape of cancer cells and their tumor microenvironment in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we analyze 42 tissue biopsy samples from stage III/IV NSCLC patients by single cell RNA sequencing and present the large scale, single cell resolution profiles of advanced NSCLCs. In addition to cell types described in previous single cell studies of early stage lung cancer, we are able to identify rare cell types in tumors such as follicular dendritic cells and T helper 17 cells. Tumors from different patients display large heterogeneity in cellular composition, chromosomal structure, developmental trajectory, intercellular signaling network and phenotype dominance. Our study also reveals a correlation of tumor heterogeneity with tumor associated neutrophils, which might help to shed light on their function in NSCLC.
Selection of a picomolar antibody that targets CXCR2-mediated neutrophil activation and alleviates EAE symptoms
Authors: Shi Xiaojie , Wan Yue , Wang Nan , Xiang Jiangchao , Wang Tao , Yang Xiaofeng , Wang Ju , Dong Xuxue , Dong Liang , Yan Lei , Li Yu , Liu Lili , Hou Shinchen , Zhong Zhenwei , Wilson Ian A. , Yang Bei , Yang Guang , Lerner Richard A.
Published: May 2021

Receptors and their ligands are important therapeutic targets for about one third of marketed drugs. Here, we describe an epitope-guided approach for selection of antibodies that modulate cellular signaling of targeted receptors. We chose CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) in the G-protein coupled receptor superfamily as receptor and a CXCR2 N-terminal peptide for antibody selection. We obtain a highly selective, tight-binding antibody from a 1011-member antibody library using combinatorial enrichment. Structural and Hydrogen-Deuterium-Exchange mass spectrometry analyses demonstrate antibody interaction with an N-terminal region of CXCR2 that is part of the IL-8 epitope. The antibody strongly inhibits IL-8-induced and CXCR2-mediated neutrophil chemotaxis in vitro and alleviates hCXCR2-dependent experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis symptoms in mice. As inappropriate neutrophil migration accompanies many diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, glomerulonephritis, allergic asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer, this antibody has potential for development as a therapeutic agent, akin to anti-TNF antibodies. However, an important difference here is that the antibody targets the chemokine receptor and competes with natural ligand, rather than targeting the ligand itself.
Cosmogenic in situ 14C-10Be reveals abrupt Late Holocene soil loss in the Andean Altiplano
Authors: Hippe Kristina , Jansen John D. , Skov Daniel Søndergaard , Lupker Maarten , Ivy-Ochs Susan , Kober Florian , Zeilinger Gerold , Capriles José Mariano , Christl Marcus , Maden Colin , Vockenhuber Christof , Egholm David Lundbek
Published: May 2021

Soil sustainability is reflected in a long-term balance between soil production and erosion for a given climate and geology. Here we evaluate soil sustainability in the Andean Altiplano where accelerated erosion has been linked to wetter climate from 4.5 ka and the rise of Neolithic agropastoralism in the millennium that followed. We measure in situ cosmogenic14C directly on cultivated hilltops to quantify late Holocene soil loss, which we compare with background soil production rates determined from cosmogenic26Al and10Be. Our Monte Carlo-based inversion method identifies two scenarios to account for our data: an increase in erosion rate by 1–2 orders of magnitude between ~2.6 and 1.1 ka, or a discrete event stripping ~1–2 m of soil between ~1.9 and 1.1 ka. Coupled environmental and cultural factors in the Late Holocene signaled the onset of the pervasive human imprint in the Andean Altiplano seen today.
Oocyte-derived microvilli control female fertility by optimizing ovarian follicle selection in mice
Authors: Zhang Yan , Wang Ye , Feng Xie’an , Zhang Shuo , Xu Xueqiang , Li Lingyu , Niu Shudong , Bo Yingnan , Wang Chao , Li Zhen , Xia Guoliang , Zhang Hua
Published: May 2021

Crosstalk between oocytes and surrounding somatic cells is crucial for mammalian oogenesis, but the structural mechanisms on oocytes to control female reproduction remain unknown. Here we combine endogenous-fluorescent tracing mouse models with a high-resolution live-cell imaging system to characterize oocyte-derived mushroom-like microvilli (Oo-Mvi), which mediate germ-somatic communication in mice. We perform 3D live-cell imaging to show that Oo-Mvi exhibit cellular characteristics that fit an exocrine function for signaling communication. We find that deletion of the microvilli-forming gene Radixin in oocytes leads to the loss of Oo-Mvi in ovaries, and causes a series of abnormalities in ovarian development, resulting in shortened reproductive lifespan in females. Mechanistically, we find that Oo-Mvi enrich oocyte-secreted factors and control their release, resulting in optimal selection of ovarian follicles. Taken together, our data show that the Oo-Mvi system controls the female reproductive lifespan by governing the fate of follicles.
Segregated oceanic crust trapped at the bottom mantle transition zone revealed from ambient noise interferometry
Authors: Feng Jikun , Yao Huajian , Wang Yi , Poli Piero , Mao Zhu
Published: May 2021

The recycling of oceanic crust, with distinct isotopic and chemical signature from the pyrolite mantle, plays a critical role in the chemical evolution of the Earth with insights into mantle circulation. However, the role of the mantle transition zone during this recycling remains ambiguous. We here combine the unique resolution reflected body waves (P410P and P660P) retrieved from ambient noise interferometry with mineral physics modeling, to shed new light on transition zone physics. Our joint analysis reveals a generally sharp 660-km discontinuity and the existence of a localized accumulation of oceanic crust at the bottom mantle transition zone just ahead of the stagnant Pacific slab. The basalt accumulation is plausibly derived from the segregation of oceanic crust and depleted mantle of the adjacent stagnant slab. Our findings provide direct evidence of segregated oceanic crust trapped within the mantle transition zone and new insights into imperfect whole mantle circulation.
The CINSARC signature predicts the clinical outcome in patients with Luminal B breast cancer
Authors: Goncalves Anthony , Finetti Pascal , Birnbaum Daniel , Bertucci François
Published: May 2021

CINSARC, a multigene expression signature originally developed in sarcomas, was shown to have prognostic impact in various cancers. We tested the prognostic value for disease-free survival (DFS) of CINSARC in a series of 6035 early-stage invasive primary breast cancers. CINSARC had independent prognostic value in the Luminal B subtype and not in the other subtypes. In Luminal B patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy but no chemotherapy, CINSARC identified patients with different 5-year DFS (90% [95%CI 86–95] in low-risk vs. 79% [95%CI 75–84] in high-risk, p = 1.04E−02). Luminal B CINSARC high-risk tumors were predicted to be less sensitive to endocrine therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitors, but more vulnerable to homologous recombination targeting and immunotherapy. We concluded that CINSARC adds prognostic information to that of clinicopathological features in Luminal B breast cancers, which might improve patients’ stratification and better orient adjuvant treatment. Moreover, it identifies potential therapeutic avenues in this aggressive molecular subtype.
Selection of nitrogen responsive root architectural traits in spinach using machine learning and genetic correlations
Authors: Awika Henry O. , Mishra Amit K. , Gill Haramrit , DiPiazza James , Avila Carlos A. , Joshi Vijay
Published: May 2021

The efficient acquisition and transport of nutrients by plants largely depend on the root architecture. Due to the absence of complex microbial network interactions and soil heterogeneity in a restricted soilless medium, the architecture of roots is a function of genetics defined by the soilless matrix and exogenously supplied nutrients such as nitrogen (N). The knowledge of root trait combinations that offer the optimal nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is far from being conclusive. The objective of this study was to define the root trait(s) that best predicts and correlates with vegetative biomass under differed N treatments. We used eight image-derived root architectural traits of 202 diverse spinach lines grown in two N concentrations (high N, HN, and low N, LN) in randomized complete blocks design. Supervised random forest (RF) machine learning augmented by ranger hyperparameter grid search was used to predict the variable importance of the root traits. We also determined the broad-sense heritability (H) and genetic (rg) and phenotypic (rp) correlations between root traits and the vegetative biomass (shoot weight, SWt). Each root trait was assigned a predicted importance rank based on the trait’s contribution to the cumulative reduction in the mean square error (MSE) in the RF tree regression models for SWt. The root traits were further prioritized for potential selection based on the rg and SWt correlated response (CR). The predicted importance of the eight root traits showed that the number of root tips (Tips) and root length (RLength) under HN and crossings (Xsings) and root average diameter (RAvdiam) under LN were the most relevant. SWt had a highly antagonistic rg (− 0.83) to RAvdiam, but a high predicted indirect selection efficiency (− 112.8%) with RAvdiam under LN; RAvdiam showed no significant rg or rp to SWt under HN. In limited N availability, we suggest that selecting against larger RAvdiam as a secondary trait might improve biomass and, hence, NUE with no apparent yield penalty under HN.
Development of an efficient Tef-1α RNA hairpin structure to efficient management of Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Neofusicoccum parvum
Authors: Nili Omid , Azizi Abdolbaset , Abdollahzadeh Jafar
Published: May 2021

Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Neofusicoccum parvum are serious worldwide-distributed plant pathogenic fungi with a wide host range in tropical and temperate climates. They cause fruit rot, canker, and dieback of twigs in various woody plants. Protection of pruning wounds using fungicides is the prevalent strategy for the management of the diseases caused by these fungi. Chemical control of plant diseases is not environmentally safe and the residues of fungicides are a threat to nature. Furthermore, genetic resources of resistance to plant diseases in woody plants are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of RNA silencing using an efficient hairpin structure based on Tef-1α gene for the management of L. theobromae and N. parvum. Hairpin structure of Tef-1α was cloned in pFGC5941 binary vector and the recombinant construct was named pFGC-TEF-d. Transient expression of pFGC-TEF-d using Agrobacterium LBA4404 in grapevine (Bidaneh Sefid cv.) and strawberry cultivars (Camarosa and Ventana) led to a reduction in disease progress of L. theobromae. The disease reduction in grapevine was estimated by 55% and in strawberries cultivars Camarosa and Ventana by 58% and 93%, respectively. Further analysis of transient expression of pFGC-TEF-d in strawberry (Camarosa) shown disease reduction using Neofusicoccum parvum. Here we introduce RNAi silencing using pFGC-TEF-d construct as an efficient strategy to the management of L. theobromae and N. parvum for the first time.
Dilations and degeneracy in network controllability
Authors: Chung Liam , Ruths Derek , Ruths Justin
Published: May 2021

Network controllability asserts a perspective that the structure—the location of edges that connect nodes—of the network contains important information about fundamental characteristics of our ability to change the behavior that evolves on these networks. It can be used, for example, to determine the parts of the system that when influenced by outside controlling signals, can ultimately steer the behavior of the entire network. One of the challenges in utilizing the ideas from network controllability on real systems is that there is typically more than one potential solution (often many) suggested by the topology of the graph that perform equally well. Picking a single candidate from this degenerate solution set over others should be properly motivated, however, to-date our understanding of how these different options are related has been limited. In this work, we operationalize the existing notion of a dilation into a framework that provides clarity on the source of this control degeneracy and further elucidates many of the existing results surrounding degeneracy in the literature.
Antiferromagnetic skyrmion crystals in the Rashba Hund’s insulator on triangular lattice
Authors: Mukherjee Arnob , Kathyat Deepak S. , Kumar Sanjeev
Published: May 2021

Motivated by the importance of antiferromagnetic skyrmions as building blocks of next-generation data storage and processing devices, we report theoretical and computational analysis of a model for a spin-orbit coupled correlated Hund’s insulator magnet on a triangular lattice. We find that two distinct antiferromagnetic skyrmion crystal (AF-SkX) states can be stabilized at low temperatures in the presence of external magnetic field. The results are obtained via Monte Carlo simulations on an effective magnetic model derived from the microscopic electronic Hamiltonian consisting of Rashba spin-orbit coupling, as well as strong Hund’s coupling of electrons to classical spins at half-filling. The two AF-SkX phases are understood to originate from a classical spin liquid state that exists at low but finite temperatures. These AF-SkX states can be easily distinguished from each other in experiments as they are characterized by peaks at distinct momenta in the spin structure factor which is directly measured in neutron scattering experiments. We also discuss examples of materials where the model as well as the two AF-SkX states can be realized.
Inverse renormalization group based on image super-resolution using deep convolutional networks
Authors: Shiina Kenta , Mori Hiroyuki , Tomita Yusuke , Lee Hwee Kuan , Okabe Yutaka
Published: May 2021

The inverse renormalization group is studied based on the image super-resolution using the deep convolutional neural networks. We consider the improved correlation configuration instead of spin configuration for the spin models, such as the two-dimensional Ising and three-state Potts models. We propose a block-cluster transformation as an alternative to the block-spin transformation in dealing with the improved estimators. In the framework of the dual Monte Carlo algorithm, the block-cluster transformation is regarded as a transformation in the graph degrees of freedom, whereas the block-spin transformation is that in the spin degrees of freedom. We demonstrate that the renormalized improved correlation configuration successfully reproduces the original configuration at all the temperatures by the super-resolution scheme. Using the rule of enlargement, we repeatedly make inverse renormalization procedure to generate larger correlation configurations. To connect thermodynamics, an approximate temperature rescaling is discussed. The enlarged systems generated using the super-resolution satisfy the finite-size scaling.
Deep convolution stack for waveform in underwater acoustic target recognition
Authors: Tian Shengzhao , Chen Duanbing , Wang Hang , Liu Jingfa
Published: May 2021

In underwater acoustic target recognition, deep learning methods have been proved to be effective on recognizing original signal waveform. Previous methods often utilize large convolutional kernels to extract features at the beginning of neural networks. It leads to a lack of depth and structural imbalance of networks. The power of nonlinear transformation brought by deep network has not been fully utilized. Deep convolution stack is a kind of network frame with flexible and balanced structure and it has not been explored well in underwater acoustic target recognition, even though such frame has been proven to be effective in other deep learning fields. In this paper, a multiscale residual unit (MSRU) is proposed to construct deep convolution stack network. Based on MSRU, a multiscale residual deep neural network (MSRDN) is presented to classify underwater acoustic target. Dataset acquired in a real-world scenario is used to verify the proposed unit and model. By adding MSRU into Generative Adversarial Networks, the validity of MSRU is proved. Finally, MSRDN achieves the best recognition accuracy of 83.15%, improved by 6.99% from the structure related networks which take the original signal waveform as input and 4.48% from the networks which take the time-frequency representation as input.
Regional and organ-level responses to local lung irradiation in sheep
Authors: Collie David , Wright Steven H. , del-Pozo Jorge , Kay Elaine , Schwarz Tobias , Parys Magdalena , Lawrence Jessica
Published: May 2021

Lung is a dose-limiting organ in radiotherapy. This may limit tumour control when effort is made in planning to limit the likelihood of radiation-induced lung injury (RILI). Understanding the factors that dictate susceptibility to radiation-induced pulmonary fibrosis will aid in the prevention and management of RILI, and may lead to more effective personalized radiotherapy treatment. As the interaction of regional and organ-level responses may shape the chronic consequences of RILI, we sought to characterise both aspects of the response in an ovine model. A defined volume of left pulmonary parenchyma was prescribed 5 fractions of 6 Gy within 14 days while the contralateral lung dose was constrained. Radiographic changes via computed tomography (CT) were documented to define differences in radio-exposed lung relative to non-exposed lung at d21, d63 and d171 (n = 2), and at d21, d147 and d227 (n = 2). Gross and histologic lung changes were evaluated in samples derived at necropsy examination to define the chronic pulmonary response to radiation. Irradiated lung demonstrated reduced radio-density and increased homogeneity as evidenced from texture based radiomic feature analysis, relative to the control lung. At necropsy, the radiation field was readily defined by pallor on the pleural surface, which was also evident on the cut surface of fixed lung specimens. The degree and homogeneity of pallor reflected the sparse presence of erythrocytes in alveolar septal capillaries of radiation-exposed lung. These changes contrasted with dilated and congested microvasculature in the contralateral control lung. Referencing data to measurements made in control lung volumes of sheep experiencing acute RILI indicated that interstitial collagen continues to deposit in the radio-exposed lung field. Overall lung vascularity increased during the chronic response, as evidenced by increased expression of endothelial cell marker (CD31); however, vascularity was consistently decreased in irradiated lung and was negatively correlated with lung collagen. Other organ-level responses included increased expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (ASMA), increased numbers of proliferating cells (Ki67 positive), and cells expressing the dendritic cell-lysosomal associated membrane protein (DC-LAMP) antigen. The chronic response to RILI in this model is effected at both the whole organ and local lung level. Whilst the long-term consequences of exposure to radiation involved the continued deposition of collagen in the radiation field, organ-level responses also included increased vascularization and increased expression of ASMA, Ki67 and DC-LAMP. Interrupting the interplay between these aspects may influence susceptibility to pulmonary fibrosis after radiotherapy. We advocate for the importance of large animal model systems in pursuing these opportunities to target local, organ-level and systemic mechanisms in parallel within the same subject over time.
Amplification of weak magnetic field effects on oscillating reactions
Authors: Player Thomas C. , Baxter Edward D. A. , Allatt Sarah , Hore P. J.
Published: May 2021

We explore the possibility that chemical feedback and autocatalysis in oscillating chemical reactions could amplify weak magnetic field effects on the rate constant of one of the constituent reactions, assumed to proceed via a radical pair mechanism. Using the Brusselator model oscillator, we find that the amplitude of limit cycle oscillations in the concentrations of reaction intermediates can be extraordinarily sensitive to minute changes in the rate constant of the initiation step. The relevance of such amplification to biological effects of 50/60 Hz electromagnetic fields is discussed.
Dynamical determinants enabling two different types of flight in cheetah gallop to enhance speed through spine movement
Authors: Kamimura Tomoya , Aoi Shinya , Higurashi Yasuo , Wada Naomi , Tsuchiya Kazuo , Matsuno Fumitoshi
Published: May 2021

Cheetahs use a galloping gait in their fastest speed range. It has been reported that cheetahs achieve high-speed galloping by performing two types of flight through spine movement (gathered and extended). However, the dynamic factors that enable cheetahs to incorporate two types of flight while galloping remain unclear. To elucidate this issue from a dynamical viewpoint, we developed a simple analytical model. We derived possible periodic solutions with two different flight types (like cheetah galloping), and others with only one flight type (unlike cheetah galloping). The periodic solutions provided two criteria to determine the flight type, related to the position and magnitude of ground reaction forces entering the body. The periodic solutions and criteria were verified using measured cheetah data, and provided a dynamical mechanism by which galloping with two flight types enhances speed. These findings extend current understanding of the dynamical mechanisms underlying high-speed locomotion in cheetahs.
Human infants can override possessive tendencies to share valued items with others
Authors: Barragan Rodolfo Cortes , Meltzoff Andrew N.
Published: May 2021

Possessiveness toward objects and sharing are competing tendencies that influence dyadic and group interactions within the primate lineage. A distinctive form of sharing in adultHomo sapiensinvolves active giving of high-valued possessions to others, without an immediate reciprocal benefit. In two Experiments with 19-month-old human infants (N = 96), we found that despite measurable possessive behavior toward their own personal objects (favorite toy, bottle), infants spontaneously gave these items to a begging stranger. Moreover, human infants exhibited this behavior across different types of objects that are relevant to theory (personal objects, sweet food, and common objects)—showing flexible generalizability not evidenced in non-human primates. We combined these data with a previous dataset, yielding a large sample of infants (N = 192), and identified sociocultural factors that may calibrate young infants’ sharing of objects with others. The current findings show a proclivity that is rare or absent in our closest living relatives—the capacity to override possessive behavior toward personally valued objects by sharing those same desired objects with others.
Palliative radiotherapy for gross hematuria in patients with advanced cancer
Authors: Ogita Mami , Kawamori Jiro , Yamashita Hideomi , Nakagawa Keiichi
Published: May 2021

This study assessed the efficacy of palliative radiotherapy for gross hematuria caused by advanced cancer. Patients who received palliative radiotherapy to control gross hematuria in two hospitals between October 2006 and May 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. We evaluated the gross hematuria response, gross hematuria control duration, blood transfusion rate, blood transfusion-free duration, and overall survival. Cox multivariate analysis was performed to examine factors associated with hematuria control duration. Fifty-three consecutive patients were included. The most frequently used dose fractionation regimen was 30 Gy in 10 fractions (BED10 = 39 Gy), followed by 20 Gy in 5 fractions (BED10 = 20 Gy). Forty patients (76%) became gross hematuria free. The median hematuria control duration was 4.3 months (95% confidence interval 1.9–6.6). Twenty-six patients received blood transfusion 3 months before radiotherapy; 17 of them (65%) were free from blood transfusion 1 month after radiotherapy. A high BED10 (≥ 36 Gy) was a statistically significant factor for hematuria control duration in the multivariate analysis (P = 0.02). Palliative radiotherapy can effectively relieve gross hematuria irrespective of the primary tumor site. A high BED10 may be recommended for a prolonged hematuria control duration if patients have a good prognosis.
Cortisol modulates calcium release-activated calcium channel gating in fish hepatocytes
Authors: Das Chinmayee , Rout Manoj K. , Wildering Willem C. , Vijayan Mathilakath M.
Published: May 2021

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are rapidly released in response to stress and play an important role in the physiological adjustments to re-establish homeostasis. The mode of action of GCs for stress coping is mediated largely by the steroid binding to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a ligand-bound transcription factor, and modulating the expression of target genes. However, GCs also exert rapid actions that are independent of transcriptional regulation by modulating second messenger signaling. However, a membrane-specific protein that transduces rapid GCs signal is yet to be characterized. Here, using freshly isolated hepatocytes from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and fura2 fluorescence microscopy, we report that stressed levels of cortisol rapidly stimulate the rise in cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i). Pharmacological manipulations using specific extra- and intra-cellular calcium chelators, plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum channel blockers and receptors, indicated extracellular Ca2+ entry is required for the cortisol-mediated rise in ([Ca2+]i). Particularly, the calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel gating appears to be a key target for the rapid action of cortisol in the ([Ca2+]i) rise in trout hepatocytes. To test this further, we carried out in silico molecular docking studies using the Drosophila CRAC channel modulator 1 (ORAI1) protein, the pore forming subunit of CRAC channel that is highly conserved. The result predicts a putative binding site on CRAC for cortisol to modulate channel gating, suggesting a direct, as well as an indirect regulation (by other membrane receptors) of CRAC channel gating by cortisol. Altogether, CRAC channel may be a novel cortisol-gated Ca2+ channel transducing rapid nongenomic signalling in hepatocytes during acute stress.
Evaluation of antibiotic-induced taste and smell disorders using the FDA adverse event reporting system database
Authors: Kan Yusuke , Nagai Junko , Uesawa Yoshihiro
Published: May 2021

Adverse effects can occur owing to anorexia, which can reduce treatment compliance and worsen the patients overall condition. One such side effect, namely drug-induced taste and smell disorders, reduces patients quality of life. Although antibiotics can cause taste and smell disorders, a few studies have examined antibiotic-induced taste and smell disorders. Therefore, this study comprehensively analyzed the relationship between taste and smell disorders and antibiotic usage. The side effects of antibiotics were investigated using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database (FAERS). The reporting odds ratios between the listed drugs and taste and smell disorders P values were comprehensively calculated. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated to account for patient background. Furthermore, to clarify the feature of this adverse effect, shape parameters indicating the expression pattern were calculated. Signals that induced taste and smell disorders were detected for six antibiotics, including drugs for which this event is not described in the package insert in Japan. Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested an association of taste and smell disorders with gender, hypertension, mental disorder, and cancer. The median time to onset of antibiotic-induced taste and smell disorders was 2–5 days. Six antibiotics could be analyzed, and four of these drugs matched those with detected signals. Our study supported previous findings on gender and age. Furthermore, antibiotic-induced taste and smell disorders are likely to develop in the early stage of treatment. For these reasons, it is important to remember the risk of developing of taste and smell disorders when administering antibiotics. In addition, it is recommended that the patient be monitored carefully for at least 1 week before initiating treatment, and the patients course should be followed for at least 2 months.
Emergence of fluoroquinolone resistance and possible mechanisms in clinical isolates of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia from Iran
Authors: Azimi Akram , Rezaei Farhad , Yaseri Mehdi , Jafari Sirus , Rahbar Mohammad , Douraghi Masoumeh
Published: May 2021

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia exhibits wide spectrum of fluoroquinolone resistance using different mechanisms as multidrug efflux pumps and Smqnr alleles. Here, the role of smeDEF, smeVWX efflux genes and contribution of Smqnr alleles in the development of fluoroquinolone resistance was assessed. Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin resistance were found in 10.9%, 3.5%, and 1.6% of isolates, respectively. More than four-fold differences in ciprofloxacin MICs were detected in the presence of reserpine and smeD, F, V expression was significantly associated with ciprofloxacin resistance (p = 0.017 for smeD, 0.003 for smeF, and 0.001 for smeV). Smqnr gene was found in 52% of the ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates and Smqnr8 was the most common allele detected. Fluoroquinolone resistance in S. maltophilia clinical isolates was significantly associated with active efflux pumps. There was no correlation between the Smqnr alleles and ciprofloxacin resistance; however, contribution of the Smqnr genes in low-level levofloxacin resistance was revealed.
Homoarginine and methylarginines independently predict long-term outcome in patients presenting with suspicion of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Rodionov Roman N. , Beyer-Westendorf Jan , Bode-Böger Stefanie M. , Eggebrecht Lisa , Konstantinides Stavros , Martens-Lobenhoffer Jens , Nagler Markus , Prochaska Jürgen , Wild Philipp
Published: May 2021

Endogenous arginine derivatives homoarginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethyarginine (SDMA) are independent mortality predictors in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our study reports the first analysis, whether homoarginine, ADMA and SDMA predict venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence and overall mortality in patients with suspected acute VTE. We assessed serum levels of homoarginine, ADMA and SDMA by LC–MS/MS in 865 individuals from a prospective consecutive cohort of patients with clinical suspicion of VTE. The median follow-up time for mortality was 1196 days. VTE was confirmed by imaging in 418 patients and excluded in 447 patients. Low levels of homoarginine and high levels of ADMA or SDMA independently predicted all-cause mortality after adjustment for sex, age, oral anticoagulants, body mass index, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, dyslipidemia, chronic heart failure, history of stroke, creatinine and cancer both in patients with VTE and without VTE. Interestingly, none of those parameters was predictive for VTE recurrence. We provide the first report that low circulating levels of homoarginine and high circulating levels of ADMA and SDMA independently predict all-cause mortality in patients with suspected VTE. These parameters might serve as markers of “frailty” and should be considered for future risk stratification approaches in this clinical population. Taking into account that homoarginine supplementation is protective in animal models of CVD and safe in healthy human volunteers, our study provides the basis for future homoarginine supplementation studies in patients with suspected VTE to investigate possible direct protective effects of homoarginine in this population.
Study on attractors during organism evolution
Authors: Kasperski Andrzej , Kasperska Renata
Published: May 2021

The important question that arises during determining the evolution of organisms is whether evolution should be treated as a continuous process or whether groups of organisms fall into 'local' attractors during evolution. A similar question arises during considering the development of cells after cancer transformation. Answers to these questions can provide a better understanding of how normal and transformed organisms evolve. So far, no satisfactory answers have been found to these questions. To find the answers and demonstrate that organisms during evolution get trapped in 'local' attractors, an artificial neural network supported by a semihomologous approach and unified cell bioenergetics concept have been used in this work. A new universal model of cancer transformation and cancer development has been established and presented to highlight the differences between the development of transformed cells and normal organisms. An unequivocal explanation of cancer initialization and development has not been discovered so far, thus the proposed model should shed new light on the evolution of transformed cells.
Tailoring grain sizes of the biodegradable iron-based alloys by pre-additive manufacturing microalloying
Authors: Huang Chih-Chieh , Lam Tu-Ngoc , Amalia Lia , Chen Kuan-Hung , Yang Kuo-Yi , Muslih M. Rifai , Singh Sudhanshu Shekhar , Tsai Pei-I. , Lee Yuan-Tzu , Jain Jayant , Lee Soo Yeol , Lai Hong-Jen , Huang Wei-Chin , Chen San-Yuan , Huang E-Wen
Published: May 2021

We demonstrated the design of pre-additive manufacturing microalloying elements in tuning the microstructure of iron (Fe)-based alloys for their tunable mechanical properties. We tailored the microalloying stoichiometry of the feedstock to control the grain sizes of the metallic alloy systems. Two specific microalloying stoichiometries were reported, namely biodegradable iron powder with 99.5% purity (BDFe) and that with 98.5% (BDFe-Mo). Compared with the BDFe, the BDFe-Mo powder was found to have lower coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) value and better oxidation resistance during consecutive heating and cooling cycles. The selective laser melting (SLM)-built BDFe-Mo exhibited high ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 1200 MPa and fair elongation of 13.5%, while the SLM-built BDFe alloy revealed a much lower UTS of 495 MPa and a relatively better elongation of 17.5%, indicating the strength enhancement compared with the other biodegradable systems. Such an enhanced mechanical behavior in the BDFe-Mo was assigned to the dominant mechanism of ferrite grain refinement coupled with precipitate strengthening. Our findings suggest the tunability of outstanding strength-ductility combination by tailoring the pre-additive manufacturing microalloying elements with their proper concentrations.
Long pentraxin PTX3 is upregulated systemically and centrally after experimental neurotrauma, but its depletion leaves unaltered sensorimotor deficits or histopathology
Authors: Oggioni Marco , Mercurio Domenico , Minuta Denise , Fumagalli Stefano , Popiolek-Barczyk Katarzyna , Sironi Marina , Ciechanowska Agata , Ippati Stefania , De Blasio Daiana , Perego Carlo , Mika Joanna , Garlanda Cecilia , De Simoni Maria-Grazia
Published: May 2021

Long pentraxin PTX3, a pattern recognition molecule involved in innate immune responses, is upregulated by pro-inflammatory stimuli, contributors to secondary damage in traumatic brain injury (TBI). We analyzed PTX3 involvement in mice subjected to controlled cortical impact, a clinically relevant TBI mouse model. We measured PTX3 mRNA and protein in the brain and its circulating levels at different time point post-injury, and assessed behavioral deficits and brain damage progression in PTX3 KO mice. PTX3 circulating levels significantly increased 1–3 weeks after injury. In the brain, PTX3 mRNA was upregulated in different brain areas starting from 24 h and up to 5 weeks post-injury. PTX3 protein significantly increased in the brain cortex up to 3 weeks post-injury. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that, 48 h after TBI, PTX3 was localized in proximity of neutrophils, likely on neutrophils extracellular traps (NETs), while 1- and 2- weeks post-injury PTX3 co-localized with fibrin deposits. Genetic depletion of PTX3 did not affect sensorimotor deficits up to 5 weeks post-injury. At this time-point lesion volume and neuronal count, axonal damage, collagen deposition, astrogliosis, microglia activation and phagocytosis were not different in KO compared to WT mice. Members of the long pentraxin family, neuronal pentraxin 1 (nPTX1) and pentraxin 4 (PTX4) were also over-expressed in the traumatized brain, but not neuronal pentraxin 2 (nPTX2) or short pentraxins C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid P-component (SAP). The long-lasting pattern of activation of PTX3 in brain and blood supports its specific involvement in TBI. The lack of a clear-cut phenotype in PTX3 KO mice may depend on the different roles of this protein, possibly involved in inflammation early after injury and in repair processes later on, suggesting distinct functions in acute phases versus sub-acute or chronic phases. Brain long pentraxins, such as PTX4—shown here to be overexpressed in the brain after TBI—may compensate for PTX3 absence.
Association of urinary ketamine and APOA1 levels with bladder dysfunction in ketamine abusers revealed via proteomics and targeted metabolite analyses
Authors: Liu Jo-Chuan , Chen Yi-Ting , Hsieh Ya-Ju , Wu Chia-Chun , Huang Ming-Chyi , Hsu Yu-Chao , Wu Chun-Te , Chen Chih-Ken , Dash Srinivas , Yu Jau-Song
Published: May 2021

Chronic ketamine abuse is associated with bladder dysfunction and cystitis. However, the effects of ketamine abuse on the urinary proteome profile and the correlations among urinary proteins, urinary ketamine (and metabolites) and clinicopathological features of ketamine-induced bladder dysfunction remain to be established. Here, we recruited 56 ketamine abusers (KA) and 40 age-matched healthy controls (HC) and applied the iTRAQ-based proteomics approach to unravel quantitative changes in the urine proteome profile between the two groups. Many of the differentially regulated proteins are involved in the complement and coagulation cascades and/or fibrotic disease. Among them, a significant increase in APOA1 levels in KA relative to control samples (392.1 ± 59.9 ng/ml vs. 13.7 ± 32.6 ng/ml, p < 0.0001) was detected via ELISA. Moreover, urinary ketamine, norketamine and dehydronorketamine contents (measured via LC-SRM-MS) were found to be positively correlated with overactive bladder syndrome score (OABSS) and APOA1 levels with urinary RBC, WBC, OABSS and numeric pain rating scale in KA. Collectively, our results may aid in developing new molecular tool(s) for management of ketamine-induced bladder dysfunction. Moreover, information regarding the differentially regulated proteins in urine of KA provides valuable clues to establish the molecular mechanisms underlying ketamine-induced cystitis.