bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergistic effects of defocus-incorporated multiple segments and atropine in slowing the progression of myopia
Authors: Huang Zhu , Chen Xu-Fei , He Ting , Tang Yun , Du Chi-Xin
Published: December 2022

Myopia is a leading cause of visual impairment in young people worldwide. It sometimes increases the risk of blindness and reduces life quality. Previous reports have revealed the treatment effects of defocus-incorporated multiple segments (DIMS) and topical atropine (ATP) on myopia control. However, no study has evaluated these two interventions together. In this retrospective study, we aimed to determine whether the combination of DIMS lenses and 0.01% ATP can slow the progression of myopia compared with DIMS lenses or single vision (SV) lenses alone. We included 107 children with myopia who were treated with DIMS and 0.01% ATP combination (DIMS + ATP group), DIMS monotherapy (DIMS group), or a control group (SV group). We compared treatment effects among three groups in axial length and myopia progression. After a 1-year follow-up, the DIMS + ATP group showed a smaller change in axial length and myopia progression than the DIMS and SV groups (P < 0.05). Hence, combination treatment with DIMS and 0.01% ATP might be a better choice for children with myopia.
Quantum computing and preconditioners for hydrological linear systems
Authors: Golden John , O’Malley Daniel , Viswanathan Hari
Published: December 2022

Modeling hydrological fracture networks is a hallmark challenge in computational earth sciences. Accurately predicting critical features of fracture systems, e.g. percolation, can require solving large linear systems far beyond current or future high performance capabilities. Quantum computers can theoretically bypass the memory and speed constraints faced by classical approaches, however several technical issues must first be addressed. Chief amongst these difficulties is that such systems are often ill-conditioned, i.e. small changes in the system can produce large changes in the solution, which can slow down the performance of linear solving algorithms. We test several existing quantum techniques to improve the condition number, but find they are insufficient. We then introduce the inverse Laplacian preconditioner, which improves the scaling of the condition number of the system from O(N) to $$O(\sqrt{N})$$

O
(

N

)

and admits a quantum implementation. These results are a critical first step in developing a quantum solver for fracture systems, both advancing the state of hydrological modeling and providing a novel real-world application for quantum linear systems algorithms.
Transition in vaginal Lactobacillus species during pregnancy and prediction of preterm birth in Korean women
Authors: You Young-Ah , Park Sunwha , Kim Kwangmin , Kwon Eun Jin , Hur Young Min , Kim Soo Min , Lee Gain , Ansari AbuZar , Park Junhyung , Kim Young Ju
Published: December 2022

The predominance of vaginal Lactobacillus species, specifically L. crispatus, is important for pregnancy maintenance, but varies by race. The composition of the vaginal microbiome can affect susceptibility to adverse pregnancy outcomes. We performed 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing on vaginal swabs taken from Korean pregnant women. Here, we report the transition of Lactobacillus spp. in samples of full-term birth (FTB) collected longitudinally in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy in a cohort study (n = 23) and their association with Lactobacillus abundance and preterm birth (PTB) in a case–control study (n = 200). Lactobacillus species, which was dominant in FTB samples including those that received interventions in the second trimester, did not change until 37 weeks of gestation. However, L. crispatus was replaced by other Lactobacillus species after 37 weeks. The PTB risk showed a closer association with the Lactobacillus abundance than with community state type determined by Lactobacillus species. PTB was associated with less than 90% of Lactobacillus abundance and an increase in Ureplasma parvum in the second trimester. Thus, the vaginal microbiome may change in preparation for childbirth in response to multiple intrinsic factors after 37 weeks of gestation. Monitoring the Lactobacillus abundance may help improve the reliability of microbial PTB biomarkers.
Impairment in novelty-promoted memory via behavioral tagging and capture before apparent memory loss in a knock-in model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Broadbelt Tabitha , Mutlu-Smith Menekse , Carnicero-Senabre Daniel , Saido Takaomi C. , Saito Takashi , Wang Szu-Han
Published: December 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with cognitive impairments and age-dependent memory deficits which have been studied using genetic models of AD. Whether the processes for modulating memory persistence are more vulnerable to the influence of amyloid pathology than the encoding and consolidation of the memory remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether early amyloid pathology would affect peri-learning novelty in promoting memory, through a process called behavioral tagging and capture (BTC). AppNL-G-F/NL-G-F mice and wild-type littermates were trained in an appetitive delayed matching-to-place (ADMP) task which allows for the assessment of peri-learning novelty in facilitating memory. The results show that novelty enabled intermediate-term memory in wild-type mice, but not in AppNL-G-F/NL-G-F mice in adulthood. This effect preceded spatial memory impairment in the ADMP task seen in middle age. Other memory tests in the Barnes maze, Y-maze, novel object or location recognition tasks remained intact. Together, memory modulation through BTC is impaired before apparent deficits in learning and memory. Relevant biological mechanisms underlying BTC and the implication in AD are discussed.
American prejudice during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Huber Christina , Brietzke Sasha , Inagaki Tristen K. , Meyer Meghan L.
Published: December 2022

In the United States, anti-Asian sentiment has pervaded the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Could Americans’ fear of contracting the virus relate to prejudice against Asian individuals? According to intergroup threat theory, prejudice increases toward groups of people when they are perceived as a likely cause of symbolic and/or real threat, including disease threat. We tested this perspective in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic by investigating the relationship between Americans’ concern about contracting COVID-19 and their feelings toward individuals from multiple countries. Between May 12–14 2020, participants residing in the United States (N = 932) completed an online survey assessing their (1) perceived threat of COVID-19 infection, (2) feelings of warmth and coldness toward people in America, China, Italy, Japan, and Greece, and (3) trait-level prejudice. Perceived threat of COVID-19 infection differentially related to feelings toward American and Chinese nationals and was unrelated to feelings toward people from other countries assessed. Specifically, greater threat of infection was associated with less warmth toward individuals from China, an effect moderated by trait-level prejudice. That is, participants high (but not medium or low) in trait prejudice showed a significant relationship between threat of COVID-19 infection and reduced warmth toward Chinese individuals. Threat of infection also related to greater warmth and less coldness toward American nationals, consistent with prior work indicating that disease threats amplify ethnocentrism. Collectively, results suggest that perceived threat of COVID-19 infection may correspond with prejudice toward the national outgroup associated with the disease’s origin (i.e., China), as well as national ingroup favoritism, among Americans prone to prejudice.
Sacral neuromodulation for overactive bladder using the InterStim and BetterStim systems
Authors: Meng Lingfeng , Tian Zijian , Zhang Yaoguang , Wang Jianye , Liao Limin , Chen Guoqing , Tian Xiaojun , Ma Lulin , Li Yan , Shi Benkang , Zhang Yong , Ling Qing , Zhang Peng , Wei Zhongqing , Zhong Tie , Xu Zhihui , Li Jiayi , Luo Deyi
Published: December 2022

This study aimed to evaluate differences in the clinical outcomes of different sacral neuromodulation systems (InterStim and BetterStim) used in the treatment of overactive bladder. Data from a previously established database of sacral neuromodulation in China (the InterStim system) and a 2020 clinical trial of the BetterStim system were screened. Patients with overactive bladder undergoing stage II implanted pulse generator implantation were selected for analysis and divided into InterStim and BetterStim system groups. Voiding diaries and subjective scores obtained preoperatively, after stage I tined-lead implantation (experience period), and after stage II implanted pulse generator implantation were compared between the two groups. This study included 113 patients with overactive bladder (43, InterStim system group; 70, BetterStim system group). Voiding diaries and subjective scores significantly improved in both the InterStim and BetterStim system groups over the treatment period. Specifically, the urination frequency (all P < 0.001), average voiding volume (all P < 0.001), and average urinary leakage (InterStim, P < 0.05; BetterStim, P < 0.01) in both groups significantly improved at different periods during treatment. At the same time, the urgency perception scale (P < 0.001) and OAB-related quality of life score (InterStim, P < 0.05; BetterStim, P < 0.01) also significantly improved. There was no significant difference in urination frequency at baseline between the two groups (P = 0.169). Urination frequency was significantly higher in the BetterStim system group than in the InterStim group during the experience period and at follow-up (P = 0.031, P = 0.006). There was no significant difference in the number of urinary leakages between the different systems at baseline (P = 0.662), although this was higher in the InterStim system group during the experience period (P = 0.016), and the difference disappeared at the last follow-up (P = 0.565). There were significant differences in baseline urgency perception scale (P = 0.001) and OAB-related quality of life score (P < 0.001) between the two groups; however, these differences were not maintained at follow-up (P = 0.81, P = 0.479). Both sacral neuromodulation systems are safe and effective in treating overactive bladder. The InterStim system may be more beneficial for patients with dry overactive bladder. Satisfactory outcomes may be achieved with the BetterStim system in patients with wet overactive bladder. However, further studies are required to confirm this finding.
Automatic generation of structural geometric digital twins from point clouds
Authors: Mirzaei Kaveh , Arashpour Mehrdad , Asadi Ehsan , Masoumi Hossein , Li Heng
Published: December 2022

A geometric digital twin (gDT) model capable of leveraging acquired 3D geometric data plays a vital role in digitizing the process of structural health monitoring. This study presents a framework for generating and updating digital twins of existing buildings by inferring semantic information from as-is point clouds (gDT’s data) acquired regularly from laser scanners (gDT’s connection). The information is stored in updatable Building Information Models (BIMs) as gDT’s virtual model, and dimensional outputs are extracted for structural health monitoring (gDT’s service) of different structural members and shapes (gDT’s physical part). First, geometric information, including position and section shape, is obtained from the acquired point cloud using domain-specific contextual knowledge and supervised classification. Then, structural members’ function and section family type is inferred from geometric information. Finally, a BIM is automatically generated or updated as the virtual model of an existing facility and incorporated within the gDT for structural health monitoring. Experiments on real-world construction data are performed to illustrate the efficiency and precision of the proposed model for creating as-is gDT of building structural members.
Social mobility across the lifecourse and DNA methylation age acceleration in adults in the UK
Authors: Bao Yanchun , Gorrie-Stone Tyler , Hannon Eilis , Hughes Amanda , Andrayas Alexandria , Neilson Grant , Burrage Joe , Mill Jonathon , Schalkwyk Leonard , Kumari Meena
Published: December 2022

Disadvantaged socio-economic position (SEP) is associated with greater biological age, relative to chronological age, measured by DNA methylation (positive ‘age acceleration’, AA). Social mobility has been proposed to ameliorate health inequalities. This study aimed to understand the association of social mobility with positive AA. Diagonal reference modelling and ordinary least square regression techniques were applied to explore social mobility and four measures of age acceleration (first-generation: ‘Horvath’, ‘Hannum’ and second-generation: ‘Phenoage’, DunedinPoAm) in n = 3140 participants of the UK Household Longitudinal Study. Disadvantaged SEP in early life is associated with positive AA for three (Hannum, Phenoage and DunedinPoAm) of the four measures examined while the second generation biomarkers are associated with SEP in adulthood (p < 0.01). Social mobility was associated with AA measured with Hannum only such that compared to no mobility, upward mobility was associated with greater age independently of origin and destination SEP. Compared to continuously advantaged groups, downward mobility was associated with positive Phenoage (1.06y [− 0.03, 2.14]) and DunedinPoAm assessed AA (0.96y [0.24, 1.68]). For these two measures, upward mobility was associated with negative AA (Phenoage, − 0.65y [− 1.30, − 0.002]; DunedinPoAm, − 0.96y [− 1.47, − 0.46]) compared to continually disadvantaged groups. While we find some support for three models of lifecourse epidemiology with early life as a sensitive period, SEP across the lifecourse and social mobility for age acceleration measured with DNA methylation, our findings suggest that disadvantaged SEP across the lifecourse is most consistently associated with positive AA.
Messenger RNA in lipid nanoparticles rescues HEK 293 cells from lipid-induced mitochondrial dysfunction as studied by real time pulse chase NMR, RTPC-NMR, spectroscopy
Authors: Sciolino Nicholas , Reverdatto Sergey , Premo Aaron , Breindel Leonard , Yu Jianchao , Theophall Gregory , Burz David S. , Liu Anna , Sulchek Todd , Schmidt Ann Marie , Ramasamy Ravichandran , Shekhtman Alexander
Published: December 2022

Analytical tools to study cell physiology are critical for optimizing drug-host interactions. Real time pulse chase NMR spectroscopy, RTPC-NMR, was introduced to monitor the kinetics of metabolite production in HEK 293T cells treated with COVID-19 vaccine-like lipid nanoparticles, LNPs, with and without mRNA. Kinetic flux parameters were resolved for the incorporation of isotopic label into metabolites and clearance of labeled metabolites from the cells. Changes in the characteristic times for alanine production implicated mitochondrial dysfunction as a consequence of treating the cells with lipid nanoparticles, LNPs. Mitochondrial dysfunction was largely abated by inclusion of mRNA in the LNPs, the presence of which increased the size and uniformity of the LNPs. The methodology is applicable to all cultured cells.
Comprehensive effects of interdecadal change of sea surface temperature increase in the Indo-Pacific Ocean on the warming-wetting of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Authors: Dong Na , Xu Xiangde , Cai Wenyue , Zhao Tianliang , Sun Chan
Published: December 2022

The correlation characteristics between anomalous changes in summer precipitation on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) and the high-impact areas of global sea-surface temperature (SST) are mainly studied in this paper. The results show that the interdecadal change of the regional “warming-wetting” in China is especially prominent in the northern part of the main body of the QTP, which is therefore identified as the high-value area of precipitation variability. Investigations have revealed that the high-value areas of summer precipitation variability in the northern QTP are significantly correlated with four high-value areas of SST variability, namely the western North Pacific, the western Central Pacific, the Southwest Pacific, and the central Indian Ocean. In these four high-impact areas, a synchronous tendency is found in the SST increase and sea-surface specific humidity. Through the tracking analysis of the correlated vectors of the water vapor source for the warming-wetting of the QTP, it further confirms that the four high-value areas of SST variability in the Indo-Pacific Ocean are the major impact sources of water vapor transport for the warming-wetting of the QTP. Moreover, the comparison of the characteristics of various interdecadal global water vapor transport circulations show that from 1991 to 2020, the trans-equatorial water vapor transport from the Southern Hemisphere witnessed a notable increase, which furthermore suggests that the interdecadal change of SST increase in the Southwest Pacific and central Indian Ocean is the key reason for the warming-wetting of the QTP. In addition, a comprehensive image of high-impact marine water vapor sources for modulating the warming-wetting tendency in the QTP is proposed.
Prediction of optical coherence tomography-detected calcified nodules using coronary computed tomography angiography
Authors: Sugiura Junichi , Watanabe Makoto , Nobuta Saki , Okamura Akihiko , Kyodo Atsushi , Nakamura Takuya , Nogi Kazutaka , Ishihara Satomi , Hashimoto Yukihiro , Ueda Tomoya , Seno Ayako , Onoue Kenji , Soeda Tsunenari , Saito Yoshihiko
Published: December 2022

Diagnosis of calcified nodules (CNs) is critical in the proper management of coronary artery disease, but CNs can be detected only using intracoronary imaging modalities. This study aimed to investigate the ability of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) in predicting CNs detected using optical coherence tomography (OCT). From 138 patients who underwent OCT-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after CCTA evaluation, 141 PCI target vessels were retrospectively enrolled and classified into CN (12 vessels/11 patients; CNs in the PCI culprit lesion) and non-CN (129 vessels/127 patients; without CNs) groups based on the OCT analysis. Retrospective CCTA analysis revealed significantly higher coronary artery calcification score (CACS), calcified plaque volume (CPV), and maximum calcified plaque area (MCPA) of the target vessel in the CN group than in the non-CN group. Receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that CACS ≥ 162 (area under the ROC curve (AUC 0.76, sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 54.2%), CPV ≥ 20.1 mm3 (AUC 0.83, sensitivity 100%, specificity 57.3%), and MCPA ≥ 4.51 mm2 (AUC 0.87, sensitivity 91.7%, specificity 78.3%) were the best cutoff values for predicting CNs. MCPA showed the highest AUC among all the CCTA parameters. In conclusion, CCTA is useful for predicting OCT-detected CNs in PCI target vessels.
Overlapping states of AWGS muscle dysfunction and inverse feasibility of ADL recovery by rehabilitation in older inpatients
Authors: Yamashita Masashi , Obata Hiroaki , Kamiya Kentaro , Matsunaga Atsuhiko , Hotta Kazuki , Izumi Tohru
Published: December 2022

Rehabilitation based on guided walking is effective to recover activity of daily living (ADL) in frail older adults, even octogenarians. However, muscle dysfunction obviously reflects disability, and few studies have focused on ADL recovery by rehabilitation. We employed the state of muscle dysfunctions proposed by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) in 2019 and attempted to clarify the relation between the overlapping dysfunctions and the feasibility of ADL recovery after rehabilitation. In total, 297 frail older patients (the mean age: 82.8 years, 46.1% of patients were male) participated in a walking-guided rehabilitation program to achieve the goal of ambulatory discharge. Muscle dysfunction was categorized by four standardized methods at the start of rehabilitation (grip strength, gait speed, time of five sit-to-stand, and short physical performance battery: SPPB), according to the AWGS proposal. ADLs were monitored by Barthel index before admission, at the start of rehabilitation, and at discharge. At least one dysfunction was present in 95.3% of patients. If a single patient had three or more muscle dysfunction, the ADLs recovery was significantly limited (interaction: p < 0.05). The overlapped counts of AWGS muscle dysfunction helps to predict inverse feasibility of ADL recovery in frail older patients through rehabilitation.
Geochemical signatures of sedimentary and diagenetic processes in the trace fossil Rosselia from the Pliocene in Taiwan
Authors: Liou Yu‑Hsuan , Löwemark Ludvig , Wang Pei-Ling , Dashtgard Shahin
Published: December 2022

Trace fossils are structures left in a substrate as the result of the activities of living organisms. The producer of the spindle-shaped trace fossil Rosselia incorporates fine-grained organic rich material into concentric layers surrounding the central shaft. Because Rosselia is common in stressed shallow marine environments where the preservation potential of organic material is generally poor, these trace fossils may act as natural archives, recording changes in the provenance of organic material. Carbon isotope values of organic carbon preserved in laminae of the studied Rosselia typically lie around − 26‰, suggesting a primary terrestrial source. However, increased levels of S and Ca detected from XRF scanning of the laminae indicate that at least some marine material is incorporated. Examination of a diagenetically altered specimen also demonstrates that both elemental composition and δ13C values can be substantially altered diagenesis. Nevertheless, the long stratigraphic range of Rosselia, from the Cambrian to the Present, and its ubiquitous occurrence in stressed shallow-marine settings make it a potentially powerful tool to reconstruct variations in the input of organic material in settings otherwise devoid of fine-grained organic matter.
A novel approach for the endothelialization of xenogeneic decellularized vascular tissues by human cells utilizing surface modification and dynamic culture
Authors: Ho Wen-Jin , Kobayashi Mako , Murata Kozue , Hashimoto Yoshihide , Izumi Kenji , Kimura Tsuyoshi , Kanemitsu Hideo , Yamazaki Kazuhiro , Ikeda Tadashi , Minatoya Kenji , Kishida Akio , Masumoto Hidetoshi
Published: December 2022

Decellularized xenogeneic vascular grafts can be used in revascularization surgeries. We have developed decellularization methods using high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), which preserves the extracellular structure. Here, we attempted ex vivo endothelialization of HHP-decellularized xenogeneic tissues using human endothelial cells (ECs) to prevent clot formation against human blood. Slices of porcine aortic endothelium were decellularized using HHP and coated with gelatin. Human umbilical vein ECs were directly seeded and cultured under dynamic flow or static conditions for 14 days. Dynamic flow cultures tend to demonstrate higher cell coverage. We then coated the tissues with the E8 fragment of human laminin-411 (hL411), which has high affinity for ECs, and found that Dynamic/hL411showed high area coverage, almost reaching 100% (Dynamic/Gelatin vs Dynamic/hL411; 58.7 ± 11.4 vs 97.5 ± 1.9%, P = 0.0017). Immunostaining revealed sufficient endothelial cell coverage as a single cell layer in Dynamic/hL411. A clot formation assay using human whole blood showed low clot formation in Dynamic/hL411, almost similar to that in the negative control, polytetrafluoroethylene. Surface modification of HHP-decellularized xenogeneic endothelial tissues combined with dynamic culture achieved sufficient ex vivo endothelialization along with prevention of clot formation, indicating their potential for clinical use as vascular grafts in the future.
Nematicidal activity of sweet annie and garden cress nano-formulations and their impact on the vegetative growth and fruit quality of tomato plants
Authors: Mohammad Ayman A. , Amer Heba M. , El-Sawy Sameh M. , Youssef Dalia A. , Nour Shaimaa A. , Soliman Gaziea M.
Published: December 2022

Root-knot nematode is one of the major problems that face the agricultural production of several vegetable crops. Chemical nematicides have been banned because of their healthy and environmental undesirable attributes. So, this study aimed to evaluate the potential use of sweet annie (Artimisia annua) and garden cress (Lepidium sativum) as green routes for the development of effective and eco-friendly alternative nematicides. Nematicidal activity of sweet annie and garden cress aqueous extracts (500 g/L) in the original and nano-forms were evaluated againstMeloidogyne incognitain tomato planted in infected soil under greenhouse conditions. Nineteen phenolic compounds were identified inA. annuaextract, which was dominated by chlorogenic acid (5059 µg/100 mL), while 11 compounds were identified inL. sativumextract, that dominated byp-hydroxybenzoic acid (3206 μg/100 mL). Nano-particles were characterized with smooth surface, spherical shape and small size (50–100 nm). Under laboratory, the nano-formulations showed mortality percentage ofM. incognitaJ2greater than the original extract from. Vegetative growth parameters of tomato plants treated withA. annuaandL. sativumextracts significantly improved compared to the control plants. Also, biochemical analysis revealed that the extracts were able to induce tomato plants towards the accumulation of phenolic compounds and increasing the activity of defensive enzymes (protease, polyphenol oxidase and chitinase) resulting in systemic resistance. Regarding tomato fruits yield and quality, the studied treatments significantly improved the yield and physicochemical parameters of tomato fruits in terms of fruit weight, diameter, TSS, pH, lycopene content and color attributes gaining higher sensorial acceptance by the panelist. Generally, both extracts represent promising nematicide alternatives and have potential use in crop management. The nano-form ofA. annuaextract outperformed the nematicidal activity of other studied treatments.
Circuit quantum electrodynamics with dressed states of a superconducting artificial atom
Authors: Chang Yu-Han , Dubyna Dmytro , Chien Wei-Chen , Chen Chien-Han , Wu Cen-Shawn , Kuo Watson
Published: December 2022

A dynamical control of the coupling strengths between dressed states and probe photon states is demonstrated with a transmon-like artificial atom coupled to two closely spaced resonant modes. When the atom is driven with one mode, the atom state and driving photon states form the so-called dressed states. Dressed states with sideband index up to 3 were prepared and probed via the strong coupling to the other resonant mode. Spectroscopy reveals that the coupling strengths are “dressed” and can be modulated by the power and sideband index of the driving. The transmission of the probe tone is modulated by the driving microwave amplitude with a Bessel behavior, displaying multi-photon process associated with the inter-atomic level transitions.
Relaxin-2 plasma levels in atrial fibrillation are linked to inflammation and oxidative stress markers
Authors: Aragón-Herrera Alana , Couselo-Seijas Marinela , Feijóo-Bandín Sandra , Anido-Varela Laura , Moraña-Fernández Sandra , Tarazón Estefanía , Roselló-Lletí Esther , Portolés Manuel , Martínez-Sande José Luis , García-Seara Javier , Álvarez Ezequiel , González-Juanatey José Ramón , Rodríguez-Mañero Moisés , Eiras Sonia , Lago Francisca
Published: December 2022

Relaxin-2 exerts many favourable cardiovascular effects in pathological circumstances such as atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure, but the mechanisms underlying its actions are not completely understood. Since inflammation and fibrosis are pivotal processes in the pathogenesis of AF, our aim was to study the relationship between relaxin-2 plasma levels in left atrium (LA) and peripheral vein with molecules implicated in fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress in AF patients, and to evaluate the anti-fibrotic ability of relaxin-2 in normal human atrial cardiac fibroblasts (NHCF-A). Peripheral vein relaxin-2 plasma levels were higher than LA relaxin-2 plasma levels in men while, in women, peripheral vein relaxin-2 levels were increased compared to men. AF patients with higher levels of relaxin-2 exhibited a reduction in H2O2 plasma levels and in mRNA levels of alpha-defensin 3 (DEFA3) and IL-6 in leucocytes from LA plasma. Relaxin-2-in-vitro treatment inhibited NHCF-A migration and decreased mRNA and protein levels of the pro-fibrotic molecule transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Our results support an association between relaxin-2 and molecules involved in fibrosis, inflammation and oxidative stress in AF patients, and reinforce an anti-fibrotic protective role of this hormone in NHCF-A; strengthening the relevance of relaxin-2 in AF physiopathology, diagnosis and treatment.
The effects of cloth face masks on cardiorespiratory responses and VO2 during maximal incremental running protocol among apparently healthy men
Authors: Ogawa Takeshi , Koike Jun , Hirano Yuka
Published: December 2022

We aimed to determine the effects of wearing a cloth face mask on cardiorespiratory response, peak oxygen uptake (Vo2), respiratory muscle effort, and exercise tolerance during incremental exercise. The study had a randomized crossover design: 11 apparently healthy young men performed the Bruce protocol treadmill test in two conditions, wearing a cloth face mask (CFM) and without CFM (CON), in random order. Minute ventilation and oxygen uptake were measured using a mass spectrometry metabolic analyzer; cardiac output (CO) was measured using an impedance CO monitor; and mouth pressure (Pm) was measured and calculated as an integral Pm to assess respiratory muscle effort. Maximal minute ventilation was 13.4 ± 10.7% lower in the CFM condition than in the CON condition (P < 0.001). The peak Vo2 (52.4 ± 5.6 and 55.0 ± 5.1 mL/kg/min in CFM and CON, respectively) and CO were not significantly different between the two conditions. However, the integral value of Pm was significantly higher (P = 0.02), and the running time to exhaustion was 2.6 ± 3.2% lower (P = 0.02) in the CFM condition than in the CON condition. Our results suggest that wearing a cloth face mask increased respiratory muscle effort and decreased ventilatory volume in healthy young men; however, Vo2 remained unchanged. Exercise tolerance also decreased slightly.
An exosome-related long non-coding RNAs risk model could predict survival outcomes in patients with breast cancer
Authors: Qiu Pengjun , Guo Qiaonan , Lin Jianqing , Pan Kelun , Chen Jianpeng , Ding Mingji
Published: December 2022

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most frequent malignancies among women worldwide. Accumulating evidence indicates that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) may affect BC progression. Exosomes, a class of small membrane vesicles, have been reported to promote tumor progression through transporting proteins, mRNAs, lncRNAs and some other small molecules. However, the interaction between exosome-related lncRNAs and the microenvironment of malignancies is unclear. Hence, we proceeded to investigate the relationship between exosome-related lncRNAs and BC microenvironment. 121 exosome-associated genes were extracted from ExoBCD database. Then, the Pearson analysis was used to screened out the exosome-related lncRNAs. After that, 15 exosome-related differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified by the correlation with BC prognosis. According to the sum of the expression of these 15 lncRNAs, extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and the regression coefficients, an exosome-related lncRNAs signature was developed by using Cox regression analysis. With the median risk score of the training set, the patients in training and validation sets were separated to low-risk group and high-risk group. Subsequently, the lncRNA–mRNA co-expression network was constructed. The distinct enrichment pathways were compared among the different risk groups by using the R package clusterProfiler. The ESTIMATE method and ssGESA database were adopted to study the ESTIMATE Score and immune cell infiltration. Eventually, the expression of immune checkpoint associated genes, microsatellite instable and the immunophenoscore were further analyzed between different risk groups. Different risk groups exhibited different prognosis, with lower survival rate in the high-risk group. The differentially expressed genes between the different risk groups were enriched in biological processes pathways as well as immune responses. BC patients in high-risk group were identified with lower scores of ESTIMATE scores. Subsequently, we noticed that the infiltrating levels of aDCs, B cells, CD8+ T cells, iDCs, DCs, Neutrophils, macrophages, NK cells, pDCs, Tfh, T helper cells, TIL and Tregs were obvious elevated with the decreased risk score in training and validation cohorts. And some immune signatures were significantly activated with the decreased risk score in both cohorts. Eventually, the exosome-associated lncRNAs risk model was demonstrated to accurately predict immunotherapy response in patients with BC. The results of our study suggest that exosome-related lncRNAs risk model has close relationship with prognosis and immune cells infiltration in BC patients. These findings could make a great contribution to improving BC immunotherapy.
Unravelling the genetics of non-random fertilization associated with gametic incompatibility
Authors: Martin Audrey A. A. , Id-Lahoucine Samir , Fonseca Pablo A. S. , Rochus Christina M. , Alcantara Lucas M. , Tulpan Dan , LeBlanc Stephen J. , Miglior Filippo , Casellas Joaquim , Cánovas Angela , Baes Christine F. , Schenkel Flavio S.
Published: December 2022

In the dairy industry, mate allocation is dependent on the producer’s breeding goals and the parents’ breeding values. The probability of pregnancy differs among sire-dam combinations, and the compatibility of a pair may vary due to the combination of gametic haplotypes. Under the hypothesis that incomplete incompatibility would reduce the odds of fertilization, and complete incompatibility would lead to a non-fertilizing or lethal combination, deviation from Mendelian inheritance expectations would be observed for incompatible pairs. By adding an interaction to a transmission ratio distortion (TRD) model, which detects departure from the Mendelian expectations, genomic regions linked to gametic incompatibility can be identified. This study aimed to determine the genetic background of gametic incompatibility in Holstein cattle. A total of 283,817 genotyped Holstein trios were used in a TRD analysis, resulting in 422 significant regions, which contained 2075 positional genes further investigated for network, overrepresentation, and guilt-by-association analyses. The identified biological pathways were associated with immunology and cellular communication and a total of 16 functional candidate genes were identified. Further investigation of gametic incompatibility will provide opportunities to improve mate allocation for the dairy cattle industry.
Functional characterization of ABCA4 genetic variants related to Stargardt disease
Authors: Kim Bo Min , Song Hyo Sook , Kim Jin-Young , Kwon Eun Young , Ha Seung Yeon , Kim Minsuk , Choi Ji Ha
Published: December 2022

The ATP-binding cassette subfamily 4 (ABCA4), a transporter, is localized within the photoreceptors of the retina, and its genetic variants cause retinal dystrophy. Despite the clinical importance of the ABCA4 transporter, a few studies have investigated the function of each variant. In this study, we functionally characterized ABCA4 variants found in Korean patients with Stargardt disease or variants of the ABCA4 promoter region. We observed that four missense variants—p.Arg290Gln, p.Thr1117Ala, p.Cys1140Trp, and p.Asn1588Tyr—significantly decreased ABCA4 expression on the plasma membrane, which could be due to intracellular degradation. There are four major haplotypes in the ABCA4 proximal promoter. We observed that the H1 haplotype (c.-761C>A) indicated significantly increased luciferase activity compared to that of the wild-type, whereas the H3 haplotype (c.-1086A>C) indicated significantly decreased luciferase activity (P < 0.01 and 0.001, respectively). In addition, c.-900A>T in the H2 haplotype exhibited significantly increased luciferase activity compared with that of the wild-type. Two transcription factors, GATA-2 and HLF, were found to function as enhancers of ABCA4 transcription. Our findings suggest that ABCA4 variants in patients with Stargardt disease affect ABCA4 expression. Furthermore, common variants of the ABCA4 proximal promoter alter the ABCA4 transcriptional activity, which is regulated by GATA-2 and HLF transcription factors.
Improved β-cell function leads to improved glucose tolerance in a transgenic mouse expressing lipoprotein lipase in adipocytes
Authors: Memetimin Hasiyet , Zhu Beibei , Lee Sangderk , Katz Wendy S. , Kern Philip A. , Finlin Brian S.
Published: December 2022

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) hydrolyzes the triglyceride core of lipoproteins and also functions as a bridge, allowing for lipoprotein and cholesterol uptake. Transgenic mice expressing LPL in adipose tissue under the control of the adiponectin promoter (AdipoQ-LPL) have improved glucose metabolism when challenged with a high fat diet. Here, we studied the transcriptional response of the adipose tissue of these mice to acute high fat diet exposure. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) provided mechanistic insight into the improved metabolic phenotype of AdipoQ-LPL mice. First, the cholesterol homeostasis pathway, which is controlled by the SREBP2 transcription factor, is repressed in gonadal adipose tissue AdipoQ-LPL mice. Furthermore, we identified SND1 as a link between SREBP2 and CCL19, an inflammatory chemokine that is reduced in AdipoQ-LPL mice. Second, GSEA identified a signature for pancreatic β-cells in adipose tissue of AdipoQ-LPL mice, an unexpected finding. We explored whether β-cell function is improved in AdipoQ-LPL mice and found that the first phase of insulin secretion is increased in mice challenged with high fat diet. In summary, we identify two different mechanisms for the improved metabolic phenotype of AdipoQ-LPL mice. One involves improved adipose tissue function and the other involves adipose tissue—pancreatic β-cell crosstalk.
Molecular surveillance of arboviruses circulation and co-infection during a large chikungunya virus outbreak in Thailand, October 2018 to February 2020
Authors: Khongwichit Sarawut , Chuchaona Watchaporn , Vongpunsawad Sompong , Poovorawan Yong
Published: December 2022

A large national outbreak of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was recently reported in Thailand. While dengue virus (DENV) infection tends to occur year-round with an upsurge in the rainy season, Zika virus (ZIKV) also circulates in the country. The overlap in the distribution of these viruses increased the probability of co-infections during the heightened CHIKV activity. By examining 1806 patient serum samples submitted for CHIKV diagnostics from October 2018-February 2020 (511 CHIKV-negatives and 1295 CHIKV-positives), we used real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to identify DENV and ZIKV individually. A total of 29 ZIKV and 36 DENV single-infections were identified. Interestingly, 13 co-infection cases were observed, of which 8 were CHIKV/DENV, 3 were CHIKV/ZIKV, and 2 were DENV/ZIKV. There were six DENV genotypes (13 DENV-1 genotype I, 10 DENV-2 Asian I, 10 DENV-2 Cosmopolitan, 6 DENV-3 genotype I, 2 DENV-3 genotype III, and 5 DENV-4 genotype I). Additionally, ZIKV strains identified in this study either clustered with strains previously circulating in Thailand and Singapore, or with strains previously reported in China, French Polynesia, and the Americas. Our findings reveal the co-infection and genetic diversity patterns of mosquito-borne viruses circulating in Thailand.
Probing the interfacial coupling in ternary van der Waals heterostructures
Authors: Wu Heng , Lin Miao-Ling , Leng Yu-Chen , Chen Xue , Zhou Yan , Zhang Jun , Tan Ping-Heng
Published: December 2022

Good interfacial coupling between each constituent of van der Waals Heterostructures (vdWHs) is the prerequisite for the distinguished performance of related devices. Since vdWHs-based devices commonly consist of three or more constituents, an effective evaluation of interfacial coupling quality in multiple heterointerfaces is critical during the device fabrication process. Here, in ternary vdWHs composed of hBN, graphene (Gr) and transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) flakes, which are essential building blocks for low-dimensional vdWHs-based electronic and optoelectronic devices, we realized probe and quantification of the interfacial coupling by low-frequency Raman spectroscopy under resonant excitation through the C exciton energy in TMD constituents. Based on the frequencies of emerging interlayer vibration modes in hBN/TMD/Gr ternary vdWHs, the interfacial coupling force constants of hBN/TMD and TMD/Gr interfaces are estimated as parameters to quantitatively evaluate the interfacial coupling strength at the corresponding interfaces. Moreover, the interfacial coupling strength at Gr/hBN interface is also successfully revealed in Gr/hBN/MoTe2 ternary vdWHs, which cannot be directly characterized from Gr/hBN binary vdWH due to its unobservable interlayer modes with weak electron-phonon coupling. This general strategy can be further extended to probe and quantify the interfacial coupling quality in polynary vdWHs and related devices.
Characterization of multi-domain postoperative recovery trajectories after cardiac surgery using a digital platform
Authors: Mori Makoto , Dhruva Sanket S. , Geirsson Arnar , Krumholz Harlan M.
Published: December 2022

Understanding postoperative recovery is critical for guiding efforts to improve post-acute phase care. How recovery evolves during the first 30 days after cardiac surgery is not well-understood. A digital platform may enable granular quantification of recovery by frequently capturing patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) that can be clinically implemented to support recovery. We conduct a prospective cohort study using a digital platform to measure recovery after cardiac surgery using a PROM sent every 3 days for 30 days after surgery to characterize recovery in multiple domains (e.g., pain, sleep, activities of daily living, anxiety) and to identify factors related to the patient’s perception of overall recovery. We enroll patients who underwent cardiac surgery at a tertiary center between January 2019 and March 2020 and automatically deliver PROMs and reminders electronically. Of the 10 surveys delivered per patient, 8 (IQR 6–10) are completed. Patients who experienced postoperative complications more commonly belong to the worst overall recovery trajectory. Of the 12 domains modeled, only the worst anxiety trajectory is associated with the worse overall recovery trajectory membership, suggesting that even when patients struggle in the recovery of other domains, the patient may still feel progress in their recovery. We demonstrate that using a digital platform, automated PROM data collection, and characterization of multi-domain recovery trajectories is feasible and likely implementable in clinical practice. Overall recovery may be impacted by complications, while slow progress in constituent domains may still allow for the perception of overall recovery progression.
Gut metagenome profile of the Nunavik Inuit youth is distinct from industrial and non-industrial counterparts
Authors: Abed Jehane Y. , Godon Thibaud , Mehdaoui Fadwa , Plante Pier-Luc , Boissinot Maurice , Bergeron Michel G. , Bélanger Richard E. , Muckle Gina , Poliakova Natalia , Ayotte Pierre , Corbeil Jacques , Rousseau Elsa
Published: December 2022

Comparative metagenomics studies have highlighted differences in microbiome community structure among human populations over diverse lifestyles and environments. With their unique environmental and historical backgrounds, Nunavik Inuit have a distinctive gut microbiome with undocumented health-related implications. Using shotgun metagenomics, we explored the taxonomic and functional structure of the gut microbiome from 275 Nunavik Inuit ranging from 16 to 30-year-old. Whole-metagenome analyses revealed that Nunavik Inuit youths have a more diverse microbiome than their non-industrialized and industrialized counterparts. A comparison of k-mer content illustrated the uniqueness of the Nunavik gut microbiome. Short-chain fatty acids producing species, and carbohydrates degradation pathways dominated Inuit metagenomes. We identified a taxonomic and functional signature unique to the Nunavik gut microbiome contrasting with other populations using a random forest classifier. Here, we show that the Nunavik Inuit gut microbiome exhibits high diversity and a distinct community structure.
Ultrafast signatures of spin and orbital order in antiferromagnetic α-Sr2CrO4
Authors: Lee Min-Cheol , Occhialini Connor , Li Jiarui , Zhu Zhihai , Sirica Nicholas S. , Mix L. T. , Kim Soyeun , Yarotski Dmitry A. , Comin Riccardo , Prasankumar Rohit P.
Published: December 2022

The antiferromagnetic Mott insulator α-Sr2CrO4 possesses multiple spin and orbital ordered phases, but their unique interplay is still relatively unexplored. Here, we used femtosecond optical spectroscopy to study ultrafast spin and orbital ordering dynamics in α-Sr2CrO4 through their non-equilibrium response to photoexcitation. By varying the pump photon energy, we selectively drove inter-site spin hopping between neighboring Cr t2g orbitals and charge transfer-type transitions between oxygen 2p and Cr eg orbitals. The resulting transient reflectivity dynamics revealed temperature-dependent anomalies across the Néel temperature for spin ordering as well as the transition temperatures linked to different types of orbital order. Our results reveal distinct relaxation timescales for spin and orbital orders in α-Sr2CrO4 and provide experimental evidence for the phase transition at TO, possibly related to antiferro-type orbital ordering.
Oscillations of highly magnetized non-rotating neutron stars
Authors: Leung Man Yin , Yip Anson Ka Long , Cheong Patrick Chi-Kit , Li Tjonnie Guang Feng
Published: December 2022

Highly magnetized neutron stars are promising candidates to explain some of the most peculiar astronomical phenomena, for instance, fast radio bursts, gamma-ray bursts, and superluminous supernovae. Pulsations of these highly magnetized neutron stars are also speculated to produce detectable gravitational waves. In addition, pulsations are important probes of the structure and equation of state of the neutron stars. The major challenge in studying the pulsations of highly magnetized neutron stars is the demanding numerical cost of consistently solving the nonlinear Einstein and Maxwell equations under minimum assumptions. With the recent breakthroughs in numerical solvers, we investigate pulsation modes of non-rotating neutron stars which harbour strong purely toroidal magnetic fields of 1015−17 G through two-dimensional axisymmetric general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamics simulations. We show that stellar oscillations are insensitive to magnetization effects until the magnetic to binding energy ratio goes beyond 10%, where the pulsation mode frequencies are strongly suppressed. We further show that this is the direct consequence of the decrease in stellar compactness when the extreme magnetic fields introduce strong deformations of the neutron stars.