bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AI-assisted tracking of worldwide non-pharmaceutical interventions for COVID-19
Authors: Suryanarayanan Parthasarathy , Tsou Ching-Huei , Poddar Ananya , Mahajan Diwakar , Dandala Bharath , Madan Piyush , Agrawal Anshul , Wachira Charles , Samuel Osebe Mogaka , Bar-Shira Osnat , Kipchirchir Clifton , Okwako Sharon , Ogallo William , Otieno Fred , Nyota Timothy , Matu Fiona , Barros Vesna Resende , Shats Daniel , Kagan Oren , Remy Sekou , Bent Oliver , Guhan Pooja , Mahatma Shilpa , Walcott-Bryant Aisha , Pathak Divya , Rosen-Zvi Michal
Published: March 2021

The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has transformed almost every facet of human society throughout the world. Against an emerging, highly transmissible disease, governments worldwide have implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to slow the spread of the virus. Examples of such interventions include community actions, such as school closures or restrictions on mass gatherings, individual actions including mask wearing and self-quarantine, and environmental actions such as cleaning public facilities. We present the Worldwide Non-pharmaceutical Interventions Tracker for COVID-19 (WNTRAC), a comprehensive dataset consisting of over 6,000 NPIs implemented worldwide since the start of the pandemic. WNTRAC covers NPIs implemented across 261 countries and territories, and classifies NPIs into a taxonomy of 16 NPI types. NPIs are automatically extracted daily from Wikipedia articles using natural language processing techniques and then manually validated to ensure accuracy and veracity. We hope that the dataset will prove valuable for policymakers, public health leaders, and researchers in modeling and analysis efforts to control the spread of COVID-19.
Preferred orientations of garnet porphyroblasts reveal previously cryptic templating during nucleation
Authors: Nagurney Alexandra B. , Caddick Mark J. , Pattison David R. M. , Michel F. Marc
Published: March 2021

Electron back scattered diffraction data of garnet crystals from the Nelson Aureole, British Columbia and the Mosher’s Island formation, Nova Scotia, reveals that 22 garnet crystals are all oriented with one of three crystal directions parallel to the trace of the foliation plane in thin section. Structural models suggest that these relationships are due to preferential garnet nucleation onto muscovite, with the alignment of repeating rows of Al octahedra and Si tetrahedra in each leading to inheritance of garnet orientation from the muscovite. These results highlight that epitaxial nucleation may be a prevalent process by which porphyroblast minerals nucleate during metamorphism and carry implications for the role that non-classic nucleation pathways play in the crystallization of metamorphic minerals, the distribution of porphyroblasts in metamorphic rocks, and, in cases in which nucleation is the rate limiting step for crystallization, the energetics of metamorphic reactions.
An observational study of anaerobic bacteria in cystic fibrosis lung using culture dependant and independent approaches
Authors: Lamoureux Claudie , Guilloux Charles-Antoine , Beauruelle Clémence , Gouriou Stéphanie , Ramel Sophie , Dirou Anne , Le Bihan Jean , Revert Krista , Ropars Thomas , Lagrafeuille Rosyne , Vallet Sophie , Le Berre Rozenn , Nowak Emmanuel , Héry-Arnaud Geneviève
Published: March 2021

Strict anaerobes are undeniably important residents of the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung but are still unknowns. The main objectives of this study were to describe anaerobic bacteria diversity in CF airway microbiota and to evaluate the association with lung function. An observational study was conducted during eight months. A hundred and one patients were enrolled in the study, and 150 sputum samples were collected using a sterile sample kit designed to preserve anaerobic conditions. An extended-culture approach on 112 sputa and a molecular approach (quantitative PCR targeting three of the main anaerobic genera in CF lung: Prevotella, Veillonella, and Fusobacterium) on 141 sputa were developed. On culture, 91.1% of sputa were positive for at least one anaerobic bacterial species, with an average of six anaerobic species detected per sputum. Thirty-one anaerobic genera and 69 species were found, which is the largest anaerobe diversity ever reported in CF lungs. Better lung function (defined as Forced Expiratory Volume in one second > 70%) was significantly associated with higher quantification of Veillonella. These results raise the question of the potential impact of anaerobes on lung function.
White matter alterations in glaucoma and monocular blindness differ outside the visual system
Authors: Hanekamp Sandra , Ćurčić-Blake Branislava , Caron Bradley , McPherson Brent , Timmer Anneleen , Prins Doety , Boucard Christine C. , Yoshida Masaki , Ida Masahiro , Hunt David , Jansonius Nomdo M. , Pestilli Franco , Cornelissen Frans W.
Published: March 2021

The degree to which glaucoma has effects in the brain beyond the eye and the visual pathways is unclear. To clarify this, we investigated white matter microstructure (WMM) in 37 tracts of patients with glaucoma, monocular blindness, and controls. We used brainlife.io for reproducibility. White matter tracts were subdivided into seven categories ranging from those primarily involved in vision (the visual white matter) to those primarily involved in cognition and motor control. In the vision tracts, WMM was decreased as measured by fractional anisotropy in both glaucoma and monocular blind subjects compared to controls, suggesting neurodegeneration due to reduced sensory inputs. A test–retest approach was used to validate these results. The pattern of results was different in monocular blind subjects, where WMM properties increased outside the visual white matter as compared to controls. This pattern of results suggests that whereas in the monocular blind loss of visual input might promote white matter reorganization outside of the early visual system, such reorganization might be reduced or absent in glaucoma. The results provide indirect evidence that in glaucoma unknown factors might limit the reorganization as seen in other patient groups following visual loss.
In situ activation graphitization to fabricate hierarchical porous graphitic carbon for supercapacitor
Authors: Zhao Yanling , Zhang Xiaohua
Published: March 2021

In situ activation–graphitization method based on the atomically dispersed K and Fe in organic salts is developed to synthesize hierarchical porous graphitic carbon by directly pyrolysis potassium citrate and iron citrate. Moreover, (NH4)2C2O4 is also employed as both N dopant and porogen to open up internal structure and regulate pore structure. The inside-out activation leads to the homogeneous reaction and interconnected hierarchical porous structure with few dead pores. Accompanied by high specific surface area, appropriate pore distribution, good conductivity, and N/O functional groups, the sample exhibits high capacitance of 322.6 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, good rate capability, and excellent cycling stability with 101.5% capacitance retention after 15,000 cycles. The supercapacitor shows an energy density of 21.3 W h kg−1 at 456.7 W kg−1 in 1 M Na2SO4. Easy synthesis, cost-effective, and environmentally benign, the work provides a promising strategy to produce hierarchical porous graphitic carbon applied in energy storage.
Genome-wide characterization and analysis of bHLH transcription factors related to anthocyanin biosynthesis in spine grapes (Vitis davidii)
Authors: Li Ming , Sun Lei , Gu Hong , Cheng Dawei , Guo XiZhi , Chen Rui , Wu Zhiyong , Jiang Jianfu , Fan Xiucai , Chen Jinyong
Published: March 2021

As one of the largest transcription factor family, basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor family plays an important role in plant metabolism, physiology and growth. Berry color is one of the important factors that determine grape quality. However, the bHLH transcription factor family’s function in anthocyanin synthesis of grape berry has not been studied systematically. We identified 115 bHLH transcription factors in grape genome and phylogenetic analysis indicated that bHLH family could be classified into 25 subfamilies. First, we screened six candidate genes by bioinformatics analysis and expression analysis. We found one of the candidate genes VdbHLH037 belonged to III (f) subfamily and interacted with genes related to anthocyanin synthesis through phylogenetic analysis and interaction network prediction. Therefore, we speculated that VdbHLH037 participated in the anthocyanin synthesis process. To confirm this, we transiently expressed VdbHLH037 in grape and Arabidopsis transformation. Compared with the control, transgenic materials can accumulate more anthocyanins. These results provide a good base to study the function of the VdbHLH family in anthocyanin synthesis of grape berry.
Long-term changes in the small-world organization of brain networks after concussion
Authors: Churchill N. W. , Hutchison M. G. , Graham S. J. , Schweizer T. A.
Published: March 2021

There is a growing body of literature using functional MRI to study the acute and long-term effects of concussion on functional brain networks. To date, studies have largely focused on changes in pairwise connectivity strength between brain regions. Less is known about how concussion affects whole-brain network topology, particularly the “small-world” organization which facilitates efficient communication at both local and global scales. The present study addressed this knowledge gap by measuring local and global efficiency of 26 concussed athletes at acute injury, return to play (RTP) and one year post-RTP, along with a cohort of 167 athletic controls. On average, concussed athletes showed no alterations in local efficiency but had elevated global efficiency at acute injury, which had resolved by RTP. Athletes with atypically long recovery, however, had reduced global efficiency at 1 year post-RTP, suggesting long-term functional abnormalities for this subgroup. Analyses of nodal efficiency further indicated that global network changes were driven by high-efficiency visual and sensorimotor regions and low-efficiency frontal and subcortical regions. This study provides evidence that concussion causes subtle acute and long-term changes in the small-world organization of the brain, with effects that are related to the clinical profile of recovery.
Using the near field optical trapping effect of a dielectric metasurface to improve SERS enhancement for virus detection
Authors: Kenworthy Cameron F. , Pjotr Stoevelaar L. , Alexander Andrew J. , Gerini Giampiero
Published: March 2021

In this paper, we report the effect of optical trapping on the enhancement factor for Raman spectroscopy, using a dielectric metasurface. It was found that a higher enhancement factor (up to 275%) can be obtained in a substrate immersed in water, where particles are freee to move, compared to a dried substrate, where the particles (radius $$r=9$$

r
=
9

 nm, refractive index $$n=1.58$$

n
=
1.58

) are fixed on the surface. The highest enhancement is obtained at low concentrations because, this case, the particles are trapped preferentially in the regions of highest electric field (hotspots). For high concentrations, it was observed that the hotspots become saturated with particles and that additional particles are forced to occupy regions of lower field. The dielectric metasurface offers low optical absorption compared to conventional gold substrates. This aspect can be important for temperature-sensitive applications. The method shows potential for applications in crystal nucleation, where high solute supersaturation can be achieved near the high-field regions of the metasurface. The high sensitivity for SERS (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) at low analyte concentrations makes the proposed method highly promising for detection of small biological particles, such as proteins or viruses.
Toxicity of the insecticide sulfoxaflor alone and in combination with the fungicide fluxapyroxad in three bee species
Authors: Azpiazu C. , Bosch J. , Bortolotti L. , Medrzycki P. , Teper D. , Molowny-Horas R. , Sgolastra F.
Published: March 2021

The sulfoximine insecticide sulfoxaflor is regarded as a potential substitute for neonicotinoids that were recently banned in the EU due to their side effects on bees. Like neonicotinoids, sulfoxaflor acts as a competitive modulator of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In agricultural environments, bees are commonly exposed to combinations of pesticides, and neonicotinoids are known to interact synergistically with fungicides. The objective of our study is to assess the acute oral toxicity of sulfoxaflor alone and in combination with a single dose of fluxapyroxad, a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide, in three bee species:Apis mellifera,Bombus terrestrisandOsmia bicornis. Because synergism may be dose-dependent, we tested a range of sulfoxaflor doses. Synergistic effects were assessed using three different approaches: Bliss criterion of drugs independence, ratio test comparing LD50s and model deviation ratio.Osmia bicorniswas the most sensitive species to sulfoxaflor and bothO. bicornisandA. melliferashowed significant synergism between the insecticide and the fungicide. For the most part, these synergistic effects were weak and only occurred at early assessment times and intermediate sulfoxaflor doses. The potential ecological relevance of these effects should be confirmed in field and/or cage studies. Overall, our laboratory results demonstrate that sulfoxaflor is somewhat less toxic than the recently banned neonicotinoids imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin, but much more toxic than other neonicotinoids (acetamiprid, thiacloprid) still in use in the EU at the time this study was conducted.
Novel structure in the nuclei of honey bee brain neurons revealed by immunostaining
Authors: Hurd Paul J. , Grübel Kornelia , Wojciechowski Marek , Maleszka Ryszard , Rössler Wolfgang
Published: March 2021

In the course of a screen designed to produce antibodies (ABs) with affinity to proteins in the honey bee brain we found an interesting AB that detects a highly specific epitope predominantly in the nuclei of Kenyon cells (KCs). The observed staining pattern is unique, and its unfamiliarity indicates a novel previously unseen nuclear structure that does not colocalize with the cytoskeletal protein f-actin. A single rod-like assembly, 3.7–4.1 µm long, is present in each nucleus of KCs in adult brains of worker bees and drones with the strongest immuno-labelling found in foraging bees. In brains of young queens, the labelling is more sporadic, and the rod-like structure appears to be shorter (~ 2.1 µm). No immunostaining is detectable in worker larvae. In pupal stage 5 during a peak of brain development only some occasional staining was identified. Although the cellular function of this unexpected structure has not been determined, the unusual distinctiveness of the revealed pattern suggests an unknown and potentially important protein assembly. One possibility is that this nuclear assembly is part of the KCs plasticity underlying the brain maturation in adult honey bees. Because no labelling with this AB is detectable in brains of the fly Drosophila melanogaster and the ant Camponotus floridanus, we tentatively named this antibody AmBNSab (Apis mellifera Brain Neurons Specific antibody). Here we report our results to make them accessible to a broader community and invite further research to unravel the biological role of this curious nuclear structure in the honey bee central brain.
Analysis of the response of the cell membrane of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during the detoxification of common lignocellulosic inhibitors
Authors: López Pau Cabaneros , Peng Chuantao , Arneborg Nils , Junicke Helena , Gernaey Krist V.
Published: March 2021

Gaining an in-depth understanding of the response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to the different inhibitors generated during the pretreatment of lignocellulosic material is driving the development of new strains with higher inhibitor tolerances. The objective of this study is to assess, using flow cytometry, how three common inhibitors (vanillin, furfural, and acetic acid) affect the membrane potential, the membrane permeability and the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the different fermentations. The membrane potential decreased during the detoxification phase and reflected on the different mechanisms of the toxicity of the inhibitors. While vanillin and furfural caused a metabolic inhibition and a gradual depolarization, acetic acid toxicity was related to fast acidification of the cytosol, causing an immediate depolarization. In the absence of acetic acid, ethanol increased membrane permeability, indicating a possible acquired tolerance to ethanol due to an adaptive response to acetic acid. The intracellular ROS concentration also increased in the presence of the inhibitors, indicating oxidative stress. Measuring these features with flow cytometry allows a real-time assessment of the stress of a cell culture, which can be used in the development of new yeast strains and to design new propagation strategies to pre-adapt the cell cultures to the inhibitors.
Co-reactant-free self-enhanced solid-state electrochemiluminescence platform based on polyluminol-gold nanocomposite for signal-on detection of mercury ion
Authors: Raju Chikkili Venkateswara , Kumar Shanmugam Senthil
Published: March 2021

Development of a self-enhanced solid-state ECL platform creates a straightforward experimental design for the fabrication of point-of-care applications. Herein, we develop a promising method for self-enhanced solid-state ECL platform of polyluminol gold nanocomposite on glassy carbon electrode [(PL-Au)nano/GCE] via simple one-step electrochemical deposition process without involving any additional co-reactants. The presence of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) augments the electron transfer kinetics of PL (polyluminol) and enhances the solid-state ECL intensity and promotes label-free, excellent sensitivity, and selectivity to detect Hg2+in physiological pH through signal-on mode. Unlike pristine PL/GCE, electrochemically co-deposited AuNPs in the (PL-Au)nano/GCE composite, enable the co-reactant accelerator by improving the catalytic activity of PL towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) yielding in-situ ROS (co-reactant) generation. Further, the ECL intensity of (PL-Au)nano/GCE composite, gradually increases with each addition of Hg2+ion. This is because of the formation of an amalgamation of Au-Hg on (PL-Au)nano/GCE composite surface which further accelerates the yield of in-situ ROS and enhances the intensity of ECL. Whereas no ECL signals changes were observed for PL/GCE composite. The proposed self-enhanced solid-state ECL platform is selectively sensing the Hg2+ion in the linear range of 0.3–200 nM with a detection limit of 0.1 nM. The demonstrated (PL-Au)nano/GCE platform might pave new avenues for further studies in the solid-state ECL platform which could be more useful in on-site monitoring of clinical bioassay and immunosensors.
Isolation and characterization of a halophilic Modicisalibacter sp. strain Wilcox from produced water
Authors: Marsh William S. , Heise Brenden W. , Krzmarzick Mark J. , Murdoch Robert W. , Fathepure Babu Z.
Published: March 2021

We report the isolation a halophilic bacterium that degrades both aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons as the sole sources of carbon at high salinity from produced water. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA-gene sequences shows the isolate is a close relative of Modicisalibacter tunisiensis isolated from an oil-field water in Tunisia. We designate our isolate as Modicisalibacter sp. strain Wilcox. Genome analysis of strain Wilcox revealed the presence of a repertoire of genes involved in the metabolism of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Laboratory culture studies corroborated the predicted hydrocarbon degradation potential. The strain degraded benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes at salinities ranging from 0.016 to 4.0 M NaCl, with optimal degradation at 1 M NaCl. Also, the strain degraded phenol, benzoate, biphenyl and phenylacetate as the sole sources of carbon at 2.5 M NaCl. Among aliphatic compounds, the strain degraded n-decane and n-hexadecane as the sole sources of carbon at 2.5 M NaCl. Genome analysis also predicted the presence of many heavy metal resistance genes including genes for metal efflux pumps, transport proteins, and enzymatic detoxification. Overall, due to its ability to degrade many hydrocarbons and withstand high salt and heavy metals, strain Wilcox may prove useful for remediation of produced waters.
Study on laser powder bed fusion of nickel-base alloy of G-surface structure: scanning strategy, properties and compression properties
Authors: Qian Bo , Fan Hongri , Zhang Jianrui , Li Tengfei , Xi Jiangtao , Qiu Zhijun
Published: March 2021

Aiming at laser powder bed fusion of GH3536 nickel base alloy, the effects of different scanning strategies on microstructure, porosity and mechanical properties were explored. In the aspect of microstructure and micro hardness of the sample, three scanning strategies had little difference; in the aspect of macro mechanical properties of the sample, the slope subarea scanning was better than the helix and island scanning. On this basis, the slope subarea scanning was selected as the optimal scanning strategy to form the G-surface structure, and the compression performance of G-surface was studied. The results showed that: (1) the compression performance of G-surface structure was smaller than that of solid structure, The compression strength of G-surface can only reach about 20% of solid structure: the average strength value of G-surface is 220 MPa, solid structure is 1.1 GMpa; while G-surface structure had a smooth compression curve, which indicated the good energy absorption characteristics; (2) with the increase of wall thickness, the mechanical performance of G-surface structure was also enhanced, while the energy absorption capacity was constantly reduced; (3) with the same wall thickness, the compression performance of sample in building direction (BD) is higher than that in horizontal direction (HD).
A quasi-monoenergetic short time duration compact proton source for probing high energy density states of matter
Authors: Apiñaniz J. I. , Malko S. , Fedosejevs R. , Cayzac W. , Vaisseau X. , de Luis D. , Gatti G. , McGuffey C. , Bailly-Grandvaux M. , Bhutwala K. , Ospina-Bohorquez V. , Balboa J. , Santos J. J. , Batani D. , Beg F. , Roso L. , Perez-Hernandez J. A. , Volpe L.
Published: March 2021

We report on the development of a highly directional, narrow energy band, short time duration proton beam operating at high repetition rate. The protons are generated with an ultrashort-pulse laser interacting with a solid target and converted to a pencil-like narrow-band beam using a compact magnet-based energy selector. We experimentally demonstrate the production of a proton beam with an energy of 500 keV and energy spread well below 10$$\% $$
%
, and a pulse duration of 260 ps. The energy loss of this beam is measured in a 2 $$\upmu $$
μ
m thick solid Mylar target and found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions. The short time duration of the proton pulse makes it particularly well suited for applications involving the probing of highly transient plasma states produced in laser-matter interaction experiments. This proton source is particularly relevant for measurements of the proton stopping power in high energy density plasmas and warm dense matter.
Proposing the VetCompass clinical grading tool for heat-related illness in dogs
Authors: Hall Emily J. , Carter Anne J. , Bradbury Jude , Barfield Dominic , O’Neill Dan G.
Published: March 2021

Heat-related illness is a potentially fatal condition in dogs. Rapid and accurate recognition of the severity can improve clinical management in affected dogs and lead to better outcomes. This study explored retrospective VetCompass veterinary clinical records to investigate the clinical signs recorded for dogs presenting with heat-related illness to primary-care veterinary practice from 2016 to 2018. The relative risk of death associated with these clinical signs was reported and used to develop a novel clinical grading tool. From the clinical records of 856 heat-related illness events, the most frequently recorded clinical signs were respiratory changes (68.73%) and lethargy (47.79%). The clinical signs with the highest relative risk of death were neurological dysfunction, gastrointestinal haemorrhage and bleeding disorders. The novel VetCompass Clinical Grading Tool for Heat-Related Illness in dogs defines three grades: mild (altered respiration, lethargy), moderate (gastrointestinal signs, a single seizure, episodic collapse) and severe (neurological dysfunction, gastrointestinal haemorrhage, bleeding disorders). This novel grading tool offers a simple, evidence-based device to improve recognition of heat-related illness in dogs and promote improved decision-making for earlier interventions such as cooling and hospitalisation. This could improve outcomes and protect the welfare of dogs in the face of rising global temperatures.
Meta-QTL and ortho-MQTL analyses identified genomic regions controlling rice yield, yield-related traits and root architecture under water deficit conditions
Authors: Khahani Bahman , Tavakol Elahe , Shariati Vahid , Rossini Laura
Published: March 2021

Meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis is a robust approach for genetic dissection of complex quantitative traits. Rice varieties adapted to non-flooded cultivation are highly desirable in breeding programs due to the water deficit global problem. In order to identify stable QTLs for major agronomic traits under water deficit conditions, we performed a comprehensive MQTL analysis on 563 QTLs from 67 rice populations published from 2001 to 2019. Yield and yield-related traits including grain weight, heading date, plant height, tiller number as well as root architecture-related traits including root dry weight, root length, root number, root thickness, the ratio of deep rooting and plant water content under water deficit condition were investigated. A total of 61 stable MQTLs over different genetic backgrounds and environments were identified. The average confidence interval of MQTLs was considerably refined compared to the initial QTLs, resulted in the identification of some well-known functionally characterized genes and several putative novel CGs for investigated traits. Ortho-MQTL mining based on genomic collinearity between rice and maize allowed identification of five ortho-MQTLs between these two cereals. The results can help breeders to improve yield under water deficit conditions.
Age-stratified comparison of clinical outcomes between medical and surgical treatments in patients with unilateral primary aldosteronism
Authors: Nakamaru Ryo , Yamamoto Koichi , Akasaka Hiroshi , Rakugi Hiromi , Kurihara Isao , Yoneda Takashi , Ichijo Takamasa , Katabami Takuyuki , Tsuiki Mika , Wada Norio , Yamada Tetsuya , Kobayashi Hiroki , Tamura Kouichi , Ogawa Yoshihiro , Kawashima Junji , Inagaki Nobuya , Fujita Megumi , Watanabe Minemori , Kamemura Kohei , Okamura Shintaro , Tanabe Akiyo , Naruse Mitsuhide ,   JPAS/JRAS Study Group, Itoh Hiroshi , Fukuda Hisashi , Umakoshi Hironobu , Shibayama Yui , Murakami Masanori , Yoshimoto Takanobu , Haze Tatsuya , Sone Masakatsu , Takahashi Katsutoshi , Matsuda Yuichi , Shibata Hirotaka , Otsuki Michio , Fujii Yuichi , Ogo Atsushi , Miyauchi Shozo , Yanase Toshihiko , Suzuki Tomoko , Kawamura Takashi , Asano Mai , Fukuoka Tomikazu , Kai Tatsuya , Izawa Shoichiro , Yoshikawa Yuichiro , Hashimoto Shigeatsu , Yamada Masanobu , Sakamoto Ryuichi , Chiba Yoshiro , Okamoto Ryuji , Oki Kenji , Yabe Daisuke
Published: March 2021

Although adrenalectomy (ADX) is an established treatment for unilateral primary aldosteronism (uPA), the influence of age on the surgical outcomes is poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate how age affects the clinical outcomes after treatments. We analyzed 153 older (≥ 65 years) and 702 younger patients (< 65 years) with uPA, treated either with ADX or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) in the Japan PA Study, and compared the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or blood pressure over a 36-month period after treatments. ADX-treated patients showed severer biochemical indicators than MRA-treated patients. During 6 and 36 months, the eGFR decreased more prominently in older but not in younger patients with ADX than in those with MRA, which remained significant after adjustment with the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). There was a significant interaction between the age-groups and the treatment choices in the change of the eGFR with IPTW-adjusted analysis. The post-treatment dose of antihypertensive medication was lower in younger and higher in older patients with ADX than those with MRA. The clinical benefit of ADX differed between younger and older patients with uPA. These findings indicate the need for further validation on whether ADX can benefit older patients with uPA.
Three-dimensional evaluation of the coccyx movement between supine and standing positions using conventional and upright computed tomography imaging
Authors: Yagi Fumiko , Yamada Yoshitake , Yamada Minoru , Yokoyama Yoichi , Mukai Kiyoko , Nakahara Takehiro , Narita Keiichi , Jinzaki Masahiro
Published: March 2021

Currently, no three-dimensional reference data exist for the normal coccyx in the standing position on computed tomography (CT); however, this information could have utility for evaluating patients with coccydynia and pelvic floor dysfunction. Thus, we aimed to compare coccygeal parameters in the standing versus supine positions using upright and supine CT and evaluate the effects of sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) on coccygeal movement. Thirty-two healthy volunteers underwent both upright (standing position) and conventional (supine position) CT examinations. In the standing position, the coccyx became significantly longer and straighter, with the tip of the coccyx moving backward and downward (all p < 0.001). Additionally, the coccygeal straight length (standing/supine, 37.8 ± 7.1/35.7 ± 7.0 mm) and sacrococcygeal straight length (standing/supine, 131.7 ± 11.2/125.0 ± 10.7 mm) were significantly longer in the standing position. The sacrococcygeal angle (standing/supine, 115.0 ± 10.6/105.0 ± 12.5°) was significantly larger, while the lumbosacral angle (standing/supine, 21.1 ± 5.9/25.0 ± 4.9°) was significantly smaller. The migration length of the tip of the coccyx (mean, 7.9 mm) exhibited a moderate correlation with BMI (r = 0.42, p = 0.0163). Our results may provide important clues regarding the pathogenesis of coccydynia and pelvic floor dysfunction.
A mixed-methods pilot study of handheld fan for breathlessness in interstitial lung disease
Authors: Khor Yet H. , Saravanan Kirushallini , Holland Anne E. , Lee Joanna Y. T. , Ryerson Christopher J. , McDonald Christine F. , Goh Nicole S. L.
Published: March 2021

Dyspnoea is a cardinal symptom of fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD), with a lack of proven effective therapies. With emerging evidence of the role of facial and nasal airflow for relieving breathlessness, this pilot study was conducted to examine the feasibility of conducting a clinical trial of a handheld fan (HHF) for dyspnoea management in patients with fibrotic ILD. In this mixed-methods, randomised, assessor-blinded, controlled trial, 30 participants with fibrotic ILD who were dyspnoeic with a modified Medical Research Council Dyspnoea grade ≥ 2 were randomised to a HHF for symptom control or no intervention for 2 weeks. Primary outcomes were trial feasibility, change in Dyspnoea-12 scores at Week 2, and participants’ perspectives on using a HHF for dyspnoea management. Study recruitment was completed within nine months at a single site. Successful assessor blinding was achieved in the fan group [Bang’s Blinding Index − 0.08 (95% CI − 0.45, 0.30)] but not the control group [0.47 (0.12, 0.81)]. There were no significant between-group differences for the change in Dyspnoea-12 or secondary efficacy outcomes. During qualitative interviews, participants reported that using the HHF relieved breathlessness and provided relaxation, despite initial scepticism about its therapeutic benefit. Oxygen-experienced participants described the HHF being easier to use, but not as effective for symptomatic relief, compared to oxygen therapy. Our results confirmed the feasibility of a clinical trial of a HHF in fibrotic ILD. There was a high level of patient acceptance of a HHF for managing dyspnoea, with patients reporting both symptomatic benefits and ease of use.
Clinical impact of serum bilirubin levels on kidney transplant outcomes
Authors: Lee Juhan , Kim Eun Jin , Lee Jae Geun , Kim Beom Seok , Huh Kyu Ha , Kim Myoung Soo , Kim Soon Il , Kim Yu Seun , Joo Dong Jin
Published: March 2021

Serum bilirubin, a potent endogenous antioxidant, has been associated with decreased risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and kidney disease. However, the effects of serum bilirubin on kidney transplant outcomes remain undetermined. We analyzed 1628 patients who underwent kidney transplantations between 2003 and 2017. Patients were grouped into sex-specific quartiles according to mean serum bilirubin levels, 3–12 months post-transplantation. Median bilirubin levels were 0.66 mg/dL in males and 0.60 mg/dL in females. The intra-individual variability of serum bilirubin levels was low (9%). Serum bilirubin levels were inversely associated with graft loss, death-censored graft failure, and all-cause mortality, independent of renal function, donor status, and transplant characteristics. Multivariable analysis revealed that the lowest serum bilirubin quartile was associated with increased risk of graft loss (HR 2.64, 95% CI 1.67–4.18, P < 0.001), death-censored graft failure (HR 2.97, 95% CI 1.63–5.42, P < 0.001), and all-cause mortality (HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.01–4.22, P = 0.046). Patients with lower serum bilirubin were also at greater risk of rejection and exhibited consistently lower glomerular filtration rates than those with higher serum bilirubin. Serum bilirubin levels were significantly associated with transplantation outcomes, suggesting that bilirubin could represent a therapeutic target for improving long-term transplant outcomes.
3D virtual reconstruction and quantitative assessment of the human intervertebral disc’s annulus fibrosus: a DTI tractography study
Authors: Stein Dan , Assaf Yaniv , Dar Gali , Cohen Haim , Slon Viviane , Kedar Einat , Medlej Bahaa , Abbas Janan , Hay Ori , Barazany Daniel , Hershkovitz Israel
Published: March 2021

The intervertebral disc’s (IVD) annulus fibrosus (AF) retains the hydrostatic pressure of the nucleus pulposus (NP), controls the range of motion, and maintains the integrity of the motion segment. The microstructure of the AF is not yet fully understood and quantitative characterization is lacking, leaving a caveat in modern medicine’s ability to prevent and treat disc failure (e.g., disc herniation). In this study, we show a reconstruction of the 3D microstructure of the fibers that constitute the AF via MRI diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) followed by fiber tracking. A quantitative analysis presents an anisotropic structure with significant architectural differences among the annuli along the width of the fibrous belt. These findings indicate that the outer annuli's construction reinforces the IVD while providing a sufficient degree of motion. Our findings also suggest an increased role of the outer annuli in IVD nourishment.
Genome-wide identification and expression pattern analysis of the ribonuclease T2 family in Eucommia ulmoides
Authors: Qing Jun , Du Qingxin , Meng Yide , Liu Panfeng , Du Hongyan , Wang Lu
Published: March 2021

The 2′,3′-cycling ribonuclease (RNase) genes are catalysts of RNA cleavage and include the RNase T2 gene family. RNase T2 genes perform important roles in plants and have been conserved in the genome of eukaryotic organisms. In this study we identified 21 EURNS genes in Eucommia ulmoides Oliver (E. ulmoides) and analyzed their structure, chromosomal location, phylogenetic tree, gene duplication, stress-related cis-elements, and expression patterns in different tissues. The length of 21 predicted EURNS proteins ranged from 143 to 374 amino acids (aa), their molecular weight (MW) ranged from 16.21 to 42.38 kDa, and their isoelectric point (PI) value ranged from 5.08 to 9.09. Two classifications (class I and class III) were obtained from the conserved domains analysis and phylogenetic tree. EURNS proteins contained a total of 15 motifs. Motif 1, motif 2, motif 3, and motif 7 were distributed in multiple sequences and were similar to the conserved domain of RNase T2. EURNS genes with similar structure and the predicted EURNS proteins with conserved motif compositions are in the same group in the phylogenetic tree. The results of RT-PCR and transcription data showed that EURNS genes have tissue-specific expression and exhibited obvious trends in different developmental stages. Gene duplication analysis results indicated that segment duplication may be the dominant duplication mode in this gene family. This study provides a theoretical basis for research on the RNase T2 gene family and lays a foundation for the further study of EURNS genes.
Initiation and propagation kinetics of inhibited lipid peroxidation
Authors: Farhoosh Reza
Published: March 2021

Effect of hydroxytyrosol (HT) and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) on the kinetics of lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) accumulation during the initiation and propagation peroxidations of canola and fish oils at 60 °C was studied. The initiation kinetics of the inhibited peroxidation indicated considerable relative activities, A, for HT and TBHQ in the canola (> 3200 and > 27,000, respectively) and fish (> 120 and > 5000, respectively) oils. The critical concentrations of LOOH reverse micelles (CMCL = 33 mM and 57 mM in the canola and fish, respectively, oils) significantly decreased, on average, to about one-third and 8% of the initial values for HT and TBHQ, respectively. Interestingly, the propagation kinetics of the inhibited peroxidation demonstrated that the antioxidants were still able to inhibit peroxidation, so that the relative propagation oxidizability parameter Rn′ was significantly improved to < 0.5 for HT and to < 0.2 for TBHQ in the canola and fish, respectively, oils.
A novel metric of reliability in pressure pain threshold measurement
Authors: Liew Bernard , Lee Ho Yin , Rügamer David , De Nunzio Alessandro Marco , Heneghan Nicola R. , Falla Deborah , Evans David W.
Published: March 2021

The inter-session Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) is a commonly investigated and clinically important metric of reliability for pressure pain threshold (PPT) measurement. However, current investigations do not account for inter-repetition variability when calculating inter-session ICC, even though a PPT measurement taken at different sessions must also imply different repetitions. The primary aim was to evaluate and report a novel metric of reliability in PPT measurement: the inter-session-repetition ICC. One rater recorded ten repetitions of PPT measurement over the lumbar region bilaterally at two sessions in twenty healthy adults using a pressure algometer. Variance components were computed using linear mixed-models and used to construct ICCs; most notably inter-session ICC and inter-session-repetition ICC. At 70.1% of the total variance, the source of greatest variability was between subjects ($${\sigma }_{subj}^{2}$$

σ

subj

2

= 222.28 N2), whereas the source of least variability (1.5% total variance) was between sessions ($${\sigma }_{sess}^{2}$$

σ

sess

2

= 4.83 N2). Derived inter-session and inter-session-repetition ICCs were 0.88 (95%CI: 0.77 to 0.94) and 0.73 (95%CI: 0.53 to 0.84) respectively. Inter-session-repetition ICC provides a more conservative estimate of reliability than inter-session ICC, with the magnitude of difference being clinically meaningful. Quantifying individual sources of variability enables ICC construction to be reflective of individual testing protocols.
Directional charge delocalization dynamics in semiconducting 2H-MoS$$_{2}$$ and metallic 1T-Li$$_{\mathrm{x}}$$MoS$$_{2}$$
Authors: Haverkamp Robert , Sorgenfrei Nomi L. A. N. , Giangrisostomi Erika , Neppl Stefan , Kühn Danilo , Föhlisch Alexander
Published: March 2021

The layered dichalcogenide MoS$$_{2}$$

2

is relevant for electrochemical Li adsorption/intercalation, in the course of which the material undergoes a concomitant structural phase transition from semiconducting 2H-MoS$$_{2}$$

2

to metallic 1T-Li$$_{\mathrm{x}}$$

x

MoS$$_{2}$$

2

. With the core hole clock approach at the S L$$_{1}$$

1

X-ray absorption edge we quantify the ultrafast directional charge transfer of excited S3p electrons in-plane ($$\parallel$$
‖
) and out-of-plane ($$\perp$$
⊥
) for 2H-MoS$$_{2}$$

2

as $$\tau _{2H,\parallel } = 0.38 \pm 0.08$$

τ

2
H
,
‖

=
0.38
±
0.08

fs and $$\tau _{2H,\perp } = 0.33 \pm 0.06$$

τ

2
H
,
⊥

=
0.33
±
0.06

fs and for 1T-Li$$_{\mathrm{x}}$$

x

MoS$$_{2}$$

2

as $$\tau _{1T,\parallel } = 0.32 \pm 0.12$$

τ

1
T
,
‖

=
0.32
±
0.12

fs and $$\tau _{1T,\perp } = 0.09 \pm 0.07$$

τ

1
T
,
⊥

=
0.09
±
0.07

fs. The isotropic charge delocalization of S3p electrons in the semiconducting 2H phase within the S-Mo-S sheets is assigned to the specific symmetry of the Mo-S bonding arrangement. Formation of 1T-Li$$_{\mathrm{x}}$$

x

MoS$$_{2}$$

2

by lithiation accelerates the in-plane charge transfer by a factor of $$\sim 1.2$$

∼
1.2

due to electron injection to the Mo-S covalent bonds and concomitant structural repositioning of S atoms within the S-Mo-S sheets. For excitation into out-of-plane orbitals, an accelerated charge transfer by a factor of $$\sim 3.7$$

∼
3.7

upon lithiation occurs due to S-Li coupling.
Bioactivity-guided separation of potential α-glycosidase inhibitor from clerodendranthus spicatus based on HSCCC coupled with molecular docking
Authors: Zhu Chunsheng , Niu Hongjuan , Nie Anzheng , Bian Meng
Published: March 2021

Clerodendranthus Spicatus is a traditional Dais medi-edible plant and it has been proven to have good blood glucose-lowering efficacy. However, the material basis of Clerodendranthus Spicatus has not been clarified yet and therefore needs to be determined. In this paper, the effective ingredients of this medicine were purified by high-speed counter-current chromatography. Alongside, their potential hypoglycemic activity was determined by α-glucosidase inhibitory activities in vitro and molecular docking. Finally, five compounds were purified and identified as 2-caffeoyl-L-tartaric acid (1), N-(E)-caffeoyldopamine (2), rosmarinc acid (3), methyl rosmarinate (4), 6,7,8,3′,4′-Pentamethoxyflavone (5). Examination of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro showed that 2-caffeoyl-L-tartaric acid and rosmarinic acid had a higher inhibitory activity than acarbose. Molecular docking indicated that the affinity energy of the identified compounds ranged from − 7.6 to − 8.6 kcal/mol, a more desirable result than acarbose (− 6.6 kcal/mol). Particularly, rosmarinc acid with the lowest affinity energy of − 8.6 kcal/mol was wrapped with 6 hydrogen bonds. Overall, α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and molecular docking suggested that rosmarinc acid was likely to be a promising hypoglycemic drug.
In silico investigation of critical binding pattern in SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2
Authors: Jafary Farzaneh , Jafari Sepideh , Ganjalikhany Mohamad Reza
Published: March 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a newly-discovered coronavirus and responsible for the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infected millions of people in the world and immediately became a pandemic in March 2020. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the beta-coronavirus genus of the large family of Coronaviridae. It is now known that its surface spike glycoprotein binds to the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), which is expressed on the lung epithelial cells, mediates the fusion of the cellular and viral membranes, and facilitates the entry of viral genome to the host cell. Therefore, blocking the virus-cell interaction could be a potential target for the prevention of viral infection. The binding of SARS-CoV-2 to ACE2 is a protein–protein interaction, and so, analyzing the structure of the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and its underlying mechanism to bind the host cell receptor would be useful for the management and treatment of COVID-19. In this study, we performed comparative in silico studies to deeply understand the structural and functional details of the interaction between the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 and its cognate cellular receptor ACE2. According to our results, the affinity of the ACE2 receptor for SARS-CoV-2 was higher than SARS-CoV. According to the free energy decomposition of the spike glycoprotein-ACE2 complex, we found critical points in three areas which are responsible for the increased binding affinity of SARS-CoV-2 compared with SARS-CoV. These mutations occurred at the receptor-binding domain of the spike glycoprotein that play an essential role in the increasing the affinity of coronavirus to ACE2. For instance, mutations Pro462Ala and Leu472Phe resulted in the altered binding energy from − 2 kcal mol−1 in SARS-COV to − 6 kcal mol−1 in SARS-COV-2. The results demonstrated that some mutations in the receptor-binding motif could be considered as a hot-point for designing potential drugs to inhibit the interaction between the spike glycoprotein and ACE2.
Extreme philopatry and genetic diversification at unprecedented scales in a seabird
Authors: Danckwerts D. K. , Humeau L. , Pinet P. , McQuaid C. D. , Le Corre M.
Published: March 2021

Effective conservation requires maintenance of the processes underlying species divergence, as well as understanding species’ responses to episodic disturbances and long-term change. We explored genetic population structure at a previously unrecognized spatial scale in seabirds, focusing on fine-scale isolation between colonies, and identified two distinct genetic clusters of Barau’s Petrels (Pterodroma baraui) on Réunion Island (Indian Ocean) corresponding to the sampled breeding colonies separated by 5 km. This unexpected result was supported by long-term banding and was clearly linked to the species’ extreme philopatric tendencies, emphasizing the importance of philopatry as an intrinsic barrier to gene flow. This implies that loss of a single colony could result in the loss of genetic variation, impairing the species’ ability to adapt to threats in the long term. We anticipate that these findings will have a pivotal influence on seabird research and population management, focusing attention below the species level of taxonomic organization.