bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations between various attended automated office blood pressure estimations and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality: Minhang study
Authors: Wang Yan , Chen Ling , Fu Chen , Wang Yajuan , An Dewei , Zhang Jin , Tang Xiaofeng , Li Yan , Zhu Dingliang
Published: February 2020

Background:

The method of evaluating office blood pressure (OBP) varies greatly among different guidelines.

Objectives:

We performed a cohort study to compare the association of various directly transferred attended automated OBP (AOBP) estimations with all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities.

Methods:

Overall, 475 181 sets of OBPs from 35 622 participants aged 35 years or older were extracted from the electronic health record of the Xinzhuang town hospital in the Minhang District, Shanghai, China. Each set of OBPs contained three consecutive AOBPs that were transferred directly to the electronic health record. The mean of three OBPs, mean of the last two OBPs, and alternative average OBP were calculated.

Results:

The difference between the first and average OBPs changed along with the calendar month, and it was highest in December (5.3/2.1 mmHg) and lowest in July (3.8/2.0 mmHg). The subjects older than 80 years of age displayed the largest discrepancy in the blood pressure control rate according to the first OBP or average OBP (12.1%). During the 3.9-year follow-up, 1055 deaths occurred. The alternative average SBP was associated with both all-cause [hazard ratio: 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04–1.11] and cardiovascular (hazard ratio: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.11–1.23) mortalities. The uncontrolled alternative average OBP remained significantly associated with an increasing risk of all-cause (hazard ratio: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.09–1.40) and cardiovascular (hazard ratio: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.25–1.86) mortality, but not the average of the last two or mean of three readings.

Conclusion:

We observed an obvious discrepancy in the OBP level and OBP control rate according to different AOBP estimations. The alternative average OBP seemed to be more powerful in predicting both all-cause and cardiovascular mortalities than the average of the last two or mean of three readings.
Digital arterial pressure pulse wave analysis and cardiovascular events in the general population: the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease study
Authors: De Jong Maarten A. , Van Roon Arie M. , Bakker Jens T. , Bijen Hendrik T.J. , Mulder Douwe J. , Brouwers Frank P. , Van Gilst Wiek H. , Voors Adriaan A. , Gansevoort Ron T. , Bakker Stephan J.L. , De Borst Martin H.
Published: February 2020

Background:

Arterial stiffness influences the contour of the digital pressure pulse wave.

Method:

Here, we investigated whether the digital pulse propagation index (DPPI), based on the digital pressure pulse wave, DPPI is associated with cardiovascular events, heart failure, and mortality in a large population-based cohort. Between 2001 and 2003, DPPI was measured with a PortaPres noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring device (FinaPres Medical Systems, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) in participants of the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease study, a community-based cohort. We assessed the main determinants of the DPPI and investigated associations of DPPI with cardiovascular events and mortality.

Results:

The study included 5474 individuals. Mean age was 52.3 ± 11.8 years and 50.5% was male. Median baseline DPPI was 5.81 m/s (interquartile range 5.47–6.20). Higher age, mean arterial blood pressure, body height, heart rate, current smoking, and lower HDL cholesterol levels and waist circumference were independent determinants of the DPPI (r
2 = 0.43). After adjustment for heart rate, highlogDPPI was associated with all-cause mortality [hazard ratio: 1.67, 95% confidence interval (1.55–1.81) per SD; P < 0.001], cardiovascular mortality [hazard ratio 1.95 (1.72–2.22); P < 0.001], and incident heart failure with reduced ejection fraction [hazard ratio 1.81 (1.60–2.06); P < 0.001]. These associations remained independent upon further adjustment for confounders. Optimal cutoff values for DPPI ranged between 6.1 and 6.3 m/s for all endpoints. After multivariable adjustment, DPPI was no longer associated with coronary artery disease events or cerebrovascular events.

Conclusion:

The DPPI is associated with an increased risk of development of new onset heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but not with coronary artery events or cerebrovascular events.
Functional Differences Between EBV‐ and CMV‐Specific CD8+ T cells Demonstrate Heterogeneity of T cell Dysfunction in CLL
Authors: Hofland Tom , de Weerdt Iris , Endstra Sanne , Jongejan Aldo , Platenkamp Laura , Remmerswaal Ester B.M. , Moerland Perry D. , ten Berge Ineke J.M. , Levin Mark‐David , Kater Arnon P. , Tonino Sanne H.
Published: February 2020

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text
Effect of Apraclonidine and Diclofenac on Early Changes in Intraocular Pressure After Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty
Authors: Thrane Vinita Rangroo , Thrane Alexander S. , Bergo Cecilie , Halvorsen Hildegunn , Krohn Jørgen
Published: February 2020

Précis:

Adjuvant diclofenac and apraclonidine eye drop given in conjunction with selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) do not significantly impact medium-term intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction compared with placebo, but apraclonidine can be used to blunt immediate postlaser pressure spikes.

Purpose:

There is limited high-grade evidence guiding the choice of eye drops given before and after SLT. The authors chose to measure IOP during the first 24 hours, at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 6 months after SLT, and compare the effect of apraclonidine before SLT and diclofenac after SLT, with placebo.

Materials and Methods:

In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension referred for SLT were recruited between 2016 and 2018. Patients were randomized to receive either apraclonidine pre-SLT with placebo post-SLT, placebo pre-SLT with diclofenac post-SLT, or placebo before and after SLT.

Results:

Sixty eyes from 35 patients were treated with 360-degree SLT. Twenty-four-hour IOP measurements with patient self-monitoring after SLT demonstrated a moderate IOP spike at 1 hour and 2 hours post-SLT in the placebo and diclofenac study arms (mean=+4.05±0.58 mm Hg and +4.47±0.73, respectively, P<0.001 vs. pre-SLT IOP), which was prevented by apraclonidine (mean=−2.41±0.88 mm Hg, P<0.0001 vs. other study arms post-SLT). There were no significant differences between the 3 arms of the study on the long-term IOP reduction achieved by SLT (6 wk: P=0.51, 6 mo: P=0.42).

Conclusions:

Neither the use of apraclonidine before SLT nor diclofenac after SLT significantly influenced the IOP reduction induced by SLT. Except for a slight and transient reduction in intraocular inflammation, there was no beneficial effect of diclofenac on early IOP changes or the degree of patient discomfort relative to placebo.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Glaucoma
Authors: Rao Harsha L. , Pradhan Zia S. , Suh Min Hee , Moghimi Sasan , Mansouri Kaweh , Weinreb Robert N.
Published: February 2020

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a relatively new, noninvasive, dye-free imaging modality that provides a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the vasculature in the retina and optic nerve head. OCTA also enables visualization of the choriocapillaris, but only in areas of parapapillary atrophy. With OCTA, the movement of red blood cells is used as a contrast to delineate blood vessels from static tissues. The features seen with OCTA in eyes with glaucoma are reduction in the superficial vessel density in the peripapillary and macular areas, and complete loss of choriocapillaris in localized regions of parapapillary atrophy (called deep-layer microvascular dropout). These OCTA changes correlate well topographically with the functional changes seen on visual field examination and structural changes seen on optical coherence tomography (OCT) (ie, parapapillary retinal nerve fiber layer changes and inner retinal layer thickness changes at macula). The OCTA measurements also have acceptable test-retest variability and well differentiate glaucomatous from normal eyes. OCTA measurements can be affected by various subject-related, eye-related, and disease-related factors. Vessel density reduction on OCTA reaches a base level (floor) at a more advanced disease stage than the structural changes on OCT and therefore has the potential to monitor progression in eyes with advanced glaucomatous damage. OCTA also adds information about glaucoma patients at risk of faster progression. OCTA, therefore, complements visual field and OCT examinations to diagnose glaucoma, detect progression, and assess risk of progression.
The prevalence of preoperative medical testing and consultation in cataract surgery patients at a teaching hospital
Authors: Tran Elaine M. , Eskander Jessica , Jiang Lan , Greenberg Paul B.
Published: February 2020

Purpose:

To investigate the prevalence of preoperative cataract surgery testing and consultation at a single United States teaching hospital.

Setting:

Academic-affiliated Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Design:

Retrospective chart review.

Methods:

This study included patients who received cataract surgery from 2014 to 2018. For patients with bilateral cataracts, the second surgery was excluded to ensure independent selection. Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) scores and heart disease status were recorded. The outcomes of interest were preoperative testing, such as complete blood count, chemistry panel, and echocardiography, and consultation (office visits to non-ophthalmologists) during the period between the date the decision was made to proceed with surgery and the cataract surgery date.

Results:

For this study 1320 charts were reviewed; 1257 (95.2%) patients met the study criteria. The mean CCI score was 1.7; 42.0% (528/1257) had heart disease. The prevalence of preoperative testing was 0.08% (1/1257). The prevalence of preoperative consultation was 4.2% (53/1257); 86.8% (46/53) of patients received cardiology consultation; 17.0% (9/53) pulmonology; and 15.1% (8/53) primary care. Of the patients who received cardiac consultation, 63.0% (29/46) had heart disease; the remaining had an electrocardiogram abnormality.

Conclusions:

There was a low prevalence of preoperative testing and consultation for cataract surgery at this teaching hospital. Further studies using medical record data are needed to assess the current rates and the role of preoperative testing and consultation for cataract surgery patients.
Trajectories of Religious Change From Adolescence to Adulthood, and Demographic, Environmental, and Psychiatric Correlates
Authors: Dew Rachel E. , Fuemmeler Bernard , Koenig Harold G.
Published: February 2020

Studies of religiosity and mental health largely characterize religiousness as stable over time. However, research shows that religiosity likely changes significantly with development. It is unclear whether associations of religiosity with mental health also change over the lifespan. Latent growth curves were created to quantify changes in multiple religious variables, identify associated psychosocial variables, and observe relationships between religiosity and mental health from adolescence to adulthood. Analyses used four waves of data from over 9000 subjects, from ages 12 to 34 years. Although religious service attendance decreased over time, the importance of religion increased and the frequency of prayer remained relatively stable. Baseline religiosity and changes over time were related to contextual variables including race, socioeconomic status, and peer substance use. Correlations with mental health varied over time. Religiosity should be conceptualized as multidimensional and dynamic; religion/health research should consider the impact of multiple psychosocial variables as well as bidirectional relationships with mental health.
Mucosa and Rejection in Facial Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kauke Martin , Safi Ali-Farid , Zhegibe Ana , Haug Valentin , Kollar Branislav , Nelms Laurel , Palmer William Jackson , Tchiloemba Bianief , Lian Christine G. , Murphy George F. , Pomahac Bohdan
Published: February 2020

Background.

Facial vascularized composite allotransplantation (fVCA) presents an established approach to restore form and function of patients with catastrophic facial defects. Skin is one of the target tissues of the rejection process, and due to its easy accessibility has become the gold standard in the diagnosis of rejection. Mucosal rejection frequently occurs; however, the added value of mucosal rejection assessment for patient management is unknown.

Methods.

We conducted a systematic review of manuscripts listed in the MEDLINE/PubMed and GoogleScholar databases to identify articles that provide data on mucosal rejection following fVCA. For inclusion, papers had to be available as full-text and written in English. Non-VCA studies and animal studies were excluded. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Results.

We included 17 articles that described changes in allotransplanted mucosa of fVCAs. These articles yielded data on 168 BANFF graded biopsies of corresponding skin and mucosa biopsies. Rejection grades were consistently higher in mucosal biopsies. Concordance between allograft skin and mucosa biopsy grades increased with an increasing skin-BANFF grade. Mucosa rejection grades were on average lower in the early stages of the posttransplant period (postoperative mo 12).

Conclusions.

The mucosa of facial allotransplants is one of the primary targets of rejection. The data indicates that higher-grade skin rejection does not occur in absence of mucosal rejection. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the exact role of mucosal biopsies for fVCA patient management.
Influence of species and processing parameters on recovery and content of brain tissue-derived extracellular vesicles
Authors: Huang Yiyao , Cheng Lesley , Turchinovich Andrey , Mahairaki Vasiliki , Troncoso Juan C. , Pletniková Olga , Haughey Norman J. , Vella Laura J. , Hill Andrew F. , Zheng Lei , Witwer Kenneth W.
Published: February 2020

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes by shuttling material out of and between cells. Tissue EVs may thus lend insights into disease mechanisms and also betray disease when released into easily accessed biological fluids. Since brain-derived EVs (bdEVs) and their cargo may serve as biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases, we evaluated modifications to a published, rigorous protocol for separation of EVs from brain tissue and studied effects of processing variables on quantitative and qualitative outcomes. To this end, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation were compared as final separation steps in protocols involving stepped ultracentrifugation. bdEVs were separated from brain tissues of human, macaque, and mouse. Effects of tissue perfusion and a model of post-mortem interval (PMI) before final bdEV separation were probed. MISEV2018-compliant EV characterization was performed, and both small RNA and protein profiling were done. We conclude that the modified, SEC-employing protocol achieves EV separation efficiency roughly similar to a protocol using gradient density ultracentrifugation, while decreasing operator time and, potentially, variability. The protocol appears to yield bdEVs of higher purity for human tissues compared with those of macaque and, especially, mouse, suggesting opportunities for optimization. Where possible, perfusion should be performed in animal models. The interval between death/tissue storage/processing and final bdEV separation can also affect bdEV populations and composition and should thus be recorded for rigorous reporting. Finally, different populations of EVs obtained through the modified method reported herein display characteristic RNA and protein content that hint at biomarker potential. To conclude, this study finds that the automatable and increasingly employed technique of SEC can be applied to tissue EV separation, and also reveals more about the importance of species-specific and technical considerations when working with tissue EVs. These results are expected to enhance the use of bdEVs in revealing and understanding brain disease.
No solid evidence of soil carbon loss under warming in tropical forests along a 3000 m elevation gradient
Authors: Luo Zhongkui , Guo Xiaowei , Sun Osbert Jianxin
Published: February 2020

Soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition is inherently sensitive to temperature. As such, a big concerning is the potential SOC loss under climatic warming, but field empirical evidences are lacking, particularly in tropical forest soils in which ∼10% of global SOC is stored. Recently Nottingham et al. (2019) assessed the data collected from a novel experiment translocating soils across a 3000 m tropical forest elevation gradient to mimic temperature changesin situ, and concluded that warming caused considerable SOC loss. However, this conclusion was based on a metric with a strong assumption that soil cores translocated to other elevations on average had the same initial SOC content to control soil cores reinstalled at their original elevation. Because of limited replicates (n=3) in the data, an approach ignoring spatial heterogeneity of SOC content may undermine the credibility of the results. Here, we used a nonparametric bootstrap approach to re-analyze the data, explicitly taking data variability into account. Contrary to Nottingham et al. (2019), we found that SOC content did not show significant differences among translocated soils from the same elevation origin. Further looking into six chemical fractions determined by13C NMR spectroscopy shown that they had similar, insignificant response to translocation-induced temperature changes, which also does not support the conclusion of Nottingham et al (2019) that labile SOC is more sensitive to warming. We concluded that temperature changes did not significantly alter either total SOC content or its six chemical fractions after five years of shift of temperature regimes in tropical forests. This may largely due to thermal adaptation of microbial decomposition and environmental constrains (e.g., low pH) which suppress the effect of temperature changes. Longer term experiment with more sampling replicates are required to maximize the value of soil translocation experiments to address the effect of warming on SOC dynamics.
Digital quantification of chronic gastric wall inflammation in asymptomatic bariatric patients after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy
Authors: Vrabie Camelia D , Geavlete Bogdan , Gangal Marius
Published: February 2020

Aim

to evaluate validity of digital quantification when compared with human fast-scoring in routine classification of chronic gastric wall inflammation.

Method

87 bariatric gastric samples coming from asymptomatic severe obese patients were examined and classified as normal, with unspecified chronic gastritis and lymphocytic gastritis using a fast-scoring, visual analogue scale method. Results were compared with digital diagnostic data (manual segmentation, supervised learning analysis based on intraepithelial lymphocytes count criteria). Discordant results were re-evaluated by the human pathologist by direct count (ground truth). Helicobacter Pylori diagnostic was performed in all cases (Giemsa).

Results

Digital analysis classified chronic inflammation as lymphocytic gastritis in 45 cases (mean 53 lymphocytes / 100 epithelial gastric cells ±18). 30 cases were labeled as unspecific chronic gastritis (mean 25/100±2.8) (p<0.0001). Human fast-scoring classified 43 cases as lymphocytic gastritis and 20 as unspecific gastritis. Helicobacter Pylori was detected in 49% of lymphocytic gastritis cases and in 7% of chronic gastritis. 47 diagnostics were concordant (54%). In 36%, digital score was better than human fast-scoring. In 7%, digital results were false negative (all cases generated by technical artifacts). Overall, digital quantification had 89% accuracy and 96% precision when compared with ground truth.

Conclusion

In our study, digital image analysis produced a fast and reproducible classification of chronic gastric inflammation with good precision and accuracy. Technical errors generated 6 cases of false negative results. Several other limitations of the study (use of only bariatric gastric fundus tissue, low number of cases, manual supervised learning segmentation) ask for an increased number of cases evaluation before validation and clinical use.
Predicting the retinotopic organization of human visual cortex from anatomy using geometric deep learning
Authors: Ribeiro Fernanda L. , Bollmann Steffen , Puckett Alexander M.
Published: February 2020

Whether it be in a single neuron or a more complex biological system like the human brain, form and function are often directly related. The functional organization of human visual cortex, for instance, is tightly coupled with the underlying anatomy with cortical shape having been shown to be a useful predictor of the retinotopic organization in early visual cortex. Although the current state-of-the-art in predicting retinotopic maps is able to account for gross individual differences, such models are unable to account for any idiosyncratic differences in the structure-function relationship from anatomical information alone due to their initial assumption of a template. Here we developed a geometric deep learning model capable of exploiting the actual structure of the cortex to learn the complex relationship between brain function and anatomy in human visual cortex such that more realistic and idiosyncratic maps could be predicted. We show that our neural network was not only able to predict the functional organization throughout the visual cortical hierarchy, but that it was also able to predict nuanced variations across individuals. Although we demonstrate its utility for modeling the relationship between structure and function in human visual cortex, our approach is flexible and well-suited for a range of other applications involving data structured in non-Euclidean spaces.
Repetitive blast promotes chronic aversion to neutral cues encountered in the peri-blast environment
Authors: Schindler Abigail G. , Terry Garth E. , Wolden-Hanson Tami , Cline Marcella , Park Michael , Lee Janet , Yagi Mayumi , Meabon James S. , Peskind Elaine R. , Raskind Murray M. , Phillips Paul E.M. , Cook David G.
Published: February 2020

Repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) has been called the “signature injury” of military Servicemembers in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and is highly comorbid with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Correct attribution of adverse blast-induced mTBI and/or PTSD remains challenging. Preclinical research using animal models can provide important insight into the mechanisms by which blast produces injury and dysfunction—but only to the degree by which such models reflect the human experience. Avoidance of trauma reminders is a hallmark of PTSD, here we sought to understand whether a mouse model of blast reproduces this phenomenon, in addition to blast-induced physical injuries. Drawing upon well-established work from the chronic stress and Pavlovian conditioning literature, we hypothesized that, even while anesthetized during blast exposure, environmental cues encountered in the peri-blast environment could be conditioned to evoke aversion/dysphoria and reexperiencing of traumatic stress. Using a pneumatic shock tube that recapitulates battlefield-relevant open-field blast forces, we provide direct evidence that stress is inherent to repetitive blast exposure, resulting in chronic aversive/dysphoric-like responses to previous blast-paired cues. The results in this report demonstrate that, while both single and repetitive blast exposures produce acute stress responses (weight loss, corticosterone increase), only repetitive blast exposure also results in co-occurring aversive/dysphoric-like stress responses. These results extend appreciation of the highly complex nature of repetitive blast exposure; and lend further support for the potential translational relevance of animal modeling approaches currently used by multiple laboratories aimed at elucidating the mechanisms (both molecular and behavioral) of repetitive blast exposure.
Hippocampal and cortical mechanisms at retrieval explain variability in episodic remembering in older adults
Authors: Trelle Alexandra N. , Carr Valerie A. , Guerin Scott A. , Thieu Monica K. , Jayakumar Manasi , Guo Wanjia , Nadiadwala Ayesha , Corso Nicole K. , Hunt Madison P. , Litovsky Celia P. , Tanner Natalie J. , Deutsch Gayle K. , Bernstein Jeffrey D. , Harrison Marc B. , Khazenzon Anna M. , Jiang Jiefeng , Sha Sharon J. , Fredericks Carolyn A. , Rutt Brian K. , Mormino Elizabeth C. , Kerchner Geoffrey A. , Wagner Anthony D.
Published: February 2020

Age-related episodic memory decline is characterized by striking heterogeneity across individuals. Hippocampal pattern completion is a fundamental process supporting episodic memory. Yet, the degree to which this mechanism is impaired with age, and contributes to variability in episodic memory, remains unclear. We combine univariate and multivariate analyses of fMRI data from a large cohort of cognitively normal older adults (N=100; 60-82 yrs) to measure hippocampal activity and cortical reinstatement during retrieval of trial-unique associations. Trial-wise analyses revealed that hippocampal activity predicted cortical reinstatement strength, and these two metrics of pattern completion independently predicted retrieval success. However, increased age weakened cortical reinstatement and its relationship to memory behaviour. Critically, individual differences in the strength of hippocampal activity and cortical reinstatement explained unique variance in performance across multiple assays of episodic memory. These results indicate that fMRI indices of hippocampal pattern completion explain within- and across-individual memory variability in older adults.
A versatile and modular tetrode-based device for single-unit recordings in rodentex vivoandin vivoacute preparations
Authors: Machado Francisca , Sousa Nuno , Monteiro Patricia , Jacinto Luis
Published: February 2020

The demand for affordable tools for recording extracellular activity and successfully isolating single units from different brain preparations has pushed researchers and companies to invest in developing and fabricating new recording devices. However, depending on the brain region of interest, experimental question or type of preparations, different devices are required thus adding substantial financial burden to laboratories. We have developed a simple and affordable tetrode-based device that allows interchangeable extracellular recordings of neural activity betweenin vivoandex vivopreparations and can be easily implemented in all wet-bench laboratories. Spontaneous activity from several putative single neurons could be easily recorded and isolated by lowering the device intoex vivocerebellum brain slices. The same device was also usedin vivo, lowered into primary auditory cortex of adult anesthetized transgenic mice expressing channelrhodopsin in cortical neurons. Acoustic stimulation of the contralateral ear or direct laser optogenetic stimulation successfully evoked cortical activity at the recording site. Several isolated putative single neurons presented time-locked activity response to the different stimuli. In summary, we developed an affordable, versatile and modular device to facilitate tetrode extracellular recordings interchangeably betweenin vivoanaesthetized animals andex vivobrain slice recordings.

Highlights

Developed a versatile and modular device to facilitate tetrode acute brain recordings interchangeably betweenin vivoandex vivopreparations.

Conductedex vivoextracellular recordings in acute cerebellar slices.

Conductedin vivoextracellular recordings in auditory cortex of anaesthetized mice.

Recorded and isolated multiple single units in both acute slices and anaesthetized mice recordings using the same device.

Device can be easily extended to accommodate optic fiber and cannula.
One New Species of the GenusDryomys(Rodentia, Glirgae) from Xinjiang China,Dryomys Yarkandensis sp. nov
Authors: Liao L. , An R. , Shi S. , Xu Y. , Luo Y. , Liao W.
Published: February 2020

During an expedition in June 2012 in Shache county of Tarim Basin in southern Xinjiang, China, a new species of the genusDryomys(Gliridae) has been discovered and namedDryomys yarkandensis sp.nov. It has been found obviously different fromD. nitedulaiin northern Xinjiang,D. laniger, D. niethammeriandD. nitedulaiin Europe, which are also belong to genusDryomys. The new speciesDryomys yarkandensis sp.nov is described below.

Holotype

No. N07, an adult female collected by Chen Zhenhai in June 2012, is deposited Center for disease prevention and control of Xinjiang (Xinjiang CDC). It was obtained from oasis orchard of desert in Tarim Basin (38°29’N, 77°32’E), 1211-1215 m.

Genus character

There is a dark chestnut round eye. The terminal of tail is club shape, covered with dense hairs, and cannot see the scale ring in external texture.

Description of the species

The eyes is large. The beard is long and the longest could reach 30 mm. The tail is thicker and slightly longer than body length about 10%. The terminal of the tail is fluffy. All the surface is covered with dense hairs.

External figure

The color of the new species on the back is lighter than that ofD. laniger, D. niethammeriandD. nitedulaiinDryomys. The length of the tail is about 110% of the body length. The length of the ears is 12.8 mm, which is 15% shorter than the other three species ofDryomys.

Skull and tooth

The ratio between the length of audirory bullae and the breadth of auditory bullae is 1.66 (8.35/5.02), which is larger than the other three species ofD. nitedula.

The habitats of the new species is harsh, drought and hot in summer but dry and cold in winter. The habitats ofD. nitedulain mountain valley in northern Xinjiang is temperate, humidity and low temperature, and there are berries or orchard.
Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses of a New Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Line with wildGossypium bickii.Genetic Background
Authors: Zhao Haiyan , Wang Jianshe , Qu Yunfang , Peng Renhai , Magwanga Richard Odongo , Liu Fang , Huang Jinling
Published: February 2020

Cotton is an important fiber crop but has serious effects of heterosis, in which cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) being the major cause of heterosis in plants. However, there are no studies done on CMS Yamian A in cotton with the genetic background of the Australian wildGossypium bickii.Transcriptomic and proteomic results showed that UDP-glucosyltransferase - in the nucleus, 60S ribosomal protein L13a- in the cytoplasm, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - in the chloroplast, glutathione S-transferase - in the cytoplasm, and ATP synthase F1 subunit 1 - in the mitochondrion were upregulated; while low molecular weight heat shock protein - in the chloroplast and ATP synthase D chain- in the mitochondrion were down-regulated expression at the microspore abortion stage of Yamian A. We constructed an interaction network and this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of CMS in cotton by use of in Yamian A, with wild cotton genetic background.
Operative and technical modifications to the Coriolis®µ air sampler that improve sample recovery and biosafety during microbiological air sampling
Authors: de Sousa Nuno Rufino , Shen Lei , Silcott David , Call Charles J. , Rothfuchs Antonio Gigliotti
Published: February 2020

Detecting infectious aerosols is central for gauging and countering airborne threats. In this regard the Coriolis®µ cyclonic air sampler is a practical, commercial collector that can be used with various analysis methods to monitor pathogens in air. However, information on how to operate this unit under optimal sampling and biosafety conditions is limited. We investigated Coriolis performance in aerosol dispersal experiments with polystyrene microspheres andBacillus globigiispores. We report inconsistent sample recovery from the collector cone due to loss of material when sampling continuously for more than 30 min. Introducing a new collector cone every 10 min improved this shortcoming. Moreover, we found that several surfaces on the device become contaminated during sampling. Adapting a HEPA-filter system to the Coriolis prevented contamination without altering collection efficiency or tactical deployment. A Coriolis modified with these operative and technical improvements was used to collect aerosols carrying microspheres released inside a Biosafety Level-3 laboratory during simulations of microbiological spills and aerosol dispersals. In summary, we provide operative and technical solutions to the Coriolis that optimize microbiological air sampling and improve biosafety.
TRPM4 conductances in thalamic reticular nucleus neurons generate persistent firing during slow oscillations
Authors: O’Malley John J. , Seibt Frederik , Chin Jeannie , Beierlein Michael
Published: February 2020

During sleep, neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) participate in distinct types of oscillatory activity. While the reciprocal synaptic circuits between TRN and sensory relay nuclei are known to underlie the generation of sleep spindles, the mechanisms regulating slow (<1 Hz) forms of thalamic oscillations are not well understood. Underin vitroconditions, TRN neurons can generate slow oscillations in a cell-intrinsic manner, with postsynaptic Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) activation leading to the generation of plateau potentials mediated by both T-type Ca2+currents and Ca2+-activated nonselective cation currents (ICAN). However, the identity of ICANand the possible contribution of thalamic circuits to slow rhythmic activity remain unclear. Using thalamic slices derived from adult mice of either sex, we recorded slow forms of rhythmic activity in TRN neurons, which were mediated by fast glutamatergic thalamoreticular inputs but did not require postsynaptic mGluR activation. For a significant fraction of TRN neurons, synaptic inputs or brief depolarizing current steps led to long-lasting plateau potentials and persistent firing (PF), and in turn, resulted in sustained synaptic inhibition in postsynaptic relay neurons of the ventrobasal thalamus (VB). Pharmacological approaches indicated that plateau potentials were triggered by Ca2+influx through T-type Ca2+channels and mediated by Ca2+and voltage-dependent transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channels. Taken together, our results suggest that thalamic circuits can generate slow oscillatory activity, mediated by an interplay of TRN-VB synaptic circuits that generate rhythmicity and TRN cell-intrinsic mechanisms that control PF and oscillation frequency.

Significance Statement

Slow forms of thalamocortical rhythmic activity are thought to be essential for memory consolidation during sleep and the efficient removal of potentially toxic metabolites.In vivo, thalamic slow oscillations are regulated by strong bidirectional synaptic pathways linking neocortex and thalamus. Therefore,in vitrostudies in the isolated thalamus can offer important insights about the ability of individual neurons and local circuits to generate different forms of rhythmic activity. We found that circuits formed by GABAergic neurons in the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) and glutamatergic relay neurons in the ventrobasal thalamus generated slow oscillatory activity, which was accompanied by persistent firing in TRN neurons. Our results identify both cell-intrinsic and synaptic mechanisms that mediate slow forms of rhythmic activity in thalamic circuits.
Radixin modulates stereocilia function and contributes to cochlear amplification
Authors: Prasad Sonal , Vona Barbara , Diñeiro Marta , Costales María , González-Aguado Rocío , Fontalba Ana , Diego-Pérez Clara , Subasioglu Asli , Bademci Guney , Tekin Mustafa , Cabanillas Rubén , Cadiñanos Juan , Fridberger Anders
Published: February 2020

The stereocilia of the sensory cells in the inner ear contain high levels of the actin-binding protein radixin, encoded by theRDXgene. Radixin which is associated with mechanotransduction process such as PIP2is known to be important for hearing but its functional role remains obscure. To determine how radixin influences hearing sensitivity, we used a custom rapid imaging technique to directly visualize stereocilia motion while measuring the amplitude of the electrical potentials produced by sensory cells during acoustic stimulation. Experiments were performed in guinea pigs, where upon blocking radixin, a large decrease in sound-evoked electrical potentials occurred. Despite this decrease other important functional measures, such as electrically induced sensory cell motility and the sound-evoked deflections of stereocilia, showed a minor amplitude increase. This unique set of functional properties alterations demonstrate that radixin is necessary to ensure that the inner ear converts sound into electrical signals at acoustic rates. Radixin is therefore a necessary and important component of the cochlear amplifier, the energy-consuming process that boosts hearing sensitivity by up to 60 dB.
How to read a baby’s mind: Re-imagining fMRI for awake, behaving infants
Authors: Ellis C. T. , Skalaban L. J. , Yates T. S. , Bejjanki V. R. , Córdova N. I. , Turk-Browne N. B.
Published: February 2020

Thousands of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have provided important insight into the human brain. However, only a handful of these studies tested infants while they were awake, because of the significant and unique methodological challenges involved. We report our efforts over the past five years to address these challenges, with the goal of creating methods for infant fMRI that can reveal the inner workings of the developing, preverbal mind. We use these methods to collect and analyze two fMRI datasets obtained from infants during cognitive tasks, released publicly with this paper. In these datasets, we explore data quantity and quality, task-evoked activity, and preprocessing decisions to derive and evaluate recommendations for infant fMRI. We disseminate these methods by sharing two software packages that integrate infant-friendly cognitive tasks and behavioral monitoring with fMRI acquisition and analysis. These resources make fMRI a feasible and accessible technique for cognitive neuroscience in human infants.
Use of Bioelectric Impedance Analysis (BIA) as a new method to detect prostate cancer
Authors: Bartoletti Riccardo , Greco Alberto , Di Vico Tommaso , Durante Jacopo , Ficarra Vincenzo , Scilingo Enzo Pasquale , Valenza Gaetano
Published: February 2020

Background

To determine the accuracy of a novel BIA test endorectal probe.

Methods

One hundred-forty consecutive patient candidates to prostate biopsy and 40 healthy volunteers were selected (NCT03428087). Total PSA and PSA density (PSAD) determinations, digital rectal examination (DRE), and the BIA test were analysed in patients and controls. A 16 cores trans rectal prostate biopsy was performed on all patients with clinical suspicion of PCa after a multiparametric MRI (mMRI) test. The study endpoints were to determine accuracy of BIA test in comparison to PSA, PSAD levels, and mMRI and obtain PCa prediction in candidates to prostate biopsy by BIA test. The Mann-Withney U test, the Wilkoxon rank test, and Holm-Bonferroni’s method were adopted for statistical analyses, and a computational approach was also applied to differentiate patients with PCa from those with benign disease (BPH).

Results

Combined DRE, TRUS, PSA, and PSAD alone failed to satisfactorily discern patients with PCa from those with BPH (62.86% of discrimination accuracy) and mMRI PIRADS ≥3 showed a sensitivity of 83% and a specificity of 59%. The accuracy in discerning PCa and BPH increased up to 75% by BIA test (sensitivity 63.33% and specificity 83.75%).

Conclusions

The BIA test is a simple, promising, cheap, and reliable test for PCa non-invasive diagnosis. The novel finger probe may improve PCa detection also in patients with low-risk PCa, thus reducing the need of useless biopsies.
Novel hemorrhage models of cerebral cavernous malformations
Authors: Detter Matthew R , Shenkar Robert , Benavides Christian R , Neilson Catherine A , Moore Thomas , Lightle Rhonda , Hobson Nicholas , Shen Le , Cao Ying , Girard Romuald , Zhang Dongdong , Griffin Erin , Gallione Carol J , Awad Issam A , Marchuk Douglas A
Published: February 2020

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are ectatic capillary-venous malformations that develop in approximately 0.5% of the population. Patients with CCMs may develop headaches, focal neurologic deficits, seizures, and hemorrhages. While symptomatic CCMs, depending upon the anatomic location, can be surgically removed, there is currently no pharmaceutical therapy to treat CCMs. Several mouse models have been developed to better understand CCM pathogenesis and test therapeutics. The most common mouse models induce a large CCM burden that is anatomically restricted to the cerebellum and contributes to lethality in the early days of life. These inducible models thus have a relatively short period for drug administration. We developed an inducible CCM3 mouse model that develops CCMs after weaning and provides a longer period for potential therapeutic intervention. Using this new model, three recently proposed CCM therapies - fasudil, tempol, vitamin D3, and a combination of the three drugs failed to substantially reduce CCM formation when treatment was administered for five weeks, from postnatal day 21 (P21) to P56. We next restricted Ccm3 deletion to the brain vasculature and provided greater time (121 days) for CCMs to develop chronic hemorrhage, recapitulating the human lesions. We also developed the first model of acute CCM hemorrhage by injecting mice harboring CCMs with lipopolysaccharide. These efficient models will enable future drug studies to more precisely target clinically relevant features of CCM disease: CCM formation, chronic hemorrhage, and acute hemorrhage.
Metabolic flexibility allows generalist bacteria to become dominant in a frequently disturbed ecosystem
Authors: Chen Ya-Jou , Leung Pok Man , Bay Sean K. , Hugenholtz Philip , Kessler Adam J. , Shelley Guy , Waite David W. , Cook Perran L. M. , Greening Chris
Published: February 2020

Ecological theory suggests that habitat disturbance differentially influences distributions of generalist and specialist species. While well-established for macroorganisms, this theory has rarely been explored for microorganisms. Here we tested these principles in permeable (sandy) sediments, ecosystems with much spatiotemporal variation in resource availability and other conditions. Microbial community composition and function was profiled in intertidal and subtidal sediments using 16S amplicon sequencing and metagenomics, yielding 135 metagenome-assembled genomes. Microbial abundance and composition significantly differed with sediment depth and, to a lesser extent, sampling date. Several generalist taxa were highly abundant and prevalent in all samples, including within orders Woeseiales and Flavobacteriales; genome reconstructions indicate these facultatively anaerobic taxa are highly metabolically flexible and adapt to fluctuations in resource availability by using different electron donors and acceptors. In contrast, obligately anaerobic taxa such as sulfate reducers (Desulfobacterales, Desulfobulbales) and proposed candidate phylum MBNT15 were less abundant overall and only thrived in more stable deeper sediments. We substantiated these findings by measuring three metabolic processes in these sediments; whereas the generalist-associated processes of sulfide oxidation and hydrogenogenic fermentation occurred rapidly at all depths, the specialist-associated process of sulfate reduction was restricted to deeper sediments. In addition, a manipulative experiment confirmed generalists outcompete specialist taxa during simulated habitat disturbance. Altogether, these findings suggest that metabolically flexible taxa become dominant in these highly dynamic environments, whereas metabolic specialism restricts bacteria to narrower niches. Thus, an ecological theory describing distribution patterns for macroorganisms likely extends to microorganisms. Such findings have broad ecological and biogeochemical ramifications.
Reduced Suprathreshold Auditory Nerve Responses are Associated with Thinner Temporal Cortex and Slower Processing Speed in Presbycusis
Authors: Delano Paul H. , Belkhiria Chama , Vergara Rodrigo C. , Martínez Melissa , Leiva Alexis , Andrade Maricarmen , Marcenaro Bruno , Torrente Mariela , Cristóbal Maass Juan , Delgado Carolina
Published: February 2020

Epidemiological evidence shows an association between hearing loss and dementia in elderly people. However, the mechanisms that connect hearing impairments and cognitive decline are still unknown. Here we propose that a suprathreshold auditory-nerve impairment is associated with cognitive decline and brain atrophy. Methods: audiological, neuropsychological, and brain structural 3-Tesla MRI data were obtained from elders with different levels of hearing loss recruited in the ANDES cohort. The amplitude of waves I (auditory nerve) and V (midbrain) from auditory brainstem responses were measured at 80 dB nHL. We also calculated the ratio between wave V and I as a proxy of a suprathreshold brainstem function. Results: we included a total of 101 subjects (age: 73.5 ± 5.2 years (mean ± SD), mean education: 9.5 ± 4.2 years, and mean audiogram thresholds (0.5-4 kHz): 25.5 ± 12.0 dB HL). We obtained reliable suprathreshold waves V in all subjects (n=101), while replicable waves I were obtained in 92 subjects (91.1%). Partial Spearman correlations (corrected by age, gender, education and hearing thresholds) showed that reduced suprathreshold wave I responses were associated with thinner bilateral medial and inferior temporal cortex and, with slower processing speed as evidenced by the Trail-Making Test-A and digit symbol tests. Non-significant correlations were obtained between wave I amplitudes and other cognitive domains. Conclusions: These results evidence that reduced suprathreshold auditory nerve responses in presbycusis are associated with slower processing speed and brain structural changes in the temporal cortex.
Temporal and genetic variation in female aggression after mating
Authors: Bath Eleanor , Biscocho Edmund Ryan , Easton-Calabria August , Wigby Stuart
Published: February 2020

Aggression between individuals of the same sex is almost ubiquitous across the animal kingdom. Winners of intrasexual contests often garner considerable fitness benefits, through greater access to mates, food, or social dominance. In females, aggression is often tightly linked to reproduction, with females displaying increases in aggressive behavior when mated, gestating or lactating, or when protecting dependent offspring. In the fruit fly,Drosophila melanogaster, females spend twice as long fighting over food after mating as when they are virgins. However, it is unknown when this increase in aggression begins or whether it is consistent across genotypes. Here we show that aggression in females increases between 2 to 4 hours after mating and remains elevated for at least a week after a single mating. In addition, this increase in aggression 24 hours after mating is consistent across three diverse genotypes, suggesting this may be a universal response to mating in the species. We also report here the first use of automated tracking and classification software to study female aggression inDrosophilaand assess its accuracy for this behavior. Dissecting the genetic diversity and temporal patterns of female aggression assists us in better understanding its generality and adaptive function, and will facilitate the identification of its underlying mechanisms.