bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Porous polyetheretherketone microcarriers fabricated via hydroxylation together with cell-derived mineralized extracellular matrix coatings promote cell expansion and bone regeneration
Authors: Sun Shuo , Jiao Zixue , Wang Yu , Wu Zhenxu , Wang Haowei , Ji Qingming , Liu Yi , Wang Zongliang , Zhang Peibiao
Published: March 2021

Porous microcarriers have aroused increasing attention recently by facilitating oxygen and nutrient transfer, supporting cell attachment and growth with sufficient cell seeding density. In this study, porous polyetheretherketone (PEEK) microcarriers coated with mineralized extracellular matrix (mECM), known for their chemical, mechanical and biological superiority, were developed for orthopedic applications. Porous PEEK microcarriers were derived from smooth microcarriers using a simple wet-chemistry strategy involving the reduction of carbonyl groups. This treatment simultaneously modified surface topology and chemical composition. Furthermore, the microstructure, protein absorption, cytotoxicity and bioactivity of the obtained porous microcarriers were investigated. The deposition of mECM through repeated recellularization and decellularization on the surface of porous MCs further promoted cell proliferation and osteogenic activity. Additionally, the mECM coated porous microcarriers exhibited excellent bone regeneration in a rat calvarial defect repair model in vivo, suggesting huge potential applications in bone tissue engineering.
The Unintended Consequences of Corporate Bond ETFs: Evidence from the Taper Tantrum
Authors: Dannhauser Caitlin D , Hoseinzade Saeid
Published: March 2021

This paper examines whether ETFs are a unique source of corporate bond fragility. Relative to mutual funds, ETFs cater to high-liquidity-demand investors, facilitate positive feedback strategies, and transmit outflows to corporate bonds via near-proportional trading. Comparing yield spread changes of bonds from the same issuer, we show that ETFs create flow-induced pressure during the Taper Tantrum, a period of market turmoil. Redemptions used to maintain the relative price efficiency of the largest and most liquid ETFs lead to significantly higher yield spreads for 4 months before reverting. The pattern indicates ETFs amplify the effects of negative fundamental shocks.
Exosome Transplantation From Patients With Schizophrenia Causes Schizophrenia-Relevant Behaviors in Mice: An Integrative Multi-omics Data Analysis
Authors: Du Yang , Tan Wen-Long , Chen Lei , Yang Zi-Meng , Li Xue-Song , Xue Xiong , Cai Yan-Shan , Cheng Yong
Published: March 2021

Exosomes are involved in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric diseases, but the role of exosomes in schizophrenia (SCZ) is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that transplantation of serum exosomes from SCZ patients into mice caused behavioral abnormalities such as deficits in prepulse inhibition and sociability, hyperactivity, and anxiogenesis. A comparative bioinformatics analysis suggested shared and distinct differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched molecular pathways in the brains of SCZ exosome-recipient mice, methylazoxymethanol acetate-treated rats, and SCZ patients, which correlates evidence of altered prefrontal–hippocampal functional coherence in SCZ. A large proportion of SCZ-relevant DEGs in the exosome-recipient mice were targets of DE exosomal miRNAs in SCZ patients. Furthermore, we identified 20 hub genes for SCZ risk genes, including BDNF and NRG1, which were DE miRNA targets in SCZ. Collectively, our study suggests that SCZ exosome transplantation caused SCZ-relevant behaviors in mice, and epigenetic regulation may contribute to the phenotypes in the SCZ exosome-recipient mice. Our results may provide a potential animal model and novel therapeutic targets for SCZ.
The Impact of University–Industry Relationships on Firms’ Performance: A Meta-Regression Analysis
Authors: Acebo Enrique , Miguel-Dávila José-Ángel , Nieto Mariano
Published: March 2021

The University–Industry (U–I) relationship is a fundamental part of innovation systems. A wide spread of public resources has been given to promote this relationship and a large number of studies has evaluated the results. However, while innovation theory identifies this relationship as a positive instrument to increase firms’ performance, evaluation literature reports a wide range of findings. The lack of conclusiveness results in theory and evaluation literature motivates this meta-regression analysis (MRA), built on fifty-one micro-level studies published since 1995. After controlling for publication selection bias, sample, and study heterogeneities, our results show a small effect on firms’ performance. Specifically, the size of the effect is more significant for technical outcomes than economic ones. These findings have a lot of relevance for universities, firms, and policymakers for determining open-innovation strategies and public policies.
Alternative Organizational Survival: A Comparison of Two Worker-Recuperated Businesses in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Authors: Sobering Katherine , Lapegna Pablo
Published: March 2021

It is widely accepted that economic indicators like efficiency, productivity, and profitability are key to explaining why some businesses survive and others do not. Yet not all work organizations ascribe to capitalist assumptions about ownership, authority, and even what constitutes success itself. Worker-recuperated businesses (WRBs) in Argentina—organizations closed by their private owners, occupied by their workers, and restarted as worker cooperatives—offer one such example. While research has documented the operational and financial challenges these businesses confront, we know little about why some survive and others do not. This article draws on qualitative and historical research in two WRBs in Buenos Aires: one that survived (Hotel Bauen) and one that closed (FORJA San Martín). Comparing the organizations’ trajectories, we argue that labor process, geographic location, and political networks are key to understanding their survival. We find that different types of labor in industrial and service workplaces in conjunction with their geographic locations impacted efforts to develop networks with political actors, consumers, and social movements that provided legitimacy and resources to enable their continuity over time. The article discusses the contributions of these findings to theories of organizations and the implications for studying alternative work organizations.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health and daily life of adults with behavioral health disorders
Authors: Jonikas Jessica A , Cook Judith A , Swarbrick Margaret , Nemec Patricia , Steigman Pamela J , Boss Katherine A , Brice George H
Published: March 2021

People with behavioral health disorders may be particularly vulnerable to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, yet little is known about how they are faring. A mixed-methods, anonymous needs assessment was conducted to understand changes in the lives of adults with mental health and substance use disorders since the pandemic onset. A cross-sectional, online survey was completed by 272 adults in April and May 2020, recruited from statewide networks of community programs in New Jersey and New York. Measures included the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 to screen for depressive and anxiety disorders. Also assessed was the pandemic’s impact on sleep and dietary patterns, exposure to COVID-19 infection, and access to health care and medications. Finally, respondents were asked to describe in their own words any changes in their lives since the pandemic began. Over one-third (35.1%) screened positive for generalized anxiety disorder and over one-quarter (29.6%) screened positive for major depressive disorder. The majority reported pandemic-related changes in eating and sleeping patterns and exposure to COVID-19 infection. Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that many changes attributed to the pandemic were positively and significantly associated with screening positive for anxiety and depressive disorders. Qualitative analysis confirmed these findings and identified participants’ resilience stemming from social support, emotion management, and self-care. These results can inform the design of services that assist this population to bolster self-management skills and reestablish daily habits to improve their lives during and following the pandemic.
Benchmark Concentrations for Untargeted Metabolomics Versus Transcriptomics for Liver Injury Compounds in In Vitro Liver Models
Authors: Crizer David M , Ramaiahgari Sreenivasa C , Ferguson Stephen S , Rice Julie R , Dunlap Paul E , Sipes Nisha S , Auerbach Scott S , Merrick Bruce Alex , DeVito Michael J
Published: March 2021

Interpretation of untargeted metabolomics data from both in vivo and physiologically relevant in vitro model systems continues to be a significant challenge for toxicology research. Potency-based modeling of toxicological responses has served as a pillar of interpretive context and translation of testing data. In this study, we leverage the resolving power of concentration-response modeling through benchmark concentration (BMC) analysis to interpret untargeted metabolomics data from differentiated cultures of HepaRG cells exposed to a panel of reference compounds and integrate data in a potency-aligned framework with matched transcriptomic data. For this work, we characterized biological responses to classical human liver injury compounds and comparator compounds, known to not cause liver injury in humans, at 10 exposure concentrations in spent culture media by untargeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The analyte features observed (with limited metabolites identified) were analyzed using BMC modeling to derive compound-induced points of departure. The results revealed liver injury compounds produced concentration-related increases in metabolomic response compared to those rarely associated with liver injury (ie, sucrose, potassium chloride). Moreover, the distributions of altered metabolomic features were largely comparable with those observed using high throughput transcriptomics, which were further extended to investigate the potential for in vitro observed biological responses to be observed in humans with exposures at therapeutic doses. These results demonstrate the utility of BMC modeling of untargeted metabolomics data as a sensitive and quantitative indicator of human liver injury potential.
Triatomine home invasions in active foci of Chagas disease in Abaetetuba, Pará, Brazil
Authors: Mota Bruna Daniele Lisboa , Valente Vera da Costa , Ramos Francisco Luzio de Paula , Valente Sebastião Aldo da Silva , Pinto Ana Yecê das Neves
Published: March 2021

Background

Chagas disease is a parasitic infection with high re-emergence rates in some Amazon regions. The main vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi are haematophagous insects, the triatomines. Only a few reports are available about the occurrence of these wild vectors and their contact with the inhabitants of the riverside regions of the Amazon. This study describes the unusual behaviour of the triatomines that have invaded the homes of the residents of Abaetetuba, the city that has the second highest number of cases of Chagas disease.

Methods

Two cross-sectional studies were conducted using sero-epidemiological surveys of the inhabitants of Abaetetuba with registered triatomine home invasions. The frequencies of the variables of interest were analysed using Epi Info version 7.2.

Results

In 2014 and 2017, 145 persons registered home invasions of triatomines in their domiciles and 16.55% reported having been bitten by insects. The environmental features described indicated potential conditions for the persistence of the parasite's life cycle. Of the enrolled inhabitants, 0.47% were positive for immunoglobulin G anti-T. cruzi antibodies.

Conclusions

Home invasions of triatomines were confirmed in two periods, with a description of unusual behaviour for the genus Rhodnius. The use of serological surveillance in human populations at risk of this occurrence may constitute a new tool for the early detection of silent infections.
Maize Yellow Mosaic Virus Interacts with Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus and Sugarcane Mosaic Virus in Mixed Infections, But Does Not Cause Maize Lethal Necrosis
Authors: Stewart Lucy R. , Willie Kristen
Published: March 2021

A maize-infecting polerovirus, variously named maize yellow dwarf virus RMV2 (MYDV RMV2), MYDV-like, and maize yellow mosaic virus (MaYMV), is frequently found in mixed infections in plants also infected with maize chlorotic mottle virus (MCMV) and sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV), known to synergistically cause maize lethal necrosis (MLN). MaYMV was discovered in deep sequencing studies precipitated by recent MLN emergence and is prevalent at global locations with MLN, but its role in or contribution to disease was not known. We examined how MaYMV impacted disease development in mixed infections with MCMV, SCMV, and both MCMV and SCMV compared with mock-inoculated plants. Results demonstrated that MaYMV symptoms included stunting as well as leaf reddening in single and mixed infections. MaYMV did not recapitulate MLN synergistic disease in double infections in which either MCMV or SCMV was missing (MaYMV + MCMV or MaYMV + SCMV), but did significantly enhance stunting in mixed infections and suppressed titers of both MCMV and SCMV in double infections. Interestingly, MaYMV strongly suppressed the SCMV-induced titer increase of MCMV in triple infections, but MLN symptoms still occurred with the reduced MCMV titer. These data indicate the potential disease impact of this newly discovered ubiquitous maize virus, alone and in the context of MLN.
Impact of SDH Mutations in Alternaria solani on Recently Developed SDHI Fungicides Adepidyn and Solatenol
Authors: Budde-Rodriguez Sarah , Celoy Rhodesia M. , Mallik Ipsita , Pasche Julie S. , Gudmestad Neil C.
Published: March 2021

Early blight, caused by Alternaria solani, is observed annually in all midwestern potato production areas. The use of foliar fungicides remains a primary management strategy. However, A. solani has developed reduced sensitivity or resistance to many single-site fungicides such as quinone outside inhibitor (QoI, FRAC group 11), succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI, FRAC group 7), demethylation inhibitor (DMI, FRAC group 3), and anilinopyrimidine (AP, FRAC group 9) fungicides. Boscalid, fluopyram, solatenol, and adepidyn are EPA-registered SDHI fungicides used commercially on a variety of crops, including potato. Five SDH mutations have been characterized previously in A. solani that affect the efficacy of boscalid while only one of these mutations has been demonstrated to negatively affect fluopyram efficacy. Conidial germination assays were used to determine if a shift in sensitivity has occurred in these SDHI fungicides. A. solani isolates collected prior to the commercial application of SDHI fungicides (baseline) were compared with recently collected isolates (nonbaseline). Greenhouse evaluations were conducted also to evaluate the efficacy of boscalid, fluopyram, solatenol, and adepidyn on A. solani isolates possessing individual SDH mutations. Additionally, field trials were conducted to determine the effects of application of these SDHI fungicides on the frequency of SDH mutations. Fluopyram, solatenol, and adepidyn had high intrinsic activity against A. solani when compared with boscalid, based on in vitro assays. The application of adepidyn and solatenol resulted in greater early blight control than the application of boscalid and fluopyram in greenhouse experiments. Molecular characterization of A. solani isolates collected from the field trials determined that the frequency of the H134R-mutation can increase in response to more recently developed SDHI fungicides. In contrast, the H278R/Y- and H133R-mutations decreased to the point of being nearly absent in these field experiments.
Grapevine Red Blotch Virus Is Transmitted by the Three-Cornered Alfalfa Hopper in a Circulative, Nonpropagative Mode with Unique Attributes
Authors: Flasco Madison , Hoyle Victoria , Cieniewicz Elizabeth J. , Roy Brandon G. , McLane Heather L. , Perry Keith L. , Loeb Gregory , Nault Brian , Heck Michelle , Fuchs Marc
Published: March 2021

The transmission mode of grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV, genus Grablovirus, family Geminiviridae) by Spissistilus festinus, the three-cornered alfalfa hopper, is unknown. By analogy with other members in the family Geminiviridae, we hypothesized circulative, nonpropagative transmission. Time-course experiments revealed GRBV in dissected guts, hemolymph, and heads with salivary glands after a 5-, 8-, and 10-day exposure to infected grapevines, respectively. After a 15-day acquisition on infected grapevines and subsequent transfer on alfalfa, a nonhost of GRBV, the virus titer decreased over time in adult insects, as shown by quantitative PCR. Snap bean proved to be a feeding host of S. festinus and a pseudosystemic host of GRBV after Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated delivery of an infectious clone. The virus was efficiently transmitted by S. festinus from infected snap bean plants to excised snap bean trifoliates (90%) or grapevine leaves (100%) but less efficiently from infected grapevine plants to excised grapevine leaves (10%) or snap bean trifoliates (67%). Transmission of GRBV also occurred trans-stadially but not via seeds. The virus titer was significantly higher in (i) guts and hemolymph relative to heads with salivary glands, and (ii) adults emanating from third compared with first instars that emerged on infected grapevine plants and developed on snap bean trifoliates. This study demonstrated circulative, nonpropagative transmission of GRBV by S. festinus with an extended acquisition access period compared with other viruses in the family Geminiviridae and marked differences in transmission efficiency between grapevine, the natural host, and snap bean, an alternative herbaceous host.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Bone Culture Versus Biopsy in Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis
Authors: Tardáguila-García Aroa , Sanz-Corbalán Irene , García-Morales Esther , García-Álvarez Yolanda , Molines-Barroso Raúl J. , Lázaro-Martínez José Luis
Published: March 2021

OBJECTIVE

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of bone culture (microbiology) and biopsy (histology) in patients with acute or chronic diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved patients for whom providers had a clinical suspicion of DFO. Two bone samples were taken: one for microbiologic testing and another for histologic testing. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and likelihood ratio were calculated for bone culture results in relation to the probability of DFO diagnosis.

RESULTS

Fifty-two patients were included; 69% had positive bone culture results, and 90.4% had positive histology results (P = .013), and of those 90.4%, 25.5% had acute and 74.5% had chronic DFO. The sensitivity of the microbiologic bone culture result was 0.70, the specificity was 0.40, the positive predictive value was 0.92, and the negative predictive value was 0.13.

CONCLUSIONS

Histology provides more accurate diagnosis of DFO than microbiology, especially for patients with chronic DFO. These patients could be underdiagnosed because of false-negative results provided by bone culture. Providers should perform both tests to confirm the presence of DFO.
Does UV Light as an Adjunct to Conventional Treatment Improve Healing and Reduce Infection in Wounds? A Systematic Review
Authors: Inkaran Jeyanth , Tenn Adam , Martyniuk Amanda , Farrokhyar Forough , Cenic Aleksa
Published: March 2021

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of UV light on wound healing and infection in patients with skin ulcers or surgical incisions. Outcomes of interest included healing time, wound size and appearance, bacterial burden, and infection.

DATA SOURCES

Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science

STUDY SELECTION

Comparative and noncomparative clinical studies were considered, including observational cohort, retrospective, and randomized controlled studies. They addressed the research question: “Does the use of UV light as an adjunct to conventional treatment help improve healing and reduce infection in wounds?” Selection criteria included any English language study in adults who used UV light to improve wound healing and prevent or treat wound infection.

DATA EXTRACTION

Authors extracted information pertaining to patient demographics, treatment protocols, and the following wound outcomes: appearance, healing time, infection, and bacterial burden.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The search yielded 30,986 articles, and screening resulted in 11 studies that underwent final analysis. Of these (N = 27,833), seven (64%) demonstrated an improvement in healing outcomes with adjunctive UV therapy, and the results of four (36%) achieved statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

There is limited research on the utility of adjunctive UV therapy to improve wound healing outcomes in humans. The majority of literature included in this review supported improved wound healing outcomes with adjuvant UV therapy. Future well-designed randomized controlled trials will be essential in further determining the benefit and utility of UV therapy in wound healing.
Suicide detection and treatment in a nurse-led, interprofessional primary care practice
Authors: Ketel Christian , Hedges Jordan P. , Smith Jenna P. , Hopkins Leslie W. , Pfieffer Mary Lauren , Kyle Erin , Raman Rameela , Pilon Bonita
Published: March 2021

Analysis of 2 years of quality improvement data after the implementation of a suicidality screening and treatment protocol in a primary care setting found that among 1,733 patients, 149 had suicidal ideation. Among the 112 of those patients who remained in care, more than half presented with only nonpsychiatric complaints. Primary care practices may be viable tools to combat the nation's suicide epidemic.
The Implementation of Protocol-Based Utilization of Neuromuscular Blocking Agent Using Clinical Variables in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Patients
Authors: Hadique Sarah , Badami Varun , Forte Michael , Kovacic Nicole , Umer Amna , Shigle Amanda , Gardo Jordan , Sangani Rahul
Published: March 2021

Objectives:

The recent conflicting data on the mortality benefit of neuromuscular blocking agents in acute respiratory distress syndrome and the potential adverse effects of continuous neuromuscular blocking agent necessitates that these medications should be used judiciously with dose reduction in mind. The aims of the study were to improve the process of care by provider education of neuromuscular blocking agent titration and monitoring and to determine the impact of clinical endpoint based neuromuscular blocking agent titration protocol.

Design:

We conducted a proof-of-concept historically controlled study of protocol-based intervention standardizing paralytic monitoring and titration using clinical variables. Education of the protocol was provided to ICU staff via bedside teaching and workshops. The primary outcomes were the time to reach goal paralysis and cumulative neuromuscular blocking agent dose. Secondary outcomes included maintenance of deeper sedation (Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale –5) prior to neuromuscular blocking agent initiation, total time on mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and mortality.

Setting:

Medical ICU at a quaternary academic hospital between March 2019 and June 2020.

Patients:

Adult severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (Pao
2/Fio
2 <150) patients requiring neuromuscular blocking agent for greater than or equal to 12 hours. Eighty-two patients fulfilled inclusion criteria, 46 in the control group and 36 in the intervention group.

Interventions:

Education and implementation of standardized protocol.

Measurements and Main Results:

Compared with the control group, the time to reach goal paralysis in the intervention group was shorter (8.55 ± 9.4 vs 2.63 ± 5.9 hr; p < 0.0001) on significantly lower dose of cisatracurium (total dose 1,897.96 ± 1,241.0 vs 562.72 ± 546.7 mg; p < 0.0001 and the rate 5.84 ± 2.66 vs 1.99 ± 0.95 µg/kg/min; p < 0.0001). Deeper sedation was achieved at the time of initiation of neuromuscular blocking agent in the intervention arm (mean Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale –3.3 ± 1.9 vs –4.3 ± 1.7; p = 0.015). There was no significant difference in total time on mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay, and mortality between the two groups.

Conclusions:

Implementation of comprehensive education, standardization of sedation prior to neuromuscular blocking agent initiation, integration of clinical variables in determining paralysis achievement, and proper use of peripheral nerve stimulation served as optimal strategies for the titration and monitoring of neuromuscular blocking agent in acute respiratory distress syndrome. This reduced drug utilization while continuing to achieve benefit without causing adverse effects.
A 16-week concurrent exercise program improves emotional well-being and emotional distress in middle-aged women: the FLAMENCO project randomized controlled trial
Authors: Aparicio Virginia A. , Flor-Alemany Marta , Marín-Jiménez Nuria , Coll-Risco Irene , Aranda Pilar
Published: March 2021

Objective:

To analyze the influence of a supervised concurrent exercise program on emotional well-being and emotional distress in middle-aged women.

Methods:

This randomized controlled trial included 150 middle-aged women recruited for the FLAMENCO project. Participants were allocated into counseling (n = 75) or exercise (n = 75) groups. The counseling group attended conferences on healthy lifestyle (including diet and physical activity topics). The exercise group followed a 60-min concurrent (aerobic + resistance) exercise training 3 days/wk for 16 weeks. Emotional health was assessed with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) in two diverse timeframes, state (PANAS-S) and trait (PANAS-T) ranging from 10 to 50, where higher scores reflect greater affective emotional health/experience (positive affect subscale) and greater emotional distress (negative affect subscale). The differences between the counseling and exercise groups in PANAS were analyzed by linear regression.

Results:

The total number of women for the per-protocol analyses was 111 divided into the counseling (n = 53) and exercise (n = 58) groups. After adjusting for body mass index and Mediterranean diet adherence, PANAS-S and PANAS-T-positive affect scores increased by 3.81 and 3.02, respectively, in the exercise group whereas they decreased by 0.15 and increased by 0.51 in the counseling group (both, P < 0.05). PANAS-T negative affect decreased by 4.10 in the exercise group whereas only decreased by 0.9 in the counseling group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

A 16-week concurrent exercise program improved emotional experience in middle-aged women. Specifically, women in the exercise group significantly improved their emotional well-being and emotional distress through greater changes in positive affect and negative affect compared with the counseling group.
The factor structure and subscale properties of the pain catastrophizing scale: are there differences in the distinctions?
Authors: Cook Karon F. , Mackey Sean , Jung Corinne , Darnall Beth D.
Published: March 2021

Introduction:

Increasingly, studies have documented the negative impact of pain catastrophizing on health outcomes. The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) has been the measure of choice for many of these studies. The PCS provides 3 subscales for measuring pain catastrophizing: rumination, magnification, and helplessness. Factor analytic investigations of these factors have been limited by the sample size and relevance, and results have been inconsistent. No study has directly estimated the added value of subscale scoring of the PCS compared with scoring it as a single measure.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dimensionality of PCS responses in a sample of patients with chronic pain (N = 8370).

Methods:

Data were randomly halved, and results were cross-validated. Both traditional factor analysis and traditional factor analyses were conducted.

Results:

Findings based on common factor analyses and on bifactor analyses supported the essential unidimensionality of PCS responses. In the bifactor analyses, the general factor accounted for 96% of the explained common variance in the modeling sample. After extracting the general factor, helplessness, magnification, and rumination subscales accounted for 7.0%, 0.0%, and 15%, respectively.

Conclusion:

The results do not necessarily disconfirm helplessness, magnification, and rumination as clinically meaningful theoretical distinctions. However, the PCS (at least as presently constructed) fails to discriminate these distinctions. Joint efforts in theory and measurement science could illuminate the role that posited “kinds” of pain catastrophizing play in individuals' pain experiences.
Genome-based phylogeny of the genera Proteus and Cosenzaea and description of Proteus terrae subsp. terrae subsp. nov. and Proteus terrae subsp. cibarius subsp. nov.
Authors: Behrendt Undine , Wende Sonja , Kolb Steffen , Ulrich Andreas
Published: March 2021

The genera

Proteus

and

Cosenzaea

are closely related members of the family

Morganellaceae

. The genus

Cosenzaea

consists of the species

Cosenzaea myxofaciens

originally separated from the genus

Proteus

by rpoB gene analysis. Due to the high similarity of the 16S rRNA genes between species of both genera, the taxonomic status is here re-evaluated by a genome-based approach. Based on a core genome phylogeny and genome relatedness indices, it is shown that the taxonomy and nomenclature given for the basonym

Proteus myxofaciens

is more appropriate. Therefore, we propose to use this name in preference. Furthermore, the species status of

Proteus terrae

and

Proteus cibarius

was reassessed. Both species are related at subspecies level by digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) analysis. Additionally, average amino acid identity (AAI) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) do not support a separate species status, and therefore it is proposed to classify

P. cibarius

as a subspecies of

P. terrae

. Consequently, both species are being renamed

Proteus terrae

subsp. cibarius subsp. nov. and

Proteus terrae

subsp. terrae subsp. nov., respectively. The genome relatedness indices revealed a close relationship of the

Proteus

genomospecies 5 with

P. terrae

subsp. terrae. Thus, it has been assigned to the same subspecies.
Motilimonas cestriensis sp. nov., isolated from an inland brine spring in Northern England
Authors: Kelbrick Matthew , Abed Raeid M. M. , Antunes André
Published: March 2021

A novel slightly halophilic Gram-stain-negative bacterial strain (MKS20T) was isolated from a brine sample collected from one of the Anderton brine springs in the Cheshire salt district, located in Northern England. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed a close proximity to

Motilimonas eburnea

(98.30 %), followed by

Motilimonas pumila

(96.62 %), the two currently described species within the genus

Motilimonas

. Strain MKS20T forms white-beige-pigmented colonies and grows optimally at 28–30 °C, in 1–3 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7–7.5. The strain was facultatively anaerobic and showed a broader range of carbohydrate use than other species in the genus

Motilimonas

. Q-8 was the sole respiratory quinone and the major fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω6c and/or C16 : 1 ω7c) and C16 : 0. The polar lipid profile included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyglycerol and several unidentified lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 44.2 mol%. Average nucleotide identity and DNA–DNA hybridization data were consistent with assignment to a separate species. Based on the phylogenetic and genomic-based analyses, as well as physiological and biochemical characteristics, we propose that strain MKS20T (=DSM 109936T, MCCC 1K04071T) represents a new species of the genus

Motilimonas

, with the name Motilimonas cestriensis sp. nov.
A structural property for reduction of biochemical networks
Authors: Küken Anika , Wendering Philipp , Langary Damoun , Nikoloski Zoran
Published: March 2021

Large-scale biochemical models are of increasing sizes due to the consideration of interacting organisms and tissues. Model reduction approaches that preserve the flux phenotypes can simplify the analysis and predictions of steady-state metabolic phenotypes. However, existing approaches either restrict functionality of reduced models or do not lead to significant decreases in the number of modelled metabolites. Here, we introduce an approach for model reduction based on the structural property of balancing of complexes that preserves the steady-state fluxes supported by the network and can be efficiently determined at genome scale. Using two large-scale mass-action kinetic models ofEscherichia coli, we show that our approach results in a substantial reduction of 99% of metabolites. Applications to genome-scale metabolic models across kingdoms of life result in up to 55% and 85% reduction in the number of metabolites when arbitrary and mass-action kinetics is assumed, respectively. We also show that predictions of the specific growth rate from the reduced models match those based on the original models. Since steady-state flux phenotypes from the original model are preserved in the reduced, the approach paves the way for analysing other metabolic phenotypes in large-scale biochemical networks.
Optimizing forest canopy structure retrieval from smartphone-based hemispherical photography
Authors: Díaz Gastón Mauro
Published: March 2021

Hemispherical photography (HP) is a long-standing tool for forest canopy characterization. Currently, there are low-cost fisheye lenses to convert smartphones into highly portable HP equipment (smartphone-based HP, hereafter SHP). However, there is an obstacle to having a close-to-ideal method for citizen science and large-scale or opportunistic sampling: the known sensitivity of HP to illumination conditions. The purpose of this paper is to test a ready-to-use approach based on previous research, and to contribute to quantifying the errors associated with choosing SHP in non-recommended light conditions over well-established HP practices.

In 30 locations distributed in broadleaf and coniferous woodlands, a total of 1080 photographs were taken with two smartphone models, manipulating the exposure, and under varied sky conditions. After image binarization, accurate reference data was employed to evaluate the reliability of extracting canopy parameters from SHP.

The proposed methodology can reliably quantify canopy openness (RMSE ~ 0.04) and plant area index (RMSE ~ 10%), suggesting that SHP, when used following the recommendations from the present study, allows the retrieval of unbiased canopy metrics independently of sky conditions and forest type.
Longitudinal allometry of sulcal morphology in health and schizophrenia
Authors: Janssen Joost , Alloza Clara , Díaz-Caneja Covadonga M. , Santonja Javier , Pina-Camacho Laura , Gordaliza Pedro M. , Fernández-Pena Alberto , Lois Noemi González , Buimer Elizabeth E.L. , van Haren Neeltje E.M. , Cahn Wiepke , Vieta Eduardo , Castro-Fornieles Josefina , Bernardo Miquel , Parellada Mara , Arango Celso , Kahn René S. , Hulshoff Pol Hilleke E. , Schnack Hugo G.
Published: March 2021

Scaling between subcomponents of cortical folding and total brain volume (TBV) in healthy individuals (HI) is allometric, i.e. non-linear. It is unclear whether this is also true in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) or first-episode psychosis (FEP). The current study first confirmed normative allometric scaling norms in HI using discovery and replication samples. Cross-sectional and longitudinal diagnostic differences in folding subcomponents were then assessed using an allometric analytic framework.

Structural imaging from a longitudinal (sample 1: HI and SZ, nHI Baseline= 298, nSZ Baseline= 169, nHI Follow-up= 293, nSZ Follow-up= 168, a total of 1087 images, all individuals ≥ 2 images, age 16-69 years) and a cross-sectional sample (sample 2: nHI= 61 and nFEP= 89, age 10-30 years) is leveraged to calculate global folding and its nested subcomponents: sulcation index (SI, total sulcal/cortical hull area) and determinants of sulcal area; sulcal length and sulcal depth.

Scaling of the SI, sulcal area, and sulcal length with TBV in SZ and FEP was allometric and did not differ from HI. Longitudinal age trajectories demonstrated steeper loss of SI and sulcal area through adulthood in SZ. Longitudinal allometric analysis revealed that both annual change in SI and sulcal area was significantly stronger related to change in TBV in SZ compared to HI.

Our results detail the first evidence of the disproportionate contribution of changes in SI and sulcal area to TBV changes in SZ. Longitudinal allometric analysis of sulcal morphology provides deeper insight into lifespan trajectories of cortical folding in SZ.
NK cell metabolic adaptation to infection promotes survival and viral clearance
Authors: Victorino Francisco , Bigley Tarin , Park Eugene , Yao Cong-Hui , Benoit Jeanne , Yang Li-Ping , Piersma Sytse J , Lauron Elvin J , Davidson Rebecca M , Patti Gary J , Yokoyama Wayne M
Published: March 2021

Natural killer (NK) cells are essential for early protection against virus infection, and must metabolically adapt to the energy demands of activation. Here, we found upregulation of the metabolic adaptor hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is a feature of NK cells during murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infectionin vivo. HIF-1α-deficient NK cells failed to control viral load, causing increased morbidity. No defects were found in effector functions of HIF-1α KO NK cells however, their numbers were significantly reduced. Loss of HIF-1α did not affect NK cell proliferation duringin vivoinfection andin vitrocytokine stimulation. Instead, we found HIF1α-deficient NK cells showed increased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bim and glucose metabolism was impaired during cytokine stimulationin vitro. Similarly, during MCMV infection HIF1α-deficient NK cells upregulated Bim and had increased caspase activity. Thus, NK cells require HIF-1α-dependent metabolic functions to repress Bim expression and sustain cell numbers for an optimal virus response.
Behaviour-drivenArcexpression is greater in dorsal than ventral CA1 regardless of task or sex differences
Authors: Lee J. Quinn , McHugh Rebecca , Morgan Erik , Sutherland Robert J. , McDonald Robert J.
Published: March 2021

Evidence from genetic, behavioural, anatomical, and physiological study suggests that the hippocampus functionally differs across its longitudinal (dorsoventral or septotemporal) axis. Although, how to best characterize functional and representational differences in the hippocampus across its long axis remains unclear. While some suggest that the hippocampus can be divided into dorsal and ventral subregions that support distinct cognitive functions, others posit that these regions vary in their granularity of representation, wherein spatial-temporal resolution decreases in the ventral (temporal) direction. Importantly, the cognitive and granular hypotheses make distinct predictions on cellular recruitment dynamics under conditions when animals perform tasks with qualitatively different cognitive-behavioural demands. The cognitive function account implies that dorsal and ventral cellular recruitment differs depending on relevant behavioural demands, while the granularity account suggests similar recruitment dynamics regardless of the nature of the task performed. Here, we quantified cellular recruitment with the immediate early gene (IEG)Arcacross the entire longitudinal CA1 axis in female and male rats performing spatial- and fear-guided memory tasks. Our results show that recruitment is greater in dorsal than ventral CA1 regardless of task or sex. Thisexperimentum crucisleads to the strong inference that the granularity hypothesis for functional differences across the longitudinal axis in the rodent hippocampus is correct.
Fiber tractography bundle segmentation depends on scanner effects, vendor effects, acquisition resolution, diffusion sampling scheme, diffusion sensitization, and bundle segmentation workflow
Authors: Schilling Kurt G , Tax Chantal MW , Rheault Francois , Hansen Colin B , Yang Qi , Yeh Fang-Cheng , Cai Leon Y , Anderson Adam W , Landman Bennett A
Published: March 2021

When investigating connectivity and microstructure of white matter pathways of the brain using diffusion tractography bundle segmentation, it is important to understand potential confounds and sources of variation in the process. While cross-scanner and cross-protocol effects on diffusion microstructure measures are well described (in particular fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity), it is unknown how potential sources of variation effect bundle segmentation results, which features of the bundle are most affected, where variability occurs, nor how these sources of variation depend upon the method used to reconstruct and segment bundles. In this study, we investigate six potential sources of variation, or confounds, for bundle segmentation: variation (1) across scan repeats, (2) across scanners, (3) across vendors (4) across acquisition resolution, (5) across diffusion schemes, and (6) across diffusion sensitization. We employ four different bundle segmentation workflows on two benchmark multi-subject cross-scanner and cross-protocol databases, and investigate reproducibility and biases in volume overlap, shape geometry features of fiber pathways, and microstructure features within the pathways. We find that the effects of acquisition protocol, in particular acquisition resolution, result in the lowest reproducibility of tractography and largest variation of features, followed by vendor-effects, scanner-effects, and finally diffusion scheme and b-value effects which had similar reproducibility as scan-rescan variation. However, confounds varied both across pathways and across segmentation workflows, with some bundle segmentation workflows more (or less) robust to sources of variation. Despite variability, bundle dissection is consistently able to recover the same location of pathways in the deep white matter, with variation at the gray matter/ white matter interface. Next, we show that differences due to the choice of bundle segmentation workflows are larger than any other studied confound, with low-to-moderate overlap of the same intended pathway when segmented using different methods. Finally, quantifying microstructure features within a pathway, we show that tractography adds variability over-and-above that which exists due to noise, scanner effects, and acquisition effects. Overall, these confounds need to be considered when harmonizing diffusion datasets, interpreting or combining data across sites, and when attempting to understand the successes and limitations of different methodologies in the design and development of new tractography or bundle segmentation methods.
Nanoparticle Cellular Internalization is Not Required for RNA Delivery to Mature Plant Leaves
Authors: Zhang Huan , Goh Natalie S. , Wang Jeffrey , Demirer Gozde S. , Butrus Salwan , Park So-Jung , Landry Markita P.
Published: March 2021

Rapidly growing interest in nanoparticle-mediated delivery of DNA and RNA to plants requires a better understanding of how nanoparticles and their cargoes translocate in plant tissues and into plant cells. However, little is known about how the size and shape of nanoparticles influences transport in plants and use of their cargoes, limiting development and deployment of nanotechnology in plant systems. Here, we employ non-biolistically delivered DNA-modified gold nanoparticles (AuNP) spanning various sizes (5 – 20 nm) and shapes (spheres and rods) to systematically investigate their transport following infiltration intoNicotiana benthamiana (Nb)leaves. Generally, smaller AuNPs demonstrate more rapid, higher, and longer-lasting levels of association with plant cell walls compared to larger AuNPs. We observe internalization of rod-shaped but not spherical AuNPs into plant cells, yet surprisingly, 10 nm spherical AuNP functionalized with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) are most efficient at siRNA delivery and inducing gene silencing in mature plant leaves. These results indicate the importance of nanoparticle size in efficient biomolecule delivery, and, counterintuitively, demonstrate that efficient cargo delivery is possible and potentially optimal in the absence of nanoparticle cellular internalization. Our results highlight nanoparticle features of importance for transport within plant tissues, providing a mechanistic overview of how nanoparticles can be designed to achieve efficacious bio-cargo delivery for future developments in plant nanobiotechnology.
A Degenerate PCNA-Interacting Peptide (DPIP) box targets RNF168 to replicating DNA to limit 53BP1 signaling
Authors: Yang Yang , Jayaprakash Deepika , Hollingworth Robert , Chen Steve , Jablonski Amy E. , Gao Yanzhe , Anand Jay Ramanlal , Mutter-Rottmayer Elizabeth , An Jing , Cheng Xing , Pearce Kenneth H. , Blanchet Sophie-Anne , Fradet-Turcotte Amélie , Stewart Grant S. , Vaziri Cyrus
Published: March 2021

The E3 ligase RNF168 has been suggested to have roles at DNA replication forks in addition to its canonical functions in DNA double-strand break (DSB) signaling. However, the precise role of RNF168 in DNA replication remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that RNF168 is recruited to DNA replication factories independent of the canonical DSB response pathway regulators and identify a degenerate PCNA-Interacting Peptide (DPIP) motif in the C-terminus of RNF168 which mediates its binding to PCNA. An RNF168 mutant harboring substitutions in the DPIP box fails to interact with PCNA and is not recruited to sites of DNA synthesis, yet fully retains its ability to promote DSB-induced 53BP1 foci. Surprisingly, the RNF168 DPIP mutant also retains the ability to support ongoing DNA replication fork movement, demonstrating that PCNA-binding is dispensable for normal S-phase functions. However, replisome-associated RNF168 functions to suppress the DSB-induced 53BP1 DNA damage response during S-phase. Moreover, we show that WT RNF168 can perform PCNA ubiquitylation independently of RAD18 and also synergizes with RAD18 to amplify PCNA ubiquitylation. Taken together, our results identify non-canonical functions of RNF168 at the replication fork and demonstrate new mechanisms of cross talk between the DNA damage and replication stress response pathways.
Mechano-transductionviathe pectin-FERONIA complex regulates ROP6 GTPase signaling inArabidopsis
Authors: Tang Wenxin , Lin Wenwei , Li Binqi , Yang Zhenbiao
Published: March 2021

During growth and morphogenesis, plant cells respond to mechanical stresses resulting from spatiotemporal changes in the cell wall that bear high internal turgor pressure. Microtubule (MT) arrays are re-organized to align in the direction of maximal tensile stress to guide the synthesis of cellulose, reinforcing the local cell wall. However, how mechanical forces regulate MT re-organization remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that mechanical signaling that is based on the CrRLK1L subfamily receptor kinase FERONIA (FER) regulates the reorganization of cortical MT in cotyledon epidermal pavement cells (PC) inArabidopsis. Recessive mutations inFERcompromised MT response to mechanical perturbations such as single cell ablation, compression and Isoxaben treatment in these pavement cells. These perturbations promoted the activation of ROP6 GTPase that acts directly downstream of FER. Furthermore, defects in the ROP6 signaling pathway negated the reorganization of cortical MTs induced by these stresses. Finally, reduction in highly demethylesterified pectin, which binds the extracellular malectin domain of FER and is required for FER-mediated ROP6 activation, also impacted mechanical induction of cortical MT reorganization. Taken together our results suggest that the FER-pectin complex senses and/or transduce mechanical forces to regulate MT organization through activating the ROP6 signaling pathway inArabidopsis.