bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Executive Functions and Attention in Childhood Epilepsies: A Neuropsychological Hallmark of Dysfunction?
Authors: Cainelli Elisa , Favaro Jacopo , De Carli Pietro , Luisi Concetta , Simonelli Alessandra , Vecchi Marilena , Sartori Stefano , Boniver Clementina 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjective:Patients with epilepsy are at risk for several lifetime problems, in which neuropsychological impairments may represent an impacting factor. We evaluated the neuropsychological functions in children suffering from three main epilepsy categories. Further, we analyzed the longitudinal evolution of the neuropsychological profile over time.Methods:Patients undergoing neuropsychological evaluation at our Department from 2012 to 2018 were identified retrospectively. We selected patients aged 6–16 years and with at least two evaluations. Three epilepsy categories were considered: focal/structural, focal self-limited, and idiopathic generalized. Each evaluation included the same structured assessment of main neuropsychological domains. The effect of the epilepsy category, illness duration, seizure status, and medication was computed in multilevel models.Results:We identified 103 patients (focal self-limited = 27; focal/structural = 51; and idiopathic generalized = 25), for 233 evaluations. The majority of deficits were reported in attention and executive functions (>30% of patients); the results were dichotomized to obtain global indexes. Multilevel models showed a trend toward statistical significance of category of epilepsy on the global executive index and of illness duration on global attention index. Illness duration predicted the scores of executive and attention tasks, while category and medication predicted executive task performance. Focal/structural epilepsies mostly affected the executive domain, with deficits persisting over time. By contrast, an ameliorative effect of illness duration for attention was documented in all epilepsies.Conclusions:This study offers lacking information about the evolution of deficits in time, the role of epilepsy category, and possible psychological implications for high-order cognitive skills, central in several social and academic problems.
Body phenotypes and sexual maturation in Brazilian and US adolescents: evidence for a change in BMI category
Authors: Cumpian Silva Jéssica , Rinaldi Ana Elisa Madalena , Guedes Vasconcelos Francisco de Assis , Assis Maria Alice Altenburg , Mazzeti Camila Medeiros , de Oliveira Mariane Helen , Conde Wolney Lisboa 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjective:Our study aimed to describe body phenotypes (BP) estimated by multivariate analysis and their association with body mass.Design:BP were defined based on demographic variables, anthropometric data (body mass, height, skinfolds and circumferences), body composition (phase angle measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis), biochemical parameters (TAG, glucose, total cholesterol ratio/LDL, Hb and sexual maturation (pubic hair and breasts or gonads). ANOVA was performed to verify the differences between skin colour and the stages of pubertal development, BP, body composition, anthropometric and biochemical variables.Setting:Cities of São Paulo-SP, Piracicaba-SP and Florianópolis-SC from Brazil and the United States.Participants:9269 adolescents aged between 10 and 15 years old.Results:The composition of BP was similar in all surveys, which are: BP1 was composed by skinfolds, body mass and circumferences variables; BP2 by pubic hair, breast in girls or gonad in boys, height and age; BP3 by cholesterol, TAG and glucose; and BP4 by phase angle, Hb and glucose (negative loading). There was a strong correlation (r = 0·9, P < 0·001) between BP1 and BMI.Conclusion:We highlighted independence observed between biochemical parameters, anthropometry, body composition and sexual maturation. BP may support the calculation of scores for diagnosis of obesity based on anthropometric variables and overcome ambiguity in the isolated use of BMI.
Miranda in the Balkans: decadent despotism, consulship, and the making of a south-eastern revolutionary in the Age of Revolution
Authors: Simeonov Simeon 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn 1786 Francisco de Miranda, the revolutionary ‘Precursor’ of Latin American independence, toured the Ottoman empire. Focused on the Atlantic dimensions of Miranda’s activism, historians have marginalized his experiences in the Balkans. This article argues that Miranda’s Balkan explorations represented a major inflection point in his revolutionary career. By expanding his experience with consular networks, the Balkans allowed him to develop new revolutionary strategies for channelling his discontent with imperial rule. Rather than resorting to print, consulates enabled Miranda to build secret coalitions in his increasingly public confrontation with what he called imperial ‘despotism’, a type of imperial rule featuring burdensome impositions, limitations on freedom of movement, and ethnic or religious discrimination. By excavating the first Latin American revolutionary encounter with the Balkans and stressing the common forms of anti-imperial mobilization, the article charts a more expansive and inclusive ‘south-eastern’ framework for rethinking the global Age of Revolution.
Updated risk-oriented strategy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adult patients 18–65 years: NILG ALL 10/07
Authors: Bassan Renato , Pavoni Chiara , Intermesoli Tamara , Spinelli Orietta , Tosi Manuela , Audisio Ernesta , Marmont Filippo , Cattaneo Chiara , Borlenghi Erika , Cortelazzo Sergio , Cavattoni Irene , Fumagalli Monica , Mattei Daniele , Romani Claudio , Cortelezzi Agostino , Fracchiolla Nicola , Ciceri Fabio , Bernardi Massimo , Scattolin Anna Maria , Depaoli Lorella , Masciulli Arianna , Oldani Elena , Rambaldi Alessandro 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAn updated strategy combining pediatric-based chemotherapy with risk-oriented allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) was evaluated in Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph− ALL) and compared with a published control series. Following induction–consolidation chemotherapy, responsive patients were assigned to receive maintenance chemotherapy or undergo early HCT according to the risk stratification criteria and minimal residual disease (MRD) status. Of the 203 study patients (median age 41 years, range 17–67), 140/161 with Ph− ALL achieved complete remission (86.9%; 91.6% ≤55 years,P = 0.0002), with complete MRD clearing in 68/109; 55 patients were assigned to maintenance chemotherapy, and 85 to HCT due to very high-risk characteristics (hyperleukocytosis, adverse genetics, early/mature T-precursor ALL, and MRD persistence). The 5-year relapse incidence was 36%, and the treatment-related mortality rate was 18%. Median overall and relapse-free survival were 7.4 and 6.2 years, with rates of 54 and 53% at 5 years, respectively, which were significantly better than those obtained with the historical protocol (P = 0.001 andP = 0.005, respectively), without significant differences between maintenance and HCT cohorts. In prognostic analysis, MRD negativity and age ≤55 years were the most favorable independent prognostic factors. A reduction in treatment toxicity and further improvements in the risk definitions and risk-oriented design are the focuses of this ongoing research.
Themis regulates metabolic signaling and effector functions in CD4+ T cells by controlling NFAT nuclear translocation
Authors: Prasad Mukul , Brzostek Joanna , Gautam Namrata , Balyan Renu , Rybakin Vasily , Gascoigne Nicholas R. J. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThemis is a T cell lineage-specific molecule that is involved in TCR signal transduction. The effects of germline Themis deletion on peripheral CD4+ T cell function have not been described before. In this study, we found that Themis-deficient CD4+ T cells had poor proliferative responses, reduced cytokine production in vitro and weaker inflammatory potential, as measured by their ability to cause colitis in vivo. Resting T cells are quiescent, whereas activated T cells have high metabolic demands. Fulfillment of these metabolic demands depends upon nutrient availability and upregulation of nutrient intake channels after efficient TCR signal transduction, which leads to metabolic reprogramming in T cells. We tested whether defects in effector functions were caused by impaired metabolic shifts in Themis-deficient CD4+ T cells due to inefficient TCR signal transduction, in turn caused by the lack of Themis. We found that upon TCR stimulation, Themis-deficient CD4+ T cells were unable to upregulate the expression of insulin receptor (IR), glucose transporter (GLUT1), the neutral amino acid transporter CD98 and the mTOR pathway, as measured by c-Myc and pS6 expression. Mitochondrial analysis of activated Themis-deficient CD4+ T cells showed more oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) than aerobic glycolysis, indicating defective metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, we found reduced NFAT translocation in Themis-deficient CD4+ T cells upon TCR stimulation. Using previously reported ChIP-seq and RNA-seq data, we found that NFAT nuclear translocation controls IR gene expression. Together, our results describe an internal circuit between TCR signal transduction, NFAT nuclear translocation, and metabolic signaling in CD4+ T cells.
Genetic-optimised aperiodic code for distributed optical fibre sensors
Authors: Sun Xizi , Yang Zhisheng , Hong Xiaobin , Zaslawski Simon , Wang Sheng , Soto Marcelo A. , Gao Xia , Wu Jian , Thévenaz Luc 
Published: November 2020

AbstractDistributed optical fibre sensors deliver a map of a physical quantity along an optical fibre, providing a unique solution for health monitoring of targeted structures. Considerable developments over recent years have pushed conventional distributed sensors towards their ultimate performance, while any significant improvement demands a substantial hardware overhead. Here, a technique is proposed, encoding the interrogating light signal by a single-sequence aperiodic code and spatially resolving the fibre information through a fast post-processing. The code sequence is once forever computed by a specifically developed genetic algorithm, enabling a performance enhancement using an unmodified conventional configuration for the sensor. The proposed approach is experimentally demonstrated in Brillouin and Raman based sensors, both outperforming the state-of-the-art. This methodological breakthrough can be readily implemented in existing instruments by only modifying the software, offering a simple and cost-effective upgrade towards higher performance for distributed fibre sensing.
Modelling transmission and control of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
Authors: Chang Sheryl L. , Harding Nathan , Zachreson Cameron , Cliff Oliver M. , Prokopenko Mikhail 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThere is a continuing debate on relative benefits of various mitigation and suppression strategies aimed to control the spread of COVID-19. Here we report the results of agent-based modelling using a fine-grained computational simulation of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. This model is calibrated to match key characteristics of COVID-19 transmission. An important calibration outcome is the age-dependent fraction of symptomatic cases, with this fraction for children found to be one-fifth of such fraction for adults. We apply the model to compare several intervention strategies, including restrictions on international air travel, case isolation, home quarantine, social distancing with varying levels of compliance, and school closures. School closures are not found to bring decisive benefits unless coupled with high level of social distancing compliance. We report several trade-offs, and an important transition across the levels of social distancing compliance, in the range between 70% and 80% levels, with compliance at the 90% level found to control the disease within 13–14 weeks, when coupled with effective case isolation and international travel restrictions.
A steric gate controls P/E hybrid-state formation of tRNA on the ribosome
Authors: Levi Mariana , Walak Kelsey , Wang Ailun , Mohanty Udayan , Whitford Paul C. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe ribosome is a biomolecular machine that undergoes multiple large-scale structural rearrangements during protein elongation. Here, we focus on a conformational rearrangement during translocation, known as P/E hybrid-state formation. Using a model that explicitly represents all non-hydrogen atoms, we simulated more than 120 spontaneous transitions, where the tRNA molecule is displaced between the P and E sites of the large subunit. In addition to predicting a free-energy landscape that is consistent with previous experimental observations, the simulations reveal how a six-residue gate-like region can limit P/E formation, where sub-angstrom structural perturbations lead to an order-of-magnitude change in kinetics. Thus, this precisely defined set of residues represents a novel target that may be used to control functional dynamics in bacterial ribosomes. This theoretical analysis establishes a direct relationship between ribosome structure and large-scale dynamics, and it suggests how next-generation experiments may precisely dissect the energetics of hybrid formation on the ribosome.
Particle-size dependent structural transformation of skyrmion lattice
Authors: Takagi R. , Yamasaki Y. , Yokouchi T. , Ukleev V. , Yokoyama Y. , Nakao H. , Arima T. , Tokura Y. , Seki S. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractMagnetic skyrmion is a topologically protected particle-like object in magnetic materials, appearing as a nanometric swirling spin texture. The size and shape of skyrmion particles can be flexibly controlled by external stimuli, which suggests unique features of their crystallization and lattice transformation process. Here, we investigated the detailed mechanism of structural transition of skyrmion lattice (SkL) in a prototype chiral cubic magnet Cu2OSeO3, by combining resonant soft X-ray scattering (RSXS) experiment and micromagnetic simulation. This compound is found to undergo a triangular-to-square lattice transformation of metastable skyrmions by sweeping magnetic field (B). Our simulation suggests that the symmetry change of metastable SkL is mainly triggered by the B-induced modification of skyrmion core diameter and associated energy cost at the skyrmion-skyrmion interface region. Such internal deformation of skyrmion particle has further been confirmed by probing the higher harmonics in the RSXS pattern. These results demonstrate that the size/shape degree of freedom of skyrmion particle is an important factor to determine their stable lattice form, revealing the exotic manner of phase transition process for topological soliton ensembles in the non-equilibrium condition.
Vascular surveillance by haptotactic blood platelets in inflammation and infection
Authors: Nicolai Leo , Schiefelbein Karin , Lipsky Silvia , Leunig Alexander , Hoffknecht Marie , Pekayvaz Kami , Raude Ben , Marx Charlotte , Ehrlich Andreas , Pircher Joachim , Zhang Zhe , Saleh Inas , Marel Anna-Kristina , Löf Achim , Petzold Tobias , Lorenz Michael , Stark Konstantin , Pick Robert , Rosenberger Gerhild , Weckbach Ludwig , Uhl Bernd , Xia Sheng , Reichel Christoph Andreas , Walzog Barbara , Schulz Christian , Zheden Vanessa , Bender Markus , Li Rong , Massberg Steffen , Gaertner Florian 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBreakdown of vascular barriers is a major complication of inflammatory diseases. Anucleate platelets form blood-clots during thrombosis, but also play a crucial role in inflammation. While spatio-temporal dynamics of clot formation are well characterized, the cell-biological mechanisms of platelet recruitment to inflammatory micro-environments remain incompletely understood. Here we identify Arp2/3-dependent lamellipodia formation as a prominent morphological feature of immune-responsive platelets. Platelets use lamellipodia to scan for fibrin(ogen) deposited on the inflamed vasculature and to directionally spread, to polarize and to govern haptotactic migration along gradients of the adhesive ligand. Platelet-specific abrogation of Arp2/3 interferes with haptotactic repositioning of platelets to microlesions, thus impairing vascular sealing and provoking inflammatory microbleeding. During infection, haptotaxis promotes capture of bacteria and prevents hematogenic dissemination, rendering platelets gate-keepers of the inflamed microvasculature. Consequently, these findings identify haptotaxis as a key effector function of immune-responsive platelets.
Free-space optical delay line using space-time wave packets
Authors: Yessenov Murat , Bhaduri Basanta , Delfyett Peter J. , Abouraddy Ayman F. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAn optical buffer featuring a large delay-bandwidth-product—a critical component for future all-optical communications networks—remains elusive. Central to its realization is a controllable inline optical delay line, previously accomplished via engineered dispersion in optical materials or photonic structures constrained by a low delay-bandwidth product. Here we show that space-time wave packets whose group velocity is continuously tunable in free space provide a versatile platform for constructing inline optical delay lines. By spatio-temporal spectral-phase-modulation, wave packets in the same or in different spectral windows that initially overlap in space and time subsequently separate by multiple pulse widths upon free propagation by virtue of their different group velocities. Delay-bandwidth products of ~100 for pulses of width ~1 ps are observed, with no fundamental limit on the system bandwidth.
Insights into interfacial effect and local lithium-ion transport in polycrystalline cathodes of solid-state batteries
Authors: Lou Shuaifeng , Liu Qianwen , Zhang Fang , Liu Qingsong , Yu Zhenjiang , Mu Tiansheng , Zhao Yang , Borovilas James , Chen Yijun , Ge Mingyuan , Xiao Xianghui , Lee Wah-Keat , Yin Geping , Yang Yuan , Sun Xueliang , Wang Jiajun 
Published: November 2020

AbstractInterfacial issues commonly exist in solid-state batteries, and the microstructural complexity combines with the chemical heterogeneity to govern the local interfacial chemistry. The conventional wisdom suggests that “point-to-point” ion diffusion at the interface determines the ion transport kinetics. Here, we show that solid-solid ion transport kinetics are not only impacted by the physical interfacial contact but are also closely associated with the interior local environments within polycrystalline particles. In spite of the initial discrete interfacial contact, solid-state batteries may still display homogeneous lithium-ion transportation owing to the chemical potential force to achieve an ionic-electronic equilibrium. Nevertheless, once the interior local environment within secondary particle is disrupted upon cycling, it triggers charge distribution from homogeneity to heterogeneity and leads to fast capacity fading. Our work highlights the importance of interior local environment within polycrystalline particles for electrochemical reactions in solid-state batteries and provides crucial insights into underlying mechanism in interfacial transport.
A computational method for detection of ligand-binding proteins from dose range thermal proteome profiles
Authors: Kurzawa Nils , Becher Isabelle , Sridharan Sindhuja , Franken Holger , Mateus André , Anders Simon , Bantscheff Marcus , Huber Wolfgang , Savitski Mikhail M. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractDetecting ligand-protein interactions in living cells is a fundamental challenge in molecular biology and drug research. Proteome-wide profiling of thermal stability as a function of ligand concentration promises to tackle this challenge. However, current data analysis strategies use preset thresholds that can lead to suboptimal sensitivity/specificity tradeoffs and limited comparability across datasets. Here, we present a method based on statistical hypothesis testing on curves, which provides control of the false discovery rate. We apply it to several datasets probing epigenetic drugs and a metabolite. This leads us to detect off-target drug engagement, including the finding that the HDAC8 inhibitor PCI-34051 and its analog BRD-3811 bind to and inhibit leucine aminopeptidase 3. An implementation is available as an R package from Bioconductor (https://bioconductor.org/packages/TPP2D). We hope that our method will facilitate prioritizing targets from thermal profiling experiments.
Few keystone plant genera support the majority of Lepidoptera species
Authors: Narango Desiree L. , Tallamy Douglas W. , Shropshire Kimberley J. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractFunctional food webs are essential for the successful conservation of ecological communities, and in terrestrial systems, food webs are built on a foundation of coevolved interactions between plants and their consumers. Here, we collate published data on host plant ranges and associated host plant-Lepidoptera interactions from across the contiguous United States and demonstrate that among ecosystems, distributions of plant-herbivore interactions are consistently skewed, with a small percentage of plant genera supporting the majority of Lepidoptera. Plant identities critical for retaining interaction diversity are similar and independent of geography. Given the importance of Lepidoptera to food webs and ecosystem function, efficient and effective restoration of degraded landscapes depends on the inclusion of such ‘keystone’ plants.
Co-regulation of the transcription controlling ATF2 phosphoswitch by JNK and p38
Authors: Kirsch Klára , Zeke András , Tőke Orsolya , Sok Péter , Sethi Ashish , Sebő Anna , Kumar Ganesan Senthil , Egri Péter , Póti Ádám L. , Gooley Paul , Peti Wolfgang , Bento Isabel , Alexa Anita , Reményi Attila 
Published: November 2020

AbstractTranscription factor phosphorylation at specific sites often activates gene expression, but how environmental cues quantitatively control transcription is not well-understood. Activating protein 1 transcription factors are phosphorylated by mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) in their transactivation domains (TAD) at so-called phosphoswitches, which are a hallmark in response to growth factors, cytokines or stress. We show that the ATF2 TAD is controlled by functionally distinct signaling pathways (JNK and p38) through structurally different MAPK binding sites. Moreover, JNK mediated phosphorylation at an evolutionarily more recent site diminishes p38 binding and made the phosphoswitch differently sensitive to JNK and p38 in vertebrates. Structures of MAPK-TAD complexes and mechanistic modeling of ATF2 TAD phosphorylation in cells suggest that kinase binding motifs and phosphorylation sites line up to maximize MAPK based co-regulation. This study shows how the activity of an ancient transcription controlling phosphoswitch became dependent on the relative flux of upstream signals.
Two-dimensional vacancy platelets as precursors for basal dislocation loops in hexagonal zirconium
Authors: Liu Si-Mian , Beyerlein Irene J. , Han Wei-Zhong 
Published: November 2020

AbstractZirconium alloys are widely used structural materials of choice in the nuclear industry due to their exceptional radiation and corrosion resistance. However long-time exposure to irradiation eventually results in undesirable shape changes, irradiation growth, that limit the service life of the component. Crystal defects called <c> loops, routinely seen no smaller than 13 nm in diameter, are the source of the problem. How they form remains a matter of debate. Here, using transmission electron microscopy, we reveal the existence of a novel defect, nanoscale triangle-shaped vacancy plates. Energy considerations suggest that the collapse of the atomically thick triangle-shaped vacancy platelets can directly produce <c> dislocation loops. This mechanism agrees with experiment and implies a characteristic incubation period for the formation of <c> dislocation loops in zirconium alloys.