bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A New Natural Defense Against Airborne Pathogens
Authors: Edwards David , Hickey Anthony , Batycky Richard , Griel Lester , Lipp Michael , Dehaan Wes , Clarke Robert , Hava David , Perry Jason , Laurenzi Brendan , Curran Aidan K. , Beddingfield Brandon J. , Roy Chad J. , Devlin Tom , Langer Robert 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWe propose the nasal administration of calcium-enriched physiological salts as a new hygienic intervention with possible therapeutic application as a response to the rapid and tenacious spread of COVID-19. We test the effectiveness of these salts against viral and bacterial pathogens in animals and humans. We find that aerosol administration of these salts to the airways diminishes the exhalation of the small particles that face masks fail to filter and, in the case of an influenza swine model, completely block airborne transmission of disease. In a study of 10 human volunteers (5 less than 65 years and 5 older than 65 years), we show that delivery of a nasal saline comprising calcium and sodium salts quickly (within 15 min) and durably (up to at least 6 h) diminishes exhaled particles from the human airways. Being predominantly smaller than 1 μm, these particles are below the size effectively filtered by conventional masks. The suppression of exhaled droplets by the nasal delivery of calcium-rich saline with aerosol droplet size of around 10 μm suggests the upper airways as a primary source of bioaerosol generation. The suppression effect is especially pronounced (99%) among those who exhale large numbers of particles. In our study, we found this high-particle exhalation group to correlate with advanced age. We argue for a new hygienic practice of nasal cleansing by a calcium-rich saline aerosol, to complement the washing of hands with ordinary soap, use of a face mask, and social distancing.
Participatory authoritarianism: From bureaucratic transformation to civic participation in Russia and China
Authors: Owen Catherine 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis article explores the way in which Russian and Chinese governments have rearticulated global trends towards active citizenship and participatory governance, and integrated them into pre-existing illiberal political traditions. The concept of ‘participatory authoritarianism’ is proposed in order to capture the resulting practices of local governance that, on the one hand enable citizens to engage directly with local officials in the policy process, but limit, direct, and control civic participation on the other. The article explores the emergence of discourses of active citizenship at the national level and the accompanying legislative development of government-organised participatory mechanisms, demonstrating how the twin logics of openness and control, pluralism and monism, are built into their rationale and implementation. It argues that as state bureaucracies have integrated into international financial markets, so new participatory mechanisms have become more important for local governance as government agencies have lost the monopoly of information for effective policymaking. Practices of participatory authoritarianism enable governments to implement public sector reform while directing increased civic agency into non-threatening channels.
American Pediatrics and the Transition from Mental Health to Illness Since the 1960s
Authors: HIRSHBEIN LAURA 
Published: July 2020

Abstract:American pediatricians are now bearing the brunt of massive increases in demand for treatment of mental illness in children and adolescents, areas in which many pediatricians have not been well trained. It would be logical to encourage policy measures to increase pediatricians’ expertise in this area to improve access to care. But the expanses in demand for services are about much more than increased incidence of biologically-based illnesses. Instead, pediatricians are caught juggling between their traditional focus on health and prevention and a rapid rise in broad socially, culturally, and economically mediated distress among young people and their families. This article explores the historical context of pediatricians’ engagement with mental health and the hazards of the push toward treatment for mental illness. The historical perspective can help us develop policy more directed to broader goals of improving the mental health of our nation’s children and adolescents.
Application of ordinal logistic regression analysis to identify the determinants of illness severity of COVID-19 in China
Authors: Xu Kandi , Zhou Min , Yang Dexiang , Ling Yun , Liu Kui , Bai Tao , Cheng Zenghui , Li Jian 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented an unprecedented challenge to the health-care system across the world. The current study aims to identify the determinants of illness severity of COVID-19 based on ordinal responses. A retrospective cohort of COVID-19 patients from four hospitals in three provinces in China was established, and 598 patients were included from 1 January to 8 March 2020, and divided into moderate, severe and critical illness group. Relative variables were retrieved from electronic medical records. The univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression models were fitted to identify the independent predictors of illness severity. The cohort included 400 (66.89%) moderate cases, 85 (14.21%) severe and 113 (18.90%) critical cases, of whom 79 died during hospitalisation as of 28 April. Patients in the age group of 70+ years (OR = 3.419, 95% CI: 1.596–7.323), age of 40–69 years (OR = 1.586, 95% CI: 0.824–3.053), hypertension (OR = 3.372, 95% CI: 2.185–5.202), ALT >50 μ/l (OR = 3.304, 95% CI: 2.107–5.180), cTnI >0.04 ng/ml (OR = 7.464, 95% CI: 4.292–12.980), myohaemoglobin>48.8 ng/ml (OR = 2.214, 95% CI: 1.42–3.453) had greater risk of developing worse severity of illness. The interval between illness onset and diagnosis (OR = 1.056, 95% CI: 1.012–1.101) and interval between illness onset and admission (OR = 1.048, 95% CI: 1.009–1.087) were independent significant predictors of illness severity. Patients of critical illness suffered from inferior survival, as compared with patients in the severe group (HR = 14.309, 95% CI: 5.585–36.659) and in the moderate group (HR = 41.021, 95% CI: 17.588–95.678). Our findings highlight that the identified determinants may help to predict the risk of developing more severe illness among COVID-19 patients and contribute to optimising arrangement of health resources.
Observing variation and change in Ontario French through internal, external and identity factors
Authors: Bigot Davy , Papen Robert 
Published: July 2020

ABSTRACTIn this article, we present the results of an analysis of variation, whose main objectives are to ascertain the ethnocultural identities speakers declare and to measure the impact of internal, external and identity factors on the use of the connectors of consequence(ça) fait quevsdoncvsalorsvsso. Our research emphasizes that while there is no consensus as to the terminology chosen to express these identities, it is important to consider ethnocultural identities as a complementary factor conditioning linguistic variation. It also demonstrates that for communities whose linguistic practices and norms straddle those of minority- and majority-French language communities, the minority/majority dichotomy needs to be nuanced, according to the social and ethnocultural identity dynamics that may characterize specific communities.
Diagnostik und interventionell-radiologische Therapie der benignen Prostatahyperplasie
Authors: Kobe Adrian , Donati Olivio , Pfammatter Thomas 
Published: July 2020

Zusammenfassung. Die benigne Prostatahyperplasie (BPH) ist eine häufige Erkrankung des älteren Mannes und nimmt mit dem Alter stetig zu. Der Goldstandard in der Therapie der BPH besteht in einer medikamentösen Therapie sowie, bei Versagen derselben, in einer transurethralen Prostataresektion (TURP). Als Alternativverfahren hat sich in den letzten Jahren die minimalinvasive Therapie mittels Embolisation der A. prostatica etabliert. Nach sorgfältiger Abklärung des Patienten mittels MRT und CT zum Ausschluss von Kontraindikationen und zur Evaluation des Zugangswegs, findet die Intervention in örtlicher Betäubung statt und kann ambulant durchgeführt werden. Insbesondere bei Patienten, die einer Operation ablehnend gegenüberstehen oder polymorbide sind, ist die Prostaatembolisation eine nebenwirkungsarme Alternative zur TURP.
Air Quality Impacts at an E‐Waste Site in Ghana Using Flexible, Moderate‐Cost and Quality‐Assured Measurements
Authors: Kwarteng Lawrencia , Baiden Emmanuel Acquah , Fobil Julius , Arko‐Mensah John , Robins Thomas , Batterman Stuart 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAir quality information is scarce in low‐ and middle‐income countries. This study describes the application of moderate cost approaches that can provide spatial and temporal information on concentrations of particulate matter (PM) needed to assess community and occupational exposures. We evaluated PM levels at the Agbogbloshie e‐waste and scrap yard site in Accra, Ghana, and at upwind and downwind locations, obtaining both optical and gravimetric measurements, local meteorological data and satellite aerosol optical depth. Due to overload issues, the gravimetric 24‐hr samplers were modified for periodic sampling and some optical data were screened for quality assurance. Exceptionally high concentrations (e.g., 1‐hr average PM10 exceeding 2000 μg/m3) were sometimes encountered near combustion sources, including open fires at the e‐waste site and spoil piles. 24‐hr PM2.5 levels averaged 31, 88 and 57 μg/m3 at upwind, e‐waste and downwind sites, respectively, and PM10 averaged 145, 214 and 190 μg/m3, considerably exceeding air quality standards. Upwind levels likely reflected biomass burning that is prevalent in the surrounding informal settlements; levels at the e‐waste and downwind sites also reflected contributions from biomass combustion and traffic. The highest PM levels occurred in evenings, influenced by diurnal changes in emission rates, atmospheric dispersion and wind direction shifts. We demonstrate that moderate cost instrumentation, with some modifications, appropriate data cleaning protocols, and attention to understanding local sources and background levels, can be used to characterize spatial and temporal variation in PM levels in urban and industrial areas.
Deacetylation by SIRT1 promotes the tumor-suppressive activity of HINT1 by enhancing its binding capacity for β-catenin or MITF in colon cancer and melanoma cells
Authors: Jung Taek-Yeol , Jin Gyu-Rin , Koo Young-Bin , Jang Mi-Mi , Kim Chan-Woo , Lee Soh-Yeon , Kim Hyelee , Lee Chae-Young , Lee Soo-Young , Ju Bong-Gun , Kim Hyun-Seok 
Published: July 2020

AbstractHistidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 1 (HINT1), which belongs to the evolutionarily conserved HIT superfamily, has been shown to possess a tumor-suppressive function by binding to and inhibiting several oncogenic transcription factors, such as β-catenin and microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF), in various types of cancer cells. However, the regulatory mechanism that mediates the binding capacity of HINT1 for partner transcription factors remains elusive. Here, we report that HINT1 is acetylated by CBP at K21 and K30 and deacetylated by SIRT1. Deacetylation of HINT1 by SIRT1 increases the capacity of HINT1 to bind to β-catenin or MITF. As a result, the tumor-suppressive function of HINT1 is increased. In support of this, the deacetylation mimetic HINT1 mutant HINT1 2KR was found to significantly reduce cellular proliferation in colon cancer and melanoma cells and tumorigenesis in xenograft assays. Thus, this study reveals an acetylation-dependent regulatory mechanism that governs the tumor-suppressive function of HINT1.
Loss of function of the mitochondrial peptidase PITRM1 induces proteotoxic stress and Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology in human cerebral organoids
Authors: Pérez María José , Ivanyuk Dina , Panagiotakopoulou Vasiliki , Di Napoli Gabriele , Kalb Stefanie , Brunetti Dario , Al-Shaana Rawaa , Kaeser Stephan A. , Fraschka Sabine Anne-Kristin , Jucker Mathias , Zeviani Massimo , Viscomi Carlo , Deleidi Michela 
Published: July 2020

AbstractsMutations in pitrilysin metallopeptidase 1 (PITRM1), a mitochondrial protease involved in mitochondrial precursor processing and degradation, result in a slow-progressing syndrome characterized by cerebellar ataxia, psychotic episodes, and obsessive behavior, as well as cognitive decline. To investigate the pathogenetic mechanisms of mitochondrial presequence processing, we employed cortical neurons and cerebral organoids generated from PITRM1-knockout human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). PITRM1 deficiency strongly induced mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) and enhanced mitochondrial clearance in iPSC-derived neurons. Furthermore, we observed increased levels of amyloid precursor protein and amyloid β in PITRM1-knockout neurons. However, neither cell death nor protein aggregates were observed in 2D iPSC-derived cortical neuronal cultures. On the other hand, over time, cerebral organoids generated from PITRM1-knockout iPSCs spontaneously developed pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), including the accumulation of protein aggregates, tau pathology, and neuronal cell death. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed a perturbation of mitochondrial function in all cell types in PITRM1-knockout cerebral organoids, whereas immune transcriptional signatures were substantially dysregulated in astrocytes. Importantly, we provide evidence of a protective role of UPRmtand mitochondrial clearance against impaired mitochondrial presequence processing and proteotoxic stress. Here, we propose a novel concept of PITRM1-linked neurological syndrome whereby defects of mitochondrial presequence processing induce an early activation of UPRmtthat, in turn, modulates cytosolic quality control pathways. Thus, our work supports a mechanistic link between mitochondrial function and common neurodegenerative proteinopathies.
Determination of the phylogenetic origins of the Árpád Dynasty based on Y chromosome sequencing of Béla the Third
Authors: Nagy Péter L. , Olasz Judit , Neparáczki Endre , Rouse Nicholas , Kapuria Karan , Cano Samantha , Chen Huijie , Di Cristofaro Julie , Runfeldt Goran , Ekomasova Natalia , Maróti Zoltán , Jeney János , Litvinov Sergey , Dzhaubermezov Murat , Gabidullina Lilya , Szentirmay Zoltán , Szabados György , Zgonjanin Dragana , Chiaroni Jacques , Behar Doron M. , Khusnutdinova Elza , Underhill Peter A. , Kásler Miklós 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWe set out to identify the origins of the Árpád Dynasty based on genome sequencing of DNA derived from the skeletal remains of Hungarian King Béla III (1172–1196) and eight additional individuals (six males, two females) originally interred at the Royal Basilica of Székesfehérvár. Y-chromosome analysis established that two individuals, Béla III and HU52 assign to haplogroups R-Z2125 whose distribution centres near South Central Asia with subsidiary expansions in the regions of modern Iran, the Volga Ural region and the Caucasus. Out of a cohort of 4340 individuals from these geographic areas, we acquired whole-genome data from 208 individuals derived for the R-Z2123 haplogroup. From these data we have established that the closest living kin of the Árpád Dynasty are R-SUR51 derived modern day Bashkirs predominantly from the Burzyansky and Abzelilovsky districts of Bashkortostan in the Russian Federation. Our analysis also reveals the existence of SNPs defining a novel Árpád Dynasty specific haplogroup R-ARP. Framed within the context of a high resolution R-Z2123 phylogeny, the ancestry of the first Hungarian royal dynasty traces to the region centering near Northern Afghanistan about 4500 years ago and identifies the Bashkirs as their closest kin, with a separation date between the two populations at the beginning of the first millennium CE.
ERA5-based global meteorological wildfire danger maps
Authors: Vitolo Claudia , Di Giuseppe Francesca , Barnard Christopher , Coughlan Ruth , San-Miguel-Ayanz Jesus , Libertá Giorgio , Krzeminski Blazej 
Published: July 2020

AbstractForest fires are an integral part of the natural Earth system dynamics, however they are becoming more devastating and less predictable as anthropogenic climate change exacerbates their impacts. In order to advance fire science, fire danger reanalysis products can be used as proxy for fire weather observations with the advantage of being homogeneously distributed both in space and time. This manuscript describes a reanalysis dataset of fire danger indices based on the Canadian Fire Weather Index system and the ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis dataset, which supersedes the previous dataset based on ERA-Interim. The new fire danger reanalysis dataset provides a number of benefits compared to the one based on ERA-Interim: it relies on better estimates of precipitation, evaporation and soil moisture, it is available in a deterministic form as well as a probabilistic ensemble and it is characterised by a considerably higher spatial resolution. It is a valuable resource for forestry agencies and scientists in the field of wildfire danger modeling and beyond. The global dataset is produced by ECMWF, as the computational centre of the European Forest Fire information System (EFFIS) of the Copernicus Emergency Management Service, and it is made available free of charge through the Climate Data Store.
Executive functions predict verbal fluency scores in healthy participants
Authors: Amunts Julia , Camilleri Julia A. , Eickhoff Simon B. , Heim Stefan , Weis Susanne 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWhile there is a clear link between impairments of executive functions (EFs), i.e. cognitive control mechanisms that facilitate goal-directed behavior, and speech problems, it is so far unclear exactly which of the complex subdomains of EFs most strongly contribute to speech performance, as measured by verbal fluency (VF) tasks. Furthermore, the impact of intra-individual variability is largely unknown. This study on healthy participants (n = 235) shows that the use of a relevance vector machine approach allows for the prediction of VF performance from EF scores. Based on a comprehensive set of EF scores, results identified cognitive flexibility and inhibition as well as processing speed as strongest predictors for VF performance, but also highlighted a modulatory influence of fluctuating hormone levels. These findings demonstrate that speech production performance is strongly linked to specific EF subdomains, but they also suggest that inter-individual differences should be taken into account.
Efficacy of Acacia nilotica aqueous extract in treating biofilm-forming and multidrug resistant uropathogens isolated from patients with UTI syndrome
Authors: Elamary Rokaia B. , Albarakaty Fawziah M. , Salem Wesam M. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractEscherichia coli is the dominant bacterial cause of UTI among the uropathogens in both developed and developing countries. This study is to investigate the effect of Acacia nilotica aqueous extract on the survival and biofilm of isolated pathogens to reduce UTIs diseases. A total of 170 urine samples were collected from Luxor general hospital and private medical analysis laboratories in Luxor providence, Egypt. Samples were screened for the incidence of uropathogens by biochemical tests, antibiotics susceptibility, detection of virulence, and antibiotic-resistant genes by multiplex PCR, biofilm formation, and time-killing assay. Escherichia coli is by far the most prevalent causative agent with the percentage of 73.7% followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeuroginosa, and Acinetobacter baumanii. Isolates were multidrug-resistant containing blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX, qnrs, and aac(3)-Ia resistant genes. All isolates were sensitive to 15–16.7 mg ml−1 of Acacia nilotica aqueous extract. Time killing assay confirmed the bactericidal effect of the extract over time (20–24 h). A high percentage of 3-Cyclohexane-1-Carboxaldehyde, 2,6,6-trimethyl (23.5%); á-Selinene (15.12%); Oleic Acid (14.52%); Globulol (11.35%) were detected among 19 bioactive phytochemical compounds in the aqueous extract of A. nilotica over the GC-mass spectra analysis. The plant extract reduced significantly the biofilm activity of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, and P. aeuroginosa by 62.6, 59. 03, 48.9 and 39.2%, respectively. The challenge to improve the production of A. nilotica phytochemicals is considered a very low price for the return.
Overcoming challenges in human saliva gene expression measurements
Authors: Ostheim Patrick , Tichý Ales , Sirak Igor , Davidkova Marie , Stastna Marketa Markova , Kultova Gabriela , Paunesku Tatjana , Woloschak Gayle , Majewski Matthaeus , Port Matthias , Abend Michael 
Published: July 2020

AbstractSaliva, as a non-invasive and easily accessible biofluid, has been shown to contain RNA biomarkers for prediction and diagnosis of several diseases. However, systematic analysis done by our group identified two problematic issues not coherently described before: (1) most of the isolated RNA originates from the oral microbiome and (2) the amount of isolated human RNA is comparatively low. The degree of bacterial contamination showed ratios up to 1:900,000, so that only about one out of 900,000 RNA copies was of human origin, but the RNA quality (average RIN 6.7 + /− 0.8) allowed for qRT-PCR. Using 12 saliva samples from healthy donors, we modified the methodology to (1) select only human RNA during cDNA synthesis by aiming at the poly(A)+-tail and (2) introduced a pre-amplification of human RNA before qRT-PCR. Further, the manufacturer’s criteria for successful pre-amplification (Ct values ≤ 35 for unamplified cDNA) had to be replaced by (3) proofing linear pre-amplification for each gene, thus, increasing the number of evaluable samples up to 70.6%. When considering theses three modifications unbiased gene expression analysis on human salivary RNA can be performed.
Inhibition of interaction between Staphylococcus aureus α-hemolysin and erythrocytes membrane by hydrolysable tannins: structure-related activity study
Authors: Olchowik-Grabarek Ewa , Sekowski Szymon , Bitiucki Maciej , Dobrzynska Izabela , Shlyonsky Vadim , Ionov Maksim , Burzynski Paweł , Roszkowska Anna , Swiecicka Izabela , Abdulladjanova Nodira , Zamaraeva Maria 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe objective of the study was a comparative analysis of the antihemolytic activity against two Staphylococcus aureus strains (8325-4 and NCTC 5655) as well as α-hemolysin and of the membrane modifying action of four hydrolysable tannins with different molecular mass and flexibility: 3,6-bis-O-di-O-galloyl-1,2,4-tri-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose (T1), 1,2,3,4,5-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose (T2), 3-O-galloyl-1,2-valoneoyl-β-d-glucose (T3) and 1,2-di-O-galloyl-4,6-valoneoyl-β-d-glucose (T4). We showed that all the compounds studied manifested antihemolytic effects in the range of 5–50 µM concentrations. However, the degree of the reduction of hemolysis by the investigated tannins was not uniform. A valoneoyl group—containing compounds (T3 and T4) were less active. Inhibition of the hemolysis induced by α-hemolysin was also noticed on preincubated with the tannins and subsequently washed erythrocytes. In this case the efficiency again depended on the tannin structure and could be represented by the following order: T1 > T2 > T4 > T3. We also found a relationship between the degree of antihemolytic activity of the tannins studied and their capacity to increase the ordering parameter of the erythrocyte membrane outer layer and to change zeta potential. Overall, our study showed a potential of the T1 and T2 tannins as anti-virulence agents. The results of this study using tannins with different combinations of molecular mass and flexibility shed additional light on the role of tannin structure in activity manifestation.