bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Multifunctional Electrochemical Sensor for the Simultaneous Detection of Ascorbic Acid, Dopamine, Uric Acid, and Nitrite
Authors: Wang Huimin , Zhang Xueli , Wang Shuangjue , Ma Hanyue , Shen Yaling , Wang Xia 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Background
Ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA), and nitrite (NO2−) are essential biomarkers for human metabolism and can be used to indicate some chronic diseases and metabolic disorders, including scurvy, Parkinson’s disease, hyperuricemia, and kidney disease.

Objective
A multifunctional electrochemical sensor that can integrate the detection of these species was constructed using nanoporous gold (NPG) as a recognition element to modify glassy carbon electrode (GCE).

Methods
The electrochemical performance of the multifunctional electrochemical sensor was investigated toward AA, DA, UA, and NO2− in citrate buffer solution (CBS, 100 mM, pH 4.0) and human serum using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) methods.

Results
In the quaternary mixture detection, the resulting NPG/GCE electrode displayed four independent oxidation peaks with wide peak separations. Further, the NPG/GCE electrode showed good linear responses with the sensitivities of 32, 1103, 71, and 147 μA/mM/cm2 and the detection limits of 1.58, 0.17, 0.37, and 0.36 μM for AA, DA UA, and NO2−, respectively. Additionally, the NPG/GCE electrode exhibited great anti-interference and was successfully applied in human serum samples.

Conclusions
These results indicate that the NPG/GCE electrode can simultaneously and selectively detect AA, DA, UA, and NO2−, which has the potential for application and diagnosis in the screening and diagnosis of chronic diseases and metabolic disorders.

Highlights
A multianalyte electrochemical sensor was fabricated for human metabolites detection. The sensor displayed good performance in the simultaneous detection of AA, DA, UA, and NO2− and applied to human serum samples.
Reduced pectin content of cell walls prevents stress-induced root cell elongation in Arabidopsis
Authors: Liu Xiaohui , Cui Huiying , Zhang Bochao , Song Min , Chen Shaolin , Xiao Chaowen , Tang Yunjia , Liesche Johannes 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
The primary cell walls of plants provide mechanical strength while maintaining the flexibility needed for cell extension growth. Cell extension involves loosening the bonds between cellulose microfibrils, hemicelluloses and pectins. Pectins have been implicated in this process, but it remains unclear if this depends on the abundance of certain pectins, their modifications, and/or structure. Here, cell wall-related mutants of the model plant Arabidopsis were characterized by biochemical and immunohistochemical methods and Fourier-transform infrared microspectroscopy. Mutants with reduced pectin or hemicellulose content showed no root cell elongation in response to simulated drought stress, in contrast to wild-type plants or mutants with reduced cellulose content. While no association was found between the degrees of pectin methylesterification and cell elongation, cell wall composition analysis suggested an important role of the pectin rhamnogalacturonan II (RGII), which was corroborated in experiments with the RGII-modifying chemical 2β-deoxy-Kdo. The results were complemented by expression analysis of cell wall synthesis genes and microscopic analysis of cell wall porosity. It is concluded that a certain amount of pectin is necessary for stress-induced root cell elongation, and hypotheses regarding the mechanistic basis of this result are formulated.
A Bayesian approach to modelling multimessenger emission from blazars using lepto-hadronic kinetic equations
Authors: Jiménez-Fernández Bruno , van Eerten Hendrik Jan 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACT
Blazar TXS 0506+056 is the main candidate for a coincident neutrino and gamma-ray flare event. In this paper, we present a detailed kinetic lepto-hadronic emission model capable of producing a photon and neutrino spectrum given a set of parameters. Our model includes a range of large-scale geometries and both dynamical and steady-state injection models for electrons and protons. We link this model with a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampler to obtain a powerful statistical tool that allows us to both fit the Spectral Energy Distribution and study the probability density functions and correlations of the parameters. Assuming a fiducial neutrino flux, we demonstrate how multimessenger observations can be modelled jointly in a Bayesian framework. We find the best parameters for each of the variants of the model tested and report on their cross-correlations. Additionally, we confirm that reproducing the neutrino flux of TXS 0506+056 requires an extreme proton to electron ratio either in the local acceleration process or from external injection.
Optical spectroscopy of Galactic field classical Be stars
Authors: Banerjee Gourav , Mathew Blesson , Paul K T , Subramaniam Annapurni , Bhattacharyya Suman , Anusha R 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACT
In this study, we analyse the emission lines of different species present in 118 Galactic field classical Be stars in the wavelength range of 3800–9000 Å. We re-estimated the extinction parameter (AV) for our sample stars using the newly available data from Gaia DR2 and suggest that it is important to consider AV while measuring the Balmer decrement (i.e. D34 and D54) values in classical Be stars. Subsequently, we estimated the Balmer decrement values for 105 program stars and found that ≈20 per cent of them show D34 ≥ 2.7, implying that their circumstellar disc are generally optically thick in nature. One program star, HD 60855 shows H α in absorption – indicative of disc-less phase. From our analysis, we found that in classical Be stars, H α emission equivalent width values are mostly lower than 40 Å, which agrees with that present in literature. Moreover, we noticed that a threshold value of ∼10 Å of H α emission equivalent width is necessary for Fe ii emission to become visible. We also observed that emission line equivalent widths of H α, P14, Fe ii 5169, and O i 8446 Å for our program stars tend to be more intense in earlier spectral types, peaking mostly near B1-B2. Furthermore, we explored various formation regions of Ca ii emission lines around the circumstellar disc of classical Be stars. We suggest the possibility that Ca ii triplet emission can originate either in the circumbinary disc or from the cooler outer regions of the disc, which might not be isothermal in nature.
The chemical composition of the accretion disc and donor star in ultra-compact X-ray binaries: A comprehensive X-ray analysis
Authors: Koliopanos Filippos , Péault Mathias , Vasilopoulos Georgios , Webb Natalie 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACT
We have analysed the X-ray spectra of all known Ultra-Compact X-ray Binaries (UCXBs), with the purpose of constraining the chemical composition of their accretion disc and donor star. Our investigation was focused on the presence (or absence) of the Fe Kα emission line, which was used as the probe of chemical composition of the disc, based on previously established theoretical predictions for the reflection of X-ray radiation off the surface of C/O-rich or He-rich accretion discs in UCXBs. We have contrasted the results of our spectral analysis to the history of type I X-ray bursts from these systems, which can also indicate donor star composition. We found that UCXBs with prominent and persistent iron Kα emission also featured repeat bursting activity. On the other hand, the UCXBs for which no iron line was detected, appear to have few or no type I X-ray bursts detected over more than a decade of monitoring. Based on Monte Carlo simulations, demonstrating a strong correlation between the Fe Kα line strength and the abundance of C and O in the accretion disc material and given the expected correlation between the H/He abundance and the recurrence rate of type I X-ray bursts, we propose that there is a considerable likelihood that UCXBs with persistent iron emission have He-rich donors, while those that do not, likely have C/O or O/Ne/Mg-rich donors. Our result strongly advocate for the development of more sophisticated simulations of X-ray reflection from hydrogen-poor accretion discs.
On the impact of the structural surface effect on global stellar properties and asteroseismic analyses
Authors: Jørgensen Andreas Christ Sølvsten , Montalbán Josefina , Angelou George C , Miglio Andrea , Weiss Achim , Scuflaire Richard , Noels Arlette , Mosumgaard Jakob Rørsted , Silva Aguirre Víctor 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACT
In a series of papers, we have recently demonstrated that it is possible to construct stellar structure models that robustly mimic the stratification of multidimensional radiative magnetohydrodynamic simulations at every time-step of the computed evolution. The resulting models offer a more realistic depiction of the near-surface layers of stars with convective envelopes than parametrizations, such as mixing length theory, do. In this paper, we explore how this model improvement impacts on seismic and non-seismic properties of stellar models across the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. We show that the improved description of the outer boundary layers alters the predicted global stellar properties at different evolutionary stages. In a hare and hound exercise, we show that this plays a key role for asteroseismic analyses, as it, for instance, often shifts the inferred stellar age estimates by more than 10 per cent. Improper boundary conditions may thus introduce systematic errors that exceed the required accuracy of the PLATO space mission. Moreover, we discuss different approaches for computing stellar oscillation frequencies. We demonstrate that the so-called gas Γ1 approximation performs reasonably well for all main-sequence stars. Using a Monte Carlo approach, we show that the model frequencies of our hybrid solar models are consistent with observations within the uncertainties of the global solar parameters when using the so-called reduced Γ1 approximation.
The distances of 61 PGCCs in the second galactic quadrant
Authors: Guo H-L , Chen B-Q , Li G-X , Huang Y , Yang Y , Li X-Y , Sun W-X , Liu X-W 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACT
Determining the distances to the Planck Galactic cold clumps (PGCCs) is crucial for the measurement of their physical parameters and the study of their Galactic distribution. Based on two large catalogues of stars with robust distances and reddening estimates from the literature, we have estimated accurate distances to 61 PGCCs in the second Galactic quadrant. For this purpose, we have selected stars along the sightlines overlapping with the cores of the sample clumps and fitted the reddening profiles with a simple reddening model. The typical uncertainties of the resultant distances of these PGCCs are less than 8 per cent. The new estimates differ significantly from the kinematic values, well known to suffer from large errors. With the new distances, we have updated the physical properties including the radii, masses, and virial parameters of the cores of the PGCCs.
Dual function of GTPBP6 in biogenesis and recycling of human mitochondrial ribosomes
Authors: Lavdovskaia Elena , Denks Kärt , Nadler Franziska , Steube Emely , Linden Andreas , Urlaub Henning , Rodnina Marina V , Richter-Dennerlein Ricarda 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Translation and ribosome biogenesis in mitochondria require auxiliary factors that ensure rapid and accurate synthesis of mitochondrial proteins. Defects in translation are associated with oxidative phosphorylation deficiency and cause severe human diseases, but the exact roles of mitochondrial translation-associated factors are not known. Here we identify the functions of GTPBP6, a homolog of the bacterial ribosome-recycling factor HflX, in human mitochondria. Similarly to HflX, GTPBP6 facilitates the dissociation of ribosomes in vitro and in vivo. In contrast to HflX, GTPBP6 is also required for the assembly of mitochondrial ribosomes. GTPBP6 ablation leads to accumulation of late assembly intermediate(s) of the large ribosomal subunit containing ribosome biogenesis factors MTERF4, NSUN4, MALSU1 and the GTPases GTPBP5, GTPBP7 and GTPBP10. Our data show that GTPBP6 has a dual function acting in ribosome recycling and biogenesis. These findings contribute to our understanding of large ribosomal subunit assembly as well as ribosome recycling pathway in mitochondria.
Renal gluconeogenesis: an underestimated role of the kidney in systemic glucose metabolism
Authors: Legouis David , Faivre Anna , Cippà Pietro E , de Seigneux Sophie 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACT
Glucose levels are tightly regulated at all times. Gluconeogenesis is the metabolic pathway dedicated to glucose synthesis from non-hexose precursors. Gluconeogenesis is critical for glucose homoeostasis, particularly during fasting or stress conditions. The renal contribution to systemic gluconeogenesis is increasingly recognized. During the post-absorptive phase, the kidney accounts for ∼40% of endogenous gluconeogenesis, occurring mainly in the kidney proximal tubule. The main substrate for renal gluconeogenesis is lactate and the process is regulated by insulin and cellular glucose levels, but also by acidosis and stress hormones. The kidney thus plays an important role in the maintenance of glucose and lactate homoeostasis during stress conditions. The impact of acute and chronic kidney disease and proximal tubular injury on gluconeogenesis is not well studied. Recent evidence shows that in both experimental and clinical acute kidney injury, impaired renal gluconeogenesis could significantly participate in systemic metabolic disturbance and thus alter the prognosis. This review summarizes the biochemistry of gluconeogenesis, the current knowledge of kidney gluconeogenesis, its modifications in kidney disease and the clinical relevance of this fundamental biological process in human biology.
Association between serum urate, gout and comorbidities: a case–control study using data from the UK Biobank
Authors: Sandoval-Plata Gabriela , Nakafero Georgina , Chakravorty Mithun , Morgan Kevin , Abhishek Abhishek 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Objectives
To examine the association between comorbidities and serum urate (SU), gout and comorbidities, and to determine whether the association between gout and comorbidities is independent of SU.

Methods
We performed a case–control study using UK Biobank data. Two separate analyses were conducted: one excluding participants with gout to investigate the association between comorbidities and SU and the other with participants with gout as the index condition to examine the association between gout and comorbidities. SU was measured at the baseline visit. Self-reported physician-diagnosed illnesses were used to define gout and comorbidities, except for chronic kidney disease (CKD), which was defined using an estimated glomerular filtration rate cut-off. Participants prescribed urate-lowering treatment were also classified as gout. Logistic regression was used to examine associations. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were calculated and adjusted for covariates including comorbidities and SU.

Results
Data for 458 781 UK Biobank participants were used to examine the association between comorbidities and SU. There was an association between hypertension, ischaemic heart disease (IHD), congestive cardiac failure (CCF), hyperlipidaemia, CKD and SU with and adjusted OR (aOR) of 1.10–3.14 for each 1 mg/dl SU increase. A total of 10 265 gout cases and 458 781 controls were included in the analysis of association between gout and comorbidities. Gout associated independently with hypertension, IHD, CCF, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes, with aORs of 1.21–4.15 after adjusting for covariates including SU.

Conclusion
Comorbidities associate with increasing SU. The association between gout and cardiometabolic comorbidities was independent of SU, suggesting separate SU-independent mechanisms such as inflammation driven by crystal deposition, pro-inflammatory genotype or non-purine dietary factors.
Arterial wall inflammation is increased in rheumatoid arthritis compared with osteoarthritis, as a marker of early atherosclerosis
Authors: Agca Rabia , Blanken Annelies B , van Sijl Alper M , Smulders Yvo M , Voskuyl Alexandre E , van der Laken Conny , Boellaard Ronald , Nurmohamed Michael T 
Published: November 2020

Abstract

Objective
RA is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease. Ongoing systemic inflammation is presumed to accelerate atherosclerosis by increasing inflammation in the arterial wall. However, evidence supporting this hypothesis is limited. We aimed to investigate arterial wall inflammation in RA vs OA, and its association with markers of inflammation and CV risk factors.

Methods
18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET combined with CT (18F-FDG-PET/CT) was performed in RA (n = 61) and OA (n = 28) to investigate inflammatory activity in the wall of large arteries. Secondary analyses were performed in patients with early untreated RA (n = 30), and established RA, active under DMARD treatment (n = 31) vs OA.

Results
Patients with RA had significantly higher 18F-FDG uptake in the wall of the carotid arteries (beta 0.27, 95%CI 0.11—0.44, P &lt;0.01) and the aorta (beta 0.47, 95%CI 0.17—0.76, P &lt;0.01) when compared with OA, which persisted after adjustment for traditional CV risk factors. Patients with early RA had the highest 18F-FDG uptake, followed by patients with established RA and OA respectively. Higher ESR and DAS of 28 joints values were associated with higher 18F-FDG uptake in all arterial segments.

Conclusion
Patients with RA have increased 18F-FDG uptake in the arterial wall compared with patients with OA, as a possible marker of early atherosclerosis. Furthermore, a higher level of clinical disease activity and circulating inflammatory markers was associated with higher arterial 18F-FDG uptake, which may support a role of arterial wall inflammation in the pathogenesis of vascular complications in patients with RA.
How to Interpret Tinnitus Functional Index Scores: A Proposal for a Grading System Based on a Large Sample of Tinnitus Patients
Authors: Gos Elzbieta , Rajchel Joanna J. , Dziendziel Beata , Kutyba Justyna , Bienkowska Katarzyna , Swierniak Weronika , Gocel Maria , Raj-Koziak Danuta , Skarzynski Piotr H. , Skarzynski Henryk 
Published: November 2020

Objectives:
The Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) is considered the gold standard in measuring tinnitus severity. The aim of the study was to establish reference values to improve the interpretability of TFI scores.

Design:
Results from 1114 patients with tinnitus were retrospectively analyzed. The participants were consecutive patients who attended our tertiary referral Ear, Nose, and Throat Center. The eligibility criteria were: at least 18 years old, persistent tinnitus, completed pure-tone audiometry, and answered all 25 items on the TFI. Hearing status (normal hearing vs. hearing impairment) was established according to the recommendation of the Bureau International d’Audiophonologie. Means (M) and SD on the TFI were the basis for grading tinnitus severity on four levels: low, lower moderate, upper moderate, and high. To gauge individual scores in clinical practice, percentiles are also proposed.

Results:
All 1114 patients (586 women and 528 men) were Caucasian and aged from 19 to 87 years (M = 50.96; SD = 13.10 years). Tinnitus duration ranged from 0.5 to 50 years (M = 7.17; SD = 7.71 years). There were 258 patients with normal hearing and 856 patients with hearing loss. A score of above 65 points on TFI was established as the cutoff point for diagnosing high tinnitus severity. A regression model associating tinnitus severity with gender, age, tinnitus duration, and hearing loss was statistically significant: F(4,1109) = 8.99; p < 0.001, but the effect was very small (R
2
adj = 0.028) and only gender and age were associated with TFI global score, while tinnitus severity was not related to tinnitus duration or hearing loss.

Conclusions:
The reference values proposed here support those reported previously by Meikle et al. They are empirically based and can be used as benchmarks in clinical practice and scientific research. They make it possible to assess tinnitus severity, evaluate individual scores, and categorize individuals with tinnitus. This allows researchers to set inclusion or exclusion criteria when assigning patients to specific groups during clinical trials involving tinnitus intervention strategies.
Proximal Junctional Kyphosis According to the Type of Lumbar Degenerative Kyphosis Following Lumbosacral Long Fusion
Authors: Jeon Woong-Ki , Cho Chang-Hee , Kim Hun-Chul , Kim Young-Hoon , Kim Sang-Il , Ha Kee-Yong , Park Hyung-Youl 
Published: November 2020

Study Design.
A retrospective study.

Objective.
The aim of this study was to investigate proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) after lumbosacral long fusion according to preoperative Roussouly and lumbar degenerative kyphosis (LDK) types.

Summary of Background Data.
Although previous studies have suggested some risk factors for PJK, the effects of preoperative grade of sagittal imbalance and paraspinal muscles degeneration on PJK remain unclear.

Methods.
Eighty-seven patients who had undergone lumbosacral fusion more than five levels with available clinical and radiological data were enrolled. The presence of PJK defined as sagittal Cobb angle ≥20° between the uppermost instrumented vertebra (UIV) and two supra-adjacent vertebrae at postoperative 2-year radiographs was recorded. Its occurrence was compared according to preoperative Roussouly and LDK types (Takemistu type) and the degree of paraspinal muscle degeneration at the upper level of UIV. Other sagittal radiographic parameters were also measured.

Results.
In this series, 28 patients (group I, 32.2%) showed radiological PJK, whereas 59 patients did not show radiological PJK (non-PJK patients, group II, 67.8%) at postoperative 2 years. PJK presented more prevalence in type III and type IV of LDK types (26/27, 96.3%). However, Roussouly types did not show any significant difference in PJK prevalence. In radiological parameters, a larger preoperative SVA (P = 0.018) and PI-LL (P = 0.015) were associated with PJK. Also, smaller quantity and lower quality of paraspinal muscles at T12-L1 level showed significant (P < 0.001) relationship with PJK. On multivariate logistic regression, higher LDK type (odds ratio [OR]: 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24–3.56), smaller quantity (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.07), and higher degree of paraspinal muscle degeneration (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 0.92–2.31) were independent predictors of postoperative PJK.

Conclusion.
Although various factors are related to PJK following long segment fusion, preoperative conditions such as LDK types and degree of paraspinal muscle degeneration might be related to the development of PJK.

Level of Evidence: 3