bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
KLF4 (Kruppel-Like Factor 4)-Dependent Perivascular Plasticity Contributes to Adipose Tissue inflammation
Authors: Bulut Gamze B. , Alencar Gabriel F. , Owsiany Katherine M. , Nguyen Anh T. , Karnewar Santosh , Haskins Ryan M. , Waller Lillian K. , Cherepanova Olga A. , Deaton Rebecca A. , Shankman Laura S. , Keller Susanna R. , Owens Gary K. 
Published: October 2020

Objective:

Smooth muscle cells and pericytes display remarkable plasticity during injury and disease progression. Here, we tested the hypothesis that perivascular cells give rise to
Klf4
-dependent macrophage-like cells that augment adipose tissue (AT) inflammation and metabolic dysfunction associated with diet-induced obesity (DIO).

Approach and Results:

Using
Myh11-Cre
ERT2
eYFP (enhanced yellow fluorescent protein) mice and flow cytometry of the stromovascular fraction of epididymal AT, we observed a large fraction of smooth muscle cells and pericytes lineage traced eYFP
+
cells expressing macrophage markers. Subsequent single-cell RNA sequencing, however, showed that the majority of these cells had no detectable eYFP transcript. Further exploration revealed that intraperitoneal injection of tamoxifen in peanut oil, used for generating conditional knockout or reporter mice in thousands of previous studies, resulted in large increase in the autofluorescence and false identification of macrophages within epididymal AT as being eYFP
+
; and unintended proinflammatory consequences. Using newly generated
Myh11-Dre
ERT2
tdTomato mice given oral tamoxifen, we virtually eliminated the problem with autofluorescence and identified 8 perivascular cell dominated clusters, half of which were altered upon DIO. Given that perivascular cell KLF4 (kruppel-like factor 4) can have beneficial or detrimental effects, we tested its role in obesity-associated AT inflammation. While smooth muscle cells and pericytes-specific
Klf4
knockout (smooth muscle cells and pericytes
Klf4

Δ/Δ

) mice were not protected from DIO, they displayed improved glucose tolerance upon DIO, and showed marked decreases in proinflammatory macrophages and increases in LYVE1
+
lymphatic endothelial cells in the epididymal AT.

Conclusions:
Perivascular cells within the AT microvasculature dynamically respond to DIO and modulate tissue inflammation and metabolism in a KLF4-dependent manner.
Pregnancy and Preeclampsia Are Associated With Acute Adverse Peripheral Arterial Events
Authors: DeCarlo Charles , Boitano Laura T. , Molina Rose L. , Weinberg Ido , Conrad Mark F. , Eagleton Matthew J. , Dua Anahita 
Published: October 2020

Objective:
Acute peripheral arterial events, such as aortic dissection, carotid artery dissection, vertebral artery dissection, and ruptured renoviseral aneurysms, have been reported during pregnancy in case series, but there is a paucity of population-based data. This study sought to establish pregnancy and preeclampsia as risk factors for acute peripheral arterial events.

Approach and Results:

All women who gave birth between 1998 and 2020 within a multicenter health care system were identified. Births that occurred in women <18 or >50 years of age were excluded. Primary outcome was any acute peripheral arterial event that was symptomatic or required intervention. Cox regression model was used to evaluate the association between vascular events and pregnancy as a time-varying covariate. The pregnancy exposure period was from the estimated date of conception to 3 months postpartum. There were 277 697 pregnancies (81.3% deliveries, 17.0% abortions, and 1.7% ectopics) among 176 635 women with 1.68 million patient-years of total follow-up (median, 7.9 years; interquartile range, 2.4–16.2). Preeclampsia complicated 5.3% of pregnancies; 67 790 of 225 763 (30.0%) deliveries were delivered by cesarean. Ninety-six acute arterial events occurred during follow-up, of which 24 occurred during pregnancy, including the postpartum period. Pregnancy (hazard ratio, 1.85 [95% CI, 1.01–3.38];
P
=0.046) and preeclampsia (hazard ratio, 10.9 [95% CI, 5.24–22.7];
P
<0.001) were significant independent predictors of acute arterial events.

Conclusions:
While taking into account limitations from estimating conception and outcome dates, pregnancy, especially when complicated by preeclampsia, is associated with an increased risk of acute peripheral arterial events.
Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Provides Prognostic Information Superior to Established Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Unselected Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19
Authors: Myhre Peder L. , Prebensen Christian , Strand Heidi , Røysland Ragnhild , Jonassen Christine M. , Rangberg Anbjørg , Sørensen Vibecke , Søvik Signe , Røsjø Helge , Svensson My , Erik Berdal Jan , Omland Torbjørn 
Published: October 2020

Background:
Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) is a strong prognostic marker in sepsis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The prognostic value of GDF-15 in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unknown.

Methods:
Consecutive, hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and symptoms of COVID-19 were enrolled in the prospective, observational COVID Mechanisms Study. Biobank samples were collected at baseline, day 3 and day 9. The primary end point was admission to the intensive care unit or death during hospitalization, and the prognostic performance of baseline and serial GDF-15 concentrations were compared with that of established infectious disease and cardiovascular biomarkers.

Results:

Of the 123 patients enrolled, 35 (28%) reached the primary end point; these patients were older, more often had diabetes, and had lower oxygen saturations and higher National Early Warning Scores on baseline. Baseline GDF-15 concentrations were elevated (>95th percentile in age-stratified healthy individuals) in 97 (79%), and higher concentrations were associated with detectable SARS-CoV-2 viremia and hypoxemia (both
P
<0.001). Patients reaching the primary end point had higher concentrations of GDF-15 (median, 4225 [IQR, 3197–5972] pg/mL versus median, 2187 [IQR, 1344–3620] pg/mL,
P
<0.001). The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.78 (95% CI, 0.70–0.86). The association between GDF-15 and the primary end point persisted after adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, previous myocardial infarction, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation (
P
<0.001) and was superior and incremental to interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, ferritin, D-dimer, cardiac troponin T, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. Increase in GDF-15 from baseline to day 3 was also greater in patients reaching the primary end point (median, 1208 [IQR, 0–4305] pg/mL versus median, –86 [IQR, –322 to 491] pg/mL,
P
<0.001).

Conclusions:
GDF-15 is elevated in the majority of patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and higher concentrations are associated with SARS-CoV-2 viremia, hypoxemia, and worse outcome. The prognostic value of GDF-15 was additional and superior to established cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers.

Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT04314232.
Association of the Amount and Pattern of Physical Activity With Arterial Stiffness: The Maastricht Study
Authors: Vandercappellen Evelien J. , Henry Ronald M.A. , Savelberg Hans H.C.M. , van der Berg Julianne D. , Reesink Koen D. , Schaper Nicolaas C. , Eussen Simone J.P.M. , van Dongen Martien C.J.M. , Dagnelie Pieter C. , Schram Miranda T. , van Greevenbroek Marleen M.J. , Wesselius Anke , van der Kallen Carla J.H. , Köhler Sebastian , Stehouwer Coen D.A. , Koster Annemarie 
Published: October 2020

Background
Arterial stiffness is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and can be beneficially influenced by physical activity. However, it is not clear how an individual’s physical activity pattern over a week is associated with arterial stiffness. Therefore, we examined the associations of the amount and pattern of higher intensity physical activity with arterial stiffness.

Methods and Results
Data from the Maastricht Study (n=1699; mean age: 60±8 years, 49.4% women, 26.9% type 2 diabetes mellitus) were used. Arterial stiffness was assessed by carotid‐to‐femoral pulse wave velocity and carotid distensibility. The amount (continuous variable as h/wk) and pattern (categorical variable) of higher intensity physical activity were assessed with the activPAL3. Activity groups were: inactive (<75 min/wk), insufficiently active (75–150 min/wk), weekend warrior (>150 min/wk in ≤2 sessions), and regularly active (>150 min/wk in ≥3 sessions). In the fully adjusted model (adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and cardiovascular risk factors), higher intensity physical activity was associated with lower carotid‐to‐femoral pulse wave velocity (amount: β = −0.05, 95% CI, −0.09 to −0.01; insufficiently active: β = −0.33, 95% CI, −0.55 to −0.11; weekend warrior: β = −0.38, 95% CI, −0.64 to −0.12; and regularly active: β = −0.46, 95% CI, −0.71 to −0.21 [reference: inactive]). These associations were stronger in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus. There was no statistically significant association between higher intensity physical activity with carotid distensibility.

Conclusions
Participating in higher intensity physical activity was associated with lower carotid‐to‐femoral pulse wave velocity, but there was no difference between the regularly actives and the weekend warriors. From the perspective of arterial stiffness, engaging higher intensity physical activity, regardless of the weekly pattern, may be an important strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Variations in Pupil Size Related to Memory for Recently Presented Words and Event Related Potentials
Authors: Kuipers Jan Rouke , Phillips William A. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Pupillometry has been found to be correlated with activity of cholinergic and noradrenergic neuromodulator systems. These systems regulate the level of cortical arousal and therefore perception, attention, and memory. Here, we tested how different types of pupil size variance (prestimulus baseline and prestimulus hippus power) may correlate with behavioral and event-related potentials (ERPs). We recorded pupil size and ERPs while participants were presented with a series of words and then asked whether the words had been in the initial list when they were later presented intermixed with unpresented words. We found that a smaller prestimulus baseline pupil size during the study phase was associated with better memory performance. Study items also evoked a larger P3 response at presentation and a greater old/new memory ERP effect at test when prestimulus pupil size was small rather than large. Prestimulus hippus power was found to be a between-subjects factor affecting the robustness of memory encoding with less power being associated with a greater old/new memory ERP effect. These results provide evidence relating memory and ERPs to variables defined on pupil size that are thought to reflect varying states of parasympathetic and sympathetic arousal.
Where Are the Nonhuman Animals in the Sociology of Climate Change?
Authors: Twine Richard 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The emergence of interdisciplinary animal studies during recent decades challenges sociologists to critically reflect upon anthropocentric ontology and to paint a more comprehensive picture of the social. This article focuses on the recent emergence of the sociology of climate change during the last twenty years, with a warning that it may have proceeded without critical interrogation of residual humanism evidenced by the exclusion of nonhuman animals. The inclusion of these nonhuman animals in the discussion of human/animal relations is vital in the societal discourse of climate change. After surveying key texts and leading journal literature, it is clear that this discussion of human/animal relations is lacking or altogether omitted. It is then worth considering how animalized environmental sociology could contribute to redefining the discipline of sociology as a whole.
Sull’edizione di epigrafi lapidee e di tabulae ceratae
Authors: Camodeca Giuseppe 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The author presents some editions or re-editions of inscriptions on stone and tabulae ceratae (Tabulae Pompeianae Sulpiciorum; Tabulae Herculanenses), highlighting the elements of interest for the philologist’s work and outlining a method for the study of this epigraphic material.
Living in Pilgrimage
Authors: Hamaya Mariko 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
This article aims to explore how people make pilgrimages not as a temporary journey but as a persistent way of life, using case studies I collected from fieldwork in Shikoku Island, Japan. The Shikoku pilgrimage is one of the most popular Buddhist pilgrimages, involving a 1,400-kilometre journey, where pilgrims visit 88 temples spread across the island. While previous studies have argued that the tradition of almsgiving helps marginal people such as the poor and those with Hansen’s disease to survive, it is not yet clear how those people, in reality, make a living on alms alone. In recent years, the pilgrimage authority and some of the local people have attempted to regulate begging and exclude “beggars” from the pilgrimage sites, differentiating them from the “true” pilgrims. This article will clarify how pilgrims, nevertheless, struggle to reconstruct their lives and then cultivate the self through their everyday practice of begging.
Visually Communicating Future Climate in a Web Environment
Authors: Davis Corey , Aldridge Heather , Boyles Ryan , McNeal Karen S. , Maudlin Lindsay , Atkins Rachel 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWhile there is growing demand for use of climate model projections to understand the potential impacts of future climate on resources, there is a lack of effective visuals that convey the range of possible climates across spatial scales and with uncertainties that potential users need to inform their impact assessments and studies. We use usability testing including eye tracking to explore how a group of resource professionals (foresters) interpret and understand a series of graphical representations of future climate change, housed within a web-based decision support system (DSS), that address limitations identified in other tools. We find that a three-map layout effectively communicates the spread of future climate projections spatially, that location-specific information is effectively communicated if depicted both spatially on a map and temporally on a time series plot, and that model error metrics may be useful for communicating uncertainty and in demonstrating the utility of these future climate datasets.
Evaluating Driver Features for Cognitive Distraction Detection and Validation in Manual and Level 2 Automated Driving
Authors: Yang Shiyan , Wilson Kyle M. , Roady Trey , Kuo Jonny , Lenné Michael G. 
Published: October 2020

Objective This study aimed to investigate the impacts of feature selection on driver cognitive distraction (CD) detection and validation in real-world nonautomated and Level 2 automated driving scenarios. Background Real-time driver state monitoring is critical to promote road user safety. Method Twenty-four participants were recruited to drive a Tesla Model S in manual and Autopilot modes on the highway while engaging in the N-back task. In each driving mode, CD was classified by the random forest algorithm built on three “hand-crafted” glance features (i.e., percent road center [PRC], the standard deviation of gaze pitch, and yaw angles), or through a large number of features that were transformed from the output of a driver monitoring system (DMS) and other sensing systems. Results In manual driving, the small set of glance features was as effective as the large set of machine-generated features in terms of classification accuracy. Whereas in Level 2 automated driving, both glance and vehicle features were less sensitive to CD. The glance features also revealed that the misclassified driver state was the result of the dynamic fluctuations and individual differences of cognitive loads under CD. Conclusion Glance metrics are critical for the detection and validation of CD in on-road driving. Applications The paper suggests the practical value of human factors domain knowledge in feature selection and ground truth validation for the development of driver monitoring technologies.
Minding the Gap: Effects of an Attention Maintenance Training Program on Driver Calibration
Authors: Unverricht James , Yamani Yusuke , Chen Jing , Horrey William J. 
Published: October 2020

Objective The present study examines the effect of an existing driver training program, FOrward Concentration and Attention Learning (FOCAL) on young drivers’ calibration, drivers’ ability to estimate the length of their in-vehicle glances while driving, using two different measures, normalized difference scores and Brier Scores. Background Young drivers are poor at maintaining attention to the forward roadway while driving a vehicle. Additionally, drivers may overestimate their attention maintenance abilities. Driver training programs such as FOCAL may train target skills such as attention maintenance but also might serve as a promising way to reduce errors in drivers’ calibration of their self-perceived attention maintenance behaviors in comparison to their actual performance. Method Thirty-six participants completed either FOCAL or a Placebo training program, immediately followed by driving simulator evaluations of their attention maintenance performance. In the evaluation drive, participants navigated four driving simulator scenarios during which their eyes were tracked. In each scenario, participants performed a map task on a tablet simulating an in-vehicle infotainment system. Results FOCAL-trained drivers maintained their attention to the forward roadway more and reported better calibration using the normalized difference measure than Placebo-trained drivers. However, the Brier scores did not distinguish the two groups on their calibration. Conclusion The study implies that FOCAL has the potential to improve not only attention maintenance skills but also calibration of the skills for young drivers. Application Driver training programs may be designed to train not only targeted higher cognitive skills but also driver calibration—both critical for driving safety in young drivers.
Early indicators and risk factors associated with mental health problems during COVID-19 quarantine: Is there a relationship with the number of confirmed cases and deaths?
Authors: Badellino Héctor , Gobbo María Emilia , Torres Eduardo , Aschieri María Emilia 
Published: October 2020

Background: On March 20 2020, the Argentine Ministry of Health enforced a mandatory quarantine throughout the country in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims: The object of this study is to determine the initial impact on mental health of Argentine population, by measuring the prevalence of anxiety, depression, insomnia, and self-perceived stress and by determining the associated risk factors, and to analyze that impact in relation to the number of confirmed cases and deaths. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted through a digital questionnaire, which was completed by 1,985 respondents between March 29 and April 12. The prevalence of anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia was measured with the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 Scale (GAD-7), the 9-Item Patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9); the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Results: The 62.4% of the surveyed population reported signs of psychological distress. It was found that being a woman, being 18 to 27 years old, living with family members or a partner, smoking, and having a poor sleep quality were the significant risk factors. Conclusion: Despite the low number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths at that time, a strong impact on mental health indicators was revealed. The authors of this study recommend the monitoring of the population at risk over time and early interventions in order to avoid long-lasting mental health problems.
Identification of male infertility-related long non-coding RNAs and their functions based on a competing endogenous RNA network
Authors: Zhou Zuo , Wang Bing 
Published: October 2020

Objective To identify male infertility-related long non-coding (lnc)RNAs and an lncRNA-related competing endogenous (ce)RNA network. Methods Expression data including 13 normospermic and eight teratozoospermic samples from postmortem donors were downloaded from the GEO database (GSE6872). The limma R package was used to discriminate dysregulated lncRNA and micro (m)RNA profiles. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses of differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs were performed using the clusterProfiler R package. The ceRNA network of dysregulated genes was visualized by Cytoscape. Results A total of 101 DE lncRNAs and 1722 mRNAs were identified as male infertility-specific RNAs with thresholds of |log2FoldChange| >2.0 and adjusted P-value <0.05. GO and KEGG pathways were analyzed for DE mRNAs. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that DE genes were enriched in embryonic skeletal system development and cytokine–cytokine receptor interactions. A ceRNA network was constructed with 26 key lncRNAs, 33 microRNAs, and 133 mRNAs. DE lncRNAs in male sterility were mainly associated with transferring phosphorus-containing groups and complexes of histone methyltransferases, methyltransferases, PcG proteins, and serine/threonine protein kinases. Conclusion This provides a novel perspective to study lncRNA-related ceRNA networks in male infertility and assist in identifying new potential biomarkers for diagnostic purposes.
LRP8 activates STAT3 to induce PD-L1 expression in osteosarcoma
Authors: Zheng Shiqin , Wei Yuxi , Jiang Yu , Hao Yi 
Published: October 2020

Purpose: Targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) may be an effective intervention for osteosarcoma and PD-L1 expression is controlled by diverse regulatory factors. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8 (LRP8) regulates osteoblast differentiation and it is unclear whether and how LRP8 could contribute to osteosarcoma pathogenesis. In this study, we investigated the LRP8/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/PD-L1 network in osteosarcoma. Methods: The expression of LRP8, STAT3, and PD-L1 was measured in osteosarcoma tissues and paired normal tissues. The effects of LRP8 on STAT3 and PD-L1 expression were investigated in an osteosarcoma cell line. The effects on immunosuppression were investigated in an in vitro co-culture system with Jurkat cell line and osteosarcoma cell line. The effects of LRP8 were blocked by a LRP8 neutralizing antibody, dominant-negative STAT3, or STAT3 inhibitor. Results: LRP8 was overexpressed in osteosarcoma compared to normal tissues and its level was correlated with phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3) level in osteosarcoma tissues. In osteosarcoma cell lines, LRP8 increased p-STAT3 level and promoted nuclear translocation of STAT3. STAT3 activation also increased PD-L1 mRNA, protein, and promoter activity. In addition, LRP8 enhanced PD-L1 expression via STAT3. In a co-culture system, LRP8 overexpression in an osteosarcoma cell line impaired viability and interleukin-2 secretion of Jurkat cells and induced apoptosis of Jurkat cells. The effects of LRP8 could be blocked by neutralizing LRP8 antibody or STAT3 inhibitor. Blocking LRP8 inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells. Conclusions: Our results provide evidence for a novel regulation network of LRP8/STAT3/PD-L1 in osteosarcoma and LRP8 may be a potential therapeutic target in osteosarcoma.