bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A structurally unique Fusobacterium nucleatum tannase provides detoxicant activity against gallotannins and pathogen resistance
Authors: Mancheño José Miguel , Atondo Estíbaliz , Tomás‐Cortázar Julen , Luís Lavín José , Plaza‐Vinuesa Laura , Martín‐Ruiz Itziar , Barriales Diego , Palacios Ainhoa , Daniel Navo Claudio , Sampedro Leticia , Peña‐Cearra Ainize , Ángel Pascual‐Itoiz Miguel , Castelo Janire , Carreras‐González Ana , Castellana Donatello , Pellón Aize , Delgado Susana , Ruas‐Madiedo Patricia , de las Rivas Blanca , Abecia Leticia , Muñoz Rosario , Jiménez‐Osés Gonzalo , Anguita Juan , Rodríguez Héctor 
Published: December 2020

SummaryColorectal cancer pathogenesis and progression is associated with the presence of Fusobacterium nucleatum and the reduction of acetylated derivatives of spermidine, as well as dietary components such as tannin‐rich foods. We show that a new tannase orthologue of F. nucleatum (TanBFnn) has significant structural differences with its Lactobacillus plantarum counterpart affecting the flap covering the active site and the accessibility of substrates. Crystallographic and molecular dynamics analysis revealed binding of polyamines to a small cavity that connects the active site with the bulk solvent which interact with catalytically indispensable residues. As a result, spermidine and its derivatives, particularly N8‐acetylated spermidine, inhibit the hydrolytic activity of TanBFnn and increase the toxicity of gallotannins to F. nucleatum. Our results support a model in which the balance between the detoxicant activity of TanBFnn and the presence of metabolic inhibitors can dictate either conducive or unfavourable conditions for the survival of F. nucleatum.
First‐line treatment with irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitors associated with longer OS in EGFR mutation‐positive non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Su Po‐Lan , Chen Chian‐Wei , Wu Yi‐Lin , Lin Chien‐Chung , Su Wu‐Chou 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundFew studies have compared the efficacy of the irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR‐TKI), afatinib, with that of reversible EGFR‐TKIs. Therefore, this study assessed the effectiveness of afatinib, erlotinib, and gefitinib in terms of OS (overall survival) and progression‐free survival (PFS) in EGFR mutation‐positive advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.MethodsPatients with EGFR mutation‐positive advanced NSCLC who sought treatment from December 2013 to June 2018, at a tertiary referral center were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were treated with afatinib or a reversible EGFR‐TKI (erlotinib or gefitinib) until disease progression, intolerable adverse events, or death. The Kaplan‐Meier and log‐rank tests were then used to compare the OS and PFS of the patients. We further analyzed the survival differences among the subgroup of patients without brain metastases.ResultsOf the 363 patients enrolled, 134 and 229 received first‐line afatinib and first‐line reversible EGFR‐TKI, respectively. Those given afatinib had better OS (39.3 vs. 26.0 months; HR 0.65, P = 0.033) and PFS (14.1 vs.11.2 months; HR 0.58, P < 0.001). Of the 246 patients without brain metastases, 93 and 153 received first‐line afatinib and a first‐line reversible EGFR‐TKI, respectively. Those given afatinib had a better OS (52.6 vs. 24.9 months; HR 0.62, P = 0.0030) and PFS (17.7 vs. 11.1 months; HR 0.51, P < 0.001). The survival benefit was more significant in the subgroup of patients with L858R substitutions.ConclusionsThe results indicated that afatnib resulted in significantly better OS and PFS than gefitnib and erlotinib for EGFR mutation‐positive advanced NSCLC patients without brain metastases.Key pointsSignificant findings of the studyAfatnib resulted in significantly better overall survival and progression‐free survival than gefitnib and erlotinib for EGFR mutation‐positive advanced non‐small cell lung cancer patients without brain metastases.What this study addsThis study helps fill the gap in our limited understanding of the differences in the efficacy of the irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR‐TKI), afatinib, with that of reversible EGFR‐TKIs.
Alcohol dependence activates ventral tegmental area projections to central amygdala in male mice and rats
Authors: Avegno Elizabeth M. , Kasten Chelsea R. , Snyder William B. , Kelley Leslie K. , Lobell Thomas D. , Templeton Taylor J. , Constans Michael , Wills Tiffany A. , Middleton Jason W. , Gilpin Nicholas W. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe neural adaptations that occur during the transition to alcohol dependence are not entirely understood but may include a gradual recruitment of brain stress circuitry by mesolimbic reward circuitry that is activated during early stages of alcohol use. Here, we focused on dopaminergic and nondopaminergic projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA), important for mediating acute alcohol reinforcement, to the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA), important for alcohol dependence‐related negative affect and escalated alcohol drinking. The VTA projects directly to the CeA, but the functional relevance of this circuit is not fully established. Therefore, we combined retrograde and anterograde tracing, anatomical, and electrophysiological experiments in mice and rats to demonstrate that the CeA receives input from both dopaminergic and nondopaminergic projection neurons primarily from the lateral VTA. We then used slice electrophysiology and fos immunohistochemistry to test the effects of alcohol dependence on activity and activation profiles of CeA‐projecting neurons in the VTA. Our data indicate that alcohol dependence activates midbrain projections to the central amygdala, suggesting that VTA projections may trigger plasticity in the CeA during the transition to alcohol dependence and that this circuit may be involved in mediating behavioral dysregulation associated with alcohol dependence.
Influence of banana plantations on bat assemblages (Chiroptera)
Authors: Luz Júlia Lins , Costa Luciana de Moraes , Esbérard Carlos Eduardo Lustosa 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLandscape modification for agriculture is the most severe and common threat to global diversity. Considering that part of the native biota may also live in plantations, it is important to investigate how human‐altered habitats can be incorporated into conservation strategies. We analysed how banana plantations affect bat assemblages. We selected 12 pair of sites in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, each one consisting of a banana plantation and a forest fragment adjacent to this. From November 2008 to October 2010, we carried out monthly sampling for two nights: one in the banana plantation and the other in the adjacent forest fragment, summing up 48 sampling nights. Bats were captured with mist nets. We analyse 2369 captures and recaptures of 27 bat species. Banana plantations did not affect species richness but did affect community structure. Frugivorous, nectarivorous and omnivorous bats were significantly more abundant in banana plantations. The ability of banana plantations to harbour bat diversity depends directly on the amount of forest cover surrounding it. Bat abundance was affected by banana plantations on a local scale while bat richness responds to forest cover on a broader scale. Forest fragments may satisfy requirements related to roosting habitat and permit continued occupancy if the surrounding deforested matrix provides adequate food resources. Banana plantations may enhance the availability of habitat across the landscape facilitating individual movements and appears to be compatible with the conservation of bat diversity. However, it is important to note that banana plantations are not efficient to house some species susceptible to fragmentation. This study provides evidence that banana plantation can be managed in an ecologically sustainable way and that significant biodiversity conservation efforts can occur outside national parks and nature reserves.
Is there a temporal trend in semen quality in Belgian candidate sperm donors and in sperm donors’ fertility potential from 1995 onwards?
Authors: Sugihara Alessa , De Neubourg Diane , Punjabi Usha 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundA recent meta‐regression analysis reported a temporal trend in sperm count showing a significant decline in sperm count between 1973 and 2011. This decline is thought to affect fecundity. Moreover, semen quality is considered of key interest to public health given its association with all‐cause male morbidity/mortality. The issue requires ongoing investigation due to geographical variation in semen quality and methodological errors in semen analysis.ObjectiveTo study whether there is a temporal trend in semen quality in Belgian candidate sperm donors and in sperm donors’ fertility potential.Materials and MethodsRetrospective analysis of samples provided by 439 candidate donors and pregnancy outcome in acceptors over a period of 23 years.RESULTSA total of 807 specimens from 439 candidate donors were examined from January 1995 to December 2017 (Table S1). Sub‐analyses performed with regard to TSC from 2010 onwards (weighing) revealed a significant negative trend (R2=−0.033; β=−0.18; CI: −0.16 to 0.07; p < 0.05). We found a statistically significant association between year of donation and morphology (R2= 0.036; β= −0.19; CI: −0.26 to −0.08; p < 0.0001). The mean (±SD) clinical pregnancy rate per effective donor recruited (n = 104), defined as the number of women with a clinical pregnancy, per number of women who initiated treatment with a donor's spermatozoa, was 68.5 (± 24.9) %. This measure did not show a significant change in function of year of donation.DiscussionCandidate sperm donors represent a select group of men; as such, these results are not to be interpreted as representative for the general population.ConclusionThe study did not show a significant change in sperm concentration or fertility potential in sperm donors over a period of 23 years. However, a negative trend was found for TSC from 2010 onwards. Also, the results show a significant decrease in ideal morphology over time.
Bumetanide for autism: Open‐label trial in six children
Authors: Fernell Elisabeth , Gustafsson Peik , Gillberg Christopher 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimBumetanide, a diuretic agent, that reduces intracellular chloride—thereby reinforcing GABAergic inhibition—has been reported to improve core symptoms of autism in children. Given the positive results reported from French trials of bumetanide in children with autism, we decided to evaluate its effects in a small‐scale pilot study, in advance of a larger randomised controlled study (RCT).MethodsThis was an open‐label three‐month trial of bumetanide on six children (five boys), aged 3–14 years with autism. Ratings according to the Parental Satisfaction Survey (PASS) were used after four and twelve weeks to assess symptom change. Blood electrolyte status was monitored.ResultsImprovement in the PASS domain “Communicative and cognitive abilities” was marked or very marked in four children, and two had some improvements. Few negative side effects were reported.ConclusionOur small cohort responded well to bumetanide, particularly with regard to “Communicative and cognitive abilities”. Taken with the evidence from larger‐scale RCTs, we suggest that bumetanide should be considered for inclusion in ethically approved treatment/management trials for children with autism, subject to rigorous follow‐up in large‐scale RCTs.
Is increased Staphylococcus aureus colonization during military service caused by specific genotypes? Molecular examination of long‐term carriage in a prospective cohort study
Authors: Blomfeldt Anita , Jørgensen Silje Bakken , Helmersen Karin , Eskonsipo Petri Kaarlo Juhani , Aamot Hege Vangstein 
Published: December 2020

A 22% increase in Staphylococcus aureus colonization was observed in Norwegian recruits during first year of military service. The aim was to determine whether specific genotypes caused the increase and to examine carriage status based on genotyping. Characterization of S. aureus from nose, throat and perineum sampled at enrolment and discharge included spa typing, MLVA, detection of PVL genes and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. spa typing demonstrated high and stable genetic diversity. The three most frequent spa types were found in 15% of recruits at enrolment and in 29% at discharge. Only t084 increased significantly (p = 0.02). Subtyping revealed that t084, t065 and t002 consisted of 13, 6 and 11 different MLVA types, respectively, at discharge. The military cohort (n = 265) consisted of S. aureus carriers of identical genotype (n = 99, 38%), carriers of non‐identical genotype (n = 52, 20%), intermittent carriers (n = 86, 33%) and non‐carriers (n = 27, 10%). Carrier status was indefinable for one recruit due to unavailable isolates for genotyping. Antibiotic resistance towards erythromycin, fusidic acid and clindamycin increased significantly and above national surveillance levels. The observed increase in S. aureus colonization during military service was caused by many different genotypes implying many transmission routes. Genotype did not correlate with colonization niche or carriage status.
When and Where Global meets Local: A multilevel analysis of determinants of social trust in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
Authors: Yang Guang , Badri Masood , Al Bahar Muna , Al Rashdi Asma 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAbu Dhabi's transformation to a modern society in recent decades provides an ideal context to explore the interplay of tradition, transition, and modernization at various levels, which shapes the trajectory of the development of social trust. This study offers multilevel analyses of the effects of social, psychological, and ethnical factors on social trust by using data from Abu Dhabi General Social Survey conducted in 2018. The results sustain the validity of both social capital and social network theories in explaining social trust. Contrary to the findings in other Middle East countries, in Abu Dhabi, the full‐time employed and people who are more satisfied with their household income tend to show a higher level of trust. A negative but insignificant relationship is found between community ethnic fragmentation and social trust.
Gene therapy for primary immunodeficiencies
Authors: Fox Thomas A. , Booth Claire 
Published: December 2020

SummaryPrimary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are a group of rare inherited disorders of the immune system. Many PIDs are devastating and require a definitive therapy to prevent progressive morbidity and premature mortality. Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) is curative for many PIDs, and while advances have resulted in improved outcomes, the procedure still carries a risk of mortality and morbidity from graft failure or graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD). Autologous haematopoietic stem cell gene therapy (HSC GT) has the potential to correct genetic defects across haematopoietic lineages without the complications of an allogeneic approach. HSC GT for PID has been in development for the last two decades and the first licensed HSC‐GT product for adenosine deaminase‐deficient severe combined immunodeficiency (ADA‐SCID) is now available. New gene editing technologies have the potential to circumvent some of the problems associated with viral gene‐addition. HSC GT for PID shows great promise, but requires a unique approach for each disease and carries risks, notably insertional mutagenesis from gamma‐retroviral gene addition approaches and possible off‐target toxicities from gene‐editing techniques. In this review, we discuss the development of HSC GT for PID and outline the current state of clinical development before discussing future developments in the field.
Information Technology, Business Strategy and the Reassignment of Work from In‐House Employees to Agency Temps
Authors: Litwin Adam Seth , Tanious Sherry M. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThough we now understand how information technology (IT) influenceswork, we know much less about how it reshapes the actualrelationshipbetween workers and their employers. That is, to what extent do employers deploy new technologies towards the erosion of traditional employment relationships? This study relies on a cross section of British workplaces to provide statistical evidence that IT actually facilitates managers’reassignmentof work once done by in‐house employees to those working instead for a staffing agency, an effect that trebles in magnitude where managers have simultaneously cut employment. Furthermore, IT differentially serves opposing business strategies. While employers electing to compete on price rather than quality are more likely to reassign work, managers enacting quality‐centred strategies are more likely to rely on IT toavertwork reassignment. The findings demonstrate that new technologies may facilitate this form of externalization, but they do not unilaterally drive it. The estimates also illuminate IT's indirect impact on workers via managers’ use of it as a tool for restructuring employment.
A semiparametric approach for item response function estimation to detect item misfit
Authors: Köhler Carmen , Robitzsch Alexander , Fährmann Katharina , von Davier Matthias , Hartig Johannes 
Published: December 2020

When scaling data using item response theory, valid statements based on the measurement model are only permissible if the model fits the data. Most item fit statistics used to assess the fit between observed item responses and the item responses predicted by the measurement model show significant weaknesses, such as the dependence of fit statistics on sample size and number of items. In order to assess the size of misfit and to thus use the fit statistic as an effect size, dependencies on properties of the data set are undesirable. The present study describes a new approach and empirically tests it for consistency. We developed an estimator of the distance between the predicted item response functions (IRFs) and the true IRFs by semiparametric adaptation of IRFs. For the semiparametric adaptation, the approach of extended basis functions due to Ramsay and Silverman (2005) is used. The IRF is defined as the sum of a linear term and a more flexible term constructed via basis function expansions. The group lasso method is applied as a regularization of the flexible term, and determines whether all parameters of the basis functions are fixed at zero or freely estimated. Thus, the method serves as a selection criterion for items that should be adjusted semiparametrically. The distance between the predicted and semiparametrically adjusted IRF of misfitting items can then be determined by describing the fitting items by the parametric form of the IRF and the misfitting items by the semiparametric approach. In a simulation study, we demonstrated that the proposed method delivers satisfactory results in large samples (i.e.,N ≥ 1,000).
Systemic transcriptome comparison between early‐ And late‐onset pre‐eclampsia shows distinct pathology and novel biomarkers
Authors: Guo Fang , Zhang Bao , Yang Hao , Fu Yixi , Wang Yaning , Huang Jianming , Cheng Mi , Li Xiaobo , Shen Zhuojian , Li Li , He Ping , Xiang Andy Peng , Wang Shuaiyu , Zhang Hongbo 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectivesPre‐eclampsia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. Although the two forms of this disorder, early‐ (EOPE) and late‐onset of pre‐eclampsia (LOPE) are different, the underlying pathology remains elusive. We aim to unravel the difference and to identify novel biomarkers for EOPE and LOPE.Materials and MethodsA complete comparison of both placental and peripheral blood transcriptomes was performed to investigate the pathology of pre‐eclampsia. Single‐cell transcriptomics of the maternal‐fetal interface were integrated to identify novel biomarkers for EOPE and LOPE which were further verified at protein or mRNA level in patients.ResultsWe found that the transcriptomes of placentae from EOPE, but not LOPE, were significantly different from their respective controls. Conversely, the transcriptomes of peripheral blood from LOPE were more different from their controls than EOPE. Importantly, we identified that several classical biomarkers of pre‐eclampsia were expressed specifically in extravillous trophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast and only upregulated in EOPE, suggesting they should not be applied to all pre‐eclampsia patients in general. We further identified novel biomarkers for EOPE and LOPE from differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of placental and peripheral blood, respectively. The new biomarkers EBI3, IGF2, ORMDL3, GATA2 and KIR2DL4 were experimentally verified with patient blood samples.ConclusionOur data demonstrate distinct pathology of EOPE and LOPE, and uncover new biomarkers that can be applied in diagnosis for pre‐eclampsia.
Influence of socioeconomic status on cognitive outcome after childhood arterial ischemic stroke
Authors: Bartha‐Doering Lisa , Gleiss Andreas , Knaus Sarah , Schmook Maria Theresa , Seidl Rainer 
Published: December 2020

AimTo determine whether socioeconomic status (SES) is a stronger predictor for cognitive outcome after childhood arterial ischemic stroke compared to clinical factors.MethodWe investigated perceptual reasoning, executive functions, language, memory, and attention in 18 children and adolescents (12 males, six females, median age at testing 13y 4mo, range 7y–17y 5mo) after arterial ischemic stroke; collected sociodemographic information (education of parents, household income); and used clinical information (initial lesion volume, residual lesion volume, age at stroke, time since stroke). Linear regression models were used to investigate the potential influence of SES and clinical parameters on cognitive abilities.ResultsSES had a moderate effect on all cognitive outcome parameters except attention by explaining 41.9%, 37.9%, 38.0%, and 22.5% of variability in perceptual reasoning, executive functions, language, and memory respectively. Initial lesion volume was the only clinical parameter that showed moderate importance on cognitive outcome (33.1% and 25.6% of the variability in perceptual reasoning and memory respectively). Overall, SES was a stronger predictor of cognitive outcome than clinical factors.InterpretationFuture paediatric studies aiming at clinical predictors of cognitive outcome should control their analyses for SES in their study participants. The findings of the present study further point to the need for more attention to the treatment of children with low SES.What this paper addsSocioeconomic status (SES) explains up to 42% of variance in cognitive outcome after childhood arterial ischemic stroke.SES is a stronger predictor of outcome than clinical factors.