bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular phylogenetic, population genetic and demographic studies of Nodularia douglasiae and Nodularia breviconcha based on CO1 and 16S rRNA
Authors: Choi Eun Hwa , Kim Gyeongmin , Cha Seung Hyun , Lee Jun-Sang , Ryu Shi Hyun , Suk Ho Young , Lee Young Sup , Baek Su Youn , Hwang Ui Wook 
Published: October 2020

AbstractFreshwater mussels belonging to the genus Nodularia (Family Unionidae) are known to be widely distributed in East Asia. Although phylogenetic and population genetic studies have been performed for these species, there still remain unresolved questions in their taxonomic status and biogeographic distribution pathways. Here, the nucleotide sequences of CO1 and 16S rRNA were newly determined from 86 N. douglasiae and 83 N. breviconcha individuals collected on the Korean Peninsula. Based on these data, we revealed the following results: (1) N. douglasiae can be divided into the three genetic clades of A (only found in Korean Peninsula), B (widely distributed in East Asia), and C (only found in the west of China and Russia), (2) the clade A is not an independent species but a concrete member of N. douglasiae given the lack of genetic differences between the clades A and B, and (3) N. breviconcha is not a subspecies of N. douglasiae but an independent species apart from N. douglasiae. In addition, we suggested the plausible scenarios of biogeographic distribution events and demographic history of Nodularia species.
New clues on the Atlantic eels spawning behavior and area: the Mid-Atlantic Ridge hypothesis
Authors: Chang Yu-Lin K. , Feunteun Eric , Miyazawa Yasumasa , Tsukamoto Katsumi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe Sargasso Sea has long been considered as the only spawning area for Atlantic eels, despite the absence of direct observations. The present study raises a novel scenario, deviating from Schmidt’s dogma, begins with a review of historical and recent observations that were combined to build up a global theory on spawning ecology and migration behavior of Atlantic eels. From this, it is argued that a favorable spawning area could be located eastward of Sargasso Sea at the intersection between the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the oceanic fronts. Ocean circulation models combined with 3D particle-tracking method confirmed that spawning at this specific area would result in larval distribution fitting the field observation. This study explores the hypothesis that leptocephali are able to swim and orientate to reach their specific growth areas. It proposes a novel framework about spawning ecology, based on orientation, navigation and meeting cues of silver eels to the spawning area. Together this framework may serve as a stepping-stone for solving the long-lasting mystery of eel reproduction which first came out 2,400 years ago and promotes the understanding of oceanic migration and reproduction of marine organisms.
Improving the immunosuppressive potential of articular chondroprogenitors in a three-dimensional culture setting
Authors: Bauza Guillermo , Pasto Anna , Mcculloch Patrick , Lintner David , Brozovich Ava , Niclot Federica Banche , Khan Ilyas , Francis Lewis W. , Tasciotti Ennio , Taraballi Francesca 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCartilage repair in osteoarthritic patients remains a challenge. Identifying resident or donor stem/progenitor cell populations is crucial for augmenting the low intrinsic repair potential of hyaline cartilage. Furthermore, mediating the interaction between these cells and the local immunogenic environment is thought to be critical for long term repair and regeneration. In this study we propose articular cartilage progenitor/stem cells (CPSC) as a valid alternative to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) for cartilage repair strategies after trauma. Similar to BMMSC, CPSC isolated from osteoarthritic patients express stem cell markers and have chondrogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic differentiation ability. In an in vitro 2D setting, CPSC show higher expression of SPP1 and LEP, markers of osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation, respectively. CPSC also display a higher commitment toward chondrogenesis as demonstrated by a higher expression of ACAN. BMMSC and CPSC were cultured in vitro using a previously established collagen-chondroitin sulfate 3D scaffold. The scaffold mimics the cartilage niche, allowing both cell populations to maintain their stem cell features and improve their immunosuppressive potential, demonstrated by the inhibition of activated PBMC proliferation in a co-culture setting. As a result, this study suggests articular cartilage derived-CPSC can be used as a novel tool for cellular and acellular regenerative medicine approaches for osteoarthritis (OA). In addition, the benefit of utilizing a biomimetic acellular scaffold as an advanced 3D culture system to more accurately mimic the physiological environment is demonstrated.
Electrical stimulation of the lateral cerebellar nucleus promotes neurogenesis in rats after motor cortical ischemia
Authors: Wu Zheng , Sun Fangling , Li Zijie , Liu Min , Tian Xin , Guo Deyu , Wei Penghu , Shan Yongzhi , Liu Tingting , Guo Min , Zhu Zixin , Zheng Wenrong , Wang Yufeng , Zhao Guoguang , Wang Wen 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDeep brain stimulation (DBS) has been tentatively explored to promote motor recovery after stroke. Stroke could transiently activate endogenous self-repair processes, including neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ). In this regard, it is of considerable clinical interest to study whether DBS of the lateral cerebellar nucleus (LCN) could promote neurogenesis in the SVZ for functional recovery after stroke. In the present study, rats were trained on the pasta matrix reaching task and the ladder rung walking task before surgery. And then an electrode was implanted in the LCN following cortical ischemia induced by endothelin-1 injection. After 1 week of recovery, LCN DBS coupled with motor training for two weeks promoted motor function recovery, and reduced the infarct volumes post-ischemia. LCN DBS augmented poststroke neurogenetic responses, characterized by proliferation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and neuroblasts in the SVZ and subsequent differentiation into neurons in the ischemic penumbra at 21 days poststroke. DBS with the same stimulus parameters at 1 month after ischemia could also increase nascent neuroblasts in the SVZ and newly matured neurons in the perilesional cortex at 42 days poststroke. These results suggest that LCN DBS promotes endogenous neurogenesis for neurorestoration after cortical ischemia.
RNA oxidation in chromatin modification and DNA-damage response following exposure to formaldehyde
Authors: Gonzalez-Rivera Juan C. , Sherman Mark W. , Wang Dongyu S. , Chuvalo-Abraham Jamie C. L. , Hildebrandt Ruiz Lea , Contreras Lydia M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractFormaldehyde is an environmental and occupational chemical carcinogen implicated in the damage of proteins and nucleic acids. However, whether formaldehyde provokes modifications of RNAs such as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG) and the role that these modifications play on conferring long-term adverse health effects remains unexplored. Here, we profile 8-oxoG modifications using RNA-immunoprecipitation and RNA sequencing (8-oxoG RIP-seq) to identify 343 RNA transcripts heavily enriched in oxidations in human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cell cultures exposed to 1 ppm formaldehyde for 2 h. RNA oxidation altered expression of many transcripts involved in chromatin modification and p53-mediated DNA-damage responses, two pathways that play key roles in sustaining genome integrity and typically deregulated in tumorigenesis. Given that these observations were identified in normal cells exhibiting minimal cell stress and death phenotypes (for example, lack of nuclear shrinkage, F-actin alterations or increased LDH activity); we hypothesize that oxidative modification of specific RNA transcripts following formaldehyde exposure denotes an early process occurring in carcinogenesis analogous to the oxidative events surfacing at early stages of neurodegenerative diseases. As such, we provide initial investigations of RNA oxidation as a potentially novel mechanism underlying formaldehyde-induced tumorigenesis.
Stable isotope evidence for dietary diversification in the pre-Columbian Amazon
Authors: Colonese Andre Carlo , Winter Rachel , Brandi Rafael , Fossile Thiago , Fernandes Ricardo , Soncin Silvia , McGrath Krista , Von Tersch Matthew , Bandeira Arkley Marques 
Published: October 2020

AbstractArchaeological research is radically transforming the view that the Amazon basin and surrounding areas witnessed limited societal development before European contact. Nevertheless, uncertainty remains on the nature of the subsistence systems and the role that aquatic resources, terrestrial mammalian game, and plants had in supporting population growth, geographic dispersal, cultural adaptations and political complexity during the later stages of the pre-Columbian era. This is exacerbated by the general paucity of archaeological human remains enabling individual dietary reconstructions. Here we use stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of bone collagen to reconstruct the diets of human individuals from São Luís Island (Brazilian Amazon coast) dated betweenca. 1800 and 1000 cal BP and associated with distinct ceramic traditions. We expanded our analysis to include previously published data from Maracá and Marajó Island, in the eastern Amazon. Quantitative estimates of the caloric contributions from food groups and their relative nutrients using a Bayesian Mixing Model revealed distinct subsistence strategies, consisting predominantly of plants and terrestrial mammals and variably complemented with aquatic resources. This study offers novel quantitative information on the extent distinct food categories of polyculture agroforestry systems fulfilled the caloric and protein requirements of Late Holocene pre-Columbian populations in the Amazon basin.
Addressing challenges in routine health data reporting in Burkina Faso through Bayesian spatiotemporal prediction of weekly clinical malaria incidence
Authors: Rouamba Toussaint , Samadoulougou Sekou , Kirakoya-Samadoulougou Fati 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSub-Saharan African (SSA) countries’ health systems are often vulnerable to unplanned situations that can hinder their effectiveness in terms of data completeness and disease control. For instance, in Burkina Faso following a workers' strike, comprehensive data on several diseases were unavailable for a long period in 2019. Weather, seasonal-malaria-chemoprevention (SMC), free healthcare, and other contextual data, which are purported to influence malarial disease, provide opportunities to fit models to describe the clinical malaria data and predict the disease spread. Bayesian spatiotemporal modeling was applied to weekly malaria surveillance data from Burkina Faso (2011–2018) while considering the effects of weather, health programs and contextual factors. Then, a prediction was used to deal with weekly missing data for the entire year of 2019, and SMC and free healthcare effects were quantified. Our proposed model accurately predicted weekly clinical malaria incidence (correlation coefficient, r = 0.90). The distribution of clinical malaria incidence was heterogeneous across the country. Overall, national predicted clinical malaria incidence in 2019 (605 per 1000 [95% CrI: 360–990]) increased by 24.7% compared with the year 2015. SMC and the interaction between free healthcare and health facility attendance were associated with a reduction in clinical malaria incidence. Our modeling approach could be a useful tool for strengthening health systems’ resilience by addressing data completeness and could support SSA countries in developing appropriate targets and indicators to facilitate the subnational control effort.
Identifying patterns in the multitrophic community and food-web structure of a low-turbidity temperate estuarine bay
Authors: Kang Hee Yoon , Kim Changseong , Kim Dongyoung , Lee Young-Jae , Park Hyun Je , Kundu Goutam K. , Kim Young Kyun , Bibi Riaz , Jang Jaebin , Lee Kwang-Hun , Kim Hyun-Woo , Yun Sung-Gyu , Kim Heeyong , Kang Chang-Keun 
Published: October 2020

AbstractFood web dynamics outline the ecosystem processes that regulate community structure. Challenges in the approaches used to capture topological descriptions of food webs arise due to the difficulties in collecting extensive empirical data with temporal and spatial variations in community structure and predator–prey interactions. Here, we use a Kohonen self-organizing map algorithm (as a measure of community pattern) and stable isotope-mixing models (as a measure of trophic interaction) to identify food web patterns across a low-turbidity water channel of a temperate estuarine-coastal continuum. We find a spatial difference in the patterns of community compositions between the estuarine and deep-bay channels and a seasonal difference in the plankton pattern but less in the macrobenthos and nekton communities. Dietary mixing models of co-occurring dominant taxa reveal site-specific but unchanging food web topologies and the prominent role of phytoplankton in the trophic base of pelagic and prevalent-detrital benthic pathways. Our approach provides realistic frameworks for linking key nodes from producers to predators in trophic networks.
Nanostructured pencil graphite electrodes for application as high power biocathodes in miniaturized biofuel cells and bio-batteries
Authors: Torrinha Álvaro , Jiyane Nomnotho , Sabela Myalowenkosi , Bisetty Krishna , Montenegro Maria C. B. S. M. , Araújo Alberto N. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis work describes a simple method for the fabrication of an enzymatic electrode with high sensitivity to oxygen and good performance when applied as biocathode. Pencil graphite electrodes (PGE) were chosen as disposable transducers given their availability and good electrochemical response. After electrochemical characterization regarding hardness and surface pre-treatment suited modification with carbon-based nanostructures, namely with reduced graphene, MWCNT and carbon black for optimal performance was proceeded. The bioelectrode was finally assembled through immobilization of bilirubin oxidase (BOx) lashed on the modified surface of MWCNT via π–π stacking and amide bond functionalization. The high sensitivity towards dissolved oxygen of 648 ± 51 µA mM−1 cm−2, and a LOD of 1.7 µM, was achieved for the PGE with surface previously modified with reduced graphene (rGO), almost the double registered for direct anchorage on the bare PGE surface. Polarization curves resulted in an open circuit potential (OCP) of 1.68 V (vs Zn electrode) and generated a maximum current density of about 650 μA cm−2in O2saturated solution.
Cognitive differences associated with HIV serostatus and antiretroviral therapy use in a population-based sample of older adults in South Africa
Authors: Asiimwe Stephen B. , Farrell Meagan , Kobayashi Lindsay C. , Manne-Goehler Jen , Kahn Kathleen , Tollman Stephen M. , Kabudula Chodziwadziwa Whiteson , Gómez-Olivé F. Xavier , Wagner Ryan G. , Montana Livia , Berkman Lisa F. , Glymour M. Maria , Bärnighausen Till 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPrevious clinical studies have reported adverse cognitive outcomes for people living with HIV (PLWH), but there are no population-based studies comparing cognitive function between older PLWH and comparators without HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed baseline data of 40 + years-old participants in “Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa” (HAALSI) cohort. We measured cognition using a battery of conventional instruments assessing orientation, immediate- and delayed-recall, and numeracy (N = 4560), and the Oxford Cognitive Screen [OCS]-Plus, a novel instrument for low-literacy populations, assessing memory, language, visual-spatial ability, and executive functioning (N = 1997). Linear regression models comparing cognitive scores between participants with and without HIV were adjusted for sex, education, age, country of birth, father’s occupation, ever-consumed alcohol, and asset index. PLWH scored on average 0.06 (95% CI 0.01–0.12) standard deviation (SD) units higher on the conventional cognitive function measure and 0.02 (95% CI − 0.07 to 0.04) SD units lower on the OCS-Plus measure than HIV-negative participants. We found higher cognitive function scores for PLWH compared to people without HIV when using a conventional measure of cognitive function but not when using a novel instrument for low-literacy settings.
Correlation dynamics of nitrogen vacancy centers located in crystal cavities
Authors: Abdel-Aty Abdel-Haleem , Kadry Heba , Mohamed A. -B. A. , Eleuch Hichem 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn this contribution, we investigate the bipartite non-classical correlations (NCCs) of a system formed by two nitrogen-vacancy (N-V) centers placed in two spatially separated single-mode nanocavities inside a planar photonic crystal (PC). The physical system is mathematically modeled by time-dependent Schrödinger equation and analytically solved. The bipartite correlations of the two N-V centers and the two-mode cavity have been analyzed by skew information, log-negativity, and Bell function quantifiers. We explore the effects of the coupling strength between the N-V-centers and the cavity fields as well as the cavity-cavity hopping constant and the decay rate on the generated correlation dynamics. Under some specific parameter values, a large amount of quantum correlations is obtained. This shows the possibility to control the dynamics of the correlations for the NV-centers and the cavity fields.
Molecular characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus associated prosthetic joint infections after hip fractures treated with hemiarthroplasty: a retrospective genome-wide association study
Authors: Noone J. Christopher , Stegger Marc , Lilje Berit , Stavem Knut , Helmersen Karin , Skråmm Inge , Aamot Hege Vangstein 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA retrospective study of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from orthopaedic patients treated between 2000 and 2017 at Akershus University Hospital, Norway was performed using a genome-wide association approach. The aim was to characterize and investigate molecular characteristics unique to S. aureus isolates from HHA associated prosthetic joint infections and potentially explain the HHA patients’ elevated 1-year mortality compared to a non-HHA group. The comparison group consisted of patients with non-HHA lower-extremity implant-related S. aureus infections. S. aureus isolates from diagnostic patient samples were whole-genome sequenced. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to detect group-associated genetic signatures. A total of 62 HHA patients and 73 non-HHA patients were included. Median age (81 years vs. 74 years; p < 0.001) and 1-year mortality (44% vs. 15%, p < 0.001) were higher in the HHA group. A total of 20 clonal clusters (CCs) were identified; 75% of the isolates consisted of CC45, CC30, CC5, CC15, and CC1. Analyses of core and accessory genome content, including virulence, resistance genes, and k-mer analysis revealed few group-associated variants, none of which could explain the elevated 1-year mortality in HHA patients. Our findings support the premise that all S. aureus can cause invasive infections given the opportunity.
Slow-binding reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase with long-lasting action for prophylaxis of organophosphate poisoning
Authors: Lenina Oksana A. , Zueva Irina V. , Zobov Vladimir V. , Semenov Vyacheslav E. , Masson Patrick , Petrov Konstantin A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractOrganophosphorus (OP) compounds represent a serious health hazard worldwide. The dominant mechanism of their action results from covalent inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Standard therapy of acute OP poisoning is partially effective. However, prophylactic administration of reversible or pseudo-irreversible AChE inhibitors before OP exposure increases the efficiency of standard therapy. The purpose of the study was to test the duration of the protective effect of a slow-binding reversible AChE inhibitor (C547) in a mouse model against acute exposure to paraoxon (POX). It was shown that the rate of inhibition of AChE by POX in vitro after pre-inhibition with C547 was several times lower than without C547. Ex vivo pre-incubation of mouse diaphragm with C547 significantly prevented the POX-induced muscle weakness. Then it was shown that pre-treatment of mice with C547 at the dose of 0.01 mg/kg significantly increased survival after poisoning by 2xLD50POX. The duration of the pre-treatment was effective up to 96 h, whereas currently used drug for pre-exposure treatment, pyridostigmine at a dose of 0.15 mg/kg was effective less than 24 h. Thus, long-lasting slow-binding reversible AChE inhibitors can be considered as new potential drugs to increase the duration of pre-exposure treatment of OP poisoning.
Risk estimation of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from bluetooth low energy measurements
Authors: Sattler Felix , Ma Jackie , Wagner Patrick , Neumann David , Wenzel Markus , Schäfer Ralf , Samek Wojciech , Müller Klaus-Robert , Wiegand Thomas 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDigital contact tracing approaches based on Bluetooth low energy (BLE) have the potential to efficiently contain and delay outbreaks of infectious diseases such as the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In this work we propose a machine learning based approach to reliably detect subjects that have spent enough time in close proximity to be at risk of being infected. Our study is an important proof of concept that will aid the battery of epidemiological policies aiming to slow down the rapid spread of COVID-19.
Optical frequency metrology in the bending modes region
Authors: Lamperti M. , Gotti R. , Gatti D. , Shakfa M. K. , Cané E. , Tamassia F. , Schunemann P. , Laporta P. , Farooq A. , Marangoni M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractOptical metrology and high-resolution spectroscopy, despite impressive progress across diverse regions of the electromagnetic spectrum from ultraviolet to terahertz frequencies, are still severely limited in the region of vibrational bending modes from 13 to 20 µm. This long-wavelength part of the mid-infrared range remains largely unexplored due to the lack of tunable single-mode lasers. Here, we demonstrate bending modes frequency metrology in this region by employing a continuous-wave nonlinear laser source with tunability from 12.1 to 14.8 µm, optical power up to 110 µW, MHz-level linewidth and comb calibration. We assess several CO2-based frequency benchmarks with uncertainties down to 30 kHz and we provide an extensive study of the v11 band of benzene, a significant testbed for the resolution of the spectrometer. These achievements pave the way for long-wavelength infrared metrology, rotationally-resolved studies and astronomic observations of large molecules such as aromatic hydrocarbons.