bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design and clinical implementation of an open-source bionic leg
Authors: Azocar Alejandro F. , Mooney Luke M. , Duval Jean-François , Simon Ann M. , Hargrove Levi J. , Rouse Elliott J. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn individuals with lower-limb amputations, robotic prostheses can increase walking speed, and reduce energy use, the incidence of falls and the development of secondary complications. However, safe and reliable prosthetic-limb control strategies for robust ambulation in real-world settings remain out of reach, partly because control strategies have been tested with different robotic hardware in constrained laboratory settings. Here, we report the design and clinical implementation of an integrated robotic knee–ankle prosthesis that facilitates the real-world testing of its biomechanics and control strategies. The bionic leg is open source, it includes software for low-level control and for communication with control systems, and its hardware design is customizable, enabling reduction in its mass and cost, improvement in its ease of use and independent operation of the knee and ankle joints. We characterized the electromechanical and thermal performance of the bionic leg in benchtop testing, as well as its kinematics and kinetics in three individuals during walking on level ground, ramps and stairs. The open-source integrated-hardware solution and benchmark data that we provide should help with research and clinical testing of knee–ankle prostheses in real-world environments.
Mathematical modeling of the cardiovascular autonomic control in healthy subjects during a passive head-up tilt test
Authors: Ishbulatov Yurii M. , Karavaev Anatoly S. , Kiselev Anton R. , Simonyan Margarita A. , Prokhorov Mikhail D. , Ponomarenko Vladimir I. , Mironov Sergey A. , Gridnev Vladimir I. , Bezruchko Boris P. , Shvartz Vladimir A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractA mathematical model is proposed for the autonomic control of cardiovascular system, which takes into account two separated self-exciting sympathetic control loops of heart rate and peripheral vascular tone. The control loops are represented by self-exciting time-delay systems and their tone depends on activity of the aortic, carotid, and lower-body baroreceptors. The model is used to study the dynamics of the adaptive processes that manifest in a healthy cardiovascular system during the passive head-up tilt test. Computer simulation provides continuous observation of the dynamics of the indexes and variables that cannot be measured in the direct experiment, including the noradrenaline concentration in vessel wall and heart muscle, tone of the sympathetic and parasympathetic control, peripheral vascular resistance, and blood pressure. In the supine and upright positions, we estimated the spectral characteristics of the model variables, especially in the low-frequency band, and the original index of total percent of phase synchronization between the low-frequency oscillations in heart rate and blood pressure signals. The model demonstrates good quantitative agreement with the dynamics of the experimentally observed indexes of cardiovascular system that were averaged for 50 healthy subjects.
Task-based memory systems in contextual-cueing of visual search and explicit recognition
Authors: Geyer Thomas , Rostami Pardis , Sogerer Lisa , Schlagbauer Bernhard , Müller Hermann J. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractVisual search is facilitated when observers encounter targets in repeated display arrangements. This ‘contextual-cueing’ (CC) effect is attributed to incidental learning of spatial distractor-target relations. Prior work has typically used only one recognition measure (administered after the search task) to establish whether CC is based on implicit or explicit memory of repeated displays, with the outcome depending on the diagnostic accuracy of the test. The present study compared two explicit memory tests to tackle this issue: yes/no recognition of a given search display as repeated versus generation of the quadrant in which the target (which was replaced by a distractor) had been located during the search task, thus closely matching the processes involved in performing the search. While repeated displays elicited a CC effect in the search task, both tests revealed above-chance knowledge of repeated displays, though explicit-memory accuracy and its correlation with contextual facilitation in the search task were more pronounced for the generation task. These findings argue in favor of a one-system, explicit-memory account of CC. Further, they demonstrate the superiority of the generation task for revealing the explicitness of CC, likely because both the search and the memory task involve overlapping processes (in line with ‘transfer-appropriate processing’).
SARS-CoV-2 spike protein predicted to form complexes with host receptor protein orthologues from a broad range of mammals
Authors: Lam S. D. , Bordin N. , Waman V. P. , Scholes H. M. , Ashford P. , Sen N. , van Dorp L. , Rauer C. , Dawson N. L. , Pang C. S. M. , Abbasian M. , Sillitoe I. , Edwards S. J. L. , Fraternali F. , Lees J. G. , Santini J. M. , Orengo C. A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 has a zoonotic origin and was transmitted to humans via an undetermined intermediate host, leading to infections in humans and other mammals. To enter host cells, the viral spike protein (S-protein) binds to its receptor, ACE2, and is then processed by TMPRSS2. Whilst receptor binding contributes to the viral host range, S-protein:ACE2 complexes from other animals have not been investigated widely. To predict infection risks, we modelled S-protein:ACE2 complexes from 215 vertebrate species, calculated changes in the energy of the complex caused by mutations in each species, relative to human ACE2, and correlated these changes with COVID-19 infection data. We also analysed structural interactions to better understand the key residues contributing to affinity. We predict that mutations are more detrimental in ACE2 than TMPRSS2. Finally, we demonstrate phylogenetically that human SARS-CoV-2 strains have been isolated in animals. Our results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can infect a broad range of mammals, but few fish, birds or reptiles. Susceptible animals could serve as reservoirs of the virus, necessitating careful ongoing animal management and surveillance.
Non-targeted urine metabolomics and associations with prevalent and incident type 2 diabetes
Authors: Salihovic Samira , Broeckling Corey D. , Ganna Andrea , Prenni Jessica E. , Sundström Johan , Berne Christian , Lind Lars , Ingelsson Erik , Fall Tove , Ärnlöv Johan , Nowak Christoph 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBetter risk prediction and new molecular targets are key priorities in type 2 diabetes (T2D) research. Little is known about the role of the urine metabolome in predicting the risk of T2D. We aimed to use non-targeted urine metabolomics to discover biomarkers and improve risk prediction for T2D. Urine samples from two community cohorts of 1,424 adults were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). In a discovery/replication design, three out of 62 annotated metabolites were associated with prevalent T2D, notably lower urine levels of 3-hydroxyundecanoyl-carnitine. In participants without diabetes at baseline, LASSO regression in the training set selected six metabolites that improved prediction of T2D beyond established risk factors risk over up to 12 years' follow-up in the test sample, from C-statistic 0.866 to 0.892. Our results in one of the largest non-targeted urinary metabolomics study to date demonstrate the role of the urine metabolome in identifying at-risk persons for T2D and suggest urine 3-hydroxyundecanoyl-carnitine as a biomarker candidate.
Association of left atrial pressure with late gadolinium enhancement extent in patient who underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation
Authors: Roh Seung-Young , Lee Dae In , Hwang Sung Ho , Lee Kwang-No , Baek Yong-soo , Iqbal Mohammad , Kim Dong-Hyeok , Ahn Jinhee , Shim Jaemin , Choi Jong-Il , Kim Young-Hoon 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAtrial remodeling with fibrosis has been well-described in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We hypothesized that the left atrial (LA)-late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) extent on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is associated with LA pressure and can be a marker for suitable candidates for non-paroxysmal AF ablation. A total of 173 AF patients with an LA-LGE area on CMR imaging were enrolled. The clinical parameters, including invasively measured LA pressure, were compared between the patients with extensive LA-LGE (E-LGE, LGE extent ≥ 20%, n = 78) and those with small LA-LGE (S-LGE, LGE extent < 20%, n = 95). The E-LGE group had higher peak LA pressures than the S-LGE group (23 versus 19 mmHg, p < 0.001). The E-LGE group had more patients with non-paroxysmal AF (non-PAF) (51% vs. 34%), heart failure (9% vs. 0%), and higher NT pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (472 vs. 265 pg/ml) (all p < 0.05). LA pressure ≥ 21 mmHg was an independent predictor of E-LGE (OR = 2.218; p = 0.019). In the paroxysmal AF (PAF) subgroup, freedom from atrial arrhythmia after catheter ablation was not different (81% vs 86%, log-rank p = 0.529). However, in the non-PAF subgroup, it was significantly higher in the S-LGE group than in the E-LGE group (81% vs 55%, log-rank p = 0.014). Increased LA pressure was related to the LA-LGE extent. LA-LGE was a good predictor of outcome after catheter ablation, but only in patients with non-PAF.
Brew temperature, at fixed brew strength and extraction, has little impact on the sensory profile of drip brew coffee
Authors: Batali Mackenzie E. , Ristenpart William D. , Guinard Jean-Xavier 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe brew temperature is widely considered a key parameter affecting the final quality of coffee, with a temperature near 93 °C often described as optimal. In particular, drip brewers that do not achieve a minimum brew temperature of 92 °C within a prescribed time period fail their certification. There is little empirical evidence in terms of rigorous sensory descriptive analysis or consumer preference testing, however, to support any particular range of brew temperatures. In this study, we drip-brewed coffee to specific brew strengths, as measured by total dissolved solids (TDS), and extraction yields, as measured by percent extraction (PE), spanning the range of the classic Coffee Brewing Control Chart. Three separate brew temperatures of 87 °C, 90 °C, or 93 °C were tested, adjusting the grind size and overall brew time as necessary to achieve the target TDS and PE. Although the TDS and PE both significantly affected the sensory profile of the coffee, surprisingly the brew temperature had no appreciable impact. We conclude that brew temperature should be considered as only one of several parameters that affect the extraction dynamics, and that ultimately the sensory profile is governed by differences in TDS and PE rather than the brew temperature, at least over the range of temperatures tested.
Diurnal stability of cell-free DNA and cell-free RNA in human plasma samples
Authors: Wagner Josiah T. , Kim Hyun Ji , Johnson-Camacho Katie C. , Kelley Taylor , Newell Laura F. , Spellman Paul T. , Ngo Thuy T. M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMany emerging technologies are reliant on circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and cell-free RNA (cfRNA) applications in the clinic. However, the impact of diurnal cycles or daily meals on circulating analytes are poorly understood and may be confounding factors when developing diagnostic platforms. To begin addressing this knowledge gap, we obtained plasma from four healthy donors serially sampled five times during 12 h in a single day. For all samples, we measured concentrations of cfDNA and cfRNA using both bulk measurements and gene-specific digital droplet PCR. We found no significant variation attributed to blood draw number for the cfDNA or cfRNA. This indicated that natural diurnal cycles and meal consumption do not appear to significantly affect abundance of total cfDNA, total cfRNA, or our two selected cfRNA transcripts. Conversely, we observed significant variation between individual donors for cfDNA and one of the cfRNA transcripts. The results of this work suggest that it will be important to consider patient-specific baselines when designing reliable circulating cfDNA or cfRNA clinical assays.
Comparison of postoperative outcomes between patients with positive and negative straight leg raising tests who underwent full-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar discectomy
Authors: Wei Fei-long , Gao Haoran , Yan Xiaodong , Yuan Yifang , Qian Shu , Gao Quanyou , Guo Shikong , Xue Weigao , Qian Jixian , Zhou Chengpei 
Published: October 2020

AbstractFull-endoscopic transforaminal lumbar discectomy (FETD) is increasingly used in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). There is little knowledge on the related factors, including the straight leg raising test (SLR), that influence the operation. Consecutive patients with LDH who came to our hospital from August 2015 to September 2016 and underwent FETD surgery were included. Four kinds of scores, including the VAS (lumbar/leg), ODI and JOA values, were measured and reassessed after FETD to assess the surgical outcomes. There was a statistically significant difference between the scores before surgery and at each postoperative follow-up. In addition, the increase in the JOA score postoperatively was statistically significant compared with that before surgery. There were statistically significant differences among the three subpopulations [patients considered SLR positive (0°–30°), SLR positive (31°–60°) and SLR negative (61°–)] in the changes in the VAS (leg), ODI and JOA values. However, there were no statistically significant differences among the three subpopulations [patients considered SLR positive (0°–30°), SLR positive (31°–60°) and SLR negative (61°–)] in the changes in VAS score (lumbar). FETD showed great effectiveness in treating patients with lumbar disc herniation. Patients who were SLR negative may receive greater benefit from FETD.
The phenotypic characteristic observed by cardiac magnetic resonance in a PLN-R14del family
Authors: Jiang Xincheng , Xu Yuanwei , Sun Jiayu , Wang Lili , Guo Xinli , Chen Yucheng 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPhospholamban (PLN) is an important regulator for sarcoendoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium transport ATPase (SERCA), which uptakes Ca2+ to SR during the diastolic phase of cardiomyocytes to maintain intracellular calcium homeostasis. Mutations on PLN result in intracellular calcium disorder, myocardial contraction defect, and eventually heart failure and/or malignant ventricular arrhythmia. Since 2003, several kinds of PLN mutations have been identified in familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients, illustrating a few clinical characteristics that differs from classical DCM patients. Herein, we report a large PLN-R14del family with typical clinical characteristics reported including relatively late-onset clinical symptoms, low-voltage in ECG, as well as frequent ventricular arrythmias. Moreover, members underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) examination showed a strikingly similar pattern of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE)—Sub-epicardial involvement in the left ventricular (LV) lateral wall with or without linear mid-wall enhancement in the interventricular septum. The former one can also present in younger PLN-R14del carriers despite completely normal LV structure and function. Meanwhile, T1 mapping also found significantly increased extracellular volume (ECV) in PLN-R14del carriers. These findings highlight the special role of CMR to phenotyping PLN-induced cardiomyopathy patients and distinguish them from other types of cardiomyopathy.
Application of a self-injection locked cyan laser for Barium ion cooling and spectroscopy
Authors: Savchenkov Anatoliy A. , Christensen Justin E. , Hucul David , Campbell Wesley C. , Hudson Eric R. , Williams Skip , Matsko Andrey B. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCompact, high power lasers with narrow linewidth are important tools for the manipulation of quantum systems. We demonstrate a compact, self-injection locked, Fabry-Perot semiconductor laser diode with high output power at 493 nm. A high quality factor magnesium fluoride whispering gallery mode resonator enables both high passive stability and 1 kHz instantaneous linewidth. We use this laser for laser-cooling, in-situ isotope purifcation, and probing barium atomic ions confined in a radio-frequency ion trap. The results here demonstrate the suitability of these lasers in trapped ion quantum information processing and for probing weak coherent optical transitions.
Brain structural and functional differences between pure menstrual migraine and menstrually-related migraine
Authors: Xu Tao , Zhang Yutong , Wang Chen , Liao Huaqiang , Zhou Siyuan , Li Dehua , Huang Siying , Shi Yu , Wang Ziwen , Chen Jiao , Liang Fan-Rong , Zhao Ling 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe pathophysiological differences between menstrually-related migraine (MRM) and pure menstrual migraine (PMM) are largely unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential differences in brain structure and function between PMM and MRM. Forty-eight menstrual migraine patients (32 MRM; 16 PMM) were recruited for this study. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was applied on structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), and the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) in resting state functional MRI (rsfMRI) were calculated. No significant between-group difference was observed in the grey matter volume (GMV). MRM patients exhibited lower ALFF values at the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) than PMM patients. Moreover, the MRM group showed significantly higher ReHo values in the DLPFC. Higher values in the mPFC were related to higher expression of calcitonin gene-associated peptide (CGRP) in the PMM group (r = 0.5,P = 0.048). Combined ALFF and ReHo analyses revealed significantly different spontaneous neural activity in the DLPFC and mPFC, between MRM and PMM patients, and ALFF values in the mPFC were positively correlated with CGRP expression, in the PMM group. This study enhances our understanding of the relationship between neural abnormalities and CGRP expression in individuals with PMM.
Evidence of drought memory in Dipteryx alata indicates differential acclimation of plants to savanna conditions
Authors: Alves Rauander D. F. B. , Menezes-Silva Paulo E. , Sousa Leticia F. , Loram-Lourenço Lucas , Silva Maria L. F. , Almeida Sabrina E. S. , Silva Fabiano G. , Perez de Souza Leonardo , Fernie Alisdair R. , Farnese Fernanda S. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe remarkable phytogeographic characteristics of the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) resulted in a vegetation domain composed of plants with high structural and functional diversity to tolerate climate extremes. Here we used a key Cerrado species (Dipteryx alata) to evaluate if species of this domain present a mechanism of stress memory, responding more quickly and efficiently when exposed to recurrent drought episodes. The exposure of D. alata seedlings to drought resulted in several changes, mainly in physiological and biochemical traits, and these changes differed substantially when the water deficit was imposed as an isolated event or when the plants were subjected to drought cycles, suggesting the existence of a drought memory mechanism. Plants submitted to recurrent drought events were able to maintain essential processes for plant survival when compared to those submitted to drought for the first time. This differential acclimation to drought was the result of orchestrated changes in several metabolic pathways, involving differential carbon allocation for defense responses and the reprogramming and coordination of primary, secondary and antioxidant metabolism. The stress memory in D. alata is probably linked the evolutionary history of the species and reflects the environment in which it evolved.
Analysis of cell-biomaterial interaction through cellular bridge formation in the interface between hGMSCs and CaP bioceramics
Authors: Benjumeda Wijnhoven Isabel , Vallejos Raúl , Santibanez Juan F. , Millán Carola , Vivanco Juan F. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe combination of biomaterials and stem cells for clinical applications constitute a great challenge in bone tissue engineering. Hence, cellular networks derived from cells-biomaterials crosstalk have a profound influence on cell behaviour and communication, preceding proliferation and differentiation. The purpose of this study was to investigate in vitro cellular networks derived from human gingival mesenchymal stem cells (hGMSCs) and calcium phosphate (CaP) bioceramic interaction. Biological performance of CaP bioceramic and hGMSCs interaction was evaluated through cell adhesion and distribution, cellular proliferation, and potential osteogenic differentiation, at three different times: 5 h, 1 week and 4 weeks. Results confirmed that hGMSCs met the required MSCs criteria while displaying osteogenic differentiaton capacities. We found a significant increase of cellular numbers and proliferation levels. Also, protein and mRNA OPN expression were upregulated in cells cultured with CaP bioceramic by day 21, suggesting an osteoinductible effect of the CaP bioceramic on hGMSCs. Remarkably, CaP bioceramic aggregations were obtained through hGMSCs bridges, suggesting the in vitro potential of macrostructures formation. We conclude that hGMSCs and CaP bioceramics with micro and macropores support hGMSC adhesion, proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Our results suggest that investigations focused on the interface cells-biomaterials are essential for bone tissue regenerative therapies.
Fruticuline A, a chemically-defined diterpene, exerts antineoplastic effects in vitro and in vivo by multiple mechanisms
Authors: Corso Claudia Rita , Stipp Maria Carolina , Radulski Débora Rasec , Mariott Marihá , da Silva Luisa Mota , de Souza Ramos Edneia Amancio , Klassen Giseli , Queiroz Telles José Ederaldo , Oliveira Cristhian Santos , Stefanello Maria Élida Alves , Verhoeven Arthur J. , Oude Elferink Ronald P. J. , Acco Alexandra 
Published: October 2020

AbstractNatural products have been recognized as important bioactive compounds on the basis of their wide biological properties. Here we investigated the antitumor effect and molecular mechanisms of the diterpene Fruticuline A (fruti) from Salvia lachnostachys, in human cancer cell lineages and Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma in mice. Fruti reduced MCF-7 and HepG2 proliferation by the reduction of Cyclin D1 levels and decreased NF-κB gene levels in both cell types. Furthermore, fruti also induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells, reduced Bcl-2 gene expression and induced necroptosis by increasing Ripk in MCF-7 cells. In mice, fruti prevented tumor development and reduced Cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and Rela gene levels, and reduced the p-NF-κB/NF-κB ratio in tumor tissue. Furthermore, fruti induced necrosis and apoptosis, increased N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase and TNF-α levels and reduced IL-10 and Vegf levels in tumor tissue. Collectively, fruti exerts antitumor effects through the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, reducing Cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 levels. In vitro the apoptosis and necroptosis pathways are involved in the cellular death, whereas in vivo, cells undergo necrosis by increased tumor inflammation and reduction of angiogenesis. Thus, fruticuline A acts in tumor cells by multiple mechanisms and represents a promising molecule for drug development in cancer treatment.