bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perturbation of effector and regulatory T cell subsets in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
Authors: Karhan Ece , Gunter Courtney L , Ravanmehr Vida , Horne Meghan , Kozhaya Lina , Renzullo Stephanie , Placek Lindsey , George Joshy , Robinson Peter N , Vernon Suzanne D , Bateman Lucinda , Unutmaz Derya 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMyalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disorder of unknown etiology, and diagnosis of the disease is largely based on clinical symptoms. We hypothesized that immunological disruption is the major driver of this disease and analyzed a large cohort of ME/CFS patient or control blood samples for differences in T cell subset frequencies and functions. We found that the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T cells and the proportion of CD8+ effector memory T cells were increased, whereas NK cells were reduced in ME/CFS patients younger than 50 years old compared to a healthy control group. Remarkably, major differences were observed in Th1, Th2, Th17 and mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) T cell subset functions across all ages of patients compared to healthy subjects. While CCR6+ Th17 cells in ME/CFS secreted less IL-17 compared to controls, their overall frequency was higher. Similarly, MAIT cells from patients secreted lower IFNγ, GranzymeA and IL-17 upon activation. Together, these findings suggest chronic stimulation of these T cell populations in ME/CFS patients. In contrast, the frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs), which control excessive immune activation, was higher in ME/CFS patients. Finally, using a machine learning algorithm called random forest, we determined that the set of T cell parameters analyzed could identify more than 90% of the subjects in the ME/CFS cohort as patients (93% true positive rate or sensitivity). In conclusion, these multiple and major perturbations or dysfunctions in T cell subsets in ME/CFS patients suggest potential chronic infections or microbiome dysbiosis. These findings also have implications for development of ME/CFS specific immune biomarkers and reveal potential targets for novel therapeutic interventions.
Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain Inhibition Suppresses LPS-Induced Inflammatory Responses via TREM1/STAT3 Pathway in BV2 Microglia
Authors: Zhou Cuiyan , Zhang Jie , Ying Weihai 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMitochondrial damage and neuroinflammation belong to two of the most important pathological factors in multiple neurological disorders. However, the effect of mitochondrial damage of microglia on microglial activation under pathological conditions has remained unclear. In our current study, we used BV2 microglia as a cellular model to determine the effects of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) inhibitors on LPS-induced inflammatory responses of microglia. We found that all of the three mitochondrial ETC inhibitors, including rotenone, sodium azide and antimycin A, significantly inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory responses of the microglia, assessed by determinations of the protein or mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS and COX2. Nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 subunit does not appear to play an important role in the mitochondrial ETC inhibition-produced suppression of microglial activation. Instead, our study found that the mitochondrial ETC inhibitors significantly attenuated not only the LPS-induced increase in the TREM1 levels - an amplifier of inflammatory process, but also the LPS-induced increase in the ratio of phosphorylated STAT3 / STAT3. In summary, our study has suggested that mitochondrial ETC inhibition of microglia can lead to suppression of LPS-induced microglial activation, which may be mediated by the inhibitory effects of mitochondrial ETC inhibition on the LPS-induced increases in the level of TREM1 and the ratio of p-STAT3 / STAT3. These findings have provided valuable information for elucidating the relationships between mitochondrial damage and neuroinflammation in multiple neurological diseases.
Comparison of abacavir‐specific effector and proliferating functions of CD8 T cells in abacavir‐treated HIV‐1 patients
Authors: Faridi Rehan M. , Patel Stuti , Dharmani‐Khan Poonam , Gill John , Berka Noureddine , Khan Faisal M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSusceptibility to abacavir hypersensitivity (ABH) in HIV‐1‐positive patients is strongly linked to the carriage of HLA‐B*57:01 and the potential mechanism includes drug‐specific activation of cytokine producing CD8 T cells exclusively in individuals carrying HLA‐B*57:01. Here, we report a detailed characterization of abacavir‐induced functional response of CD8 T cells in HLA‐B*57:01pos individuals. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) from HLA‐B*57:01posABHpos and HLA‐B*57:01negABHneg individuals were stimulated with abacavir. Multicolor flow cytometry was performed to assess the cytokine (IFNγ) production and degranulation (CD107a expression) after 6–18 hr culture and to enumerate proliferating CD4/CD8 T cells by culturing carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester‐loaded PBMNCs for 7 days. CD8 T cells from HLA‐B*57:01posABHpos individuals were multifunctional: proliferating, IFNγ producing, degranulating (CD107apos), and both degranulating and IFNγ producing (CD107aposIFNγpos). Degranulating CD8 T cells in general and both degranulating and IFNγ producing CD8 T cells in particular dominated abacavir‐specific immune response. All functional responses were partially blocked by addition of HLA‐B*57:01‐reactive Bw4 mAb, but not by non‐HLA‐B*57:01‐reactive Bw6 mAb. In conclusion, the study demonstrates that abacavir‐specific CD8 T‐cell‐restricted immune response in HLA‐B*57:01posABHpos HIV‐1 patients has multiple effector and proliferating functions, where the primary effector response appears to be the release of cytolytic granules. The findings have implications for immunotherapy of HLA‐related drug hypersensitivities.
Viral SPP1 DNA is infectious in naturally competent Bacillus subtilis cells: inter‐ and intramolecular recombination pathways
Authors: Serrano Ester , Ramos Cristina , Ayora Silvia , Alonso Juan C. 
Published: December 2019

SummaryA proteolyzed bacteriophage (phage) might release its DNA into the environment. Here, we define the recombination functions required to resurrect an infective lytic phage from inactive environmental viral DNA in naturally competent Bacillus subtilis cells. Using phage SPP1 DNA, a model that accounts for the obtained data is proposed (i) the DNA uptake apparatus takes up environmental SPP1 DNA, fragments it, and incorporates into the cytosol different linear single‐stranded (ss) DNA molecules shorter than genome‐length; (ii) the SsbA‐DprA mediator loads RecA onto any fragmented linear SPP1 ssDNA, but negative modulators (RecX and RecU) promote a net RecA disassembly from these ssDNAs not homologous to the host genome; (iii) single strand annealing (SSA) proteins, DprA and RecO, anneal the SsbA‐ or SsbB‐coated complementary strands, yielding tailed SPP1 duplex intermediates; (iv) RecA polymerized on these tailed intermediates invades a homologous region in another incomplete molecule, and in concert with RecD2 helicase, reconstitutes a complete linear phage genome with redundant regions at the ends of the molecule; and (v) DprA, RecO or viral G35P SSA, may catalyze the annealing of these terminally redundant regions, alone or with the help of an exonuclease, to produce a circular unit‐length duplex viral genome ready to initiate replication.
‘Failure in the air’: activist narratives, in‐group story‐telling, and keeping political possibility alive in Lebanon
Authors: Musallam Fuad 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFailure is often taken as an endpoint: anathema to political organizing and the death knell of social movements. To the degree that radical movements themselves dwell on failure, participants often consider the focus pathological. This article explores how, in the aftermath of the falling apart of long‐term initiatives, Lebanese political activists were able to maintain their capacity to engage in transformative action. At a time when activists felt ‘failure in the air’, narrating prior political experiences communally, in formal and informal contexts, became crucial to (re)imagining one another as activists. Such stories narrated failure to compel collective action in the future, making failure itself a political resource; not the end, but a beginning. Throughout, this article engages in an affirmative anthropology that keeps alive the costs of failure even as it shows how radical political actors generate their capacity to act and their potential to imagine otherwise.
Enhanced extraction of hydroxyapatite from bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) scales using deep eutectic solvent
Authors: Liu Yanhong , Li Jia , Wang Dezhen , Yang Fei , Zhang Lingling , Ji Shuhuan , Wang Shuo 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFish‐scale waste is rich in biocompatible hydroxyapatite (HAp). In the present study, an environmentally friendly method of extracting HAp from fish‐scale waste was developed in an effort to promote environmental sustainability. Deep eutectic solvents (choline chloride/glycerol, 1/2) were used to extract HAp from bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) scales. A relatively high extraction rate of 47.67% ± 1.81% was obtained under optimum conditions (70 °C, a solid/liquid ratio of 1/15 g/g and a 2.5 hr extraction time). The obtained HAp was characterized and its purity was determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction, respectively. The chemical composition was performed by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. Its morphology and particle size were observed using scanning electron microscopy and particle size distribution analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to determine its thermal stability. Blood compatibility was determined using a hemolytic test. The results showed that this extraction yielded HAp with the irregular morphology, the higher Ca/P ratio, good thermal stability, and blood compatibility, indicating that the proposed method is an excellent alternative for the improved utilization of fish scale waste.Practical ApplicationBiocompatible hydroxyapatite (HAp) was extracted from fish scale (FS) waste by using an environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvent. The optimized extraction and structure characterization of extracted HAp were investigated in this study. The results showed that the extracted HAp had the irregular morphology, the higher Ca/P ratio, good thermal stability, and blood compatibility, which indicated that the proposed method was an excellent alternative to improving the utilization of FS waste.
Genotoxicological safety assessment of puree‐only edible films from onion bulb (Allium cepa L.) for use in food packaging‐related applications
Authors: Barreto Mariana Rodrigues , Aleixo Nadia Andrade , Silvestre Rafaela Baldassari , Fregonezi Nathália Ferreira , Barud Hernane da Silva , Dias Diógenes dos Santos , Ribeiro Clovis Augusto , Resende Flávia Aparecida 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe production of films and coatings from onion (Allium cepa L.) to be applied as packaging is attractive, due to its high nutritional and therapeutic value. Also, it can collaborate to minimize environmental impacts caused by the improper disposal of products made from plastics. However, despite it being an innovative and novel proposal, onion films for the development of edible packaging should be evaluated before being considered nontoxic and safe for human consumption. Thus, the objective of the present study was to elucidate the cytotoxic and mutagenic profile of eluates of polymer films of Allium cepa L. obtained by the casting process and to verify their safety for commercial purposes. The analysis of cellular viability demonstrated greater cytotoxicity for unwashed hydrothermally treated pulp (HTP) than for films of washed hydrothermally treated pulp (W‐HTP). Regarding the mutagenic activity, the HTP and W‐HTP films were not able to statistically increase the frequencies of the biomarkers for chromosome damage (micronucleus test) at the tested concentrations. However, the HTP films showed signs of mutagenicity in the Ames test (gene mutations), suggesting caution in their use. The detection of genotoxicity is highly recommended in order to avoid the risk of genotoxic exposure to mutagens and carcinogens. In conclusion, the absence of mutagenicity and cytotoxicity observed in this study is extremely relevant, because it provides support for toxicogenic properties of the Allium cepa films with promising applicability in the food industry.Practical ApplicationThe bioplastics made from onion bulbs are multifunctional materials, which requires safety profile assessment. The results of the mutagenicity and cytotoxicity tests suggests that especially the W‐HTP films are harmless, supporting at the first level of evidence, its safety potential to be used in the food industry (food films), biodegradable packaging, and biomaterials (substrates for drug delivery system).
Are cerebral ischaemic complications more likely to occur in elderly patients undergoing transradial non‐coronary intervention: A single‐centre retrospective review
Authors: Huang Ivan Kuang Hsin , Tan Ray Yueh , Kwan Justin , Lim Gavin Hock Tai , Quek Lawrence Han Hwee , Pua Uei 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIntroductionTransradial artery access (TRA) is an established technique employed by interventional cardiologists for diagnostic and therapeutic coronary interventions. The use of TRA has gained increasing traction amongst interventional radiologists in recent years. In transradial, non‐coronary interventions, the aorta has to be traversed. With increasing age, atherosclerotic changes in the aorta posed a theoretical risk of catheter‐related emboli. Currently, there is limited literature available on the cerebral ischaemic complication rates in transradial non‐coronary interventions.MethodsBetween November 2015 and December 2017, 150 transradial non‐coronary interventions were performed on 95 patients. Intra‐procedural, in‐hospital, 30‐day and 6‐month complications (ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack and death, and minor complications, such as puncture site haematoma, pseudoaneurysm, thrombosis, dissection and perforation) were compared between the two age groups (≤65 and >65 years old).ResultsThe patients were predominantly male (87.0%) with age ≤65 (N = 69; 46.0%) and age >65 (N = 81; 54.0%). There were no ischaemic strokes at all time points in both groups, except for one case of ischaemic stroke at 6 months in the age ≤65 group(1.4% vs. 0.0%; P = 0.462). On multivariable analysis, age >65 was associated with lower in‐hospital death rates (OR 0.251; 95% CI 0.013–3.09), at 30 days (OR 0.608; 95% CI 0.77–4.805) and at 6 months (OR 0.514; 95% CI 0.169–1.558) with no deaths intra‐procedurally in both groups. Minor complications include puncture site grade I haematoma formation (2.9% vs. 2.5%; P = 0.999) and pseudoaneurysm (2.9% vs. 0.0%; P = 0.210). In our study, the overall major and minor complications rates are low and no statistically significant difference exists between the two groups.ConclusionTransradial non‐coronary interventions are safe in elderly patients, who are likely to have more atherosclerotic disease of the aorta. Of note, no complication of ischaemic strokes within 30 days of the procedure is documented in all patients.
Surgical recurrence of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura treated with microwave (MW) thermoablation: A case report
Authors: Fiore Francesco , Stoia Vincenzo , Somma Francesco 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSolitary fibrous tumor (SFT) of the pleura is a rare neoplasm which is challenging for clinicians to treat and radiologists to diagnose. Herein, we report a case of recurrence of SFT of the pleura in a 77‐year‐old patient which was diagnosed and surgically treated on the first occasion in 2005. The patient had a recurrence in 2016 which was treated and then six months later, he again experienced chest pain and a further local recurrence was found. Taking into consideration the age and comorbidities of the patient, CT‐guided percutaneous microwave‐thermal ablation was preferrable to surgery and a safe and highly effective local ablative technique with few side‐effects.
Is there an association between Vice‐Chancellors’ compensation and external performance measures?
Authors: Bugeja Martin , Govendir Brett , Matolcsy Zoltan , Pazmandy Greg 
Published: December 2019

AbstractWe provide evidence on the pay for performance relation between Australian university Vice Chancellors’ compensation and independent measures of university teaching, research and other performance indicators provided by external ranking bodies. Our results show limited association between university rankings and Vice Chancellors’ compensation, but confirm that Vice Chancellors’ compensation is predominantly driven by size measures based on the different components of revenue. Further, we find that few universities offer performance‐based bonus payments. Our results are robust with respect to a number of sensitivity tests.
Genetic and environmental factors in the trade‐off between sexual and asexual reproduction of a rare clonal angiosperm
Authors: Hewitt Alison 
Published: December 2019

AbstractUnderstanding the factors that influence the trade‐off between flowering and clonal growth in angiosperms is of great interest to botanists, plant ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Being able, ultimately, to manipulate these factors has potentially wide‐ranging applications in conservation biology, horticulture and agriculture. A rare, native Australian species,Melaleuca deanei, displays a low frequency of flowering and failed seedling recruitment, with persistence and expansion in the field predominantly via clonal root suckering. A decade of studies into its reproductive biology and ecology reveal both genetic and environmental factors reducing sexual success within its populations. Five factors influencing the trade‐off from sexual reproduction to clonal propagation are distilled and discussed in this work: 1. environmental constraint on sexual success; 2. small population size/low mate availability; 3. an obligate outcrossing breeding system; 4. somatic mutations in older clones; and 5. phylogenetic constraint. The work is potentially informative to the life cycles and management of other clonal angiosperms, be they rare and endangered; highly fecund weedy species; or economically important species. Methods to test each factor in future studies are proposed.
Parents of extremely and moderately preterm children reported long‐lasting impressions of medical care and the hospital environment
Authors: Widding Ulrika , Hägglöf Bruno , Adamsson Marie , Farooqi Aijaz 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAimFew studies have examined the parents of moderately preterm children. The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of parents of both extremely and moderately preterm children.MethodsQualitative telephone interviews were conducted in 2013‐2014 with 13 mothers and 10 fathers of extremely preterm children and with 11 mothers and seven fathers of moderately preterm children. The children were born between 2000 and 2003. Data were analysed with a narrative approach.ResultsParents of extremely preterm children recounted dramatic birth stories that, for most, ended positively. Parents of moderately preterm children presented more neutral birth stories, and most recounted that their children did not receive attention for prematurity from medical staff. Parents from both groups described staff members’ treatment in terms of long‐lasting impressions, and they were deeply affected by the hospital environment and the other parents and children admitted. Parents whose children died or were disabled recounted dramatic stories and endless fights for support.ConclusionParents from both groups reported long‐lasting impressions of the medical staff and the hospital environment, which they found important to talk about, even a decade after the birth of their child/children.
The development of a test battery to assess the hand–eye functions relevant in predicting easy and accurate tablet subdivision in older people: A pilot study
Authors: van Riet–Nales Diana , Donkerbroek Linda , Nicia Agnes , Oussoren Christien , de Boer Anthonius , van den Bemt Bart 
Published: December 2019

AimsTablets may be subdivided for dose adaptations or to ease swallowing. The handling is common in older patients but can be difficult and inaccurate. Currently, it is not known which hand–eye functions determine the ability of older people to break tablets by hand and to do so with acceptable ease and accuracy. The aim of this study was to develop a test battery to assess the hand–eye functions relevant in predicting easy and accurate tablet subdivision in older people.MethodsA mixed methods study was conducted including literature reviews and a pilot experiment. The reviews were conducted in Pubmed, Google Scholar, Dutch journals and professional standards. The first review tried to identify the hand–eye functions relevant to tablet subdivision and the second the associated measuring instruments, testing protocols and normative data. A test battery was empanelled. A pilot experiment was conducted in 30 adult volunteers to optimize and evaluate the test battery.ResultsFive domains were considered relevant: hand size, hand strength, flexibility/manual dexterity, vision and coordination. Hand size could best be measured by finger circumference, hand strength by pinch‐ and grip strength, flexibility by active range of joint motion, manual dexterity (and flexibility, coordination, cognition, vision) by pegboard function, vision by near visual acuity. Older people preferred the use of tablet splitters over hand breaking.ConclusionEasy and accurate tablet subdivision is essential to the good use of medicines. We developed a test battery for older people, but probably of value to all age groups.