bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electroporation outperforms in vivo-jetPEI for intratumoral DNA-based reporter gene transfer
Authors: Jacobs Liesl , De Smidt Elien , Geukens Nick , Declerck Paul , Hollevoet Kevin 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIntratumoral delivery of drug-encoding plasmid DNA (pDNA) enables localised in vivo expression of biological drugs, offering an attractive alternative to conventional protein treatment. However, this requires physical or chemical methods to enhance the low transfection efficiency of naked pDNA. Electroporation and complexation with the polycation in vivo-jetPEI are both evaluated in the clinic for intratumoral pDNA delivery, but lack head-to-head comparison. This study therefore compared both methods for intratumoral DNA-based reporter gene transfer in a subcutaneous mouse tumour model. Intratumoral electroporation resulted in strong reporter expression that was restricted to the tumour area and persisted for at least ten days. Intratumoral expression after injection of pDNA-jetPEI complexes was two to three logs lower, did not exceed the background in most mice, and lasted less than five days even with repeated dosing. Remarkably, reporter expression was primarily detected in the lungs, presumably due to leakage of pDNA-jetPEI complexes into the systemic circulation. In conclusion, electroporation enabled more efficient, prolonged and tumour-specific reporter expression compared to intratumoral injection of pDNA complexed with in vivo-jetPEI. These results favour the use of electroporation for intratumoral DNA-based gene transfer, and suggest further optimisation of pDNA-jetPEI complexes is needed to improve their efficacy and biosafety.
Prevalence and risk factors of primary sarcopenia in community-dwelling outpatient elderly: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Therakomen Visaratana , Petchlorlian Aisawan , Lakananurak Narisorn 
Published: November 2020

AbstractNo previous study has investigated the prevalence and risk factors for primary sarcopenia in outpatient setting. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with primary sarcopenia in outpatient elderly. Additionally, we compared the severity of sarcopenia based on the 2014 and 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. This cross-sectional study was performed in 330 subjects aged over 60 years in an outpatient setting. The muscle strength, muscle performance and muscle mass were assessed using the handheld dynamometer, 6-m gait speed, and bioelectrical impedance analysis, respectively. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 10% as per the 2014 and 2019 AWGS criteria. The development of sarcopenia was positively correlated with the age with an odds ratio (OR) of 6.87 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.63–28.88] in the middle-old group (70–79 years), and 13.71 (95%CI 3.66–51.41; p = 0.009) in the very old group (≥ 80 years). Prefrailty and low physical activity were significantly associated with sarcopenia with an OR of 4.75 (95%CI 1.90—11.89) in prefrailty, 15.35 (95%CI 1.69–139.47) in the middle activity group, and 17.99 (95%CI 1.95–165.73) in the lowest activity group. In conclusion, primary sarcopenia was found in one-tenth of outpatient elderly. Age, prefrailty, and low activity were independent factors associated with sarcopenia.
Integration of metabolomics and transcriptomics reveals novel biomarkers in the blood for tuberculosis diagnosis in children
Authors: Dutta Noton K. , Tornheim Jeffrey A. , Fukutani Kiyoshi F. , Paradkar Mandar , Tiburcio Rafael T. , Kinikar Aarti , Valvi Chhaya , Kulkarni Vandana , Pradhan Neeta , Shivakumar Shri Vijay Bala Yogendra , Kagal Anju , Gupte Akshay , Gupte Nikhil , Mave Vidya , Gupta Amita , Andrade Bruno B. , Karakousis Petros C. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPediatric tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health problem. Improved pediatric diagnostics using readily available biosources are urgently needed. We used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze plasma metabolite profiles of Indian children with active TB (n = 16) and age- and sex-matched, Mycobacterium tuberculosis-exposed but uninfected household contacts (n = 32). Metabolomic data were integrated with whole blood transcriptomic data for each participant at diagnosis and throughout treatment for drug-susceptible TB. A decision tree algorithm identified 3 metabolites that correctly identified TB status at distinct times during treatment. N-acetylneuraminate achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.66 at diagnosis. Quinolinate achieved an AUC of 0.77 after 1 month of treatment, and pyridoxate achieved an AUC of 0.87 after successful treatment completion. A set of 4 metabolites (gamma-glutamylalanine, gamma-glutamylglycine, glutamine, and pyridoxate) identified treatment response with an AUC of 0.86. Pathway enrichment analyses of these metabolites and corresponding transcriptional data correlated N-acetylneuraminate with immunoregulatory interactions between lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells, and correlated pyridoxate with p53-regulated metabolic genes and mitochondrial translation. Our findings shed new light on metabolic dysregulation in children with TB and pave the way for new diagnostic and treatment response markers in pediatric TB.
Discovery and comparative genomic analysis of elk circovirus (ElkCV), a novel circovirus species and the first reported from a cervid host
Authors: Fisher Mathew , Harrison Thomas M. R. , Nebroski Michelle , Kruczkiewicz Peter , Rothenburger Jamie L. , Ambagala Aruna , Macbeth Bryan , Lung Oliver 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe complete genome sequence of a novel circovirus (elk circovirus (ElkCV) Banff/2019) was determined via high throughput sequencing of liver tissue from a euthanized Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) from Alberta, Canada. The genome is circular and 1,787 nucleotides long, with two major ORFs encoding predicted proteins. Comparative genomic analysis to 4,164 publicly available complete and near complete circovirus genomes showed that ElkCV shares approximately 65% pairwise genome-wide nucleotide identity with the most closely related circovirus species, porcine circoviruses (PCV) 1 and 2 and bat-associated circovirus (BatACV) 11. ElkCV features a stem-loop within the origin of replication region characteristic of circoviruses. However, it differs from those found in PCV1, PCV2 and BatACV11 since it has a longer stem and contains hexamer repeats that overlap the stem in opposing orientations. Interestingly, stem-loop structures of similar length featuring repeats in a similar position and orientation are also seen in some avian circoviruses. Based on the demarcation threshold established by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) for members of Circoviridae (80% pairwise genome-wide nucleotide identity), ElkCV represents a novel species and is the first complete circovirus genome reported from a cervid host.
Enhanced risk of cancer in companion animals as a response to the longevity
Authors: Tanaka Moeko , Yamaguchi Sachi , Iwasa Yoh 
Published: November 2020

AbstractCancer is caused by the lifetime accumulation of multiple somatic deformations of the genome and epigenome. At a very low rate, mistakes occur during genomic replication (e.g., mutations or modified epigenetic marks). Long-lived species, such as elephants, are suggested to have evolved mechanisms to slow down the cancer progression. Recently, the life span of companion dogs has increased considerably than before, owing to the improvement of their environment, which has led to an increase in the fraction of companion dogs developing cancer. These findings suggest that short-term responses of cancer risk to longevity differ from long-term responses. In this study, to clarify the situation, we used a simple multi-step model for cancer. The rates of events leading to malignant cancer are assumed to be proportional to those of genomic replication error. Perfect removal of replication error requires a large cost, resulting in the evolution of a positive rate of genomic replication error. The analysis of the model revealed: that, when the environment suddenly becomes benign, the relative importance of cancer enhances, although the age-dependent cancer risk remains unchanged. However, in the long run, the genomic error rate evolves to become smaller and mitigates the cancer risk.
A simple PCR-based method for the rapid and accurate identification of spider mites (Tetranychidae) on cassava
Authors: Ovalle Tatiana M. , Vásquez-Ordóñez Aymer Andrés , Jimenez Jenyfer , Parsa Soroush , Cuellar Wilmer J. , Becerra Lopez-Lavalle Luis A. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe morphological identification of mites entails great challenges. Characteristics such as dorsal setae and aedeagus are widely used, but they show variations between populations, and the technique is time consuming and demands specialized taxonomic expertise that is difficult to access. A successful alternative has been to exploit a region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene to classify specimens to the species level. We analyzed the COI sequences of four mite species associated with cassava and classified them definitively by detailed morphological examinations. We then developed an identification kit based on the restriction fragment length polymorphism–polymerase chain reaction of subunit I of the COI gene focused on the three restriction enzymes AseI, MboII, and ApoI. This set of enzymes permitted the simple, accurate identification of Mononychellus caribbeanae, M. tanajoa, M. mcgregori, and Tetranychus urticae, rapidly and with few resources. This kit could be a vital tool for the surveillance and monitoring of mite pests in cassava crop protection programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Quantitative measures of vortex veins in the posterior pole in eyes with pachychoroid spectrum diseases
Authors: Matsumoto Hidetaka , Hoshino Junki , Arai Yosuke , Mukai Ryo , Nakamura Kosuke , Kikuchi Yuka , Kishi Shoji , Akiyama Hideo 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPachychoroid spectrum diseases have attracted increasing attention, though their pathophysiology has yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we assessed the vascular diameters of vortex veins in pachychoroid spectrum diseases such as central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), pachychoroid neovasculopathy without polypoidal lesions (PNV), and pachychoroid neovasculopathy with polypoidal lesions (polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: PCV). In a retrospective case series of 94 eyes with CSC, 60 eyes with PNV and 57 with PCV, we binarized en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of choroidal vortex veins and analyzed the mean diameter of vortex veins. The presence of anastomosis between the superior and inferior vortex veins and central choroidal thickness (CCT) were also evaluated using OCT images. CSC showed significantly larger mean diameter of vortex veins than PCV (P < 0.05). Anastomosis between superior and inferior vortex veins was observed in over 90% of eyes with each pachychoroid spectrum disease. The patients with CSC were the youngest, followed by PNV patients, and then patients with PCV. The largest CCT values were observed in CSC eyes, followed by PNV eyes, and then PCV eyes. CCT correlated with the mean diameter of vortex veins (rs = 0.51, P < 0.01). These findings suggest that congestion of vortex veins might show gradual amelioration corresponding to the development of anastomosis between the superior and inferior vortex veins during the course of progression of pachychoroid spectrum diseases. Moreover, the mean diameter of vortex veins can be used as a parameter indicating choroidal congestion.
Widespread elevated iridium in Upper Triassic–Lower Jurassic strata of the Newark Supergroup: implications for use as an extinction marker
Authors: Tanner Lawrence H. , Kyte Frank T. , Puffer John H. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAnomalous levels of iridium in sedimentary strata are associated with mass extinction events caused by impact events. In the case of the end-Triassic extinction event, the anomalies as well as the extinctions are linked to the eruption of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) flood basalts. We report new data on concentrations of iridium in continental strata of the Fundy, Deerfield, Hartford and Newark basins, both above and below the oldest CAMP flows in these basins, that demonstrate that these anomalies are more common than previously known. We conclude that the enrichments were at least in some instances likely derived locally by concentration due to leaching directly from the lavas into sediments proximal to the CAMP flows due to post-eruptive hydrothermal activity. In other instances, the enrichments likely record the global fallout of aerosols and/or ash particles during the eruptions of the CAMP basalts. The common association of the highest levels of enrichment with organic matter suggests either redox control or stabilization by formation of organometallic complexes following post-eruptive redistribution. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering the distribution and magnitude of iridium anomalies in considering the source of the iridium and possible extinction mechanisms.
Human mesenchymal stromal/stem cells recruit resident pericytes and induce blood vessels maturation to repair experimental spinal cord injury in rats
Authors: Menezes Karla , Rosa Barbara Gomes , Freitas Catarina , da Cruz Aline Silva , de Siqueira Santos Raphael , Nascimento Marcos Assis , Alves Daiana Vieira Lopes , Bonamino Martin , Rossi Maria Isabel , Borojevic Radovan , Coelho-Sampaio Tatiana 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAngiogenesis is considered to mediate the beneficial effects of mesenchymal cell therapy in spinal cord injury. After a moderate balloon-compression injury in rats, injections of either human adipose tissue-derived stromal/stem cells (hADSCs) or their conditioned culture media (CM-hADSC) elicited angiogenesis around the lesion site. Both therapies increased vascular density, but the presence of hADSCs in the tissue was required for the full maturation of new blood vessels. Only animals that received hADSC significantly improved their open field locomotion, assessed by the BBB score. Animals that received CM-hADSC only, presented haemorrhagic areas and lack pericytes. Proteomic analyses of human angiogenesis-related factors produced by hADSCs showed that both pro- and anti-angiogenic factors were produced by hADSCs in vitro, but only those related to vessel maturation were detectable in vivo. hADSCs produced PDGF-AA only after insertion into the injured spinal cord. hADSCs attracted resident pericytes expressing NG2, α-SMA, PDGF-Rβ and nestin to the lesion, potentially contributing to blood vessel maturation. We conclude that the presence of hADSCs in the injured spinal cord is essential for tissue repair.
Using static method to measure tolmetin solubility at different pressures and temperatures in supercritical carbon dioxide
Authors: Pishnamazi Mahboubeh , Zabihi Samyar , Sarafzadeh Pegah , Borousan Fatemeh , Marjani Azam , Pelalak Rasool , Shirazian Saeed 
Published: November 2020

AbstractTolmetin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug being used to decrease the level of hormones which are the reasons for pain, swelling, tiredness, and stiffness for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis cases. We evaluated its solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) with the aim of drug nanonization, considering temperature and pressure variations between 120 and 400 bar and 308–338 K, in the experiments. In this way, a PVT solubility cell based on static solubility approach coupled with a simple gravimetric procedure was utilized to evaluate the solubility of tolmetin. The solubility values between 5.00 × 10−5and 2.59 × 10−3 mol fraction were obtained for tolmetin depending on the pressure and temperature of the cell. The measured data demonstrated a direct correlation between pressure and solubility of tolmetin, while the effect of temperature was a dual effect depending on the crossover pressure (160 bar). The calculated solubility data were modeled using several semi-empirical correlations, and the fitting parameters were calculated using the experimental data via appropriate optimization method. The correlated solubility data revealed that the KJ model was the most accurate one with an average absolute relative deviation percent (AARD%) of 6.9. Moreover, the carried out self-consistency analysis utilizing these correlations illustrated great potential of these models to extrapolate the solubility of tolmetin beyond the measured conditions.
Effects of top electrode material in hafnium-oxide-based memristive systems on highly-doped Si
Authors: Saylan Sueda , Aldosari Haila M. , Humood Khaled , Abi Jaoude Maguy , Ravaux Florent , Mohammad Baker 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis work provides useful insights into the development of HfO2-based memristive systems with a p-type silicon bottom electrode that are compatible with the complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor technology. The results obtained reveal the importance of the top electrode selection to achieve unique device characteristics. The Ag/HfO2/Si devices have exhibited a larger memory window and self-compliance characteristics. On the other hand, the Au/HfO2/Si devices have displayed substantial cycle-to-cycle variation in the ON-state conductance. These device characteristics can be used as an indicator for the design of resistive-switching devices in various scenes such as, memory, security, and sensing. The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of Ag/HfO2/Si and Au/HfO2/Si devices under positive and negative bias conditions have provided valuable information on the ON and OFF states of the devices and the underlying resistive switching mechanisms. Repeatable, low-power, and forming-free bipolar resistive switching is obtained with both device structures, with the Au/HfO2/Si devices displaying a poorer device-to-device reproducibility. Furthermore, the Au/HfO2/Si devices have exhibited N-type negative differential resistance (NDR), suggesting Joule-heating activated migration of oxygen vacancies to be responsible for the SET process in the unstable unipolar mode.
A novel cryo-embedding method for in-depth analysis of craniofacial mini pig bone specimens
Authors: Ticha Pavla , Pilawski Igor , Yuan Xue , Pan Jie , Tulu Ustun S. , Coyac Benjamin R. , Hoffmann Waldemar , Helms Jill A. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe disconnect between preclinical and clinical results underscores the imperative for establishing good animal models, then gleaning all available data on efficacy, safety, and potential toxicities associated with a device or drug. Mini pigs are a commonly used animal model for testing orthopedic and dental devices because their skeletons are large enough to accommodate human-sized implants. The challenge comes with the analyses of their hard tissues: current methods are time-consuming, destructive, and largely limited to histological observations made from the analysis of very few tissue sections. We developed and employed cryo-based methods that preserved the microarchitecture and the cellular/molecular integrity of mini pig hard tissues, then demonstrated that the results of these histological, histochemical, immunohistochemical, and dynamic histomorphometric analyses e.g., mineral apposition rates were comparable with similar data from preclinical rodent models. Thus, the ability to assess static and dynamic bone states increases the translational value of mini pig and other large animal model studies. In sum, this method represents logical means to minimize the number of animals in a study while simultaneously maximizing the amount of information collected from each specimen.
Multi-beam X-ray ptychography for high-throughput coherent diffraction imaging
Authors: Yao Yudong , Jiang Yi , Klug Jeffrey A. , Wojcik Michael , Maxey Evan R. , Sirica Nicholas S. , Roehrig Christian , Cai Zhonghou , Vogt Stefan , Lai Barry , Deng Junjing 
Published: November 2020

AbstractX-ray ptychography is a rapidly developing coherent diffraction imaging technique that provides nanoscale resolution on extended field-of-view. However, the requirement of coherence and the scanning mechanism limit the throughput of ptychographic imaging. In this paper, we propose X-ray ptychography using multiple illuminations instead of single illumination in conventional ptychography. Multiple locations of the sample are simultaneously imaged by spatially separated X-ray beams, therefore, the obtained field-of-view in one scan can be enlarged by a factor equal to the number of illuminations. We have demonstrated this technique experimentally using two X-ray beams focused by a house-made Fresnel zone plate array. Two areas of the object and corresponding double illuminations were successfully reconstructed from diffraction patterns acquired in one scan, with image quality similar with those obtained by conventional single-beam ptychography in sequence. Multi-beam ptychography approach increases the imaging speed, providing an efficient way for high-resolution imaging of large extended specimens.
Long-distance airborne dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 wards
Authors: Nissen Karolina , Krambrich Janina , Akaberi Dario , Hoffman Tove , Ling Jiaxin , Lundkvist Åke , Svensson Lennart , Salaneck Erik 
Published: November 2020

AbstractEvidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2, as well as other coronaviruses, can be dispersed and potentially transmitted by aerosols directly or via ventilation systems. We therefore investigated ventilation openings in one COVID-19 ward and central ducts that expel indoor air from three COVID-19 wards at Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden, during April and May 2020. Swab samples were taken from individual ceiling ventilation openings and surfaces in central ducts. Samples were subsequently subjected to rRT-PCR targeting the N and E genes of SARS-CoV-2. Central ventilation HEPA filters, located several stories above the wards, were removed and portions analyzed in the same manner. In two subsequent samplings, SARS-CoV-2 N and E genes were detected in seven and four out of 19 room vents, respectively. Central ventilation HEPA exhaust filters from the ward were found positive for both genes in three samples. Corresponding filters from two other, adjacent COVID-19 wards were also found positive. Infective ability of the samples was assessed by inoculation of susceptible cell cultures but could not be determined in these experiments. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in central ventilation systems, distant from patient areas, indicate that virus can be transported long distances and that droplet transmission alone cannot reasonably explain this, especially considering the relatively low air change rates in these wards. Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 must be taken into consideration for preventive measures.