bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of HIV/Malaria Coinfections among HIV-1 Infected Individuals in Two Tertiary Hospitals in Old Cross River State, Nigeria
Authors: Ejike Ugochi Immaculate , Cookey Tochi Ifeoma , Adiele Hope Chioma Innocent- , Okonko Iheanyi Omezuruike 
Published: August 2020

Aims: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Malaria are the two main global public health threats that dent development in low and middle-income countries. This study evaluated the immunological marker and HIV/Malaria co-infection among individuals infected with HIV-1 in old Cross River State, Nigeria.
Study Design: Cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) and University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) between March 2018 and August 2019.
Methods: A total of 417 individuals infected with HIV-1 partook in this study. The age of these individuals ranged from 4-72 years (average age = 39.1 years). Plasma samples were analyzed for HIV and Malaria using Enzyme-Linked immunosorbent Assay. The CD4 count was enumerated using the Partec CyFlow® Counter. Plasma viral loads (PVL) were determined using the Abbott Real-Time HIV-1 assay.
Results: Results showed that 230(55.1%) of the participants were in the 31-45 years age range. The majority (67.4%) of the HIV-1 infected individuals were females. An overall prevalence of HIV/Malaria coinfection in Old Cross River State, Nigeria was 14.3%, of which Uyo was 6.3% and Calabar was 3.0%. A higher prevalence of HIV/Malaria coinfection was observed among age groups <25 years (17.5%), males (5.1%), singles or divorced/widow/widower (7.7%), those with primary education (7.5%), and students (10.0%). Higher HIV/Malaria coinfection was also observed among those with CD4 cell count <200 cells/μl and 350-499 cells/μl (5.7%) and PVL >5000 copies/mL (7.9%) compared to others with 2.0% prevalence. Of all variables evaluated only marital status (p= 0.033), educational background (p= 0.000) and occupations (p =0.000) were significantly associated.
Conclusions: This study further confirmed the presence of HIV/Malaria coinfection in old Cross River State, Nigeria. This study has added to the voices on the ground to give a better view on the frequency and the pattern of distribution of HIV/Malaria coinfection since limited studies have been done on this in old Cross River State, Nigeria. This, therefore, highlights the need for a well-structured approach to the management of HIV/Malaria coinfection in Nigeria.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus V5 Prevents Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Invasion in Cell Culture and Mice Infection
Authors: Tsuruda C. T. , Souza P. C. De , Nishio E. K. , Almeida R. S. , Panagio L. A. , Baptista A. A. S. , Garcia S. , Pinheiro D. O. , Araújo E. J. A. , Chue-Gonçalves M. , Kobayashi R. K. T. , Nakazato G. 
Published: August 2020

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective capacity of the exopolysaccharide-producing Lactobacillus rhamnosus V5 against invasion in vitro and in vivo with S. typhimurium.
Methodology: We tested the antimicrobial activity of the compound extracted from the lactobacilli against S. typhimurium directly, also we tested the interference of this compound in S. typhimurium adherence and invasion of HeLa and HEp-2 cells (in vitro testings). For in vivo experiments, we used 16 BALB/c female mice. Through gavage method we introduced L. rhamnosus as probiotic and then infected mice with S. enterica serovar typhimurium. After euthanasia, spleen, liver and Peyer's patches removed for microbiological and histopathological analysis.
Results: The results showed that lactobacilli were able to produce antimicrobial compounds against S. typhimurium. These lactobacilli inhibited the adhesion and invasion of S. typhimurium in HeLa and HEp-2 cells, respectively. The challenge assay in the murine model demonstrated a decrease in pathogen translocation in the spleen and liver from mice treated with probiotic as well as protection of ileal tissue in lactobacilli-treated mice. The histopathological analysis demonstrated the presence of prominent lymphoid nodules in the ileum from the non-treated lactobacilli mice.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that L. rhamnosus improved the effectiveness of the intestinal barrier and, thus, could be a potential probiotic to control salmonellosis.
TGF‐β‐induced IGFBP‐3 is a key paracrine factor from activated pericytes that promotes colorectal cancer cell migration and invasion
Authors: Navarro Rocío , Tapia‐Galisteo Antonio , Martín‐García Laura , Tarín Carlos , Corbacho Cesáreo , Gómez‐López Gonzalo , Sánchez‐Tirado Esther , Campuzano Susana , González‐Cortés Araceli , Yáñez‐Sedeño Paloma , Compte Marta , Álvarez‐Vallina Luis , Sanz Laura 
Published: August 2020

The crosstalk between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment has been implicated in cancer progression and metastasis. Fibroblasts and immune cells are widely known to be attracted to and modified by cancer cells. However, the role of pericytes in the tumor microenvironment beyond endothelium stabilization is poorly understood. Here, we report that pericytes promoted colorectal cancer (CRC) cell proliferation, migration, invasion, stemness, and chemoresistance in vitro, as well as tumor growth in a xenograft CRC model. We demonstrate that coculture with human CRC cells induced broad transcriptomic changes in pericytes, mostly associated with TGF‐β receptor activation. The prognostic value of a TGF‐β response signature in pericytes was analyzed in CRC patient data sets. This signature was found to be a good predictor of CRC relapse. Moreover, in response to stimulation by CRC cells, pericytes expressed high levels of TGF‐β1, initiating an autocrine activation loop. Investigation of secreted mediators and underlying molecular mechanisms revealed that IGFBP‐3 is a key paracrine factor from activated pericytes affecting CRC cell migration and invasion. In summary, we demonstrate that the interplay between pericytes and CRC cells triggers a vicious cycle that stimulates pericyte cytokine secretion, in turn increasing CRC cell tumorigenic properties. Overall, we provide another example of how cancer cells can manipulate the tumor microenvironment.
Layered Antiferromagnetism Induces Large Negative Magnetoresistance in the van der Waals Semiconductor CrSBr
Authors: Telford Evan J. , Dismukes Avalon H. , Lee Kihong , Cheng Minghao , Wieteska Andrew , Bartholomew Amymarie K. , Chen Yu‐Sheng , Xu Xiaodong , Pasupathy Abhay N. , Zhu Xiaoyang , Dean Cory R. , Roy Xavier 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe recent discovery of magnetism within the family of exfoliatable van der Waals (vdW) compounds has attracted considerable interest in these materials for both fundamental research and technological applications. However, current vdW magnets are limited by their extreme sensitivity to air, low ordering temperatures, and poor charge transport properties. Here the magnetic and electronic properties of CrSBr are reported, an air‐stable vdW antiferromagnetic semiconductor that readily cleaves perpendicular to the stacking axis. Below its Néel temperature,TN= 132 ± 1 K, CrSBr adopts an A‐type antiferromagnetic structure with each individual layer ferromagnetically ordered internally and the layers coupled antiferromagnetically along the stacking direction. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) reveal that the electronic gap is ΔE= 1.5 ± 0.2 eV with a corresponding PL peak centered at 1.25 ± 0.07 eV. Using magnetotransport measurements, strong coupling between magnetic order and transport properties in CrSBr is demonstrated, leading to a large negative magnetoresistance response that is unique among vdW materials. These findings establish CrSBr as a promising material platform for increasing the applicability of vdW magnets to the field of spin‐based electronics.
Spin‐Related Electron Transfer and Orbital Interactions in Oxygen Electrocatalysis
Authors: Sun Yuanmiao , Sun Shengnan , Yang Haitao , Xi Shibo , Gracia Jose , Xu Zhichuan J. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractOxygen evolution and reduction reactions play a critical role in determining the efficiency of the water cycling (H2O ⇔ H2 + O2), in which the hydrogen serves as the energy carrier. That calls for a comprehensive understanding of oxygen electrocatalysis for efficient catalyst design. Current opinions on oxygen electrocatalysis have been focused on the thermodynamics of the reactant/intermediate adsorption on the catalysts. Because the oxygen molecule is paramagnetic, its production from or its reduction to diamagnetic hydroxide/water involves spin‐related electron transfer. Both electron transfer and orbital interactions between the catalyst and the reactant/intermediate show spin‐dependent character, making the reaction kinetics and thermodynamics sensitive to the spin configurations. Herein, a brief introduction on the spintronic explanation of the catalytic phenomena on oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is given. The local spin configurations and orbital interactions in the benchmark transition‐metal‐based catalysts for OER and ORR are analyzed as examples. To further understand the spintronic oxygen electrocatalysis and to develop more efficient spintronic catalysts, the challenges are summarized and future opportunities proposed. Spin electrocatalysis may emerge as an important topic in the near future and help integrate a comprehensive understanding of oxygen electrocatalysis.
All‐in‐One Bioinspired Multifunctional Graphene Biopolymer Foam for Simultaneous Removal of Multiple Water Pollutants
Authors: Yap Pei Lay , Hassan Kamrul , Auyoong Yow Loo , Mansouri Negar , Farivar Farzaneh , Tran Diana N. H. , Losic Dusan 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPolluted waters are complex systems with many different co‐existing contaminants that make their simultaneous removal a very challenging task. To address this problem, all‐in‐one ad/ab‐sorbent with unique combination of interfacial properties and multiple surface chemistry is developed to simultaneously and efficiently remove several pollutants including heavy metals, dyes, oils, and organic solvents. By mimicking the wetting micro‐topology of a darkling beetle with a combined hydrophilic‐hydrophobic surface, a new bioinspired adsorbent, graphene biopolymer foam (Alg‐Fe3O4‐rGO‐4S) for removal of multiple water pollutants is engineered by combining alginate (Alg) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) functionalized with tetrathiol that is also decorated with iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4). This concept is first proved by single pollutant removal, showing adsorption capacity of 789.7 ± 36 mg/g for methylene blue (MB), 107.0 ± 2.1 mg/g for Hg (II), 73.5 ± 0.7 mg/g for Cu (II), and rapid oil‐water separation with high sorption capacity (11–18 g/g). A remarkable performance for simultaneous removal of their mixtures in milli‐Q, river, and sea water is demonstrated with efficiency for MB (≈90%), Cu (II) (>99.99%) and Hg (II) (100%) and rapid (≈30 s) uptake of organic solvents and oils. The obtained results indicate a valuable potential of proposed concept for simultaneous removal of co‐existing water pollutants.
Transformation from Nonthermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Molecules to Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Molecules
Authors: Lee Ha Lim , Lee Kyung Hyung , Lee Jun Yeob 
Published: August 2020

AbstractA novel molecular design approach transforming nonthermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules to TADF molecules is developed for high external quantum efficiencies in TADF devices by utilizing an opened double emission process through selective twisting of the donor structure. Two non‐TADF type donor–acceptor molecules are coupled together to selectively twist the donor structure for enhanced charge transfer character. Selective twisting of the donor is achieved by simultaneously coupling the opened reverse intersystem crossing channel for TADF emission and the double emission process to achieve high external quantum efficiencies. Two emitters are created based on the molecular design concept demonstrating high external quantum efficiencies of 27.8% for sky blue TADF devices.
EMT‐Induced Cell‐Mechanical Changes Enhance Mitotic Rounding Strength
Authors: Hosseini Kamran , Taubenberger Anna , Werner Carsten , Fischer‐Friedrich Elisabeth 
Published: August 2020

AbstractTo undergo mitosis successfully, most animal cells need to acquire a round shape to provide space for the mitotic spindle. This mitotic rounding relies on mechanical deformation of surrounding tissue and is driven by forces emanating from actomyosin contractility. Cancer cells are able to maintain successful mitosis in mechanically challenging environments such as the increasingly crowded environment of a growing tumor, thus, suggesting an enhanced ability of mitotic rounding in cancer. Here, it is shown that the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), a hallmark of cancer progression and metastasis, gives rise to cell‐mechanical changes in breast epithelial cells. These changes are opposite in interphase and mitosis and correspond to an enhanced mitotic rounding strength. Furthermore, it is shown that cell‐mechanical changes correlate with a strong EMT‐induced change in the activity of Rho GTPases RhoA and Rac1. Accordingly, it is found that Rac1 inhibition rescues the EMT‐induced cortex‐mechanical phenotype. The findings hint at a new role of EMT in successful mitotic rounding and division in mechanically confined environments such as a growing tumor.
Xanthogen Polysulfides as a New Class of Electrode Material for Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Bhargav Amruth , Manthiram Arumugam 
Published: August 2020

AbstractOrganosulfides are an emerging class of alternative sulfur‐based cathode materials. This work explores a new member in this family of active materials, viz., xanthogen polysulfides. Diisopropyl xanthogen polysulfide (DIXPS) is used as a model compound in a lithium battery to understand the chemical changes and the unique electrochemical behavior of this class of materials by employing various materials characterization methodologies. As a cathode material, DIXPS shows a high electrochemical utilization (up to 93.5%) during low‐rate cycling. It sustains a prolonged cycling (1000 cycles) stability at a high rate of 4C. At a material level, it demonstrates a high energy density of 1313 W h kg−1 and 1694 W h L−1. DIXPS also shows a remarkable resilience to performance decline when tested under practically necessary high‐loading and lean‐electrolyte conditions in a prototype pouch cell, substantiating its practical viability. Furthermore, the feasibility of using DIXPS with alternative metal anodes, such as sodium is also verified. The ability to use sustainable, naturally available materials, such as sugar and alcohol as feedstocks to synthesize xanthogen‐based battery materials, is also validated. The study demonstrates that xanthogen polysulfides can find use in a broad range of high‐energy‐density batteries.
In Situ Electrochemical Synthesis of MXenes without Acid/Alkali Usage in/for an Aqueous Zinc Ion Battery
Authors: Li Xinliang , Li Mian , Yang Qi , Liang Guojin , Huang Zhaodong , Ma Longtao , Wang Donghong , Mo Funian , Dong Binbin , Huang Qing , Zhi Chunyi 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe traditional method to fabricate a MXene based energy storage device starts from etching MAX phase particles with dangerous acid/alkali etchants to MXenes, followed by device assembly. This is a multistep protocol and is not environmentally friendly. Herein, an all‐in‐one protocol is proposed to integrate synthesis and battery fabrication of MXene. By choosing a special F‐rich electrolyte, MAX V2AlC is directly exfoliated inside a battery and the obtained V2CTX MXene is in situ used to achieve an excellent battery performance. This is a one‐step process with all reactions inside the cell, avoiding any contamination to external environments. Through the lifetime, the device experiences three stages of exfoliation, electrode oxidation, and redox of V2O5. While the electrode is changing, the device can always be used as a battery and the performance is continuously enhanced. The resulting aqueous zinc ion battery achieves outstanding cycling stability (4000 cycles) and rate performance (97.5 mAh g−1 at 64 A g−1), distinct from all reported aqueous MXene‐based counterparts with pseudo‐capacitive properties, and outperforming most vanadium‐based zinc ion batteries with high capacity. This work sheds light on the green synthesis of MXenes, provides an all‐in‐one protocol for MXene devices, and extends MXenes’ application in the aqueous energy storage field.
Flow, suspension, and mixing dynamics in DASGIP bioreactors: Part 1
Authors: Samaras Jasmin J. , Micheletti Martina , Ducci Andrea 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe bioreactor flow environment has a significant impact on process performance, especially in stem cell cultures. The work of Correia et al found intermittent agitation modes to improve induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)‐cardiomyocyte differentiation yields; however, to date, the impact within the flow has not been fully characterized. This work aims to characterize the flow dynamics occurring within a commercially available DASGIP bioreactor, equipped with a two‐blade paddle impeller, operating under different agitation modes and for two bottom geometries. The paddle impeller configuration generated an axial flow profile due to a large impeller D/T and blade confinement with the bioreactor wall. The application of intermittent agitation was shown to induce two transient spikes in flow velocity and shear stress, the amplification of which increased with dwell duration. Marginally increasing the dwell duration was shown previously to increase differentiation yields, therefore it can be stipulated that introduction of these spikes was favorable toward cardiogenic differentiation.
Clinically‐suspected cast nephropathy: A retrospective, national, real‐world study
Authors: Szabo Agoston G. , Thorsen Jonathan , Iversen Katrine F. , Hansen Charlotte T. , Teodorescu Elena M. , Pedersen Simon B. , Flæng Simon B. , Strandholdt Casper , Frederiksen Mikael , Vase Maja Ø. , Frølund Ulf C. , Krustrup Dorrit , Plesner Torben , Vangsted Annette J. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPresentation with severe acute kidney injury due to cast nephropathy (CN) is a medical emergency in multiple myeloma (MM), with high risk of dialysis‐dependent renal failure and death. Accrual of patients with CN into interventional studies is difficult, while phase III trials exclude patients with severe renal insufficiency. Real‐world data are warranted. We assessed 2252 patients from the population‐based Danish Multiple Myeloma Registry (DMMR) who were diagnosed between 2013 and 2017. We identified 204 patients with clinically‐suspected CN, defined as serum creatinine concentration >177 μmol/L and serum free light chain (sFLC) concentration >1000 mg/L at the time of diagnosis. The median age was 72 years. Thirty‐one percent of patients presented with dialysis‐dependent renal failure. Kidney biopsies were performed in 19% of patients and showed CN in 74% of cases. Despite prompt initiation of bortezomib‐based therapy in 94% of patients, 33% of patients died in the first year after diagnosis. Compared with the rest of the patients in the DMMR with symptomatic MM, patients with clinically‐suspected CN had worse overall survival (OS) irrespective of transplant eligibility. Achievement of renal recovery was associated with deep reductions of involved sFLC. Achievement of very good partial response or better in the first line of therapy and/or deep reduction of involved sFLC at 3 months after initiation of therapy were associated with superior OS. In conclusion, MM patients presenting with clinically‐suspected CN have an alarmingly high one‐year mortality when treated with current standards of care. Early and deep hematologic response is crucial for survival.
Olfactory predator recognition in the brown mouse lemur (Microcebus rufus) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar
Authors: Deppe Anja M. , Kushnick Geoff 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPredator odors such as urine and feces are known to elicit antipredator behaviors in prey including avoidance, fear, and curiosity. We measured how wild brown mouse lemurs (Microcebus rufus) responded to odors of mammalian, avian, and snake predators as well as nonpredator controls. The first experiment took place under controlled conditions in a laboratory where we recorded the occurrence of four behavioral categories (ignore, curiosity, alert, and fear) in response to a single odor. Subjects exhibited behavioral change significantly more often in response to the predator than to control stimuli, but did not distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar predators. Mammalian predator urine and feces were most likely to elicit behavioral change. The owl was the only predator to never elicit behavioral change, possibly because owls do not provide relevant odor cues. A second experiment employing live traps in the forest found that neither predator nor control odors affected the likelihood of capture. Due to their longevity, odors do not provide accurate information of spatial and temporal risk, and while mouse lemurs may have initially hesitated to enter a trap, in the absence of additional information about risk, they may have eventually ignored the stimuli. This study found that brown mouse lemurs are able to distinguish between predator and nonpredator odors, and that risk assessment may be affected by the experience, as well as predator and sensory stimulus quality.
Determinants for Fusion Speed of Biomolecular Droplets
Authors: Ghosh Archishman , Zhou Huan‐Xiang 
Published: August 2020

AbstractBiomolecular droplets formed through phase separation have a tendency to fuse. The speed with which fusion occurs is a direct indicator of condensate liquidity, which is key to both cellular functions and diseases. Using a dual‐trap optical tweezers setup, we found the fusion speeds of four types of droplets to differ by two orders of magnitude. The order of fusion speed correlates with the fluorescence of thioflavin T, which in turn reflects the macromolecular packing density inside droplets. Unstructured protein or polymer chains pack loosely and readily rearrange, leading to fast fusion. In contrast, structured protein domains pack more closely and have to break extensive contacts before rearrangement, corresponding to slower fusion. This molecular interpretation for disparate fusion speeds provides mechanistic insight into the assembly and aging of biomolecular droplets.
Hydrogen Bonding Enhances the Electrochemical Hydrogenation of Benzaldehyde in the Aqueous Phase
Authors: Sanyal Udishnu , Yuk Simuck F. , Koh Katherine , Lee Mal‐Soon , Stoerzinger Kelsey , Zhang Difan , Meyer Laura C. , Lopez‐Ruiz Juan A. , Karkamkar Abhi , Holladay Jamie D. , Camaioni Donald M. , Nguyen Manh‐Thuong , Glezakou Vassiliki‐Alexandra , Rousseau Roger , Gutiérrez Oliver Y. , Lercher Johannes A. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe hydrogenation of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol on carbon‐supported metals in water, enabled by an external potential, is markedly promoted by polarization of the functional groups. The presence of polar co‐adsorbates, such as substituted phenols, enhances the hydrogenation rate of the aldehyde by two effects, that is, polarizing the carbonyl group and increasing the probability of forming a transition state for H addition. These two effects enable a hydrogenation route, in which phenol acts as a conduit for proton addition, with a higher rate than the direct proton transfer from hydronium ions. The fast hydrogenation enabled by the presence of phenol and applied potential overcompensates for the decrease in coverage of benzaldehyde caused by competitive adsorption. A higher acid strength of the co‐adsorbate increases the intensity of interactions and the rates of selective carbonyl reduction.