bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Integrating multimodal connectivity improves prediction of individual cognitive abilities
Authors: Dhamala Elvisha , Jamison Keith W. , Jaywant Abhishek , Dennis Sarah , Kuceyeski Amy 
Published: June 2020

SummaryHow white matter pathway integrity and neural co-activation patterns in the brain relate to complex cognitive functions remains a mystery in neuroscience. Here, we integrate neuroimaging, connectomics, and machine learning approaches to explore how multimodal brain connectivity relates to cognition. Specifically, we evaluate whether integrating functional and structural connectivity improves prediction of individual crystallised and fluid abilities in 415 unrelated healthy young adults from the Human Connectome Project. Our primary results are two-fold. First, we demonstrate that integrating functional and structural information – at both a model input or output level – significantly outperforms functional or structural connectivity alone to predict individual verbal/language skills and fluid reasoning/executive function. Second, we show that distinct pairwise functional and structural connections are important for these predictions. In a secondary analysis, we find that structural connectivity derived from deterministic tractography is significantly better than structural connectivity derived from probabilistic tractography to predict individual cognitive abilities.
Silk fabric as a protective barrier for personal protective equipment and as a functional material for face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Parlin Adam F. , Stratton Samuel M. , Culley Theresa M. , Guerra Patrick A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe worldwide shortage of single-use N95 respirators and surgical masks due to the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many health care personnel to prolong the use of their existing equipment as much as possible. In many cases, workers cover respirators with available masks in an attempt to extend their effectiveness against the virus. Due to low mask supplies, many people instead are using face coverings improvised from common fabrics. Our goal was to determine what fabrics would be most effective in both practices.Methods and findingsWe examined the hydrophobicity of fabrics (silk, cotton, polyester), as measured by their resistance to the penetration of small and aerosolized water droplets, an important transmission avenue for the virus causing COVID-19. We also examined the breathability of these fabrics and their ability to maintain hydrophobicity despite undergoing repeated cleaning. Tests were done when fabrics were fashioned as an overlaying barrier and also when constructed as do-it-yourself face coverings. As a protective barrier and face covering, silk is more effective at impeding the penetration and absorption of droplets due to its greater hydrophobicity relative to other tested fabrics. Silk face coverings repelled droplets as well as masks, but unlike masks they are hydrophobic and can be readily sterilized for immediate reuse.ConclusionsSilk is an effective hydrophobic barrier to droplets, more breathable than other fabrics that trap humidity, and are readily re-useable via cleaning. Therefore, silk can serve as an effective material for protecting respirators under clinical conditions and as a material for face coverings.
Population Graph GNNs for Brain Age Prediction
Authors: Stankevičiūtė Kamilė , Azevedo Tiago , Campbell Alexander , Bethlehem Richard , Liò Pietro 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMany common neurological and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and multiple sclerosis, have been associated with abnormal patterns of apparent ageing of the brain. Discrepancies between the estimated brain age and the actual chronological age (brain age gaps) can be used to understand the biological pathways behind the ageing process, assess an individual’s risk for various brain disorders and identify new personalised treatment strategies. By flexibly integrating minimally preprocessed neuroimaging and non-imaging modalities into a population graph data structure, we train two types of graph neural network (GNN) architectures to predict brain age in a clinically relevant fashion as well as investigate their robustness to noisy inputs and graph sparsity. The multimodal population graph approach has the potential to learn from the entire cohort of healthy and affected subjects of both sexes at once, capturing a wide range of confounding effects and detecting variations in brain age trends between different sub-populations of subjects.
The scale and dynamics of COVID-19 epidemics across Europe
Authors: Dye Christopher , Cheng Russell C.H. , Dagpunar John S. , Williams Brian G. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe number of COVID-19 deaths reported from European countries has varied more than 100-fold. In terms of coronavirus transmission, the relatively low death rates in some countries could be due to low intrinsic (e.g. low population density) or imposed contact rates (e.g. non-pharmaceutical interventions) among individuals, or because fewer people were exposed or susceptible to infection (e.g. smaller populations). Here we develop a flexible empirical model (skew-logistic) to distinguish among these possibilities. We find that countries reporting fewer deaths did not generally have intrinsically lower rates of transmission and epidemic growth, and flatter epidemic curves. Rather, countries with fewer deaths locked down earlier, had shorter epidemics that peaked sooner, and smaller populations. Consequently, as lockdowns are eased we expect, and are starting to see, a resurgence of COVID-19 across Europe.One Sentence SummaryA flexible empirical model shows that European countries reporting fewer COVID-19 deaths locked down earlier, had shorter epidemics that peaked sooner, and smaller populations.
Gene prioritization based on systems biology revealed new insight into genetic basis and pathophysiology underlying schizophrenia
Authors: Li Jia-Feng , Wang Lei , Dang Xiao , Feng Wei-Min , Wang Zi-Wei , Ma Yu-Ting , He Si-Jie , Liang Liang , Yang Huan-Ming , Liu Han-Kui , Zhang Jian-Guo 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSequencing-based studies have recognized hundreds of genetic variants that increase the risk of schizophrenia (SCZ), but only a few percents of heritability can be attributed to these loci. It is challenging to discover the full spectrum of schizophrenia genes and reveal the dysregulated functions underlying the disease. Here, we proposed a holistic model for predicting disease genes (HMPDG), a novel machine learning prediction strategy integrated by Protein-Protein Interaction Network (PPIN), pathogenicity score, and RNA expression data. Applying HMPDG, 1946 potential risk genes (PRGs) as a complement of the genetic basis of SCZ were predicted. Among these, the first decile genes were highlighted as high confidence genes (HCGs). PRGs were validated by multiple independent studies of schizophrenia, including genome-wide association studies (GWASs), gene expression studies, and epigenetic studies. Remarkably, the strategy revealed causal genes of schizophrenia in GWAS loci and regions of copy number variant (CNV), providing a new insight to identify key genes in disease-related loci with multi genes. Leveraging our predictions, we depict the spatiotemporal expression pattern and functional groups of schizophrenia risk genes, which can help us figure out the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and facilitate the discovery of biomarkers. Taken together, our strategy will advance the understanding of schizophrenia genetic basis and the development of diagnosis and therapeutics.
A general approach for analysis of physiologically structured population models: the R package ‘PSPManalysis’
Authors: de Roos André M. 
Published: June 2020

SummaryHow environmental conditions affect the life history of individual organisms and how these effects translate into dynamics of population and communities on ecological and evolutionary time scales is a central question in many eco-evolutionary studies.Physiologically structured population models (PSPMs) offer a theoretical approach to address such questions as they are built upon a function-based model of the life history, which explicitly describes how life history depends on individual traits as well as on environmental factors. PSPMs furthermore explicitly account for population feedback on these environmental factors, which translates into density-dependent effects on the life history. PSPMs can thus capture life histories in quite some detail but lead to population-level formulations in terms of partial differential equations that are generally hard to analyse.Here I present a general methodology and aRsoftware package for computing how the ecological steady states of PSPMs depend on model parameters and to detect bifurcation points in the computed curves where dynamics change drastically. The package makes specifying the population model unnecessary and only requires a relatively straightforward implementation of the life history functions as input. It furthermore allows for analysing the evolutionary dynamics and evolutionary singular states of the PSPMs based on Adaptive Dynamics theory.Given the central role of the individual life history in many studies, there is substantial scope for using the presented methodology in fields as diverse as ecology, ecotoxicology, conservation biology and evolutionary biology, where it has already been applied to problems like the evolution of cannibalism, niche shifts and metamorphosis.
Malaria in pregnancy regulates P-glycoprotein (P-gp/Abcb1a) and ABCA1 efflux transporters in the mouse visceral yolk sac
Authors: Martinelli Lilian M. , Fontes Klaus N. , Reginatto Mila W. , Andrade Cherley B. V. , Monteiro Victoria R. S. , Gomes Hanailly R. , Silva-Filho Joao L. , Pinheiro Ana A. S. , Vago Anamaria R. , Almeida Fernanda R. C. L. , Bloise Flavia F. , Matthews Stephen G. , Ortiga-Carvalho Tania M. , Bloise Enrrico 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMalaria in pregnancy (MiP) induces intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preterm labor (PTL). However, its effects on yolk sac morphology and function are largely unexplored. We hypothesized that MiP modifies yolk sac morphology and efflux transport potential by modulating ABC efflux transporters. C57BL/6 mice injected withPlasmodium berghei ANKA(5×105infected-erythrocytes) at gestational day (GD) 13.5, were subjected to yolk sac membrane harvesting at GD18.5 for histology, qPCR and immunohistochemistry. MiP did not alter the volumetric proportion of the yolk sac’s histological components. However, it increased levels ofAbcb1amRNA (encoding P-glycoprotein) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (Mif-chemokine), whilst decreasingAbcg1(P<0.05); without alteringAbca1, Abcb1b, Abcg2, Snat1, Snat2, interleukin (Il)-1 βand C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2 (Ccl2). Transcripts ofIl-6, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (Cxcl1),Glut1andSnat4were not detectible. ABCA1, ABCG1, breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and P-gp, were primarily immunolocalized to the cell membranes and cytoplasm of endodermic epithelium but also in the mesothelium and in the endothelium of mesodermic blood vessels. Intensity of P-gp labeling was stronger in both endodermic epithelium and mesothelium, whereas ABCA1 labeling increased in the endothelium of the mesodermic blood vessels. The presence of ABC transporters in the yolk sac wall suggest that this fetal membrane acts as an important protective gestational barrier. Changes in ABCA1 and P-gp in MiP may alter the biodistribution of toxic substances, xenobiotics, nutrients and immunological factors within the fetal compartment and participate in the pathogenesis of malaria induced-IUGR and PTL.
Fluorescent Detection ofO-GlcNAc via Tandem Glycan Labeling
Authors: Wu Zhengliang L. , Luo Ang , Grill Alex , Lao Taotao , Zou Yonglong , Chen Yue 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTO-GlcNAcylation is a reversible serine/threonine glycosylation on cytosolic and nuclear proteins that are involved in various regulatory pathways. However, the detection and quantification ofO-GlcNAcylation substrates have been challenging. Here we report a highly efficient method for the identification ofO-GlcNAc modification via tandem glycan labeling, in whichO-GlcNAc is first galactosylated and then sialylated with a fluorophore-conjugated sialic acid residue, therefore enabling highly sensitive fluorescent detection. The method is validated on various proteins that are known to be modified byO-GlcNAcylation including CK2, NOD2, SREBP1c, AKT1, PKM and PFKFB3, and on the nuclear extract of HEK293 cells. Using this method, we then report the evidence that hypoxia-inducible factor HIF1α is a target forO-GlcNAcylation, suggesting a potential direct connection between the metabolicO-GlcNAc pathway and the hypoxia pathway.
Nepenthes maximoides(Nepenthaceae) a new, Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) species in Sect.Alataefrom Luzon, Philippines showing striking pitcher convergence withN. maxima(Sect.Regiae) of Indonesia
Authors: King Charles , Cheek Martin 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACTNepenthes maximoides sp. nov. (Sect.Alatae) is described and assessed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct) from Luzon, Philippines and appears unrecorded in 110 years. The spectacular, large, narrowly funnel-shaped upper pitchers, lids with recurved basal, and filiform apical appendages, unlike any other species in the Philippines, closely resemble those ofN. maxima(Sect.Regiae) of Sulawesi-New Guinea, likely due to convergent evolution. Following recent phylogenomic analysis, sect.Alataeis divided into two, Sect.Alatae sensu strictoof Luzon to Sibuyan (includingN. maximoides), and Sect.Micramphorae, expanded and recircumscribed to encompass those species of the southern Visayas, and Mindanao. A key is provided to the six species now recognised in the narrowly recircumscribed Sect.Alatae. The number ofNepenthesspecies recorded from Luzon has increased from two in 2001, to eight in 2020, all but one of which are endemic to that island, and four of which appear to be point endemics.
Cocaine-induced neuron subtype mitochondrial dynamics through Egr3 transcriptional regulation
Authors: Cole Shannon , Chandra Ramesh , Harris Maya , Patel Ishan , Wang Torrance , Kim Hyunjae , Jensen Leah , Russo Scott J , Turecki Gustavo , Gancarz-Kausch Amy M , Dietz David M , Lobo Mary Kay 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMitochondrial function is required for brain energy homeostasis and neuroadaptation. Recent studies demonstrate that cocaine affects mitochondrial dynamics and morphological characteristics within the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Further, mitochondria are differentially regulated by cocaine in dopamine receptor-1 containing medium spiny neurons (D1-MSNs) vs dopamine receptor-2 (D2)-MSNs. However, there is little understanding into cocaine-induced transcriptional mechanisms and their role in regulating mitochondrial processes. Here, we demonstrate that cocaine enhances binding of the transcription factor, early growth response factor 3 (Egr3), to nuclear genes involved in mitochondrial function and dynamics. Moreover, cocaine exposure regulates mRNA of these mitochondria-associated nuclear genes in both contingent or noncontingent cocaine administration and in both rodent models and human postmortem tissue. Interestingly, several mitochondrial nuclear genes showed distinct profiles of expression in D1-MSNs vs D2-MSNs, with cocaine exposure generally increasing mitochondrial-associated nuclear gene expression in D1-MSNs vs suppression in D2-MSNs. We further show that blunting Egr3 expression in D1-MSNs blocks cocaine-enhancement of the mitochondrial-associated transcriptional coactivator, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC1α), and the mitochondrial fission molecule, dynamin related protein 1 (Drp1). Finally, reduction of D1-MSN Egr3 expression attenuates cocaine-induced enhancement of small-sized mitochondria, causally demonstrating that Egr3 regulates mitochondrial morphological adaptations. Collectively, these studies demonstrate cocaine exposure impacts mitochondrial dynamics and morphology by Egr3 transcriptional regulation of mitochondria-related nuclear gene transcripts; indicating roles for these molecular mechanisms in neuronal function and plasticity occurring with cocaine exposure.
An Open Labelled, Active Controlled, Three-Arm, Parallel-Group study of the safety and efficacy of the oral formulation of Oral Iodine Complex (RENESSANS) administered alone and in combination with standard interferon therapy in patients suffering from Chronic HCV Hepatitis
Authors: Nabi Ghiasun , Nasir Muhammad , ulhasan Ghias , Toor Israr , Zia Fawad , Hassan Imran , Nadeem Muhammad Faisal 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIodine has strong antimicrobial properties and has been used in topical applications as antiseptic. Its systemic use in form of iodine complexes derived from dried seaweed extract is beneficial in treating various disorders. Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) chronic infection is present in 6-10% of the Pakistani population and is a major healthcare burden that could benefit from innovative therapeutic regimens.ObjectiveA pilot study has shown the safety and efficacy of iodine complexes in chronic Hepatitis C virus infection. and this clinical study is aimed to further explore the previous findings.MethodsThis is an open-labeled, active-controlled, three-arm, parallel-group study including 90 patients of chronic HCV infection with each arm having 30 patients. The patient groups received 15mg/day iodine complex only, the standard of care therapy interferon+ribavirin, and iodine complex in combination with interferon+ribavirin regimen for 6 months. Efficacy assessment will base upon post-treatment Rapid Virological Response (RVR) at 4 weeks, Early Virological Response (EVR) at 12 weeks, and End of Treatment Viral Response (ETR) at 24/48 weeks.ResultsAs only 3.33% of patients showed at the ETR with iodine complex alone, combination with interferon+ribavirin showed significant improvement in comparison to interferon+ribavirin alone. Iodine complex+ interferon+ribavirin showed 80% RVR and 90% ETR while the standard of care therapy showed 66.7% RVR and 76.67% ETR, respectively. No additional adverse events of iodine complex were observed.ConclusionIodine complex showed a significant synergistic effect when combined interferon+ribavirin regimen and could be useful in relapsers and non-responders.
Readability of selected governmental and popular health organization websites on Covid-19 public health information: A descriptive analysis
Authors: Ojo Patricia Moyinoluwa , Okeowo Tolulope Omowonuola , Thampy Ann Mary , Kabir Zubair 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (USDHHS) recommends that health material be written at or below a sixth-grade reading level to ensure readability. The aim of this study was to examine the readability of international and national health organizations on Covid-19 information in their websites employing a previously validated tool.MethodsA purposive sample of publicly accessible governmental and popular international health organization websites was selected. The readability of the websites’ Covid-19 public health information was estimated using the previously validated SMOG readability formula, which determined reading level by correlating the number of polysyllabic words.ResultsOf the 10 websites included in the analysis, none had Covid-19 public health information at the USDHHS’s recommended reading level. The material ranged in reading level at undergraduate level or above.DiscussionThe findings indicate that the online Covid-19 materials need to be modified in order to reach recommended reading levels. This study can be of practical use to policy makers and public health government officials when designing, modifying, and evaluating Covid-19 materials. We recommend using simple, non-polysyllable words to ensure that Covid-19 public health information materials are written at the recommended reading levels.
Mapping the Global Research and Clinical Trials in COVID-19
Authors: Aggarwal Ranjana , Bhattacharya Sujit , Singh Shubham 
Published: June 2020

AbstractCOVID-19 has created an unprecedented level of research and innovation activity globally to bring out drug to control or cure the disease, and develop vaccine for long time prevention. A ‘new/better normal’ is emerging that is trying to push this time period for drug development and vaccine within a year and earlier than that from typical 8 to 10 years for drugs and 10 to 15 years for vaccine. This is happening due to multiple factors: strong policy push by different government that includes dedicated investment, speeding up regulation process, multiple agencies involvement, and multilateral bodies led by WHO trying to create a global platform, huge grants from private funding bodies, strategic linkages across the whole research and innovation value chain between firms, academic, research organisations and start-ups.The paper maps the research papers and ongoing clinical trials to provide an informed view of the current status of the research and drug development activity as seen through the lens of research papers and clinical trials. The intended goal of this study is to help the research community and policy makers to keep track of highly relevant research and drug development in COVID-19.
Dietary emulsifiers alter composition and activity of the human gut microbiotain vitro, irrespective of chemical or natural emulsifier origin
Authors: Miclotte Lisa , Callewaert Chris , de Paepe Kim , Rymenans Leen , Raes Jeroen , Rajkovic Andreja , Van Camp John , Van de Wiele Tom 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe use of additives in food products has become an important public health concern. In recent reports, dietary emulsifiers have been shown to affect the gut microbiota, contributing to a pro-inflammatory phenotype and metabolic syndrome. So far, it is not yet known whether similar microbiome shifts are observable for a more diverse set of emulsifier types and to what extent these effects vary with the unique features of an individual’s microbiome.To bridge this gap, we investigated the effect of five dietary emulsifiers on the fecal microbiota from 10 human individuals upon a 48 hour exposure. Community structure was assessed with quantative microbial profiling, functionality was evaluated by measuring fermentation metabolites and pro-inflammatory properties were assessed with the phylogenetic prediction algorythm PICRUSt, together with a TLR5 reporter cell assay for flagellin. A comparison was made between two mainstream chemical emulsifiers (carboxymethylcellulose and P80), a natural extract (soy lecithin) and biotechnological emulsifiers (sophorolipids and rhamnolipids).While fecal microbiota responded in a donor-dependent manner to the different emulsifiers, profound differences between emulsifier were observed. Rhamnolipids, sophorolipids and soy lecithin eliminated 91% ± 0%, 89% ± 1% and 87% ± 1% of the viable bacterial population after 48 hours, yet they all selectively increased the proportional abundance of putative pathogens. Moreover, profound shifts in butyrate (−96% ± 6 %, −73% ± 24% and −34 ± 25% respectively) and propionate (+13% ± 24 %, +88% ± 50% and +29% ± 16% respectively) production were observed for these emulsifiers. Phylogenetic prediction indicated higher motility, which was, however, not confirmed by increased flagellin levels using the TLR5 reporter cell assay.We conclude that dietary emulsifiers can severely impact the gut microbiota and this seems to be proportional to their emulsifying strength, rather than emulsifier type or origin. As biotechnological emulsifiers were especially more impactful than chemical emulsifiers, caution is warranted when considering them as more natural alternatives for clean label strategies.