bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genome‐wide screen and functional analysis in Xanthomonas reveal a large number of mRNA‐derived sRNAs, including the novel RsmA‐sequester RsmU
Authors: Tang Dong‐Jie , Chen Xiao‐Lin , Jia Yu , Liang Yu‐Wei , He Yuan‐Ping , Lu Ting‐Ting , Zhu Chuan‐Rang , Han Bin , An Shi‐Qi , Tang Ji‐Liang 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAlthough bacterial small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) are known to play a critical role in various cellular processes, including pathogenesis, the identity and action of such sRNAs are still poorly understood in many organisms. Here we have performed a genome‐wide screen and functional analysis of the sRNAs in Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), an important phytopathogen. The 50–500‐nt RNA fragments isolated from the wild‐type strain grown in a virulence gene‐inducing condition were sequenced and a total of 612 sRNA candidates (SRCs) were identified. The majority (82%) of the SRCs were derived from mRNA, rather than specific sRNA genes. A representative panel of 121 SRCs were analysed by northern blotting; 117 SRCs were detected, supporting the contention that the overwhelming majority of the 612 SRCs identified are indeed sRNAs. Phenotypic analysis of strains overexpressing different candidates showed that a particular sRNA, RsmU, acts as a negative regulator of virulence, the hypersensitive response, and cell motility in Xcc. In vitro electrophoretic mobility shift assay and in vivo coimmunoprecipitation analyses indicated that RsmU interacted with the global posttranscriptional regulator RsmA, although sequence analysis displayed that RsmU is not a member of the sRNAs families known to antagonize RsmA. Northern blotting analyses demonstrated that RsmU has two isoforms that are processed from the 3′‐untranslated region of the mRNA of XC1332 predicted to encode ComEA, a periplasmic protein required for DNA uptake in bacteria. This work uncovers an unexpected major sRNA biogenesis strategy in bacteria and a hidden layer of sRNA‐mediated virulence regulation in Xcc.
Epidemiology of Cryptococcus and cryptococcosis in Western Africa
Authors: Akaihe Chidinma Lynda , Nweze Emeka Innocent 
Published: September 2020

AbstractCryptococcosis is a serious and sometimes fatal fungal disease caused by Cryptococcus species. Worldwide, it is estimated to kill over 180 000 annually, with 75% of deaths occurring in sub‐Saharan Africa. Though cryptococcal infections are rare in otherwise healthy individuals, there have been reported cases in immunocompetent persons. Most cases occur in individuals who have weakened immune systems, particularly those with advanced HIV/AIDS, thus making West Africa a potential hotspot of the disease. Despite this, there is no recent review article with a focus on published findings on cryptococcosis in Western Africa. Common clinical symptoms include chest pain, dry cough, headache, nausea, confusion, fever, fatigue and stiffness of the neck/neurological impairment. The CNS and the lung remain its preferred target even though rare cases of attack on other parts of the body were reported in this review. Cryptococcal antigen screening and India ink preparation were the most commonly used diagnostic methods. Repeated isolation from environmental samples was observed. Overall, data on the clinical prevalence of Cryptococcus are scarce and variable in the region. The environmental prevalence ranges from 2.3% to 22%. This review covers all published research findings on cryptococcosis in West Africa till date. The epidemiological data will likely be of interest to clinicians within and outside the continent. The nations covered in this review include the following: Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d'ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea‐ Bissau, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone. More studies are warranted to fill the observed gaps on the epidemiology of Cryptococcus in the region.
Supernatants of intestinal luminal contents from mice fed high‐fat diet impair intestinal motility by injuring enteric neurons and smooth muscle cells
Authors: Nyavor Yvonne , Brands Catherine R. , Nicholson Jessica , Kuther Sydney , Cox Kortni K. , May George , Miller Christopher , Yasuda Allysha , Potter Forrest , Cady Joshua , Heyman Heino M. , Metz Thomas O. , Stark Timo D. , Hofmann Thomas , Balemba Onesmo B. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundDamage to enteric neurons and impaired gastrointestinal muscle contractions cause motility disorders in 70% of diabetic patients. It is thought that enteric neuropathy and dysmotility occur before overt diabetes, but triggers of these abnormalities are not fully known. We tested the hypothesis that intestinal contents of mice with and without high‐fat diet‐ (HFD‐) induced diabetic conditions contain molecules that impair gastrointestinal movements by damaging neurons and disrupting muscle contractions.MethodsSmall and large intestinal segments were collected from healthy, standard chow diet (SCD) fed mice. Filtrates of ileocecal contents (ileocecal supernatants; ICS) from HFD or SCD mice were perfused through them. Cultured intact intestinal muscularis externa preparations were used to determine whether ICS and their fractions obtained by solid‐phase extraction (SPE) and SPE subfractions collected by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) disrupt muscle contractions by injuring neurons and smooth muscle cells.Key ResultsICS from HFD mice reduced intestinal motility, but those from SCD mice had no effect. ICS, aqueous SPE fractions and two out of twenty HPLC subfractions of aqueous SPE fractions from HFD mice blocked muscle contractions, caused a loss of nitrergic myenteric neurons through inflammation, and reduced smooth muscle excitability. Lipopolysaccharide and palmitate caused a loss of nitrergic myenteric neurons but did not affect muscle contractions.Conclusions & InferencesUnknown molecules in intestinal contents of HFD mice trigger enteric neuropathy and dysmotility. Further studies are required to identify the toxic molecules and their mechanisms of action.
Investigation of calcium silicate as a natural clay‐based sunblock: Formulation and characterization
Authors: Abbas Naseem , Manzoor Suryyia , Saeed Saira , Husnain Syed Muhammad , Tariq Muhammad , Akhtar Zeeshan , Saira Naveeda , Yasmin Ghazala 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundSunlight exposure causes several types of health issues to humans, and in particular, it affects especially the skin. Among the most common harmful issues developed by UV exposure are erythema, pigmentation, and lesions in DNA, which may lead to cancer. These long‐term effects can be minimized with the use of sunscreen.ObjectiveThe use of commercial UV filters causes severe side effects such as skin allergy and whitening of the skin. Therefore, in this study the effectiveness of Ca2SiO4, a compound abundantly present in the soils of certain South Asian regions, has been the first time explored as UV filter. This compound leaves a low amount of white residue on the skin and is highly stable.MethodThe comparative study of a cosmetic formulation having 5% Ca2SiO4, and other formulations containing 5% TiO2 and 5% ZnO as inorganic UV filters, was performed to evaluate the physical and chemical stability.ResultThe zeta potential and chemical stability of formulations containing these different UV filters were investigated by using UV‐Vis spectroscopy, FTIR‐ATR, and X‐ray diffraction. Results indicated Ca2SiO4 as a promising innovative UV filter with an SPF value of 37.94. One of the reasons is its low interaction with organic filter, that is, PABA, as compared to commercial ZnO and TiO2 inorganic UV filters. Biological absorption in organs was studied by ICP‐MS on model mice.ConclusionIt also has a low photocatalytic activity; thus, formation of radicals is minimum. Moreover, Ca2SiO4 showed a recognized ability to leave a low amount of white residue on the skin combined with great stability.
Sporadic anovulation is not an important determinant of becoming pregnant and time to pregnancy among eumenorrheic women: A simulation study
Authors: DeVilbiss Elizabeth A. , Stanford Joseph B. , Mumford Sunni L. , Sjaarda Lindsey A. , Kim Keewan , Zolton Jessica R. , Perkins Neil J. , Schisterman Enrique F. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundAttaining pregnancy is conditional upon a series of complex processes, including adequately timed intercourse, ovulation, fertilisation, and implantation. Anovulation is a first‐line treatment target for couples with difficulty conceiving and is frequently examined in studies of fecundability.ObjectivesTo identify whether sporadic anovulation is an important determinant of cumulative pregnancy rates and time to pregnancy among fertile women with regular menstrual cycles.MethodsWe simulated cumulative pregnancy rates and time to pregnancy for 12 consecutive menstrual cycles among 100 000 women based on data‐driven probabilities of implantation, fertilisation, ovulation, and intercourse occurring in the fertile window. We assumed anovulation probabilities of 1%, 8%, or 14.5% and intercourse averaging once per week, every other day, or daily. The model incorporated reductions in implantation and fertilisation rates for successive cycles of non‐pregnancy.ResultsAfter 12 cycles, a reduction in the per cycle incidence of anovulation from 14.5% to 1% resulted in a 4.0% higher cumulative pregnancy rate (86.7% vs 90.7%) and similar time to pregnancy (1‐cycle median difference). In contrast, increasing mean unscheduled sexual intercourse frequency from weekly to every other day was associated with a 5‐cycle median reduction in time to pregnancy (weekly: 7 cycles; every other day or daily: 2 cycles) and a 28.9% increase in the cumulative pregnancy rate (weekly: 59.9%, every other day: 88.8%; daily: 91.6%).ConclusionsIn presumed fertile women with regular menstrual cycles, routine investigation of anovulation may not be an informative outcome in studies of fecundability, and routine testing to ensure ovulation and treatment of anovulation are unlikely to be medically necessary. While biomarkers or cervical fluid may help time intercourse to the fertile window, time to pregnancy can also be improved through increasing the frequency of unscheduled intercourse. These findings need corroboration in large preconception time to pregnancy studies.
Cause of mortality and sarcopenia in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis receiving antifibrotic therapy
Authors: Suzuki Yuzo , Aono Yuya , Kono Masato , Hasegawa Hirotsugu , Yokomura Koushi , Naoi Hyogo , Hozumi Hironao , Karayama Masato , Furuhashi Kazuki , Enomoto Noriyuki , Fujisawa Tomoyuki , Nakamura Yutaro , Inui Naoki , Nakamura Hidenori , Suda Takafumi 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACTBackground and objectiveRecent research has highlighted the fundamental role of sarcopenia, characterized by loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, with a risk of poor outcomes. AFT preserves lung function by preventing the annual decline in FVC and is associated with improved outcomes in patients with IPF. However, altered cause of death and prognostic implications of sarcopenia in patients with IPF receiving AFT remain unknown.MethodsThis study comprised two cohorts of patients with IPF receiving AFT, historical cohort of IPF patients without AFT and controls. The cause of mortality was compared with a historical cohort. Sarcopenia was assessed by measuring the ESMCSA and ESMMA via CT.ResultsPatients with IPF had smaller ESMCSA and lower ESMMA but similar BMI than controls, suggesting patients with IPF had skeletal muscle loss without any obvious body weight loss. The most common cause of mortality in patients receiving AFT was chronic respiratory failure, accounting for approximately 60%, and decreased proportions of LC were found. Subsequently, low ESMCSA was an independent prognostic factor associated with worse survival rates. Furthermore, combined assessment of ESMCSA, %FVC predicted and BMI values provided clear prognostic distinction.ConclusionPatients with IPF receiving AFT showed skeletal muscle loss without obvious weight loss. These patients mostly died by chronic respiratory failure, and skeletal muscle wasting has prognostic significance, suggesting that preventing sarcopenia as well as preserving lung function are important for managing these patients.
Initial impact of COVID‐19 on dialysis provision; review of international guidelines and adaptation of a hub unit's service
Authors: Simons Terry , MacGlashan Andrew , Goldsmith Christopher , Wodeyar Harsha , Abraham Kottarathil A. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has put a strain on many aspects of health care including the provision of dialysis. Two categories of patients have had the greatest impact on dialysis capacity. Those with COVID‐19‐related acute kidney injury and those chronic dialysis patients who required isolation or cohort dialysis because of the pandemic. Limited information on incidence hampers capacity planning and the rapid change in demand provides further challenges. In the 4 weeks after our first patient, the incidence of confirmed infection in our dialysis population has been 5.1%. By the third week, hemodialysis had to be provided in critical care as the in‐house capacity for hemofiltration had been overwhelmed. The interventions that enabled these needs to be met are detailed in this paper alongside a review of international recommendations and how they have been adapted to meet local pressures.
Changes in suicide and non‐suicidal self‐injury ideation and the moderating role of specific emotions over the course of dialectical behavior therapy
Authors: Rizvi Shireen L. , Fitzpatrick Skye 
Published: September 2020

AbstractObjectiveDialectical behavior therapy (DBT) targets suicidal behavior and non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) as well as urges/ideation to engage in these behaviors. However, it remains unclear which specific suicidal ideation (SI) and NSSI ideation domains (i.e., frequency, worst intensity, average intensity, perceived likelihood of future ideation, and duration of ideation), if any, are impacted, and whether specific emotions moderate these effects.Method73 individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD), enrolled in six months of DBT, completed interviews of suicide and NSSI ideation and self‐report measures of specific emotions at baseline, mid‐treatment, and post‐treatment.ResultsGeneralized estimation equations revealed that all domains of suicidal ideation decreased over the course of DBT, but for NSSI domains, only ideation intensity decreased. Higher levels of shame/guilt predicted less, and higher fear predicted more, reduction in SI and NSSI ideation frequency. Higher shame/guilt also predicted more reduction in worst SI intensity. Higher sadness predicted greater reductions in SI intensity and duration, but less reductions in the perceived likelihood of future NSSI ideation.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that DBT effectively reduces several facets of SI, but more work is required to target NSSI ideation. Results also suggest that targeting shame/guilt may be important to reducing SI and NSSI ideation.
Peer victimization and sympathy development in childhood: The moderating role of emotion regulation
Authors: Jambon Marc , Colasante Tyler , Ngo Hazel , Dys Sebastian , Malti Tina 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAlthough peer victimization is widely considered to be detrimental to children's well‐being, knowing what it feels like to be harmed is also thought to contribute to children's sense of concern for others. However, research has yet to establish a clear link between peer victimization and sympathy during childhood. Across two samples of Canadian 4‐ and 8‐year‐olds (total N = 504), we examined whether children's emotion regulation capacities (ER) moderated the victimization–sympathy link. Study 1 (n = 300; 33% European origin; 73% of caregivers held bachelor's degree or higher) examined the interactive effects of victimization and child‐ and caregiver‐reported ER on children's self‐reported sympathy assessed concurrently and 1 year later. Concurrently, victimization was positively associated with sympathy for children higher in self‐reported ER and for boys higher in caregiver‐reported ER. Longitudinally, victimization positively predicted changes in sympathy from 4 to 5 years of age for children higher in self‐reported ER. No longitudinal interaction effects emerged for caregiver‐reported ER or in older children. Using the same caregiver‐reported ER measure, Study 2 (n = 204; 30% European origin; 65% of caregivers held bachelor's degree or higher) replicated this pattern in a different cross‐sectional sample of 4‐ and 8‐year‐olds. These results provide initial support for the hypothesis that victimization experiences may facilitate other‐oriented concern in children who can effectively regulate their emotions.
Tropes, Universals and Visual Phenomenology
Authors: Skrzypulec Błażej 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBoth philosophers of perception and analytic metaphysicians apply the tropes/universals distinction when considering the ontological status of visual properties. One way of arguing in favour of the trope interpretation of visual properties is to claim that the way in which we visually experience properties makes it plausible to characterize them as tropes. In this article, I argue for a different position, namely that the way in which we visually experience properties provides a serious challenge for the trope interpretation, but not for an interpretation in terms of universals. More specifically, I claim that the trope interpretations of visual properties have problems accounting for the fact that ordinary, veridical visual experiences can present the properties of two objects as strictly similar.
Regulatory barriers to trade in services: A new database and composite indices
Authors: Benz Sebastian , Ferencz Janos , Nordås Hildegunn K. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis paper presents new data on services trade regulation for 46 countries in 22 services sectors over 6 years (2014–2019). The data consist of qualitative information which is scored and weighted to produce composite indices. They cover market access and national treatment restrictions with respect to all GATS modes of supply, but also behind the border domestic regulation such as licensing, non‐transparent regulatory procedures and competition policy. The database is updated annually. The trade restrictiveness indices (STRIs) are significantly correlated with services trade flows, but also with the performance of the sectors subject to the restrictions including logistics performance indicators, interest spreads, density of ATMs and secure servers, broadband penetration and outcomes such as legal rights and the time to resolve insolvency.
Carbonic anhydrases enhance activity of endogenous Na‐H exchangers and not the electrogenic Na/HCO3 cotransporter NBCe1‐A, expressed in Xenopus oocytes
Authors: Moss Fraser J. , Boron Walter F. 
Published: September 2020

Key points
According to the metabolon hypothesis, direct association of cytosolic carbonic anhydrases (CAs) with the electrogenic Na/HCO3 cotransporter NBCe1‐A speeds transport by regenerating/consuming . The present work addresses published discrepancies as to whether cytosolic CAs stimulate NBCe1‐A, heterologously expressed in Xenopus oocytes.
We confirm the essential elements of the previous experimental observations, taken as support for the metabolon hypothesis.
However, using our own experimental protocols or those of others, we find that NBCe1‐A function is unaffected by cytosolic CAs.
Previous conclusions that cytosolic CAs do stimulate NBCe1‐A can be explained by an unanticipated stimulatory effect of the CAs on an endogenous Na‐H exchanger.
Theoretical analyses show that, although CAs could stimulate non‐ transporters (e.g. Na‐H exchangers) by accelerating CO2/‐mediated buffering of acid‐base equivalents, they could not appreciably affect transport rates of NBCe1 or other transporters carrying , , or ion pairs.
AbstractThe metabolon hypothesis predicts that cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (CA) binds to NBCe1‐A, promotes replenishment/consumption, and enhances transport. Using a short step‐duration current‐voltage (I–V) protocol with Xenopus oocytes expressing eGFP‐tagged NBCe1‐A, our group reported that neither injecting human CA II (hCA II) nor fusing hCA II to the NBCe1‐A carboxy terminus affects background‐subtracted NBCe1 slope conductance (GNBC), which is a direct measure of NBCe1‐A activity. Others – using bovine CA (bCA), untagged NBCe1‐A, and protocols keeping holding potential (Vh) far from NBCe1‐A's reversal potential (Erev) for prolonged periods – found that bCA increases total membrane current (ΔIm), which apparently supports the metabolon hypothesis. We systematically investigated differences in the two protocols. In oocytes expressing untagged NBCe1‐A, injected with bCA and clamped to −40 mV, CO2/ exposures markedly decrease Erev, producing large transient outward currents persisting for >10 min and rapid increases in [Na+]i. Although the CA inhibitor ethoxzolamide (EZA) reduces both ΔIm and d[Na+]i/dt, it does not reduce GNBC. In oocytes not expressing NBCe1‐A, CO2/ triggers rapid increases in [Na+]i that both hCA II and bCA enhance in concentration‐dependent manners. These d[Na+]i/dt increases are inhibited by EZA and blocked by EIPA, a Na‐H exchanger (NHE) inhibitor. In oocytes expressing untagged NBCe1‐A and injected with bCA, EIPA abolishes the EZA‐dependent decreases in ΔIm and d[Na+]i/dt. Thus, CAs/EZA produce their ΔIm and d[Na+]i/dt effects not through NBCe1‐A, but endogenous NHEs. Theoretical considerations argue against a CA stimulation of transport, supporting the conclusion that an NBCe1‐A– metabolon does not exist in oocytes.
Effect of Buoyancy and Inertia on Viscoplastic Fluid–Fluid Displacements in a Regular and an Irregular Eccentric Annulus
Authors: Skadsem Hans Joakim , Kragset Steinar 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Casing strings and liners are important subsurface structural components in petroleum and in geothermal wells. After the casing string has been run in hole, it is cemented to the formation by pumping a sequence of spacer fluids and cement slurry into the annulus outside the string. Spacer fluids are usually pumped ahead of the cement slurry to displace the drilling fluid from the annulus that is to be cemented and thereby avoid contamination of the cement slurry. Fluid displacements are governed by inertia, buoyancy, and viscosity effects, in addition to being strongly influenced by the annular geometry. Poor centralization of the casing or irregularities such as washouts can influence the displacement flows both locally and over long axial distances. We present three-dimensional numerical simulations of the displacement flow involving two viscoplastic fluids in the vicinity of a symmetric local hole enlargement. We focus on laminar flow regimes in the regular part of the annulus and investigate how the volumetric flowrate and the mass density difference between the fluids affect the displacement efficiency in the regular and the irregular parts of the annulus. This study considers viscoplastic displacement flows in a near-vertical, irregular annulus and is an extension of a previous publication that focused on a near-horizontal annulus. We contextualize our simulations by comparison to industry guidelines for effective and steady laminar displacements in the regular, near-vertical annulus. Here, eccentricity favors flow in the wider sector of the annulus, while a positive density difference between the fluids generates secondary, azimuthal flow toward the narrow side of the annulus. In the enlarged and irregular section, both the axial bulk velocity and casing eccentricity decrease sharply and buoyancy becomes more pronounced compared to in the regular annulus. We quantify and discuss the effects of local hole enlargements on displacement efficiencies. Simulations of cementing flows can aid in optimizing fluid properties and pump rates, including when the wellbore has suspected or confirmed zones of irregular geometries.