bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A 2-Year Longitudinal Study of Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Risk in Survivors of Stroke
Authors: Fini Natalie A , Bernhardt Julie , Churilov Leonid , Clark Rebecca , Holland Anne E 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Objective
The purpose of this study was to explore associations between physical activity, cardiovascular risk factors, mobility, mood, fatigue, and cognition over 2 years following stroke rehabilitation discharge.

Methods
In this longitudinal observational study, survivors of first-ever stroke were evaluated at rehabilitation discharge and 6, 12, and 24 months later. Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) duration (minutes/day) assessed with an electronic monitor was the primary outcome. Further outcomes included step count, the number and duration of MVPA and sedentary bouts, cardiovascular risk factors (eg, blood pressure, fasting lipid profile, body mass index [BMI]), gait speed and endurance, mood, fatigue, and cognition. Associations between physical activity and cardiovascular risk factors over time were assessed with random-effects regression modeling. Associations between baseline characteristics and physical activity at 2 years were explored using regression modeling.

Results
Seventy-nine participants (68.4% men) with a mean age of 65 years (SD = 14) and a median gait speed of 1.2 m/s (interquartile range = 0.8 to 1.4) were included at baseline. Associations were found between higher physical activity (MVPA duration, number and duration of MVPA bouts) and lower BMI. Better gait speed, endurance, and cognition at baseline were associated with higher MVPA and step count at 2 years.

Conclusions
Duration and bouts of MVPA are associated with BMI. Increasing MVPA and bouts of MVPA may be a valuable treatment goal to reduce cardiovascular risk in survivors of stroke.

Impact
This 2-year study found that MVPA is associated with important cardiovascular risk factors in people who have survived stroke. Understanding these associations could be useful for developing effective treatments to prevent recurrent stroke.

Lay Summary
Performing MVPA and accumulating in bouts of at least 10 minutes might be challenging, but it could be an important component of treatments to reduce cardiovascular risk after stroke.
Markets, Social Networks, and Internally Displaced Persons: Gaining and Maintaining Market Access in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Binda Gloria Nguya , Koch Dirk Jan 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT
Arriving in a new environment, internally displaced persons (IDPs) have to rebuild their lives and find a way to make a living. In this situation, IDP women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) sustain their families by engaging in a range of economic activities, but particularly petty trade in markets. In this regard, eastern DRC offers an opportunity to better understand how IDP women engage in and navigate urban markets. Based on field research conducted in Bukavu city in South Kivu, where there are no IDP camps, this article looks at how IDP women gain access to markets and the role that social relationship and networks play in this process. Although IDPs women are often conceptualised as vulnerable and exploited, this research demonstrates that they proactively make use of opportunities in an effective way to create new livelihood opportunities. Existing studies also indicate that newcomers to an urban location can initially only access informal markets, and if they are successful there, then they might access formal markets afterwards. However, the present research shows that IDP women were more successful in integrating in formal markets than in informal markets.
Targeting the Intestine to Treat Osteoporosis
Authors: McCabe Laura , Schepper Jonathan , Rios Naiomy , Kang HoJun , Parameswaran Narayanan 
Published: December 2020

Osteoporosis is estimated to affect 200 million women worldwide. After the age of 50, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience an osteoporotic fracture and its associated pain, increased dependency, morbidity and mortality (National Osteoporosis Foundation). While there are a variety of pharmaceuticals available to treat osteoporosis, the number of people with osteoporosis continues to grow. This is in part due to reduced treatment compliance and reduced prescriptions for osteoporosis medications (Khosla and Shane, 2016). Thus, there is a need for expansion of safe, non‐prescription based treatment options for prevention or treatment of early stage osteoporosis. My talk will discuss development of therapeutics targeting the gut‐bone axis, which represents a novel, rapidly growing area of research. Reports from our lab and others indicate a key role for the microbiota in regulating bone density. Prebiotic and probiotic modulation of the intestinal microbiota and gut function is demonstrated to benefit bone health parameters in animal models and humans. Our studies and reports by others indicate that bone responses to gut manipulations are regulated by many factors including sex hormones, inflammation status, disease condition and age. Identification of specific signaling mechanisms (gut barrier function, microbiota composition, probiotic metabolites and secretory factors) will lead to further optimization of straightforward and cost‐effective treatments.Support or Funding InformationNIH DK101050, NIH AT007695This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Pro‐inflammatory Cytokine TNFα Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Through Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Yap John , Marin Natalia Mathieu , Baqal Omar Javed , Delmotte Philippe , Prakash YS , Sieck Gary C. 
Published: December 2020

Airway inflammation plays a key role in asthma. In various diseases, inflammation leads to an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and is associated with accumulation of unfolded proteins leading to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In response to ER stress, a homeostatic signaling cascade is triggered to restore normal function by halting protein translation and activating protein degradation and expression of molecular chaperones involved in protein folding. Three ER stress protein markers located at the ER membrane are involved in this signaling cascade: protein kinase RNA‐like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and inositol‐requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1α). In particular, phosphorylation of IRE1α catalyzes the alternative splicing of XBP1 mRNA leading to expression of the active XBP1 transcription factor. In this study, we hypothesize that pro‐inflammatory cytokine TNFα induces ROS production triggering ER stress in human airway smooth muscle (hASM). hASM cells were isolated from lung specimen incidental to patient surgery and exposed to TNFα (20 ng/ml) for 1, 3, 6, 12 or 24 h. To measure ROS production, hASM cells were loaded with the general oxidative stress indicator CM‐H2DCFDA or with the mitochondrial superoxide indicator MitoSOX™ Red. The CM‐H2DCFDA and MitoSOX™ Red signals were visualized using a Nikon A1R confocal imaging system. Images were analyzed using ImageJ. Exposure of hASM to tunicamycin (2 μg/ml) was used as a positive control for ER stress. Expression of IRE1α and PERK were determined by Western blot. Phosphorylation of IRE1α was also evaluated by immunoprecipitation and Western blot (Wes Simple Western™ system). The expression of the spliced isoform of the transcription factor XBP1 was examined by quantitative real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR). We found that ROS production increased in hASM within 1 h of TNFα exposure, followed by an increase in IRE1α phosphorylation within 1–3 h. Finally after 3–6 h, there was an increase in alternative splicing of XBP1 mRNA. Together these results show that the pro‐inflammatory cytokine TNFα increases ROS generation in hASM cells and induces an ER stress response that includes an increase in IRE1α phosphorylation and splicing of XBP1. This ER stress response may affect many downstream targets, among which we believe Mfn2 is a major target which affects mitochondrial Ca2+ buffering, with specific effects on hASM force and/or increased cell proliferation associated with asthma.Support or Funding InformationNIH grant HL126451This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Antibacterial activity of methanolic extracts from Dunaliella salina and Chlorella vulgaris
Authors: Medina‐Jaritz Nora B. , Carmona‐Ugalde Luis Fernando , Lopez‐Cedillo Julio Cesar , Leon F. Sandra L. Ruiloba‐De 
Published: December 2020

Many antibiotic substances have been isolated from algae, but little from marine green microalgae like Dunaliella salina. To examine the antibiotic effect of extracts from Dunaliella salina and Chlorella vulgaris, methanolic extracts were tested against Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi ATCC 6534, E. coli ATCC 8739, S. aureus ATCC 25923 and B. subtilis ATCC 6635.Algae biomass were subjected to methanol/acetic acid treatments, dried and resuspended in methanol. The microorganisms were grown in a Mueller Hinton culture media; for the agar diffusion test were adjusted to tube 1 nephelometer and spread on plates; extracts were impregnated onto paper discs. After incubation inhibition zones around each disc were measured. One‐way ANOVA Dunnett analysis was performed.The D. salina extract showed significant antibacterial activity against all microorganisms, especially to Proteus vulgaris and Salmonella typhi ATCC 6534; while the C. vulgaris extract did not show significant antibacterial activity against all microorganisms, but the bigger inhibition halos result with B. subtilis and B. subtilis ATCC 6635.Support from SIP‐IPN and COFAA‐IPN.
Development of student metacognition and progression of expertise across chemistry and biochemistry classes (LB114)
Authors: Rosenberg Martina , Knottenbelt Sushilla , Whalen Lisa 
Published: December 2020

Despite repeated exposure while progressing along a typical Undergraduate Science curriculum, learners find many fundamental concepts challenging to master. A recent report by the National Academy of Sciences identifies as one of the enduring challenges in education the application of material in a new context. However, when the mind’s ability to monitor and control its own activities is facilitated (metacognitive skills), the ability to transfer improves.This investigation aims to determine which previously acquired concepts from other classes are difficult to apply in an undergrad introductory level Biochemistry course and simultaneously explores the students’ metacognitive awareness. Biochemistry is often taken as the final science course and is taught in an active learning environment, including group work and frequent prompts for reflection.A pre‐instruction test revealed a moderate degree of mastery of problems that were identical to questions used in the finals of prerequisite chemistry classes. Within the biochemistry class pre‐ vs. post‐test performance of students shows varying degrees of acquisition and retention for specific. The acuity of the answers for individual questions did not correlate to confidence levels reported by the students while taking the tests. At the same time, a survey of learning habits indicates that biochemistry students are less anxious about exams than students in introductory chemistry classes. They are also more likely to regularly attend out‐of‐class help sessions and to meet their peers outside of class to study. Although they are equally unlikely to complete practice problems in addition to their homework, biochemistry students were ‘often’ able to identify what they did not know, but only ‘occasionally’ able to get help with what they did not know. At the end of the semester the more successful students reported their use of more study methods aside from adjustment of their study strategies indicating deliberate use of self‐regulatory mechanisms.The exploratory data presented warrant further investigation of the connection between content mastery and metacognitive awareness and will contribute to a framework exploring transfer of content and skills across a typical undergraduate science track. The authors have applied for NSF funding to continue this work.
Impact of the European Board of Pediatric Surgery examination on career progression: a cross-sectional survey study
Authors: Kawano Takafumi , Cascio Salvatore , MacKenzie Rosemary , Muensterer Oliver J. 
Published: December 2020

Background:
The 2-part examination of the European Board in Pediatric Surgery (EBPS) was established in 2005 with the aim of ensuring harmonization of standards of training in Europe. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the examination on career progression using a validated questionnaire.

Methods:
Between 2005 and 2016 a total of 227 candidates successfully passed part 2 of the EBPS examination. Of these, we were able to successfully contact 160 candidates by email and ask them to complete a validated online questionnaire, the Career Success Scale (CSS). Eighty-five candidates answered and 49 completed all items of the questionnaire (recall of 31%). Information on demographics, work environment, publication output, and self-reflecting personal opinion on the impact of EBPS certification on career progression was also queried.

Results:
A recall of 31% was obtained (49/160). Most respondents were male (82%), had published scientific manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals (93%), were actively presenting at conferences (96%), and believed that passing the examination helped them reach their career goals (61%). Involvement in multicenter studies was reported by 51% of respondents, 16% had obtained research awards, 16% received scholarships, and 9% reported research as their principal activity.

Conclusion:
Candidates who passed the European Board Exam reported a high level of academic activity. Most of them believed that passing the exam had a positive effect on their career development.
Machine learning analysis highlights the down-trending of the proportion of COVID-19 patients with a distinct laboratory result profile
Authors: Yang He S. , Hou Yu , Zhang Hao , Chadburn Amy , Westblade Lars F. , Fedeli Richard , Steel Peter A.D. , Racine-Brzostek Sabrina E. , Velu Priya , Sepulveda Jorge L. , Satlin Michael J. , Cushing Melissa M. , Kaushal Rainu , Zhao Zhen , Wang Fei 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundNew York City (NYC) experienced an initial surge and gradual decline in the number of SARS-CoV-2 confirmed cases in 2020. A change in the pattern of laboratory test results in COVID-19 patients over this time has not been reported or correlated with patient outcome.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study of routine laboratory and SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results from 5,785 patients evaluated in a NYC hospital emergency department from March to June employing machine learning analysis.ResultsA COVID-19 high-risk laboratory test result profile (COVID19-HRP), consisting of 21 routine blood tests, was identified to characterize the SARS-CoV-2 patients. Approximately half of the SARS-CoV-2 positive patients had the distinct COVID19-HRP that separated them from SARS-CoV-2 negative patients. SARS-CoV-2 patients with the COVID19-HRP had higher SARS-CoV-2 viral loads, determined by cycle-threshold values from the RT-PCR, and poorer clinical outcome compared to other positive patients without COVID19-HRP. Furthermore, the percentage of SARS-CoV-2 patients with the COVID19-HRP has significantly decreased from March/April to May/June. Notably, viral load in the SARS-CoV-2 patients declined and their laboratory profile became less distinguishable from SARS-CoV-2 negative patients in the later phase.ConclusionsOur study visualized the down-trending of the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 patients with the distinct COVID19-HRP. This analysis could become an important tool in COVID-19 population disease severity tracking and prediction. In addition, this analysis may play an important role in prioritizing high-risk patients, assisting in patient triaging and optimizing the usage of resources.
Rotavirus disease and health care utilisation among children under 5 years of age in highly developed countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ardura-Garcia Cristina , Kreis Christian , Rakic Milenko , Jaboyedoff Manon , Mallet Maria Christina , Low Nicola , Kuehni Claudia E. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundRotavirus (RV) infection is the leading cause of diarrhoea-associated morbidity and mortality globally among children under 5 years of age. RV vaccination is available, but has not been implemented in many national immunisation plans, especially in highly developed countries. This systematic review aimed to estimate the prevalence and incidence of health care use for RV gastroenteritis (RVGE) among children aged under 5 years in highly developed countries without routine RV vaccination.MethodsWe searched MEDLINE and Embase databases from January 1st 2000 to December 17th 2018 for publications reporting on incidence or prevalence of RVGE-related health care use in children below 5 years of age: primary care and emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalisations, nosocomial infections and deaths. We included only studies with laboratory-confirmed RV infection, undertaken in highly developed countries with no RV routine vaccination plans. We used random effects meta-analysis to generate summary estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and prediction intervals.ResultsWe screened 4033 abstracts and included 74 studies from 21 countries. Average incidence rates of RVGE per 100 000 person-years were: 2484 (95% CI 697-5366) primary care visits, 1890 (1597-2207) ED visits, 500 (422-584) hospitalisations, 34 (20-51) nosocomial infections and 0.04 (0.02-0.07) deaths. Average proportions of cases of acute gastroenteritis caused by RV were: 21% (95% CI 16-26%) for primary care visits; 32% (25-38%) for ED visits; 41% (36-47%) for hospitalisations, 29% (25-34%) for nosocomial infections and 12% (8-18%) for deaths. Results varied widely between and within countries, and heterogeneity was high (I2>90%) in most models.ConclusionRV in children under 5 years causes many healthcare visits and hospitalisations, with low mortality, in highly developed countries without routine RV vaccination. The health care use estimates for RVGE obtained by this study can be used to model RV vaccine cost-effectiveness in highly developed countries.Take home messageRV-caused illness leads to a high burden of health care usage in highly developed countries who have not introduced RV vaccination.
A BTB-Domain Transcription factor Recruits Chromatin Remodelers and a Histone Chaperone during the exit from Pluripotency
Authors: Olivieri Daniel , Paramanathan Sujani , Bardet Anaïs F. , Hess Daniel , Smallwood Sébastien A. , Elling Ulrich , Betschinger Joerg 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTTranscription factors (TFs) harboring a btb (Broad-Complex, Tramtrack and Bric a brac) domain play important roles in development and disease. They are thought to recruit transcriptional modulators to DNA through their btb domain. However, a systematic molecular understanding of this TF family is lacking. Here, we identify the zinc finger btb-TFZbtb2in a genetic screen for regulators of exit from pluripotency and dissect its mechanistic mode of action. We show that ZBTB2 binds the chromatin remodeler Ep400 to mediate downstream transcription. Independently, the btb domain directly interacts with the chromatin remodeller NuRD and the histone chaperone HiRA via the GATAD2A/B and UBN2 subunits, respectively. NuRD recruitment is a common feature of btb-TFs and we propose by phylogenetic analysis that this is an evolutionary ancient property. Binding to UBN2, in contrast, is specific to ZBTB2 and requires a C-terminal extension of the btb domain. This study therefore identifies a btb-domain TF that recruits chromatin modifiers and a histone chaperone during a developmental cell state transition, and defines unique and shared molecular functions of the btb-domain TF family.
Gut microbiome couples gut and brain during calorie restriction in treating obesity
Authors: Zeng Qiang , Wang Qi , Xiang Tianyuan , Ou Lei , Wu Xiaoling , Cai Kaiye , Geng Chunyu , Han Mo , Li Zhongxia , Li Zhonglin , Wang Wen , Yang Tingting , Li Fengyun , Ma Huimin , Zhao Xiaojuan , Mi Na , Gao Hui , Tong Li , Zhang Chi , Wang Linyuan , Yan Bin , Yu Ziya , Wang Ziyu , Lan Canhui , Wang Xiaoning , Li Yongli , Wang Jun 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCalorie restriction (CR) has been widely recognized for its effect in reducing body weight and alleviating diabetes in humans, as well as prolonging life span in animal studies. Gut microbiome shifts contribute to part of the effects of CR, but little is known regarding their influences except on metabolism and immunity. Here we monitored gut microbiome using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics in obese individuals undergoing CR, and revealed microbial determinants that could contribute to successful weight loss. Microbiome changes are linked to changes in blood metabolome and hormones, which eventually correlate to brain functional changes as studied using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Brain functional shifts indicate response of central neural system (CNS) to CR, and microbiome constitutes the keystone of gut-brain axis. Animal experiment further reaffirms the gut microbiome changes, metabolic and hormonal shifts of CR, while proteomic analysis of brain tissues suggest that epigenetic modifications of key proteins could explain responses of CNS to CR. Our study establishes linkage between CR, gut microbiome, metabolome/ hormones and CNS function, and demonstrates that CR has multi-facet, coordinated effects on the host, of which many could contribute to weight loss and other beneficial effects.
Ribavirin shows antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and downregulates the activity of TMPRSS2 and the expression of ACE2 In Vitro
Authors: Unal Mehmet Altay , Bitirim Ceylan Verda , Summak Gokce Yagmur , Bereketoglu Sidar , Zeytin Inci Cevher , Bul Omur , Gurcan Cansu , Aydos Dunya , Goksoy Ezgi , Kocakaya Ebru , Eran Zeynep , Murat Merve , Demir Nil , Somers Julia , Demir Emek , Nazir Hasan , Ozkan Sibel Aysil , Ozkul Aykut , Azap Alpay , Yilmazer Acelya , Akcali Kamil Can 
Published: December 2020

AbstractRibavirin is a guanosine analog and has a broad-spectrum antiviral activity against RNA viruses. Based on this, we aimed to show the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of this drug molecule via in vitro, in silico and molecular techniques. Ribavirin showed antiviral activity in Vero E6 cells following SARS-CoV-2 infection. In silico analysis suggested that Ribarivin has a broad-spectrum impact on Vero E6 cells. According to the detailed molecular techniques, Ribavirin was shown to decrease TMPRSS2 expression both at mRNA and protein level 48 hours after treatment. The suppressive effect of Ribavirin in ACE2 protein expression was shown to be dependent on cell types. Finally, proteolytic activity assays showed that Ribavirin also showed an inhibitory effect on TMPRSS2 enzyme. As a conclusion, Ribavirin is a potential antiviral drug for the treatment against SARS-CoV-2, and it interferes with the effect of TMPRSS2 and ACE2 expression.