bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lipid moieties of Mycoplasma pneumoniae lipoproteins are the causative factor of vaccine-enhanced disease
Authors: Mara Arlind B. , Gavitt Tyler D. , Tulman Edan R. , Geary Steven J. , Szczepanek Steven M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractVaccine-enhanced disease (VED) occurs as a result of vaccination followed by infection with virulent Mycoplasma pneumoniae. To date VED has prevented development of an efficacious vaccine against this significant human respiratory pathogen. Herein we report that vaccination of BALB/c mice with M. pneumoniae lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) induces lung lesions consistent with exacerbated disease following challenge, without reducing bacterial loads. Removal of lipid moieties from LAMPs prior to vaccination eliminates VED and reduces bacterial loads after infection. Collectively, these data indicate that lipid moieties of lipoproteins are the causative factors of M. pneumoniae VED.
Probabilistic modeling to estimate jellyfish ecophysiological properties and size distributions
Authors: Ramondenc Simon , Eveillard Damien , Guidi Lionel , Lombard Fabien , Delahaye Benoît 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWhile Ocean modeling has made significant advances over the last decade, its complex biological component is still oversimplified. In particular, modeling organisms in the ocean system must integrate parameters to fit both physiological and ecological behaviors that are together very difficult to determine. Such difficulty occurs for modeling Pelagia noctiluca. This jellyfish has a high abundance in the Mediterranean Sea and could contribute to several biogeochemical processes. However, gelatinous zooplanktons remain poorly represented in biogeochemical models because uncertainties about their ecophysiology limit our understanding of their potential role and impact. To overcome this issue, we propose, for the first time, the use of the Statistical Model Checking Engine (SMCE), a probability-based computational framework that considers a set of parameters as a whole. Contrary to standard parameter inference techniques, SMCE identifies sets of parameters that fit both laboratory-culturing observations and in situ patterns while considering uncertainties. Doing so, we estimated the best parameter sets of the ecophysiological model that represents the jellyfish growth and degrowth in laboratory conditions as well as its size. Behind this application, SMCE remains a computational framework that supports the projection of a model with uncertainties in broader contexts such as biogeochemical processes to drive future studies.
Uncovering spatial and ecological variability in gap size frequency distributions in the Canadian boreal forest
Authors: Goodbody Tristan R. H. , Tompalski Piotr , Coops Nicholas C. , White Joanne C. , Wulder Michael A. , Sanelli Marco 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAnalyses characterizing canopy gaps are required to improve our understanding of spatial and structural variations in forest canopies and provide insight into ecosystem-level successional processes. Gap size frequency distributions (GSFD) are indicative of ecological processes and disturbance patterns. To date, GSFD in boreal forest ecosystems have not been systematically quantified over large areas using a single consistent data source. Herein we characterized GSFDs across the entirety of the Canadian boreal forest using transects of airborne laser scanning (ALS) data. ALS transects were representatively sampled within eight distinct Canadian boreal ecozones. Gaps were detected and delineated from the ALS-derived canopy height model as contiguous canopy openings ≥8 m2with canopy heights ≤3 m. Gaps were then stratified by ecozone and forest type (i.e. coniferous, broadleaf, mixedwood, wetland-treed), and combinations thereof, and GSFDs were calculated for each stratum. GSFDs were characterized by the scaling parameter of the power-law probability distribution, lambda (λ) and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests confirmed that GSFDs for each stratum followed a power-law distribution. Pairwise comparisons between ecozones, forest types, and combinations thereof indicated significant differences between estimates of λ. Scaling parameters were found to be more variable by ecozone (1.96–2.31) than by forest type (2.15–2.21). These results contrast those of similar studies done in tropical forest environments, whereby λ was found to be relatively consistent across a range of site types, geological substrates, and forest types. The geographic range considered herein is much larger than that of previous studies, and broad-scale patterns in climate, landforms, and soils that are reflected in the definition of unique ecozones, likely also influence gap characteristics.
Apatinib Monotherapy for Chemotherapy-Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Multi-centre, Single-Arm, Prospective Study
Authors: Wang Fen , Yuan Xia , Jia Jun , Bi Xiaoxia , Zhou Zeqiang , Zhou Qiming , Li Xia , Luo Changguo , Deng Minghui , Yi Liangjie , Li Yong , Lu Jianxin , Su Wenzhi , Chen Hanbin , Zhu Yu , Wang Shubin 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAngiogenesis inhibitors are of considerable interest for treating metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of apatinib in chemotherapy-refractory mCRC. Apatinib 500 mg was administered daily to patients who had progressed after two or more lines of standard fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), and toxicity. Overall, 48 patients were enrolled. ORR and DCR were 8.3% (4/48) and 68.8% (33/48), respectively. Median PFS and OS were 4.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.653–5.887) and 9.1 months (95% CI, 5.155–13.045), respectively, and did not differ between subgroups stratified by previous anti-angiogenic therapies. The most prevalent grade 3–4 adverse events were hypertension (12.5%), hand-foot syndrome (HFS, 10.4%), thrombocytopenia (10.4%), and proteinuria (8.3%). Low baseline neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR, hazard ratios [HR], 0.619; P = 0.027), early carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19–9) decrease (HR, 1.654; P = 0.016), and HFS (HR, 2.087; P = 0.007) were associated with improved PFS. In conclusion, apatinib monotherapy demonstrated encouraging efficacy with manageable toxicities in chemotherapy-refractory mCRC. Previous anti-angiogenic therapies did not influence outcomes. Baseline NLR, early CA19-9 decrease, and HFS could predict the efficacy of apatinib.
Parity is associated with cognitive function and brain age in both females and males
Authors: Ning Kaida , Zhao Lu , Franklin Meredith , Matloff Will , Batta Ishaan , Arzouni Nibal , Sun Fengzhu , Toga Arthur W. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractPrevious studies of the association between parity and long-term cognitive changes have primarily focused on women and have shown conflicting results. We investigated this association by analyzing data collected on 303,196 subjects from the UK Biobank. We found that in both females and males, having offspring was associated with a faster response time and fewer mistakes made in the visual memory task. Subjects with two or three children had the largest differences relative to those who were childless, with greater effects observed in men. We further analyzed the association between parity and relative brain age (n = 13,584), a brain image-based biomarker indicating how old one’s brain structure appears relative to peers. We found that in both sexes, subjects with two or three offspring had significantly reduced brain age compared to those without offspring, corroborating our cognitive function results. Our findings suggest that lifestyle factors accompanying having offspring, rather than the physical process of pregnancy experienced only by females, contribute to these associations and underscore the importance of studying such factors, particularly in the context of sex.
Hierarchical clustering of MS/MS spectra from the firefly metabolome identifies new lucibufagin compounds
Authors: Rawlinson Catherine , Jones Darcy , Rakshit Suman , Meka Shiv , Moffat Caroline S. , Moolhuijzen Paula 
Published: April 2020

AbstractMetabolite identification is the greatest challenge when analysing metabolomics data, as only a small proportion of metabolite reference standards exist. Clustering MS/MS spectra is a common method to identify similar compounds, however interrogation of underlying signature fragmentation patterns within clusters can be problematic. Previously published high-resolution LC-MS/MS data from the bioluminescent beetle (Photinus pyralis) provided an opportunity to mine new specialized metabolites in the lucibufagin class, compounds important for defense against predation. We aimed to 1) provide a workflow for hierarchically clustering MS/MS spectra for metabolomics data enabling users to cluster, visualise and easily interrogate the identification of underlying cluster ion profiles, and 2) use the workflow to identify key fragmentation patterns for lucibufagins in the hemolymph of P. pyralis. Features were aligned to their respective MS/MS spectra, then product ions were dynamically binned and resulting spectra were hierarchically clustered and grouped based on a cutoff distance threshold. Using the simplified visualization and the interrogation of cluster ion tables the number of lucibufagins was expanded from 17 to a total of 29.
De novo sensitization during subcutaneous allergen specific immunotherapy - an analysis of 51 cases of SCIT and 33 symptomatically treated controls
Authors: Gellrich Donata , Eder Katharina , Högerle Catalina , Becker Sven , Canis Martin , Gröger Moritz 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSince the beneficial implementation of allergen specific subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), there are only a few studies on the risk of SCIT-induced neosensitizations. In 51 patients, we retrospectively analyzed sIgE and sIgG patterns by a multiplex ELISA as well as demographic and clinical features before and after SCIT. 33 allergic patients, who only received symptomatic treatment, served as controls. In 12 of 51 SCIT-treated patients (24%), we found new sIgE against allergen components of the allergen source treated by SCIT; eight of them were adults. Among controls, no adult patient showed neosensitization to components of the primarily affected allergen source. Only two children of the control group were affected by neosensitization, which was limited to major allergen components and rarely accompanied by sIgG. In the SCIT-treated group, neosensitization affected major and minor allergen components, and was accompanied by a strong induction of sIgG against major components. A clear clinical predictor of neosensitization during SCIT was not found. Comparing symptom scores, patients seem to profit more from SCIT, if neosensitization remained absent. Patients undergoing SCIT might carry an enhanced risk of neosensitization towards formerly unrecognized allergen components. According to anamnestic data, these neosensitizations might be of clinical relevance - supporting attempts towards personalized recombinant vaccines.
Association between serum uric acid levels and mortality: a nationwide community-based cohort study
Authors: Konta Tsuneo , Ichikawa Kazunobu , Kawasaki Ryo , Fujimoto Shouichi , Iseki Kunitoshi , Moriyama Toshiki , Yamagata Kunihiro , Tsuruya Kazuhiko , Narita Ichiei , Kondo Masahide , Shibagaki Yugo , Kasahara Masato , Asahi Koichi , Watanabe Tsuyoshi 
Published: April 2020

AbstractHyperuricemia is associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. However, the threshold value of serum uric acid levels for increased risk of mortality has not been determined. This large-scale cohort study used a nationwide database of 500,511 Japanese subjects (40–74 years) who participated in the annual health checkup and were followed up for 7 years. The association of serum uric acid levels at baseline with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality was examined. The Cox proportional hazard model analysis with adjustment for possible confounders revealed that the all-cause and cardiovascular mortality showed a J-shaped association with serum uric acid levels at baseline in both men and women. A significant increase in the hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was noted with serum uric acid levels ≥ 7 mg/dL in men and ≥ 5 mg/dL in women. A similar trend was observed for cardiovascular mortality. This study disclosed that even a slight increase in serum uric acid levels was an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in both men and women in a community-based population. Moreover, the threshold values of uric acid for mortality might be different for men and women.
Development of a clinical-dermoscopic model for the diagnosis of urticarial vasculitis
Authors: García-García B. , Aubán-Pariente J. , Munguía-Calzada P. , Vivanco B. , Argenziano G. , Vázquez-López F. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe clinical criteria for the diagnosis of urticarial vasculitis lack accuracy, according to previous studies. The aim of the study was to assess the accuracy of a clinical and a clinical-dermoscopic model for the differential diagnosis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and urticarial vasculitis (UV). Dermoscopic images of lesions with histopathologically confirmed diagnosis of CSU and UV were evaluated for the presence of selected criteria (purpuric patches/globules (PG) and red linear vessels). Clinical criteria of CSU and UV were also registered. Univariate and adjusted odds ratios were calculated. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted separately for clinical variables (clinical diagnostic model) and for both clinical and dermoscopic variables (clinical-dermoscopic diagnostic model). 108 patients with CSU and 27 patients with UV were included in the study. The clinical-dermoscopic model notably showed higher diagnostic sensitivity than the clinical approach (63% vs. 44%). Dermoscopic purpuric patches/globules (PG) was the variable that better discriminated UV, increasing by 19-fold the odds for this diagnosis. In conclusion, dermoscopy helps the clinical discrimination between CSU and UV. The visualization of dermoscopic PG may contribute to optimize decisions regarding biopsy in patients with urticarial rashes.
Microfluidic Electroporation Coupling Pulses of Nanoseconds and Milliseconds to Facilitate Rapid Uptake and Enhanced Expression of DNA in Cell Therapy
Authors: Chang An-Yi , Liu Xuan , Tian Hong , Hua Liping , Yang Zhaogang , Wang Shengnian 
Published: April 2020

AbstractStandard electroporation with pulses in milliseconds has been used as an effective tool to deliver drugs or genetic probes into cells, while irreversible electroporation with nanosecond pulses is explored to alter intracellular activities for pulse-induced apoptosis. A combination treatment, long nanosecond pulses followed by standard millisecond pulses, is adopted in this work to help facilitate DNA plasmids to cross both cell plasma membrane and nuclear membrane quickly to promote the transgene expression level and kinetics in both adherent and suspension cells. Nanosecond pulses with 400–800 ns duration are found effective on disrupting nuclear membrane to advance nuclear delivery of plasmid DNA. The additional microfluidic operation further helps suppress the negative impacts such as Joule heating and gas bubble evolution from common nanosecond pulse treatment that lead to high toxicity and/or ineffective transfection. Having appropriate order and little delay between the two types of treatment with different pulse duration is critical to guarantee the effectiveness: 2 folds or higher transfection efficiency enhancement and rapid transgene expression kinetics of GFP plasmids at no compromise of cell viability. The implementation of this new electroporation approach may benefit many biology studies and clinical practice that needs efficient delivery of exogenous probes.
Exploring yeast interactions through metabolic profiling
Authors: Roullier-Gall C. , David V. , Hemmler D. , Schmitt-Kopplin P. , Alexandre H. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAs a complex microbial ecosystem, wine is a particularly interesting model for studying interactions between microorganisms as fermentation can be done by microbial consortia, a unique strain or mixed culture. The effect of a specific yeast strain on its environments is unique and characterized by its metabolites and their concentration. With its great resolution and excellent mass accuracy, ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry (uHRMS) is the perfect tool to analyze the yeast metabolome at the end of alcoholic fermentation. This work reports the change in wine chemical composition from pure and mixed culture fermentation with Lachancea thermotolerans, Starmerella bacillaris, Metschnikowia pulcherrima and S. cerevisiae. We could clearly differentiate wines according to the yeast strain used in single cultures and markers, which reflect important differences between the yeast species, were extracted and annotated. Moreover, uHRMS revealed underlining intra species metabolomics differences, showing differences at the strain level between the two Starmerella bacillaris. Non volatile metabolomics analysis of single and sequential fermentations confirmed that mixed fermentations lead to a different composition. Distinct metabolites appeared in wines from sequential fermentation compared to single fermentation. This suggests that interactions between yeasts are not neutral.
Abo1 is required for the H3K9me2 to H3K9me3 transition in heterochromatin
Authors: Dong Wenbo , Oya Eriko , Zahedi Yasaman , Prasad Punit , Svensson J. Peter , Lennartsson Andreas , Ekwall Karl , Durand-Dubief Mickaël 
Published: April 2020

AbstractHeterochromatin regulation is critical for genomic stability. Different H3K9 methylation states have been discovered, with distinct roles in heterochromatin formation and silencing. However, how the transition from H3K9me2 to H3K9me3 is controlled is still unclear. Here, we investigate the role of the conserved bromodomain AAA-ATPase, Abo1, involved in maintaining global nucleosome organisation in fission yeast. We identified several key factors involved in heterochromatin silencing that interact genetically with Abo1: histone deacetylase Clr3, H3K9 methyltransferase Clr4, and HP1 homolog Swi6. Cells lacking Abo1 cultivated at 30 °C exhibit an imbalance of H3K9me2 and H3K9me3 in heterochromatin. In abo1∆ cells, the centromeric constitutive heterochromatin has increased H3K9me2 but decreased H3K9me3 levels compared to wild-type. In contrast, facultative heterochromatin regions exhibit reduced H3K9me2 and H3K9me3 levels in abo1∆. Genome-wide analysis showed that abo1∆ cells have silencing defects in both the centromeres and subtelomeres, but not in a subset of heterochromatin islands in our condition. Thus, our work uncovers a role of Abo1 in stabilising directly or indirectly Clr4 recruitment to allow the H3K9me2 to H3K9me3 transition in heterochromatin.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound features of malignant focal liver masses in dogs
Authors: Burti Silvia , Zotti Alessandro , Rubini Giuseppe , Orlandi Riccardo , Bargellini Paolo , Bonsembiante Federico , Banzato Tommaso 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA total of 185 cases (150 retrospectively and 35 prospectively) of malignant liver masses were collected. In the retrospectively collected cases hyperenhancement during wash-in was the most common feature in HCCs but there was a high percentage of cases showing no enhancement or hypo/isoenhancement. ICCs displayed a large variety of contrast enhancement patterns and, although statically significant differences between ICCs and HCCs were evident, no clear distinction between these two pathologies was possible based only on their CEUS appearance. Sarcomas displayed all the possible degrees of wash-in enhancement with non-enhancing being the most common appearance. Metastases displayed all the possible contrast-enhancement patterns, with the most common being hyperenhancement in the wash-in phase followed by hypoenhancement in the wash-out phase. A decision tree was developed based on the features of the retrospectively selected cases. Based on the developed decision tree 27/35 prospectively collected cases were correctly classified. Even if some significant differences among groups were evident, all the histotypes displayed all the possible patterns of contrast enhancement, and, therefore, the differentiation of liver masses in dogs based only on their CEUS features is not feasible and, therefore, cytology or histopathology is required.
Artificial intelligence for the diagnosis of heart failure
Authors: Choi Dong-Ju , Park Jin Joo , Ali Taqdir , Lee Sungyoung 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe diagnosis of heart failure can be difficult, even for heart failure specialists. Artificial Intelligence-Clinical Decision Support System (AI-CDSS) has the potential to assist physicians in heart failure diagnosis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of an AI-CDSS for heart failure. AI-CDSS for cardiology was developed with a hybrid (expert-driven and machine-learning-driven) approach of knowledge acquisition to evolve the knowledge base with heart failure diagnosis. A retrospective cohort of 1198 patients with and without heart failure was used for the development of AI-CDSS (training dataset, n = 600) and to test the performance (test dataset, n = 598). A prospective clinical pilot study of 97 patients with dyspnea was used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of AI-CDSS compared with that of non-heart failure specialists. The concordance rate between AI-CDSS and heart failure specialists was evaluated. In retrospective cohort, the concordance rate was 98.3% in the test dataset. The concordance rate for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and no heart failure was 100%, 100%, 99.6%, and 91.7%, respectively. In a prospective pilot study of 97 patients presenting with dyspnea to the outpatient clinic, 44% had heart failure. The concordance rate between AI-CDSS and heart failure specialists was 98%, whereas that between non-heart failure specialists and heart failure specialists was 76%. In conclusion, AI-CDSS showed a high diagnostic accuracy for heart failure. Therefore, AI-CDSS may be useful for the diagnosis of heart failure, especially when heart failure specialists are not available.