bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Insight towards the effect of the multibasic cleavage site of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on cellular proteases
Authors: Shokeen Kamal , Pandey Shambhavi , Shah Manisha , Kumar Sachin 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSevere respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection presents an immense global health problem. Spike (S) protein of coronavirus is the primary determinant of its entry into the host as it consists of both receptor binding and fusion domain. While tissue tropism, host range, and pathogenesis of coronavirus are primarily controlled by the interaction of S protein with the cell receptor, it is possible that proteolytic activation of S protein by host cell proteases also plays a decisive role. The host-cell proteases have shown to be involved in the proteolysis of S protein and cleaving it into two functional subunits, S1 and S2, during the maturation process. In the present study, the interaction of S protein of SARS-CoV-2 with different host proteases like furin, cathepsin B, and plasmin has been analyzed. Incorporation of the furin cleavage site (R-R-A-R) in the S protein in SARS-CoV-2 has been studied by mutating the individual amino acid. Our results suggest the polytropic nature of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2. Our analysis indicated that a single amino acid substitution in the polybasic cleavage site of S protein perturb the binding of cellular proteases. This mutation study might help to generate an attenuated SARS-CoV-2. Besides, targeting of host proteases by inhibitors may result in a practical approach to stop the cellular spread of SARS-CoV-2 and to develop its antiviral.
WITHDRAWN: Recombinant BCG overexpressing a STING agonist elicits trained immunity and improved antitumor efficacy in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Singh Alok Kumar , Praharaj Monali , Lombardo Kara A , Yoshida Takahiro , Matoso Andres , Baras Alex S. , Zhao Liang , Prasad Pankaj , Powell Jonathan D. , Kates Max , McConkey David , Pardoll Drew M. , Bishai William R. , Bivalacqua Trinity J. 
Published: April 2020

Withdrawal StatementThe authors have withdrawn their manuscript owing to irregularities in the Source Data supporting some figures. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding authors.
High-throughput CRISPR screens to dissect macrophage-Shigellainteractions
Authors: Lai Yong , Cui Liang , Babunovic Gregory H. , Fortune Sarah M. , Doench John G. , Lu Timothy K. 
Published: April 2020

SUMMARYShigellosis causes most diarrheal deaths worldwide, particularly affecting children.Shigellainvades and replicates in the epithelium of the large intestine, eliciting inflammation and tissue destruction. To understand howShigellarewires macrophages prior to epithelium invasion, we performed genome-wide and focused secondary CRISPR knockout and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screens inShigella flexneri-infected human monocytic THP-1 cells. Knockdown of the Toll-like receptor 1/2 signaling pathway significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production, enhanced host cell survival, and controlled intracellular pathogen growth. Knockdown of the enzymatic component of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex enhanced THP-1 cell survival. Small molecule inhibitors blocking key components of these pathways had similar effects; these were validated with human monocyte-derived macrophages, which closely mimic thein vivophysiological state of cells post-infection. High-throughput CRISPR screens can elucidate howS. flexneritriggers inflammation and redirects host pyruvate catabolism for energy acquisition before killing macrophages, pointing to new shigellosis therapies.
Transgenerational phenotypic plasticity of diapause induction and related fitness cost in a commercial strain of the parasitoid Aphidius ervi Haliday
Authors: Saeed Muhammad Mubashir , Tougeron Kévin , Raza Abu Bakar Muhammad , Afzal Muhammad , Aqueel Anjum , Le Goff Guillaume Jean , Renoz François , Pirotte Jennifer , Hance Thierry 
Published: April 2020

AbstractDiapause is an adaptation that insects have evolved to synchronize their life cycle with that of seasonal climatic changes and resources availability. However, cues for its induction are not always clear and, in some cases, a maternal effect may be involved. At the population level, just a part of the individuals may exhibit diapause with important consequences in terms of winter survival. Moreover, clear indicators of diapause state are difficult to identify. Diapause induction was thus investigated in the aphid parasitoid species Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) developing in the aphid Sitobion avenae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) at four crossed photothermal regimes (16 °C and 8 °C, 16:8 h L:D and 8:16 h L:D), and during 2 successive generations. We analyzed the reliability of changes in mummy color to assess for the diapausing state compared to dissections, and we measured parasitoid morphological and physiological traits. We observed that the proportion of dark brown mummies increased after one generation under low photothermal regime compared to other regimes. No diapause was recorded at 16 °C, 16:8 h L:D, while we observed 16.2% and 67.5% diapause incidence at 8 °C, 8:16 h L:D, at 1st and 2nd generation, respectively. Diapause induction is thus increased by short day‐length conditions and low temperatures as well as by maternal effects. All parasitoid life‐history traits (weight, size, fat content, water content, egg‐load, and longevity) were affected by the photothermal regime and/or the generation. These results raise new questions on the environmental thresholds needed to induce diapause and on survival and adaptation potential of commercially available parasitoid strains in different environments.
Non‐obese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease may use a lower liver stiffness cut‐off to assess fibrosis stages
Authors: Shi Yi Wen , Wang Qian Yi , Zhao Xin Yan , Sun Ya Meng , Kong Yuan Yuan , Ou Xiao Juan , Jia Ji Dong , Wu Shan Shan , You Hong 
Published: April 2020

ObjectiveWe aimed to estimate the optimal cut‐off values of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) for diagnosing and staging fibrosis in non‐obese and obese patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).MethodsNAFLD patients diagnosed by liver biopsy according to the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network scoring system were enrolled in this study. Non‐obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) less than 25 kg/m2. LSM was performed by experienced physicians within 2 weeks before or after liver biopsy.ResultsA total of 158 patients were included. Average BMI of the non‐obese (n = 68) and obese (n = 90) groups was 23.2 ± 1.6 and 27.9 ± 2.5 kg/m2, respectively. After adjusted for age, fibrosis stage, steatosis grade and type 2 diabetes mellitus, the obese group had a LSM of 3.522 kPa higher than the non‐obese patients (P = 0.003). LSM values of the non‐obese patients had a lower trend when stratified by fibrosis stage, especially in cirrhosis (F4; P = 0.021). Applying separate cut‐off values for patients with NAFLD in individual fibrosis stage, 5.8 vs 7.5 kPa (≥ F1), 7.6 vs 8.5 kPa (≥ F2), 9.1 vs 11.2 kPa (≥ F3), and 12.5 vs 14.3 kPa (F4), improved their diagnostic odds ratios compared with overall cut‐off values. In the non‐obese NAFLD group, using a separate cut‐off avoided underestimating 9.1% of patients with cirrhosis.ConclusionsNon‐obese NAFLD group had lower LSM than the obese group. Different cut‐off values should be used to measure liver fibrosis stage in non‐obese and obese NAFLD patients.
Estimation of colour volumes as concave hypervolumes using α‐shapes
Authors: Gruson Hugo 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Organisms often display multiple colour patches and for many analyses, it may be useful to take into account all these patches at the same time, and reconstruct the colour volume of the organisms. Stoddard and Prum (2008, The American Naturalist, 171, 755) proposed to use convex hulls to reconstruct the colour volume of a species. Convex hull volume has since then often been used as an index of colourfulness, and the intersection of multiple convex hulls is used to study the colour similarity between two objects.

In this article, I outline the limitations of convex hulls in this context. In particular, multiple studies have reported that the convex hull overestimates the actual colour volume. I argued for the use of a more general tool, developed as a more flexible extension of the convex hulls: α‐shapes. Depending on the parameter α, α‐shapes can reconstruct concave (i.e. non‐convex) volumes with voids or pockets that are better suited for the estimation of colour volumes.

To determine the optimal value of the parameter α, I point out two expected properties of multidimensional trait spaces, which translate into two conditions providing a lower and upper bound on α, and I propose technical tools to identify the α value satisfying these two conditions. Using colour data from the whole bird community from the biological station of the Nouragues, French Guiana, I show that using α‐shapes rather than convex hulls results in possibly major differences in the estimation of the colour volume.

I discuss possible future developments of this new framework in both colour science and other areas of ecology dealing with multidimensional trait spaces, such as community ecology where α‐shape volumes could serve as a replacement for the functional richness FRic, or morphometrics.
Phenological characterisation, thermal requirement and production in the selection of pitanga genotypes in semiarid conditions
Authors: de Moura Elias A. , de Andrade Alex D. M. , Mendonça Vander , Melo Marlenildo F. , Mendonça Luciana F. M. , de Oliveira Luana M. , Alves Anderson A. , de Farias Wagner C. , Figueiredo Francisco R. A. , Irineu Toni H. S. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractPitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) cultivation has increased rapidly around the world, but most seedlings come from sexual propagation and thus present high genetic variability and respond differently to environmental conditions. This work studied the phenology and thermal requirement of pitanga genotypes in the Brazilian semiarid. Forty‐eight genotypes were evaluated in 2017 and 2018 in an experimental farm at the Federal Rural University of Semiarid, Mossoró, Brazil. The time and thermal requirement for phenological stages from fruit pruning to harvesting, and fruit production were evaluated. Highly productive and precocious genotypes were identified, and six groups were arranged based on dissimilarity.
Antibacterial activity of sugar maple autumn‐shed leaf extract: Identification of the active compound
Authors: Delisle‐Houde Maxime , Dubé Pascal , Tweddell Russell J. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractEthanolic crude extract prepared from autumn‐shed leaves of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) was recently shown to have antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas cichorii and Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians, two bacteria causing diseases in lettuce production. In this study, antibacterial activity of sugar maple autumn‐shed leaves (SMASL) extract was further investigated. SMASL ethanolic crude extract was fractionated using HPLC system and geraniin was identified as the antibacterial compound by UPLC/Q‐Tof‐MS system. Geraniin, an ellagitannin, was then purified from SMASL crude extract using a glass chromatographic C18‐reversed phase silica gel column (purification Step 1) and a semi‐preparative HPLC system equipped with 5 μm XTerra Prep MS C18 column (purification Step 2). Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of purified geraniin (purity of 96%) against P. cichorii and X. campestris pv. vitians were determined. X. campestris pv. vitians (MIC of 0.024 mg ml−1 and MBC of 3.125 mg ml−1) was more sensitive to geraniin than P. cichorii (MIC of 0.781 mg ml−1 and MBC of 6.25 mg ml−1). In the present study, geraniin is reported for the first time as the main antibacterial compound present in SMASL.
Evening chronotype, disordered eating behavior, and poor dietary habits in bipolar disorder
Authors: Romo‐Nava F. , Blom T. J. , Guerdjikova A. , Winham S. J. , Cuellar‐Barboza A. B. , Nunez N. A. , Singh B. , Biernacka J. M. , Frye M. A. , McElroy S. L. 
Published: April 2020

ObjectiveOur aim was to evaluate the relationship between evening chronotype, a proxy marker of circadian system dysfunction, and disordered eating behavior and poor dietary habits in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD).MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, we evaluated 783 adults with BD. Chronotype was determined using item 5 from the reduced Morningness‐Eveningness Questionnaire. The Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (EDDS) and the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants—Shortened Version (REAP‐S) were used to assess disordered eating behavior and dietary habits respectively. General linear models and logistic regression models were utilized to evaluate differences between chronotype groups.ResultsTwo hundred and eight (27%) BD participants self‐identified as having evening chronotypes. Compared to non‐evening types, evening types were younger (P < 0.01) and, after controlling for age, had higher mean EDDS composite z‐scores (P < 0.01); higher rates of binge‐eating (BE) behavior (P = 0.04), bulimia nervosa (P < 0.01), and nocturnal eating binges (P < 0.01); and a higher body mass index (P = 0.04). Compared to non‐evening types, evening chronotypes had a lower REAP‐S overall score (P < 0.01) and scored lower on the ‘healthy foods’ and ‘avoidance of unhealthy food’ factors. Evening types also skipped breakfast more often (P < 0.01), ate less fruit (P = 0.02) and vegetables (P = 0.04), and consumed more fried foods (P < 0.01), unhealthy snacks (P = 0.02), and soft drinks (P = 0.01).ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the circadian system plays a role in the disordered eating and unhealthy dietary behaviors observed in BD patients. The circadian system may therefore represent a therapeutic target in BD‐associated morbidity that warrants further investigation.
The effect of tobacco and alcohol consumption on poverty in the United Kingdom
Authors: Nyakutsikwa Blessing , Britton John , Langley Tessa 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACTBackground and AimsTobacco and alcohol use are major risk factors for premature mortality and morbidity. Tobacco and alcohol expenditure may also exacerbate poverty. This study aimed to estimate the financial impact of tobacco and alcohol consumption in low income households in the United Kingdom.DesignWe undertook a cross‐sectional study using a secondary dataset. A sample of 5031 households participated in the 2016–17 Living Costs and Food Survey. Measurements We measured the weekly household income and expenditure on tobacco and alcohol, and the proportion of households with expenditure on tobacco and alcohol overall, by income decile and in households in relative poverty (below 60% of the median household income). Estimates were extrapolated using population data to estimate the number of UK households, adults and children that would be classified as living in relative poverty on the basis of net income after subtracting tobacco or alcohol expenditure (‘tobacco and alcohol expenditure‐adjusted poverty’).FindingsSpending on alcohol was more common in high income groups; 83% of households in the highest and 47% in the lowest income decile purchased alcohol. The reverse was true for tobacco, which was purchased by 8% and 24% of households in the highest and lowest income deciles respectively. Twenty‐three percent of households in relative poverty purchased tobacco and 49% alcohol, with a median expenditure of £12.50 and £9.55 per week, respectively. A total of 320 000 households comprising 590 000 adults and 175 000 children were in alcohol expenditure‐adjusted poverty, and 230 000 households, comprising 400 000 adults and 180 000 children in tobacco‐expenditure adjusted poverty.ConclusionsTobacco and alcohol expenditure appear to exacerbate poverty in low income households in the United Kingdom. Hundreds of thousands of additional households would be defined as living in relative poverty based on their income after subtracting their tobacco and alcohol expenditure.
Electronic cigarettes, nicotine use trends and use initiation ages among US adolescents from 1999 to 2018
Authors: Foxon Floe , Selya Arielle S. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackground and AimsRecent nicotine use trends raise concerns that electronic cigarettes (ECs) may act as a gateway to cigarettes among adolescents. The aims of this study were to examine prevalence trends of exclusive EC use, exclusive cigarette use and dual use to determine the corresponding ages of initiation and to investigate hypothetical trends in total nicotine use and cigarette use in the absence of ECs among US adolescents.DesignObservational study using data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) to statistically model trends in the prevalences of each user group and their initiation ages. Projections from counterfactual models based on data from 1999 to 2009 (before EC introduction) were compared with actual trends based on data from 1999 to 2018. Rigorous error analyses were applied, including Theil proportions.SettingUSA.Participants and measurementsAdolescents aged 12–17 years who were established exclusive cigarette users (≥ 100 cigarettes smoked and ≤ 100 days vaped), established exclusive EC users (< 100 cigarettes smoked and > 100 days vaped) and established dual users (≥ 100 cigarettes smoked and > 100 days vaped), based on cumulative life‐time exposure (n ≈ 12 500–31 000 per wave).FindingsExclusive cigarette use prevalence declined from 1999 to 2018, while exclusive EC use and dual use prevalences increased since their introduction in 2009. The age of cigarette initiation began a slight increase after 2014, whereas the age for EC use remained approximately constant and was higher than that of cigarettes. The counterfactual comparison results were consistent with ECs not increasing the number of US adolescent nicotine users, and in fact diverting adolescents from cigarettes.ConclusionsElectronic cigarettes may have offset conventional smoking among US adolescents between 2010 and 2018 by maintaining the total nicotine use prevalence and diverting them from more harmful conventional smoking. Additionally, electronic cigarette users appear to initiate at older ages relative to conventional smokers, which is associated with lower risk.
Alcohol use and cognitive functioning in young adults: improving causal inference
Authors: Mahedy Liam , Suddell Steph , Skirrow Caroline , Fernandes Gwen S. , Field Matt , Heron Jon , Hickman Matthew , Wootton Robyn , Munafò Marcus R. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackground and AimsThere have been few longitudinal studies of association between alcohol use and cognitive functioning in young people. We aimed to examine whether alcohol use is a causal risk factor for deficient cognitive functioning in young adults.DesignLinear regression was used to examine the relationship between longitudinal latent class patterns of binge drinking and subsequent cognitive functioning. Two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) tested evidence for the causal relationship between alcohol use and cognitive functioning.SettingSouth West England.ParticipantsThe observational study included 3155 adolescents and their parents (fully adjusted models) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Genetic instruments for alcohol use were based on almost 1 000 000 individuals from the genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) and Sequencing Consortium of Alcohol and Nicotine use (GSCAN). Genome‐wide association studies for cognitive outcomes were based on 2500 individuals from ALSPAC.MeasurementsBinge drinking was assessed at approximately 16, 17, 18, 21 and 23 years. Cognitive functioning comprised working memory, response inhibition and emotion recognition assessed at 24 years of age. Ninety‐nine independent genome‐wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with ‘number of drinks per week’ were used as the genetic instrument for alcohol consumption. Potential confounders were included in the observational analyses.FindingsFour binge drinking classes were identified: ‘low‐risk’ (41.3%), ‘early‐onset monthly’ (19.1%), ‘adult frequent’ (22.5%) and ‘early‐onset frequent’ (17.0%). The association between early‐onset frequent binge drinking and cognitive functioning: working memory (b = −0.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −1.24 to 0.41), response inhibition (b = 31.9, 95% CI = −25.3 to 89.2), and emotion recognition (b = 0.02, 95% CI = −0.07 to 0.10) in comparison to low‐risk drinkers were inconclusive as to whether a difference was present. Two‐sample MR analyses similarly provided little evidence that alcohol use is associated with deficits in working memory using the inverse variance weight (b = 0.29, 95% CI = –0.42 to 0.99), response inhibition (b = −0.32, 95% CI = –1.04 to 0.39) and emotion recognition (b = 0.03, 95% CI = –0.55 to 0.61).ConclusionsBinge drinking in adolescence and early adulthood may not be causally related to deficiencies in working memory, response inhibition or emotion recognition in youths.
The impact of respiratory protective equipment on difficult airway management: a randomised, crossover, simulation study
Authors: Schumacher J. , Arlidge J. , Dudley D. , Sicinski M. , Ahmad I. 
Published: April 2020

SummaryThe current international COVID‐19 health crisis underlines the importance of adequate and suitable personal protective equipment for clinical staff during acute airway management. This study compares the impacts of standard air‐purifying respirators and powered air‐purifying respirators during simulated difficult airway scenarios. Twenty‐five anaesthetists carried out four different standardised difficult intubation drills, either unprotected (control), or wearing a standard or a powered respirator. Treatment times and wearer comfort were determined and compared. In the wearer comfort evaluation form, operators rated mobility, noise, heat, vision and speech intelligibility. All anaesthetists accomplished the treatment objectives of all study arms without adverse events. Total mean (SD) intubation times for the four interventions did not show significant differences between the powered and the standard respirator groups, being 16.4 (8.6) vs. 19.2 (5.2) seconds with the Airtraq™; 11.4 (3.4) vs. 10.0 (2.1) seconds with the videolaryngoscope; 39.2 (4.5) vs. 40.1 (4.8) seconds with the fibreoptic bronchoscope scope; and 15.4 (5.7) vs. 15.1 (5.0) seconds for standard tracheal intubation by direct laryngoscopy, respectively. Videolaryngoscopy allowed the shortest intubation times regardless of the respiratory protective device used. Anaesthetists rated heat and vision significantly higher in the powered respirator group; however, noise levels were perceived to be significantly lower than in the standard respirator group. We conclude that standard and powered respirators do not significantly prolong simulated advanced intubation procedures.
Swallowing‐induced atrial tachycardia associated with sympathetic activation: A case report
Authors: Wang Xinlu , Zhang Junmeng , Cheng Liting , Wang Ziyu , Wang Zefeng , Wu Yongquan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractA 51‐year‐old woman presented with a 5‐year history of a bypass tract of a left posterior septal ablation for atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT). Following the procedure, while swallowing even without any water or food, she felt a new onset of palpitations, and swallowing‐induced atrial tachycardia was diagnosed. We report on this patient with tachycardia induced by swallowing who received a comprehensive assessment. The swallowing‐induced atrial tachycardia deriving from the right pulmonary vein was cured by catheter ablation. In our case, the swallowing‐induced atrial tachycardia was connected with the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which differs from typical reports of a vagal nerve reflex association.