bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Altered asymmetries of the structural networks comprising the fronto-limbic brain circuitry of preterm infants
Authors: Lee Joo Young , Choi Yong-Ho , Cha Jong Ho , Lee Ji Young , Lee Young-Jun , Kim Bo-Hyun , Kim Il-Kewon , Lee Jong-Min , Lee Hyun Ju 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to elaborate upon prior findings suggestive of the altered lateralization of structural connectivity in the developing preterm brain by using diffusion tensor imaging tractography to explore how network topological asymmetries in fronto-limbic neural circuitry are altered at 36–41 weeks, postmenstrual age in 64 preterm infants without severe brain injury and 33 term-born infants. We compared the pattern of structural connectivity and network lateralization of the betweenness centrality in the medial fronto-orbital gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, amygdala, and hippocampus—the structures comprising the fronto-limbic brain circuit—between preterm and term infants. Global efficiency, local efficiency, and small-world characteristics did not differ significantly between the two hemispheres in term-born infants, suggesting that integration and segregation are balanced between the left and right hemispheres. However, the preterm brain showed significantly greater leftward lateralization of small-worldness (P = 0.033); the lateralization index of the betweenness centrality revealed that the medial fronto-orbital gyrus (P = 0.008), superior temporal gyrus (P = 0.031), and hippocampus (P = 0.028) showed significantly increased leftward asymmetry in preterm infants relative to term-infants independent of sex, age at imaging, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The altered lateralization of fronto-limbic brain circuitry might be involved in the early development of social–emotional disorders in preterm infants.
Competition between cyclization and unusual Norrish type I and type II nitro-acyl migration pathways in the photouncaging of 1-acyl-7-nitroindoline revealed by computations
Authors: Morgante Pierpaolo , Guruge Charitha , Ouedraogo Yannick P. , Nesnas Nasri , Peverati Roberto 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe 7-nitroindolinyl family of caging chromophores has received much attention in the past two decades. However, its uncaging mechanism is still not clearly understood. In this study, we performed state-of-the-art density functional theory calculations to unravel the photo-uncaging mechanism in its entirety, and we compared the probabilities of all plausible pathways. We found competition between a classical cyclization and an acyl migration pathway, and here we explain the electronic and steric reasons behind such competition. The migration mechanism possesses the characteristics of a combined Norrish type I and a 1,6-nitro-acyl variation of a Norrish type II mechanism, which is reported here for the first time. We also found negligible energetic differences in the uncaging mechanisms of the 4-methoxy-5,7-dinitroindolinyl (MDNI) cages and their mononitro analogues (MNI). We traced the experimentally observed improved quantum yields of MDNI to a higher population of the reactants in the triplet surface. This fact is supported by a more favorable intersystem crossing due to the availability of a higher number of triplet excited states with the correct symmetry in MDNI than in MNI. Our findings may pave the way for improved cage designs that possess higher quantum yields and a more efficient agonist release.
Increased VEGF-A in solid type of lung adenocarcinoma reduces the patients’ survival
Authors: Jung Woon Yong , Min Kyueng-Whan , Oh Young Ha 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe histological classification of lung adenocarcinoma includes 5 types: lepidic, acinar, papillary, micropapillary and solid. The complex gene interactions and anticancer immune response of these types are not well known. The aim of this study was to reveal the survival rates, genetic alterations and immune activities of the five histological types and provide treatment strategies. This study reviewed the histological findings of 517 patients with lung adenocarcinoma from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and classified them into five types. We performed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and survival analysis according to the different types. We found six oncogenic gene sets that were higher in lung adenocarcinoma than in normal tissues. In the survival analysis of each type, the acinar type had a favorable prognosis, and the solid subtype had an unfavorable prognosis; however, the survival differences between the other types were not significant. Our study focused on the solid type, which had the poorest prognosis. The solid type was related to adaptive immune resistance associated with elevated CD8 T cells and high CD274 (encoding PD-L1) expression. In the pathway analyses, the solid type was significantly related to high vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A expression, reflecting tumor angiogenesis. Non-necrosis/low immune response affected by high VEGF-A was associated with worse prognosis. The solid type associated with high VEGF-A expression may contribute to the development of therapeutic strategies for lung adenocarcinoma.
Nuclear resonance fluorescence drug inspection
Authors: Lan Haoyang , Song Tan , Huang Xingde , Zhao Shengqiang , Zhou Jianliang , Zhu Zhichao , Xu Yi , Balabanski Dimiter L. , Luo Wen 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThere is an increasing challenge to prevent illicit drug smuggling across borders and seaports. However, the existing techniques in-and-of-themselves are not sufficient to identify the illicit drugs rapidly and accurately. In the present study, combining nuclear resonance fluorescence (NRF) spectroscopy and the element (or isotope) ratio approach, we present a novel inspection method that can simultaneously reveal the elemental (or isotopic) composition of the illicit drugs, such as widely abused methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, ketamine and morphine. In the NRF spectroscopy, the nuclei are excited by the induced photon beam, and measurement of the characteristic energies of the emitted $$\gamma $$
γ
rays from the distinct energy levels in the excited nuclei provides “fingerprints” of the interested elements in the illicit drugs. The element ratio approach is further used to identify drug elemental composition in principle. Monte Carlo simulations show that four NRF peaks from the nuclei $$^{12}$$

12

C, $$^{14}$$

14

N and $$^{16}$$

16

O can be detected with high significance of 7−24$$\sigma $$
σ
using an induced photon beam flux of $$10^{11}$$

10
11

. The ratio of $$^{14}N$$

14

N

/$$^{12}C$$

12

C

and/or $$^{16}O$$

16

O

/$$^{12}C$$

12

C

for illicit drugs inspected are then extracted using the element ratio approach. It is found that the present results of simulations are in good agreement with the theoretical calculations. The feasibility to detect the illicit drugs, inside the 15-mm-thick iron shielding, or surrounded by thin benign materials, is also discussed. It is indicated that, using the state-of-the-art $$\gamma $$
γ
-ray source of high intensity and energy-tunability, the proposed method has a great potential for identifying drugs and explosives in a realistic measurement time.
Autophagy facilitates type I collagen synthesis in periodontal ligament cells
Authors: Nakamura Tomomi , Yamashita Motozo , Ikegami Kuniko , Suzuki Mio , Yanagita Manabu , Kitagaki Jirouta , Kitamura Masahiro , Murakami Shinya 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAutophagy is a lysosomal protein degradation system in which the cell self-digests its intracellular protein components and organelles. Defects in autophagy contribute to the pathogenesis of age-related chronic diseases, such as myocardial infarction and rheumatoid arthritis, through defects in the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, little is known about autophagy in periodontal diseases characterised by the breakdown of periodontal tissue. Tooth-supportive periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue contains PDL cells that produce various ECM proteins such as collagen to maintain homeostasis in periodontal tissue. In this study, we aimed to clarify the physiological role of autophagy in periodontal tissue. We found that autophagy regulated type I collagen synthesis by elimination of misfolded proteins in human PDL (HPDL) cells. Inhibition of autophagy by E-64d and pepstatin A (PSA) or siATG5 treatment suppressed collagen production in HPDL cells at mRNA and protein levels. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed collagen fragments in autolysosomes. Accumulation of misfolded collagen in HPDL cells was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. E-64d and PSA treatment suppressed and rapamycin treatment accelerated the hard tissue-forming ability of HPDL cells. Our findings suggest that autophagy is a crucial regulatory process that facilitates type I collagen synthesis and partly regulates osteoblastic differentiation of PDL cells.
Artemether ameliorates kidney injury by restoring redox imbalance and improving mitochondrial function in Adriamycin nephropathy in mice
Authors: Han Pengxun , Cai Yuchun , Wang Yao , Weng Wenci , Chen Yinghui , Wang Menghua , Zhan Hongyue , Yu Xuewen , Wang Taifen , Shao Mumin , Sun Huili 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe kidney is a high-energy demand organ rich in mitochondria especially renal tubular cells. Emerging evidence suggests that mitochondrial dysfunction, redox imbalance and kidney injury are interconnected. Artemether has biological effects by targeting mitochondria and exhibits potential therapeutic value for kidney disease. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study was performed to determine the effects of artemether on Adriamycin-induced nephropathy and the potential mechanisms were also investigated. In vivo, an Adriamycin nephropathy mouse model was established, and mice were treated with or without artemether for 2 weeks. In vitro, NRK-52E cells were stimulated with TGF-β1 and treated with or without artemether for 24 h. Then renal damage and cell changes were evaluated. The results demonstrated that artemether reduced urinary protein excretion, recovered podocyte alterations, attenuated pathological changes and alleviated renal tubular injury. Artemether also downregulated TGF-β1 mRNA expression levels, inhibited tubular proliferation, restored tubular cell phenotypes and suppressed proliferation-related signalling pathways. In addition, artemether restored renal redox imbalance, increased mtDNA copy number and improved mitochondrial function. In summary, we provided initial evidence that artemether ameliorates kidney injury by restoring redox imbalance and improving mitochondrial function in Adriamycin nephropathy in mice. Artemether may be a promising agent for the treatment kidney disease.
Intermittency in phytoplankton bloom triggered by modulations in vertical stability
Authors: Keerthi Madhavan Girijakumari , Lévy Marina , Aumont Olivier 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSeasonal surface chlorophyll (SChl) blooms are very chaotic in nature, but traditional bloom paradigms have climbed out of these subseasonal variations. Here we highlight the leading order role of wind bursts, by conjoining two decades of satellite SChl with atmospheric reanalysis in the Northwestern Mediterranean Sea. We demonstrate that weekly SChl fluctuations are in phase with weekly changes in wind stress and net heat flux during the intial state of the bloom in winter and early spring, thus expanding the convection shutdown hypothesis of bloom onset to subseasonal timescales. We postulate that the mechanism reflected by this link is intermittency in vertical stability due to short-term episodes of calm weather in winter or to stormy conditions in early spring, leading to short-term variations in light exposure or to events of vertical dilution. This strong intermittency in phytoplankton bloom may probably have important consequences on carbon export and trophic web structure and should not be overlooked.
Decreased levels of circulating cytokines VEGF, TNF-β and IL-15 indicate PD-L1 overexpression in tumours of primary breast cancer patients
Authors: Cierna Zuzana , Smolkova Bozena , Cholujova Dana , Gronesova Paulina , Miklikova Svetlana , Cihova Marina , Plava Jana , Mego Michal 
Published: January 2021

AbstractProgrammed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) overexpression has been associated with poor clinical outcomes in several human cancers whose increased malignant behaviour might be related to PD-L1 mediated systemic immunological tolerance. This study aims to verify if circulating cytokines may serve as a proxy for non-invasive identification of sensitive prognostic biomarkers reflecting tumour and its microenvironment. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure PD-L1 expression in tumour tissue sections of 148 chemonaïve breast cancer (BC) patients. The panel of 51 cytokines was analysed using multiplex bead arrays. High PD-L1 expression in tumours was associated with shorter progression-free survival (HR 3.25; 95% CI 1.39–7.61; P = 0.006) and low circulating levels of three multifunctional molecules; VEGF, TNF-β and IL-15 (P = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, patients with low VEGF had 4.6-fold increased risk of PD-L1 overexpression (P = 0.008), present in 76.5% of patients with all these three cytokines below the median (vs. 35.6% among the others; P = 0.002). The area under the curve value of 0.722 (95% CI 0.59–0.85; P = 0.004) shows that this combination of cytokines has a moderate ability to discriminate between PD-L1 high vs. PD-L1 low patients. Plasma cytokines, therefore, could serve as potential non-invasive biomarkers for the identification of high-risk BC cases.
Stochastic events can explain sustained clustering and polarisation of opinions in social networks
Authors: Condie Scott A. , Condie Corrine M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the processes underlying development and persistence of polarised opinions has been one of the key challenges in social networks for more than two decades. While plausible mechanisms have been suggested, they assume quite specialised interactions between individuals or groups that may only be relevant in particular contexts. We propose that a more broadly relevant explanation might be associated with the influence of external events. An agent-based bounded-confidence model has been used to demonstrate persistent polarisation of opinions within populations exposed to stochastic events (of positive and negative influence) even when all interactions between individuals are noisy and assimilative. Events can have a large impact on the distribution of opinions because their influence acts synchronistically across a large proportion of the population, whereas an individual can only interact with small numbers of other individuals at any particular time.
Parents with periodontitis impact the subgingival colonization of their offspring
Authors: Monteiro Mabelle Freitas , Altabtbaei Khaled , Kumar Purnima S. , Casati Márcio Zaffalon , Ruiz Karina Gonzales Silverio , Sallum Enilson Antonio , Nociti-Junior Francisco Humberto , Casarin Renato Corrêa Viana 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEarly acquisition of a pathogenic microbiota and the presence of dysbiosis in childhood is associated with susceptibility to and the familial aggregation of periodontitis. This longitudinal interventional case–control study aimed to evaluate the impact of parental periodontal disease on the acquisition of oral pathogens in their offspring. Subgingival plaque and clinical periodontal metrics were collected from 18 parents with a history of generalized aggressive periodontitis and their children (6–12 years of age), and 18 periodontally healthy parents and their parents at baseline and following professional oral prophylaxis. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing revealed that parents were the primary source of the child's microbiome, affecting their microbial acquisition and diversity. Children of periodontitis parents were preferentially colonized by Filifactor alocis, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Streptococcus parasanguinis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and several species belonging to the genus Selenomonas even in the absence of periodontitis, and these species controlled inter-bacterial interactions. These pathogens also emerged as robust discriminators of the microbial signatures of children of parents with periodontitis. Plaque control did not modulate this pathogenic pattern, attesting to the microbiome's resistance to change once it has been established. This study highlights the critical role played by parental disease in microbial colonization patterns in their offspring and the early acquisition of periodontitis-related species and underscores the need for greater surveillance and preventive measures in families of periodontitis patients.
The role of the brown bear Ursus arctos as a legitimate megafaunal seed disperser
Authors: García-Rodríguez Alberto , Albrecht Jörg , Szczutkowska Sylwia , Valido Alfredo , Farwig Nina , Selva Nuria 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMegafaunal frugivores can consume large amounts of fruits whose seeds may be dispersed over long distances, thus, affecting plant regeneration processes and ecosystem functioning. We investigated the role of brown bears (Ursus arctos) as legitimate megafaunal seed dispersers. We assessed the quantity component of seed dispersal by brown bears across its entire distribution based on information about both the relative frequency of occurrence and species composition of fleshy fruits in the diet of brown bears extracted from the literature. We assessed the quality component of seed dispersal based on germination experiments for 11 fleshy-fruited plant species common in temperate and boreal regions and frequently eaten by brown bears. Across its distribution, fleshy fruits, on average, represented 24% of the bear food items and 26% of the total volume consumed. Brown bears consumed seeds from at least 101 fleshy-fruited plant species belonging to 24 families and 42 genera, of which Rubus (Rosaceae) and Vaccinium (Ericaceae) were most commonly eaten. Brown bears inhabiting Mediterranean forests relied the most on fleshy fruits and consumed the largest number of species per study area. Seeds ingested by bears germinated at higher percentages than those from whole fruits, and at similar percentages than manually depulped seeds. We conclude that brown bears are legitimate seed dispersers as they consume large quantities of seeds that remain viable after gut passage. The decline of these megafaunal frugivores may compromise seed dispersal services and plant regeneration processes.
Spatiotemporal drought analysis by the standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) in Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Liu Changhong , Yang Cuiping , Yang Qi , Wang Jiao 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDrought refers to a meteorological disaster that causes insufficient soil moisture and damage to crop water balance due to long-term lack of precipitation. With the increasing shortage of water resources, drought has become one of the hot issues of global concern. The standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) can effectively reflect the changes in drought characteristics of different geomorphologies in Sichuan on time and space scales, to explore the difference in drought characteristics between different physiognomy types in Sichuan Province, We calculated the SPI and SPEI values based on the data of 44 meteorological stations in Sichuan Province from 1961 to 2019 and used Mann–Kendall trend test and multivariable linear regression method (MLR) to quantify the significance of the drought characteristic trends at different time and space scales. The results as follow: (1) The SPEI drought trend in plain and hilly regions was greater than that in plateau and mountain regions on all time scales (− 0.039 year−1 for 1-month in hilly, − 0.035 year−1 for 1-month in plain, − 0.14 year−1 for 1-month in plateau, − 0.026 year−1 for 1-month in mountain) and the magnitude of trend of eastern (− 4.4 to 0.1 year−1) was lager than western (− 2.1 to 2.7 year−1), means that the drought trends transfer from northwest to east. (2) The drought intensity in the western region gradually increased (0.54–1.05) and drought events mainly occurred in the southwest plateau and central mountainous regions (24–47 times), means that drought meteorological hotspots were mainly concentrated in the Sichuan basin. (3) The MLR indicated altitude (H) is not the main influencing factor that causes the spatial unevenness of precipitation in Sichuan Province, but altitude (H), temperature (T), longitude (Lo) and latitude (La) can co-determined the precipitation. The results of this study are instructive and practical for drought assessment, risk management and application decision-making in Sichuan Province, and have guiding significance for agricultural disaster prevention, mitigation and agricultural irrigation in Sichuan Province.
Fungus Metarhizium robertsii and neurotoxic insecticide affect gut immunity and microbiota in Colorado potato beetles
Authors: Kryukov Vadim Yu. , Rotskaya Ulyana , Yaroslavtseva Olga , Polenogova Olga , Kryukova Natalia , Akhanaev Yuriy , Krivopalov Anton , Alikina Tatyana , Vorontsova Yana L. , Slepneva Irina , Kabilov Marsel , Glupov Viktor V. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFungal infections and toxicoses caused by insecticides may alter microbial communities and immune responses in the insect gut. We investigated the effects of Metarhizium robertsii fungus and avermectins on the midgut physiology of Colorado potato beetle larvae. We analyzed changes in the bacterial community, immunity- and stress-related gene expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and detoxification enzyme activity in response to topical infection with the M. robertsii fungus, oral administration of avermectins, and a combination of the two treatments. Avermectin treatment led to a reduction in microbiota diversity and an enhancement in the abundance of enterobacteria, and these changes were followed by the downregulation of Stat and Hsp90, upregulation of transcription factors for the Toll and IMD pathways and activation of detoxification enzymes. Fungal infection also led to a decrease in microbiota diversity, although the changes in community structure were not significant, except for the enhancement of Serratia. Fungal infection decreased the production of ROS but did not affect the gene expression of the immune pathways. In the combined treatment, fungal infection inhibited the activation of detoxification enzymes and prevented the downregulation of the JAK-STAT pathway caused by avermectins. The results of this study suggest that fungal infection modulates physiological responses to avermectins and that fungal infection may increase avermectin toxicosis by blocking detoxification enzymes in the gut.