bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High-Resolution Stable Isotope Paleotopography of the John Day Region, Oregon, United States
Authors: Kukla Tyler , Ibarra Daniel Enrique , Rugenstein Jeremy K. Caves , Gooley Jared T. , Mullins Casey E. , Kramer Samuel , Moragne Danielle Y. , Chamberlain C. Page 
Published: February 2021

The John Day region of central Oregon, United States contains ∼50 million years of near-continuous, fossiliferous sedimentation, representing one of the world’s richest archives of Cenozoic terrestrial ecosystems and climate. Stable isotope proxy data from this region are commonly used to infer the elevation history of the Cascades, which intercept westerly moisture in transit to the John Day region. However, the Blue Mountains, which accreted in the Mesozoic, create a region of local high topography that can confound signals of Cascades uplift. John Day deposits, including the John Day Formation, are divided into an eastern facies located within the Blue Mountains and a western facies in the adjacent plains. As a result, the Blue Mountains may have supported gradients in climate and ecology between the eastern and western facies, and constraining these gradients is necessary for reconstructing past topography and ecosystem change. In order to define the Cenozoic extent and magnitude of Blue Mountains topography we use oxygen isotopes in authigenic clay minerals to construct a spatially resolved map of local elevation. We find that the oxygen isotope composition of clay minerals within the Blue Mountains is ∼3‰ lower than in the adjacent high plains, and this offset is mostly constant throughout our record (spanning ∼50 – 5 Ma). We attribute this offset to Blue Mountains topography, either directly from upslope rainout or indirectly through the effect of elevation on local variations in precipitation seasonality. Our results highlight the importance of local topographic features in regional paleotopography reconstructions and provide important biogeographical context for the rich paleo-floral and -faunal records preserved in John Day sediments.
Educator Beliefs Around Supporting Early Self-Regulation: Development and Evaluation of the Self-Regulation Knowledge, Attitudes and Self-Efficacy Scale
Authors: Vasseleu Elena , Neilsen-Hewett Cathrine , Ehrich John , Cliff Ken , Howard Steven James 
Published: February 2021

The current study sought to investigate the extent to which early childhood educators’ confidence in knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy for supporting early self-regulation predicted educator behavior and children’s self-regulation outcomes. Data from a diverse sample of 165 early childhood educators participating in a cluster Randomized Control Trial evaluation of a self-regulation intervention were utilized to evaluate the construct validity, reliability and predictive properties of the Self-Regulation Knowledge, Attitudes and Self-Efficacy scale. Evaluation via traditional (EFA, Cronbach’s Alpha) and modern approaches (Rasch Analysis) yielded a valid and reliable 25-item scale, comprising three distinct yet related subscales (i.e., confidence in knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy). For educators assigned to the intervention group, self-efficacy significantly predicted educators perceived competency to implement the self-regulation intervention as well as their perceptions around the effectiveness of the intervention to enhance children’s self-regulation. For educators assigned to the control group (i.e., practice as usual), educator attitudes longitudinally predicted children’s end-of-year status and change in self-regulation (over 6 months later). Findings from this study suggest the importance of pre-school educators’ beliefs for fostering early self-regulation and highlight a need to further explore the impact of these beliefs with regard to educator engagement with intervention.
Optimized Culture Conditions for Improved Growth and Functional Differentiation of Mouse and Human Colon Organoids
Authors: Wilson Sarah S. , Mayo Martha , Melim Terry , Knight Heather , Patnaude Lori , Wu Xiaoming , Phillips Lucy , Westmoreland Susan , Dunstan Robert , Fiebiger Edda , Terrillon Sonia 
Published: February 2021

Background &amp; AimsDiligent side-by-side comparisons of how different methodologies affect growth efficiency and quality of intestinal colonoids have not been performed leaving a gap in our current knowledge. Here, we summarize our efforts to optimize culture conditions for improved growth and functional differentiation of mouse and human colon organoids.MethodsMouse and human colon organoids were grown in four different media. Media-dependent long-term growth was measured by quantifying surviving organoids via imaging and a cell viability readout over five passages. The impact of diverse media on differentiation was assessed by quantifying the number of epithelial cell types using markers for enterocytes, stem cells, Goblet cells, and enteroendocrine cells by qPCR and histology upon removal of growth factors.ResultsIn contrast to Wnt3a-conditioned media, media supplemented with recombinant Wnt3a alone did not support long-term survival of human or mouse colon organoids. Mechanistically, this observation can be attributed to the fact that recombinant Wnt3a did not support stem cell survival or proliferation as demonstrated by decreased LGR5 and Ki67 expression. When monitoring expression of markers for epithelial cell types, the highest level of organoid differentiation was observed after combined removal of Wnt3a, Noggin, and R-spondin from Wnta3a-conditioned media cultures.ConclusionOur study defined Wnt3a-containing conditioned media as optimal for growth and survival of human and mouse organoids. Furthermore, we established that the combined removal of Wnt3a, Noggin, and R-spondin results in optimal differentiation. This study provides a step forward in optimizing conditions for intestinal organoid growth to improve standardization and reproducibility of this model platform.
Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Leprosy Patients: A Case for Polymorphisms Compromising Activation of the Lectin Pathway and Complement Receptors
Authors: Boldt Angelica Beate Winter , Oliveira-Toré Camila de Freitas , Kretzschmar Gabriela Canalli , Weinschutz Mendes Hellen , Stinghen Sérvio Túlio , Andrade Fabiana Antunes , Bumiller-Bini Valéria , Gonçalves Letícia Boslooper , Braga Anna Carolina de Moraes , Stahlke Ewalda von Rosen Seeling , Velavan Thirumalaisamy P. , Thiel Steffen , de Messias-Reason Iara José Taborda 
Published: February 2021

Thousands of leprosy patients not only suffer from physical deformities, but also either have or have had hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection. Polymorphisms of the complement system modulate susceptibility to leprosy, but genetic susceptibility to past or present HBV infection is unknown. We used sequencing and multiplex sequence-specific PCR to genotype 72 polymorphisms of seven genes (MBL2,FCN1, FCN2, FCN3, MASP1, MASP2, C3) encoding components of the lectin pathway, and two genes encoding complement receptors (CR1, VSIG4) in 190 patients, of which 74 were positive for HBsAg and/or anti-HBc (HBV+, 93.2% with a resolved infection) and 116 lepromatous patients, and 408 HBV-blood donors. In addition, we tested for levels of proteins of the lectin pathway. We found no difference between serum concentrations of mannan-binding lectin (MBL), MBL-associated serine proteins (MASP-1, MASP-2, MASP-3, MAp44), ficolin-3 (FCN-3), soluble complement receptor 1 (sCR1) and MBL mediated C4 activation, measured by ELISA or TRIFMA in up to 167 HBV+ and HBV− patients. Haplotypes lowering protein levels or encoding dysfunctional proteins increased susceptibility to HBV infection:MBL2*LYQC(OR = 3.4, p = 0.02),MASP1*AC_CC(OR = 4.0, p = 0.015) andMASP2*1C2-l(OR = 5.4, p = 0.03). Conversely,FCN1*3C2haplotype, associated with higher gene expression, was protective (OR = 0.56, P = 0.033). Other haplotypes associated with HBV susceptibility were:MASP2*2B1-i(OR = 19.25, P = 0.003),CR1*3A(OR = 2.65, P = 0.011) andVSIG4*TGGRCG(OR = 12.55, P = 0.014). Some polymorphisms in ficolin genes associated with lower protein levels increased susceptibility to leprosy/HBV infection:FCN*1(OR = 1.66, P = 0.029),FCN2*GGGCAC(OR = 6.73, P = 0.008), andFCN3*del_del_C(OR = 12.54, P = 0.037), and to lepromatous disease/HBV infection:FCN2*TA(OR = 2.5, P = 0.009), whereasFCN2*MAGwas associated with increased FCN-2 expression and resistance against coinfection (OR = 0.29, P = 0.026). These associations were independent of demographic factors and did not increase susceptibility to leprosyper se, exceptMASP2*1C2-l. Associations forFCN2, FCN3, MASP1, MASP2, andVSIG4variants were also independent of each other. In conclusion, polymorphisms compromising activation of the lectin pathway of complement increase susceptibility to HBV infection, with ficolin polymorphisms playing a major role in modulating the susceptibility among leprosy patients.
Case Report: Severe Complement-Mediated Thrombotic Microangiopathy in IgG4-Related Disease Secondary to Anti-Factor H IgG4 Autoantibodies
Authors: Breville Gautier , Zamberg Ido , Sadallah Salima , Stephan Caroline , Ponte Belen , Seebach Jörg D. 
Published: February 2021

ObjectiveTo first describe and estimate the potential pathogenic role of Ig4 autoantibodies in complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in a patient with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD).MethodsThis study is a case report presenting a retrospective review of the patient’s medical chart. Plasma complement C3 and C4 levels, immunoglobulin isotypes and subclasses were determined by nephelometry, the complement pathways’ activity (CH50, AP50, MBL) using WIESLAB® Complement System assays. Human complement factor H levels, anti-complement factor H auto-antibodies were analyzed by ELISA, using HRP-labeled secondary antibodies specific for human IgG, IgG4, and IgA, respectively. Genetic analyses were performed by exome sequencing of 14 gens implicated in complement disorders, as well as multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification looking specifically for CFH, CFHR1-2-3, and 5.ResultsOur brief report presents the first case of IgG4-RD with complement-mediated TMA originating from both pathogenic CFHR 1 and CFHR 4 genes deletions, and inhibitory anti-complement factor H autoantibodies of the IgG4 subclass. Remission was achieved with plasmaphereses, corticosteroids, and cyclophosphamide. Following remission, the patient was diagnosed with lymphocytic meningitis and SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia with an uneventful recovery.ConclusionIgG4-RD can be associated with pathogenic IgG4 autoantibodies. Genetic predisposition such as CFHR1 and CFHR4 gene deletions enhance the susceptibility to the formation of inhibitory anti-Factor H IgG4 antibodies.
Prevalence of Insulin Resistance in Urban Indian School Children Who Are Overweight/Obese: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Das Rashmi Ranjan , Mangaraj Manaswini , Nayak Saurav , Satapathy Amit Kumar , Mahapatro Samarendra , Goyal Jagdish Prasad 
Published: February 2021

Background: Limited data are available for insulin resistance (IR) in over-weight/obese children from the Indian subcontinent. Identifying predictors of IR in this population is important, as they may be used as a screening tool for future metabolic complications.Materials and Methods: This school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in an Eastern Indian city. Anthropometry and blood pressure measurements were carried out as per the published guidelines. Venous blood samples were taken in a fasting state to measure plasma glucose, insulin, and lipid profile. IR was measured quantitatively by a homeostatic model of assessment (HOMA-IR).Results: A total of 545 (28.2%) children who were overweight or obese were included. The male:female ratio was 1:1.27. The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in these children was 21.8%. Around 32.3% of children had HOMA-IR of ≥2.5, and 22.2% had HOMA-IR of ≥3.16. The mean HOMA-IR in children with MS was 5.46 compared to 2.18 in those without MS. An increased risk of IR with low HDL, high triglyceride, increased waist circumference, and increased BP (both systolic and diastolic) was found. This means that insulin resistance was more common in children who were overweight or obesity and had underlying MS.Conclusions: The present school-based study found a high prevalence of insulin resistance among children who were overweight or obese. This could predict an increased risk of future adverse cardio-vascular events in the studied children. The findings of this study would help in planning and implementing primary prevention programs targeting weight management and lifestyle change in schoolchildren.
High Prevalence of Ultrasound Verified Enthesitis in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease With or Without Spondylarthritis
Authors: Husic Rusmir , Lackner Angelika , Kump Patrizia Katharina , Högenauer Christoph , Graninger Winfried , Dejaco Christian 
Published: February 2021

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is closely associated with spondylarthritis (SpA) and enthesitis, as an important feature of SpA, is a common extraintestinal manifestation of IBD. Enthesitis may be clinically silent in a high proportion of patients with IBD without clinical signs or a diagnosis of SpA.Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of ultrasound (US) verified enthesitis in IBD patients with and without SpA, with patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and healthy subjects (HC) serving as controls.Methods: IBD patients with or without SpA, patients with IBS and HC were prospectively recruited and clinically assessed. Ultrasound examination was performed at 14 entheses. The ultrasound abnormalities were scored according to the Madrid Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Index (MASEI).Results: We included 33 IBD patients without SpA, 14 IBD patients with SpA, 26 IBS patients and 18 HC. Higher MASEI scores were found in patients with IBD without SpA [median 21.0 range (8.0–53.0)] and IBD associated SpA [33.0 (8–50)] than in IBS patients [10.5 (0–42.0)-p &lt; 0.001 for both comparison] and HC [12.0 (2.0–38.0)-p &lt; 0.01]. PD, enthesophytes and erosions were more common in patients with IBD with or without SpA as compared to IBS patients and HC. IBD patients with SpA compared to IBD without SpA demonstrated significant higher prevalence of erosion and structural irregularity and consequently significant higher MASEI (p &lt; 0.05 for all comparison).Conclusions: Ultrasound verified enthesitis is more common in patients with IBD with or without SpA as compared to patients with IBS or HC.
Transcranial Doppler Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Cerebrovascular Abnormalities in Children With Acute Bacterial Meningitis
Authors: Fonseca Yudy , Tshimanga Taty , Ray Stephen , Malhotra Helen , Pongo Jean , Bodi Mabiala Joseph , Gushu Montfort Bernard , Phiri Tusekile , Chikaonda Bertha Mekiseni , Ambitapio Musungufu Davin , Uchama Mananu , O'Brien Nicole Fortier 
Published: February 2021

Introduction: Bacterial meningitis (BM) is a global public health concern that results in significant morbidity and mortality. Cerebral arterial narrowing contributes to stroke in BM and may be amenable to intervention. However, it is difficult to diagnose in resource-limited settings where the disease is common.Methods: This was a prospective observational study from September 2015 to December 2019 in sub-Saharan Africa. Children 1 month−18 years of age with neutrophilic pleocytosis or a bacterial pathogen identified in the cerebrospinal fluid were enrolled. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) of the middle cerebral arteries was performed daily with the aim to identify flow abnormalities consistent with vascular narrowing.Results: Forty-seven patients were analyzed. The majority had Streptococcus pneumoniae (36%) or Neisseria meningitides (36%) meningitis. Admission TCD was normal in 10 (21%). High flow with a normal pulsatility index (PI) was seen in 20 (43%) and high flow with a low PI was identified in 7 (15%). Ten (21%) had low flow. All children with a normal TCD had a good outcome. Patients with a high-risk TCD flow pattern (high flow/low PI or low flow) were more likely to have a poor outcome (82 vs. 38%, p = 0.001).Conclusions: Abnormal TCD flow patterns were common in children with BM and identified those at high risk of poor neurological outcome.
Abnormal Default-Mode Network Homogeneity in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment in Chinese Communities
Authors: Cao Yuping , Yang Huan , Zhou Zhenhe , Cheng Zaohuo , Zhao Xingfu 
Published: February 2021

Background and Objective: Current evidence suggests that abnormalities within the default-mode network (DMN) play a key role in the broad-scale cognitive problems that characterize mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, little is known about the alterations of DMN network homogeneity (NH) in MCI.Methods: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans (rs-fMRI) were collected from 38 MCI patients and 69 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and education. NH approach was employed to analyze the imaging dataset. Cognitive performance was measured with the Chinese version of Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-Cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog).Results: Two groups have no significant differences between demographic factors. And mean ADAS-Cog score in MCI was 12.02. MCI patients had significantly lower NH values than controls in the right anterior cingulate cortex and significantly higher NH values in the ventral medial prefrontal cortex(vmPFC) than those in healthy controls. No significant correlations were found between abnormal NH values and ADAS-Cog in the patients.Conclusions: These findings provide further evidence that abnormal NH of the DMN exists in MCI, and highlight the significance of DMN in the pathophysiology of cognitive problems occurring in MCI.
Distinct Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials in Patients With Parkinson Disease and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Authors: Carpinelli Sandra , Valko Philipp O. , Waldvogel Daniel , Buffone Elena , Baumann Christian R. , Straumann Dominik , Werth Esther , Bockisch Christopher J. , Weber Konrad P. , Valko Yulia 
Published: February 2021

Background: Early brainstem neurodegeneration is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). While previous work showed abnormalities in vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) in patients with either disorder as compared to healthy humans, it remains unclear whether ocular and cervical VEMPs differ between PD and PSP patients.Methods: We prospectively included 12 PD and 11 PSP patients, performed ocular and cervical VEMPs, and calculated specific VEMP scores (0 = normal, 12 = most pathological) based on latencies, amplitude, and absent responses. In addition, we assessed disease duration, presence of imbalance, motor asymmetry, and motor disability using the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, part III (MDS-UPDRS III). Moreover, we ascertained various sleep parameters by video-polysomnography.Results: PSP and PD patients had similar oVEMP scores (6 [3–6] vs. 3 [1.3–6], p = 0.06), but PSP patients had higher cVEMP scores (3 [0–6] vs. 0 [0–2.8], p = 0.03) and total VEMP scores (9 [5–12] vs. 4 [2–7.5], p = 0.01). Moreover, total VEMP scores &gt;10 were only observed in PSP patients (45%, p = 0.01). MDS-UPDRS III correlated with cVEMP scores (rho = 0.77, p = 0.01) in PSP, but not in PD. In PD, but not in PSP, polysomnographic markers of disturbed sleep, including decreased rapid eye movement sleep, showed significant correlations with VEMP scores.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that central vestibular pathways are more severely damaged in PSP than in PD, as indicated by higher cervical and total VEMP scores in PSP than PD in a between-groups analysis. Meaningful correlations between VEMPs and motor and non-motor symptoms further encourage its use in neurodegenerative Parkinsonian syndromes.
Early Axonal Dysfunction of the Peripheral Nervous System Influences Disease Progression of ALS: Evidence From Clinical Neuroelectrophysiology
Authors: Yu Huiyan , Chen Lu , Zhang Shuo , He Jing , Fan Dongsheng 
Published: February 2021

Objective: To assess the prognostic value of the decrement in compound muscle action potential amplitude within 12 months of symptom onset (CMAP-12 amplitude) for the survival of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).Methods: Patients were stratified into 4 groups according to the decrement of the CMAP-12 amplitudes: normal (≥the lower limit of normal, LLN), mild (&lt;LLN but ≥50% of LLN), moderate (&lt;50% but ≥30% of LLN) and severe (&lt;30% of LLN). All patients were followed up every 3 months. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression.Results: A total of 149 patients were included in the analysis [90 males (60.4%); mean age at onset, 50.7 years]. The decrement of CMAP-12 amplitudes was normal in 24.2% of patients, mild in 22.1%, moderate in 15.4% and severe in 38.3%. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed there was a significant difference in the overall survival across the 4 groups (p &lt; 0.05). Further pairwise comparisons identified significant differences in survival between the normal vs. the moderate group (p &lt; 0.05) and the normal vs. the severe group (p &lt; 0.01). There was a significant inverse correlation between the CMAP-12 amplitude and overall survival. Compared to that in the normal group, survival in the moderately and severely decreased groups was significantly shorter (HR 3.394, 95% CI 1.292–8.917, p = 0.013; and HR 4.732, 95% CI 2.032–11.017; p = 0.000, respectively).Conclusions: Our results suggest that CMAP-12 amplitude could be a prognostic indicator of disease progression in ALS. More importantly, our findings provide clinical evidence for the viewpoint that early axonal dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system accelerates disease progression of ALS.
Association of Static Posturography With Severity of White Matter Hyperintensities
Authors: Liu Bin , Zhao Guifeng , Jin Ling , Shi Jingping 
Published: February 2021

Background: Impaired gait and balance are associated with severity of leukoaraiosis. Evaluation of balance is based on neurological examination using Romberg's test with bipedal standing, assessment scale, and posturographic parameters. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between static equilibrium and grades of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) using static posturography as a quantitative technical method.Method: One hundred and eighteen (118) patients with lacunar infarct were recruited and assessed on MRI with Fazekas's grading scale into four groups. On admission, age, gender, height, weight, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), and static posturography parameters were recorded, and their correlations with WMHs were determined.Results: Age was significantly and positively correlated with severity of WMHs (r = 0.39, p &lt; 0.05). WMH score was negatively correlated with BBS score (r = −0.65, p &lt; 0.05) and MMSE score (r = −0.79, p &lt; 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between track length anteroposterior (AP, with eyes closed) and severity of WMHs (r = 0.70, p &lt; 0.05). Partial correlation analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that track length AP with eyes closed, was a predictor for the severity of WMHs (p&lt; 0.05).Conclusion: The severity of WHMs is associated with age, cognitive decline, and impairment in balance. Posturography parameter in track length in AP direction with eyes closed in relation to cognition and balance, may be a potential marker for disease progression in WMHs.