bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of cerebrovascular 4D flow MRI velocity fields using machine learning and computational fluid dynamics simulation data
Authors: Rutkowski David R. , Roldán-Alzate Alejandro , Johnson Kevin M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBlood flow metrics obtained with four-dimensional (4D) flow phase contrast (PC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be of great value in clinical and experimental cerebrovascular analysis. However, limitations in both quantitative and qualitative analyses can result from errors inherent to PC MRI. One method that excels in creating low-error, physics-based, velocity fields is computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Augmentation of cerebral 4D flow MRI data with CFD-informed neural networks may provide a method to produce highly accurate physiological flow fields. In this preliminary study, the potential utility of such a method was demonstrated by using high resolution patient-specific CFD data to train a convolutional neural network, and then using the trained network to enhance MRI-derived velocity fields in cerebral blood vessel data sets. Through testing on simulated images, phantom data, and cerebrovascular 4D flow data from 20 patients, the trained network successfully de-noised flow images, decreased velocity error, and enhanced near-vessel-wall velocity quantification and visualization. Such image enhancement can improve experimental and clinical qualitative and quantitative cerebrovascular PC MRI analysis.
TBC1D24 emerges as an important contributor to progressive postlingual dominant hearing loss
Authors: Oziębło Dominika , Leja Marcin L. , Lazniewski Michal , Sarosiak Anna , Tacikowska Grażyna , Kochanek Krzysztof , Plewczynski Dariusz , Skarżyński Henryk , Ołdak Monika 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSeveral TBC1D24 variants are causally involved in the development of profound, prelingual hearing loss (HL) and different epilepsy syndromes inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Only two TBC1D24 pathogenic variants have been linked with postlingual progressive autosomal dominant HL (ADHL). To determine the role of TBC1D24 in the development of ADHL and to characterize the TBC1D24-related ADHL, clinical exome sequencing or targeted multigene (n = 237) panel were performed for probands (n = 102) from multigenerational ADHL families. In four families, TBC1D24-related HL was found based on the identification of three novel, likely pathogenic (c.553G>A, p.Asp185Asn; c.1460A>T, p. His487Leu or c.1461C>G, p.His487Gln) and one known (c.533C>T, p.Ser178Leu) TBC1D24 variant. Functional consequences of these variants were characterized by analyzing the proposed homology models of the human TBC1D24 protein. Variants not only in the TBC (p.Ser178Leu, p.Asp185Asn) but also in the TLDc domain (p.His487Gln, p.His487Leu) are involved in ADHL development, the latter two mutations probably affecting interactions between the domains. Clinically, progressive HL involving mainly mid and high frequencies was observed in the patients (n = 29). The progression of HL was calculated by constructing age-related typical audiograms. TBC1D24-related ADHL originates from the cochlear component of the auditory system, becomes apparent usually in the second decade of life and accounts for approximately 4% of ADHL cases. Given the high genetic heterogeneity of ADHL, TBC1D24 emerges as an important contributor to this type of HL.
Repurposing ketoconazole as an exosome directed adjunct to sunitinib in treating renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Greenberg Jacob W. , Kim Hogyoung , Moustafa Ahmed A. , Datta Amrita , Barata Pedro C. , Boulares A. Hamid , Abdel-Mageed Asim B. , Krane Louis S. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractRenal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is the most common form of kidney cancer, with clear cell RCC (ccRCC) representing about 85% of all RCC tumors. There are limited curable treatments available for metastatic ccRCC because this disease is unresponsive to conventional targeted systemic pharmacotherapy. Exosomes (Exo) are small extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from cancer cells with marked roles in tumoral signaling and pharmacological resistance. Ketoconazole (KTZ) is an FDA approved anti-fungal medication which has been shown to suppress exosome biogenesis and secretion, yet its role in ccRCC has not been identified. A time-course, dose-dependent analysis revealed that KTZ selectively decreased secreted Exo in tumoral cell lines. Augmented Exo secretion was further evident by decreased expression of Exo biogenesis (Alix and nSMase) and secretion (Rab27a) markers. Interestingly, KTZ-mediated inhibition of Exo biogenesis was coupled with inhibition of ERK1/2 activation. Next, selective inhibitors were employed and showed ERK signaling had a direct role in mediating KTZ’s inhibition of exosomes. In sunitinib resistant 786-O cells lines, the addition of KTZ potentiates the efficacy of sunitinib by causing Exo inhibition, decreased tumor proliferation, and diminished clonogenic ability of RCC cells. Our findings suggest that KTZ should be explored as an adjunct to current RCC therapies.
Moral labels increase cooperation and costly punishment in a Prisoner’s Dilemma game with punishment option
Authors: Mieth Laura , Buchner Axel , Bell Raoul 
Published: May 2021

AbstractTo determine the role of moral norms in cooperation and punishment, we examined the effects of a moral-framing manipulation in a Prisoner’s Dilemma game with a costly punishment option. In each round of the game, participants decided whether to cooperate or to defect. The Prisoner’s Dilemma game was identical for all participants with the exception that the behavioral options were paired with moral labels (“I cooperate” and “I cheat”) in the moral-framing condition and with neutral labels (“A” and “B”) in the neutral-framing condition. After each round of the Prisoner’s Dilemma game, participants had the opportunity to invest some of their money to punish their partners. In two experiments, moral framing increased moral and hypocritical punishment: participants were more likely to punish partners for defection when moral labels were used than when neutral labels were used. When the participants’ cooperation was enforced by their partners’ moral punishment, moral framing did not only increase moral and hypocritical punishment but also cooperation. The results suggest that moral framing activates a cooperative norm that specifically increases moral and hypocritical punishment. Furthermore, the experience of moral punishment by the partners may increase the importance of social norms for cooperation, which may explain why moral framing effects on cooperation were found only when participants were subject to moral punishment.
Crossover point of the field effect transistor and interconnect applications in turbostratic multilayer graphene nanoribbon channel
Authors: Negishi Ryota , Yamamoto Katsuma , Tanaka Hirofumi , Mojtahedzadeh Seyed Ali , Mori Nobuya , Kobayashi Yoshihiro 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe electrical transport properties of a turbostratic multilayer graphene nanoribbon (GNR) with various number of layers (1–8 layers) were investigated using a field effect transistor with a single GNR channel. In the turbostratic multilayer GNR with 5 layers or less, the carrier mobility and Ion/Ioff ratio in the FETs were improved by slightly increasing the conductance with increasing the number of layers, meaning that the excellent semiconducting characteristic. The improvement of the carrier transport properties promotes by the turbostratic stacking structure. In the turbostratic multilayer GNR with 6 layers or more, although the Ion/Ioff ratio degraded, the conductance extremely improved with increasing the number of layers. This indicates that the turbostratic multilayer GNR with thicker number of layers becomes the significantly lower resistivity wire as a metallic characteristic. We revealed that the crossover point of the physical properties between the semiconducting and metallic characteristics is determined by the strength to screen the surrounding environment effects such as charged impurity on the substrate. Our comprehensive investigation provides a design guidance for the various electrical device applications of GNR materials.
Repurposing potential of posaconazole and grazoprevir as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 helicase
Authors: Abidi Syed Hani , Almansour Nahlah Makki , Amerzhanov Daulet , Allemailem Khaled S. , Rafaqat Wardah , Ibrahim Mahmoud A. A. , la Fleur Philip , Lukac Martin , Ali Syed 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAs the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic engulfs millions worldwide, the quest for vaccines or drugs against the virus continues. The helicase protein of SARS-CoV-2 represents an attractive target for drug discovery since inhibition of helicase activity can suppress viral replication. Using in silico approaches, we have identified drugs that interact with SARS-CoV-2 helicase based on the presence of amino acid arrangements matching binding sites of drugs in previously annotated protein structures. The drugs exhibiting an RMSD of ≤ 3.0 Å were further analyzed using molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, and post-MD analyses. Using these approaches, we found 12 drugs that showed strong interactions with SARS-CoV-2 helicase amino acids. The analyses were performed using the recently available SARS-CoV-2 helicase structure (PDB ID: 5RL6). Based on the MM-GBSA approach, out of the 12 drugs, two drugs, namely posaconazole and grazoprevir, showed the most favorable binding energy, − 54.8 and − 49.1 kcal/mol, respectively. Furthermore, of the amino acids found conserved among all human coronaviruses, 10/11 and 10/12 were targeted by, respectively, grazoprevir and posaconazole. These residues are part of the crucial DEAD-like helicase C and DEXXQc_Upf1-like/ DEAD-like helicase domains. Strong interactions of posaconazole and grazoprevir with conserved amino acids indicate that the drugs can be potent against SARS-CoV-2. Since the amino acids are conserved among the human coronaviruses, the virus is unlikely to develop resistance mutations against these drugs. Since these drugs are already in use, they may be immediately repurposed for SARS-CoV-2 therapy.
Behavioural and oceanographic isolation of an island-based jellyfish (Copula sivickisi, Class Cubozoa) population
Authors: Schlaefer Jodie A. , Wolanski Eric , Lambrechts Jonathan , Kingsford Michael J. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCubozoan jellyfish are classified as plankton despite the strong swimming and orientation abilities of cubomedusae. How these capabilities could affect cubozoan population structures is poorly understood. Medusae of the cubozoan Copula sivickisi can uniquely attach to surfaces with the sticky pads on their bells. Biophysical modelling was used to investigate the spatial scales of connectivity in a C. sivickisi population. When the medusae were active at night they could maintain their observed distribution on fringing reef if they attached to the reef when the current speed exceeded a moderate threshold. This behaviour facilitated the isolation of a C. sivickisi population on reefs fringing Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia. Within this distribution, there was considerable within bay retention and medusae rarely travelled > 3 km. The few (< 0.1%) medusae lost from the island habitat were largely advected into open water and away from the mainland coast which lies 8 km from the island. Given that successful emigration is unlikely, the island population probably represents a stock that is ecologically distinct from any mainland populations. The cosmopolitan distribution of C. sivickisi could contain incipient or cryptic species given the small scales of connectivity demonstrated here.
Using artificial intelligence and longitudinal location data to differentiate persons who develop posttraumatic stress disorder following childhood trauma
Authors: Lekkas Damien , Jacobson Nicholas C. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by complex, heterogeneous symptomology, thus detection outside traditional clinical contexts is difficult. Fortunately, advances in mobile technology, passive sensing, and analytics offer promising avenues for research and development. The present study examined the ability to utilize Global Positioning System (GPS) data, derived passively from a smartphone across seven days, to detect PTSD diagnostic status among a cohort (N = 185) of high-risk, previously traumatized women. Using daily time spent away and maximum distance traveled from home as a basis for model feature engineering, the results suggested that diagnostic group status can be predicted out-of-fold with high performance (AUC = 0.816, balanced sensitivity = 0.743, balanced specificity = 0.8, balanced accuracy = 0.771). Results further implicate the potential utility of GPS information as a digital biomarker of the PTSD behavioral repertoire. Future PTSD research will benefit from application of GPS data within larger, more diverse populations.
Genomic selection signatures in autism spectrum disorder identifies cognitive genomic tradeoff and its relevance in paradoxical phenotypes of deficits versus potentialities
Authors: Prakash Anil , Banerjee Moinak 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by paradoxical phenotypes of deficits as well as gain in brain function. To address this a genomic tradeoff hypothesis was tested and followed up with the biological interaction and evolutionary significance of positively selected ASD risk genes. SFARI database was used to retrieve the ASD risk genes while for population datasets 1000 genome data was used. Common risk SNPs were subjected to machine learning as well as independent tests for selection, followed by Bayesian analysis to identify the cumulative effect of selection on risk SNPs. Functional implication of these positively selected risk SNPs was assessed and subjected to ontology analysis, pertaining to their interaction and enrichment of biological and cellular functions. This was followed by comparative analysis with the ancient genomes to identify their evolutionary patterns. Our results identified significant positive selection signals in 18 ASD risk SNPs. Functional and ontology analysis indicate the role of biological and cellular processes associated with various brain functions. The core of the biological interaction network constitutes genes for cognition and learning while genes in the periphery of the network had direct or indirect impact on brain function. Ancient genome analysis identified de novo and conserved evolutionary selection clusters. The de-novo evolutionary cluster represented genes involved in cognitive function. Relative enrichment of the ASD risk SNPs from the respective evolutionary cluster or biological interaction networks may help in addressing the phenotypic diversity in ASD. This cognitive genomic tradeoff signatures impacting the biological networks can explain the paradoxical phenotypes in ASD.
Development and comparison of novel bioluminescent mouse models of pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasm metastasis
Authors: Kaemmer Courtney A. , Umesalma Shaikamjad , Maharjan Chandra K. , Moose Devon L. , Narla Goutham , Mott Sarah L. , Zamba Gideon K. D. , Breheny Patrick , Darbro Benjamin W. , Bellizzi Andrew M. , Henry Michael D. , Quelle Dawn E. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs) are slow growing cancers of increasing incidence that lack effective treatments once they become metastatic. Unfortunately, nearly half of pNEN patients present with metastatic liver tumors at diagnosis and current therapies fail to improve overall survival. Pre-clinical models of pNEN metastasis are needed to advance our understanding of the mechanisms driving the metastatic process and for the development of novel, targeted therapeutic interventions. To model metastatic dissemination of tumor cells, human pNEN cell lines (BON1 and Qgp1) stably expressing firefly luciferase (luc) were generated and introduced into NSG immunodeficient mice by intracardiac (IC) or intravenous (IV) injection. The efficiency, kinetics and distribution of tumor growth was evaluated weekly by non-invasive bioluminescent imaging (BLI). Tumors formed in all animals in both the IC and IV models. Bioluminescent Qgp1.luc cells preferentially metastasized to the liver regardless of delivery route, mimicking the predominant site of pNEN metastasis in patients. By comparison, BON1.luc cells most commonly formed lung tumors following either IV or IC administration and colonized a wider variety of tissues than Qgp1.luc cells. These models provide a unique platform for testing candidate metastasis genes and anti-metastatic therapies for pNENs.
Fuzzy modelling of combustion efficiency and control of excess air flow case study: 320-MW steam unit/Isfahan Power Plant/Iran
Authors: Kermani Ahmad , Kargar Seyed Mohamad 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
One of the most critical factors affecting boiler efficiency and hazardous-gas-emission reduction is the volume of excess air mixed with fuel. A knowledge-based approach is proposed to model the efficiency of a 320-MW natural-gas-fired steam power plant in Isfahan, Iran by applying fuzzy-modelling techniques to control the boiler efficiency. This model is based on fuel and air entering the boiler. First, the fuzzy-model structure is identified by applying the fuzzy rules obtained from an experienced human operator. The proposed method is then optimized using a genetic algorithm to increase the fuzzy-model accuracy. The results indicate that, by applying a genetic algorithm, the precision of the proposed fuzzy model increases. The error between the actual efficiency of the plant and the output efficiency of the proposed model is low. This model is developed by applying the fuzzy rules and modelling-related calculations. Finally, to optimize the efficiency of the boiler, a fuzzy proportional-integral controller is designed. The closed-loop control simulations are run by applying both the proposed controller and the manual controller to demonstrate the influence of the suggested method. The simulation outcomes indicate that the recommended controller adjusts the excess-air percentage correctly and increases the unit efficiency by 0.70%, significantly reducing fuel consumption.
Trophic niche changes associated with the eradication of invasive mammals in an insular lizard: an assessment using isotopes
Authors: Nunes Sara F , Mota-Ferreira Mário , Sampaio Marta , Andrade Joana , Oliveira Nuno , Rebelo Rui , Rocha Ricardo 
Published: May 2021

AbstractInvasive species are a major threat to island biodiversity, and their eradications have substantially contributed to the conservation of island endemics. However, the consequences of eradications on the trophic ecology of native taxa are largely unexplored. Here, we used the eradication of invasive black rats Rattus rattus and European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus from the Berlenga Island, in the western coast of Portugal, as a whole-ecosystem experiment to investigate the effects of the eradication of invasive mammals on the trophic niche and body dimensions of the island-restricted Berlenga wall lizard Podarcis carbonelli berlengensis over a 2-year period. Our results suggest an expansion of the isotopic niche and an intensification of the sexual dimorphism of the lizard following mammal eradication. Additionally, we found considerable variability in isotopic niche across the island and detected evidence of sex-specific and season-modulated nutritional requirements of this threatened reptile. Our findings support that the eradication of 2 of the planet’s most problematic invasive vertebrates led to changes in the lizard trophic niche and sexual dimorphism in just 2 years. This suggests that the ecological pressures—for example, prey availability and habitat structure—to which lizards are exposed have substantially changed post-eradication. Our study emphasizes the scientific value of island eradications as experiments to address a wide range of ecological questions and adds to the increasing body of evidence supporting substantial conservation gains associated with these restoration interventions.
Ecophysiology of egg rejection in hosts of avian brood parasites: new insights and perspectives
Authors: Ruiz-Raya Francisco 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Egg rejection is the most effective and widespread defense used by host species to counteract the extreme fitness costs frequently imposed by obligate avian brood parasites. Yet, the proximate mechanisms underlying between- and within-individual variation in host responses remain poorly explored. Emerging evidence suggests that egg rejection is dependent on individual physiological states, and draws attention to the role of hormones as mediators of flexible antiparasitic responses. In this perspective article, I outline recent advances in our understanding of the proximate factors that mediate egg rejection. I also point out some areas where knowledge remains still lacking, especially those related to the development and maintenance of effective cognitive functions, the potential role of oxidative stress, immunological state, and developmental stressors. I propose new hypotheses that stimulate future research on behavioral host responses toward brood parasitism.
Coronary artery ectasia in a child after arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries and suspected multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19: a case report
Authors: Sobh Mohamed , Jensen-Kondering Ulf , Voges Inga , Boroni Grazioli Simona Boroni 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Background
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) with features resembling Kawasaki disease has been reported in association with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Case summary
We report the rare case of a 22 months old boy with a history of operated simple transposition of the great arteries (TGA), who developed features of MIS-C likely to be associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection and involving the coronary arteries. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and cardiac catheterization showed long-distance ectasia of both coronary arteries after their origins and an origin stenosis of the right coronary artery with a perfusion defect. The patient was treated with oral anticoagulation together with antiplatelet therapy and remains under careful monitoring.

Discussion
This rare case demonstrates that also patients with TGA after the arterial switch operation (ASO) can develop coronary artery dilatation in association with MIS-C. The most interesting finding in this patient was that the origins of the reimplanted coronary arteries were not dilated. We speculate that scar tissue formation in the area of coronary artery transfer after ASO has prevented proximal coronary artery dilation.