bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diverse and nonlinear influences of built environment factors on COVID-19 spread across townships in China at its initial stage
Authors: Ma Shuang , Li Shuangjin , Zhang Junyi 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe built environment can contribute to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by facilitating human mobility and social contacts between infected and uninfected individuals. However, mobility data capturing detailed interpersonal transmission at a large scale are not available. In this study, we aimed to objectively assess the influence of key built environment factors, which create spaces for activities—“inferred activity” rather than “actually observed activity”—on the spread of COVID-19 across townships in China at its initial stage through a random forest approach. Taking data for 2994 township-level administrative units, the spread is measured by two indicators: the ratio of cumulative infection cases (RCIC), and the coefficient of variation of infection cases (CVIC) that reflects the policy effect in the initial stage of the spread. Accordingly, we selected 19 explanatory variables covering built environment factors (urban facilities, land use, and transportation infrastructure), the level of nighttime activities, and the inter-city population flow (from Hubei Province). We investigated the spatial agglomerations based on an analysis of bivariate local indicators of spatial association between RCIC and CVIC. We found spatial agglomeration (or positive spatial autocorrelations) of RCIC and CVIC in about 20% of all townships under study. The density of convenience shops, supermarkets and shopping malls (DoCSS), and the inter-city population flow (from Hubei Province) are the two most important variables to explain RCIC, while the population flow is the most important factor in measuring policy effects (CVIC). When the DoCSS gets to 21/km2, the density of comprehensive hospitals to 0.7/km2, the density of road intersections to 72/km2, and the density of gyms and sports centers to 2/km2, their impacts on RCIC reach their maximum and remain constant with further increases in the density values. Stricter policy measures should be taken at townships with a density of colleges and universities higher than 0.5/km2 or a density of comprehensive hospitals higher than 0.25/km2 in order to effectively control the spread of COVID-19.
Evaluation of the Intel RealSense T265 for tracking natural human head motion
Authors: Hausamann Peter , Sinnott Christian B. , Daumer Martin , MacNeilage Paul R. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAccurate and robust tracking of natural human head motion in natural environments is important for a number of applications including virtual and augmented reality, clinical diagnostics, as well as basic scientific research. IMU provide a versatile solution for recording inertial data including linear acceleration and angular velocity, but reconstructing head position is difficult or impossible. This problem can be solved by incorporating visual data using a technique known as visual-inertial simultaneous localization and mapping (VI-SLAM). A recently released commercial solution, the Intel RealSense T265, uses a proprietary VI-SLAM algorithm to estimate linear and angular position and velocity, but the performance of this device for tracking of natural human head motion in natural environments has not yet been comprehensively evaluated against gold-standard methods. In this study, we used a wide range of metrics to evaluate the performance of the T265 with different walking speeds in different environments, both indoor and outdoor, against two gold-standard methods, an optical tracking system and a so-called perambulator. Overall, we find that performance of the T265 relative to these gold-standard methods is most accurate for slow to normal walking speeds in small- to medium-sized environments. The suitability of this device for future scientific studies depends on the application; data presented here can be useful in making that determination.
Immune modulation via adipose derived Mesenchymal Stem cells is driven by donor sex in vitro
Authors: Mckinnirey Flyn , Herbert Benjamin , Vesey Graham , McCracken Sharon 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are currently being used in clinical trials as proposed treatments for a large range of genetic, immunological, orthopaedic, cardiovascular, endocrine and neurological disorders. MSCs are potent anti-inflammatory mediators which are considered immune evasive and employ a large range of secreted vesicles to communicate and repair damaged tissue. Despite their prolific use in therapy, sex specific mechanism of action is rarely considered as a potential confounding factor for use. The purpose of this study was to examine the potency and functionality of both female and male adipose derived MSCs in order to gain further insights into donor selection. Methods MSC were expanded to passage 4, secretome was harvested and stored at − 80c. To assess potency MSC were also primed and assessed via functional immune assays, ELISA, multiplex and immunophenotyping. Results Female MSCs (fMSC), consistently suppressed Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) proliferation significantly (p < 0.0001) more than male MSC (mMSC). In co-culture mPBMCs, showed 60.7 ± 15.6% suppression with fMSCs compared with 22.5 ± 13.6% suppression with mMSCs. Similarly, fPBMCs were suppressed by 67.9 ± 10.4% with fMSCs compared to 29.4 ± 9.3% with mMSCs. The enhanced immunosuppression of fMSCs was attributed to the production of higher concentrations of the anti-inflammatory mediators such as IDO1 (3301 pg/mL vs 1699 pg/mL) and perhaps others including IL-1RA (1025 pg/mL vs 701 pg/mL), PGE-2 (6142 pg/mL vs 2448 pg/mL) and prolonged expression of VCAM-1 post activation relative to mMSCs. In contrast, mMSCs produces more inflammatory G-CSF than fMSCs (806 pg/mL vs 503 pg/mL). Moreover, IDO1 expression was correlated to immune suppression and fMSCs, but not mMSCs induced downregulation of the IL-2 receptor and sustained expression of the early T cell activation marker, CD69 in PBMCs further highlighting the differences in immunomodulation potentials between the sexes. Conclusion In conclusion, our data shows that female MSC are more potent in vitro than their male counterparts. The inability of male MSC to match female MSC driven immunomodulation and to use the inflammatory microenvironment to their advantage is evident and is likely a red flag when using allogeneic male MSC as a therapeutic for disease states.
Thermal injury induces early blood vessel occlusion in a porcine model of brass comb burn
Authors: Wang Jing , Wang Cheng Z. , Salsbury John R. , Zhang Jianzi , Enkhbaatar Perenlei , Herndon David N. , El Ayadi Amina , Ansari Naseem H. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBurn wound progression is an important determinant of patient morbidity and mortality after injury. In this study, we used the brass comb contact burn to determine burn wound vertical injury progression with a focus on blood vessel occlusion and endothelial cell death. Class A 3-month-old Yorkshire pigs received a brass comb contact burn. Burn wounds were sampled at 0, 30 min, 1, 2, 4, and 24 h. Hematoxylin Phloxin Saffron staining and vimentin immunostaining were performed to determine the depth of blood vessel occlusion and endothelial cell death, respectively. The depth of blood vessel occlusion increased by 30 min (p < 0.005) and peaked by 1 to 4 h (p > 0.05). The depth of endothelial cell death risen to a plateau at 30 min (p < 0.005) to 2 h and then peaked at 24 h (p < 0.03). We observed a progression of blood vessel occlusion and vascular endothelial cell death from the middle of the dermis to the hypodermis within 2 h to 4 h after the initial injury, namely a progression from a second-degree (partial thickness) to third-degree (full thickness) burn. These data suggest that therapeutic interventions during this time window may provide a better outcome by reducing or preventing vertical progression of blood vascular occlusion or endothelial cell death.
Embedding supervised exercise training for men on androgen deprivation therapy into standard prostate cancer care: a feasibility and acceptability study (the STAMINA trial)
Authors: Reale Sophie , Turner Rebecca R. , Sutton Eileen , Steed Liz , Taylor Stephanie J. C. , Morrissey Dylan , Doherty Patrick , Greenfield Diana M. , Collinson Michelle , Hewison Jenny , Brown Janet , Ibeggazene Saïd , Mason Malcolm , Rosario Derek J. , Bourke Liam 
Published: June 2021

AbstractLifestyle interventions involving exercise training offset the adverse effects of androgen deprivation therapy in men with prostate cancer. Yet provision of integrated exercise pathways in cancer care is sparse. This study assessed the feasibility and acceptability of an embedded supervised exercise training intervention into standard prostate cancer care in a single-arm, multicentre prospective cohort study. Feasibility included recruitment, retention, adherence, fidelity and safety. Acceptability of behaviourally informed healthcare and exercise professional training was assessed qualitatively. Despite the imposition of lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic, referral rates into and adherence to, the intervention was high. Of the 45 men eligible for participation, 79% (n = 36) received the intervention and 47% (n = 21) completed the intervention before a government mandated national lockdown was enforced in the United Kingdom. Patients completed a mean of 27 min of aerobic exercise per session (SD = 3.48), at 77% heart rate maximum (92% of target dose), and 3 sets of 10 reps of 3 resistance exercises twice weekly for 12 weeks, without serious adverse event. The intervention was delivered by 26 healthcare professionals and 16 exercise trainers with moderate to high fidelity, and the intervention was deemed highly acceptable to patients. The impact of societal changes due to the pandemic on the delivery of this face-to-face intervention remain uncertain but positive impacts of embedding exercise provision into prostate cancer care warrant long-term investigation.
Independent duplications of the Golgi phosphoprotein 3 oncogene in birds
Authors: Opazo Juan C. , Vandewege Michael W. , Gutierrez Javier , Zavala Kattina , Vargas-Chacoff Luis , Morera Francisco J. , Mardones Gonzalo A. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractGolgi phosphoprotein 3 (GOLPH3) was the first reported oncoprotein of the Golgi apparatus. It was identified as an evolutionarily conserved protein upon its discovery about 20 years ago, but its function remains puzzling in normal and cancer cells. The GOLPH3 gene is part of a group of genes that also includes the GOLPH3L gene. Because cancer has deep roots in multicellular evolution, studying the evolution of the GOLPH3 gene family in non-model species represents an opportunity to identify new model systems that could help better understand the biology behind this group of genes. The main goal of this study is to explore the evolution of the GOLPH3 gene family in birds as a starting point to understand the evolutionary history of this oncoprotein. We identified a repertoire of three GOLPH3 genes in birds. We found duplicated copies of the GOLPH3 gene in all main groups of birds other than paleognaths, and a single copy of the GOLPH3L gene. We suggest there were at least three independent origins for GOLPH3 duplicates. Amino acid divergence estimates show that most of the variation is located in the N-terminal region of the protein. Our transcript abundance estimations show that one paralog is highly and ubiquitously expressed, and the others were variable. Our results are an example of the significance of understanding the evolution of the GOLPH3 gene family, especially for unraveling its structural and functional attributes.
Species variations in tenocytes’ response to inflammation require careful selection of animal models for tendon research
Authors: Oreff Gil Lola , Fenu Michele , Vogl Claus , Ribitsch Iris , Jenner Florien 
Published: June 2021

AbstractFor research on tendon injury, many different animal models are utilized; however, the extent to which these species simulate the clinical condition and disease pathophysiology has not yet been critically evaluated. Considering the importance of inflammation in tendon disease, this study compared the cellular and molecular features of inflammation in tenocytes of humans and four common model species (mouse, rat, sheep, and horse). While mouse and rat tenocytes most closely equalled human tenocytes’ low proliferation capacity and the negligible effect of inflammation on proliferation, the wound closure speed of humans was best approximated by rats and horses. The overall gene expression of human tenocytes was most similar to mice under healthy, to horses under transient and to sheep under constant inflammatory conditions. Humans were best matched by mice and horses in their tendon marker and collagen expression, by horses in extracellular matrix remodelling genes, and by rats in inflammatory mediators. As no single animal model perfectly replicates the clinical condition and sufficiently emulates human tenocytes, fit-for-purpose selection of the model species for each specific research question and combination of data from multiple species will be essential to optimize translational predictive validity.
Well-scale demonstration of distributed pressure sensing using fiber-optic DAS and DTS
Authors: Ekechukwu Gerald K. , Sharma Jyotsna 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn this study, we used data from optical fiber-based Distributed Acoustic Sensor (DAS) and Distributed Temperature Sensor (DTS) to estimate pressure along the fiber. A machine learning workflow was developed and demonstrated using experimental datasets from gas–water flow tests conducted in a 5163-ft deep well instrumented with DAS, DTS, and four downhole pressure gauges. The workflow is successfully demonstrated on two experimental datasets, corresponding to different gas injection volumes, backpressure, injection methods, and water circulation rates. The workflow utilizes the random forest algorithm and involves a two-step process for distributed pressure prediction. In the first step, single-depth predictive modeling is performed to explore the underlying relationship between the DAS (in seven different frequency bands), DTS, and the gauge pressures at the four downhole locations. The single-depth analysis showed that the low-frequency components (< 2 Hz) of the DAS data, when combined with DTS, consistently demonstrate a superior capability in predicting pressure as compared to the higher frequency bands for both the datasets achieving an average coefficient of determination (or R2) of 0.96. This can be explained by the unique characteristic of low-frequency DAS which is sensitive to both the strain and temperature perturbations. In the second step, the DTS and the low-frequency DAS data from two gauge locations were used to predict pressures at different depths. The distributed pressure modeling achieved an average R2 of 0.95 and an average root mean squared error (RMSE) of 24 psi for the two datasets across the depths analyzed, demonstrating the distributed pressure measurement capability using the proposed workflow. A majority of the current DAS applications rely on the higher frequency components. This study presents a novel application of the low-frequency DAS combined with DTS for distributed pressure measurement.
Integrating spatial analysis and questionnaire survey to better understand human-onager conflict in Southern Iran
Authors: Mohammadi Alireza , Almasieh Kamran , Wan Ho Yi , Nayeri Danial , Alambeigi Amir , Ransom Jason I. , Cushman Samuel A. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractSouthern Iran is a conservation priority area for the endangered Persian onager (Equus hemionus onager), which is threatened by habitat fragmentation and conflict with local communities. To better understand factors that influence onager conservation, we administered a questionnaire in local communities to survey their ecological knowledge, personal experience related to onager, and attitudes toward traditional solutions for reducing crop damage by onager. In addition, we used resistant kernel and factorial least-cost path analyses to identify core areas and corridors for onager movement, and spatial randomization of vehicle collisions and crossing locations to test the predictive ability of resistant kernel and factorial least-cost path predictions of movement. We found that local communities that were knowledgeable about onagers experienced less crop damage from onager compared with those who used traditional methods. Habitat connectivity models revealed that core areas of movement are highly concentrated at the center of protected areas. Some sections of core areas have been cut off by roads where most vehicle collisions with onagers occurred. We propose that effective onager conservation will require integrated landscape-level management to reduce mortality risk, protection of core areas and corridors, development of mitigation strategies to reduce vehicle collisions, and conflict mediation between local communities and onagers.
Impaired regulation of heart rate and sinoatrial node function by the parasympathetic nervous system in type 2 diabetic mice
Authors: Liu Yingjie , Jansen Hailey J. , Krishnaswamy Pooja S. , Bogachev Oleg , Rose Robert A. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractHeart rate (HR) and sinoatrial node (SAN) function are modulated by the autonomic nervous system. HR regulation by the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is impaired in diabetes mellitus (DM), which is denoted cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. Whether blunted PNS effects on HR in type 2 DM are related to impaired responsiveness of the SAN to PNS agonists is unknown. This was investigated in type 2 diabetic db/db mice in vivo and in isolated SAN myocytes. The PNS agonist carbachol (CCh) had a smaller inhibitory effect on HR, while HR recovery time after CCh removal was accelerated in db/db mice. In isolated SAN myocytes CCh reduced spontaneous action potential firing frequency but this effect was reduced in db/db mice due to blunted effects on diastolic depolarization slope and maximum diastolic potential. Impaired effects of CCh occurred due to enhanced desensitization of the acetylcholine-activated K+ current (IKACh) and faster IKACh deactivation. IKACh alterations were reversed by inhibition of regulator of G-protein signaling 4 (RGS4) and by the phospholipid PIP3. SAN expression of RGS4 was increased in db/db mice. Impaired PNS regulation of HR in db/db mice occurs due to reduced responsiveness of SAN myocytes to PNS agonists in association with enhanced RGS4 activity.
The effect of congenital blindness on resting-state functional connectivity revisited
Authors: Guerreiro Maria J. S. , Linke Madita , Lingareddy Sunitha , Kekunnaya Ramesh , Röder Brigitte 
Published: June 2021

AbstractLower resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) between ‘visual’ and non-‘visual’ neural circuits has been reported as a hallmark of congenital blindness. In sighted individuals, RSFC between visual and non-visual brain regions has been shown to increase during rest with eyes closed relative to rest with eyes open. To determine the role of visual experience on the modulation of RSFC by resting state condition—as well as to evaluate the effect of resting state condition on group differences in RSFC—, we compared RSFC between visual and somatosensory/auditory regions in congenitally blind individuals (n = 9) and sighted participants (n = 9) during eyes open and eyes closed conditions. In the sighted group, we replicated the increase of RSFC between visual and non-visual areas during rest with eyes closed relative to rest with eyes open. This was not the case in the congenitally blind group, resulting in a lower RSFC between ‘visual’ and non-‘visual’ circuits relative to sighted controls only in the eyes closed condition. These results indicate that visual experience is necessary for the modulation of RSFC by resting state condition and highlight the importance of considering whether sighted controls should be tested with eyes open or closed in studies of functional brain reorganization as a consequence of blindness.
Association between aphasia severity and brain network alterations after stroke assessed using the electroencephalographic phase synchrony index
Authors: Kawano Teiji , Hattori Noriaki , Uno Yutaka , Hatakenaka Megumi , Yagura Hajime , Fujimoto Hiroaki , Nagasako Michiko , Mochizuki Hideki , Kitajo Keiichi , Miyai Ichiro 
Published: June 2021

AbstractElectroencephalographic synchrony can help assess brain network status; however, its usefulness has not yet been fully proven. We developed a clinically feasible method that combines the phase synchrony index (PSI) with resting-state 19-channel electroencephalography (EEG) to evaluate post-stroke motor impairment. In this study, we investigated whether our method could be applied to aphasia, a common post-stroke cognitive impairment. This study included 31 patients with subacute aphasia and 24 healthy controls. We assessed the expressive function of patients and calculated the PSIs of three motor language-related regions: frontofrontal, left frontotemporal, and right frontotemporal. Then, we evaluated post-stroke network alterations by comparing PSIs of the patients and controls and by analyzing the correlations between PSIs and aphasia scores. The frontofrontal PSI (beta band) was lower in patients than in controls and positively correlated with aphasia scores, whereas the right frontotemporal PSI (delta band) was higher in patients than in controls and negatively correlated with aphasia scores. Evaluation of artifacts suggests that this association is attributed to true synchrony rather than spurious synchrony. These findings suggest that post-stroke aphasia is associated with alternations of two different networks and point to the usefulness of EEG PSI in understanding the pathophysiology of aphasia.
Multiplex protein profiling method for extracellular vesicle protein detection
Authors: Sun Li , Meckes David G. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractExtracellular vesicles (EVs) are small nanometer-sized membrane sacs secreted into biological fluids by all cells. EVs encapsulate proteins, RNAs and metabolites from its origin cell and play important roles in intercellular communication events. Over the past decade, EVs have become a new emerging source for cancer diagnostics. One of the challenges in the study of EVs and there utility as diagnostic biomarkers is the amount of EVs needed for traditional protein analysis methods. Here, we present a new immuno-PCR method that takes advantage of commercially available TotalSeq antibodies containing DNA conjugated oligos to identify immobilized protein analysts using real-time qPCR. Using this method, we demonstrate that multiple EV surface proteins can be profiled simultaneously with high sensitivity and specificity. This approach was also successfully applied to similar protocol using cell and serum samples. We further described the development of a micro-size exclusion chromatography method, where we were able to detect EV surface proteins with as little as 10 μL of human serum when combined with immuno-PCR. Overall, these results show that the immuno-PCR method results in rapid detection of multiple EV markers from small sample volumes in a single tube.