bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extracellular Vesicles From Women With Severe Preeclampsia Impair Vascular Endothelial Function
Authors: Murugesan Saravanakumar , Hussey Hanna , Saravanakumar Lakshmi , Sinkey Rachel G. , Sturdivant Adam B. , Powell Mark F. , Berkowitz Dan E. 
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND:
Preeclampsia (PE) manifesting as hypertension and organ injury is mediated by vascular dysfunction. In biological fluids, extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing microRNA (miRNA), protein, and other cargo released from the placenta may serve as carriers to propagate injury, altering the functional phenotype of endothelial cells. PE has been consistently correlated with increased levels of placenta-derived EVs (pEVs) in maternal circulation. However, whether pEVs impaired endothelial cell function remains to be determined. In this study, we hypothesize that pEVs from pregnant women with severe PE (sPE) impair endothelial function through altered cell signaling.

METHODS:
We obtained plasma samples from women with sPE (n = 14) and normotensive pregnant women (n = 15) for the isolation of EVs. The total number of EV and pEV contribution was determined by quantifying immunoreactive EV-cluster of designation 63 (CD63) and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) as placenta-specific markers, respectively. Vascular endothelial functional assays were determined by cell migration, electric cell-substrate impedance sensing in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs), and wire myography in isolated blood vessels, preincubated with EVs from normotensive and sPE women.

RESULTS:
Plasma EV and pEV levels were increased in sPE when compared to normotensive without a significant size distribution difference in sPE (108.8 ± 30.2 nm) and normotensive-EVs (101.3 ± 20.3 nm). Impaired endothelial repair and proliferation, reduced endothelial barrier function, reduced endothelial-dependent vasorelaxation, and decreased nitrite level indicate that sPE-EVs induced vascular endothelial dysfunction. Moreover, sPE-EVs significantly downregulated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS and p-eNOS) when compared to normotensive-EV.

CONCLUSIONS:
EVs from sPE women impair endothelial-dependent vascular functions in vitro.
Impure Hopes
Authors: Kirksey Eben 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe experiment in China that produced the world's first babies with “edited” DNA comes out of an international research program aimed at producing an HIV cure. An atmosphere of secrecy surrounded this experiment at the edge of the law. Volunteers who signed up for the experiment were HIV-positive tonzghi—gay and bisexual “comrades” already living with closely guarded secrets and conflicted desires. Impure hopes—a mix of heterosexual dreams about reproductive futurity and biotech speculation about an HIV cure—drove the research forward. Volunteers were caught between dreamworlds, harboring hopes that were not entirely their own. The story of these patients is tangled up with CRISPR, a fast and cheap tool for manipulating DNA that contains tantalizing promises of medical breakthroughs for innovators and investors. Speculation in the innovation economy produced an earlier gene-editing experiment in the United States that brought HIV-positive veterans of ACT UP together with biotechnology entrepreneurs. After achieving promising results, a fickle market pushed gene-editing enterprises away from HIV cure research. Building on earlier work about impure science, this article makes an argument against purity to consider the contours of hope in ethically compromised times. Hope demands ongoing articulation work. As powerful political and economic forces threaten to steal queer hopes or simply capitalize on them, it is important to make our own ethical, political, and discursive cuts—to selectively renew some articulations while breaking other connections.
Future land use change simulations for the Lepelle River Basin using Cellular Automata Markov model with Land Change Modeller-generated transition areas
Authors: Ikegwuoha Darlington Chineye , Weepener Harold Louw , Dinka Megersa Olumana 
Published: December 2021

Background: Land use/land cover (LULC), change is one of the major contributors to global environmental and climate variations. The ability to predict future LULC is crucial for environmental engineers, civil engineers, urban designers, and natural resource managers for planning activities. Methods: TerrSet Geospatial Monitoring and Modelling System in conjunction with ArcGIS Pro 2.8 were used to process LULC data for the region of the Lepelle River Basin (LRB) of South Africa. Driver variables such as population density, slope, elevation as well as the Euclidean distances of cities, roads, highways, railroads, parks and restricted areas, towns to the LRB in combination with LULC data were analysed using the Land Change Modeller (LCM) and Cellular-Automata Markov (CAM) model. Results: The results reveal an array of losses (-) and gains (+) for certain LULC classes in the LRB by the year 2040: natural vegetation (+8.5%), plantations (+3.5%), water bodies (-31.6%), bare ground (-8.8%), cultivated land (-29.3%), built-up areas (+10.6%) and mines (+14.4%). Conclusions: The results point to the conversion of land uses from natural to anthropogenic by 2040. These changes also highlight how the potential losses associated with resources such as water will negatively impact society and ecosystem functioning in the LRB by exacerbating water scarcity driven by climate change. This modelling study seeks to provides a decision support system for predicting future land resource utilization in the LRB and perhaps assist for planning purposes.
Reducing the Complexity of Casual Representation in Bayesian Belief Network
Authors: Wee Yit Yin , Tan Shing Chiang , Wee KuokKwee 
Published: December 2021

Background: Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) is a well-established causal framework that is widely adopted in various domains and has a proven track record of success in research and application areas. However, BBN has weaknesses in causal knowledge elicitation and representation. The representation of the joint probability distribution in the Conditional Probability Table (CPT) has increased the complexity and difficulty for the user either in comprehending the causal knowledge or using it as a front-end modelling tool. Methods: This study aims to propose a simplified version of the BBN ─ Bayesian causal model, which can represent the BBN intuitively and proposes an inference method based on the simplified version of BBN. The CPT in the BBN is replaced with the causal weight in the range of[-1,+1] to indicate the causal influence between the nodes. In addition, an inferential algorithm is proposed to compute and propagate the influence in the causal model. Results: A case study is used to validate the proposed inferential algorithm. The results show that a Bayesian causal model is able to predict and diagnose the increment and decrement as in BBN. Conclusions: The Bayesian causal model that serves as a simplified version of BBN has shown its advantages in modelling and representation, especially from the knowledge engineering perspective.
What practice nurses need to know about the NICE chronic kidney disease guidelines
Authors: Ellis Peter 
Published: December 2021

Chronic kidney disease is highly prevalent in the community. Peter Ellis looks at the role of the practice nurse in diagnosing and managing chronic kidney disease in general practice Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as a reduction in kidney function, or damage to kidney structure, which has persisted for greater than 3 months and which is associated with other health-related issues. While there are many causes of CKD, the most prevalent in western societies, including the UK, are diabetes and hypertension. This article identifies the role of the practice nurse in applying the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for CKD.
Identification and management of dysfunctional breathing in primary care
Authors: Henry Heather , Wells Charlotte 
Published: December 2021

Dysfunctional breathing can lead to a range of symptoms that can be confused with neurological, respiratory and cardiac disease. Heather Henry and Charlotte Wells give an overview of the signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of this condition General practice nurses (GPNs) are often on the front-line of respiratory assessment. Dysfunctional breathing (often termed breathing pattern disorder) is a term that relates to changes in breathing patterns. Since dysfunctional breathing can be confused with neurological, respiratory and cardiac disease, this article will help GPNs to understand the signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Effect of oils on the transmission properties of a terahertz photonic crystal
Authors: Hernández-Roa Dahí L. , García-Jomaso Yesenia A. , Bruce Neil C. , Garduño-Mejía Jesús , Pilloni Oscar , Oropeza-Ramos Laura , Treviño-Palacios Carlos G. , Ordoñez-Romero Cesar L. , Velázquez-Benítez Amado M. , Qureshi Naser 
Published: December 2021

The transmission properties of a photonic crystal immersed in several different oils have been characterized using terahertz time domain spectroscopy in the spectral range of 0.3–1.5 THz. As in previous works, oil samples can be distinguished using terahertz transmission measurements. When the same oils are introduced into a photonic crystal, we find that the effective refractive index of the photonic crystal is sensitive to the properties of the oils and shows differences not seen in bulk measurements. These effects are described in detail and have potential applications in both the sensing of very small volumes of oils and in the fine control of the refractive indices of photonic crystals.
Feasibility of resonant Raman cooling and radiation balanced lasing in semiconductors
Authors: Khurgin Jacob B. 
Published: December 2021

A theory of resonant Raman cooling of semiconductors and radiation balanced Raman lasing based on a simple physical picture is developed. It is shown that in order to achieve Raman cooling a number of often contradictory requirements need to be satisfied—such as relatively low optical phonon energy and large exciton binding energy. As a result, it is unlikely that Raman cooling to less than 250 K can be attained in semiconductors. At the same time, it may be possible to operate a (Stokes) Raman laser that is cooled by anti-Stokes Raman scattering at around 300 K.
Dissection of the NKG2C NK cell response against Puumala Orthohantavirus
Authors: Vietzen Hannes , Hartenberger Svenja , Aberle Stephan W. , Puchhammer-Stöckl Elisabeth 
Published: December 2021

Background
Infections with the Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) in humans may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), known as nephropathia epidemica (NE), which is associated with acute renal failure in severe cases. In response to PUUV-infections, a subset of potent antiviral NKG2C+ NK cells expand, whose role in virus defence and pathogenesis of NE is unclear. NKG2C+ NK cell proliferation is mediated by binding of NKG2C/CD94 to HLA-E on infected cells. The proliferation and activation of NKG2C+ NK cells via the NKG2C/HLA-E axis is affected by different NKG2C (NKG2Cwt/del) and HLA-E (HLA-E*0101/0103) alleles, which naturally occur in the human host. Homozygous (NKG2Cdel/del) and heterozygous (NKG2Cwt/del) deletions of the NKG2C receptor results in an impaired NKG2C/CD94 mediated proliferation and activation of NKG2C+ cells. We therefore analyzed the PUUV-mediated NKG2C+ NK cell responses and the impact of different NKG2C and HLA-E alleles in NE patients.

Methodology/Principal findings
NKG2C+ NK cell expansion and effector functions in PUUV-infected cells were investigated using flow cytometry and it was shown that PUUV-infected endothelial cells led to a NKG2C/CD94 mediated NKG2C+ NK cell activation and expansion, dependent on the HLA-G-mediated upregulation of HLA-E. Furthermore, the NKG2Cdel and HLA-E*0101/0103 alleles were determined in 130 NE patients and 130 matched controls, and it was shown that in NE patients the NKG2Cwt/del allele was significantly overrepresented, compared to the NKG2Cwt/wt variant (p = 0.01). In addition, in vitro analysis revealed that NKG2Cwt/del NK cells exhibited on overall a lower proliferation (p = 0.002) and lower IFNγ expression (p = 0.004) than NKG2Cwt/wt NK cells.

Conclusions/Significance
Our results corroborate the substantial impact of the NKG2C/HLA-E axis on PUUV-specific NK cell responses. A weak NKG2C+ NK cell response, as reflected by NKG2Cwt/del variant, may be associated with a higher risk for a severe hantavirus infections.
New correlations between ocular parameters and disease severity in Spanish patients with Gaucher’s disease Type I
Authors: Esteban Olivia , Torralba Miguel Angel , Olivera Susana , Martinez Mireya , Montes Paula , Marco Sara , Ascaso Javier 
Published: December 2021

Background
Gaucher’s disease is associated with a high variety of structural and functional abnormalities in the eye, which do not always affect visual acuity. The purpose of this study was to analyse ocular features in Spanish patients with Gaucher’s disease type I, and to investigate their possible correlation with phenotypic and burden parameters of this entity.

Methods
This cross-sectional observational study compared parameters belonging to 18 eyes from 9 Spanish patients with Gaucher’s disease Type I with 80 eyes from 40 healthy controls. Complete ophthalmological examination included choroidal and retinal thickness maps with swept source optical coherence tomography. Systemic analysis included genotype, plasmatic biomarkers, [ferritin, chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) and chitotriosidase (ChT)] and severity scoring systems results [“Gaucher Disease Severity Score Index Type I" (GauSSI-I) and “Gaucher disease severity scoring system” (GD-DS3)].

Results
Nine subjects (18 eyes) were cases (female: 55.5%, mean age 45 years; male: 44.5%, mean age 36 years) and 40 subjects (80 eyes) were controls (female: 49%, mean age 50 years; male: 51%, mean age 55 years). There were no statistically significant differences when comparing ocular parameters (visual acuity; axial length, refractive errors, corneal parameters, lens, retinal and choroidal thickness) between case and control subjects (p>0.05). A statistically significant moderate correlation was observed between lower retinal thickness and choroidal quadrants thickness and greater disease severity scores. A lower central retinal thickness also correlates with higher biological plasmatic levels, and has a statistically significant association with the most affected patient with genotype N370S/Del 55pb. Conversely, higher pachymetry involves a more severe plasmatic concentration of biomarkers.

Conclusions
Our results suggest that pachymetry, and retinal and choroidal thickness, are associated with burden biomarkers and disease severity index scores in Spanish patients with Gaucher’s disease Type I.
Рыночный опыт создания платформы для анализа аккаунтов блогеров и их аудитории
Authors: Лесневский Димитрий Александрович , Рекун Игорь Геннадьевич 
Published: December 2021

Цель работы — структурировать опыт разработки инструмента для анализа блогеров и их аудиторий в социальных сетях. В статье представлены основные этапы создания этого инструмента: от интервью с потенциальными клиентами для планирования функционала к концептуальной модели, методам обработки данных и перспективам. Серия интервью (N = 20) показала, что подходы к анализу аудитории блогеров на рекламном рынке варьируются по глубине проработки в зависимости от задач. Аккаунты блогеров оценивали как по количественным показателям (объем аудитории), так и по качественным — с точки зрения соответствия имиджу брендов. Интерес для развития бизнеса представили именно аудиторные показатели. Модель для описания пользователей социальной сети (а следовательно — для аудиторий) сложилась из трех составляющих: контента самого аккаунта, контента его аудитории и контента других аккаунтов, с которыми он взаимодействует. Обработка массива данных потребовала технических решений на основе машинного обучения для анализа текстов и изображений. В результате мы получили как наборы классических индикаторов — пол, возраст, географическое расположение, так и векторное представление поведенческих характеристик аудитории. Вероятно, дальнейшее развитие технологий приведет к уменьшению возможностей по независимому анализу социальных медиа. Социальные сети ограничивают доступ к API, повышая стоимость разработки решений, а законодательство в области персональных данных увеличивает риски для компаний, создающих новые продукты в этой области.
Rapid Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Reveals That TRPV4 Channels Promote Dysregulation of Neuronal Na+in Ischemia
Authors: Meyer Jan , Gerkau Niklas J. , Kafitz Karl W. , Patting Matthias , Jolmes Fabian , Henneberger Christian , Rose Christine R. 
Published: December 2021

Fluorescence imaging is an indispensable method for analysis of diverse cellular and molecular processes, enabling, for example, detection of ions, second messengers, or metabolites. Intensity-based approaches, however, are prone to artifacts introduced by changes in fluorophore concentrations. This drawback can be overcome by fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) based on time-correlated single-photon counting. FLIM often necessitates long photon collection times, resulting in strong temporal binning of dynamic processes. Recently, rapidFLIM was introduced, exploiting ultra-low dead-time photodetectors together with rapid electronics. Here, we demonstrate the applicability of rapidFLIM, combined with new and improved correction schemes, for spatiotemporal fluorescence lifetime imaging of low-emission fluorophores in a biological system. Using tissue slices of hippocampi of mice of either sex, loaded with the Na+indicator ING2, we show that improved rapidFLIM enables quantitative, dynamic imaging of neuronal Na+signals at a full-frame temporal resolution of 0.5 Hz. Induction of transient chemical ischemia resulted in unexpectedly large Na+influx, accompanied by considerable cell swelling. Both Na+loading and cell swelling were dampened on inhibition of TRPV4 channels. Together, rapidFLIM enabled the spatiotemporal visualization and quantification of neuronal Na+transients at unprecedented speed and independent from changes in cell volume. Moreover, our experiments identified TRPV4 channels as hitherto unappreciated contributors to neuronal Na+loading on metabolic failure, suggesting this pathway as a possible target to ameliorate excitotoxic damage. Finally, rapidFLIM will allow faster and more sensitive detection of a wide range of dynamic signals with other FLIM probes, most notably those with intrinsic low-photon emission.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTFLIM is an indispensable method for analysis of cellular processes. FLIM often necessitates long photon collection periods, requiring the sacrifice of temporal resolution at the expense of spatial information. Here, we demonstrate the applicability of the recently introduced rapidFLIM for quantitative, dynamic imaging with low-emission fluorophores in brain slices. RapidFLIM, combined with improved correction schemes, enabled intensity-independent recording of neuronal Na+transients at unprecedented full-frame rates of 0.5 Hz. It also allowed quantitative imaging independent from changes in cell volume, revealing a surprisingly strong and hitherto uncovered contribution of TRPV4 channels to Na+loading on energy failure. Collectively, our study thus provides a novel, unexpected insight into the mechanisms that are responsible for Na+changes on energy depletion.
Effects of Light Isoflurane Anesthesia on Organization of Direction and Orientation Selectivity in the Superficial Layer of the Mouse Superior Colliculus
Authors: Kasai Masatoshi , Isa Tadashi 
Published: December 2021

The superior colliculus (SC) is the midbrain center for integrating visual and multimodal sensory information. Neurons in the SC exhibit direction and orientation selectivity. Recent studies reported that neurons with similar preferences formed clusters in the mouse SC (Ahmadlou and Heimel, 2015; Feinberg and Meister, 2015; de Malmazet et al., 2018; Li et al., 2020). However, it remains controversial as to how these clusters are organized within the SC (Inayat et al., 2015; Chen et al., 2021). Here, we found that different brain states (i.e., awake or anesthetized with isoflurane) changed the selectivity of individual SC neurons and organizations of the neuronal population in both male and female mice. Using two-photon Ca2+imaging, we examined both individual neuronal responses and the spatial patterns of their population responses. Under isoflurane anesthesia, orientation selectivity increased and a larger number of orientation-selective cells were observed when compared with the awake condition, whereas the proportions of direction-selective cells were similar in both conditions. Furthermore, direction- and orientation-selective cells located at closer positions showed more similar preferences, and cluster-like spatial patterns were enhanced. Inhibitory responses of direction-selective neurons were also reduced under isoflurane anesthesia. Thus, the changes in the spatial organization of response patterns were considered to be because of changes in the balance of excitation and inhibition, with excitation dominance, in the local circuits. These results provide new insights into the possibility that the functional organization of feature selectivity in the brain is affected by brain state.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTRecent large-scale recording studies are changing our view of visual maps in the superior colliculus (SC), including findings of cluster-like localizations of direction- and orientation-selective neurons. However, results from several laboratories are conflicting regarding the presence of cluster-like organization. Here, we demonstrated that light isoflurane anesthesia affected the direction- and orientation-tuning properties in the mouse superficial SC and that their cluster-like localization pattern was enhanced by the anesthesia. Furthermore, the effect of anesthesia on direction selectivity appeared to be different in the excitatory and inhibitory populations in the SC. Our results suggest that the functional organization of direction and orientation selectivity might be regulated by the excitation–inhibition balance that depends on the brain state.