bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plasma protein expression profiles, cardiovascular disease, and religious struggles among South Asians in the MASALA study
Authors: Ngo Long H. , Austin Argentieri M. , Dillon Simon T. , Kent Blake Victor , Kanaya Alka M. , Shields Alexandra E. , Libermann Towia A. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBlood protein concentrations are clinically useful, predictive biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite a higher burden of CVD among U.S. South Asians, no CVD-related proteomics study has been conducted in this sub-population. The aim of this study is to investigate the associations between plasma protein levels and CVD incidence, and to assess the potential influence of religiosity/spirituality (R/S) on significant protein-CVD associations, in South Asians from the MASALA Study. We used a nested case–control design of 50 participants with incident CVD and 50 sex- and age-matched controls. Plasma samples were analyzed by SOMAscan for expression of 1305 proteins. Multivariable logistic regression models and model selection using Akaike Information Criteria were performed on the proteins and clinical covariates, with further effect modification analyses conducted to assess the influence of R/S measures on significant associations between proteins and incident CVD events. We identified 36 proteins that were significantly expressed differentially among CVD cases compared to matched controls. These proteins are involved in immune cell recruitment, atherosclerosis, endothelial cell differentiation, and vascularization. A final multivariable model found three proteins (Contactin-5 [CNTN5], Low affinity immunoglobulin gamma Fc region receptor II-a [FCGR2A], and Complement factor B [CFB]) associated with incident CVD after adjustment for diabetes (AUC = 0.82). Religious struggles that exacerbate the adverse impact of stressful life events, significantly modified the effect of Contactin-5 and Complement factor B on risk of CVD. Our research is this first assessment of the relationship between protein concentrations and risk of CVD in a South Asian sample. Further research is needed to understand patterns of proteomic profiles across diverse ethnic communities, and the influence of resources for resiliency on proteomic signatures and ultimately, risk of CVD.
Incorporating human mobility data improves forecasts of Dengue fever in Thailand
Authors: Kiang Mathew V. , Santillana Mauricio , Chen Jarvis T. , Onnela Jukka-Pekka , Krieger Nancy , Engø-Monsen Kenth , Ekapirat Nattwut , Areechokchai Darin , Prempree Preecha , Maude Richard J. , Buckee Caroline O. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractOver 390 million people worldwide are infected with dengue fever each year. In the absence of an effective vaccine for general use, national control programs must rely on hospital readiness and targeted vector control to prepare for epidemics, so accurate forecasting remains an important goal. Many dengue forecasting approaches have used environmental data linked to mosquito ecology to predict when epidemics will occur, but these have had mixed results. Conversely, human mobility, an important driver in the spatial spread of infection, is often ignored. Here we compare time-series forecasts of dengue fever in Thailand, integrating epidemiological data with mobility models generated from mobile phone data. We show that geographically-distant provinces strongly connected by human travel have more highly correlated dengue incidence than weakly connected provinces of the same distance, and that incorporating mobility data improves traditional time-series forecasting approaches. Notably, no single model or class of model always outperformed others. We propose an adaptive, mosaic forecasting approach for early warning systems.
Run-off election-based decision method for the training and inference process in an artificial neural network
Authors: Jang Jingon , Jang Seonghoon , Choi Sanghyeon , Wang Gunuk 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGenerally, the decision rule for classifying unstructured data in an artificial neural network system depends on the sequence results of an activation function determined by vector–matrix multiplication between the input bias signal and the analog synaptic weight quantity of each node in a matrix array. Although a sequence-based decision rule can efficiently extract a common feature in a large data set in a short time, it can occasionally fail to classify similar species because it does not intrinsically consider other quantitative configurations of the activation function that affect the synaptic weight update. In this work, we implemented a simple run-off election-based decision rule via an additional filter evaluation to mitigate the confusion from proximity of output activation functions, enabling the improved training and inference performance of artificial neural network system. Using the filter evaluation selected via the difference among common features of classified images, the recognition accuracy achieved for three types of shoe image data sets reached ~ 82.03%, outperforming the maximum accuracy of ~ 79.23% obtained via the sequence-based decision rule in a fully connected single layer network. This training algorithm with an independent filter can precisely supply the output class in the decision step of the fully connected network.
An ultra-thin double-functional metasurface patch antenna for UHF RFID applications
Authors: Koohestani Mohsen , Ghaneizadeh Alireza 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAn ultra-thin double-functional metasurface patch antenna (MPA) was proposed, where it can operate not only in the antenna mode but also can simultaneously act as perfect absorber for normal incident waves, suitable for RFID applications in the 868 MHz band. The MPA structure consists of a typical coaxially-fed patch antenna merged, for the first time, with a metasurface absorber acting as artificial ground. A methodology for the unit-cell design of the metasurface is proposed followed by an equivalent circuit model analysis, which makes it possible to transform a low-loss ($$tan\delta =0.0015$$

t
a
n
δ
=
0.0015

) unit-cell with highly-reflective characteristics to a perfect absorber for normal incident waves. It is based on modifying the critical external coupling by properly introducing slits on the unit-cell, allowing to design an ultra-thin ($$\lambda _0/225$$

λ
0

/
225

at 868 MHz) and a very compact structure in comparison to previously developed designs. For validation purposes, the MPA was fabricated and its performances in both functional modes were characterized numerically and experimentally. It is demonstrated that merging the absorber with the patch not only allows obtaining a well-matched ($$|S_{11}|<-30$$

|

S
11

|
<
-
30

dB) antenna with an enhanced gain (by 175.6% compared to a typical patch) at the desired frequency but also leads to an overall thickness of only 2.5 mm ($$\lambda _0/138.1$$

λ
0

/
138.1

at 868 MHz). With an absorber size limited to the MPA dimensions, a reasonable 1.3 dB reduction in powers reflected by the MPA was achieved compared to a similar size metallic sheet. Whilst having the lowest profile among the so far reported RFID readers, the proposed MPA can be conveniently fitted for example within the required volume of smart shelf RFID readers or used in portable RFID readers while being capable of mitigating multipath reflection issues and incorrect reading of RFID.
Melatonin administration provokes the activity of dendritic reticular cells in the seminal vesicle of Soay ram during the non-breeding season
Authors: Abd-Elhafeez Hanan H. , Hassan A. H. S. , Hussein Manal T. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDendritic cells (DCs) are innate immune cells which engulf, process and present antigens to the naïve T-lymphocyte cells. However, little is known about the effect of melatonin on the DCs. The present study aimed to investigate the morphology and distribution of the DCs by transmission electron microscopy and Immunohistochemistry after melatonin administration. A total of 8 out of 15 adult ram was randomly selected to receive the melatonin implant and the remaining 7 animals received melatonin free implants. DCs showed positive immunoreactivity for CD117, S-100 protein and CD34. There is an obvious increase in the number of the positive immunoreactive cells to CD3, estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone in the treated groups. The expression of CD56 and MHCII in the DCs was abundant in the treated groups. The ultrastructure study revealed that melatonin exerts a stimulatory effect on the DCs which was associated with increment in the secretory activity of DCs. The secretory activity demarcated by an obvious increase in the number of mitochondria, cisternae of rER and a well-developed Golgi apparatus. The endosomal- lysosomal system was more developed in the treated groups. A rod-shaped Birbeck granule was demonstrated in the cytoplasm of the melatonin treated group. DCs were observed in a close contact to telocytes, T-Lymphocytes, nerve fibers and blood vessels. Taken together, melatonin administration elicits a stimulatory action on the DCs and macrophages through increasing the size, the number and the endosomal compartments which may correlate to increased immunity.
MicroRNA expression profiling after recurrent febrile seizures in rat and emerging role of miR-148a-3p/SYNJ1 axis
Authors: Xu Jian , Sun Mingqiang , Li Xiaodong , Huang Lei , Gao Zhenzhong , Gao Jian , Xie Anmu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFebrile seizures (FSs) are common neurological disorders in both infants and children, although the precise underlying mechanism remains to be explored, especially in the expression pattern and function of microRNAs (miRNAs). In this report, we aimed to screen new potential miRNAs and examine the role of miR-148a-3p in hippocampal neurons in FS rats via Synaptojanin-1 (SYNJ1). Thirty rats were randomly divided into the normal and FS model groups, which were investigated by miRNA array. This process identified 31 differentially expressed (20 upregulated and 11 downregulated) miRNAs and potential miRNA target genes. In addition, hippocampal neurons were assigned into five groups for different transfections. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL and flow cytometry. SYNJ1 was identified as a target gene of miR-148-3p. In vitro experiments revealed that inhibition of miR-148a-3p decreased neuronal cell apoptosis. Moreover, overexpression of miR-148a-3p resulted in activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. MiR-148a-3p inhibitor could reverse the above events. Taken together, our data demonstrated that the hippocampal miRNA expression profiles of a rat model of FS provide a large database of candidate miRNAs and neuron-related target genes. Furthermore, miR-148a-3p acted as a apoptosis enhcaner via the activation of the SYNJ1/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, highlighting a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of infants with hyperthermia-induced brain injury.
Dogs’ insensitivity to scaffolding behaviour in an A-not-B task provides support for the theory of natural pedagogy
Authors: Neilands Patrick , Kingsley-Smith Olivia , Taylor Alex H. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractExecutive function plays a critical role in regulating behaviour. Behaviour which directs attention towards the correct solution leads to increased executive function performance in children, but it is unknown how other animals respond to such scaffolding behaviour. Dogs were presented with an A-not-B detour task. After learning to go through gap A to obtain the reward, the barrier was reversed, and the dogs had to inhibit their learned response and enter through gap B on the opposite side. Failure to do so is known as the perseveration error. In test trials, dogs taking part in one of two scaffolding conditions, a pointing condition, where the experimenter pointed to the new gap, and a demonstration condition, where the experimenter demonstrated the new route, were no less likely to commit the perseveration error than dogs in a control condition with no scaffolding behaviour. Dogs’ lack of responsiveness to scaffolding behaviour provides little support for suggestions that simple social learning mechanisms explains scaffolding behaviour in humans. Instead, our results suggest that the theory of natural pedagogy extends to the development of executive function in humans. This suggests that human children’s predisposition to interpret ostensive-communicative cues as informative may be an innate, species-specific adaptation.
Fine-tuning mitochondrial activity in Yarrowia lipolytica for citrate overproduction
Authors: da Veiga Moreira Jorgelindo , Jolicoeur Mario , Schwartz Laurent , Peres Sabine 
Published: January 2021

AbstractYarrowia lipolytica is a non-conventional yeast with promising industrial potentials for lipids and citrate production. It is also widely used for studying mitochondrial respiration due to a respiratory chain like those of mammalian cells. In this study we used a genome-scale model (GEM) of Y. lipolytica metabolism and performed a dynamic Flux Balance Analysis (dFBA) algorithm to analyze and identify metabolic levers associated with citrate optimization. Analysis of fluxes at stationary growth phase showed that carbon flux derived from glucose is rewired to citric acid production and lipid accumulation, whereas the oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) shifted to the alternative respiration mode through alternative oxidase (AOX) protein. Simulations of optimized citrate secretion flux resulted in a pronounced lipid oxidation along with reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and AOX flux inhibition. Then, we experimentally challenged AOX inhibition by adding n-Propyl Gallate (nPG), a specific AOX inhibitor, on Y. lipolytica batch cultures at stationary phase. Our results showed a twofold overproduction of citrate (20.5 g/L) when nPG is added compared to 10.9 g/L under control condition (no nPG addition). These results suggest that ROS management, especially through AOX activity, has a pivotal role on citrate/lipid flux balance in Y. lipolytica. All taken together, we thus provide for the first time, a key for the understanding of a predominant metabolic mechanism favoring citrate overproduction in Y. lipolytica at the expense of lipids accumulation.
An encryption–decryption framework to validating single-particle imaging
Authors: Shen Zhou , Teo Colin Zhi Wei , Ayyer Kartik , Loh N. Duane 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe propose an encryption–decryption framework for validating diffraction intensity volumes reconstructed using single-particle imaging (SPI) with X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) when the ground truth volume is absent. This conceptual framework exploits each reconstructed volumes’ ability to decipher latent variables (e.g. orientations) of unseen sentinel diffraction patterns. Using this framework, we quantify novel measures of orientation disconcurrence, inconsistency, and disagreement between the decryptions by two independently reconstructed volumes. We also study how these measures can be used to define data sufficiency and its relation to spatial resolution, and the practical consequences of focusing XFEL pulses to smaller foci. This conceptual framework overcomes critical ambiguities in using Fourier Shell Correlation (FSC) as a validation measure for SPI. Finally, we show how this encryption-decryption framework naturally leads to an information-theoretic reformulation of the resolving power of XFEL-SPI, which we hope will lead to principled frameworks for experiment and instrument design.
Retinal capillary rarefaction is associated with arterial and kidney damage in hypertension
Authors: Frost Shaun , Nolde Janis Marc , Chan Justine , Joyson Anu , Gregory Cynthia , Carnagarin Revathy , Herat Lakshini Y. , Matthews Vance B. , Robinson Liam , Vignarajan Janardhan , Prentice David , Kanagasingam Yogesan , Schlaich Markus P. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMicrovascular disease and rarefaction are key pathological hallmarks of hypertension. The retina uniquely allows direct, non-invasive investigation of the microvasculature. Recently developed optical coherence tomography angiography now allows investigation of the fine retinal capillaries, which may provide a superior marker of overall vascular damage. This was a prospective cross-sectional study to collect retinal capillary density data on 300 normal eyes from 150 hypertensive adults, and to investigate possible associations with other organ damage markers. The average age of participants was 54 years and there was a greater proportion of males (85; 57%) than females. Multivariate, confounder adjusted linear regression showed that retinal capillary rarefaction in the parafovea was associated with increased pulse wave velocity (β = − 0.4,P = 0.04), log-albumin/creatinine ratio (β = − 0.71,P = 0.003), and with reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (β = 0.04,P = 0.02). Comparable significant associations were also found for whole-image vascular-density, for foveal vascular-density significant associations were found with pulse wave velocity and estimated glomerular filtration rate only. Our results indicate that retinal capillary rarefaction is associated with arterial stiffness and impaired kidney function. Retinal capillary rarefaction may represent a useful and simple test to assess the integrated burden of hypertension on the microvasculature irrespective of current blood pressure levels.
Omega-7 oil increases telomerase activity and accelerates healing of grafted burn and donor site wounds
Authors: Niimi Yosuke , Pérez-Bello Dannelys , Ihara Koji , Fukuda Satoshi , Jacob Sam , Andersen Clark R. , Baljinnyam Tuvshintugs , Kim Jisoo , Alharbi Suzan , Prough Donald S. , Enkhbaatar Perenlei 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study investigated the efficacy of Omega-7 isolated from the sea buckthorn oil (Polyvit Co., Ltd, Gangar Holding, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia) in ovine burn wound healing models. In vitro, proliferation (colony-forming rate) and migration (scratch) assays using cultured primary ovine keratinocytes were performed with or without 0.025% and 0.08% Omega-7, respectively. The colony-forming rate of keratinocytes in the Omega-7 group at 72 and 96 h were significantly higher than in the control (P < 0.05). The percentage of closure in scratch assay in the Omega-7 group was significantly higher than in the control at 17 h (P < 0.05). In vivo, efficacy of 4% Omega-7 isolated from buckthorn oil was assessed at 7 and 14 days in grafted ovine burn and donor site wounds. Telomerase activity, keratinocyte growth factor, and wound nitrotyrosine levels were measured at day 14. Grafted sites: Un-epithelialized raw surface area was significantly lower and blood flow was significantly higher in the Omega-7-treated sites than in control sites at 7 and 14 days (P < 0.05). Telomerase activity and levels of keratinocyte growth factors were significantly higher in the Omega-7-treated sites after 14 days compared to those of control (P < 0.05). The wound 3-nitrotyrosine levels were significantly reduced by Omega-7. Donor sites: the complete epithelialization time was significantly shorter and blood flow at day 7 was significantly higher in the Omega-7-treated sites compared to control sites (P < 0.05). In summary, topical application of Omega-7 accelerates healing of both grafted burn and donor site wounds. Omega-7 should be considered as a cost-efficient and effective supplement therapy for burn wound healing.
Discrimination of natural acoustic variation in vocal signals
Authors: Fishbein Adam R. , Prior Nora H. , Brown Jane A. , Ball Gregory F. , Dooling Robert J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractStudies of acoustic communication often focus on the categories and units of vocalizations, but subtle variation also occurs in how these signals are uttered. In human speech, it is not only phonemes and words that carry information but also the timbre, intonation, and stress of how speech sounds are delivered (often referred to as “paralinguistic content”). In non-human animals, variation across utterances of vocal signals also carries behaviorally relevant information across taxa. However, the discriminability of these cues has been rarely tested in a psychophysical paradigm. Here, we focus on acoustic communication in the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), a songbird species in which the male produces a single stereotyped motif repeatedly in song bouts. These motif renditions, like the song repetitions of many birds, sound very similar to the casual human listener. In this study, we show that zebra finches can easily discriminate between the renditions, even at the level of single song syllables, much as humans can discriminate renditions of speech sounds. These results support the notion that sensitivity to fine acoustic details may be a primary channel of information in zebra finch song, as well as a shared, foundational property of vocal communication systems across species.
Assessment of the pulmonary adaptive immune response to Cladosporium cladosporioides infection using an experimental mouse model
Authors: Ma Xiaoping , Hu Jing , Yu Yan , Wang Chengdong , Gu Yu , Cao Sanjie , Huang Xiaobo , Wen Yiping , Zhao Qin , Wu Rui , Zuo Zhicai , Deng Junliang , Ren Zhihua , Yu Shumin , Shen Liuhong , Zhong Zhijun , Peng Guangneng 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCladosporium cladosporioides causes asthma and superficial and deep infections, mostly in immunodeficient individuals and animals. This study aimed to investigate whether C. cladosporioides spores can enter the lungs through pulmonary circulation and influence pulmonary immune response. We intravenously injected mice with C. cladosporioides spore suspension and conducted several assays on the lungs. Pulmonary hemorrhage symptoms and congestion were most severe on days 1, 2, and 3 post-inoculation (PI). Extensive inflammatory cell infiltration occurred throughout the period of infection. More spores and hyphae colonizing the lungs were detected on days 1, 2, and 3 PI, and fewer spores and hyphae were observed within 21 d of infection. Numerous macrophages, dendritic cells, and neutrophils were observed on day 5 PI, along with upregulation of CD54, an intercellular adhesion molecule. Th1 and Th2 cells increased after infection; specifically, Th2 cells increased considerably on day 5 PI. These results suggest that days 2 and 5 PI represent the inflammatory peak in the lungs and that the Th2 and Th1 signaling pathways are potentially involved in pulmonary immune responses. In conclusion, the further adaptive immune responses played important roles in establishing effective pulmonary immunity against C. cladosporioides systemic infections based on innate immune responses.