bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
GPM‐DPR Observations on TGFs Producing Storms
Authors: Tiberia A. , Porcú F. , Marisaldi M. , Tavani M. , Lapierre J. , Ursi A. , Fuschino F. , D'Adderio L. P. , Dietrich S. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractUnique spaceborne measurements of the three‐dimensional structure of convective clouds producing terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs) were performed using both active and passive microwave sensors on board the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM)‐Core Observatory satellite, finding coherent features for nine TGF‐producing storms. The delineation of cloud structure using the radar reflectivity factor shows convective cells with significant vertical development and thick layers with high ice content. Compared to other cumulonimbus clouds in the tropics, the TGFs counterparts have higher reflectivity values above 3 and 8 km altitude showing in all cases a cumulonimbus tower and the TGFs locations are very close, or coincident, to these high Z columns, where reflectivity exceeds 50 dBz. Using the GPM Microwave Imager radiometer, most thunderstorms show a very strong depression of polarization corrected temperature (PCT) at channel 89 GHz, indicating a strong scattering signal by ice in the upper cloud layers. At channel 166 GHZ, the difference between vertical and horizontal brightness temperature signal always returns positive values, from 0.2 up to 13.7 K indicating a complex structure with randomly/vertically oriented ice particles. The PCT was used to characterize the analyzed storms in terms of hydrometeor types, confirming in 7/9 cases a high likelihood of hail/graupel presence. To perform analysis on the TGFs parent flashes, radio atmospherics data from the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network lightning network were used. Waveform data indicate that all cases are intra‐cloud events and TGFs typically take place during the peak of flash rate production. Finally, the analysis of the most intense event is shown.
Seismic Wave Attenuation and Dispersion Due to Partial Fluid Saturation: Direct Measurements and Numerical Simulations Based on X‐Ray CT
Authors: Chapman Samuel , Borgomano Jan V. M. , Quintal Beatriz , Benson Sally M. , Fortin Jérôme 
Published: March 2021

AbstractQuantitatively assessing seismic attenuation caused by fluid pressure diffusion (FPD) in partially saturated rocks is challenging because of its sensitivity to the spatial fluid distribution. To address this challenge we performed depressurization experiments to induce the exsolution of carbon dioxide from water in a Berea sandstone sample. In a first set of experiments we used medical X‐ray computed tomography (CT) to characterize the fluid distribution. At an equilibrium pressure of approximately 1 MPa and applying a fluid pressure decline rate of approximately 0.6 MPa per minute, we allowed a change in saturation of less than 1%. The gas was heterogeneously distributed along the length of the sample, with most of the gas exsolving near the sample outlet. In a second set of experiments, at the same pressure and temperature, following a very similar exsolution protocol, we measured the frequency dependent attenuation and modulus dispersion between 0.1 and 1,000 Hz using the forced oscillation method. We observed significant attenuation and dispersion in the extensional and bulk deformation modes, however, not in the shear mode. Lastly, we use the fluid distribution derived from the X‐ray CT as an input for numerical simulations of FPD to compute the attenuation and modulus dispersion. The numerical solutions are in close agreement with the attenuation and modulus dispersion measured in the laboratory. Our approach allows for accurately relating attenuation and dispersion to the fluid distribution, which can be applied to improving the seismic monitoring of the subsurface.
Diverse metabolic response of cancer cells treated with a 213Bi-anti-EGFR-immunoconjugate
Authors: Feuerecker Benedikt , Biechl Philipp , Seidl Christof , Bruchertseifer Frank , Morgenstern Alfred , Schwaiger Markus , Eisenreich Wolfgang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractEvaluation of treatment response is among the major challenges in modern oncology. We herein used a monoclonal antibody targeting the EGF receptor (EGFR) labelled with the alpha emitter 213Bi (213Bi-anti-EGFR-MAb). EJ28Luc (bladder) and LN18 (glioma) cancer cells, both overexpressing EGFR, were incubated for 3 h with the radioimmunoconjugate. To assess the responses in the core carbon metabolism upon this treatment, these cancer cell lines were subsequently cultivated for 18 h in the presence of [U-13C6]glucose. 13C-enrichment and isotopologue profiles of key amino acids were monitored by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS), in order to monitor the impacts of the radionuclide-treatment upon glucose metabolism. In comparison to untreated controls, treatment of EJ28Luc cells with 213Bi-anti-EGFR-MAb resulted in a significantly decreased incorporation of 13C from [U-13C6]glucose into alanine, aspartate, glutamate, glycine, proline and serine. In sharp contrast, the same amino acids did not display less 13C-enrichments during treatment of the LN18 cells. The data indicate early treatment response of the bladder cancer cells, but not of the glioma cells though cell lines were killed following 213Bi-anti-EGFR-MAb treatment. The pilot study shows that the 13C-labelling approach is a valid tool to assess the responsiveness of cancer cells upon radionuclide-treatment in considerable metabolic detail.
Prognostic plasma exosomal microRNA biomarkers in patients with substance use disorders presenting comorbid with anxiety and depression
Authors: Chen Fengrong , Zou Lei , Dai Yicong , Sun Jiaxue , Chen Cheng , Zhang Yongjin , Peng Qingyan , Zhang Zunyue , Xie Zhenrong , Wu Hongjin , Tian Weiwei , Yu Xu , Yu Juehua , Wang Kunhua 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPsychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression precipitated by substance use occurred during both use and withdrawal. Exosomes play significant roles in biological functions and regulate numerous physiological and pathological processes in various diseases, in particular substance use disorders (SUDs) and other psychiatric disorders. To better understand the role of exosomal miRNAs in the pathology of symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with SUDs, we first isolated circulating exosomes from heroin-dependent patients (HDPs) and methamphetamine-dependent patients (MDPs) and identified exosomal miRNAs that were differentially expressed between patients and healthy controls (HCs). Furthermore, the correlations between exosomal DE-miRNAs and symptoms of anxiety and depression which were measured using Hamilton-Anxiety (HAM-A)/Hamilton-Depression (HAM-D) Rating Scales in the participants. Notably, the expression level of exosomal hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-129-5p, hsa-miR-363-3p, and hsa-miR-92a-3p showed significantly negative correlations with HAM-A scores in both HDPs and MDPs. But all of the 4 DE-miRNAs lost significant correlations with HAM-D scores in HDPs. Functional annotation analyses showed that the target genes of the DE-miRNAs were mainly enriched for “synapse”, “cell adhesion”, “focal adhesion” and “MHC class II protein complex”. Our study suggests that a set of circulating exosomal miRNAs were associated with anxiety and depression in SUD patients and may have clinical utility as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Toward robust N-glycomics of various tissue samples that may contain glycans with unknown or unexpected structures
Authors: Suzuki Noriko , Abe Tatsuya , Hanzawa Ken , Natsuka Shunji 
Published: March 2021

AbstractGlycans in tissues are structurally diverse and usually include a large number of isomers that cannot be easily distinguished by mass spectrometry (MS). To address this issue, we developed a combined method that can efficiently separate and identify glycan isomers. First, we separated 2-aminopyridine (PA)-derivatized N-glycans from chicken colon by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) and directly analyzed them by electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS and MS/MS to obtain an overview of the structural features of tissue glycans. Next, we deduced the structures of isomers based on their elution positions, full MS, and MS/MS data, before or after digestions with several exoglycosidases. In this method, the elution position differed greatly depending on the core structure and branching pattern, allowing multiantennary N-glycan structures to be easily distinguished. To further determine linkages of branch sequences, we modified PA-N-glycans with sialic acid linkage-specific alkylamidation and/or permethylation, and analyzed the products by LC–MS and multistage MS. We determined the relative abundances of core structures, branching patterns, and branch sequences of N-glycans from chicken colon, and confirmed presence of characteristic branch sequences such as Lex, sialyl Lex, sulfated LacNAc, LacNAc repeat, and LacdiNAc. The results demonstrated that our method is useful for comparing N-glycomes among various tissue samples.
Anti-CD321 antibody immunotherapy protects liver against ischemia and reperfusion-induced injury
Authors: Yin Enzhi , Fukuhara Takeshi , Takeda Kazuyoshi , Kojima Yuko , Fukuhara Kyoko , Ikejima Kenichi , Bashuda Hisashi , Kitaura Jiro , Yagita Hideo , Okumura Ko , Uchida Koichiro 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe prognosis of the liver transplant patients was frequently deteriorated by ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) in the liver. Infiltration of inflammatory cells is reported to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of hepatic IRI. Although T lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocytes infiltrated into the liver underwent IRI, we found that neutrophil depletion significantly attenuated the injury and serum liver enzyme levels in a murine model. Interestingly, the expression of CD321/JAM-A/F11R, one of essential molecules for transmigration of circulating leukocytes into inflammatory tissues, was significantly augmented on hepatic sinusoid endothelium at 1 h after ischemia and maintained until 45 min after reperfusion. The intraportal administration of anti-CD321 monoclonal antibody (90G4) significantly inhibited the leukocytes infiltration after reperfusion and diminished the damage responses by hepatic IRI (serum liver enzymes, inflammatory cytokines and hepatocyte cell death). Taken together, presented results demonstrated that blockade of CD321 by 90G4 antibody significantly attenuated hepatic IRI accompanied with substantial inhibition of leukocytes infiltration, particularly inhibition of neutrophil infiltration in the early phase of reperfusion. Thus, our work offers a potent therapeutic target, CD321, for preventing liver IRI.
Whole body potassium as a biomarker for potassium uptake using a mouse model
Authors: Tabbassum Sana , Cheng Pinjing , Yanko Frank M. , Balachandran Rekha , Aschner Michael , Bowman Aaron B. , Nie Linda H. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPotassium is known for its effect on modifiable chronic diseases like hypertension, cardiac disease, diabetes (type-2), and bone health. In this study, a new method, neutron generator based neutron activation analysis (NAA), was utilized to measure potassium (K) in mouse carcasses. A DD110 neutron generator based NAA assembly was used for irradiation.Thirty-two postmortem mice (n= 16 males and 16 females, average weight $$22.02\pm 1.3$$

22.02
±
1.3

and $$17.9\pm 1.1$$

17.9
±
1.1

g) were employed for this study. Soft-tissue equivalent mouse phantoms were prepared for the calibration. All mice were irradiated for 10 minutes, and the gamma spectrum with 42K was collected using a high efficiency, high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. A lead shielding assembly was designed and developed around the HPGe detector to obtain an improved detection limit. Each mouse sample was irradiated and measured twice to reduce uncertainty. The average potassium concentration was found to be significantly higher in males $$(2846 \pm 525 \upmu g/g)$$

(
2846
±
525
μ
g
/
g
)

compared to females $$(2116.2 \pm 432 \upmu g/g)$$

(
2116.2
±
432
μ
g
/
g
)

. We also observed a significant correlation between potassium concentration and the weight of the mice. The detection limit for potassium quantification with the NAA system was 46 ppm. The radiation dose to the mouse was approximately 56 $${ \pm 1.6 }$$

±
1.6

mSv for 10-min irradiation. In conclusion, this method is suitable for estimating individual potassium concentration in small animals. The direct evaluation of total body potassium in small animals provides a new way to estimate potassium uptake in animal models. This method can be adapted later to quantify potassium in the human hand and small animals in vivo. When used in vivo, it is also expected to be a valuable tool for longitudinal assessment, kinetics, and health outcomes.
Model-based projections for COVID-19 outbreak size and student-days lost to closure in Ontario childcare centres and primary schools
Authors: Phillips Brendon , Browne Dillon T. , Anand Madhur , Bauch Chris T. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThere is a pressing need for evidence-based scrutiny of plans to re-open childcare centres during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here we developed an agent-based model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission within a childcare centre and households. Scenarios varied the student-to-educator ratio (15:2, 8:2, 7:3), family clustering (siblings together versus random assignment) and time spent in class. We also evaluated a primary school setting (with student-educator ratios 30:1, 15:1 and 8:1), including cohorts that alternate weekly. In the childcare centre setting, grouping siblings significantly reduced outbreak size and student-days lost. We identify an intensification cascade specific to classroom outbreaks of respiratory viruses with presymptomatic infection. In both childcare and primary school settings, each doubling of class size from 8 to 15 to 30 more than doubled the outbreak size and student-days lost (increases by factors of 2–5, depending on the scenario. Proposals for childcare and primary school reopening could be enhanced for safety by switching to smaller class sizes and grouping siblings.
Characterizing the Qatar advanced-phase SARS-CoV-2 epidemic
Authors: Abu-Raddad Laith J. , Chemaitelly Hiam , Ayoub Houssein H. , Al Kanaani Zaina , Al Khal Abdullatif , Al Kuwari Einas , Butt Adeel A. , Coyle Peter , Jeremijenko Andrew , Kaleeckal Anvar Hassan , Latif Ali Nizar , Owen Robert C. , Rahim Hanan F. Abdul , Al Abdulla Samya A. , Al Kuwari Mohamed G. , Kandy Mujeeb C. , Saeb Hatoun , Ahmed Shazia Nadeem N. , Al Romaihi Hamad Eid , Bansal Devendra , Dalton Louise , Al-Thani Mohamed H. , Bertollini Roberto 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe overarching objective of this study was to provide the descriptive epidemiology of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic in Qatar by addressing specific research questions through a series of national epidemiologic studies. Sources of data were the centralized and standardized national databases for SARS-CoV-2 infection. By July 10, 2020, 397,577 individuals had been tested for SARS-CoV-2 using polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR), of whom 110,986 were positive, a positivity cumulative rate of 27.9% (95% CI 27.8–28.1%). As of July 5, case severity rate, based on World Health Organization (WHO) severity classification, was 3.4% and case fatality rate was 1.4 per 1,000 persons. Age was by far the strongest predictor of severe, critical, or fatal infection. PCR positivity of nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs in a national community survey (May 6–7) including 1,307 participants was 14.9% (95% CI 11.5–19.0%); 58.5% of those testing positive were asymptomatic. Across 448 ad-hoc testing campaigns in workplaces and residential areas including 26,715 individuals, pooled mean PCR positivity was 15.6% (95% CI 13.7–17.7%). SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence was 24.0% (95% CI 23.3–24.6%) in 32,970 residual clinical blood specimens. Antibody prevalence was only 47.3% (95% CI 46.2–48.5%) in those who had at least one PCR positive result, but 91.3% (95% CI 89.5–92.9%) among those who were PCR positive > 3 weeks before serology testing. Qatar has experienced a large SARS-CoV-2 epidemic that is rapidly declining, apparently due to growing immunity levels in the population.
A divide-and-conquer algorithm for quantum state preparation
Authors: Araujo Israel F. , Park Daniel K. , Petruccione Francesco , da Silva Adenilton J. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAdvantages in several fields of research and industry are expected with the rise of quantum computers. However, the computational cost to load classical data in quantum computers can impose restrictions on possible quantum speedups. Known algorithms to create arbitrary quantum states require quantum circuits with depth O(N) to load an N-dimensional vector. Here, we show that it is possible to load an N-dimensional vector with exponential time advantage using a quantum circuit with polylogarithmic depth and entangled information in ancillary qubits. Results show that we can efficiently load data in quantum devices using a divide-and-conquer strategy to exchange computational time for space. We demonstrate a proof of concept on a real quantum device and present two applications for quantum machine learning. We expect that this new loading strategy allows the quantum speedup of tasks that require to load a significant volume of information to quantum devices.
Exodontia associated bacteremia in horses characterized by next generation sequencing
Authors: Townsend Kile S. , Johnson Philip J. , LaCarrubba Alison M. , Martin Lynn M. , Ericsson Aaron C. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBacteremia resulting from dental surgery is increasingly recognized as a health risk, especially in older and immunocompromised patients. Dentistry-associated bacteremia can lead to remote infections, as exemplified by valvular endocarditis. Emerging evidence points to a novel role played by oral cavity commensals in the pathogenesis of diabetes, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Whether dental extraction, a commonly undertaken procedure in old horses, causes bacteremia has not been reported extensively. In a prospective clinical study using next generation sequencing (based on bacterial 16S rRNA), the circulating blood microbiome was characterized before and at 1 h following extraction of incisor, canine or cheek teeth from 29 adult horses with dental disease. 16S rRNA gene sequencing results from the blood microbiome were compared with those from gingival swab samples obtained prior to extraction at the location of the diseased tooth. Bacteremia associated with translocated gingival commensals was demonstrated in horses undergoing exodontia and was, in some cases, still evident one hour post-operatively.
Input-selective adenosine A1 receptor-mediated synaptic depression of excitatory transmission in dorsal striatum
Authors: Fritz Brandon M. , Yin Fuqin , Atwood Brady K. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe medial (DMS) and lateral (DLS) dorsal striatum differentially drive goal-directed and habitual/compulsive behaviors, respectively, and are implicated in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. These subregions receive distinct inputs from cortical and thalamic regions which uniquely determine dorsal striatal activity and function. Adenosine A1 receptors (A1Rs) are prolific within striatum and regulate excitatory glutamate transmission. Thus, A1Rs may have regionally-specific effects on neuroadaptive processes which may ultimately influence striatally-mediated behaviors. The occurrence of A1R-driven plasticity at specific excitatory inputs to dorsal striatum is currently unknown. To better understand how A1Rs may influence these behaviors, we first sought to understand how A1Rs modulate these distinct inputs. We evaluated A1R-mediated inhibition of cortico- and thalamostriatal transmission using in vitro whole-cell, patch clamp slice electrophysiology recordings in medium spiny neurons from both the DLS and DMS of C57BL/6J mice in conjunction with optogenetic approaches. In addition, conditional A1R KO mice lacking A1Rs at specific striatal inputs to DMS and DLS were generated to directly determine the role of these presynaptic A1Rs on the measured electrophysiological responses. Activation of presynaptic A1Rs produced significant and prolonged synaptic depression (A1R-SD) of excitatory transmission in the both the DLS and DMS of male and female animals. Our findings indicate that A1R-SD at corticostriatal and thalamostriatal inputs to DLS can be additive and that A1R-SD in DMS occurs primarily at thalamostriatal inputs. These findings advance the field’s understanding of the functional roles of A1Rs in striatum and implicate their potential contribution to neuropsychiatric diseases.
Optimizing the plasma oxidation of aluminum gate electrodes for ultrathin gate oxides in organic transistors
Authors: Geiger Michael , Hagel Marion , Reindl Thomas , Weis Jürgen , Weitz R. Thomas , Solodenko Helena , Schmitz Guido , Zschieschang Ute , Klauk Hagen , Acharya Rachana 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA critical requirement for the application of organic thin-film transistors (TFTs) in mobile or wearable applications is low-voltage operation, which can be achieved by employing ultrathin, high-capacitance gate dielectrics. One option is a hybrid dielectric composed of a thin film of aluminum oxide and a molecular self-assembled monolayer in which the aluminum oxide is formed by exposure of the surface of the aluminum gate electrode to a radio-frequency-generated oxygen plasma. This work investigates how the properties of such dielectrics are affected by the plasma power and the duration of the plasma exposure. For various combinations of plasma power and duration, the thickness and the capacitance of the dielectrics, the leakage-current density through the dielectrics, and the current–voltage characteristics of organic TFTs in which these dielectrics serve as the gate insulator have been evaluated. The influence of the plasma parameters on the surface properties of the dielectrics, the thin-film morphology of the vacuum-deposited organic-semiconductor films, and the resulting TFT characteristics has also been investigated.