bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification and development of novel salt-responsive candidate gene based SSRs (cg-SSRs) and MIR gene based SSRs (mir-SSRs) in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)
Authors: Mehta Geetika , Muthusamy Senthilkumar K. , Singh G. P. , Sharma Pradeep 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSalt stress adversely affects the global wheat production and productivity. To improve salinity tolerance of crops, identification of robust molecular markers is highly imperative for development of salt-tolerant cultivars to mimic yield losses under saline conditions. In this study, we mined 171 salt-responsive genes (including 10 miRNAs) from bread wheat genome using the sequence information of functionally validated salt-responsive rice genes. Salt-stress, tissue and developmental stage-specific expression analysis of RNA-seq datasets revealed the constitutive as well as the inductive response of salt-responsive genes in different tissues of wheat. Fifty-four genotypes were phenotyped for salt stress tolerance. The stress tolerance index of the genotypes ranged from 0.30 to 3.18. In order to understand the genetic diversity, candidate gene based SSRs (cg-SSRs) and MIR gene based SSRs (miR-SSRs) were mined from 171 members of salt-responsive genes of wheat and validated among the contrasting panels of 54 tolerant as well as susceptible wheat genotypes. Among 53 SSR markers screened, 10 cg-SSRs and 8 miR-SSRs were found to be polymorphic. Polymorphic information content between the wheat genotypes ranged from 0.07 to 0.67, indicating the extant of wide genetic variation among the salt tolerant and susceptible genotypes at the DNA level. The genetic diversity analysis based on the allelic data grouped the wheat genotypes into three separate clusters of which single group encompassing most of the salt susceptible genotypes and two of them containing salt tolerance and moderately salt tolerance wheat genotypes were in congruence with penotypic data. Our study showed that both salt-responsive genes and miRNAs based SSRs were more diverse and can be effectively used for diversity analysis. This study reports the first extensive survey on genome-wide analysis, identification, development and validation of salt-responsive cg-SSRs and miR-SSRs in wheat. The information generated in the present study on genetic divergence among genotypes having a differential response to salt will help in the selection of suitable lines as parents for developing salt tolerant cultivars in wheat.
Interspecific interactions within a vector-borne complex are influenced by a co-occurring pathosystem
Authors: Cruzado-Gutiérrez Regina K. , Sadeghi Rohollah , Prager Sean M. , Casteel Clare L. , Parker Jessica , Wenninger Erik J. , Price William J. , Bosque-Pérez Nilsa A. , Karasev Alexander V. , Rashed Arash 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPotato virus Y (PVY) and zebra chip (ZC) disease are major threats to solanaceous crop production in North America. PVY can be spread by aphid vectors and through vegetative propagation in potatoes. ZC is associated with “Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum” (Lso), which is transmitted by the tomato/potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli Šulc (Hemiptera: Triozidae). As these two pathosystems may co-occur, we studied whether the presence of one virus strain, PVY°, affected the host preference, oviposition, and egg hatch rate of Lso-free or Lso-carrying psyllids in tomato plants. We also examined whether PVY infection influenced Lso transmission success by psyllids, Lso titer and plant chemistry (amino acids, sugars, and phytohormones). Lso-carrying psyllids showed a preference toward healthy hosts, whereas the Lso-free psyllids preferentially settled on the PVY-infected tomatoes. Oviposition of the Lso-carrying psyllids was lower on PVY-infected than healthy tomatoes, but Lso transmission, titer, and psyllid egg hatch were not significantly affected by PVY. The induction of salicylic acid and its related responses, and not nutritional losses, may explain the reduced attractiveness of the PVY-infected host to the Lso-carrying psyllids. Although our study demonstrated that pre-existing PVY infection can reduce oviposition by the Lso-carrying vector, the preference of the Lso-carrying psyllids to settle on healthy hosts could contribute to Lso spread to healthy plants in the presence of PVY infection in a field.
Bayesian analysis of depth resolved OCT attenuation coefficients
Authors: Fiske Lionel D. , Aalders Maurice C. G. , Almasian Mitra , van Leeuwen Ton G. , Katsaggelos Aggelos K. , Cossairt Oliver , Faber Dirk J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractOptical coherence tomography (OCT) is an optical technique which allows for volumetric visualization of the internal structures of translucent materials. Additional information can be gained by measuring the rate of signal attenuation in depth. Techniques have been developed to estimate the rate of attenuation on a voxel by voxel basis. This depth resolved attenuation analysis gives insight into tissue structure and organization in a spatially resolved way. However, the presence of speckle in the OCT measurement causes the attenuation coefficient image to contain unrealistic fluctuations and makes the reliability of these images at the voxel level poor. While the distribution of speckle in OCT images has appeared in literature, the resulting voxelwise corruption of the attenuation analysis has not. In this work, the estimated depth resolved attenuation coefficient from OCT data with speckle is shown to be approximately exponentially distributed. After this, a prior distribution for the depth resolved attenuation coefficient is derived for a simple system using statistical mechanics. Finally, given a set of depth resolved estimates which were made from OCT data in the presence of speckle, a posterior probability distribution for the true voxelwise attenuation coefficient is derived and a Bayesian voxelwise estimator for the coefficient is given. These results are demonstrated in simulation and validated experimentally.
In vivo silencing of amphiregulin by a novel effective Self-Assembled-Micelle inhibitory RNA ameliorates renal fibrosis via inhibition of EGFR signals
Authors: Son Seung Seob , Hwang Soohyun , Park Jun Hong , Ko Youngho , Yun Sung-Il , Lee Ji-Hye , Son Beomseok , Kim Tae Rim , Park Han-Oh , Lee Eun Young 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAmphiregulin (AREG) is a transmembrane glycoprotein recently implicated in kidney fibrosis. Previously, we reported that the AREG-targeting Self-Assembled-Micelle inhibitory RNA (SAMiRNA-AREG) alleviated fibrosis by stably silencing the AREG gene, and reduced the side effects of conventional siRNA treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. However, the therapeutic effect of SAMiRNA-AREG in renal fibrosis has not been studied until now. We used two animal models of renal fibrosis generated by a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and an adenine diet (AD) to investigate whether SAMiRNA-AREG inhibited renal fibrosis. To investigate the delivery of SAMiRNA-AREG to the kidney, Cy5-labeled SAMiRNA-AREG was injected into UUO- and AD-induced renal fibrosis models. In both kidney disease models, SAMiRNA-AREG was delivered primarily to the damaged kidney. We also confirmed the protective effect of SAMiRNA-AREG in renal fibrosis models. SAMiRNA-AREG markedly decreased the UUO- and AD-induced AREG mRNA expression. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of fibrosis markers, including α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, α1(I) collagen, and α1(III) collagen in the UUO and AD-induced kidneys, was diminished in the SAMiRNA-AREG-treated mice. The transcription of inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and adhesion markers (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1) was attenuated. The hematoxylin and eosin, Masson’s trichrome, and immunohistochemical staining results showed that SAMiRNA-AREG decreased renal fibrosis, AREG expression, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation in the UUO- and AD-induced models. Moreover, we studied the effects of SAMiRNA-AREG in response to TGF-β1 in mouse and human proximal tubule cells, and mouse fibroblasts. TGF-β1-induced extracellular matrix production and myofibroblast differentiation were attenuated by SAMiRNA-AREG. Finally, we confirmed that upregulated AREG in the UUO or AD models was mainly localized in the distal tubules. In conclusion, SAMiRNA-AREG represents a novel siRNA therapeutic for renal fibrosis by suppressing EGFR signals.
Simulating thoughts to measure and study internal attention in mental health
Authors: Amir Iftach , Ruimi Liad , Bernstein Amit 
Published: January 2021

AbstractOur mind’s eye and the role of internal attention in mental life and suffering has intrigued scholars for centuries. Yet, experimental study of internal attention has been elusive due to our limited capacity to control the timing and content of internal stimuli. We thus developed the Simulated Thoughts Paradigm (STP) to experimentally deliver own-voice thought stimuli that simulate the content and experience of thinking and thereby experimental study of internal attentional processes. In independent experiments (N = 122) integrating STP into established cognitive-experimental tasks, we found and replicated evidence that emotional reactivity to negative thoughts predicts difficulty disengaging internal attention from, as well as biased selective internal attention of, those thoughts; these internal attention processes predict cognitive vulnerability (e.g., negative repetitive thinking) which thereby predict anxiety and depression. Proposed methods and findings may have implications for the study of information processing and attention in mental health broadly and models of internal attentional (dys)control in cognitive vulnerability and mental health more specifically.
Longitudinal touchscreen use across early development is associated with faster exogenous and reduced endogenous attention control
Authors: Portugal Ana Maria , Bedford Rachael , Cheung Celeste H. M. , Mason Luke , Smith Tim J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractChildhood screen time is associated with both attentional difficulties (for television viewing) and benefits (in action video gamers), but few studies have investigated today’s pervasive touchscreen devices (e.g. smartphones and tablets), which combine salient features, interactive content, and accessibility from toddlerhood (a peak period of cognitive development). We tested exogenous and endogenous attention, following forty children who were stable high (HU) or low (LU) touchscreen users from toddlerhood to pre-school. HUs were slower to disengage attention, relative to their faster baseline orienting ability. In an infant anti-saccade task, HUs displayed more of a corrective strategy of orienting faster to distractors before anticipating the target. Results suggest that long-term high exposure to touchscreen devices is associated with faster exogenous attention and concomitant decreases in endogenous attention control. Future work is required to demonstrate causality, dissociate variants of use, and investigate how attention behaviours found in screen-based contexts translate to real-world settings.
Relevance of ddRADseq method for species and population delimitation of closely related and widely distributed wolf spiders (Araneae, Lycosidae)
Authors: Ivanov Vladislav , Marusik Yuri , Pétillon Julien , Mutanen Marko 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAlthough species delimitation is often controversial, emerging DNA-based and classical morphology-based methods are rarely compared using large-scale samplings, even less in the case of widely distributed species that have distant, allopatric populations. In the current study, we examined species boundaries within two wolf spider species of the genusPardosa(Araneae, Lycosidae),P. ripariaandP. palustris. Wolf spiders constitute an excellent model for testing the relevance of traditional vs. modern methods in species and population delimitation because several closely related species are distributed over cross-continental geographic ranges. Allopatric populations of the twoPardosaspecies were sampled across Europe to Far East Russia (latitudinal range > 150°) and several dozen individuals were studied using morphological characters (morphometry of three measures for both sexes, plus five in males only and two in females only), DNA barcoding (COI sequencing) and double-digest restriction site associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq). The results obtained allow for changing the taxonomic status of two Far East Russian populations to subspecies and ddRADseq proved to be a powerful tool for taxonomic research despite scarce sampling and inherent subjectivity of species delimitation in allopatry. Overall, this study pleads for both multi-criteria and more population-based studies in taxonomy.
The role of tides in bottom water export from the western Ross Sea
Authors: Bowen Melissa M. , Fernandez Denise , Forcen-Vazquez Aitana , Gordon Arnold L. , Huber Bruce , Castagno Pasquale , Falco Pierpaolo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractApproximately 25% of Antarctic Bottom Water has its origin as dense water exiting the western Ross Sea, but little is known about what controls the release of dense water plumes from the Drygalski Trough. We deployed two moorings on the slope to investigate the water properties of the bottom water exiting the region at Cape Adare. Salinity of the bottom water has increased in 2018 from the previous measurements in 2008–2010, consistent with the observed salinity increase in the Ross Sea. We find High Salinity Shelf Water from the Drygalski Trough contributes to two pulses of dense water at Cape Adare. The timing and magnitude of the pulses is largely explained by an inverse relationship with the tidal velocity in the Ross Sea. We suggest that the diurnal and low frequency tides in the western Ross Sea may control the magnitude and timing of the dense water outflow.
Fructosamine is a valuable marker for glycemic control and predicting adverse outcomes following total hip arthroplasty: a prospective multi-institutional investigation
Authors: Shohat Noam , Goswami Karan , Breckenridge Leigham , Held Michael B. , Malkani Arthur L. , Shah Roshan P. , Schwarzkopf Ran , Parvizi Javad 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRecently, fructosamine has shown promising results in predicting adverse outcomes following total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of fructosamine to predict adverse outcomes following total hip arthroplasty (THA). A prospective multi-center study involving four institutions was conducted. All primary THA were evaluated for glycemic control using fructosamine levels prior to surgery. Adverse outcomes were assessed at a minimum 1 year from surgery. Primary outcome of interest was periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) based on the International Consensus Meeting (ICM) criteria. Secondary outcomes assessed were superficial infections, readmissions and death. Based on previous studies on the subject, fructosamine levels above 293 µmol/L were used to define inadequate glycemic control. Overall 1212 patients were enrolled in the present study and were available for follow up at a minimum 1 year from surgery. Of those, 54 patients (4.5%) had elevated fructosamine levels (> 293 µmol/L) and these patients were 6.7 times more likely to develop PJI compared to patients with fructosamine levels below 293 µmol/L (p = 0.002). Patients with elevated fructosamine were also associated with more readmissions (16.7% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.007) and a higher mortality rate (3.7% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.057). These associations remained statistically significant in a multi-regression analysis after adjusting for age, comorbidities and length of stay; Adjusted odds ratio were 6.37 (95% confidence interval 1.98–20.49, p = 0.002) for PJI and 2.68 (95% confidence interval 1.14–6.29, p = 0.023) for readmissions. Fructosamine is a good predictor of adverse outcomes in patients undergoing THA and should be used routinely to mitigate morbidity and mortality risk.
The cyclic expansion and contraction characteristics of a loess slope and implications for slope stability
Authors: Lan Hengxing , Zhao Xiaoxia , Macciotta Renato , Peng Jianbing , Li Langping , Wu Yuming , Zhu Yanbo , Liu Xin , Zhang Ning , Liu Shijie , Zhou Chenghu , Clague John J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLoess covers approximately 6.6% of China and forms thick extensive deposits in the northern and northwestern parts of the country. Natural erosional processes and human modification of thick loess deposits have produced abundant, potentially unstable steep slopes in this region. Slope deformation monitoring aimed at evaluating the mechanical behavior of a loess slope has shown a cyclic pattern of contraction and expansion. Such cyclic strain change on the slope materials can damage the loess and contribute to slope instability. The site showing this behavior is a 70-m high loess slope near Yan’an city in Shanxi Province, northwest China. A Ground-Based Synthetic Aperture Radar (GB-SAR) sensor and a displacement meter were used to monitor this cyclic deformation of the slope over a one-year period from September 2018 to August 2019. It is postulated that this cyclic behavior corresponds to thermal and moisture fluctuations, following energy conservation laws. To investigate the validity of this mechanism, physical models of soil temperature and moisture measured by hygrothermographs were used to simulate the observed cyclic deformations. We found good correlations between the models based on the proposed mechanism and the exhibited daily and annual cyclic contraction and expansion. The slope absorbed energy from the time of maximum contraction to the time of maximum expansion, and released energy from the time of maximum expansion to the time of maximum contraction. Recoverable cyclic deformations suggest stresses in the loess are within the elastic range, and non-recoverable cyclic deformations suggest damage of the loess material (breakage of bonds between soil grains), which could lead to instability. Based on these observations and the models, we developed a quantitative relationship between weather cycles and thermal deformation of the slope. Given the current climate change projections of temperature increases of up to 3.5 °C by 2100, the model estimates the loess slope to expand about 0.35 mm in average, which would be in addition to the current cyclic “breathing” behavior experienced by the slope.
Long-term cyclic use of a sample collector for toilet-based urine analysis
Authors: Temirel Mikail , Yenilmez Bekir , Tasoglu Savas 
Published: January 2021

AbstractUrine analysis via a toilet-based device can enable continuous health monitoring, a transformation away from hospital-based care towards more proactive medicine. To enable reliable sample collection for a toilet-attached analyzer, here a novel sample collector is proposed. The applicability of the proposed sample collector is validated for long-term use. Geometric parameters of the 3D-printed sample collector are optimized. The collected and leftover volumes are quantified for a range of urination speeds and design parameters. For long-term cyclic use, the protein concentrations of samples are quantified and the effectiveness of washing the sample collector is assessed.
Large-scale preparation of Co nanoparticles as an additive in carbon fiber for microwave absorption enhancement in C band
Authors: Zhu Y. X. , Wang S. F. , Zhang Y. S. , Wu Z. G. , Zhong B. , Li D. R. , Wang F. Y. , Feng J. J. , Tang J. , Zhuo R. F. , Yan P. X. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRecent studies have found that the core–shell structured metal nanoparticles and porous carbon nanofibers (PCNF) are combined into a microwave absorbing material through electrospinning, which exhibits excellent microwave absorption performance. In this study, the core–shell structure Co nanoparticles prepared by the self-developed HEIBE process (production rate of > 50 g/h) were combined with porous carbon fibers, and their absorbing properties were greatly improved. The morphology of Co/PCNF demonstrated that CoNPs are randomly dispersed in the porous carbon nanofibers and carbon nanofiber form complex conductive network which enhances the dielectric loss of the materials. Meanwhile, the Co/PCNF has a low graphitization and shows a significant improvement in permittivity due to the combination of CoNPs and high conductivity of carbon material. The maximum reflection loss (RL) of Co/PCNF reaches − 63.69 dB at 5.28 GHz with a thickness of 5.21 mm and the absorption bandwidth (RL ≤  − 10.0 dB) is 12.92 GHz. In terms of 5.60 mm and 6.61 mm absorber, there are two absorption peaks of − 47.64 dB and − 48.30 dB appear around 12.50 GHz and 14.10 GHz, respectively. The results presented in this paper may pave a way for promising applications of lightweight and high-efficiency microwave absorbing materials (MAMs).
Modality-specific improvements in sensory processing among baseball players
Authors: Yamashiro Koya , Yamazaki Yudai , Siiya Kanako , Ikarashi Koyuki , Baba Yasuhiro , Otsuru Naofumi , Onishi Hideaki , Sato Daisuke 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLong-term skills training is known to induce neuroplastic alterations, but it is still debated whether these changes are always modality-specific or can be supramodal components. To address this issue, we compared finger-targeted somatosensory-evoked and auditory-evoked potentials under both Go (response) and Nogo (response inhibition) conditions between 10 baseball players, who require fine hand/digit skills and response inhibition, to 12 matched track and field (T&F) athletes. Electroencephalograms were obtained at nine cortical electrode positions. Go potentials, Nogo potentials, and Go/Nogo reaction time (Go/Nogo RT) were measured during equiprobable somatosensory and auditory Go/Nogo paradigms. Nogo potentials were obtained by subtracting Go trial from Nogo trial responses. Somatosensory Go P100 latency and Go/Nogo RT were significantly shorter in the baseball group than the T&F group, while auditory Go N100 latency and Go/Nogo RT did not differ between groups. Additionally, somatosensory subtracted Nogo N2 latency was significantly shorter in the baseball group than the T&F group. Furthermore, there were significant positive correlations between somatosensory Go/Nogo RT and both Go P100 latency and subtracted Nogo N2 latency, but no significant correlations among auditory responses. We speculate that long-term skills training induce predominantly modality-specific neuroplastic changes that can improve both execution and response inhibition.
Clonal hematopoiesis in adult pure red cell aplasia
Authors: Fujishima Naohito , Kohmaru Junki , Koyota Souichi , Kuba Keiji , Saga Tomoo , Omokawa Ayumi , Moritoki Yuki , Ueki Shigeharu , Ishida Fumihiro , Nakao Shinji , Matsuda Akira , Ohta Akiko , Tohyama Kaoru , Yamasaki Hiroshi , Usuki Kensuke , Nakashima Yasuhiro , Sato Shinya , Miyazaki Yasushi , Nannya Yasuhito , Ogawa Seishi , Sawada Kenichi , Mitani Kinuko , Hirokawa Makoto 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIdiopathic pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and secondary PRCA associated with thymoma and large granular lymphocyte leukemia are generally considered to be immune-mediated. The PRCA2004/2006 study showed that poor responses to immunosuppression and anemia relapse were associated with death. PRCA may represent the prodrome to MDS. Thus, clonal hematopoiesis may be responsible for treatment failure. We investigated gene mutations in myeloid neoplasm-associated genes in acquired PRCA. We identified 21 mutations affecting amino acid sequences in 11 of the 38 adult PRCA patients (28.9%) using stringent filtering of the error-prone sequences and SNPs. Four PRCA patients showed 7 driver mutations in TET2, DNMT3A and KDM6A, and 2 PRCA patients carried multiple mutations in TET2. Five PRCA patients had mutations with high VAFs exceeding 0.3. These results suggest that clonal hematopoiesis by stem/progenitor cells might be related to the pathophysiology of chronic PRCA in certain adult patients.