bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differential seeding and propagating efficiency of α-synuclein strains generated in different conditions
Authors: Liu Di , Guo Jian-Jun , Su Ji-Hui , Svanbergsson Alexander , Yuan Lin , Haikal Caroline , Li Wen , Gouras Gunnar , Li Jia-Yi 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
Accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) is a main pathological hallmark of Parkinson’s and related diseases, which are collectively known as synucleinopathies. Growing evidence has supported that the same protein can induce remarkably distinct pathological progresses and disease phenotypes, suggesting the existence of strain difference among α-syn fibrils. Previous studies have shown that α-syn pathology can propagate from the peripheral nervous system (PNS) to the central nervous system (CNS) in a “prion-like” manner. However, the difference of the propagation potency from the periphery to CNS among different α-syn strains remains unknown and the effect of different generation processes of these strains on the potency of seeding and propagation remains to be revealed in more detail.

Methods
Three strains of preformed α-syn fibrils (PFFs) were generated in different buffer conditions which varied in pH and ionic concentrations. The α-syn PFFs were intramuscularly (IM) injected into a novel bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic mouse line that expresses wild-type human α-syn, and the efficiency of seeding and propagation of these PFFs from the PNS to the CNS was evaluated.

Results
The three strains of α-syn PFFs triggered distinct propagation patterns. The fibrils generated in mildly acidic buffer led to the most severe α-syn pathology, degeneration of motor neurons and microgliosis in the spinal cord.

Conclusions
The different α-syn conformers generated in different conditions exhibited strain-specific pathology and propagation patterns from the periphery to the CNS, which further supports the view that α-syn strains may be responsible for the heterogeneity of pathological features and disease progresses among synucleinopathies.
Microbiomes attached to fresh perennial ryegrass are temporally resilient and adapt to changing ecological niches
Authors: Huws Sharon A. , Edwards Joan E. , Lin Wanchang , Rubino Francesco , Alston Mark , Swarbreck David , Caim Shabhonam , Stevens Pauline Rees , Pachebat Justin , Won Mi-Young , Oyama Linda B. , Creevey Christopher J. , Kingston-Smith Alison H. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundGut microbiomes, such as the rumen, greatly influence host nutrition due to their feed energy-harvesting capacity. We investigated temporal ecological interactions facilitating energy harvesting at the fresh perennial ryegrass (PRG)-biofilm interface in the rumen using an in sacco approach and prokaryotic metatranscriptomic profiling.ResultsNetwork analysis identified two distinct sub-microbiomes primarily representing primary (≤ 4 h) and secondary (≥ 4 h) colonisation phases and the most transcriptionally active bacterial families (i.eFibrobacteriaceae,SelemondaceaeandMethanobacteriaceae) did not interact with either sub-microbiome, indicating non-cooperative behaviour. Conversely,Prevotellaceaehad most transcriptional activity within the primary sub-microbiome (focussed on protein metabolism) andLachnospiraceaewithin the secondary sub-microbiome (focussed on carbohydrate degradation). Putative keystone taxa, with low transcriptional activity, were identified within both sub-microbiomes, highlighting the important synergistic role of minor bacterial families; however, we hypothesise that they may be ‘cheating’ in order to capitalise on the energy-harvesting capacity of other microbes. In terms of chemical cues underlying transition from primary to secondary colonisation phases, we suggest that AI-2-based quorum sensing plays a role, based on LuxS gene expression data, coupled with changes in PRG chemistry.ConclusionsIn summary, we show that fresh PRG-attached prokaryotes are resilient and adapt quickly to changing niches. This study provides the first major insight into the complex temporal ecological interactions occurring at the plant-biofilm interface within the rumen. The study also provides valuable insights into potential plant breeding strategies for development of the utopian plant, allowing optimal sustainable production of ruminants.
Willingness of youth without disabilities to have romantic love and marital relationships with persons with disabilities
Authors: Zewude Bewunetu , Habtegiorgis Tewodros 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPeople with disabilities face attitudinal barriers including prejudice, stereotypes, and low expectations. Many young people without disabilities may doubt that people with disabilities can be fulfilling partners in any loving adult relationship. The objective of the present research was to assess the willingness of non-disabled youth to engage in conjugal relationships with persons with disabilities in Wolaita Sodo town, Ethiopia. Both descriptive and explanatory study designs were used and quantitative data were collected. A self-administered questionnaire was designed and distributed to randomly selected 403 (202 females & 201 males) unmarried youth. Data analysis was undertaken using SPSS software in which both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were utilized for data presentation. The result showed that most (85.5%) of the young people without disabilities participated in the survey were not willing to have any type of personal relationships with persons with disabilities and the main reason for 44.2% of these respondents being the fear of reaction from family members. Furthermore, it was found that the level of willingness of youth without disabilities to engage in romantic love and marital relationships was not influenced by the socio-economic status of people with disabilities. Moreover, the result of binary logistic regression analysis showed that the willingness of respondents to have marital and romantic love relationship with persons with disabilities is significantly associated to the sex (OR = 2.376; P < 0.05; 95%CI = 1.210, 4.664), raised-up area (OR = 2.512; P < 0.01; 95%CI = 1.319, 4.783), age (OR = 2.886; P < 0.05; 95%CI = 1.012, 8.228) and the presence of person with disability in the family (OR = 3.945; P < 0.01; 95%CI = 1.648, 9.442) of respondents. The findings of the present research demonstrate that people with disabilities have continued to face stereotypes and discriminations. Such stereotypes extend to assuming them as asexual and unfit to carryout roles that arise from love or marital relationships which violates the rights of PWDs to form their own family and have children. It is therefore, important to raise the awareness of young people about the differences between disability and sexuality and that physical disability has nothing to do with sexuality and relationship formation.
Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards COVID-19 among chronic disease patients at Aksum Hospital, Northern Ethiopia, 2020: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Iyasu Assefa , Kidanu Berihu Hailu , Zereabruk Kidane 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background
The Coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak is the first reported case in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and suddenly became a major global health concern. Currently, there is no vaccine and treatment have been reported. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of COVID-19 among chronic disease patients.

Methods
A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 chronic disease patients from July 01 to August 30, 2020 at Aksum Hospital, Northern Ethiopia. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses with 95% confidence intervals were fitted to identify factors associated with poor knowledge and practice towards COVID-19. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was used to determine the prevalence of the association between the dependent and independent variables. A P-value < 0.05 was identified as statistically significant.

Results
A total of 422 participants participated in this study, with a 100% response rate. The prevalence of poor knowledge, poor practice and unfavorable attitude was 35.1, 48.8, and 40.5%, respectively. Age (AOR = 1.5, 95% CI: (1.411, 2.432)), educational status of “can’t read and write” (AOR = 1.4, 95% CI: (1.332, 9.612)), and rural residence (AOR = 3.12, 95% CI: (2.568, 11.532)) were significantly associated with poor knowledge. Educational status of “can’t read and write” (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI (1.03–7.29)), and rural residence (AOR = 2.7, 95% CI (1.09–6.70)) were significantly associated with poor practice.

Conclusions
The prevalence of poor knowledge and poor practice among chronic disease patients were high. Rural residence and educational status with “can not read and write” were significantly associated with poor knowledge and poor practice. Older age was significantly associated with poor knowledge.
Is Europe facing an opioid crisis like the United States? An analysis of opioid use and related adverse effects in 19 European countries between 2010 and 2018
Authors: Pierce Mimi , van Amsterdam Jan , Kalkman Gerard A. , Schellekens Arnt , van den Brink Wim 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Background
Given the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States (US), we investigated the opioid situation in Europe. The aims of the study are to provide an overview of trends in prescription opioid (PO) use and opioid-related adversities between 2010 and 2018 for different opioids in 19 European countries and to present a comparison with similar data from the US.

Methods
A multisource database study with national data from 19 European countries evaluating trends between 2010 and 2018 in (a) PO consumption, (b) high-risk (HR) opioid users, (c) opioid-related hospital admissions, (d) opioid-related overdose deaths, (e) opioid use disorder treatment entries, and (f) patients in opioid substitution therapy (OST). Within and between-country comparisons and comparisons with data from the US were made.

Results
There was considerable variation between European countries. Most countries showed increased PO consumption with the largest increase and the highest consumption in the United Kingdom (UK) compared to the rest of Europe and the US in 2018 (UK: 58,088 defined daily doses for statistical purposes/1000 population/day). In 2018, Scotland had the highest rates (per 100,000 population) of HR opioid users (16·2), opioid-related hospital admissions (118), opioid-related deaths (22·7), opioid use disorder treatment admissions (190), and OST patients (555) of all included European countries. These rates were similar or even higher than those in the US in 2018. Other countries with high rates of opioid-related adversities were Northern Ireland (synthetic and “other” opioids), Ireland (heroin and methadone), and England (all opioids). All other countries had no or little increase in opioid-related adversities.

Conclusions
Apart from the British Isles and especially Scotland, there is no indication of an opioid crisis comparable to that in the US in the 19 European countries that were part of this study. More research is needed to identify drivers and develop interventions to stop the emerging opioid crisis in the UK and Ireland.
Association Between Body Weight and Telomere Length Is Predominantly Mediated Through C-Reactive Protein
Authors: Gao Xiao , Li Shengxu , Dong Shiqiu , Li Jiaqi , Yan Yinkun , Zhang Tao , Chen Wei 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Context
Both obesity and inflammation are related to accelerated aging. It is not yet known whether inflammation mediates the effects of obesity on aging.

Objective
This work aims to dissect the direct effect of body mass index (BMI) and its indirect effect through C-reactive protein (CRP) on leukocyte telomere length (LTL) to determine the mediation effect of CRP on the BMI-LTL association.

Methods
The study cohort included 5451 adults (1404 Mexican American, 3114 White, and 933 Black individuals; 53.5% male; mean age = 49.2 years) from the 1999 to 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. General mediation models were used to examine the mediation effect of CRP on the BMI-LTL association.

Results
After adjusting for age, race, sex, physical activity, alcohol use, and serum cotinine, the total effect of BMI on LTL was significant (standardized regression coefficient, β = –.054, P &lt; .001) without CRP included in the model. With inclusion of CRP in the model, the indirect effect of BMI on LTL through CRP was estimated at β equal to –.023 (P &lt; .001), and the direct effect of BMI on LTL in its absolute value decreased to β equal to –.031 (P = .025). The mediation effect of CRP was estimated at 42.6%. The mediation model parameters did not differ significantly between race and sex groups.

Conclusion
These results suggest that the inverse BMI-LTL association is partly mediated by obesity-induced inflammation. The significant direct effect of BMI on LTL with removal of the mediation effect through CRP indicates that obesity is associated with LTL attrition also through other noninflammatory mechanisms.
Hyperandrogenemia in Early Adulthood Is an Independent Risk Factor for Abnormal Glucose Metabolism in Middle Age
Authors: Tuorila Katri , Ollila Meri-Maija , Järvelin Marjo-Riitta , Tapanainen Juha S , Franks Stephen , Puukka Katri , Piltonen Terhi T , Morin-Papunen Laure 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Context
The role of androgen excess as a contributing factor to abnormal glucose metabolism (AGM) and insulin resistance in women remains controversial.

Objective
To investigate whether hyperandrogenemia (HA) estimated by serum testosterone (T) level and free androgen index (FAI) at ages 31 and 46 years is associated with insulin resistance, insulin secretion and AGM by age 46.

Design
Prospective study including 5889 females followed at ages 31 and 46 years.

Setting
General community.

Participants
Women with HA were compared with normoandrogenic women at ages 31 and 46 years.

Intervention
None.

Main outcome measurements
AGM, including prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus, homeostatic model assessments of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and of pancreatic β-cell function (HOMA-B).

Results
At age 31 years, HA women displayed increased HOMA-IR (P = 0.002), HOMA-B (P = 0.007), and higher fasting insulin (P = 0.03) than normoandrogenic women after adjusting for body mass index (BMI). At age 46 years, there was a nonsignificant trend toward higher fasting glucose (P = 0.07) and glycated hemoglobin A1 (P = 0.07) levels in HA women. Women in the highest T quartile (odds ratio [OR] = 1.80; 95%CI, 1.15-2.82) at age 31 years and in the 2 highest FAI quartiles at ages 31 (Q4: OR = 3.76; 95% CI, 2.24-6.32) and 46 (Q4: OR = 2.79; 95% CI, 1.74-4.46) years had increased risk for AGM, independently of BMI, when compared with women in Q1. SHBG was inversely associated with AGM (at age 31 years: Q4: OR = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.23-0.60, at age 46 years: Q4: OR = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.17-0.44).

Conclusion
Hyperandrogenemia and low SHBG in early and middle age associates with AGM independently of BMI.
Control of dynamic cell behaviors during angiogenesis and anastomosis by Rasip1
Authors: Lee Minkyoung , Betz Charles , Yin Jianmin , Paatero Ilkka , Schellinx Niels , Carte Adam N. , Wilson Christopher W. , Ye Weilan , Affolter Markus , Belting Heinz-Georg 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACT
Organ morphogenesis is driven by a wealth of tightly orchestrated cellular behaviors, which ensure proper organ assembly and function. Many of these cell activities involve cell-cell interactions and remodeling of the F-actin cytoskeleton. Here, we analyze the requirement for Rasip1 (Ras-interacting protein 1), an endothelial-specific regulator of junctional dynamics, during blood vessel formation. Phenotype analysis of rasip1 mutants in zebrafish embryos reveals distinct functions of Rasip1 during sprouting angiogenesis, anastomosis and lumen formation. During angiogenic sprouting, loss of Rasip1 causes cell pairing defects due to a destabilization of tricellular junctions, indicating that stable tricellular junctions are essential to maintain multicellular organization within the sprout. During anastomosis, Rasip1 is required to establish a stable apical membrane compartment; rasip1 mutants display ectopic, reticulated junctions and the apical compartment is frequently collapsed. Loss of Ccm1 and Heg1 function mimics the junctional defects of rasip1 mutants. Furthermore, downregulation of ccm1 and heg1 leads to a delocalization of Rasip1 at cell junctions, indicating that junctional tethering of Rasip1 is required for its function in junction formation and stabilization during sprouting angiogenesis.
Metabolic trade-offs in tropical and subtropical marine mammals: unique maintenance and locomotion costs in West Indian manatees and Hawaiian monk seals
Authors: John Jason S. , Thometz Nicole M. , Boerner Katharine , Denum Laura , Kendall Traci L. , Richter Beau P. , Gaspard Joseph C. , Williams Terrie M. 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACT
Unlike the majority of marine mammal species, Hawaiian monk seals (Neomonachus schauinslandi) and West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) reside exclusively in tropical or subtropical waters. Although potentially providing an energetic benefit through reduced maintenance and thermal costs, little is known about the cascading effects that may alter energy expenditure during activity, dive responses and overall energy budgets for these warm-water species. To examine this, we used open-flow respirometry to measure the energy expended during resting and swimming in both species. We found that the average resting metabolic rates (RMRs) for both the adult monk seal (753.8±26.1 kJ h−1, mean±s.e.m.) and manatees (887.7±19.5 kJ h−1) were lower than predicted for cold-water marine mammal species of similar body mass. Despite these relatively low RMRs, both total cost per stroke and total cost of transport (COTTOT) during submerged swimming were similar to predictions for comparably sized marine mammals (adult monk seal: cost per stroke=5.0±0.2 J kg−1 stroke−1, COTTOT=1.7±0.1 J kg−1 m−1; manatees: cost per stroke=2.0±0.4 J kg−1 stroke−1, COTTOT=0.87±0.17 J kg−1 m−1). These lower maintenance costs result in less variability in adjustable metabolic costs that occur during submergence for warm-water species. However, these reduced maintenance costs do not appear to confer an advantage in overall energetic costs during activity, potentially limiting the capacity of warm-water species to respond to anthropogenic or environmental threats that require increased energy expenditure.
Dynamic strain measurement based on ultrafast Brillouin collision in the correlation domain
Authors: Li Zonglei , Zhou Yin , Jiang Biqiang , Gan Xuetao , Yan Lianshan , Zhao Jianlin 
Published: June 2021

The Brillouin collision rate in a Brillouin optical correlation domain analysis fiber sensor is ultimately limited by the sensing fiber length, which restricts the single point sampling rate in dynamic strain measurement. Here, a time-gated long-phase-sequence-coded pump method is proposed to overcome this limitation. The Brillouin collision rate is limited only by the phonon lifetime, since it governs the building and decaying time of the acoustic wave. For a sensing fiber length of

∼

1

k
m

, a Brillouin collision rate as high as 1 MHz is experimentally realized. This further results in a single-point sampling rate of 1 kHz for dynamic strain sensing with a spatial resolution of

∼

2

c
m

and a measurement uncertainty of

<

33.5

µ
ε

.
Extremely enhanced N2+ lasing in a filamentary plasma grating in ambient air
Authors: Fu Yao , Cao Jincheng , Wang Siqi , Chen Shanming , Zang Hongwei , Li Helong , Lötstedt Erik , Ando Toshiaki , Iwasaki Atsushi , Yamanouchi Kaoru , Xu Huailiang 
Published: June 2021

Cavity-free air lasing offers a promising route towards the realization of atmospheric lasers for various applications such as remote sensing and standoff spectroscopy; however, achieving efficient generation and control of air lasing in ambient air is still a challenge. Here we show the experimental realization of a giant lasing enhancement by three to four orders of magnitude in ambient air for the self-seeded

N

2
+

lasing at 428 nm, assigned to the

B

2

Σ
u

+

(

ν

′

=

0

)

and

X

2

Σ
g
+

(

ν

′
′

=

1

)

emission, by modulating the spatiotemporal overlap of ultrashort near-infrared control-pump pulses in a filamentary plasma grating; meanwhile, the spontaneous emission from the same transition is only enhanced by three to four times. We find that this enhancement is sensitive to the relative polarization and interference time of the two pulses, and reveal that the formation of the plasma grating induces different population variations in the

B

2

Σ
u

+

(

ν

′

=

0

)

and

X

2

Σ
g
+

(

ν

′
′

=

1

)

levels, resulting in an enormous population inversion between the two levels, thereby a higher gain for the giant enhancement of

N

2
+

lasing in ambient air.
Multiple radio frequency measurements with an improved frequency resolution based on stimulated Brillouin scattering with a reduced gain bandwidth
Authors: Shi Taixia , Chen Yang 
Published: June 2021

A photonic-assisted multiple radio frequency (RF) measurement approach based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and frequency-to-time mapping with high accuracy and high frequency resolution is reported. A two-tone signal is a single-sideband (SSB) modulated on an optical carrier via a dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator to construct one SBS gain and two SBS losses for SBS gain bandwidth reduction. The unknown RF signal is also SSB modulated on a carrier that has been modulated by a sweep signal, thus the unknown RF signal is converted to a sweep optical signal along with the sweep optical carrier. The bandwidth-reduced SBS gain spectrum is detected by the sweep optical signals at different specific time, mapping the RF frequencies to the time domain. An experiment is performed. RF frequencies from 0.3 GHz to 7.6 GHz are simultaneously measured with a root mean square error of less than 1 MHz. In addition, the frequency resolution of the measurement can be much lower than 10 MHz, which is now the best result in the RF frequency measurement methods employing the SBS effect.
P-Adic metric preserving functions and their analogues
Authors: Vallin Robert W. , Dovgoshey Oleksiy A. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The p-adic completion ℚ
p
of the rational numbers induces a different absolute value |⋅|
p
than the typical | ⋅| we have on the real numbers. In this paper we compare and contrast functions f : ℝ+ → ℝ+, for which the composition with the p-adic metric dp
generated by |⋅|
p
is still a metric on ℚ
p
, with the usual metric preserving functions and the functions that preserve the Euclidean metric on ℝ. In particular, it is shown that f ∘ d

p
is still an ultrametric on ℚ
p
if and only if there is a function g such that f ∘ d

p
= g ∘ d

p
and g ∘ d is still an ultrametric for every ultrametric d. Some general variants of the last statement are also proved.
A characterization of the uniform convergence points set of some convergent sequence of functions
Authors: Karlova Olena 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
We characterize the uniform convergence points set of a pointwisely convergent sequence of real-valued functions defined on a perfectly normal space. We prove that if X is a perfectly normal space which can be covered by a disjoint sequence of dense subsets and A ⊆ X, then A is the set of points of the uniform convergence for some convergent sequence (fn
)
n∈ω
of functions fn
: X → ℝ if and only if A is Gδ
-set which contains all isolated points of X. This result generalizes a theorem of Ján Borsík published in 2019.