bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distinct cortical thickness patterns link disparate cerebral cortex regions to select mobility domains
Authors: Maidan Inbal , Mirelman Anat , Hausdorff Jeffrey M. , Stern Yaakov , Habeck Christian G. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe cortical control of gait and mobility involves multiple brain regions. Therefore, one could speculate that the association between specific spatial patterns of cortical thickness may be differentially associated with different mobility domains. To test this possibility, 115 healthy participants aged 27–82 (mean 60.5 ± 13.8) underwent a mobility assessment (usual-walk, dual-task walk, Timed Up and Go) and MRI scan. Ten mobility domains of relatively simple (e.g., usual-walking) and complex tasks (i.e., dual task walking, turns, transitions) and cortical thickness of 68 ROIs were extracted. All associations between mobility and cortical thickness were controlled for age and gender. Scaled Subprofile Modelling (SSM), a PCA-regression, identified thickness patterns that were correlated with the individual mobility domains, controlling for multiple comparisons. We found that lower mean global cortical thickness was correlated with worse general mobility (r = − 0.296, p = 0.003), as measured by the time to complete the Timed Up and Go test. Three distinct patterns of cortical thickness were associated with three different gait domains during simple, usual-walking: pace, rhythm, and symmetry. In contrast, cortical thickness patterns were not related to the more complex mobility domains. These findings demonstrate that robust and topographically distinct cortical thickness patterns are linked to select mobility domains during relatively simple walking, but not to more complex aspects of mobility. Functional connectivity may play a larger role in the more complex aspects of mobility.
Emergence of novel SARS-CoV-2 variants in the Netherlands
Authors: Urhan Aysun , Abeel Thomas 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has emerged in December 2019 when the first case was reported in Wuhan, China and turned into a pandemic with 27 million (September 9th) cases. Currently, there are over 95,000 complete genome sequences of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing COVID-19, in public databases, accompanying a growing number of studies. Nevertheless, there is still much to learn about the viral population variation when the virus is evolving as it continues to spread. We have analyzed SARS-CoV-2 genomes to identify the most variant sites, as well as the stable, conserved ones in samples collected in the Netherlands until June 2020. We identified the most frequent mutations in different geographies. We also performed a phylogenetic study focused on the Netherlands to detect novel variants emerging in the late stages of the pandemic and forming local clusters. We investigated the S and N proteins on SARS-CoV-2 genomes in the Netherlands and found the most variant and stable sites to guide development of diagnostics assays and vaccines. We observed that while the SARS-CoV-2 genome has accumulated mutations, diverging from reference sequence, the variation landscape is dominated by four mutations globally, suggesting the current reference does not represent the virus samples circulating currently. In addition, we detected novel variants of SARS-CoV-2 almost unique to the Netherlands that form localized clusters and region-specific sub-populations indicating community spread. We explored SARS-CoV-2 variants in the Netherlands until June 2020 within a global context; our results provide insight into the viral population diversity for localized efforts in tracking the transmission of COVID-19, as well as sequenced-based approaches in diagnostics and therapeutics. We emphasize that little diversity is observed globally in recent samples despite the increased number of mutations relative to the established reference sequence. We suggest sequence-based analyses should opt for a consensus representation to adequately cover the genomic variation observed to speed up diagnostics and vaccine design.
Analysis of residents’ food safety satisfaction from the perspective of income heterogeneity
Authors: Li Xianmei , Li Xiandong , Liao Yuanlin , Zhu Guanghui , Yu Guoxin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractFood is the paramount necessity of the people, while food safety is the priority. Facing the increasingly serious food safety problems in China, how to improve food safety has become the responsibility of the whole society, and also the obligation of social development. Based on the 8000 residents’ survey data, the ordinal logistic model was used to analyze the residents’ satisfaction with food safety. The results show that residents are generally worried about food safety, and there is a strong demand for safe food. Gender, age, educational background, supervision, publicity, and complaint handling significantly affect residents’ food safety satisfaction. In terms of income heterogeneity, low-income residents have the highest degree of satisfaction with food safety. With the improvement of income level, their degree of satisfaction is decreasing. The high-income class residents have a strong consciousness of rights safeguarding after purchasing unsafe food. For low-income residents, their awareness of rights protection is declining due to insufficient income. In the way of rights protection, most respondents choose to return or refund money after negotiation with the seller. The lack of punishment for unscrupulous sellers is one of the main reasons for the frequent occurrence of food safety problems in China.
Discovery, characterization and functional improvement of kumamonamide as a novel plant growth inhibitor that disturbs plant microtubules
Authors: Ishida Takashi , Yoshimura Haruna , Takekawa Masatsugu , Higaki Takumi , Ideue Takashi , Hatano Masaki , Igarashi Masayuki , Tani Tokio , Sawa Shinichiro , Ishikawa Hayato 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe discovery and useful application of natural products can help improve human life. Chemicals that inhibit plant growth are broadly utilized as herbicides to control weeds. As various types of herbicides are required, the identification of compounds with novel modes of action is desirable. In the present study, we discovered a novel N-alkoxypyrrole compound, kumamonamide from Streptomyces werraensis MK493-CF1 and established a total synthesis procedure. Resulted in the bioactivity assays, we found that kumamonamic acid, a synthetic intermediate of kumamonamide, is a potential plant growth inhibitor. Further, we developed various derivatives of kumamonamic acid, including a kumamonamic acid nonyloxy derivative (KAND), which displayed high herbicidal activity without adverse effects on HeLa cell growth. We also detected that kumamonamic acid derivatives disturb plant microtubules; and additionally, that KAND affected actin filaments and induced cell death. These multifaceted effects differ from those of known microtubule inhibitors, suggesting a novel mode of action of kumamonamic acid, which represents an important lead for the development of new herbicides.
Standardization of esophageal adenocarcinoma in vitro model and its applicability for model drug testing
Authors: Tratnjek Larisa , Sibinovska Nadica , Kralj Slavko , Makovec Darko , Kristan Katja , Kreft Mateja Erdani 
Published: March 2021

AbstractFLO-1 cell line represents an important tool in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) research as a verified and authentic cell line to study the disease pathophysiology and antitumor drug screenings. Since in vitro characteristics of cells depend on the microenvironment and culturing conditions, we performed a thorough characterization of the FLO-1 cell line under different culturing conditions with the aim of (1) examining the effect of serum-free growth medium and air–liquid interface (A–L) culturing, which better reflect physiological conditions in vivo and (2) investigating the differentiation potential of FLO-1 cells to mimic the properties of the in vivo esophageal epithelium. Our study shows that the composition of the media influenced the morphological, ultrastructural and molecular characteristics of FLO-1 cells, such as the expression of junctional proteins. Importantly, FLO-1 cells formed spheres at the A–L interface, recapitulating key elements of tumors in the esophageal tube, i.e., direct contact with the gas phase and three-dimensional architecture. On the other hand, FLO-1 models exhibited high permeability to model drugs and zero permeability markers, and low transepithelial resistance, and therefore poorly mimicked normal esophageal epithelium. In conclusion, the identified effect of culture conditions on the characteristics of FLO-1 cells should be considered for standardization, data reproducibility and validity of the in vitro EAC model. Moreover, the sphere-forming ability of FLO-1 cells at the A–L interface should be considered in EAC tumor biology and anticancer drug studies as a reliable and straightforward model with the potential to increase the predictive efficiency of the current in vitro approaches.
Terahertz radiation generation from metallic electronic structure manipulated by inhomogeneous DC-fields
Authors: Lin H. , Liu C. P. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe propose a feasible, high-efficiency scheme of primary terahertz (THz) radiation source through manipulating electronic structure (ES) of a metallic film by targeted-designed DC-fields configuration. The DC magnetic field is designed to be of a spatially inhomogeneous strength profile, and its direction is designed to be normal to the film, and the direction of the DC electric field is parallel to the film. Strict quantum theory and numerical results indicate that the ES under such a field configuration will change from a 3D Fermi sphere into a highly-degenerate structure whose density-of-state curve has pseudogap near Fermi surface. Wavefunctions’ shapes in this new ES are space-asymmetric, and the width of pseudogap near Fermi surface, as well as magnitudes of transition matrix element, can be handily controlled by adjusting parameter values of DC fields. Under available parameter values, the width of the pseudogap can be at milli-electron-volt level (corresponding to THz radiation frequency), and the magnitude of oscillating dipole can be at $$10^{-9} C*m$$

10

-
9

C

∗
m

-level. In room-temperature environment, phonon in metal can pump the ES to achieve population inversion.
Ultra-small and highly dispersive iron oxide hydroxide as an efficient catalyst for oxidation reactions: a Swiss-army-knife catalyst
Authors: Amini Mojtaba , Mousazade Younes , Zand Zahra , Bagherzadeh Mojtaba , Najafpour Mohammad Mahdi 
Published: March 2021

AbstractUltra-small and highly dispersive (< 10 nm) iron oxide hydroxide is characterized by some methods. The compound is an efficient and stable catalyst for alcohol oxidation, organic sulfide oxidation, and epoxidation of alkenes in the presence of H2O2. The electrochemical oxygen-evolution reaction of the iron oxide hydroxide is also tested under acidic, neutral, and alkaline conditions. In the presence of the iron oxide hydroxide, excellent conversions (75–100%) and selectivities of substrates (92–97%), depending on the nature of the sulfide, were obtained. Benzylalcohols having electron-donating and-withdrawing substituents in the aromatic ring were oxidized to produce the corresponding aldehydes with excellent conversion (65–89%) and selectivity (96–100%) using this iron oxide hydroxide. The conversion of styrene and cyclooctene toward the epoxidation in the presence of this catalyst are 60 and 53%, respectively. Water oxidation for the catalysts was investigated at pH 2, 6.7, 12, and 14. The onset of OER at pH 14 is observed with a 475 mV overpotential. At 585 mV overpotential, a current density of more than 0.18 mA/cm2and a turnover frequency of 1.5/h is observed. Operando high-resolution visible spectroscopy at pH 14, similar to previously reported investigations, shows that Fe(IV)=O is an intermediate for water oxidation.
Thigmotaxis in a virtual human open field test
Authors: Gromer Daniel , Kiser Dominik P. , Pauli Paul 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAnimal models are used to study neurobiological mechanisms in mental disorders. Although there has been significant progress in the understanding of neurobiological underpinnings of threat-related behaviors and anxiety, little progress was made with regard to new or improved treatments for mental disorders. A possible reason for this lack of success is the unknown predictive and cross-species translational validity of animal models used in preclinical studies. Re-translational approaches, therefore, seek to establish cross-species translational validity by identifying behavioral operations shared across species. To this end, we implemented a human open field test in virtual reality and measured behavioral indices derived from animal studies in three experiments ($$\textit{N}=31$$

N
=
31

, $$\textit{N}=30$$

N
=
30

, and $$\textit{N}=80$$

N
=
80

). In addition, we investigated the associations between anxious traits and such behaviors. Results indicated a strong similarity in behavior across species, i.e., participants in our study—like rodents in animal studies—preferred to stay in the outer region of the open field, as indexed by multiple behavioral parameters. However, correlational analyses did not clearly indicate that these behaviors were a function of anxious traits of participants. We conclude that the realized virtual open field test is able to elicit thigmotaxis and thus demonstrates cross-species validity of this aspect of the test. Modulatory effects of anxiety on human open field behavior should be examined further by incorporating possible threats in the virtual scenario and/or by examining participants with higher anxiety levels or anxiety disorder patients.
The phylogeographic history of Krascheninnikovia reflects the development of dry steppes and semi-deserts in Eurasia
Authors: Seidl Anna , Tremetsberger Karin , Pfanzelt Simon , Blattner Frank R. , Neuffer Barbara , Friesen Nikolai , Hurka Herbert , Shmakov Alexander , Batlai Oyuntsetseg , Žerdoner Čalasan Anže , Vesselova Polina V. , Bernhardt Karl-Georg 
Published: March 2021

AbstractConstituting one of Earth’s major biomes, steppes are characterised by naturally treeless extra-tropical vegetation. The formation of the Eurasian steppe belt, the largest steppe region in the world, began in Central Asia during the Neogene. In the glacial stages of the Pleistocene, steppe displaced forest vegetation, which in turn recolonised the area during the warmer interglacial periods, thus affecting the distribution of plants adapted to these habitats. Krascheninnikovia ceratoides (Chenopodiaceae) is a plant characteristic of dry steppe and semi-desert formations. Earlier studies showed that the ancestor of this autochthonous steppe element originated in Central Asia during the Miocene/Pliocene, i.e., in the same region and at the same time as the first appearance of steppe vegetation. However, as the extant lineages of Krascheninnikovia ceratoides diversified only 2.2 ± 0.9 Mya, it may represent a modern element of current dry steppe and semi-desert formations, rather than a component of the first steppe precursors of the Miocene. As such, it may have capitalised on the climatic conditions of the cold stages of the Quaternary to expand its range and colonise suitable habitats outside of its area of origin. To test this hypothesis, phylogeographic methods were applied to high-resolution genotyping-by-sequencing data. Our results indicate that Krascheninnikovia originated in western Central Asia and the Russian Altai, then spread to Europe in the West, and reached North America in the East. The populations of eastern Central Asia and North America belong to the same clade and are genetically clearly distinct from the Euro-Siberian populations. Among the populations west of the Altai Mountains, the European populations are genetically distinct from all others, which could be the result of the separation of populations east and west of the Urals caused by the Pleistocene transgressions of the Caspian Sea.
Identification of extracellular matrix proteins secreted by human dermal fibroblasts cultured in 3D electrospun scaffolds
Authors: Malakpour-Permlid Atena , Buzzi Irina , Hegardt Cecilia , Johansson Fredrik , Oredsson Stina 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe appreciation that cell interactions in tissues is dependent on their three dimensional (3D) distribution has stimulated the development of 3D cell culture models. We constructed an artificial 3D tumour by culturing human breast cancer JIMT-1 cells and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) in a 3D network of electrospun polycaprolactone fibres. Here, we investigate ECM components produced by the cells in the artificial 3D tumour, which is an important step in validating the model. Immunostaining and confocal fluorescence microscopy show that the ECM proteins fibronectin, collagen I, and laminin are deposited throughout the entire 3D structure. Secreted soluble factors including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and interleukine-6 (IL-6) were analysed in collected medium and were found to be mainly derived from the HDFs. Treatment with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a major cytokine found in a tumour, significantly alters the MMP activity and IL-6 concentration. In addition, TGF-β1 treatment, changes the morphology of the HDFs to become more elongated and with increased linearized actin filaments compared to non-treated HDFs. Collectively, these novel findings suggest that the artificial 3D tumour displays a clear cell distribution and ECM deposition that resembles a tumour environment in vivo, suggesting an innovative biological model to study a human tumour.
Palaeoproteomics confirm earliest domesticated sheep in southern Africa ca. 2000 BP
Authors: Coutu Ashley N. , Taurozzi Alberto J. , Mackie Meaghan , Jensen Theis Zetner Trolle , Collins Matthew J. , Sealy Judith 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe used palaeoproteomics and peptide mass fingerprinting to obtain secure species identifications of key specimens of early domesticated fauna from South Africa, dating to ca. 2000 BP. It can be difficult to distinguish fragmentary remains of early domesticates (sheep) from similar-sized local wild bovids (grey duiker, grey rhebok, springbok—southern Africa lacks wild sheep) based on morphology alone. Our analysis revealed a Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) marker (m/z 1532) present in wild bovids and we demonstrate through LC–MS/MS that it is capable of discriminating between wild bovids and caprine domesticates. We confirm that the Spoegrivier specimen dated to 2105 ± 65 BP is indeed a sheep. This is the earliest directly dated evidence of domesticated animals in southern Africa. As well as the traditional method of analysing bone fragments, we show the utility of minimally destructive sampling methods such as PVC eraser and polishing films for successful ZooMS identification. We also show that collagen extracted more than 25 years ago for the purpose of radiocarbon dating can yield successful ZooMS identification. Our study demonstrates the importance of developing appropriate regional frameworks of comparison for future research using ZooMS as a method of biomolecular species identification.
Distinct DNA methylation patterns associated with treatment resistance in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Peter Madonna R. , Bilenky Misha , Davies Alastair , Isserlin Ruth , Bader Gary D. , Fleshner Neil E. , Hirst Martin , Zoubeidi Amina , Bapat Bharati 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAndrogens are a major driver of prostate cancer (PCa) and continue to be a critical treatment target for advanced disease, which includes castration therapy and antiandrogens. However, resistance to these therapies leading to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), and the emergence of treatment-induced neuroendocrine disease (tNEPC) remains an ongoing challenge. Instability of the DNA methylome is well established as a major hallmark of PCa development and progression. Therefore, investigating the dynamics of the methylation changes going from the castration sensitive to the tNEPC state would provide insights into novel mechanisms of resistance. Using an established xenograft model of CRPC, genome-wide methylation analysis was performed on cell lines representing various stages of PCa progression. We confirmed extensive methylation changes with the development of CRPC and tNEPC using this model. This included key genes and pathways associated with cellular differentiation and neurodevelopment. Combined analysis of methylation and gene expression changes further highlighted genes that could potentially serve as therapeutic targets. Furthermore, tNEPC-related methylation signals from this model were detectable in circulating cell free DNA (cfDNA) from mCRPC patients undergoing androgen-targeting therapies and were associated with a faster time to clinical progression. These potential biomarkers could help with identifying patients with aggressive disease.
Group contribution and atomic contribution models for the prediction of various physical properties of deep eutectic solvents
Authors: Haghbakhsh Reza , Raeissi Sona , Duarte Ana Rita C. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe urgency of advancing green chemistry from labs and computers into the industries is well-known. The Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) are a promising category of novel green solvents which simultaneously have the best advantages of liquids and solids. Furthermore, they can be designed or engineered to have the characteristics desired for a given application. However, since they are rather new, there are no general models available to predict the properties of DESs without requiring other properties as input. This is particularly a setback when screening is required for feasibility studies, since a vast number of DESs are envisioned. For the first time, this study presents five group contribution (GC) and five atomic contribution (AC) models for densities, refractive indices, heat capacities, speeds of sound, and surface tensions of DESs. The models, developed using the most up-to-date databank of various types of DESs, simply decompose the molecular structure into a number of predefined groups or atoms. The resulting AARD% of densities, refractive indices, heat capacities, speeds of sound and surface tensions were, respectively, 1.44, 0.37, 3.26, 1.62, and 7.59% for the GC models, and 2.49, 1.03, 9.93, 4.52 and 7.80% for the AC models. Perhaps, even more importantly for designer solvents, is the predictive capability of the models, which was also shown to be highly reliable. Accordingly, very simple, yet highly accurate models are provided that are global for DESs and needless of any physical property information, making them useful predictive tools for a category of green solvents, which is only starting to show its potentials in green technology.