bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Discovery, optimization and biodistribution of an Affibody molecule for imaging of CD69
Authors: Persson Jonas , Puuvuori Emmi , Zhang Bo , Velikyan Irina , Åberg Ola , Müller Malin , Nygren Per-Åke , Ståhl Stefan , Korsgren Olle , Eriksson Olof , Löfblom John 
Published: September 2021

AbstractDue to the wide scale of inflammatory processes in different types of disease, more sensitive and specific biomarkers are required to improve prevention and treatment. Cluster of differentiation 69 (CD69) is one of the earliest cell surface proteins expressed by activated leukocytes. Here we characterize and optimize potential new imaging probes, Affibody molecules targeting CD69 for imaging of activated immune cells. Analysis of candidates isolated in a previously performed selection from a Z variant E. coli library to the recombinant extracellular domain of human CD69, identified one cross-reactive Z variant with affinity to murine and human CD69. Affinity maturation was performed by randomization of the primary Z variant, followed by selections from the library. The resulting Z variants were evaluated for affinity towards human and murine CD69 and thermal stability. The in vivo biodistribution was assessed by SPECT/CT in rats following conjugation of the Z variants by a DOTA chelator and radiolabeling with Indium-111. A primary Z variant with a Kd of approximately 50 nM affinity to human and murine CD69 was identified. Affinity maturation generated 5 additional Z variants with improved or similar affinity. All clones exhibited suitable stability. Radiolabeling and in vivo biodistribution in rat demonstrated rapid renal clearance for all variants, while the background uptake and washout varied. The variant ZCD69:4 had the highest affinity for human and murine CD69 (34 nM) as well as the lowest in vivo background binding. In summary, we describe the discovery, optimization and evaluation of novel Affibody molecules with affinity for CD69. Affibody molecule ZCD69:4 is suitable for further development for imaging of activated immune cells.
Tuber yield and water efficiency of early potato varieties (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivated under various irrigation levels
Authors: Jama-Rodzenska Anna , Janik Grzegorz , Walczak Amadeusz , Adamczewska-Sowinska Katarzyna , Sowinski Jozef 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis study aims to determine the effects of differences in variety and irrigations levels on potato yield (appropriate humidity, temperature, shading the plants from the sun if necessary) on potato yield in greenhouse conditions. Functions of potato production with respect to water use were developed for five dates of measurements of plant growth, in relation to the various vegetation phases. On the basis of potato vegetation phases, the potato water demand was determined. An experiment was conducted using the randomized sub-block method. The first order factor were the two varieties of potato that were grown under drip irrigation with three water regimes as a second factor experiment: level 1 (pF 2.7), level 2 (pF 2.5) and level 3 (pF 2.2). The variety had a significant effect on the weight of potato tubers. The irrigation level had only a significant effect on the total potato biomass. The potato harvest date had a significant effect on both of the examined treatments. The growth dynamics of the aboveground part and potato tubers were the highest in conditions of constant level 1. Regardless of the variety studied, on level 3 caused a reduction in potato biomass production.The highest water consumption was observed during the tuber potato growth period to flowering. The values were varied from 0.39 l/pot day level 1 (in both investigated cultivars) to 0.99 l/ pot/day (humidity level 3 for Julinka cultivar) in July. The most intensive increase in water consumption was observed at the level 3. The average W index of the average daily water dose calculated for Denar cultivar amounted 0.40 l day−1 in the first period (O1) to 0.79 l day−1 in the fifth period (O5) and for Julinka cultivar 0.49 l day−1 (O1) to 0.92 l day−1 (O5). Stress due to water shortage and/or excessive levels of water in the soil negatively influenced the yield of potato tuber. Potato varieties reacted differently to soil water content.
Longitudinal assessment between lifestyle-related risk factors and a composite cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk index among adolescents in Malaysia
Authors: Thangiah Nithiah , Su Tin Tin , Chinna Karuthan , Jalaludin Muhammad Yazid , Mohamed Mohd Nahar Azmi , Majid Hazreen Abdul 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe study aims to create a composite risk index of CVD among adolescents and examine the influence of demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle-related risk factors on the composite risk index of biological CVD risk factors among adolescents in Malaysia. A Malaysian adolescent cohort of 1320 adolescents were assessed at 13, 15 and 17 years. Seven biological CVD risk factors with moderate correlation were identified, standardized and averaged to form a composite CVD risk index. Generalised estimating equation using longitudinal linear regression was used to examine the effects of changes in adolescent lifestyle-related risk factors on the composite CVD risk index over time. From the ages 13 to 17 years, physical fitness (β = − 0.001, 90% CI = − 0.003, 0.00002) and BMI (β = 0.051, 95% CI = 0.042, 0.060) were significant predictors of attaining high scores of CVD risk. Female (β = 0.118, 95% CI = 0.040, 0.197), Chinese (β = 0.122, 95% CI = 0.006, 0.239), Indians (β = − 0.114, 95% CI = − 0.216, − 0.012) and adolescents from rural schools (β = 0.066, 95% CI = − 0.005, 0.136) were also found to be considerably significant. A more robust and gender-specific intervention programme focusing on healthy lifestyle (including achieving ideal BMI and improving physical fitness) need to be implemented among school-going adolescents.
Improving the visual communication of environmental model projections
Authors: Bannister Hayley J. , Blackwell Paul G. , Hyder Kieran , Webb Thomas J. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractEnvironmental and ecosystem models can help to guide management of changing natural systems by projecting alternative future states under a common set of scenarios. Combining contrasting models into multi-model ensembles (MMEs) can improve the skill and reliability of projections, but associated uncertainty complicates communication of outputs, affecting both the effectiveness of management decisions and, sometimes, public trust in scientific evidence itself. Effective data visualisation can play a key role in accurately communicating such complex outcomes, but we lack an evidence base to enable us to design them to be visually appealing whilst also effectively communicating accurate information. To address this, we conducted a survey to identify the most effective methods for visually communicating the outputs of an ensemble of global climate models. We measured the accuracy, confidence, and ease with which the survey participants were able to interpret 10 visualisations depicting the same set of model outputs in different ways, as well as their preferences. Dot and box plots outperformed all other visualisations, heat maps and radar plots were comparatively ineffective, while our infographic scored highly for visual appeal but lacked information necessary for accurate interpretation. We provide a set of guidelines for visually communicating the outputs of MMEs across a wide range of research areas, aimed at maximising the impact of the visualisations, whilst minimizing the potential for misinterpretations, increasing the societal impact of the models and ensuring they are well-placed to support management in the future.
Zinc(II) niflumato complex effects on MMP activity and gene expression in human endometrial cell lines
Authors: Rabajdová Miroslava , Špaková Ivana , Klepcová Zuzana , Smolko Lukáš , Abrahamovská Michaela , Urdzík Peter , Mareková Mária 
Published: September 2021

AbstractEndometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease which increasingly affects young women under 35 years of age and leads to subfertility even infertility. Analysis of the cytotoxic effect of zinc(II) niflumato complex with neocuproine ([Zn(neo)(nif)2] or Zn-Nif) on immortalized human endometriotic cell line (12Z) and on control immortalized human endometrial stromal cell line (hTERT) was performed using xCELLigence technology for approximately 72 h following the treatment with Zn-Nif as well as cell viability Trypan Blue Assay. 12Z cell line proliferated more slowly compared to unaffected cells, whereas hTERT cells did not show similar behavior after treatment. The complex probably reduces the effect of pro-inflammatory pathways due to the effect of NSAID, while presence of zinc might reduce the level of ROS and regulate ER2 levels and MMP activity. The observed effects and high selectivity for rapidly proliferating cells with increased inflammatory activity suggest a good prognosis of successful decrease of endometriosis stage with this complex.
Marine temperatures underestimated for past greenhouse climate
Authors: Vickers Madeleine L. , Bernasconi Stefano M. , Ullmann Clemens V. , Lode Stefanie , Looser Nathan , Morales Luiz Grafulha , Price Gregory D. , Wilby Philip R. , Hougård Iben Winther , Hesselbo Stephen P. , Korte Christoph 
Published: September 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the Earth’s climate system during past periods of high atmospheric CO2 is crucial for forecasting climate change under anthropogenically-elevated CO2. The Mesozoic Era is believed to have coincided with a long-term Greenhouse climate, and many of our temperature reconstructions come from stable isotopes of marine biotic calcite, in particular from belemnites, an extinct group of molluscs with carbonate hard-parts. Yet, temperatures reconstructed from the oxygen isotope composition of belemnites are consistently colder than those derived from other temperature proxies, leading to large uncertainties around Mesozoic sea temperatures. Here we apply clumped isotope palaeothermometry to two distinct carbonate phases from exceptionally well-preserved belemnites in order to constrain their living habitat, and improve temperature reconstructions based on stable oxygen isotopes. We show that belemnites precipitated both aragonite and calcite in warm, open ocean surface waters, and demonstrate how previous low estimates of belemnite calcification temperatures has led to widespread underestimation of Mesozoic sea temperatures by ca. 12 °C, raising estimates of some of the lowest temperature estimates for the Jurassic period to values which approach modern mid-latitude sea surface temperatures. Our findings enable accurate recalculation of global Mesozoic belemnite temperatures, and will thus improve our understanding of Greenhouse climate dynamics.
Propagatory dynamics of nucleus-acoustic waves excited in gyrogravitating degenerate quantum plasmas electrostatically confined in curved geometry
Authors: Dasgupta Sayanti , Karmakar Pralay Kumar 
Published: September 2021

AbstractA theoretic model to investigate the dynamics of the longitudinal nucleus-acoustic waves (NAWs) in gyrogravitating electrostatically confined degenerate quantum plasma (DQP) system in spherically symmetric geometry is constructed. The model setup consists of non-degenerate heavy nuclear species (HNS), lighter nuclear species (LNS), and quantum degenerate electronic species (DES). It specifically considers the influences of the Bohm potential, Coriolis rotation, viscoelasticity, and electrostatic confinement pressure (ECP, scaling quadratically in density). A standard normal spherical mode analysis gives a generalized dispersion relation (septic). It highlights the dependency of various atypical instability response on the equilibrium plasma parameters. A numerical illustrative platform portrays that the relative nuclear charge-to-mass coupling parameter ($$\beta$$
β
) acts as a destabilizing agency and the heavy-to-light nuclear charge density ratio ($$\mu$$
μ
) acts as a stabilizing agency in both the non-relativistic (NR) and ultra-relativistic (UR) limits. Another interesting conjuncture is that the Coriolis rotation introduces a destabilizing influence on the system in both the limits. The progressive analysis presented herein has correlations and consistencies in the dynamic growth backdrop of various compact astro objects and their circumvent atmospheres, such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, etc.
An increase in the posterior subarachnoid space accelerates the timing of syrinx resolution after foramen magnum decompression of type I Chiari malformation
Authors: Ohnishi Yuichiro , Fujiwara Sho , Takenaka Tomofumi , Kawamoto Saki , Iwatsuki Koichi , Kishima Haruhiko 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSyrinx resolution has been associated with an increase in the size of the posterior subarachnoid space (pSAS) after foramen magnum decompression (FMD) for type I Chiari malformation (CM1). The present study investigated the influence of pSAS increase on syrinx resolution and symptom improvement after FMD. 32 patients with CM1 with syrinx were analyzed retrospectively. FMD was performed for the 24 patients with CM1 with syrinx. pSAS areas were measured on sagittal magnetic resonance images. Neurological symptoms were grouped into three clinical categories and scored. The rates of symptom improvement in the CM1 patients with syrinx after FMD was 19.7% ± 12.9%. The mean times to the improvement of neurological symptoms in CM1 patients with syrinx after FMD was 23.4 ± 50.2 months. There were no significant differences between the patients with and without improvement of syrinx after FMD with regard to the age, length of tonsillar herniation, BMI, and preoperative pSAS areas. The rate of increase in the pSAS areas was significantly higher in the group with syrinx improvement within 1 year (p < 0.0001). All patients with a > 50% rate of increase in the pSAS area showed syrinx improvement. Our results suggested that the increasing postoperative pSAS area accelerated the timing of syrinx resolution.
Long-term effect of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on blood pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Shirahama Ryutaro , Tanigawa Takeshi , Ida Yoshifumi , Fukuhisa Kento , Tanaka Rika , Tomooka Kiyohide , Lan Fan-Yun , Ikeda Ai , Wada Hiroo , Kales Stefanos N. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common cause of hypertension. Previous studies have demonstrated beneficial short-term effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on blood pressure. However, long-term antihypertensive effects of CPAP have not been properly verified. This study examined the longitudinal effect of CPAP therapy adherence on blood pressure among OSA patients. All patients diagnosed with OSA and undergoing subsequent CPAP therapy at a Kanagawa-area sleep clinic were clinically followed for 24 months to examine CPAP adherence, as well as longitudinal changes in blood pressure and body weight because it may become a confound factor for changes in blood pressure. The hours of CPAP usage were collected over the course of 30 nights prior to each follow-up visit (1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 24th month). The relationship between CPAP adherence and blood pressure was analyzed using mixed-effect logistic regression models. A total of 918 OSA patients were enrolled in the study. We found a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure among patients with good CPAP adherence during the 24-month follow-up period (β = − 0.13, p = 0.03), when compared to the group with poor CPAP adherence. No significant association was found between CPAP adherence and weight loss (β = − 0.02, p = 0.59). Long-term, good CPAP therapy adherence was associated with lower diastolic blood pressure without significant weight loss.
In vitro and in vivo comparative study of a novel 68Ga-labeled PSMA-targeted inhibitor and 68Ga-PSMA-11
Authors: Chen Huanyu , Cai Ping , Feng Yue , Sun Zhanliang , Wang Yinwen , Chen Yue , Zhang Wei , Liu Nan , Zhou Zhijun 
Published: September 2021

Abstract68Ga-radiolabeled small molecules that specifically target prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) have been extensively investigated, and some of these tracers have been used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer via 68Ga-positron emission tomography (68Ga-PET). Nevertheless, current 68Ga-labeled radiotracers show only fair detection rates for metastatic prostate cancer lesions, especially those with lower levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), which often occurs in the biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer. The goal of this study was to design and synthesize a new PSMA-targeted radiotracer, 68Ga-SC691, with high affinity for prostate cancer cells and excellent pharmacokinetics. To this end, structural optimization was carried out on the bifunctional group, target motif, and linker while the high affinity targeting scaffold remained. To explore its potential in the clinic, a comparative study was further performed in vitro and in vivo between 68Ga-SC691 and 68Ga-PSMA-11, a clinically approved tracer for PSMA-positive prostate cancer. SC691 was radiolabeled to provide 68Ga-SC691 in 99% radiolabeling yield under mild conditions. High uptake and a high internalization ratio into LNCaP cells were observed in in vitro studies. In vivo studies showed that 68Ga-SC691 had favorable biodistribution properties and could specifically accumulate on PSMA-positive LNCaP xenografts visualized by micro-PET/CT. This radiotracer showed excellent PET imaging quality and comparable, if not higher, uptake in LNCaP xenografts than 68Ga-PSMA-11.
Detailed characterization of the transcriptome of single B cells in mantle cell lymphoma suggesting a potential use for SOX4
Authors: Valentin Hansen Simone , Høy Hansen Marcus , Cédile Oriane , Møller Michael Boe , Haaber Jacob , Abildgaard Niels , Guldborg Nyvold Charlotte 
Published: September 2021

AbstractMantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a malignancy arising from naive B lymphocytes with common bone marrow (BM) involvement. Although t(11;14) is a primary event in MCL development, the highly diverse molecular etiology and causal genomic events are still being explored. We investigated the transcriptome of CD19+ BM cells from eight MCL patients at single-cell level. The transcriptomes revealed marked heterogeneity across patients, while general homogeneity and clonal continuity was observed within the patients with no clear evidence of subclonal involvement. All patients were SOX11+CCND1+CD20+. Despite monotypic surface immunoglobulin (Ig) κ or λ protein expression in MCL, 10.9% of the SOX11 + malignant cells expressed both light chain transcripts. The early lymphocyte transcription factor SOX4 was expressed in a fraction of SOX11 + cells in two patients and co-expressed with the precursor lymphoblastic marker, FAT1, in a blastoid case, suggesting a potential prognostic role. Additionally, SOX4 was found to identify non-malignant SOX11– pro-/pre-B cell populations. Altogether, the observed expression of markers such as SOX4, CD27, IgA and IgG in the SOX11+ MCL cells, may suggest that the malignant cells are not fixed in the differentiation state of naïve mature B cells, but instead the patients carry B lymphocytes of different differentiation stages.
Extremely low-energy ARPES of quantum well states in cubic-GaN/AlN and GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures
Authors: Hajlaoui Mahdi , Ponzoni Stefano , Deppe Michael , Henksmeier Tobias , As Donat Josef , Reuter Dirk , Zentgraf Thomas , Springholz Gunther , Schneider Claus Michael , Cramm Stefan , Cinchetti Mirko 
Published: September 2021

AbstractQuantum well (QW) heterostructures have been extensively used for the realization of a wide range of optical and electronic devices. Exploiting their potential for further improvement and development requires a fundamental understanding of their electronic structure. So far, the most commonly used experimental techniques for this purpose have been all-optical spectroscopy methods that, however, are generally averaging in momentum space. Additional information can be gained by angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (ARPES), which measures the electronic structure with momentum resolution. Here we report on the use of extremely low-energy ARPES (photon energy ~ 7 eV) to increase depth sensitivity and access buried QW states, located at 3 nm and 6 nm below the surface of cubic-GaN/AlN and GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructures, respectively. We find that the QW states in cubic-GaN/AlN can indeed be observed, but not their energy dispersion, because of the high surface roughness. The GaAs/AlGaAs QW states, on the other hand, are buried too deep to be detected by extremely low-energy ARPES. Since the sample surface is much flatter, the ARPES spectra of the GaAs/AlGaAs show distinct features in momentum space, which can be reconducted to the band structure of the topmost surface layer of the QW structure. Our results provide important information about the samples’ properties required to perform extremely low-energy ARPES experiments on electronic states buried in semiconductor heterostructures.
A single center experience with publicly funded clinical exome sequencing for neurodevelopmental disorders or multiple congenital anomalies
Authors: Pode-Shakked Ben , Barel Ortal , Singer Amihood , Regev Miriam , Poran Hana , Eliyahu Aviva , Finezilber Yael , Segev Meirav , Berkenstadt Michal , Yonath Hagith , Reznik-Wolf Haike , Gazit Yael , Chorin Odelia , Heimer Gali , Gabis Lidia V. , Tzadok Michal , Nissenkorn Andreea , Bar-Yosef Omer , Zohar-Dayan Efrat , Ben-Zeev Bruria , Mor Nofar , Kol Nitzan , Nayshool Omri , Shimshoviz Noam , Bar-Joseph Ifat , Marek-Yagel Dina , Javasky Elisheva , Einy Reviva , Gal Moran , Grinshpun-Cohen Julia , Shohat Mordechai , Dominissini Dan , Raas-Rothschild Annick , Rechavi Gideon , Pras Elon , Greenbaum Lior 
Published: September 2021

AbstractExome sequencing (ES) is an important diagnostic tool for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and/or multiple congenital anomalies (MCA). However, the cost of ES limits the test's accessibility for many patients. We evaluated the yield of publicly funded clinical ES, performed at a tertiary center in Israel, over a 3-year period (2018–2020). Probands presented with (1) moderate-to-profound global developmental delay (GDD)/intellectual disability (ID); or (2) mild GDD/ID with epilepsy or congenital anomaly; and/or (3) MCA. Subjects with normal chromosomal microarray analysis who met inclusion criteria were included, totaling 280 consecutive cases. Trio ES (proband and parents) was the default option. In 252 cases (90.0%), indication of NDD was noted. Most probands were males (62.9%), and their mean age at ES submission was 9.3 years (range 1 month to 51 years). Molecular diagnosis was reached in 109 probands (38.9%), mainly due to de novo variants (91/109, 83.5%). Disease-causing variants were identified in 92 genes, 15 of which were implicated in more than a single case. Male sex, families with multiple-affected members and premature birth were significantly associated with lower ES yield (p < 0.05). Other factors, including MCA and coexistence of epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder, microcephaly or abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging findings, were not associated with the yield. To conclude, our findings support the utility of clinical ES in a real-world setting, as part of a publicly funded genetic workup for individuals with GDD/ID and/or MCA.