bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Cholesterol-dependent Hemifusion by Internal Fusion Peptide 1 of SARS Coronavirus-2 Compared to its N-terminal Counterpart
Authors: Pattnaik Gourab Prasad , Bhattacharjya Surajit , Chakraborty Hirak 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACTMembrane fusion is an important step for the entry of the lipid-sheathed viruses into the host cells. The fusion process is being carried out by fusion proteins present in the viral envelope. The class I viruses contains a 20-25 amino acid sequence at its N-terminal of the fusion domain, which is instrumental in fusion, and is termed as ‘fusion peptide’. However, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS) coronaviruses contain more than one fusion peptide sequences. We have shown that the internal fusion peptide 1 (IFP1) of SARS-CoV is far more efficient than its N-terminal counterpart (FP) to induce hemifusion between small unilamellar vesicles. Moreover, the ability of IFP1 to induce hemifusion formation increases dramatically with growing cholesterol content in the membrane. Interestingly, IFP1 is capable of inducing hemifusion, but fails to open pore.
Atrioventricular Nodal Function, Atrial Fibrillation And Ventricular Tachycardia in Giraffes
Authors: Shivkumar Tejas E. , Hadaya Joseph , Bertelsen Mads Frost , Aalkjær Christian , Smerup Morten H. , Wang Tobias , Ajijola Olujimi A. , Horowitz Barbara N. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractUnique cardiovascular adaptations in giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis reticulata) have been the focus of numerous investigations for almost a century. The vertical distance between the heart and brain impose high pressure on the giraffe left ventricle leading to thickening that exceeds heart in other mammals. Yet, cardiovascular function appears to be unimpacted by these morphologic differences. Physiologically adapted atrioventricular conduction may contribute to these unique cardiovascular characteristics. Atrioventricular (AV) function was assessed to determine whether physiologically adapted AV intervals might optimize the delay between atrial and ventricular contractions. Using ambulatory and intracardiac recordings, we report a longer PR interval in giraffes than predicted by allometric scaling. Slow ventricular response during atrial fibrillation further supports species-specific atrioventricular adaptations.
Human urine alters methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusvirulence and transcriptome
Authors: Paudel Santosh , Bagale Kamal , Patel Swapnil , Kooyers Nicholas J. , Kulkarni Ritwij 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGram-positive methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is an emerging cause of hospital-associated urinary tract infections, especially in catheterized individuals. Despite being rare, MRSA-UTI are prone to potentially life-threatening exacerbations such as bacteremia that can be refractory to routine antibiotic therapy. Hence, MRSA-UTI is an important of research topic. To delineate molecular mechanisms governing MRSA urinary pathogenesis, we exposed threeS. aureusstrains, of which two were MRSA, to human urine and analyzed virulence characteristics and gene expression. We also analyzed MRSA-1369 transcriptome following cultivation in human urine for 2h. Our results reveal that human urine induces global changes in MRSA transcriptome, marked by changes in genes encoding proteins involved in metabolic pathways, virulence, and transcriptional regulators. In addition,in vitroassays also showed that human urine alters, in a strain-specific manner, adherence to human bladder epithelial cells and fibronectin, hemolysis of sheep RBCs, and surface hydrophobicity. In summary, our results provide first important insights into how the urine may specifically alter MRSA physiology in turn facilitating MRSA survival in the nutrient-limiting and hostile urinary microenvironment.ImportanceMethicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is an uncommon cause of urinary tract infections (UTI) in the general population. However, it is important to understand MRSA pathophysiology in the urinary tract because isolation of MRSA in urine samples is often secondary to potentially life-threatening MRSA bacteremia. In this report, we describe that cultivation in human urine alters MRSA global gene expression and virulence. We hypothesize that these alterations may aid MRSA adapt to the nutrient-limiting, immunologically hostile conditions within the urinary tract.
Correlation of Computerized Tomography (CT) Severity Score for COVID-19 pneumonia with Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Hilal Kiran , Shahid Jehanzeb , Ameen Abdullah , Martins Russell , Nankani Avinash , Arshad Ainan 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACTIntroductionVarious CT severity scores have already been described in literature since the start of this pandemic. One pertinent issue with all of the previously described severity scores is their relative challenging calculation and variance in inter-observer agreement. The severity score proposed in our study is relatively simpler, easier to calculate and apart from a trained radiologist, can easily be calculated even by physicians with good inter-observer agreement. Therefore, a rapid CT severity score calculation can give a clue to physician about possible clinical outcome without being dependent on radiologist who may not be readily available especially in third world countries.ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to develop a simple CT severity score (CT-SS) with good inter-observer agreement and access its correlation with clinical outcome.MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted by the Department of Radiology and Internal Medicine, at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi, from April 2020 to August 2020. Non-probability consecutive sampling was used to include all patients who were positive for COVID-19 on PCR, and underwent CT chest examination at AKUH. Severity of disease was calculated in each lobe on the basis of following proposed CT severity scoring system (CT-SS). For each lobe the percentage of involvement by disease was scored – 0% involvement was scored 0, <50% involvement was scored 1 and >50% involvement was scored 2. Maximum score for one lobe was 2 and hence total maximum overall score for all lobes was 10. Continuous data was represented using mean and standard deviation, and compared using independent sample t-tests. Categorical data was represented using frequencies and percentages, and compared using Chi-squared tests. Inter-observer reliability between radiologist and COVID intensivist for the 10 point CT-SS rated on 0-10 was assessed using the Kappa statistic. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant for all analyses.ResultsA total of 73 patients were included, the majority male (58.9%) with mean age 55.8 ± 13.93 years. The CT-SS rated on 0-10 showed substantial inter-observer reliability between radiologist and intensivist with a Kappa statistic of 0.78. Patients with CT-SS 8-10 had a significantly higher ICU admission & intubation rate (53.8% vs. 23.5%) and mortality rate (35.9% vs. 11.8%; p = 0.017), as compared to those with CT-SS 0-7.ConclusionWe conclude that the described CT severity score (CT-SS) is a quick, effective and easily reproducible tool for prediction of adverse clinical outcome in patients with COVID 19 pneumonia. The tool shows good inter-observer agreement when calculated by radiologist and physician independently.
Anterior insula-associated social novelty recognition: orchestrated regulation by a local retinoic acid cascade and oxytocin signaling
Authors: Kim Sun-Hong , An Kyongman , Namkung Ho , Rannals Matthew D. , Moore James R. , Cash-Padgett Tyler , Mihaljevic Marina , Saha Sneha , Oh Lina S. , Kondo Mari A. , Yang Kun , Maher Brady J. , Niwa Minae , Sawa Akira 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundDeficits in social cognition consistently underlie functional disabilities in a wide range of psychiatric disorders. Neuroimaging studies have suggested that the anterior insula is a ‘common core’ brain region that is impaired across neurological and psychiatric disorders, which include social cognition deficits. Nevertheless, neurobiological mechanisms of the anterior insula for social cognition remain elusive.MethodsTo determine the role of anterior insula in social cognition, we manipulated expression of Cyp26B1, an anterior insula-enriched molecule that is crucial for retinoic acid degradation and involved in the pathology of neuropsychiatric conditions. Social cognition was mainly assayed using the three-chamber social interaction test. We conducted multimodal analyses at the molecular, cellular, circuitry, and behavioral levels.ResultsAt the molecular/cellular level, anterior insula-mediated social novelty recognition is maintained by proper activity of the layer 5 pyramidal neurons, for which retinoic acid-mediated gene transcription can play a role. We also demonstrate that oxytocin influences the anterior insula-mediated social novelty recognition, not by direct projection of oxytocin neurons, nor by direct diffusion of oxytocin to the anterior insula, which contrasts the modes of oxytocin regulation onto the posterior insula. Instead, oxytocin affects oxytocin receptor-expressing neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus where serotonergic neurons are projected to the anterior insula. Furthermore, we show that serotonin 5HT2C receptor expressed in the anterior insula influences social novelty recognition.ConclusionsAnterior insula plays a pivotal role in social novelty recognition that is partly regulated by a local retinoic acid cascade, but also remotely regulated by oxytocin via a non-classic mechanism.
Incremental Urban and Dwelling Proposals in Guanajuato, Mexico
Authors: Martin-Chavez Andrea , Andrade Jorge 
Published: January 2021

An International Competition of Architecture, Urban Development and Sustainable Housing, was held in Mexico in 2001. The aim of the contest was to create a vanguard and imaginative urban and architectural design that could accommodate the local regulation, the concept of sustainability and bioclimatic design. The proposed site is located within Guanajuato city’s periphery
From a critic review of the finalist projects we concluded that although they were very innovative in bioclimatic design they maintained the concept of prototype at the unit level and groups of prototypes layout in the plot at the urban level. We decided to take the same theme as an academic exercise for the following reasons:
• The opportunity to design under the same rules but changing the concept of a traditional mass housing complex to a slice of city that transforms itself in time with incremental dwellings.
• The city of Guanajuato is a colonial city very important for its history, cultural activity and architecture. The urban layout adapts to its rugged surface, which is very similar to the one of the given site.
• The contest program had a similar objective to that of the academic program of the last year of architecture in our University.
From the analysis of Guanajuato City thematic and non thematic elements of the urban tissue and with the aid of the Tissue Model method, students made the urban proposals. The unit proposals were designed with Open Building in mind instead of designing the required prototypes.
This article will focus on the tissue model methodology applied, first to formulate the tissue characteristics of downtown Guanajuato, then to develop the urban layout of the new housing complex and finally to develop the agreement documents for the urban design. Some examples of different final urban and support design will be given.
A New Way of Looking at Flexibility
Authors: Leupen Bernard 
Published: January 2021

Houses have an average life span of about a hundred years, whereas households and habitats can change radically and repeatedly during that time. Consequently house designers are faced with the task of giving form to a shelter for dwelling for a period during which the composition of the household and the associated spatial rituals will go through major changes.
Taking not the changeable but the permanent as a departure−point opens up new perspectives. The permanent, or durable component of the house, constitutes the frame within which change can take place. This frame defines the space for change. The frame itself is specific and has qualities that determine the architecture for a long period of time. The space inside the frame is general, its use unspecified; this space I have called generic space.
In this sense the frame frees other parts of a building. Take, for example, the loadbearing column. It relieves the wall from acting in a loadbearing capacity, it frees the wall. A notion essential to the frame ’s functioning is that of disconnection. The column can free the wall by virtue of the fact that wall and column are not inextricably linked.
A building can be separated up into a number of layers that together defines the building as a whole. Accordingly, the building can be regarded as a composition assembled from these layers. Each layer is distinguished from the others by the special role it fulfils. In the frame concept it is assumed that every layer may in principle serve as a frame. Basing my information on texts by Laugier, Semper, Loos, Duffy and Brand, I have made a distinction between the following five layers:
• Main loadbearing structure
• Skin
• Scenery
• Service elements
• Access
In principle I distinguish three categories of changeability: the alterable, the extendable and the polyvalent. These three forms of changeability can be linked with three types of generic space. Should the generic space contain a layer that can be changed then we may describe it as alterable. Should the generic space not be bordered on all sides then it is a question of extendibility. Should the generic space contain no other layers while the generic space invites different uses through its form and dimensions, then we have polyvalence.
To explore my concept, I present an overview of every imaginable combination of layers. This catalogue of frames is then divided among four distinct series of combinations. The basic combinations and the combination series, constitute the tools for designing houses that proceed from the frame concept. It was the intention of this study to develop the frame concept and the body of concepts attendant on it. Building upon its predecessors, I developed a stimulating resource for anyone involved in designing houses that are able to accommodate change. The potentials and limitations of the frame concept can be further explored as designing proceeds.
Mainstreaming Hiv/Aids in Housing Developments and Planning in Swaziland
Authors: Ndlela William N. 
Published: January 2021

Swaziland is one of the countries with the highest Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) rates in the world. Consequently, the increased need for care and support for people living with Acquired Immune-deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), as well as orphaned and vulnerable children, is unprecedented. The response to combat the HIV epidemic has been evident in many areas as the country continues its fight against the HIV epidemic. However, efforts to provide care and support - including Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), management of opportunistic infections, and community home-based care - have, so far, largely stemmed from the health sector. Housing care and other non-medical support is continuing to lag behind. Lack of proper housing is one of the deprivations suffered by orphaned children and people living with AIDS, which predisposes them to attacks by opportunistic infections and other vulnerabilities and disrupts the continuum of care, whilst at times denying occupants the required privacy.
This paper focuses on creating an understanding of why housing care and support for HIV and AIDS affected is lagging behind in Swaziland. It suggests cultural, economic, political and policy issues as the underlying reasons for this, and, therefore, concludes that there is need for bold policy reforms in these areas. In order to create a proper framework for such reforms, the paper reviews the following:
1. The national housing policy's implications on the care and support for people living with HIV and AIDS and the orphaned and vulnerable children; and
2. The current human settlements related responses to HIV and AIDS in Swaziland's rural, peri-urban and urban areas.
In this context, urban development planning paradigms and the extent to which HIV and AIDS is being integrated into the development plans are discussed.
Systemic family therapy for severe functional disorders in youths: a qualitative study in a psychiatric setting
Authors: Hulgaard Ditte Roth , Risør Mette Bech , Lambertsen Gitte Dehlholm , Rask Charlotte Ulrikka 
Published: January 2021

This study aimed to explore participant experiences of systemic family therapy for youths with functional disorders. After completing family therapy, eight youths and thirteen parents participated in qualitative interviews. The analysis was based on interpretative phenomenological analysis and identified two main themes. The first theme was: ‘Challenges of creating meaning and understanding of child symptoms in family therapy’, with symptom understanding and explanation found to be important, though sometimes challenging, themes in therapy. The second theme was: ‘Clinical encounters in family therapy promote dialogue’, which included the finding that the family therapy setting with joint sessions for family members facilitated in‐family communication.Practitioner points

Addressing family dynamics during therapy can be experienced as an invasion of the family domain

Symptom explanations should avoid any suggestion of blame and remove feelings of guilt, be relatable and meaningful and point to solutions for the family

Systemic family therapy can support empowering processes for families of youths with functional disorders
A multitiered sequence capture strategy spanning broad evolutionary scales: Application for phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of orchids
Authors: Peakall Rod , Wong Darren C. J. , Phillips Ryan D. , Ruibal Monica , Eyles Rodney , Rodriguez‐Delgado Claudia , Linde Celeste C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWith over 25,000 species, the drivers of diversity in the Orchidaceae remain to be fully understood. Here, we outline a multitiered sequence capture strategy aimed at capturing hundreds of loci to enable phylogenetic resolution from subtribe to subspecific levels in orchids of the tribe Diurideae. For the probe design, we mined subsets of 18 transcriptomes, to give five target sequence sets aimed at the tribe (Sets 1 & 2), subtribe (Set 3), and within subtribe levels (Sets 4 & 5). Analysis included alternative de novo and reference‐guided assembly, before target sequence extraction, annotation and alignment, and application of a homology‐aware k‐mer block phylogenomic approach, prior to maximum likelihood and coalescence‐based phylogenetic inference. Our evaluation considered 87 taxa in two test data sets: 67 samples spanning the tribe, and 72 samples involving 24 closely related Caladenia species. The tiered design achieved high target loci recovery (>89%), with the median number of recovered loci in Sets 1–5 as follows: 212, 219, 816, 1024, and 1009, respectively. Interestingly, as a first test of the homologous k‐mer approach for targeted sequence capture data, our study revealed its potential for enabling robust phylogenetic species tree inferences. Specifically, we found matching, and in one case improved phylogenetic resolution within species complexes, compared to conventional phylogenetic analysis involving target gene extraction. Our findings indicate that a customized multitiered sequence capture strategy, in combination with promising yet underutilized phylogenomic approaches, will be effective for groups where interspecific divergence is recent, but information on deeper phylogenetic relationships is also required.
The effect of suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and back pain on sexual functioning and marital satisfaction in Iran
Authors: Yazdi Farzaneh , Shakibi Mohammad Reza , Gharavi Roudsari Ehda , Nakhaee Nozar , Salajegheh Pouria 
Published: January 2021

AbstractObjectiveSexual functioning is an important component of life quality and musculoskeletal disorders may effect sexual functioning, so, the present study was conducted to evaluate sexual functioning in patients suffering from back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsThis study was conducted on 102 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 103 patients with back pain, 103 patients with SLE, and 210 people in the control group by the consecutive sampling method. The marital satisfaction questionnaire (Enrich), Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) questionnaire, and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐28) were completed by all the subjects. Disease severity was determined in each group of patients by Disease Activity Score of 28 joints, the Roland Morris questionnaire, and the SLE Disease Activity Index questionnaire.ResultsThe GHQ in rheumatoid arthritis and lupus patients was meaningfully higher than the control group (P < .05), while there was no meaningful difference between back pain patients and the control group (P = .414). The sexual functioning questionnaire score in all 3 groups showed no statistically meaningful difference with the control group (P < .05). Also, the marital satisfaction questionnaire score in all the groups showed no statistically meaningful difference compared to the control group (P = .791).ConclusionThe study has shown that the level of sexual function in participants with back pain and the level of mental health and sexual functioning in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and SLE are significantly lower than healthy people and there is a need for intervention for improving mental health as well as sexual functioning in these patients.
α‐ketoglutarate delays age‐related fertility decline in mammals
Authors: Zhang Zhenzhen , He Changjiu , Gao Yu , Zhang Lu , Song Yukun , Zhu Tianqi , Zhu Kuanfeng , Lv Dongying , Wang Jing , Tian Xiuzhi , Ma Teng , Ji Pengyun , Cui Wei , Liu Guoshi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe fecundity reduction with aging is referred as the reproductive aging which comes earlier than that of chronological aging. Since humans have postponed their childbearing age, to prolong the reproductive age becomes urgent agenda for reproductive biologists. In the current study, we examined the potential associations of α‐ketoglutarate (α‐KG) and reproductive aging in mammals including mice, swine, and humans. There is a clear tendency of reduced α‐KG level with aging in the follicle fluids of human. To explore the mechanisms, mice were selected as the convenient animal model. It is observed that a long term of α‐KG administration preserves the ovarian function, the quality and quantity of oocytes as well as the telomere maintaining system in mice. α‐KG suppresses ATP synthase and alterations of the energy metabolism trigger the nutritional sensors to down‐regulate mTOR pathway. These events not only benefit the general aging process but also maintain ovarian function and delay the reproductive decline. Considering the safety of the α‐KG as a naturally occurring molecule in energy metabolism, its utility in reproduction of large mammals including humans deserves further investigation.