bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cerebellar contribution to sensorimotor adaptation deficits in humans with spinal cord injury
Authors: Lei Yuming , Perez Monica A. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHumans with spinal cord injury (SCI) show deficits in associating motor commands and sensory feedback. Do these deficits affect their ability to adapt movements to new demands? To address this question, we used a robotic exoskeleton to examine learning of a sensorimotor adaptation task during reaching movements by distorting the relationship between hand movement and visual feedback in 22 individuals with chronic incomplete cervical SCI and 22 age-matched control subjects. We found that SCI individuals showed a reduced ability to learn from movement errors compared with control subjects. Sensorimotor areas in anterior and posterior cerebellar lobules contribute to learning of movement errors in intact humans. Structural brain imaging showed that sensorimotor areas in the cerebellum, including lobules I–VI, were reduced in size in SCI compared with control subjects and cerebellar atrophy increased with increasing time post injury. Notably, the degree of spared tissue in the cerebellum was positively correlated with learning rates, indicating participants with lesser atrophy showed higher learning rates. These results suggest that the reduced ability to learn from movement errors during reaching movements in humans with SCI involves abnormalities in the spinocerebellar structures. We argue that this information might help in the rehabilitation of people with SCI.
Graphite to diamond transition induced by photoelectric absorption of ultraviolet photons
Authors: Gómez de Castro Ana I. , Rheinstädter Maikel , Clancy Patrick , Castilla Maribel , de Isidro Federico , Larruquert Juan I. , de Lis-Sánchez Tomas , Britten James , Cabero Piris Mariona , de Isidro-Gómez Federico P. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe phase transition from graphite to diamond is an appealing object of study because of many fundamental and also, practical reasons. The out-of-plane distortions required for the transition are a good tool to understand the collective behaviour of layered materials (graphene, graphite) and the van der Waals forces. As today, two basic processes have been successfully tested to drive this transition: strong shocks and high energy femtolaser excitation. They induce it by increasing either pressure or temperature on graphite. In this work, we report a third method consisting in the irradiation of graphite with ultraviolet photons of energies above 4.4 eV. We show high resolution electron microscopy images of pyrolytic carbon evidencing the dislocation of the superficial graphitic layers after irradiation and the formation of crystallite islands within them. Electron energy loss spectroscopy of the islands show that the sp2 to sp3 hybridation transition is a surface effect. High sensitivity X-ray diffraction experiments and Raman spectroscopy confirm the formation of diamond within the islands.
Inhibition of mitochondrial function by metformin increases glucose uptake, glycolysis and GDF-15 release from intestinal cells
Authors: Yang Ming , Darwish Tamana , Larraufie Pierre , Rimmington Debra , Cimino Irene , Goldspink Deborah A. , Jenkins Benjamin , Koulman Albert , Brighton Cheryl A. , Ma Marcella , Lam Brian Y. H. , Coll Anthony P. , O’Rahilly Stephen , Reimann Frank , Gribble Fiona M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEven though metformin is widely used to treat type2 diabetes, reducing glycaemia and body weight, the mechanisms of action are still elusive. Recent studies have identified the gastrointestinal tract as an important site of action. Here we used intestinal organoids to explore the effects of metformin on intestinal cell physiology. Bulk RNA-sequencing analysis identified changes in hexose metabolism pathways, particularly glycolytic genes. Metformin increased expression of Slc2a1 (GLUT1), decreased expression of Slc2a2 (GLUT2) and Slc5a1 (SGLT1) whilst increasing GLUT-dependent glucose uptake and glycolytic rate as observed by live cell imaging of genetically encoded metabolite sensors and measurement of oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification rates. Metformin caused mitochondrial dysfunction and metformin’s effects on 2D-cultures were phenocopied by treatment with rotenone and antimycin-A, including upregulation of GDF15 expression, previously linked to metformin dependent weight loss. Gene expression changes elicited by metformin were replicated in 3D apical-out organoids and distal small intestines of metformin treated mice. We conclude that metformin affects glucose uptake, glycolysis and GDF-15 secretion, likely downstream of the observed mitochondrial dysfunction. This may explain the effects of metformin on intestinal glucose utilisation and food balance.
A biological Indian Ocean Dipole event in 2019
Authors: Shi Wei , Wang Menghua 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe 2019 positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) event in the boreal autumn was the most serious IOD event of the century with reports of significant sea surface temperature (SST) changes in the east and west equatorial Indian Ocean. Observations of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) between 2012 and 2020 are used to study the significant biological dipole response that occurred in the equatorial Indian Ocean following the 2019 positive IOD event. For the first time, we propose, identify, characterize, and quantify the biological IOD. The 2019 positive IOD event led to anomalous biological activity in both the east IOD zone and west IOD zone. The average chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration reached over ~ 0.5 mg m−3 in 2019 in comparison to the climatology Chl-a of ~ 0.3 mg m−3 in the east IOD zone. In the west IOD zone, the biological activity was significantly depressed. The depressed Chl-a lasted until May 2020. The anomalous ocean biological activity in the east IOD zone was attributed to the advection of the higher-nutrient surface water due to enhanced upwelling. On the other hand, the dampened ocean biological activity in the west IOD zone was attributed to the stronger convergence of the surface waters than that in a normal year.
Direct diagnostic testing of SARS-CoV-2 without the need for prior RNA extraction
Authors: Wei Shan , Kohl Esther , Djandji Alexandre , Morgan Stephanie , Whittier Susan , Mansukhani Mahesh , Hod Eldad , D’Alton Mary , Suh Yousin , Williams Zev 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an urgent need for a rapid, point of care diagnostic testing that could be rapidly scaled on a worldwide level. We developed and tested a highly sensitive and robust assay based on reverse transcription loop mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) that uses readily available reagents and a simple heat block using contrived spike-in and actual clinical samples. RT-LAMP testing on RNA-spiked samples showed a limit of detection (LoD) of 2.5 copies/μl of viral transport media. RT-LAMP testing directly on clinical nasopharyngeal swab samples in viral transport media had an 85% positive percentage agreement (PPA) (17/20), and 100% negative percentage agreement (NPV) and delivered results in 30 min. Our optimized RT-LAMP based testing method is a scalable system that is sufficiently sensitive and robust to test for SARS-CoV-2 directly on clinical nasopharyngeal swab samples in viral transport media in 30 min at the point of care without the need for specialized or proprietary equipment or reagents. This cost-effective and efficient one-step testing method can be readily available for COVID-19 testing world-wide, especially in resource poor settings.
Novel gene rearrangement in the mitochondrial genome of Muraenesox cinereus and the phylogenetic relationship of Anguilliformes
Authors: Zhang Kun , Zhu Kehua , Liu Yifan , Zhang Hua , Gong Li , Jiang Lihua , Liu Liqin , Lü Zhenming , Liu Bingjian 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe structure and gene sequence of the fish mitochondrial genome are generally considered to be conservative. However, two types of gene arrangements are found in the mitochondrial genome of Anguilliformes. In this paper, we report a complete mitogenome of Muraenesox cinereus (Anguilliformes: Muraenesocidae) with rearrangement phenomenon. The total length of the M. cinereus mitogenome was 17,673 bp, and it contained 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNA genes, and two identical control regions (CRs). The mitochondrial genome of M. cinereus was obviously rearranged compared with the mitochondria of typical vertebrates. The genes ND6 and the conjoint trnE were translocated to the location between trnT and trnP, and one of the duplicated CR was translocated to the upstream of the ND6. The tandem duplication and random loss is most suitable for explaining this mitochondrial gene rearrangement. The Anguilliformes phylogenetic tree constructed based on the whole mitochondrial genome well supports Congridae non-monophyly. These results provide a basis for the future Anguilliformes mitochondrial gene arrangement characteristics and further phylogenetic research.
Translational control of enzyme scavenger expression with toxin-induced micro RNA switches
Authors: Pollak Nina M. , Cooper-White Justin J. , Macdonald Joanne 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBiological computation requires in vivo control of molecular behavior to progress development of autonomous devices. miRNA switches represent excellent, easily engineerable synthetic biology tools to achieve user-defined gene regulation. Here we present the construction of a synthetic network to implement detoxification functionality. We employed a modular design strategy by engineering toxin-induced control of an enzyme scavenger. Our miRNA switch results show moderate synthetic expression control over a biologically active detoxification enzyme molecule, using an established design protocol. However, following a new design approach, we demonstrated an evolutionarily designed miRNA switch to more effectively activate enzyme activity than synthetically designed versions, allowing markedly improved extrinsic user-defined control with a toxin as inducer. Our straightforward new design approach is simple to implement and uses easily accessible web-based databases and prediction tools. The ability to exert control of toxicity demonstrates potential for modular detoxification systems that provide a pathway to new therapeutic and biocomputing applications.
Utilization of the zebrafish model to unravel the harmful effects of biomass burning during Amazonian wildfires
Authors: Babić Sanja , Čižmek Lara , Maršavelski Aleksandra , Malev Olga , Pflieger Maryline , Strunjak-Perović Ivančica , Popović Natalija Topić , Čož-Rakovac Rozelindra , Trebše Polonca 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAmazonian wildfires in 2019 have raised awareness about rainforest burning due to increased emissions of particulate matter and carbon. In the context of these emissions, by-products of lignin thermal degradation (i.e. methoxyphenols) are often neglected. Methoxyphenols entering the atmosphere may form intermediates with currently unknown reaction mechanisms and toxicity. This study for the first time provides a comprehensive insight into the impact of lignin degradation products [guaiacol, catechol], and their nitrated intermediates [4-nitrocatechol, 4,6-dinitroguaiacol, 5-nitroguaiacol] on zebrafish Danio rerio. Results revealed 4-nitrocatechol and catechol as the most toxic, followed by 4,6DNG > 5NG > GUA. The whole-organism bioassay integrated with molecular modeling emphasized the potential of methoxyphenols to inhibit tyrosinase, lipoxygenase, and carbonic anhydrase, consequently altering embryonic development (i.e. affected sensorial, skeletal, and physiological parameters, pigmentation formation failure, and non-hatching of larvae). The whole-organism bioassay integrated with in silico approach confirmed the harmful effects of lignin degradation products and their intermediates on aquatic organisms, emphasizing the need for their evaluation within ecotoxicity studies focused on aquatic compartments.
Brain-inspired spiking neural networks for decoding and understanding muscle activity and kinematics from electroencephalography signals during hand movements
Authors: Kumarasinghe Kaushalya , Kasabov Nikola , Taylor Denise 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCompared to the abilities of the animal brain, many Artificial Intelligence systems have limitations which emphasise the need for a Brain-Inspired Artificial Intelligence paradigm. This paper proposes a novel Brain-Inspired Spiking Neural Network (BI-SNN) model for incremental learning of spike sequences. BI-SNN maps spiking activity from input channels into a high dimensional source-space which enhances the evolution of polychronising spiking neural populations. We applied the BI-SNN to predict muscle activity and kinematics from electroencephalography signals during upper limb functional movements. The BI-SNN extends our previously proposed eSPANNet computational model by integrating it with the ‘NeuCube’ brain-inspired SNN architecture. We show that BI-SNN can successfully predict continuous muscle activity and kinematics of upper-limb. The experimental results confirmed that the BI-SNN resulted in strongly correlated population activity and demonstrated the feasibility for real-time prediction. In contrast to the majority of Brain–Computer Interfaces (BCIs) that constitute a ‘black box’, BI-SNN provide quantitative and visual feedback about the related brain activity. This study is one of the first attempts to examine the feasibility of finding neural correlates of muscle activity and kinematics from electroencephalography using a brain-inspired computational paradigm. The findings suggest that BI-SNN is a better neural decoder for non-invasive BCI.
Residual and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in fly ash from co-combustion of excess sludge and coal
Authors: Tang Yao , Pan Jingshi , Li Biqing , Zhao Suying , Zhang Liguo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCo-combustion of municipal excess sludge (ES) and coal provides an alternative method for disposing ES. The present study aims to investigate the residual and ecological risk of heavy metals in fly ash from co-combustion of ES and coal. The total concentration and speciation distribution of heavy metals, characterization of SEM, EDX, XRD and leaching test were carried out to assess the fly ash in this study. The results showed that the total concentrations of Cu, Zn and Mn were higher than others in fly ash, and most heavy metals were concentrated in fine particles. For Cd, Cr and Pb, the percentages of speciation of F4 and F5 were all over 90%, suggesting the relatively lower leaching toxicity. The leaching percent of all heavy metals was lower than 5% by two diluted HNO3 solutions for fly ash. The potential ecological risks increased with the decrease of particle size of fly ash, and Cd accounted for the main fraction for ecological risk despite of lower concentration in comparison to other measured heavy metals.
The effect of the definition of ‘pandemic’ on quantitative assessments of infectious disease outbreak risk
Authors: Singer Benjamin J. , Thompson Robin N. , Bonsall Michael B. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn the early stages of an outbreak, the term ‘pandemic’ can be used to communicate about infectious disease risk, particularly by those who wish to encourage a large-scale public health response. However, the term lacks a widely accepted quantitative definition. We show that, under alternate quantitative definitions of ‘pandemic’, an epidemiological metapopulation model produces different estimates of the probability of a pandemic. Critically, we show that using different definitions alters the projected effects of key parameters—such as inter-regional travel rates, degree of pre-existing immunity, and heterogeneity in transmission rates between regions—on the risk of a pandemic. Our analysis provides a foundation for understanding the scientific importance of precise language when discussing pandemic risk, illustrating how alternative definitions affect the conclusions of modelling studies. This serves to highlight that those working on pandemic preparedness must remain alert to the variability in the use of the term ‘pandemic’, and provide specific quantitative definitions when undertaking one of the types of analysis that we show to be sensitive to the pandemic definition.
Foliar resistance to Rhizoctonia solani in Arabidopsis is compromised by simultaneous loss of ethylene, jasmonate and PEN2 mediated defense pathways
Authors: Kidd Brendan N. , Foley Rhonda , Singh Karam B. , Anderson Jonathan P. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRhizoctonia solani causes damaging yield losses on most major food crops. R. solani isolates belonging to anastomosis group 8 (AG8) are soil-borne, root-infecting pathogens with a broad host range. AG8 isolates can cause disease on wheat, canola and legumes, however Arabidopsis thaliana is heretofore thought to possess non-host resistance as A. thaliana ecotypes, including the reference strain Col-0, are resistant to AG8 infection. Using a mitochondria-targeted redox sensor (mt-roGFP2) and cell death staining, we demonstrate that both AG8 and a host isolate (AG2-1) of R. solani are able to infect A. thaliana roots. Above ground tissue of A. thaliana was found to be resistant to AG8 but not AG2. Genetic analysis revealed that ethylene, jasmonate and PENETRATION2-mediated defense pathways work together to provide resistance to AG8 in the leaves which subsequently enable tolerance of root infections. Overall, we demonstrate a significant difference in defense capabilities of above and below ground tissue in providing resistance to R. solani AG8 in Arabidopsis.
Early stage dental caries detection using near infrared spatial frequency domain imaging
Authors: Bounds Alistair D. , Girkin John M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEarly stage dental caries can be remineralized without the need for “drill-and-fill” treatments that are more invasive and less permanent. However, early stage caries lesions typically present as a white spot on a white background, resulting in many lesions only being identified after they have developed beyond the point of remineralization as cavities. We present a spatial frequency domain imaging technique to characterize the optical properties of dental tissue. This technique enables different dental tissue types (healthy enamel, healthy dentin and damaged or demineralized enamel) to be easily distinguished from one another and allows quantification of the reduced scattering coefficients of dental tissue. The use of near-infrared light at 850 nm allows high depth penetration into the tissue and suppression of absorption effects, ensuring only changes in the reduced scattering coefficient that result directly from demineralization of enamel are observed and simplifying the analysis method. This technique provides a tool to both guide the attention of dentists to areas of interest and potential demineralization, and to provide longitudinal quantified assessments to monitor caries lesion behaviour over time.
A new expansion material used for roof-contacted filling based on smelting slag
Authors: Na Hua , Lv Guocheng , Wang Lijuan , Liao Libing , Zhang Dan , Guo Lijie , Li Wenchen 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe improper handling of smelting slag will seriously pollute the environment, and the unfilled roof of the goaf of the mine will threaten the safety of the mine. Expansion materials have attracted more and more attention because of their excellent properties. In this paper, copper-nickel smelting slag that has some active ingredients of gelling is used instead of traditional aggregate and some part of cement in order to reduce its pollution to the environment and its costs. For safety reasons, hydrogen peroxide was chosen as the foaming agent. Sodium silicate and hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) are used as additives. Our results showed that after 28 days of curing, the material has better mechanical properties and the early compressive strength of the material was enhanced by sodium silicate. The efficiency of foaming was improved by CTAB. It also proves that copper–nickel smelting slag can be used in expansion material. At the same time, the utilization rate of the copper–nickel smelting slag of this formula can reach 70%, reduce its pollution to the environment.
Overlooked potential of positrons in cancer therapy
Authors: Hioki Takanori , Gholami Yaser H. , McKelvey Kelly J. , Aslani Alireza , Marquis Harry , Eslick Enid M. , Willowson Kathy P. , Howell Viive M. , Bailey Dale L. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPositron (β+) emitting radionuclides have been used for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in diagnostic medicine since its development in the 1950s. Development of a fluorinated glucose analog, fluorodeoxyglucose, labelled with a β+ emitter fluorine-18 (18F-FDG), made it possible to image cellular targets with high glycolytic metabolism. These targets include cancer cells based on increased aerobic metabolism due to the Warburg effect, and thus, 18F-FDG is a staple in nuclear medicine clinics globally. However, due to its attention in the diagnostic setting, the therapeutic potential of β+ emitters have been overlooked in cancer medicine. Here we show the first in vitro evidence of β+ emitter cytotoxicity on prostate cancer cell line LNCaP C4-2B when treated with 20 Gy of 18F. Monte Carlo simulation revealed thermalized positrons (sub-keV) traversing DNA can be lethal due to highly localized energy deposition during the thermalization and annihilation processes. The computed single and double strand breakages were ~ 55% and 117% respectively, when compared to electrons at 400 eV. Our in vitro and in silico data imply an unexplored therapeutic potential for β+ emitters. These results may also have implications for emerging cancer theranostic strategies, where β+ emitting radionuclides could be utilized as a therapeutic as well as a diagnostic agent once the challenges in radiation safety and protection after patient administration of a radioactive compound are overcome.
Fabrication of the magnetic mesoporous silica Fe-MCM-41-A as efficient adsorbent: performance, kinetics and mechanism
Authors: Guo Yige , Chen Bin , Zhao Ying , Yang Tianxue 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAntibiotics are emerging pollutants and increasingly present in aquaculture and industrial wastewater. Due to their impact on the environment and health, their removal has recently become a significant concern. In this investigation, we synthesized nano zero-valent iron-loaded magnetic mesoporous silica (Fe-MCM-41-A) via precipitation and applied the adsorption of oxytetracycline (OTC) from an aqueous solution. The effects of competing ions such as Na+, Ca2+ and Cu2+ on the adsorption process under different pH conditions were studied in depth to providing a theoretical basis for the application of nanomaterials. The characterization of the obtained material through transmission electron microscopy demonstrates that the adsorbent possesses hexagonal channels, which facilitate mass transfer during adsorption. The loaded zero-valent iron made the magnetic, and was thus separated under an applied magnetic field. The adsorption of OTC onto Fe-MCM-41-A is rapid and obeys the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, and the maximum adsorption capacity of OTC is 625.90 mg g−1. The reaction between OTC and Fe-MCM-41-A was inner complexation and was less affected by the Na+. The effect of Ca2+ on the adsorption was small under acidic and neutral conditions. However, the promotion effect of Ca2+ increased by the increase of pH. Cu2+ decreased the removal efficiencies continuously and the inhibitory effects decrease varied with the increase of pH. We propose that surface complexing, ion-exchange, cationic π-bonding, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobicity are responsible for the adsorption of OTC onto Fe-MCM-41-A.