bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gut microbiota profiles and fecal beta‐glucuronidase activity in kidney transplant recipients with and without post‐transplant diarrhea
Authors: Zhang Lisa T. , Westblade Lars F. , Iqbal Fatima , Taylor Michael R. , Chung Alice , Satlin Michael J. , Magruder Matthew , Edusei Emmanuel , Albakry Shady , Botticelli Brittany , Robertson Amy , Alston Tricia , Dadhania Darshana M. , Lubetzky Michelle , Hirota Simon A. , Greenway Steven C. , Lee John R. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPost‐transplant diarrhea is a common complication after solid organ transplantation and is frequently attributed to the widely prescribed immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Given recent work identifying the relationship between MMF toxicity and gut bacterial β‐glucuronidase activity, we evaluated the relationship between gut microbiota composition, fecal β‐glucuronidase activity, and post‐transplant diarrhea. We recruited 97 kidney transplant recipients and profiled the gut microbiota in 273 fecal specimens using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We further characterized fecal β‐glucuronidase activity in a subset of this cohort. Kidney transplant recipients with post‐transplant diarrhea had decreased gut microbial diversity and decreased relative gut abundances of 12 genera when compared to those without post‐transplant diarrhea (adjusted p value < .15, Wilcoxon rank sum test). Among the kidney transplant recipients with post‐transplant diarrhea, those with higher fecal β‐glucuronidase activity had a more prolonged course of diarrhea (≥7 days) compared to patients with lower fecal β‐glucuronidase activity (91% vs 40%, p = .02, Fisher's exact test). Our data reveal post‐transplant diarrhea as a complex phenomenon with decreased gut microbial diversity and commensal gut organisms. This study further links commensal bacterial metabolism with an important clinical outcome measure, suggesting fecal β‐glucuronidase activity could be a novel biomarker for gastrointestinal‐related MMF toxicity.
Pemphigus erythematosus: A case series from a tertiary academic center and literature review
Authors: Hobbs Landon K. , Noland Mary‐Margaret B. , Raghavan Shyam S. , Gru Alejandro A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundPemphigus erythematosus (PE) is a rare autoimmune skin condition with clinical, histopathological, and serological features that show overlap between lupus erythematosus and pemphigus foliaceus. It typically presents with erythematous, scaly plaques and has a female predominance.MethodsAfter Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, we searched the internal pathology database for “pemphigus erythematosus” in the diagnostic line between 1 January 2000 and 30 July 2020. A comprehensive chart review was performed to collect patient demographics, clinical presentation, and treatment course. We performed a review of the literature and clinical, histopathological, and serological features were collected for comparison to our case series.ResultsFive patients in the case series and 87 patients in the literature were diagnosed with PE. Clinical, histopathological, and serological features were consistent with what has been reported in the literature, although our cohort demonstrated a younger age at presentation, along with a higher proportion (80%) of Black patients. Of the 25 patients in the literature whose race was reported, only five patients (20%) were reported to be Black.ConclusionThis is the first case series of PE that has shown an increased prevalence among middle‐aged Black patients. No specific trend in regards to race was seen in the review of the literature.
No place to hide: Rare plant detection through remote sensing
Authors: Cerrejón Carlos , Valeria Osvaldo , Marchand Philippe , Caners Richard T. , Fenton Nicole J. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAimDetection of rare species is limited by their intrinsic nature and by the constraints associated with traditional field surveys. Remote sensing (RS) provides a powerful alternative to traditional detection methods through the increasing availability of RS products. Here, we assess the capacity of RS at high and medium resolution to detect rare plants with direct and indirect approaches, and how the performance of RS can be influenced by the characteristics of species.MethodsAn extensive literature review was conducted to synthesize the use of RS to detect or predict rare plant occurrence at high and medium resolution (<30 m and 30–300 m, respectively). The concept of “rarity” was based on Rabinowitz's rare species classification. The literature review was performed in Scopus for the period 1990–2020.ResultsWhile direct detection is often limited, it is possible with high and very high spatial resolution data for rare plants with distinctive traits. RS is also able to capture biophysical conditions driving rare plant distributions, which can indirectly provide accurate predictions for them. Both approaches have the potential to discover new populations of rare plants. RS can also feed SAMs of rare plants, which combined with SDMs can provide a valuable approach for rare plant detection. While direct detection is limited by the space occupied by a species within its habitat and its morphological, phenological and physiological characteristics, the predictive performance of RS‐based SDMs (indirect detection) can be influenced by habitat size, habitat specificity and phenological features of rare plants. Similarly, model predictive performance can be influenced by the rarity form of the target species according to the rarity classification criteria.Main conclusions.With this synthesis, the strong potential of RS for the purposes of detection and prediction of rare plant has been highlighted, with practical applications for conservation and management.
The impact of Ibero‐American science on global bioethical thinking
Authors: Valderrama‐Zurián Juan Carlos , Aleixandre‐Benavent Rafael , Aznar Justo 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe bioethics research conducted in Ibero‐American countries has been very much restricted to its own realm.The aim of this study was to perform a bibliometric evaluation of bioethics papers by authors affiliated with Ibero‐American institutions, and to determine how their work influences global bioethics literature.We performed a literature search in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS CC) and Scopus.We identified a total of 5,975 documents, of which 84.3% were articles, 11.6% reviews and 4.1% book chapters. The median number of citations per paper was higher in English‐language journals.Only 10 articles published between 2010 and 2019 in peer‐reviewed bioethics journals and produced exclusively by authors from Ibero‐American institutions garnered more than 15 citations.Our study suggests that if researchers from Ibero‐American institutions want to influence global bioethical thinking, they must make the required leap in quality to be able to publish in high‐quality bioethics and mainstream journals.
Changes in left atrial phasic strain and mechanical dispersion: Effects of age and gender
Authors: Stefani Luke D. , Trivedi Siddharth J. , Ferkh Aaisha , Altman Mikhail , Thomas Liza 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPurposeLeft atrial (LA) function by two‐dimensional (2D) strain is an emerging tool with increasing clinical utility. Age and gender are key modulators of strain parameters; however, the specific time course for LA structural and functional changes is not clearly defined.MethodsA total of 147 healthy individuals (20‐69 years) underwent transthoracic echocardiography; subjects were evaluated by age (decade) and gender. LA and left ventricular (LV) volumetric and strain measurements were performed.ResultsLeft atrial reservoir (ƐR) and conduit strain (ƐCD) with negatively correlated with age (r =−.36; r = −.56; P < .001, respectively) being significantly lower by the 6th and 5th decades, respectively. Contractile strain (ƐCT) positively correlated with age (r = .36; P < .001), being significantly higher by the 6th decade. ƐR and ƐCD were higher in young females (20‐34 years) compared to young males (P = .033 and P < .001, respectively). ƐCT was significantly higher in middle‐aged adult males (35‐50yrs; P = .010), though seen later in females (≥51 years; P = .005). Standard deviation of time to positive strain (SD‐TPS) significantly higher by the 5th decade and correlated with age in both males (r = .44; P <.001) and females (r = .40; P = .001).ConclusionWe demonstrate that ƐR and ƐCD are lower with age, with differing rates between males and females. As a compensatory mechanism for decline in ƐCD, ƐCT is higher, more notably in males; comparatively, females display a more prominent decline in ƐR and ƐCD with age. Alteration in electromechanical properties occurred in both genders with SD‐TPS becoming higher with age.
Demographic parameters of Trichopria drosophilae in three host species
Authors: Esteban‐Santiago José Mauricio , Rodríguez‐Leyva Esteban , Lomeli‐Flores J. Refugio , González‐Cabrera Jaime 
Published: February 2021

AbstractTrichopria drosophilae Perkins (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) is a cosmopolitan endoparasitoid of the pupal stages of Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and other Drosophila species around the world. It is also considered as a potential biocontrol agent of this pest. Here we describe the effects of three hosts (D. suzukii, Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, and Drosophila immigrans Sturtevant) on the demographic parameters of T. drosophilae. Adult female T. drosophilae that emerged from D. immigrans and D. suzukii were larger than those that emerged from D. melanogaster. Fertility was 18% greater for T. drosophilae that developed on D. immigrans and D. suzukii, compared with those developing on D. melanogaster. The net reproductive rate of T. drosophilae was higher on D. immigrans and D. suzukii (R0 = 25.25 and 26.51) than on D. melanogaster (R0 = 22.53). However, the generation time was longer on D. immigrans and D. suzukii (T = 20.38 and 19.59 days, respectively) than on D. melanogaster (T = 17.20 days), perhaps due to their larger size. This favored the intrinsic rate of natural increase of T. drosophilae reproducing on D. melanogaster (rm = 0.181) compared with those reproducing on D. immigrans and D. suzukii (rm = 0.158 and 0.167, respectively). Parasitism rate of D. suzukii by T. drosophilae was 53% regardless of the host species from which the parasitoid had emerged. The implications of these results are discussed in the context of biological control of D. suzukii.
Leaf morphological and physiological variations in response to canopy dieback of Persian Oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.)
Authors: Tongo Afsaneh , Jalilvand Hamid , Hosseininasr Mohamad , Naji Hamid Reza 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSince the early 2000s, Persian oak forests in the Zagros in Iran have shown signs of decline. This study was designed to determine the relationships between crown dieback of Persian oak (Quercus brantii) with morphological and physiological leaf traits in two forest sites: Sheshdar (SH) and Gatchan (GA) in Ilam, Western Iran. Trees with increasing severity of crown dieback were selected from healthy to severely defoliated. Foliage samples were taken randomly from the crown on the slope‐aspect of the site. The results suggested that Q. brantii was not sensitive to drought effects during normal growth processes. There were variations in leaf physiological traits, however, in the different dieback classes at both sites. Foliage from declining trees at both sites had higher dry weights in contrast to the decreasing water contents associated with lower leaf areas in trees with severe defoliation from site GH. Chlorophyll pigments (Chl a and b) and carotene (Car.) were significantly lower decreased significantly in trees with moderate to severe defoliations from site GH, while in leakage from the foliage increased. A contrasting pattern occurred at site SH as accumulations of osmotic solutes (soluble sugars, total soluble protein and proline) increased significantly in foliage of severely defoliated trees, while at site GH, the total soluble protein and proline contents showed an upward trend until moderate defoliation. It was concluded that the physiological responses of Persian oak trees with dieback varied under extreme drought. Based on principal component analysis, leaf water status contributed most to the differences between dieback groups. It is concluded that physiological variations in oak foliage contribute to defence mechanisms enabling drought to be tolerated, maintaining essential life processes.
Sleep quality and its relationship to mental health, physical health and health behaviours among young adults with serious mental illness enrolled in a lifestyle intervention trial
Authors: Aschbrenner Kelly A. , Naslund John A. , Salwen‐Deremer Jessica K. , Browne Julia , Bartels Stephen J. , Wolfe Rosemarie S. , Xie Haiyi , Mueser Kim T. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAimTo characterize subjective sleep quality and examine its associations with mental health, physical health and health behaviours in a transdiagnostic sample of young adults with serious mental illness (SMI) enrolled in a lifestyle intervention trial.MethodsBaseline data from a lifestyle intervention trial with young adults (ages 18–35 years) with SMI included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), mental health, physical health and health behaviour outcomes. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression were used in analyses.ResultsOf 150 participants, 76% were categorized with poor sleep quality. Depressive symptoms were significantly associated with sleep quality (β = .438, p < .001); however, no association was found with physical health and health behaviours.ConclusionsYoung adults with SMI enrolled in lifestyle interventions may benefit from treatment that addresses sleep as part of a comprehensive approach to health promotion with attention to the role of depressive symptoms in sleep quality.
Distinct contributions of alpha and theta rhythms to perceptual and attentional sampling
Authors: Michel René , Dugué Laura , Busch Niko A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAccumulating evidence suggests that visual perception operates in an oscillatory fashion at an alpha frequency (around 10 Hz). Moreover, visual attention also seems to operate rhythmically, albeit at a theta frequency (around 5 Hz). Both rhythms are often associated to "perceptual snapshots" taken at the favorable phases of these rhythms. However, less is known about the unfavorable phases: do they constitute "blind gaps," requiring the observer to guess, or is information sampled with reduced precision insufficient for the task demands? As simple detection or discrimination tasks cannot distinguish these options, we applied a continuous report task by asking for the exact orientation of a Landolt ring's gap to estimate separate model parameters for precision and the amount of guessing. We embedded this task in a well‐established psychophysical protocol by densely sampling such reports across 20 cue‐target stimulus onset asynchronies in a Posner‐like cueing paradigm manipulating involuntary spatial attention. Testing the resulting time courses of the guessing and precision parameters for rhythmicities using a fast Fourier transform, we found an alpha rhythm (9.6 Hz) in precision for invalidly cued trials and a theta rhythm (4.8 Hz) in the guess rate across validity conditions. These results suggest distinct roles of the perceptual alpha and the attentional theta rhythm. We speculate that both rhythms result in environmental sampling characterized by fluctuating spatial resolution, speaking against a strict succession of blind gaps and perceptual snapshots.
Genetic variation reveals individual‐level climate tracking across the annual cycle of a migratory bird
Authors: Bay Rachael A. , Karp Daniel S. , Saracco James F. , Anderegg William R. L. , Frishkoff Luke O. , Wiedenfeld David , Smith Thomas B. , Ruegg Kristen 
Published: February 2021

AbstractFor migratory species, seasonal movements complicate local climate adaptation, as it is unclear whether individuals track climate niches across the annual cycle. In the migratory songbird yellow warbler (Setophaga petechia), we find a correlation between individual‐level wintering and breeding precipitation, but not temperature. Birds wintering in the driest regions of the Neotropics breed in the driest regions of North America. Individuals from drier regions also possess distinct morphologies and population responses to varying rainfall. We find a positive association between bill size and breeding season precipitation which, given documented climate‐associated genomic variation, might reflect adaptation to local precipitation regimes. Relative abundance in the breeding range is linked to interannual fluctuations in precipitation, but the directionality of this response varies across geography. Together, our results suggest that variation in climate optima may exist across the breeding range of yellow warblers and provide a mechanism for selection across the annual cycle.
Predictors of perfusion computed tomography alterations in stroke mimics attended as stroke code
Authors: Gonzalez‐Martinez Alicia , Trillo Santiago , Benavides‐Bernaldo de Quirós Carmen , Casado‐Fernández Laura , De Toledo María , Barbosa‐Del Olmo Antonio , Vega Piris Lorena , Ramos Carmen , Manzanares‐Soler Rafael , Ximénez‐Carrillo Álvaro , Vivancos José 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackground and purposeStroke mimics (SMs) account for a significant number of patients attended as stroke code (SC) with an increasing number over the years. Recent studies show perfusion computed tomography (PCT) alterations in some SMs, especially in seizures. The objective of our study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and PCT alterations in SMs attended as SC in order to identify potential predictors of PCT alterations in SMs.MethodsA retrospective study was performed including all SC activations undergoing a multimodal CT study including non‐enhanced computed tomography (CT), CT angiography and PCT, as part of our SC protocol, over 39 months. Patients with a final diagnosis of SM after complete diagnosis work‐up were therefore selected. Clinical variables, diagnosis, PCT alteration patterns and type of map affected (Tmax or time to peak, cerebral blood flow and cerebral blood volume) were registered.ResultsStroke mimics represent up to 16% (284/1761) of SCs with a complete multimodal study according to our series. Amongst SMs, 26% (74/284) showed PCT alterations. PCT abnormalities are more prevalent in seizures and status epilepticus and the main pattern is alteration of the time to peak map, of unilateral hemispheric distribution or of non‐vascular territory. In our series, the independent predictors of alteration in PCT in SMs are aphasia, female sex and older age.ConclusionsPerfusion computed tomography alterations can be found amongst almost a third of SMs attended as SC, especially older women presenting with aphasia with a final diagnosis of epileptic seizures and status epilepticus.
Seizures and memory impairment induced by patient‐derived anti‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor antibodies in mice are attenuated by anakinra, an interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist
Authors: Taraschenko Olga , Fox Howard S. , Zekeridou Anastasia , Pittock Sean J. , Eldridge Ember , Farukhuddin Fnu , Al‐Saleem Fetweh , Devi Kattala Chandana , Dessain Scott K. , Casale George , Willcockson Gregory , Dingledine Raymond 
Published: February 2021

AbstractObjectiveNeuroinflammation associated with anti‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis may facilitate seizures. We previously showed that intraventricular administration of cerebrospinal fluid from patients with anti‐NMDAR encephalitis to mice precipitates seizures, thereby confirming that antibodies are directly pathogenic. To determine whether interleukin (IL)‐1‐mediated inflammation exacerbates autoimmune seizures, we asked whether blocking the effects of IL‐1 by anakinra, a selective IL‐1 receptor antagonist, blunts antibody‐induced seizures.MethodsWe infused C57BL/6 mice intraventricularly with purified serum IgG from patients with anti‐NMDAR encephalitis or monoclonal anti‐NMDAR IgG; subdural electroencephalogram was continuously recorded. After a 6‐day interval, mice received anakinra (25 mg/kg sc, twice daily) or vehicle for 5 days. Following a 4‐day washout period, we performed behavioral tests to assess motor function, anxiety, and memory, followed by hippocampus tissue analysis to assess astrocytic (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP]) and microglial (ionized calcium‐binding adapter molecule [Iba]‐1) activation.ResultsOf 31 mice infused with purified patient NMDAR‐IgG (n = 17) or monoclonal NMDAR‐IgG (n = 14), 81% developed seizures. Median baseline daily seizure count during exposure to antibodies was 3.9; most seizures were electrographic. Median duration of seizures during the baseline was 82.5 s. Anakinra administration attenuated daily seizure frequency by 60% (p = .02). Anakinra reduced seizure duration; however, the effect was delayed and became apparent only after the cessation of treatment (p = .04). Anakinra improved novel object recognition in mice with antibody‐induced seizures (p = .03) but did not alter other behaviors. Anakinra reduced the expression of GFAP and Iba‐1 in the hippocampus of mice with seizures, indicating decreased astrocytic and microglial activation.SignificanceOur evidence supports a role for IL‐1 in the pathogenesis of seizures in anti‐NMDAR encephalitis. These data are consistent with therapeutic effects of anakinra in other severe autoimmune and inflammatory seizure syndromes. Targeting inflammation via blocking IL‐1 receptor‐mediated signaling may be promising for developing novel treatments for refractory autoimmune seizures.
Value of initial C‐reactive protein levels in status epilepticus outcome prediction
Authors: Madžar Dominik , Reindl Caroline , Mrochen Anne , Hamer Hajo M. , Huttner Hagen B. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe role of neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of seizures is increasingly recognized, and the evaluation of potential biochemical markers of inflammatory processes in seizures and status epilepticus (SE), such as C‐reactive protein (CRP), has gained attention. The present study assessed the first CRP level obtained in an SE episode regarding its value for SE outcome prediction. Among 362 admissions for SE during the study period, 231 episodes satisfied the inclusion criteria. Higher initial CRP concentrations were independently associated with in‐hospital mortality and poor functional outcome at discharge in logistic regression models adjusting for SE severity, severity of SE etiology, and development of treatment refractoriness. Therefore, initial CRP levels may add to the prediction of SE prognosis. The pathomechanisms through which CRP is linked with the prognosis of SE, however, remain to be established.