bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Optimal body size adjustment of L3 CT skeletal muscle area for sarcopenia assessment
Authors: Derstine Brian A. , Holcombe Sven A. , Ross Brian E. , Wang Nicholas C. , Su Grace L. , Wang Stewart C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMeasurements of skeletal muscle cross-sectional area (SMA) at the level of the third lumbar (L3) vertebra derived from clinical computed tomography (CT) scans are commonly used in assessments of sarcopenia, the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function associated with aging. As SMA is correlated with height and Body Mass Index (BMI), body size adjustment is necessary to fairly assess sarcopenic low muscle mass in individuals of different height and BMI. The skeletal muscle index, a widely used measure, adjusts for height as $$(SMA/height^2)$$

(
S
M
A
/
h
e
i
g
h

t
2

)

but uses no BMI adjustment. There is no agreed upon standard for body size adjustment. We extracted L3 SMA using non-contrast-enhanced CT scans from healthy adults, split into ‘Under-40’ and ‘Over-40’ cohorts. Sex-specific allometric analysis showed that height to the power of one was the optimal integer coefficient for height adjusted SMA in both males and females. We computed two height-adjusted measures $$SMA_{HT}=SMA/height$$

S
M

A

HT

=
S
M
A
/
h
e
i
g
h
t

and $$SMA_{HT2}=SMA/height^2$$

S
M

A

H
T
2

=
S
M
A
/
h
e
i
g
h

t
2

, comparing their Pearson correlations versus age, height, weight, and BMI separately by sex and cohort. Finally, in the ‘Under-40’ cohort, we used linear regression to convert each height-adjusted measure into a z-score ($$z(SMA_{HT})$$

z
(
S
M

A

HT

)

, $$z(SMA_{HT2})$$

z
(
S
M

A

H
T
2

)

) adjusted for BMI. $$SMA_{HT}$$

S
M

A

HT

was less correlated with height in both males and females ($$r=0.005$$

r
=
0.005

, $$p=0.91$$

p
=
0.91

and $$r=0.1$$

r
=
0.1

, $$p=0.01$$

p
=
0.01

) than $$SMA_{HT2}$$

S
M

A

H
T
2

($$r=-\,0.30$$

r
=
-

0.30

and $$r=-\,0.21$$

r
=
-

0.21

, $$p<0.001$$

p
<
0.001

). $$z(SMA_{HT})$$

z
(
S
M

A

HT

)

was uncorrelated with BMI and weight, and minimally correlated with height in males and females ($$r=-\,0.01$$

r
=
-

0.01

, $$p=0.85$$

p
=
0.85

and $$r=0.15$$

r
=
0.15

, $$p<0.001$$

p
<
0.001

). The final $$z(SMA_{HT})$$

z
(
S
M

A

HT

)

equation was: $$z = (I - {\widehat{I}}) / SD(I)$$

z
=

(
I
-

I
^

)

/
S
D

(
I
)

, where $$I = SMA/height$$

I
=
S
M
A
/
h
e
i
g
h
t

, $${\widehat{I}} = 50 + BMI + 13 \times sex + 0.6 \times BMI \times sex$$

I
^

=
50
+
B
M
I
+
13
×
s
e
x
+
0.6
×
B
M
I
×
s
e
x

, $$SD(I) = 8.8 + 2.6 \times sex$$

S
D
(
I
)
=
8.8
+
2.6
×
s
e
x

, and sex = 1 if male, 0 if female. We propose $$SMA_{HT}$$

S
M

A

HT

for optimal height adjustment and the $$z(SMA_{HT})$$

z
(
S
M

A

HT

)

score for optimal height and BMI adjustment. By minimizing correlations with height and BMI, the $$z(SMA_{HT})$$

z
(
S
M

A

HT

)

score produces unbiased assessments of relative L3 skeletal muscle area across the full range of body sizes.
Regional homogeneity abnormalities of resting state brain activities in children with growth hormone deficiency
Authors: Zhang Fanyu , Hua Bo , Wang Mei , Wang Tengfei , Ding Zhongxiang , Ding Ju-Rong 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGrowth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a common developmental disorder in children characterized by low levels of growth hormone secretion, short stature, and multiple cognitive and behavioral problems, including hyperactivity, anxiety, and depression. However, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains unclear. In order to investigate abnormalities of brain functioning in children with GHD, we preformed functional magnetic resonance imaging and regional homogeneity (ReHo) analysis in 26 children with GHD and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) in a resting state. Compared with HCs, children with GHD exhibited increased ReHo in the left putamen and decreased ReHo in the right precentral gyrus, reflecting a dysfunction of inhibitory control. Decreased ReHo was also identified in the orbital parts of the bilateral superior frontal gyrus and the medial part of the left superior frontal gyrus, a finding that correlated with the inappropriate anxiety and depression that are observed in this patient population. Our results provide imaging evidence of potential pathophysiologic mechanisms for the cognitive and behavioral abnormalities of children with GHD.
Weather radar detection of planetary boundary layer and smoke layer top of peatland fire in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Arif , Nugroho Devis Styo , Yamanaka Manabu D. , Kawasaki Masahiro , Kozan Osamu , Ohashi Masafumi , Hashiguchi Hiroyuki , Mori Shuichi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDuring the dry period of August–October 2015, a C-band Doppler weather radar of the BMKG station in a fire-prone peatland area, Palangka Raya, detected echoes with reflectivity values between − 19 and + 34 dBZ at a height below 2–3 km and a slant range of 100 km. The MERRA-2/NASA atmospheric reanalysis database is used to obtain the vertical profiles of refractive index and equivalent potential temperature of the air. The temporal variation of the radar image is due to the tropical diurnal cycle of planetary boundary layer formation, which is consistent with the results of the database analysis. The echo images are discussed in terms of Bragg scattering of microwaves at the top of the planetary boundary layer. Weather radar monitoring of the fire smoke layer-top images has a potential feasibility to support real-time management of peatland fires.
Associating cryptogenic ischemic stroke in the young with cardiovascular risk factor phenotypes
Authors: Dardick Joseph M. , Flomenbaum David , Labovitz Daniel L. , Cheng Natalie , Liberman Ava L. , Esenwa Charles 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAcute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) in the young is increasing in prevalence and the largest subtype within this cohort is cryptogenic. To curb this trend, new ways of defining cryptogenic stroke and associated risk factors are needed. We aimed to gain insights into the presence or absence of cardiovascular risk factors in cases of cryptogenic stroke. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients aged 18–49 who presented to an urban tertiary care center with AIS. We manually collected predefined demographic, clinical, laboratory and radiological variables. Clinical risk phenotypes were determined using these variables through multivariate analysis of patients with the small and large vessel disease subtypes (vascular phenotype) and cardioembolic subtype (cardiac phenotype). The resultant phenotype models were applied to cases deemed cryptogenic. Within the 449 patients who met criteria, patients with small and large vessel disease (vascular phenotype) had higher rates of hypertension, intracranial atherosclerosis, and diabetes mellitus, and higher admission glucose, HbA1c, admission blood pressure, and cholesterol compared to the patients with cardioembolic AIS. The cardioembolic subgroup (cardiac phenotype) had significantly higher rates of congestive heart failure (CHF), rheumatic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, clotting disorders, left ventricular hypertrophy, larger left atrial sizes, lower ejection fractions, and higher B-type natriuretic peptide and troponin levels. Adjusted multivariate analysis produced six variables independently associated with the vascular phenotype (age, male sex, hemoglobin A1c, ejection fraction (EF), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and family history of AIS) and five independently associated with the cardiac phenotype (age, female sex, decreased EF, CHF, and absence of intracranial atherosclerosis). Applying these models to cryptogenic stroke cases yielded that 51.5% fit the vascular phenotype and 3.1% fit the cardiac phenotype. In our cohort, half of young patients with cryptogenic stroke fit the risk factor phenotype of small and large vessel strokes.
Single-photon frequency shifting with a quadrature phase-shift keying modulator
Authors: Chen Changchen , Heyes Jane E. , Shapiro Jeffrey H. , Wong Franco N. C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDeterministic frequency manipulation of single photons is an essential tool for quantum communications and quantum networks. We demonstrate a 15.65 GHz frequency shift for classical and nonclassical light using a commercially available quadrature phase-shift keying modulator. The measured spectrum of frequency-shifted single photons indicates a high carrier-to-sideband ratio of 30 dB. We illustrate our frequency shifter’s utility in quantum photonics by performing Hong–Ou–Mandel quantum interference between two photons whose initial frequency spectra overlap only partially, and showing visibility improvement from 62.7 to 89.1% after one of the photons undergoes a corrective frequency shift.
Carbon dioxide inhibits UVB-induced inflammatory response by activating the proton-sensing receptor, GPR65, in human keratinocytes
Authors: Sayama Keimon , Yuki Katsuyuki , Sugata Keiichi , Fukagawa Satoko , Yamamoto Tetsuji , Ikeda Shigaku , Murase Takatoshi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractCarbon dioxide (CO2) is the predominant gas molecule emitted during aerobic respiration. Although CO2 can improve blood circulation in the skin via its vasodilatory effects, its effects on skin inflammation remain unclear. The present study aimed to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of CO2 in human keratinocytes and skin. Keratinocytes were cultured under 15% CO2, irradiated with ultraviolet B (UVB), and their inflammatory cytokine production was analyzed. Using multiphoton laser microscopy, the effect of CO2 on pH was observed by loading a three-dimensional (3D)-cultured epidermis with a high-CO2 concentration formulation. Finally, the effect of CO2 on UVB-induced erythema was confirmed. CO2 suppressed the UVB-induced production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in keratinocytes and the 3D epidermis. Correcting medium acidification with NaOH inhibited the CO2-induced suppression of TNFα and IL-6 expression in keratinocytes. Moreover, the knockdown of H+-sensing G protein-coupled receptor 65 inhibited the CO2-induced suppression of inflammatory cytokine expression and NF-κB activation and reduced CO2-induced cyclic adenosine monophosphate production. Furthermore, the high-CO2 concentration formulation suppressed UVB-induced erythema in human skin. Hence, CO2 suppresses skin inflammation and can be employed as a potential therapeutic agent in restoring skin immune homeostasis.
Mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin is a novel biomarker for arterial stiffness as the criterion for vascular failure in a cross-sectional study
Authors: Koyama Teruhide , Kuriyama Nagato , Suzuki Yosuke , Saito Satoshi , Tanaka Ryota , Iwao Motoshi , Tanaka Megumu , Maki Takakuni , Itoh Hiroki , Ihara Masafumi , Shindo Takayuki , Uehara Ritei 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe investigated the potential of mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) for use as a novel biomarker for arterial stiffness as the criterion for vascular failure and cardiometabolic disease (obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome) compared with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Overall, 2169 individuals (702 men and 1467 women) were enrolled. Multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the association of MR-proADM and hsCRP with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), adjusting for other variables. The diagnostic performance (accuracy) of MR-proADM with regard to the index of vascular failure was tested with the help of receiver operating characteristic curve analysis in the models. MR-proADM was significantly higher in participants with vascular failure, as defined by baPWV and/or its risk factors (obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome), than in control groups. Independent of cardiovascular risk factors (age, drinking, smoking, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, lipid and glycol metabolism), MR-proADM was significantly associated with baPWV, and MR-proADM showed higher areas under the curve of baPWV than hsCRP showed. MR-proADM is more suitable for the diagnosis of higher arterial stiffness as the criterion for vascular failure than hsCRP. Because vascular assessment is important to mitigate the most significant modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, MR-proADM may be useful as a novel biomarker on routine blood examination.
Gut microbiome partially mediates and coordinates the effects of genetics on anxiety-like behavior in Collaborative Cross mice
Authors: Jin X. , Zhang Y. , Celniker S. E. , Xia Y. , Mao J.-H. , Snijders A. M. , Chang H. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGrowing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome (GM) plays a critical role in health and disease. However, the contribution of GM to psychiatric disorders, especially anxiety, remains unclear. We used the Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse population-based model to identify anxiety associated host genetic and GM factors. Anxiety-like behavior of 445 mice across 30 CC strains was measured using the light/dark box assay and documented by video. A custom tracking system was developed to quantify seven anxiety-related phenotypes based on video. Mice were assigned to a low or high anxiety group by consensus clustering using seven anxiety-related phenotypes. Genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) identified 141 genes (264 SNPs) significantly enriched for anxiety and depression related functions. In the same CC cohort, we measured GM composition and identified five families that differ between high and low anxiety mice. Anxiety level was predicted with 79% accuracy and an AUC of 0.81. Mediation analyses revealed that the genetic contribution to anxiety was partially mediated by the GM. Our findings indicate that GM partially mediates and coordinates the effects of genetics on anxiety.
Surface hydrophobics mediate functional dimerization of CYP121A1 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Kumar Amit , Campomizzi Christopher S. , Jay Natalie , Ferguson Shaun , Scheffler Emelie-Jo , Lioi James , Tu Chengjian , Qu Jun , Simons Claire , Estrada D. Fernando 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTuberculosis is caused by the pathogenic bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and remains the leading cause of death by infection world-wide. The Mtb genome encodes a disproportionate number of twenty cytochrome P450 enzymes, of which the essential enzyme cytochrome P450 121A1 (CYP121A1) remains a target of drug design efforts. CYP121A1 mediates a phenol coupling reaction of the tyrosine dipeptide cyclo-L-Tyr-L-Tyr (cYY). In this work, a structure and function investigation of dimerization was performed as an overlooked feature of CYP121A1 function. This investigation showed that CYP121A1 dimers form via intermolecular contacts on the distal surface and are mediated by a network of solvent-exposed hydrophobic residues. Disruption of CYP121A1 dimers by site-directed mutagenesis leads to a partial loss of specificity for cYY, resulting in an approximate 75% decrease in catalysis. 19F labeling and nuclear magnetic resonance of the enzyme FG-loop was also combined with protein docking to develop a working model of a functional CYP121A1 dimer. The results obtained suggest that participation of a homodimer interface in substrate selectivity represents a novel paradigm of substrate binding in CYPs, while also providing important mechanistic insight regarding a relevant drug target in the development of novel anti-tuberculosis agents.
An optomechanogram for assessment of the structural and mechanical properties of tissues
Authors: Lee W. , Ostadi Moghaddam A. , Shen S. , Phillips H. , McFarlin B. L. , Wagoner Johnson A. J. , Toussaint K. C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe structural and mechanical properties of tissue and the interplay between them play a critical role in tissue function. We introduce the optomechanogram, a combined quantitative and qualitative visualization of spatially co-registered measurements of the microstructural and micromechanical properties of any tissue. Our approach relies on the co-registration of two independent platforms, second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy for quantitative assessment of 3D collagen-fiber microstructural organization, and nanoindentation (NI) for local micromechanical properties. We experimentally validate our method by applying to uterine cervix tissue, which exhibits structural and mechanical complexity. We find statistically significant agreement between the micromechanical and microstructural data, and confirm that the distinct tissue regions are distinguishable using either the SHG or NI measurements. Our method could potentially be used for research in pregnancy maintenance, mechanobiological studies of tissues and their constitutive modeling and more generally for the optomechanical metrology of materials.
Phylogenomics of the Hyalella amphipod species-flock of the Andean Altiplano
Authors: Zapelloni Francesco , Pons Joan , Jurado-Rivera José A. , Jaume Damià , Juan Carlos 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSpecies diversification in ancient lakes has enabled essential insights into evolutionary theory as they embody an evolutionary microcosm compared to continental terrestrial habitats. We have studied the high-altitude amphipods of the Andes Altiplano using mitogenomic, nuclear ribosomal and single-copy nuclear gene sequences obtained from 36Hyalellagenomic libraries, focusing on species of the Lake Titicaca and other water bodies of the Altiplano northern plateau. Results show that early Miocene South American lineages have recently (late Pliocene or early Pleistocene) diversified in the Andes with a striking morphological convergence among lineages. This pattern is consistent with the ecological opportunities (access to unoccupied resources, initial relaxed selection on ecologically-significant traits and low competition) offered by the lacustrine habitats established after the Andean uplift.
Preparation and characterization of nanocurcumin based hybrid virosomes as a drug delivery vehicle with enhanced anticancerous activity and reduced toxicity
Authors: Kumar Varun , Kumar Ramesh , Jain V. K. , Nagpal Suman 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe present study represents a formulation of nanocurcumin based hybrid virosomes (NC-virosome) to deliver drugs at targeted sites. Curcumin is a bioactive component derived from Curcuma longa and well-known for its medicinal property, but it exhibits poor solubility and rapid metabolism, which led to low bioavailability and hence limits its applications. Nanocurcumin was prepared to increase the aqueous solubility and to overcome all the limitations associated with curcumin. Influenza virosomes were prepared by solubilization of the viral membrane with 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine (DSPC). During membrane reconstitution, the hydrophilic nanocurcumin was added to the solvent system, followed by overnight dialysis to obtain NC-virosomes. The same was characterized using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), MTT assay was used to evaluate it's in vitro-cytotoxicity using MDA-MB231 and Mesenchyme stem cells (MSCs). The results showed NC-virosomes has spherical morphology with size ranging between 60 and 90 nm. It showed 82.6% drug encapsulation efficiency. The viability of MDA-MB231 cells was significantly inhibited by NC-virosome in a concentration-dependent manner at a specific time. The IC50 for nanocurcumin and NC-virosome was 79.49 and 54.23 µg/ml, respectively. The site-specific drug-targeting, high efficacy and non- toxicity of NC-virosomes proves its future potential as drug delivery vehicles.
Linker histone defines structure and self-association behaviour of the 177 bp human chromatosome
Authors: Wang Sai , Vogirala Vinod K. , Soman Aghil , Berezhnoy Nikolay V. , Liu Zhehui Barry , Wong Andrew S. W. , Korolev Nikolay , Su Chun-Jen , Sandin Sara , Nordenskiöld Lars 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLinker histones play essential roles in the regulation and maintenance of the dynamic chromatin structure of higher eukaryotes. The influence of human histone H1.0 on the nucleosome structure and biophysical properties of the resulting chromatosome were investigated and compared with the 177-bp nucleosome using Cryo-EM and SAXS. The 4.5 Å Cryo-EM chromatosome structure showed that the linker histone binds at the nucleosome dyad interacting with both linker DNA arms but in a tilted manner leaning towards one of the linker sides. The chromatosome is laterally compacted and rigid in the dyad and linker DNA area, in comparison with the nucleosome where linker DNA region is more flexible and displays structural variability. In solution, the chromatosomes appear slightly larger than the nucleosomes, with the volume increase compared to the bound linker histone, according to solution SAXS measurements. SAXS X-ray diffraction characterisation of Mg-precipitated samples showed that the different shapes of the 177 chromatosome enabled the formation of a highly ordered lamello-columnar phase when precipitated by Mg2+, indicating the influence of linker histone on the nucleosome stacking. The biological significance of linker histone, therefore, may be affected by the change in the polyelectrolyte and DNA conformation properties of the chromatosomes, in comparison to nucleosomes.
Effect of gravity on brain structure as indicated on upright computed tomography
Authors: Yokoyama Yoichi , Yamada Yoshitake , Kosugi Kenzo , Yamada Minoru , Narita Keiichi , Nakahara Takehiro , Fujiwara Hirokazu , Toda Masahiro , Jinzaki Masahiro 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWe aimed to use upright computed tomography (CT) to depict posture-related changes in the brain tissue under normal gravity. Thirty-two asymptomatic volunteers underwent upright CT in the sitting position and conventional CT in the supine position on the same day. We compared the shift of the pineal body, cerebellar tonsil, the length of pituitary stalk, optic nerve sheath area and perimeter (ONSA and ONSP, respectively), and lateral ventricular volume between the supine and sitting positions. We also compared shape changes of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) spaces at different sites between both positions. In the sitting position, the pineal body shifted 0.68 ± 0.27 mm in the ventral direction and 0.76 ± 0.24 mm in the caudal direction, the length of pituitary stalk decreased by 1.23 ± 0.71 mm, the cerebellar tonsil descended by 2.10 ± 0.86 mm, the right ONSA decreased by 15.21 ± 6.54%, the left ONSA decreased by 15.30 ± 7.37%, the right ONSP decreased by 8.52 ± 3.91%, the left ONSP decreased by 8.20 ± 4.38%, and the lateral ventricular volume decreased by 5.07 ± 3.24% (all P < 0.001). We also observed changes in the shape of CSF spaces with changes in posture. We concluded that the intracranial structure of healthy subjects and volume of ventricles changed according to posture on Earth.