bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ATP-Independent Nucleosome Unfolding by FACT: Electron Microscopy Analysis
Authors: Studitsky Vasily , Sivkina Anastasiia , Karlova Maria , Valieva Maria , McCullough Laura , Formosa Tim , Shaytan Alexey , Feofanov Alexey , Kirpichnikov Mikhail , Sokolova Olga 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
FACT is a histone chaperone that unfolds nucleosomes without ATP hydrolysis. We used electron microscopy to study FACT and FACT:nucleosome complexes, and found that both adopt broad ranges of configurations, indicating high flexibility. We found unexpectedly that the DNA binding protein Nhp6 also binds to the C-terminal tails of FACT subunits, inducing more open geometries of FACT even in the absence of nucleosomes. Nhp6 therefore supports nucleosome unfolding by altering both FACT structure and nucleosome properties. Complexes formed with FACT, Nhp6, and nucleosomes also produced a broad range of structures, revealing a large number of potential intermediates along a proposed unfolding pathway. The data suggest that Nhp6 has multiple roles before and during nucleosome unfolding by FACT, and that the process proceeds through a series of energetically similar intermediate structures, ultimately leading to an extensively unfolded form.
Exploiting bacterial isolates for diesel degrading potential under in vitro conditions
Authors: Taskar Kanchan , Gupta Sarika 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Hydrocarbon contaminated oil-spilled areas and oil-products have caused serious harm with increasing attention for development, implementation and removal of these contaminants. Bacterial diversity on succession at the petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated environment can give answer the problem. Such lands have serious problems as totally barren or with rare plantation. Bacteria can thereby be exploited for the mitigation of hydrocarbon to enhance the nutrient availability for vegetation. Present study involves collection of soil samples heavily-contaminated with hydrocarbon from Bagru, Rajasthan. Samples were analysed by solid liquid extraction method followed by FTIR and HPLC analysis. During microbiological analysis hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were screened. FTIR spectral analysis indicated the presence of the functional groups alkanes and aromatic ringed compounds; 43–69% hydrocarbon content recorded by HPLC analysis of all the soil samples respectively. From the soil samples six gram-positive and four gram-negative bacterial isolates were explored possessing hydrocarbon degrading capacities in the range 47.04–87.31% and 10.12–95.24% respectively. Growth kinetic studies revealed the degradation upto 1000 ppm diesel in 3 days under in vitro conditions. These bacteria can further be exploited for diesel degradation and will certainly propose a possible solution to the prevailing issue for its biodegradation in ex situ conditions after upscaling.
Bee responses to landscape composition on coupled and decoupled multiscale approaches
Authors: Carneiro Lazaro , Ribeiro Milton Cezar , de Aguiar Willian Moura , Priante Camila de Fátima , Frantine-Silva Wilson , Gaglianone Maria Cristina 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
ContextMultiscale approaches are essential for understanding ecological processes and detecting the scale of effect. However, nested multiscale approaches retain the effect of the landscape attributes from the smaller spatial scales into the larger ones. Thus, decoupling local vs. regional scales can reveal detailed ecological responses to landscape context, but this multiscale approach is poorly explored. ObjectivesWe evaluated the scale of effect of the forest cover (%) and landscape heterogeneity on Euglossini bees combining coupled and decoupled multiscale approaches. MethodsThe Euglossini males were sampled in forest patches from 15 landscapes within the Atlantic Forest, southeast Brazil. For simplicity, we defined that the coupled approaches represented the local scales and decoupled approaches the regional scales. We decoupled the scales by cutting out the smaller scales inserted into larger ones. We estimated the relationship of the bee community attributes with forest cover (%) and landscape heterogeneity in local and regional scales using Generalized Linear Models. ResultsWe found positive effects of landscape heterogeneity on species richness for regional scales. Forest cover and landscape heterogeneity in local scales showed positive effects on the euglossine abundances. The scale of effect for euglossine richness was higher than species abundances. ConclusionsCombining coupled and decoupled multiscale approaches showed adequate capture of the scale of effect of the landscape composition on bee communities. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to measure the influence of the landscape context on biodiversity. Maintaining landscapes with larger forest cover and spatial heterogeneity is essential to keep euglossine species requirements.
Phytoextraction by harvesting dead leaves: Cadmium accumulation associated with the leaf senescence in Festuca arundinacea
Authors: Fei Ling , Zuo ShaoFan , Zhang JiaXin , Wang ZhaoLong 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Phytoextraction strategy by harvesting dead leaves provides non-stop phytoremediation and a great saving in disposal cost of hazardous plant residues. This strategy is entirely dependent upon the amount of cadmium (Cd) accumulated in dead leaves. However, it is unknown that whether the leaf Cd accumulation is associated with its senescence and how to regulate its Cd accumulation. This study showed that Cd was preferentially and consistently distributed to and accumulated in the senescent leaves with the new leaf emergence and the old leaf dieback under 75 µM of Cd stress in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Individual leaf monitoring from its emergence to senescence showed that Cd concentration increased exponentially with the leaf life cycle, while leaf biomass decreased gradually after 14 d of leaf emergence. The total amount of Cd accumulated in the leaf showed an exponential increase during leaf senescence, regardless of the leaf biomass loss. Our results demonstrated that leaf Cd accumulation was significantly associated with its senescence and the highest Cd accumulated in dead leaves could be contributed from the continuous Cd input during the leaf senescent process, indicating that further regulatory studies should be focused on the leaf senescence process to achieve higher Cd accumulation and phytoextraction efficiency by harvesting dead leaves.
Spatial Spillover Effects of Renewable Energy on Carbon Emissions in Less-Developed Areas of China
Authors: Bai Jun , LI Shixiang , Kang Qiying , Wang Nan , Guo Kailu , Wang Jinfeng , Cheng Jinhua 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to determine the spatial spillover effects of renewable energy on carbon emissions in China’s less-developed areas. However, few studies have considered this issue from the perspective of less-developed areas. Based on panel data of 21 provinces in China from 2000 to 2017, this paper investigates the spatial spillover effects of renewable energy on carbon emissions using Moran’s I and Spatial Durbin Model (SDM). The results suggest that, first, Moran’s I ranges from 0.378 to 0.519, Moran scatter plot presents that provinces are located in the high–high (HH) and low-low (LL) quadrants, indicating provincial carbon emissions in the study area have a significant spatial correlation and agglomeration. Second, under the three matrices, the direct effect coefficients of renewable energy are − 0.2522, -0.2639 and − 0.2601, this shows that renewable energy is beneficial to local carbon emissions reduction. In contrast, the indirect effect coefficients of renewable energy are 0.0605, 0.1012 and 0.1125, which means higher renewable energy consumption in a single area is conducive to the improvement of carbon emissions to neighbouring areas. Third, urbanization, industrialization, physical capital and other variables have different impacts on local and nearby carbon emissions. This study provides empirical evidence to achieve carbon emission reduction targets by government policymakers.
The Association of EBV and Gastric Cancer
Authors: Wang Xuming , Liu Tian , Yu Lijuan , Mo Wenfa , Xu Longkuan , Qiu Xiang , Zhong Xinmei , Qi Guangying 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features of EBV positive and EBV negative gastric cancer patients and the expression levels of proliferative, apoptotic and cell signaling proteins in tissues samples from these patients. The biological role of EBV infection was assessed in gastric cancer. Results: EBV was localized in the nuclei of gastric cancer cells (positive rate 6.86%). The infection rate of EBV in normal gastric mucosal cells, which were adjacent to cancer tissues, was 0. The difference noted was significant (P = 0. 023). The expression levels of caspase-3 (P = 0.0423), FASL (P = 0.00297) and cyclin D1 (P = 0.0345) proteins were significantly different in EBV positive and negative gastric cancer tissues. When the parameters gender, age, Lauren classification, histological grade, early and advanced tumor stage, vascular and nerve invasion, TNM grade and survival status were compared, the maximum tumor diameter, number of lymph node metastasis, caspase-8, Ki67 and P53 protein expression did not reveal significant differences. Bcl-2 protein expression was positive in only one gastric cancer cell sample and negative in the other gastric cancer cell samples as well as in the corresponding normal gastric mucosal epithelial cells. However, significant differences were noted with regard to the positive expression of Bcl-2 in the immune cells of gastric cancer and adjacent tissues (P = 1.17749E-39). The expression levels of Bcl-2 in the immune cells of EBV positive and EBV negative gastric cancer tissues were not significantly different. The expression levels of caspase-8, caspase-3, FASL, Ki67, cyclin D1 and P53 proteins in gastric cancer cells were significantly different compared to those of normal gastric mucosal cells derived from adjacent tissues (P < 0.05). These findings were noted in both EBV positive and/or EBV negative gastric cancer cases (P < 0.05). The survival time of the patients with EBV positive gastric cancer was higher than that of the patients with EBV negative gastric cancer, whereas the differences were not significantly different. The aforementioned results suggested that the EBV virus may directly infect cancerous cells but not normal gastric mucosal cells. With the exception of caspase-3, the expression levels of the proteins FASL and cyclin D1 were closely associated with EBV-positive gastric cancer. EBV did not have a specific effect on the expression of the signaling molecules associated with proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. Its effect on gastric cancer cells may be associated with other factors and requires further discussion. No significant differences were noted in the clinicopathological features of EBV positive compared to those of EBV negative gastric cancer patients. However, the prognosis of EBV positive gastric cancer patients was better than that of EBV negative gastric cancer patients. The mechanism of action associated with these processes requires further verification.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Teoh Seth En , Masuda Yoshio , Tan Darren Jun Hao , Liu Nan , Morrison Laurie J. , Ong Marcus Eng Hock , Blewer Audrey L. , Ho Andrew Fu Wah 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly influenced epidemiology, yet its impact on out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on the incidence and case fatality rate (CFR) of OHCA. We also evaluated the impact on intermediate outcomes and clinical characteristics.
Methods
PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to May 3, 2021. Studies were included if they compared OHCA processes and outcomes between the pandemic and historical control time periods. Meta-analyses were performed for primary outcomes (annual incidence, mortality, and case fatality rate [CFR]), secondary outcomes (field termination of resuscitation [TOR], return of spontaneous circulation [ROSC]), survival to hospital admission, and survival to hospital discharge), and clinical characteristics (shockable rhythm and etiologies). This study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42021253879).
Results
The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a 39.5% increase in pooled annual OHCA incidence (p < 0.001). Pooled CFR was increased by 2.65% (p < 0.001), with a pooled odds ratio (OR) of 1.95 for mortality (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.51–2.51). There was increased field TOR (OR = 2.46, 95%CI 1.62–3.74). There were decreased ROSC (OR = 0.65, 95%CI 0.55–0.77), survival to hospital admission (OR = 0.65, 95%CI 0.48–0.89), and survival to discharge (OR = 0.52, 95%CI 0.40–0.69). There was decreased shockable rhythm (OR = 0.73, 95%CI 0.60–0.88) and increased asphyxial etiology of OHCA (OR = 1.17, 95%CI 1.02–1.33).
Conclusion
Compared to the pre-pandemic period, the COVID-19 pandemic period was significantly associated with increased OHCA incidence and worse outcomes.
Effects of Size and Surrounding Medium on Whispering-Gallery-Mode Lasers in Er3+-Doped Silica Microspheres
Authors: Hoang Thu Trang , Pham Van Dai , Pham Thanh Son , Nguyen Xuan Bach , Le Khai Q. , Ngo Quang Minh 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
This work reports the experimental fabrication and characterization of the Er3+-doped silica microspheres (mS) and numerical investigation of the effects of size and surrounding medium on the optical properties of whispering-gallery-mode (WGM) lasers. The heat melting method of two discharge electrodes was used to produce the Er3+-doped silica mSs of diameters up to several tens of micrometers. The 125-mm diameter single-mode optical fiber was tapered with a cone angle formed by chemical etching in hydrofluoric acid (HF) solutions. It was used to produce the mSs and couple the pumped laser into mS surface as well was coupled out the lasing emission. The WGM lasers at telecom regime of ~1520-1570 nm were characterized in both clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW) propagation directions. By adjusting the coupling gap between the tapered optical fiber and the mS surface, the selectivity of the multi- or single-emitted modes of the mS laser was achieved. We performed finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations to examine the size dependence and analyze the effect of the surrounding medium’s refractive index on the optical characteristics, such as emission wavelength, intensity, as well as the shape of WGM lasing emission. The facile approach and quantitative investigation of this work has attracted much attention from researchers in the micro-photonic field and may be useful in many applications from tunable single-mode lasing sensing to optical micro-devices.
Well-Differentiated Liver Cancers Reveal the Potential Link Between ACE2 Dysfunction and Metabolic Breakdown.
Authors: Desquilles Lise , Cano Luis , Ghukasyan Gevorg , Landreau Clémence , Corlu Anne , Clément Bruno , Turlin Bruno , Désert Romain , Musso Orlando 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the receptor of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2)is a coreceptor.Abnormal hepatic function in COVID-19 suggests specific or bystander liver disease.Because liver cancer cells express the ACE2viral receptor, they arewidely usedas models of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression and localization in human liver cancers and in non-tumor livers.We studiedACE2 and TMPRSS2 in two transcriptomic datasets totaling 1503 liver cancersand 47 non-tumor samplesand in tissue microarrays including 41 HCCs and five non-tumor samples by multiplex high-resolution confocal immunohistochemistryand quantitative image analysis.In liver cancers, wedetectedACE2 and TMPRSS2 at the biliary pole of tumor hepatocytes. In non-tumor livers, we identifiedACE2 in hepatocyte’s bile canaliculi, biliary epithelium,sinusoidal and capillary endothelial cells.Tumors carrying mutated β-catenin showedACE2 DNA hypomethylation and higher mRNA and protein expression, consistently with predicted β-catenin response sites in the ACE2 promoter.Finally, ACE2 and TMPRSS2 co-expression networkshighlightedhepatocyte-specific functions, oxidative stress and inflammation, suggesting a link between inflammation, ACE2 dysfunction and metabolic breakdown.
Management of Acute Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Related Complications During the First COVID-19 Wave
Authors: Dhillon Niku , Santiago Cynthia 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background. Routine hospital eye services (HES) and diabetic retinal screening were paused during COVID lockdown in March 2020. Alternate pathways for managing acute ophthalmic pathology were devised in NHS Grampian: Emergency eye treatment centres (EETC) manned by community optometrists were set up to treat and triage referrals to HES. Methods. Retrospective study analysing patients referred to HES with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) related complications between March and August 2020. Results. 52 eyes of 46 patients with PDR related complications were identified. HES appointment had been delayed or cancelled in 43% due to COVID. Mean age was 54.5 years (± 15.1), 46% were female, 46% had type 1 diabetes; mean HbA1c was 78 mmol/l (± 18.7). Vision ranged from 6/6 to perception of light. 36 patients had unilateral vitreous haemorrhage (VH), 6 bilateral, 2 tractional retinal detachments and 3 had neovascular glaucoma. Following assessment, 23 eyes received anti-VEGF injection within 3 days, two had PRP on the same day, 16 were rebooked for urgent PRP, 13 referred for urgent surgical review and 17 advised observation. After a mean follow-up of 6 months, 12 eyes (23%) of 11 patients progressed to have vitrectomy. Conclusion. Despite lockdown, hospital appointment cancellations and recommended footfall reduction limiting capacity due to COVID19, patients reaching out with PDR complications were promptly referred to HES and appropriate treatments carried out with COVID precautions as recommended.
Rampant transposition following RNAi loss causes hypermutation and antifungal drug resistance in clinical isolates of a human fungal pathogen
Authors: Priest Shelby , Yadav Vikas , Roth Cullen , Dahlmann Tim , Kueck Ulrich , Magwene Paul , Heitman Joseph 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Microorganisms survive and compete within their environmental niches and avoid evolutionary stagnation by stochastically acquiring mutations that enhance fitness. Although increased mutation rates are often deleterious in multicellular organisms, hypermutation can be beneficial for microbes in the context of strong selective pressures. To explore how hypermutation arises in nature and elucidate its consequences, we employed a collection of 387 sequenced clinical and environmental isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans. This fungal pathogen is responsible for ~ 15% of annual AIDS-related deaths and is associated with high mortality rates, attributable to a dearth of antifungal drugs and increasing drug resistance. Isolates were screened for the ability to rapidly acquire antifungal drug resistance, and two robust hypermutators were identified. Insertion of the non-LTR Cnl1 retrotransposon was found to be responsible for the majority of drug-resistant isolates. Long-read whole-genome sequencing revealed both hypermutator genomes have two unique features: 1) hundreds of Cnl1 copies organized in subtelomeric arrays on both ends of almost all chromosomes, and 2) a nonsense mutation in the first exon of ZNF3, a gene encoding an RNAi component involved in silencing transposons. Quantitative trait locus mapping identified a significant genetic locus associated with hypermutation that includes the mutant znf3 allele, and CRISPR-mediated genome editing of the znf3 single-base pair nonsense mutation abolished the hypermutation phenotype and restored siRNA production. In sum, hypermutation and drug resistance in these isolates results from loss of RNAi combined with subsequent accumulation of a large genomic burden of a novel transposable element in C. neoformans.
PEG-fDAO Reduces Lung Inflammation in Chronic Granulomatous Disease Mice Post Challenge With Nonviable Candida Albicans
Authors: Nunoi Hiroyuki , Xie Peiyu , Nakamura Hideaki , Aratani Yasuaki , Fang Jun , Nishimura Toyoki , Kataoka Hiroaki , Maeda Hiroshi , Matsukura Makoto 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
We previously reported that polyethylene glycol-conjugated recombinant porcine D-amino acid oxidase (PEG-pDAO) could supply reactive oxygen species (ROS) to defective NADPH oxidase in neutrophils of patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), and neutrophils regain bactericidal activity in vitro. In the present study, we employed an in vivo nonviable Candida albicans (nCA)-induced lung inflammation model using gp91-phox knockout CGD mice and novel PEG conjugates of Fusarium spp. D-amino acid oxidase (PEG-fDAO), rather than PEG-pDAO. Using three experimentation strategies with the in vivo lung inflammation model, the mouse body weight, lung weight, and lung pathology were evaluated to confirm the efficacy of ROS-generating enzyme replacement therapy with PEG-fDAO. The lung weight and pathological findings were significantly ameliorated by the administration of PEG-fDAO followed by intraperitoneal injection of D-phenylalanine or D-proline. These data suggest that PEG- fDAO with the function of targeted delivery to the nCA-induced inflammation site is applicable in the treatment of inflammation in CGD in vivo.
A New Approach for Reducing Pollutants Level: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of Physical Exercises in Young People
Authors: Xu Yujuan , Gao Hongliang , Du Zhixiang , Liu He , Cheng Qi , Zhang Furong , Ye Juan , Wang Aiqing , Dou Yanjun , Ma Bei , Zhao Ningwei , Zhu Feng , Xu Xianlin , Shen Ning , Wu Jing , Xue Bin 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background: The present study aimed to evaluate the elimination of three common pollutants (dimethoate, benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and bisphenol A (BPA) by different physical exercises and to assess the possible factors which could affect the pollutants elimination. Methods: A total of 200 individuals who chose different kinds of exercises in accordance to their own wish were recruited. The levels of urinary pollutants were measured using β-glucuronidase hydrolysis followed by a high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-based method.Results: Totally, the levels of dimethoate, BaP and bisphenol A were reduced after physical exercises. However, the elimination of BaP in male was higher than that in female but the elimination of bisphenol A in female was higher than that in male. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the degree of HR change was a protective factor affecting the improvement effect of dimethoate, BaP and bisphenol A while BMI (body mass index) was a risk factor. Nevertheless, sex was a risk factor affecting the improvement of dimethoate and BaP but had a lower efficacy on bisphenol A improvement.Conclusion: The present findings indicate that physical exercises can be considered as a novel approach to eliminate pollutants level in human body and can also give suggestions for choosing specific physical exercises to male and female individuals. Moreover, those who are with higher BMI need to lose weight before eliminating pollutant level through physical exercises.