bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sphingolipid profiles and their relationship with inflammatory factors in asthmatic patients of different sexes
Authors: Song Zhu , Yan Wei , Abulikemu Mairipaiti , Wang Juan , Xing Yan , Zhou Qingtao , Ma Shaohua , Chang Chun 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundAsthma is a heterogeneous disease with distinct prevalence and manifestation between sexes. This study was to identify sex‐specific features of asthma via metabolomic analysis of sphingolipids.MethodsForty‐two asthma patients (27 women and 15 men) admitted to the Peking University Third Hospital from January 2015 to December 2015 were enrolled. Peripheral venous blood was collected for metabolomic analysis by targeted liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Sex hormones(estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and androstenedione) and multiple inflammatory factors (periostin, leptin, IgE, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐10, IL‐13, IL‐17A, and IFN‐γ) were also assessed. The eosinophil percentage in induced sputum was also detected. All these data were applied to comparative analysis between sexes.ResultsTestosterone was negatively related to periostin (ρ = −0.420, P = 0.009) and IL‐5 (ρ = −0.540, P = 0.012), while estradiol was positively related to the blood eosinophil percentage (ρ = 0.384, P = 0.025). Among the eighteen species of sphingolipids detected in the 42 patients, five ceramide (Cer) species (Cer16:0, Cer:20:0, Cer22:0, Cer24:0, and Cer26:0) and one sphingomyelin (SM) species (SM38:0) were significantly higher in male than in female patients. Further investigation found that the correlation between Cer20:0 and IL‐5 was positive in males (ρ = 0.943, P = 0.005) but negative in females (ρ = −0.561, P = 0.030).ConclusionsTestosterone was negatively correlated with eosinophil inflammatory factors, but estradiol was positively correlated. Male asthma patients had higher ceramide and sphingomyelin levels than female patients. Different sexes had opposite correlations with ceramide and IL‐5, respectively, suggesting that therapeutic strategies targeting ceramide should be different between sexes.
Uruguay and Contemporary Theories of Wage Coordination: Origins and Stabilization of Segmented Neocorporatism, 2005–2019
Authors: Etchemendy Sebastián 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACTThis study seeks to explain the rise and performance of “segmented neocorporatism” in Uruguay in light of contemporary theories of wage coordination, largely framed by the Varieties of Capitalism school and its recent critics. First it argues that the legacy of a centralized labor law framework, and a unified union movement, combined with Frente Amplio’s decisive labor empowerment from above to launch neocorporatist wage coordination in the period 2005–10. Second, it analyzes the stabilization of the coordinated model in 2013–19, in times of sluggish growth and labor tensions, evinced in the control of inflation pressures and social conflict. The article concludes that the macroeconomic combination of supply-side and Keynesian policies and the inclusion of precarious workers shaped an egalitarian version of corporatism with important challenges ahead.
Rapid Monitoring of the Abundance and Spread of Exotic Annual Grasses in the Western United States Using Remote Sensing and Machine Learning
Authors: Pastick Neal J. , Wylie Bruce K. , Rigge Matthew B. , Dahal Devendra , Boyte Stephen P. , Jones Matthew O. , Allred Brady W. , Parajuli Sujan , Wu Zhuoting 
Published: May 2021

AbstractExotic annual grasses (EAG) are one of the most damaging agents of change in western North America. Despite known socio‐environmental effects of EAG there remains a need to enhance monitoring capabilities for better informing conservation and management practices. Here, we integrate field observations, remote sensing and climate data with machine‐learning techniques to estimate and assess patterns of historical (1985–2019; R2 = 0.86 ± 0.05; MAE = 6.7 ± 1.4%), present (2020), and future (2025–2040) EAG abundance (30‐m) across much of the western United States. Trend analysis revealed that ∼8% and 1% of the landscape experienced significant rises and declines in historical EAG cover, respectively, with hotspots of invasion generally occurring near roads and along low‐to‐mid elevation gradients with warmer and drier conditions. Accurate simulations of the response of EAG to changing environmental conditions, disturbances and management treatments indicate that ecosystem resistance to invasion is largely controlled by long‐term EAG abundance (surrogate for seed bank), time since and frequency of wildfire, and plant community interactions. Ecological thresholds associated with enhanced probabilities of wildfire occurrence and invasion rates indicate that relatively little (10%) EAG cover is needed to heighten these risks. Climate change is expected to push 8% of the landscape across invasion thresholds by 2040, impacting 6% of existing sage‐grouse habitat, and we identify where fuel breaks may be placed to reduce wildfire risks and invasion. Spatially detailed, timely, and accurate depictions of past, present, and future EAG abundance are vital for the protection of life and property and the continued stewardship of sagebrush ecosystems.
Self-reported knowledge about dental caries at young age and variations between dental practitioners in the Ministry of Health in Bahrain
Authors: Alrowaili Eman Flaihan 
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo assess basic knowledge on dental caries and its prevention especially in young children and variation thereof between dental practitioners working for the Ministry of Health in Bahrain.Materials and methodsSelf-reported questionnaire was sent to all dentists and dental hygienists.ResultsOne hundred and thirty-four dental practitioners responded. The mean knowledge and practice scores for association between diet and dental caries was 64.9 ± 20.1. Females scored higher than males (p = 0.011) and dentists scored higher than dental hygienists (p = 0.009). A low mean score 45.5 ± 19.6 was observed in preventing dental caries in toddlers. Those >40 years of age and those with >15 years of experience have significantly higher scores than other groups (p = 0.009 andp = 0.001), respectively. Mean score for caring for children’s teeth, which covered advice on fluoridated toothpaste, was 63.4 ± 20.9. Younger dentists had higher score than those >40 years of age (p = 0.003). Mean score for frequency of fluoride varnish application was 64.4 ± 15.8 with no significant variation between practitioners.ConclusionThere is a need to reduce variations and update and improve dental practitioners’ knowledge in regard to risks and prevention of caries at young age.
Diversity and infectivity of the RNA virome among different cryptic species of an agriculturally important insect vector: whitefly Bemisia tabaci
Authors: Huang Hai-Jian , Ye Zhuang-Xin , Wang Xin , Yan Xiao-Tian , Zhang Yan , He Yu-Juan , Qi Yu-Hua , Zhang Xiao-Di , Zhuo Ji-Chong , Lu Gang , Lu Jia-Bao , Mao Qian-Zhuo , Sun Zong-Tao , Yan Fei , Chen Jian-Ping , Zhang Chuan-Xi , Li Jun-Min 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA large number of insect-specific viruses (ISVs) have recently been discovered, mostly from hematophagous insect vectors because of their medical importance, but little attention has been paid to important plant virus vectors such as the whitefly Bemisia tabaci, which exists as a complex of cryptic species. Public SRA datasets of B. tabaci and newly generated transcriptomes of three Chinese populations are here comprehensively investigated to characterize the whitefly viromes of different cryptic species. Twenty novel ISVs were confidently identified, mostly associated with a particular cryptic species while different cryptic species harbored one or more core ISVs. Microinjection experiments showed that some ISVs might cross-infect between the two invasive whitefly cryptic species, Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED), but others appeared to have a more restricted host range, reflecting the possibility of distinct long-term coevolution of these ISVs and whitefly hosts. Moreover, analysis of the profiles of virus-derived small-interfering RNAs indicated that some of the ISVs can successfully replicate in whitefly and the antiviral RNAi pathway of B. tabaci is actively involved in response to ISV infections. Our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the RNA virome, the distinct relationships and cross-cryptic species infectivity of ISVs in an agriculturally important insect vector.
Evaluating machine learning techniques for archaeological lithic sourcing: a case study of flint in Britain
Authors: Elliot Tom , Morse Robert , Smythe Duane , Norris Ashley 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIt is 50 years since Sieveking et al. published their pioneering research in Nature on the geochemical analysis of artefacts from Neolithic flint mines in southern Britain. In the decades since, geochemical techniques to source stone artefacts have flourished globally, with a renaissance in recent years from new instrumentation, data analysis, and machine learning techniques. Despite the interest over these latter approaches, there has been variation in the quality with which these methods have been applied. Using the case study of flint artefacts and geological samples from England, we present a robust and objective evaluation of three popular techniques, Random Forest, K-Nearest-Neighbour, and Support Vector Machines, and present a pipeline for their appropriate use. When evaluated correctly, the results establish high model classification performance, with Random Forest leading with an average accuracy of 85% (measured through F1 Scores), and with Support Vector Machines following closely. The methodology developed in this paper demonstrates the potential to significantly improve on previous approaches, particularly in removing bias, and providing greater means of evaluation than previously utilised.
The effects of climate change on the Pleistocene rock art of Sulawesi
Authors: Huntley J. , Aubert M. , Oktaviana A. A. , Lebe R. , Hakim B. , Burhan B. , Aksa L. Muhammad , Geria I. Made , Ramli M. , Siagian L. , Brand H. E. A. , Brumm A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe equatorial tropics house some of the earliest rock art yet known, and it is weathering at an alarming rate. Here we present evidence for haloclasty (salt crystallisation) from Pleistocene-aged rock art panels at 11 sites in the Maros-Pangkep limestone karsts of southern Sulawesi. We show how quickly rock art panels have degraded in recent decades, contending that climate-catalysed salt efflorescence is responsible for increasing exfoliation of the limestone cave surfaces that house the ~ 45 to 20-thousand-year-old paintings. These artworks are located in the world’s most atmospherically dynamic region, the Australasian monsoon domain. The rising frequency and severity of El Niño-induced droughts from anthropogenic climate change (that is, higher ambient temperatures and more consecutive dry days), combined with seasonal moisture injected via monsoonal rains retained as standing water in the rice fields and aquaculture ponds of the region, increasingly provide ideal conditions for evaporation and haloclasty, accelerating rock art deterioration.
Longitudinal hippocampal volumetric changes in mice following brain infarction
Authors: Brait Vanessa H. , Wright David K. , Nategh Mohsen , Oman Alexander , Syeda Warda T. , Ermine Charlotte M. , O’Brien Katrina R. , Werden Emilio , Churilov Leonid , Johnston Leigh A. , Thompson Lachlan H. , Nithianantharajah Jess , Jackman Katherine A. , Brodtmann Amy 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHippocampal atrophy is increasingly described in many neurodegenerative syndromes in humans, including stroke and vascular cognitive impairment. However, the progression of brain volume changes after stroke in rodent models is poorly characterized. We aimed to monitor hippocampal atrophy occurring in mice up to 48-weeks post-stroke. Male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to an intraluminal filament-induced middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). At baseline, 3-days, and 1-, 4-, 12-, 24-, 36- and 48-weeks post-surgery, we measured sensorimotor behavior and hippocampal volumes from T2-weighted MRI scans. Hippocampal volume—both ipsilateral and contralateral—increased over the life-span of sham-operated mice. In MCAO-subjected mice, different trajectories of ipsilateral hippocampal volume change were observed dependent on whether the hippocampus contained direct infarction, with a decrease in directly infarcted tissue and an increase in non-infarcted tissue. To further investigate these volume changes, neuronal and glial cell densities were assessed in histological brain sections from the subset of MCAO mice lacking hippocampal infarction. Our findings demonstrate previously uncharacterized changes in hippocampal volume and potentially brain parenchymal cell density up to 48-weeks in both sham- and MCAO-operated mice.
Spatio-temporal gait parameters obtained from foot-worn inertial sensors are reliable in healthy adults in single- and dual-task conditions
Authors: Soulard J. , Vaillant J. , Balaguier R. , Vuillerme N. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractInertial measurement units (IMUs) are increasingly popular and may be usable in clinical routine to assess gait. However, assessing their intra-session reliability is crucial and has not been tested with foot-worn sensors in healthy participants. The aim of this study was to assess the intra-session reliability of foot-worn IMUs for measuring gait parameters in healthy adults. Twenty healthy participants were enrolled in the study and performed the 10-m walk test in single- and dual-task ('carrying a full cup of water') conditions, three trials per condition. IMUs were used to assess spatiotemporal gait parameters, gait symmetry parameters (symmetry index (SI) and symmetry ratio (SR)), and dual task effects parameters. The relative and the absolute reliability were calculated for each gait parameter. Results showed that spatiotemporal gait parameters measured with foot-worn inertial sensors were reliable; symmetry gait parameters relative reliability was low, and SR showed better absolute reliability than SI; dual task effects were poorly reliable, and taking the mean of the second and the third trials was the most reliable. Foot-worn IMUs are reliable to assess spatiotemporal and symmetry ratio gait parameters but symmetry index and DTE gait parameters reliabilities were low and need to be interpreted with cautious by clinicians and researchers.
Smoking is associated with impaired verbal learning and memory performance in women more than men
Authors: Lewis C. R. , Talboom J. S. , De Both M. D. , Schmidt A. M. , Naymik M. A. , Håberg A. K. , Rundek T. , Levin B. E. , Hoscheidt S. , Bolla Y. , Brinton R. D. , Hay M. , Barnes C. A. , Glisky E. , Ryan L. , Huentelman M. J. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractVascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) include structural and functional blood vessel injuries linked to poor neurocognitive outcomes. Smoking might indirectly increase the likelihood of cognitive impairment by exacerbating vascular disease risks. Sex disparities in VCID have been reported, however, few studies have assessed the sex-specific relationships between smoking and memory performance and with contradictory results. We investigated the associations between sex, smoking, and cardiovascular disease with verbal learning and memory function. Using MindCrowd, an observational web-based cohort of ~ 70,000 people aged 18–85, we investigated whether sex modifies the relationship between smoking and cardiovascular disease with verbal memory performance. We found significant interactions in that smoking is associated with verbal learning performance more in women and cardiovascular disease more in men across a wide age range. These results suggest that smoking and cardiovascular disease may impact verbal learning and memory throughout adulthood differently for men and women.
Developments in data science solutions for carnivore tooth pit classification
Authors: Courtenay Lloyd A. , Herranz-Rodrigo Darío , González-Aguilera Diego , Yravedra José 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCompetition for resources is a key question in the study of our early human evolution. From the first hominin groups, carnivores have played a fundamental role in the ecosystem. From this perspective, understanding the trophic pressure between hominins and carnivores can provide valuable insights into the context in which humans survived, interacted with their surroundings, and consequently evolved. While numerous techniques already exist for the detection of carnivore activity in archaeological and palaeontological sites, many of these techniques present important limitations. The present study builds on a number of advanced data science techniques to confront these issues, defining methods for the identification of the precise agents involved in carcass consumption and manipulation. For the purpose of this study, a large sample of 620 carnivore tooth pits is presented, including samples from bears, hyenas, jaguars, leopards, lions, wolves, foxes and African wild dogs. Using 3D modelling, geometric morphometrics, robust data modelling, and artificial intelligence algorithms, the present study obtains between 88 and 98% accuracy, with balanced overall evaluation metrics across all datasets. From this perspective, and when combined with other sources of taphonomic evidence, these results show that advanced data science techniques can be considered a valuable addition to the taphonomist’s toolkit for the identification of precise carnivore agents via tooth pit morphology.
Long-term results of sirolimus treatment in lymphangioleiomyomatosis: a single referral centre experience
Authors: Revilla-López Eva , Berastegui Cristina , Méndez Alejandra , Sáez-Giménez Berta , Ruiz de Miguel Victoria , López-Meseguer Manuel , Monforte Victor , Bravo Carlos , Pujana Miguel Angel , Ramon Maria Antonia , Gómez-Ollés Susana , Roman Antonio ,   The Vall d’Hebron Multidisciplinary Cystic Lung Disease Group, Bello Irene , Burgos Rosa , Escobar Roser , Ferrándiz-Pulido Carla , Gómez Alba , Pallisa Esther , Palomares Gloria , Salicrú Sabina , Sánchez Martínez Ana Lucía , Sansano Irene , Sellarés Joana 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThere are few published data on long-term treatment with sirolimus in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). The objective of this study was to describe the long-term effect of sirolimus in a series of LAM patients followed up in a referral centre, focusing on pulmonary function. We retrospectively reviewed a series of 48 patients with LAM diagnosed, followed up and treated with sirolimus in a single centre. Response to sirolimus was evaluated at 1 and 5 years. A negative sirolimus response was defined as an FEV1 decline greater than − 75 ml/year. A mixed-effects model was used to estimate the longitudinal changes in FEV1 (average slope), both as absolute (ml/year) and as predicted values (%predicted/year). From a total of 48 patients, 9 patients underwent lung transplantation and 4 died during the study. Mean (95% CI) FEV1 slope over 5 years was − 0.14 (− 26.13 to 25.85) ml/year in the whole LAM group, 42.55 (14.87 to 70.22) ml/year in the responder group, − 54.00 (− 71.60 to − 36.39) ml/year in the partial responder group and − 84.19 (− 113.5 to − 54.0) ml/year in the non-responder group. After 5 years of sirolimus treatment 59% had a positive response, 30% had a partial response and 11% had a negative response. Our study found that sirolimus treatment had a positive long-term effect on most LAM patients.
Joint angle estimation with wavelet neural networks
Authors: Sivakumar Saaveethya , Gopalai Alpha Agape , Lim King Hann , Gouwanda Darwin , Chauhan Sunita 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis paper presents a wavelet neural network (WNN) based method to reduce reliance on wearable kinematic sensors in gait analysis. Wearable kinematic sensors hinder real-time outdoor gait monitoring applications due to drawbacks caused by multiple sensor placements and sensor offset errors. The proposed WNN method uses vertical Ground Reaction Forces (vGRFs) measured from foot kinetic sensors as inputs to estimate ankle, knee, and hip joint angles. Salient vGRF inputs are extracted from primary gait event intervals. These selected gait inputs facilitate future integration with smart insoles for real-time outdoor gait studies. The proposed concept potentially reduces the number of body-mounted kinematics sensors used in gait analysis applications, hence leading to a simplified sensor placement and control circuitry without deteriorating the overall performance.
In silico analysis suggests the RNAi-enhancing antibiotic enoxacin as a potential inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Ahmadi Amirhossein , Moradi Sharif 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCOVID-19 has currently become the biggest challenge in the world. There is still no specific medicine for COVID-19, which leaves a critical gap for the identification of new drug candidates for the disease. Recent studies have reported that the small-molecule enoxacin exerts an antiviral activity by enhancing the RNAi pathway. The aim of this study is to analyze if enoxacin can exert anti-SARS-CoV-2 effects. We exploit multiple computational tools and databases to examine (i) whether the RNAi mechanism, as the target pathway of enoxacin, could act on the SARS-CoV-2 genome, and (ii) microRNAs induced by enoxacin might directly silence viral components as well as the host cell proteins mediating the viral entry and replication. We find that the RNA genome of SARS-CoV-2 might be a suitable substrate for DICER activity. We also highlight several enoxacin-enhanced microRNAs which could target SARS-CoV-2 components, pro-inflammatory cytokines, host cell components facilitating viral replication, and transcription factors enriched in lung stem cells, thereby promoting their differentiation and lung regeneration. Finally, our analyses identify several enoxacin-targeted regulatory modules that were critically associated with exacerbation of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall, our analysis suggests that enoxacin could be a promising candidate for COVID-19 treatment through enhancing the RNAi pathway.
Easy ultrastructural insight into the internal morphology of biological specimens by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Herrmann Fabian Christopher 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAs a topographical technique, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) needs to establish direct interactions between a given sample and the measurement probe in order to create imaging information. The elucidation of internal features of organisms, tissues and cells by AFM has therefore been a challenging process in the past. To overcome this hindrance, simple and fast embedding, sectioning and dehydration techniques are presented, allowing the easy access to the internal morphology of virtually any organism, tissue or cell by AFM. The study at hand shows the applicability of the proposed protocol to exemplary biological samples, the resolution currently allowed by the approach as well as advantages and shortcomings compared to classical ultrastructural microscopic techniques like electron microscopy. The presented cheap, facile, fast and non-toxic experimental protocol might introduce AFM as a universal tool for the elucidation of internal ultrastructural detail of virtually any given organism, tissue or cell.