bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serine protease dynamics revealed by NMR analysis of the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex
Authors: Peacock Riley B. , McGrann Taylor , Tonelli Marco , Komives Elizabeth A. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractSerine proteases catalyze a multi-step covalent catalytic mechanism of peptide bond cleavage. It has long been assumed that serine proteases including thrombin carry-out catalysis without significant conformational rearrangement of their stable two-β-barrel structure. We present nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) experiments on the thrombin-thrombomodulin (TM) complex. Thrombin promotes procoagulative fibrinogen cleavage when fibrinogen engages both the anion binding exosite 1 (ABE1) and the active site. It is thought that TM promotes cleavage of protein C by engaging ABE1 in a similar manner as fibrinogen. Thus, the thrombin-TM complex may represent the catalytically active, ABE1-engaged thrombin. Compared to apo- and active site inhibited-thrombin, we show that thrombin-TM has reduced μs-ms dynamics in the substrate binding (S1) pocket consistent with its known acceleration of protein C binding. Thrombin-TM has increased μs-ms dynamics in a β-strand connecting the TM binding site to the catalytic aspartate. Finally, thrombin-TM had doublet peaks indicative of dynamics that are slow on the NMR timescale in residues along the interface between the two β-barrels. Such dynamics may be responsible for facilitating the N-terminal product release and water molecule entry that are required for hydrolysis of the acyl-enzyme intermediate.
Neuropsychological profile of hearing-impaired patients and the effect of hearing aid on cognitive functions: an exploratory study
Authors: Cuoco Sofia , Cappiello Arianna , Scarpa Alfonso , Troisi Donato , Autuori Maria , Ponticorvo Sara , Cassandro Claudia , Manara Renzo , Esposito Fabrizio , Santangelo Gabriella , Barone Paolo , Cassandro Ettore , Pellecchia Maria Teresa 
Published: April 2021

AbstractFew studies have investigated the neuropsychological profile of Hearing Loss (HL) subjects and the effects of hearing-aid on cognitive decline. We investigated the neuropsychological profile of HL patients at baseline and compared the neuropsychological profiles of patients with and without hearing-aid at 6 month. Fifty-six HL patients and 40 healthy subjects (HC) underwent neuropsychological and behavioral examination and were compared at baseline. Changes at follow-up were compared between HL patients with (N = 25) and without (N = 31) hearing-aids. At baseline, significant differences between HL and HC were found in MOCA test, Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) and SF-36. Among mild-HL patients, patients with hearing-aid significantly improved on the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) as compared to patients without hearing-aid. Our findings indicate that hearing loss is associated with both a reduced efficiency of the global cognitive state and a worse quality of life as compared to HC, supporting the association between HL and cognitive impairment. Moreover, only patients with mild-HL shows some cognitive improvement after using hearing-aid, suggesting that rehabilitative strategies may be more effective to delay cognitive decline in such patients. However, we cannot exclude that hearing-aids may affect cognitive decline in more severe-HL, but a longer follow-up is needed.
Uncovering the hidden bacterial ghost communities of yeast and experimental evidences demonstrates yeast as thriving hub for bacteria
Authors: Indu B. , Keertana Tallapragada , Ipsita Sahu , Jagadeeshwari Uppada , Sasikala Chintalapati , Ramana Chintalapati Venkata 
Published: April 2021

AbstractOur major concern was to address “yeast endobacteria” which was based on a few reports in the recent past where bacteria may find yeast as a niche for survival. In this study, we report the microbiota of twenty-nine axenic yeast cultures recovered from different habitats based on their 16S rRNA gene-amplicon metagenomes. Yeasts were identified based on D1/D2 or ITS gene sequences. Bacterial diversity was widespread, varied and rich among all yeasts except for four strains. Taxa belonging to the phylum Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes and the genera; Streptococcus, Propionibacterium were common to all the yeasts. Candida tropicalis was used as a model organism to confirm bacteria through fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), isolating and re-introducing the isolated bacteria into the yeast. FISH analysis confirmed the endobacteria of C. tropicalis and we have successfully isolated four bacteria only after lysis and disruption of yeast cells. These bacteria were identified as species of Pseudomonas, Chryseobacterium, Lysinibacillus and Propionibacterium. Guestimates indicate 95% of bacterial species of C. tropicalis are yet-to-be-cultivated. We have successfully reintroduced mCherry tagged Pseudomonas into C. tropicalis. Also, auto-fluorescent Prochlorococcus and Rhodopseudomonas could be introduced into C. tropicalis while mCherry tagged E. coli or Salmonella could not be introduced. FISH analysis confirmed the presence of both native and infected bacterial cells present in C. tropicalis. Our findings unveil the insights into the ghost microbiota associated with yeast, which otherwise are considered to be axenic cultures. Their inherent occurrence, together with co-cultivation experiments under laboratory conditions suggests that yeasts are a thriving hub for bacterial communities.
Observation of monochromatic and coherent luminescence from nanocavities of GaN nanowall network
Authors: Shamoon Danish , Upadhyaya Kishor , Shivaprasad Sonnada M. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractScaling-down the size of semiconductor cavity lasers and engineering their electromagnetic environment in the Purcell regime can bring about spectacular advance in nanodevices fabrication. We report here an unprecedented observation of a coherent Cathodoluminescence from GaN nanocavities (20–100 nm). Incident lower energy (< 15 kV) electron beams excite the band edge UV emission from the walls of the network whereas for higher energies, the emitted photons are spontaneously down converted into NIR and preferentially emerge from the nanocavities. Non-centrosymmetric structure of GaN and its nanowall geometry together facilitate this unique observation which is substantiated by our numerical results. At cryogenic temperatures, an intense and narrow laser-like NIR beam emanates out of the nanocavities. The work promises the possibility of fabrication of very high density (over 108/cm2) cavity lasers that are addressable by simple deflection and tuning of incident electron beams.
Risk of cancer development in patients with keloids
Authors: Lu Ying-Yi , Tu Hung-Pin , Wu Chieh-Hsin , Hong Chien-Hui , Yang Kuo-Chia , Yang Hui-Ju , Chang Kee-Lung , Lee Chih-Hung 
Published: April 2021

AbstractKeloid is a skin disease characterized by exaggerated scar formation, excessive fibroblast proliferation, and excessive collagen deposition. Cancers commonly arise from a fibrotic microenvironment; e.g., hepatoma arises from liver cirrhosis, and oral cancers arise from submucosal fibrosis. As keloids are a prototypic fibroproliferative disease, this study investigated whether patients with keloids have an increased cancer risk. In a matched, population-based study, first 17,401 patients treated for keloids during 1998–2010 with 69,604 controls without keloids at a ratio of 1:4 were evaluated. The association between keloids and risk of cancer was estimated by logistic regression or Cox proportional hazard regression models after adjustment of covariates. In total, 893 first-time cases of cancer were identified in the 17,401 patients with keloids. The overall cancer risk was 1.49-fold higher in the keloids group compared to controls. Regarding specific cancers, the keloids group, had a significantly higher risk of skin cancer compared to controls (Relative risk = 1.73). The relative risk for skin cancer was even higher for males with keloids (Relative risk = 2.16). Further stratified analyses also revealed a significantly higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer in female patients with keloids compared to controls (Relative risk = 2.19) after adjustment for known pancreatic cancer risk factors. This study indicates that patients with keloids have a higher than normal risk for several cancer types, especially skin cancers (both genders) and pancreatic cancer (females). Therefore, patients with keloids should undergo regular skin examinations, and females with keloids should regularly undergo abdominal ultrasonography.
miR-451a levels rather than human papillomavirus vaccine administration is associated with the severity of murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Nakashima Momoka , Ishikawa Kana , Fugiwara Aika , Shu Kaiin , Fukushima Yoshimi , Okamoto Masaaki , Tsukamoto Hirotake , Kouwaki Takahisa , Oshiumi Hiroyuki 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHuman papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine is currently the most effective prophylaxis to prevent cervical cancer. However, concerns regarding its potential severe adverse reactions have limited the vaccination rate. HPV vaccines have been determined to contain adjuvants which induce inflammation by the innate immune system and are crucial for triggering adaptive immunity. MicroRNA-451a (miR-451a) is located within circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) and regulates the innate immune response. In this study, we examined the effect of HPV vaccines and EV miR-451a on murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), which is an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system. Although HPV vaccine induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and macrophage cell death, it failed to exacerbate mouse EAE, whereas circulating EV miR-451a levels were associated with the severity of EAE. Since miR-451a knockout exhibited only marginal effect on the murine EAE clinical score, our data suggest that miR-451a levels reflect an unknown condition associated with EAE severity. Interestingly, excessive uptake of glucose increased EV miR-451a levels both in vitro and in vivo and also exacerbated mouse EAE. Therefore, environmental factors that increase EV miR-451a levels exacerbate the autoimmune disorder more than the HPV vaccine. These observations provide evidence for the safety of HPV vaccines.
Platelet function and bleeding at different phases of childhood immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Ignatova Anastasia A. , Suntsova Elena V. , Pshonkin Alexey V. , Martyanov Alexey A. , Ponomarenko Evgeniya A. , Polokhov Dmitry M. , Fedorova Daria V. , Voronin Kirill A. , Kotskaya Natalia N. , Trubina Natalia M. , Krasilnikova Marina V. , Uzueva Selima Sh. , Serkova Irina V. , Ovsyannikova Galina S. , Romanova Ksenia I. , Hachatryan Lili A. , Kalinina Irina I. , Matveev Viktor E. , Korsantiya Maya N. , Smetanina Natalia S. , Evseev Dmitry A. , Sadovskaya Maria N. , Antonova Kristina S. , Khoreva Anna L. , Zharkov Pavel A. , Shcherbina Anna , Sveshnikova Anastasia N. , Maschan Aleksey A. , Novichkova Galina A. , Panteleev Mikhail A. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractImmune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is believed to be associated with platelet function defects. However, their mechanisms are poorly understood, in particular with regard to differences between ITP phases, patient age, and therapy. We investigated platelet function and bleeding in children with either persistent or chronic ITP, with or without romiplostim therapy. The study included 151 children with ITP, of whom 56 had disease duration less than 12 months (grouped together as acute/persistent) and 95 were chronic. Samples of 57 healthy children were used as controls, while 5 patients with leukemia, 5 with aplastic anemia, 4 with MYH9-associated thrombocytopenia, and 7 with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome were used as non-ITP thrombocytopenia controls. Whole blood flow cytometry revealed that platelets in both acute/persistent and chronic ITP were increased in size compared with healthy donors. They were also pre-activated as assessed by PAC1, CD62p, cytosolic calcium, and procoagulant platelet levels. This pattern was not observed in other childhood thrombocytopenias. Pre-activation by CD62p was higher in the bleeding group in the chronic ITP cohort only. Romiplostim treatment decreased size and pre-activation of the patient platelets, but not calcium. Our data suggest that increased size, pre-activation, and cytosolic calcium are common for all ITP platelets, but their association with bleeding could depend on the disease phase.
Characterizing rumen microbiota and CAZyme profile of Indian dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) in response to different roughages
Authors: Hinsu Ankit T. , Tulsani Nilam J. , Panchal Ketankumar J. , Pandit Ramesh J. , Jyotsana Basanti , Dafale Nishant A. , Patil Niteen V. , Purohit Hemant J. , Joshi Chaitanya G. , Jakhesara Subhash J. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIn dromedary camels, which are pseudo-ruminants, rumen or C1 section of stomach is the main compartment involved in fiber degradation, as in true ruminants. However, as camels are adapted to the harsh and scarce grazing conditions of desert, their ruminal microbiota makes an interesting target of study. The present study was undertaken to generate the rumen microbial profile of Indian camel using 16S rRNA amplicon and shotgun metagenomics. The camels were fed three diets differing in the source of roughage. The comparative metagenomic analysis revealed greater proportions of significant differences between two fractions of rumen content followed by diet associated differences. Significant differences were also observed in the rumen microbiota collected at different time-points of the feeding trial. However, fraction related differences were more highlighted as compared to diet dependent changes in microbial profile from shotgun metagenomics data. Further, 16 genera were identified as part of the core rumen microbiome of Indian camels. Moreover, glycoside hydrolases were observed to be the most abundant among all Carbohydrate-Active enzymes and were dominated by GH2, GH3, GH13 and GH43. In all, this study describes the camel rumen microbiota under different dietary conditions with focus on taxonomic, functional, and Carbohydrate-Active enzymes profiles.
Tunable magnetization steps in mixed valent ferromagnet Eu2CoMnO6
Authors: Lee Nara , Kim Jong Hyuk , Oh Dong Gun , Shin Hyun Jun , Choi Hwan Young , Choi Sungkyun , Jo Younjung , Choi Young Jai 
Published: April 2021

AbstractMagnetic properties can be manipulated to enhance certain functionalities by tuning different material processing parameters. Here, we present the controllable magnetization steps of hysteresis loops in double-perovskite single crystals of Eu2CoMnO6. Ferromagnetic order emerges below TC ≈ 122 K along the crystallographic c axis. The difficulty in altering Co2+ and Mn4+ ions naturally induces additional antiferromagnetic clusters in this system. Annealing the crystals in different gas environments modifies the mixed magnetic state, and results in the retardation (after O2-annealing) and bifurcation (after Ar-annealing) of the magnetization steps of isothermal magnetization. This remarkable variation offers an efficient approach for improving the magnetic properties of double-perovskite oxides.
Slowing Down Myopia Progression with Contact Lenses – Everyday Cases from the Clinic
Authors: Ribeiro Reis Ana Paula , Palmowski-Wolfe Anja , Beuschel Ralf 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background An estimated 49.8% of the world population will be myopic by 2050. Multifocal contact lenses (MFCLs) and orthokeratology (OK) reduce peripheral retinal hyperopic defocus, which animal studies have shown to positively impact eye growth. MFCLs are expected to slow myopic progression by 20 – 50% and OK by 30 – 60%, making them valuable therapeutic tools. In view of the guidelines for myopia management published by the International Myopia Institute in 2019, the aim of this retrospective data analysis of a tertiary care center was to review past experience with OK and MFCLs for myopia control and gain information to update current practice.
Patients and Methods The contact lens (CL) database of the Eye Clinic of the University Hospital of Basel was searched with the label “myopia progression” between January 2012 – 2020. Patients were included if they gave informed consent, were younger than 19 years old at baseline, and had no ocular comorbidities that could potentially compromise vision. Primary outcomes were progression of spherical equivalent refraction for MFCL patients and progression of axial length (AL) for the OK group, comparing with historical data from OK trials. Secondary outcomes were the presence of risk factors for myopia, age, refractive error at baseline, follow-up duration, and adverse effects during therapy.
Results Twenty-one patients could be included, with a mean age of 12.80 ± 3.32 years (y) at baseline. The majority of patients were older than 12 years and already myopic (− 3.89 ± 2.30 diopters) when control treatment was started. Overall, follow-up ranged from 0.08 to 6.33 years (2.03 ± 1.66 y). In the patients treated with MFCLs, myopia control improved significantly when patients changed from spectacles to MFCLs. In the OK group, 14% dropped out during the first year and 2 patients had multiple AL measurements during therapy, which showed a slower growth of AL when compared to other OK trials and controls with spectacles. There were two cases of non-severe keratitis. Environmental risk factors had not been documented and only 48% of clinical records had a documented family risk assessment.
Conclusion Patients showed a slower myopia progression under MFCLs or OK, which supports their role as a treatment option in myopia management. In this regard, AL measurement is an important additional parameter to be included in the assessment of myopia progression in clinical practice. Identification of children at risk of developing high/pathologic myopia (family history, environmental risk factors) needs to improve so that the first stages of myopic shift can be recognized and targeted. Changes in lifestyle should be actively encouraged, especially when the impact of decreases in outdoor time secondary to COVID-19 is yet to become clear.
Benigne und maligne Bindehauttumoren in Diagnostik und Therapie
Authors: Westekemper Henrike , Manthey Anke , Bechrakis Nikolaos 
Published: April 2021

ZusammenfassungBindehauttumoren betreffen in Diagnostik und Therapie alle Bereiche der augenärztlichen Praxis. Das beginnt mit der klinischen Kontrolle von Bindehautnävi und anderen benignen Tumoren, der Einschätzung von entzündlichen Pseudotumoren und ihrer Abgrenzung zu Präkanzerosen oder vernarbenden Erkrankungen und mündet in der hochspezialisierten und interdisziplinären Führung onkologischer Patienten mit Lymphomen, hochmalignen Melanomen oder invasiven Plattenepithelkarzinomen.
Esophageal stenting for benign and malignant disease: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline – Update 2021
Authors: Spaander Manon C. W. , van der Bogt Ruben D. , Baron Todd H. , Albers David , Blero Daniel , de Ceglie Antonella , Conio Massimo , Czakó László , Everett Simon , Garcia-Pagán Juan-Carlos , Ginès Angels , Jovani Manol , Repici Alessandro , Rodrigues-Pinto Eduardo , Siersema Peter D. , Fuccio Lorenzo , van Hooft Jeanin E. 
Published: April 2021

Main recommendations
Malignant disease

1 ESGE recommends placement of partially or fully covered self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) for palliation of malignant dysphagia over laser therapy, photodynamic therapy, and esophageal bypass.Strong recommendation, high quality evidence.
2 ESGE recommends brachytherapy as a valid alternative, alone or in addition to stenting, in esophageal cancer patients with malignant dysphagia and expected longer life expectancy.Strong recommendation, high quality evidence.
3 ESGE recommends esophageal SEMS placement for sealing malignant tracheoesophageal or bronchoesophageal fistulas. Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.
4 ESGE does not recommend SEMS placement as a bridge to surgery or before preoperative chemoradiotherapy because it is associated with a high incidence of adverse events. Other options such as feeding tube placement are preferable. Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.
Benign disease

5 ESGE recommends against the use of SEMSs as first-line therapy for the management of benign esophageal strictures because of the potential for adverse events, the availability of alternative therapies, and their cost. Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.
6 ESGE suggests consideration of temporary placement of self-expandable stents for refractory benign esophageal strictures. Weak recommendation, moderate quality evidence.
7 ESGE suggests that fully covered SEMSs be preferred over partially covered SEMSs for the treatment of refractory benign esophageal strictures because of their very low risk of embedment and ease of removability. Weak recommendation, low quality evidence.
8 ESGE recommends the stent-in-stent technique to remove partially covered SEMSs that are embedded in the esophageal wall. Strong recommendation, low quality evidence.
9 ESGE recommends that temporary stent placement can be considered for the treatment of leaks, fistulas, and perforations. No specific type of stent can be recommended, and the duration of stenting should be individualized. Strong recommendation, low quality of evidence.
10 ESGE recommends considering placement of a fully covered large-diameter SEMS for the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding refractory to medical, endoscopic, and/or radiological therapy, or as initial therapy for patients with massive bleeding. Strong recommendation, moderate quality evidence.
Integration drives rapid phenotypic evolution in flatfishes
Authors: Evans Kory M. , Larouche Olivier , Watson Sara-Jane , Farina Stacy , Habegger María Laura , Friedman Matt 
Published: April 2021

Significance
Evolutionary innovations change how organisms interact with their environments. Trait modularization is thought to facilitate evolutionary innovation, while integration constrains diversification patterns. Cranial asymmetry in flatfishes was an innovation that allowed them to colonize, and dominate benthic aquatic habitats. In this study, we quantify rates of skull shape evolution, and integration across 102 species of flatfishes and their relatives and test for the effect of integration on rates of morphological diversification. We find that cranial asymmetry evolution was a rapid, integrated process. We additionally find that flatfishes are significantly more evolutionarily integrated than their relatives. These results suggest that trait integration plays a key role in the evolution of innovation by allowing traits to mount synchronous responses to selective pressures.
Inhomogeneous Hubble diagram from vector K-mouflage
Authors: Beltrán Jiménez Jose , Bettoni Dario , Brax Philippe 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
In this letter we construct the Hubble diagram for a universe where dark matter is universally charged under a dark non-linear electromagnetic force which features a screening mechanism of the K-mouflage type for repulsive forces. By resorting to the Newtonian approximation, we explicitly show that the cosmological evolution generates an inhomogeneous Hubble diagram that corresponds to a curvature dominated expansion at short distances and converges to the cosmological one of ΛCDM. We discuss the potential impact of this inhomogeneous profile on the Hubble tension. For completeness, we explicitly show how the Newtonian approximation can be derived from an inhomogeneous relativistic Lemaître model.