bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors contributing to discrepant estimated glomerular filtration values measured by creatinine and cystatin C in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Nakashima Akikatsu , Horita Shigeto , Matsunaga Takahiro , Inoue Ryo , Zoshima Takeshi , Mizushima Ichiro , Hara Satoshi , Ito Kiyoaki , Fujii Hiroshi , Nomura Hideki , Kawano Mitsuhiro 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to clarify the factors underlying the discrepancy that has been noted between estimated glomerular filtration ratio (eGFR) measured using serum creatinine (Cr) and eGFR using serum cystatin C (CysC) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to identify those patients whose renal function should be evaluated using CysC. We retrospectively evaluated clinical features, disease activity, Steinbrocker radiological staging, and co-morbidities (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia) in 238 RA patients. eGFR using serum creatinine (eGFR-Cr) and eGFR using serum cystatin C (eGFR-CysC) were calculated using the new Japanese coefficient-modified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study equation. To clarify the cause(s) of differences of 20% or more between the two eGFRs, we divided our RA patients into Group A (eGFR-Cr/eGFR-CysC ≥ 1.2) and Group B (eGFR-Cr/eGFR-CysC < 1.2), and searched for factors independently related to Group A. Forty-five patients (18.9%) were assigned to Group A, and 193 (81.1%) to Group B. BMI (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.820, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.675–0.996), Hb (OR 0.633, 95% CI 0.433–0.926), CK (OR 0.773 per 10 units, 95% CI 0.644–0.933), NSAID use (OR 0.099, 95% CI 0.020–0.494), diabetes mellitus (OR 6.024, 95% CI 1.508–24.390) and stage 4 Steinbrocker radiological stage (OR 10.309, 95% CI 2.994–35.714) were identified as independent relevant factors for Group A by a multifactorial analysis. Renal function in RA patients with low BMI, diabetes, anemia and low CK may be overestimated using eGFR-Cr alone, and such patients need to be evaluated using eGFR-CysC.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress regulates the intestinal stem cell state through CtBP2
Authors: Meijer Bartolomeus J. , Smit Wouter L. , Koelink Pim J. , Westendorp Barbara F. , de Boer Ruben J. , van der Meer Jonathan H. M. , Vermeulen Jacqueline L. M. , Paton James C. , Paton Adrienne W. , Qin Jun , Dekker Evelien , Muncan Vanesa , van den Brink Gijs R. , Heijmans Jarom 
Published: May 2021

AbstractEnforcing differentiation of cancer stem cells is considered as a potential strategy to sensitize colorectal cancer cells to irradiation and chemotherapy. Activation of the unfolded protein response, due to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, causes rapid stem cell differentiation in normal intestinal and colon cancer cells. We previously found that stem cell differentiation was mediated by a Protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK) dependent arrest of mRNA translation, resulting in rapid protein depletion of WNT-dependent transcription factor c-MYC. We hypothesize that ER stress dependent stem cell differentiation may rely on the depletion of additional transcriptional regulators with a short protein half-life that are rapidly depleted due to a PERK-dependent translational pause. Using a novel screening method, we identify novel transcription factors that regulate the intestinal stem cell fate upon ER stress. ER stress was induced in LS174T cells with thapsigargin or subtilase cytotoxin (SubAB) and immediate alterations in nuclear transcription factor activity were assessed by the CatTFRE assay in which transcription factors present in nuclear lysate are bound to plasmid DNA, co-extracted and quantified using mass-spectrometry. The role of altered activity of transcription factor CtBP2 was further examined by modification of its expression levels using CAG-rtTA3-CtBP2 overexpression in small intestinal organoids, shCtBP2 knockdown in LS174T cells, and familial adenomatous polyposis patient-derived organoids. CtBP2 overexpression organoids were challenged by ER stress and ionizing irradiation. We identified a unique set of transcription factors with altered activation upon ER stress. Gene ontology analysis showed that transcription factors with diminished binding were involved in cellular differentiation processes. ER stress decreased CtBP2 protein expression in mouse small intestine. ER stress induced loss of CtBP2 expression which was rescued by inhibition of PERK signaling. CtBP2 was overexpressed in mouse and human colorectal adenomas. Inducible CtBP2 overexpression in organoids conferred higher clonogenic potential, resilience to irradiation-induced damage and a partial rescue of ER stress-induced loss of stemness. Using an unbiased proteomics approach, we identified a unique set of transcription factors for which DNA-binding activity is lost directly upon ER stress. We continued investigating the function of co-regulator CtBP2, and show that CtBP2 mediates ER stress-induced loss of stemness which supports the intestinal stem cell state in homeostatic stem cells and colorectal cancer cells.
Comparative transcriptomics between Drosophila mojavensis and D. arizonae reveals transgressive gene expression and underexpression of spermatogenesis-related genes in hybrid testes
Authors: Banho Cecilia A. , Mérel Vincent , Oliveira Thiago Y. K. , Carareto Claudia M. A. , Vieira Cristina 
Published: May 2021

AbstractInterspecific hybridization is a stressful condition that can lead to sterility and/or inviability through improper gene regulation in Drosophila species with a high divergence time. However, the extent of these abnormalities in hybrids of recently diverging species is not well known. Some studies have shown that in Drosophila, the mechanisms of postzygotic isolation may evolve more rapidly in males than in females and that the degree of viability and sterility is associated with the genetic distance between species. Here, we used transcriptomic comparisons between two Drosophila mojavensis subspecies and D. arizonae (repleta group, Drosophila) and identified greater differential gene expression in testes than in ovaries. We tested the hypothesis that the severity of the interspecies hybrid phenotype is associated with the degree of gene misregulation. We showed limited gene misregulation in fertile females and an increase in the amount of misregulation in males with more severe sterile phenotypes (motile vs. amotile sperm). In addition, for these hybrids, we identified candidate genes that were mostly associated with spermatogenesis dysfunction.
Modifications of liver stiffness and CXCL4, TGF-β1 and HGF are similar in HCV- and HIV/HCV-infected patients after DAAs
Authors: Márquez-Coello Mercedes , Arizcorreta Ana , Rodríguez-Pardo María , Illanes-Álvarez Francisco , Márquez Denisse , Cuesta-Sancho Sara , Girón-González José-Antonio 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe objective of this work was to identify predictive factors of fibrosis regression after direct antiviral agents (DAAs) in HCV-monoinfected and HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. This was a prospective study of HCV-monoinfected (n = 20), HIV/HCV-co-infected (n = 66) patients and healthy controls (n = 15). Patients had started DAAs and achieved sustained virological response. Liver stiffness (LS) and serum concentrations of profibrotic transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and CXC chemokine ligand 4 (CXCL4) and antifibrotic HGF hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were analyzed at baseline (M0) and 12 months after starting DAAs (M12). A M12 LS achievement of ≤ 9.5 kPa was considered the cutoff point to discharge from a liver clinic. The LS decrease from M0 to M12 was 34%. No significant differences were observed in LS decline between HCV- and HIV/HCV-infected individuals. Changes of serum CXCL4, TGF-β1 and HGF levels did not correlate with LS improvement. 16 out from 56 patients (28%) with a baseline LS > 9.5 achieved a M12 LS ≤ 9.5. HCV-monoinfected and HIV/HCV coinfected patients experienced a significant reduction of LS after sustained virological response. This improvement did not correlate with changes in serum profibrotic or antifibrotic markers. A 29% of those with a baseline LS > 9.5 achieved a LS under this cutoff point.
Spatial heterogeneity of hepatic fibrosis in primary sclerosing cholangitis vs. viral hepatitis assessed by MR elastography
Authors: Reiter Rolf , Shahryari Mehrgan , Tzschätzsch Heiko , Klatt Dieter , Siegmund Britta , Hamm Bernd , Braun Jürgen , Sack Ingolf , Asbach Patrick 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSpatial heterogeneity of hepatic fibrosis in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in comparison to viral hepatitis was assessed as a potential new biomarker using MR elastography (MRE). In this proof-of-concept study, we hypothesized a rather increased heterogeneity in PSC and a rather homogeneous distribution in viral hepatitis. Forty-six consecutive subjects (PSC: n = 20, viral hepatitis: n = 26) were prospectively enrolled between July 2014 and April 2017. Subjects underwent multifrequency MRE (1.5 T) using drive frequencies of 35–60 Hz and generating shear-wave speed (SWS in m/s) maps as a surrogate of stiffness. The coefficient of variation (CV in %) was determined to quantify fibrosis heterogeneity. Mean SWS and CV were 1.70 m/s and 21% for PSC, and 1.84 m/s and 18% for viral hepatitis. Fibrosis heterogeneity was significantly increased for PSC (P = 0.04) while no difference was found for SWS of PSC and viral hepatitis (P = 0.17). Global hepatic stiffness was similar in PSC and viral hepatitis groups, but spatial heterogeneity may reveal spatial patterns of stiffness changes towards enhanced biophysics-based diagnosis by MRI.
Structure and antimicrobial activity of NCR169, a nodule-specific cysteine-rich peptide of Medicago truncatula
Authors: Isozumi Noriyoshi , Masubuchi Yuya , Imamura Tomohiro , Mori Masashi , Koga Hironori , Ohki Shinya 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA model legume, Medicago truncatula, has over 600 nodule-specific cysteine-rich (NCR) peptides required for symbiosis with rhizobia. Among them, NCR169, an essential factor for establishing symbiosis, has four cysteine residues that are indispensable for its function. However, knowledge of NCR169 structure and mechanism of action is still lacking. In this study, we solved two NMR structures of NCR169 caused by different disulfide linkage patterns. We show that both structures have a consensus C-terminal β-sheet attached to an extended N-terminal region with dissimilar features; one moves widely, whereas the other is relatively stapled. We further revealed that the disulfide bonds of NCR169 contribute to its structural stability and solubility. Regarding the function, one of the NCR169 oxidized forms could bind to negatively charged bacterial phospholipids. Furthermore, the positively charged lysine-rich region of NCR169 may be responsible for its antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Sinorhizobium meliloti. This active region was disordered even in the phospholipid bound state, suggesting that the disordered conformation of this region is key to its function. Morphological observations suggested the mechanism of action of NCR169 on bacteria. The present study on NCR169 provides new insights into the structure and function of NCR peptides.
Active microbial sulfate reduction in fluids of serpentinizing peridotites of the continental subsurface
Authors: Glombitza Clemens , Putman Lindsay I. , Rempfert Kaitlin R. , Kubo Michael D. , Schrenk Matthew O. , Templeton Alexis S. , Hoehler Tori M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSerpentinization of peridotites in Earth’s mantle is associated with the generation of hydrogen and low molecular weight organics that could support subsurface life. Studies of microbial metabolisms in peridotite-hosted environments have focused primarily on methanogenesis, yet DNA sequences, isotopic composition of sulfides and thermodynamic calculations suggest there is potential for microbial sulfate reduction too. Here, we use a sulfate radiotracer-based method to quantify microbial sulfate reduction rates in serpentinization fluids recovered from boreholes in the Samail Ophiolite, Oman and the California Coast Range Ophiolite, USA. We find that low levels of sulfate reduction occur at pH up to 12.3. These low levels could not be stimulated by addition of hydrogen, methane or small organic acids, which indicates that this metabolism is limited by factors other than substrate availability. Cellular activity drops at pH > 10.5 which suggests that high fluid pH exerts a strong control on sulfate-reducing organisms in peridotites.
A stringent upper limit of 20 pptv for methane on Mars and constraints on its dispersion outside Gale crater
Authors: Montmessin F. , Korablev O. I. , Trokhimovskiy A. , Lefèvre F. , Fedorova A. A. , Baggio L. , Irbah A. , Lacombe G. , Olsen K. S. , Braude A. S. , Belyaev D. A. , Alday J. , Forget F. , Daerden F. , Pla-Garcia J. , Rafkin S. , Wilson C. F. , Patrakeev A. , Shakun A. , Bertaux J. L. 
Published: May 2021

Context. Reports on the detection of methane in the Martian atmosphere have motivated numerous studies aiming to confirm or explain its presence on a planet where it might imply a biogenic or more likely a geophysical origin.
Aims. Our intent is to complement and improve on the previously reported detection attempts by the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS) on board the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). This latter study reported the results of a campaign that was a few months in length, and was significantly hindered by a dusty period that impaired detection performances.
Methods. We unveil 640 solar occultation measurements gathering 1.44 Martian years worth of data produced by the ACS.
Results. No methane was detected. Probing the clear northern summer season allowed us to reach 1σ upper limits of around 10 pptv (20 pptv at 2σ), with an annual mean of the smallest upper limits of 20 pptv. Upper limits are controlled by the amount of dust in the atmosphere, which impairs detection performance around the equator and during the southern spring and summer seasons. Observations performed near Gale crater yielded 1σ upper limits of up to four times less than the background values measured by the Curiosity rover during the corresponding seasons.
Conclusions. Reconciliation of the absence of methane in the TGO spectra with the positive detections by Curiosity is even more difficult in light of this annual survey performed by ACS. Stronger constraints are placed on the physical and chemical mechanism capable of explaining why the mean of the best overall upper limits of ACS is ten times below the smallest methane abundances measured by Curiosity.
Magnetic field of the eclipsing binary UV Piscium
Authors: Hahlin A. , Kochukhov O. , Alecian E. , Morin J. ,   the BinaMIcS Collaboration
Published: May 2021

Aims. The goal of this work is to study magnetic fields of the cool, eclipsing binary star UV Piscium (UV Psc). This system contains two active late-type stars, UV Psc A (G5V) and B (K3V). To obtain a complete picture, the properties of both global and local magnetic field structures are studied for both components.
Methods. High-resolution intensity and circular polarisation spectra, collected in 2016 with the ESPaDOnS spectropolarimeter at the CFHT, were used to analyse the magnetic field of UV Psc. To increase the signal-to-noise ratio, the multi-line technique of least-squares deconvolution (LSD) was used to obtain average Stokes IV profiles. Then, a Zeeman-Doppler imaging (ZDI) code was employed to obtain the large-scale magnetic field topology and brightness distribution for both components of UV Psc. In addition, the small-scale magnetic fields, not visible to ZDI, were studied using the Zeeman intensification of Fe I lines.
Results. The orbital and fundamental parameters of the system were revised based on the new radial velocity measurements. Maps of the surface magnetic field for both components of UV Psc were obtained, the large-scale magnetic fields feature strong toroidal and non-axisymetric components. UV Psc A and B have average global field strengths of 137 G and 88 G, respectively. The small-scale fields are notably stronger, with average strengths of 2.5 and 2.2 kG, respectively. Only ∼5% of the total magnetic field strength is recovered with ZDI. Our results are in agreement with previous studies of partly-convective stars. Overall, UV Psc A has a stronger magnetic field compared to UV Psc B. Due to the eclipsing binary geometry, certain magnetic field features are not detectable using circular polarisation only. An investigation into theoretical linear polarisation profiles shows that they could be used to reveal antisymmetric components of the magnetic field. This result also has implications for the study of exoplanetary transit hosts. The successful use of Zeeman intensification shows the method’s ability to extract information on magnetic fields for stars rotating significantly more rapidly than in previous studies.
Antibakterielle Prophylaxe in der Pädiatrischen
Hämatologie und Onkologie
Authors: Lehrnbecher Thomas , Simon Arne , Laws Hans-Jürgen , Agyeman Philipp KA , Ammann Roland A. , Attarbaschi Andishe , Berger Christoph , Bochennek Konrad , Neubert Jennifer , Poyer Fiona , Scheler Max , Strenger Volker , Vieth Simon , Zoellner Stefan , Groll Andreas H. 
Published: May 2021

ZusammenfassungKinder und Jugendliche, die durch eine Krebserkrankung und ihre Therapie
immunsupprimiert sind, haben ein hohes Risiko für potentiell
lebensbedrohliche Infektionen wie Bakteriämien durch Gram-positive und
Gram-negative Erreger. Aus diesem Grunde verabreichen einige Zentren diesen
Patienten eine antibakterielle Prophylaxe. Kürzlich wurden 2 Leitlinien
zur antibakteriellen Prophylaxe bei Kindern publiziert. Eine dieser Leitlinien
wurde durch eine internationale Expertengruppe aus Europa, Nord- und
Südamerika sowie Australien erstellt. Die andere Leitlinie wurde durch
eine rein europäische Gruppe im Rahmen der achten European Conference on
Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL-8) verfasst. In der vorliegenden
Übersichtsarbeit stellen die Arbeitsgruppen
„Infektionen“ der Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische
Onkologie und Hämatologie (GPOH) und „Fieber bei
Neutropenie“ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische
Infektiologie (DGPI) die wichtigsten Daten von randomisierten Studien,
systematischen Reviews und Meta-Analysen zur antibiotischen Prophylaxe als auch
von Untersuchungen zur Resistenzentwicklung vor und diskutieren methodologische
Aspekte und jeweiligen Empfehlungen der beiden Leitlinien.
Upper Extremity Deep Vein Thrombosis: Current Knowledge and Future Directions
Authors: Yuen Hiu Lam Agnes , Tran Huyen , Chunilal Sanjeev 
Published: May 2021

AbstractUpper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) has been increasing in incidence due to the escalating use of central venous catheters such as peripherally inserted central catheters. UEDVT can be primary idiopathic or secondary to pacemaker leads, intravascular catheters or cancer. In comparison to conventional venous thromboembolism such as lower limb deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism the risk factors, investigations, and management are not well defined. We review current evidence in primary and secondary UEDVT, highlighting areas in need of further research. We also explore the entity of venous thoracic outlet syndrome, which is said to be a risk factor for recurrent primary UEDVT and is the rationale behind surgical interventions.
Langmuir probe array for the small angle slot divertor in DIII-D
Authors: Watkins J. G. , Wang H. Q. , Thomas D. , Murphy C. , Taussig D. , Ren J. , Chrobak C. , Guo H. Y. 
Published: May 2021

The DIII-D small angle slot (SAS) divertor is designed for divertor physics studies with enhanced neutral confinement and special target geometries in a closed divertor. The closed nature of the SAS makes optical diagnostic measurements difficult, so a specially designed, multipurpose array of Langmuir probes has been implemented to study the plasma conditions in and around the slot. The probes are spaced to provide at least 2 mm resolution (shorter than the energy decay length) of the near scrape-off layer when mapped to the outer mid-plane. Due to space limitations at the bottom of the slot, a novel spring-loaded probe and tile design was developed to clamp several short rooftop probe tips and insulators to the cooled baseplate. Initial probe measurements revealed tile to tile edge shadowing, especially where magnetic field line surface angles were less than 1°. Additionally, it was found, using three Langmuir probes (at 90°, 180°, and 270°), that the strike point variation of ±5 mm radially around the torus was not well aligned with the circular slot geometry [Watkins et al., Nucl. Mater. Energy 18, 46 (2019)]. These issues were resolved by (1) designing tiles with all probes mounted near the tile center instead of near the edges and (2) aligning these new custom tiles to the measured strike point toroidal surface with a very accurate laser scanning alignment tool. Post-alignment Langmuir probe measurements and plasma behavior demonstrated close agreement at two separate toroidal locations that were 45° apart.
Ion density of positive and negative ions at ambient pressure in air at 12–136 mm from 4.9 kV soft x-ray source
Authors: Anttalainen Osmo , Lattouf Elie , Kotiaho Tapio , Eiceman Gary 
Published: May 2021

The abundance of ions is an essential parameter for ion mobility and mass spectrometry instrument design and for the control or optimization of chemical reactions with reactant ions. This information also advances the study of atmospheric pressure ion kinetics under continuous ionization, which has a role in developing trace level chemical analyzers. In this study, an ionization chamber is described to measure the abundance of ions produced by a 4.9 keV, model L12535, soft x-ray source from Hamamatsu Corporation. Ions of positive and negative polarity were measured independently in an 8 × 30 mm2 cross section at distances of 12–136 mm at ambient air from an uncollimated beam. Ions were collected using electric fields and 16 sets of plates. The ion current decreased exponentially with distance from the source, and the calculated ion concentration varied between 1.0 × 108 and 3.8 × 105 ions cm−3 on plates. A 2D-COMSOL model including losses by recombination and diffusion was favorably matched to changes in ion current intensity in the ionization chamber. Although the ionization chamber was built to characterize a commercial ion source, the design may be considered generally applicable to other x-ray sources.
The circadian clock ensures successful DNA replication in cyanobacteria
Authors: Liao Yi , Rust Michael J. 
Published: May 2021

Significance
Cyanobacteria, which are reliant on photosynthesis for growth, face a fundamental challenge. Replicating the genome takes hours, so the decision to initiate replication must be made at time when conditions may be quite different from the future state of the environment when replication is due to complete. We found that cyanobacteria use their circadian clock to ensure that DNA replication finishes efficiently, both by scheduling initiation early in the day and by directing the accumulation of metabolic resources that support ongoing replication after nightfall. When these circadian protections are removed, replication fails to complete. This study connects genome replication to the ability of a circadian clock to anticipate environmental changes.