bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of Kefir drink against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Shigella flexneri
Authors: Cortéz Zaira Cecilia Gutiérrez , Rubén Tescucano Alonso C. Alonso , Almeida Villegas Jorge Angel , González Gabriel Martínez 
Published: February 2023

AbstractObjectiveEvaluate the antimicrobial activity of the Kefir drink againstEscherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Shigella flexneriMethodThe Kefir used in the investigation was acquired in Toluca, State of Mexico. We performed a reactivation of Kefir with pasteurized milk and analyzed 3 carbohydrates (honey, sugar and piloncillo) at different concentrations and times, 80, 100, 120% and 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively. Isolated cultivable microorganisms were characterized by phenotypic, biochemical and mass spectroscopy techniques. The initial and final pH were determined during the study time. The antimicrobial activity was carried out by extracting the metabolites present in the ferment with the Kirby-Bauer method, in addition the direct ferment was evaluated, to determine if there was inhibition with theEscherichia coli (ATCC 11229) strains,Salmonella typhimurium(ATCC 14028) andShigella flexneri(ATCC 12022).ResultsIt was observed that in the three carbohydrates used at a concentration of 120% and at a time of 72 h, a lower pH was obtained (3.51 to 3.64) compared to their initial concentration (6.50 to 6.64). From the metabolites extracted in the different ferments, no inhibition halo was obtained with the strains analyzed. However, when using direct ferments, it was observed that in the carbohydrates used (sugar, honey, piloncillo) there was the presence of an inhibiting halo or the growth of colonies other than those evaluated. The isolated cultivable microorganisms were:Pichia kudriavzevii(yeast);Enterococcussp (gram-positive coconut) andLactobacillussp (gram-positive bacillus).ConclusionsKefir ferments made with different carbohydrates, came to present a degree of inhibition only as a consortium against Gram-negative microorganisms analyzed.
The impacts of contemporary logging after 250 years of deforestation and degradation on forest-dependent threatened species
Authors: Ward Michelle , Ashman Kita , Lindenmayer David , Legge Sarah , Kindler Gareth , Cadman Timothy , Fletcher Rachel , Whiterod Nick , Lintermans Mark , Zylstra Philip , Stewart Romola , Thomas Hannah , Blanch Stuart , Watson James E.M. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractDespite the importance of safeguarding forests and woodlands for achieving global climate and biodiversity agendas, logging continues across most forested countries. Forestry advocates often claim logging has minimal impacts, but rarely consider the cumulative threat deforestation and degradation has had, and continue to have, on species. Using New South Wales (Australia) as a case study, we quantify the extent of deforestation and degradation from 1750 – current. Using these estimates of overall loss as a baseline, we then quantify the relative extent of contemporary (2000 – 2022) logging and the condition of the remaining native forest and woodland (quantified by measuring the similarity of a current ecosystem to a historical reference state with high ecological integrity). Using these data, we measure the impacts on distinct vegetation types and on 484 terrestrial forest-dependent now-threatened species. We show that more than half (29 million ha) of pre-1750 (pre-European colonization of Australia) native forest and woodland vegetation in NSW has been lost. Of the remaining 25 million ha, 9 million ha is degraded. We found contemporary degradation from logging affected 244 forest-dependent now-threatened species that had already been affected by this historical deforestation and degradation, but the impacts varied across species and vegetation types. We found that 70 now-threatened species that were impacted by historical deforestation and degradation and continue to be impacted by logging, now have ≤50% of their pre-1750 extent remaining that is intact (with three species now having <20%). By quantifying the historical impacts of deforestation and degradation, our research sets the impact of contemporary degradation from logging in perspective and highlights shortfalls in current environmental assessments that fail to consider appropriate baselines when reporting on overall impact. Future land management decisions need to consider not only the extent of remaining habitat based on pre-1750 extents, but also its condition.Article impact statementThe impact of logging needs to be placed in perspective by considering past losses and degradation due to human land use decisions.
Mitochondrial Transport in Symmetric and Asymmetric Axons with Multiple Branching Junctions: A Computational Study
Authors: Kuznetsov Ivan A. , Kuznetsov Andrey V. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractWe explore the impact of multiple branching junctions in axons on the mean age of mitochondria and their age density distributions in demand sites. The study looked at mitochondrial concentration, mean age, and age density distribution in relation to the distance from the soma. We developed models for a symmetric axon containing 14 demand sites and an asymmetric axon containing 10 demand sites. We examined how the concentration of mitochondria changes when an axon splits into two branches at the branching junction. We also studied whether mitochondria concentrations in the branches are affected by what proportion of mitochondrial flux enters the upper branch and what proportion of flux enters the lower branch. Additionally, we explored whether the distributions of mitochondria mean age and age density in branching axons are affected by how the mitochondrial flux splits at the branching junction. When the mitochondrial flux is split unevenly at the branching junction of an asymmetric axon, with a greater proportion of the flux entering the longer branch, the average age of mitochondria (system age) in the axon increases. Our findings elucidate the effects of axonal branching on mitochondria age. Mitochondria aging is the focus of this study as recent research suggests it may be involved in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.
APLNR marks a cardiac progenitor derived with human induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Lam Yin-Yu , Chan Chun-Ho , Geng Lin , Wong Nicodemus , Keung Wendy , Cheung Yiu-Fai 
Published: February 2023

SummaryCardiomyocytes can be readily derived from human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines, yet its efficacy varies across different batches of the same and different hiPSC lines. To unravel the inconsistencies of in vitro cardiac differentiation, we utilized single cell transcriptomics on hiPSCs undergoing cardiac differentiation and identified cardiac and extra-cardiac lineages throughout differentiation. We further identified APLNR as a surface marker for in vitro cardiac progenitors and immunomagnetically isolated them. Differentiation of isolated in vitro APLNR+cardiac progenitors derived from multiple hiPSC lines resulted in predominantly cardiomyocytes accompanied with cardiac mesenchyme. Transcriptomic analysis of differentiating in vitro APLNR+cardiac progenitors revealed transient expression of cardiac progenitor markers before further commitment into cardiomyocyte and cardiac mesenchyme. Analysis of in vivo human and mouse embryo single cell transcriptomic datasets have identified APLNR expression in early cardiac progenitors of multiple lineages. This platform enables generation of in vitro cardiac progenitors from multiple hiPSC lines without genetic manipulation, which has potential applications in studying cardiac development, disease modelling and cardiac regeneration.
Aberration modeling in deep learning for volumetric reconstruction of light-field microscopy
Authors: Zhou You , Jin Zhouyu , Zhao Qianhui , Xiong Bo , Cao Xun 
Published: February 2023

AbstractOptical aberration is a crucial issue in optical microscopes, which fundamentally limits the practical imaging performance. As a commonly encountered one, spherical aberration is introduced by the refractive index mismatches between samples and environments, which will cause problems like low contrast, blurring, and distortion in imaging. Light-field microscopy (LFM) has recently emerged as a powerful tool for fast volumetric imaging. The appearance of spherical aberration in LFM will cause large changes of the point spread function (PSF) and thus greatly affects the imaging performance. Here, we propose the aberration-modeling view-channel-depth (AM-VCD) network for LFM reconstruction, which can well mitigate the influence of large spherical aberration. By quantitatively estimating the spherical aberration in advance and modeling it in the network training, the AM-VCD can obtain aberration-corrected high-speed visualization of three-dimensional (3D) processes with uniform spatial resolution and real-time reconstruction speed. Without any hardware modification, our method provides a convenient way to directly observe the 3D dynamics of samples in solution. We demonstrate the capability of AM-VCD under a large refractive index mismatch with volumetric imaging of a large-scale fishbone of largemouth bass. We further investigate the capability of AM-VCD in real-time volumetric imaging of dynamic zebrafish for tracking neutrophil migration.
A compact regulatory RNA element in mouse Hsp70 mRNA
Authors: Wang Wenshuai , Liu Fei , Ugalde Maria Vera , Pyle Anna Marie 
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACTHsp70 performs molecular chaperone functions by assisting in folding newly synthesized or misfolded proteins, thereby counteracting various cell stresses and preventing multiple diseases including neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. It is well established that Hsp70 upregulation during post-heat shock stimulus is mediated by cap-dependent translation. However, the molecular mechanisms of Hsp70 expression during heat shock stimulus remains elusive, even though the 5’ end of Hsp70 mRNA may form a compact structure to positively regulate protein expression in the mode of cap-independent translation. The minimal truncation which can fold to a compact structure was mapped and its secondary structure was characterized by chemical probing. The predicted model revealed a highly compact structure with multiple stems. Including the stem where the canonical start codon is located, several stems were identified to be vital for RNA folding, thereby providing solid structural basis for future investigations on the function of this RNA structure on Hsp70 translation during heat shock.
The La Crosse virus class II fusion glycoproteinijloop contributes to infectivity and cholesterol-dependent entry
Authors: Thannickal Sara A. , Spector Sophie N. , Stapleford Kenneth A. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractArthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses) are an emerging and evolving global public health threat with little to no antiviral treatments. La Crosse virus (LACV) from theBunyaviralesorder is responsible for pediatric encephalitis cases in the United States, yet little is known about the infectivity of LACV. Given the structural similarities between class II fusion glycoproteins of LACV and chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an alphavirus from theTogaviridaefamily, we hypothesized that LACV would share similar entry mechanisms to CHIKV. To test this hypothesis, we performed cholesterol-depletion and repletion assays and used cholesterol modulating compounds to study LACV entry and replication. We found that LACV entry was cholesterol-dependent while replication was less affected by cholesterol manipulation. In addition, we generated single point mutants in the LACVijloop that corresponded to known CHIKV residues important for virus entry. We found that a conserved histidine and alanine residue in the Gcijloop impaired virus infectivity and attenuate LACVin vitroandin vivo. Finally, we took an evolution-based approach to explore how the LACV glycoprotein evolution in mosquitoes and mice. We found multiple variants that cluster in the Gc glycoprotein head domain, supporting the Gc glycoprotein as a target for LACV adaptation. Together, these results begin to characterize the mechanisms of LACV infectivity and how the LACV glycoprotein contributes to infectivity and pathogenesis.ImportanceVector-borne arboviruses are significant health threats leading to devastating disease worldwide. This emergence and the fact that there are little to no vaccines or antivirals targeting these viruses highlights the need to study how arboviruses replicate at the molecular level. One potential antiviral target is the class II fusion glycoprotein. Alphaviruses, flaviviruses, and bunyaviruses encode a class II fusion glycoprotein that contain strong structural similarities in the tip of domain II. Here we show that the bunyavirus La Crosse virus uses similar mechanisms to entry as the alphavirus chikungunya virus and residues in theijloop are important for virus infectivity. These studies show that genetically diverse viruses use similar mechanisms through concerned structure domains, suggesting these may be a target for broad-spectrum antivirals to multiple arbovirus families.
Inoculum-dependent bactericidal activity of aMycobacterium tuberculosisMmpL3 inhibitor
Authors: Berube Bryan , Deshpande Aditi , Bhagwat Amala , Parish Tanya 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIndolcarboxamides are a promising series of anti-tubercular agents which targetMycobacterium tuberculosisMmpL3, the exporter of trehalose monomycolate, a key cell wall component. We determined the kill kinetics of the lead indolcarboxamide NITD-349 and determined that while kill was rapid against low density cultures, bactericidal activity was inoculum-dependent. A combination of NITD-349 with isoniazid (which inhibits mycolate synthesis) had an increased kill rate; this combination prevented the appearance of resistant mutants, even at higher inocula.
Temporal and spatial characterization of HIV/SIV infection at anorectal mucosa using rhesus macaque rectal challenge model
Authors: Maric Danijela , Corbin Lisette , Greco Natalie , Lorenzo-Redondo Ramon , McRaven Michael D. , Veazey Ronald S. , Hope Thomas J. 
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACTThe study described herein is a continuation of our work in which we developed a methodology to identify small foci of transduced cells following rectal challenge of rhesus macaques with a non-replicative luciferase reporter virus. In the current study, the wild-type virus was added to the inoculation mix and twelve rhesus macaques were necropsied 2-4 days after the rectal challenge to study the changes in infected cell phenotype as the infection progressed. Relying on luciferase reporter we noted that both anus and rectum tissues are susceptible to the virus as early as 48h after the challenge. Small regions of the tissue containing luciferase-positive foci were further analyzed microscopically and were found to also contain cells infected by wild-type virus. Phenotypic analysis of the Env and Gag positive cells in these tissues revealed the virus can infect diverse cell populations, including but not limited to Th17 T cells, non Th17 T cells, immature dendritic cells, and myeloid-like cells. The proportions of the infected cell types, however, did not vary much during the first four days of infection when anus and rectum tissues were examined together. Nonetheless, when the same data was analyzed on a tissue-specific basis, we found significant changes in infected cell phenotypes over the course of infection. For anal tissue, a statistically significant increase in infection was observed for Th17 T cells and myeloid-like cells, while in the rectum, the non-Th17 T cells showed the biggest temporal increase, also of statistical significance.IMPORTANCEMen who have sex with men are at the highest risk of acquiring HIV via receptive anal intercourse. Understanding what sites are permissive to the virus, and what the early cellular targets are is critical for development of effective prevention strategies to control HIV acquisition amid receptive anal intercourse. Our work sheds light on the early HIV/SIV transmission events at the rectal mucosa by identifying the infected cells and highlights the distinct roles that different tissues play in virus acquisition and control.
Disparities in stroke incidence over time by sex and age in Latin America and the Caribbean region: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Nuñez Marilaura , Delfino Carlos , Asenjo-Lobos Claudia , Schilling Andrea , Lavados Pablo , Anderson Craig S. , Muñoz Venturelli Paula 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBackgroundHigh-income countries studies show unfavorable trends in stroke incidence (SI) in younger populations. We aimed to estimate temporal change in SI disaggregated by age and sex in Latin America and the Caribbean region (LAC).MethodsA search strategy was used in MEDLINE, WOS, and LILACS databases from 1997 to 2021, including prospective observational studies with age and sex-disaggregated data of first-ever stroke (FES) incidence. Risk of bias was assessed with The Joanna Briggs Institute’s guide. The main outcomes were incidence rate ratio (IRR) and relative temporal trend ratio (RTTR) of SI, comparing time periods ≥2010 with <2010. Pooled RTTR (pRTTR) only considering studies with two periods in the same population were calculated by random-effects meta-analysis.ResultsFrom 9,242 records identified, six studies were selected including 4,483 FES in 4,101,084 individuals. Crude IRR in younger subjects (<55 years) comparing ≥2010:<2010 periods showed an increase in SI in the last decade (IRR 1.37;95%CI 1.23-1.50), in contrast to a decrease in older people during the same period (IRR 0.83; 95%CI 0.76–0.89). Overall RTTR (<55:≥55 years) was 1.65 (95CI% 1.50-1.80), with higher increase in young women (pRTTR 3.08; 95%CI 1.18-4.97; p for heterogeneity <0.001).ConclusionsAn unfavorable change in SI in young people - especially in women - was detected in the last decade in LAC. Further investigation of the explanatory variables is required to ameliorate stroke prevention and inform local decision-makers.Registration of protocolCRD42022332563 (PROSPERO).
Detection of airborne respiratory viruses in pediatric patient rooms in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Xie Yanmin , Chi Shiu Eunice Yuen , Ye Dan , Zhang Wenjie , Huang Wenbo , Yang Zifeng , Cowling Benjamin John , Lan Leung Nancy Hiu 
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACTBackgroundDespite the controversy of aerosol transmission for different respiratory viruses, there are few direct comparisons. Respiratory virus detection in the air can inform transmission risk assessment in healthcare settings. We aimed to identify five common respiratory viruses in the air in pediatric patient rooms.MethodsWe sampled air with two-stage cyclone samplers continuously for 4 hours in 5-bed pediatric patient rooms in a tertiary hospital in China. Respiratory virus RNA/DNA recovered in the air were quantified by PCR.ResultsWe conducted air sampling on 44 occasions from December 2017 through January 2020, and identified 24, 18, 16, 4 and 8 occasions which had ≥1 patient in the room tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus (AdV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), influenza B or A virus, respectively. Detection of influenza A viral gene copies was most frequent even when there were no known infected patients in the room (72%). Influenza B, AdV and RSV were detected in low to moderate frequencies, whether there were infected patients in close proximity (13-50%) or not (12-25%). PIV was rarely detected even when air samplers were placed in close proximity to infected patients (8%). About 103–105copies/m3were detected for all detected respiratory viruses.ConclusionsHealthcare workers and visitors likely have substantial exposure to various respiratory viruses including influenza A/B viruses, RSV and AdV in pediatric patient rooms, even in the absence of infected individuals in close proximity, suggesting the potential value of improving indoor ventilation or air disinfection in hospitals.
Understanding the impact of a social support program in Immokalee, FL, during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Richards Lindsay , Wang Leping , Jeanmarie Joashilia , Shafazand Shirin , Palazuelos Daniel , Monacello Vitina 
Published: February 2023

AbstractFrom December 2020 to July 2021, $700,000 was distributed in direct cash transfers to residents of Immokalee, FL who tested positive for COVID-19. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of this cash transfer program. We conducted 157 structured interviews with program beneficiaries via phone call or home visit and asked about sociodemographic variables, how the money was used, whether the money was sufficient for two weeks’ financial needs, and participant ability to self-isolate. A logit regression model was then used to explore the relationships between sociodemographic variables and whether the respondent thought the money was enough for two weeks of financial needs. A majority of respondents (83.7%) reported spending the check exclusively on living expenses, and 99.3% reported that the money helped them stay home and quarantine while having COVID-19. Offering direct cash transfers of $800-$1200 to residents of Immokalee, FL who tested positive for COVID-19 was effective in reducing COVID-associated financial burden, and this money was most likely to be spent on living necessities rather than temptation goods. People with housing insecurity and without a high school degree were significantly less likely to report that the money was enough for two weeks’ financial needs, indicating that these characteristics mark those in the population who may have needed more support. Given that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing health disparities, it is important to understand the role of cash transfers as a public health tool and their potential impact on community mitigation efforts.
Reduced serotonergic transmission alters sensitivity to cost and reward via 5-HT1Aand 5-HT1Breceptors in monkeys
Authors: Hori Yukiko , Mimura Koki , Nagai Yuji , Hori Yuki , Kumata Katsushi , Zhang Ming-Rong , Suhara Tetsuya , Higuchi Makoto , Minamimoto Takafumi 
Published: February 2023

AbstractDeficiency of the serotonin (5-HT) system is considered one of the core biological pathologies of depression and other psychiatric disorders whose key symptom is decreased motivation. Yet, the exact role of 5-HT in motivation remains controversial and elusive. Here, we pharmacologically manipulated the 5-HT system and quantified effects on motivation in terms of incentives and costs for goal-directed action in monkeys. Reversible inhibition of 5-HT synthesis increased refusal responses and reaction times in goal-directed task performance, indicating decreased motivation that could be separated into value-dependent and -independent components. To identify the receptor subtypes involved in these components, we systemically administered antagonists specific for four major 5-HT receptor subtypes: 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A, and 5-HT4. Positron emission tomography visualized the unique distribution of each subtype in limbic brain regions and determined the systemic antagonist dose that achieved approximately 30% occupancy. We found that blockade of 5-HT1A, but not other receptor subtypes, increased sensitivity to future workload and time-delay to reward, and decreased motivation in a value-independent manner. Moreover, blocking only 5-HT1Breceptors reduced the impact of incentive value on motivation. These results suggest that two distinct processes, mediated by 5-HT1Aand 5-HT1Breceptors, lead to reduced motivation in 5-HT system deficiency.