bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pore-forming activity of
S. pneumoniae
pneumolysin disrupts the paracellular localization of the epithelial adherens junction protein E-cadherin
Authors: Xu Shuying , Mo Devons , Rizvi Fatima Z. , Rosa Juan P. , Ruiz Jorge , Tan Shumin , Tweten Rodney K. , Leong John M. , Adams Walter 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

Streptococcus pneumoniae,
a common cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, can cross the respiratory epithelial barrier to cause lethal septicemia and meningitis.
S. pneumoniae
pore-forming toxin pneumolysin (PLY) triggers robust neutrophil (PMN) infiltration that promotes bacterial transepithelial migration
in vitro
and disseminated disease in mice. Apical infection of polarized respiratory epithelial monolayers by
S. pneumoniae
at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 20 resulted in recruitment of PMNs, loss of 50% of the monolayer, and PMN-dependent bacterial translocation. Reducing the MOI to 2 decreased PMN recruitment two-fold and preserved the monolayer, but apical-to-basolateral translocation of
S. pneumoniae
remained relatively efficient. At both MOI of 2 and 20, PLY was required for maximal PMN recruitment and bacterial translocation. Co-infection by wild-type
S. pneumoniae
restored translocation by a PLY-deficient mutant, indicating that PLY can act in
trans
. Investigating the contribution of
S. pneumoniae
infection on apical junction complexes in the absence of PMN transmigration, we found that
S. pneumoniae
infection triggered the cleavage and mislocalization of the adherens junction (AJ) protein E-cadherin. This disruption was PLY-dependent at MOI of 2 and was recapitulated by purified PLY, requiring its pore-forming activity. In contrast, at MOI of 20, E-cadherin disruption was independent of PLY, indicating that
S. pneumoniae
encodes multiple means to disrupt epithelial integrity. This disruption was insufficient to promote bacterial translocation in the absence of PMNs. Thus,
S. pneumoniae
triggers cleavage and mislocalization of E-cadherin through PLY-dependent and -independent mechanisms, but maximal bacterial translocation across epithelial monolayers requires PLY-dependent neutrophil transmigration.
Characterization of a mouse-adapted strain of bat severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus
Authors: Lin Hao-Feng , Liu Mei-Qin , Jiang Ren-Di , Gong Qian-Chun , Su Jia , Guo Zi-Shuo , Chen Ying , Jia Jing-Kun , Dong Tian-Yi , Zhu Yan , Li Ang , Shen Xu-Rui , Wang Yi , Li Bei , Xie Ting-Ting , Yang Xing-Lou , Hu Ben , Shi Zheng-Li 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT
Bats carry genetically diverse severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs). Some of them utilize human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) as a receptor and cannot efficiently replicate in wild-type mice. Our previous study demonstrated that the bat SARSr-CoV rRsSHC014S induces respiratory infection and lung damage in hACE2 transgenic mice but not wild-type mice. In this study, we generated a mouse-adapted strain of rRsSHC014S, which we named SMA1901, by serial passaging of wild-type virus in BALB/c mice. SMA1901 showed increased infectivity in mouse lungs and induced interstitial lung pneumonia in both young and aged mice after intranasal inoculation. Genome sequencing revealed mutations in not only the spike protein but the whole genome, which may be responsible for the enhanced pathogenicity of SMA1901 in wild-type BALB/c mice. SMA1901 induced age-related mortality similar to that observed in SARS and COVID-19. Drug testing using antibodies and antiviral molecules indicated that this mouse-adapted virus strain can be used to test prophylactic and therapeutic drug candidates against SARSr-CoVs.

IMPORTANCE
The genetic diversity of SARSr-CoVs in wildlife and their potential risk of cross-species infection highlights the importance of developing a powerful animal model to evaluate the antibodies and antiviral drugs. We acquired the mouse-adapted strain of a bat-origin coronavirus named SMA1901 by natural serial passaging of rRsSHC014S in BALB/c mice. The SMA1901 infection caused interstitial pneumonia and inflammatory immune responses in both young and aged BALB/c mice after intranasal inoculation. Our model exhibited age-related mortality similar to SARS and COVID-19. Therefore, our model will be of high value for investigating the pathogenesis of bat SARSr-CoVs and could serve as a prospective test platform for prophylactic and therapeutic candidates.
Blended diets for tube-fed children and young people: a rapid review update
Authors: Phillips Gemma , Coad Jane 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundMany children and young people with complex health and care needs use enteral feeding tubes to optimise their nutritional intake in the UK and other countries. Blended diets as an alternative to the exclusive use of commercial formula are becoming more commonly used, and there is evidence to support the benefits of using a blended diet on the child or young person and their wider family.A rapid review was published in 2017 exploring blended diets as a valid alternative to commercial formula for enteral feeding for children and young people. An update was necessary to ensure that professional practice is informed by the latest evidence, which has expanded significantly since the publication of the original article.MethodsA rapid review method was used and the PRISMA checklist formed the basis of the protocol devised ahead of data collection. Key databases included: PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Google Scholar.Results29 articles were included and four themes were identified from the collated data. (1) Symptom improvement and clinical outcomes, (2) nutritional content, (3) caregiver experiences and (4) blended diet practices. Findings showed that blended diets can have a positive impact on physical symptoms as well as social influences extending to families and carers.ConclusionNutritional content, food hygiene and viscosity of food blends are important considerations for professionals and families to ensure safe practice when using blended diets for enteral feeding.
Five-year follow-up of phase II trial of stromal cells for bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Ahn So Yoon , Chang Yun Sil , Lee Myung Hee , Sung Sein , Kim Ai-Rhan , Park Won Soon 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundWe previously performed a phase II randomised double-blind clinical trial of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSCs) transplantation to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely premature infants. Subsequently, we followed the infants enrolled in this clinical trial to determine the safety and effectiveness of MSCs against bronchopulmonary dysplasia at 5-year follow-up.MethodsWe evaluated infants at 5 years of age receiving placebo or MSCs in a prospective follow-up study.ResultsIn terms of the primary end point of composite respiratory morbidities, including respiratory problem-related readmission, emergency department visits or oxygen therapy, the MSC group had a rate of 60.7% for composite morbidities, while the control group showed a tendency of higher rate of 83.9% for the same outcomes without statistical significance. In terms of the secondary outcomes, the MSC group infants showed a tendency of being less likely to visit emergency department (control 67.7% vs MSC 35.7%) and to receive oxygen therapy (control 29.0% vs MSC 3.6%). No difference was observed in the incidence of respiratory problem-related hospital readmission or wheezing episodes between the groups.ConclusionIntratracheally instilled MSCs showed the possibility of potential to decrease respiratory symptom-related emergency department visits and oxygen therapy episodes in infants born extremely preterm during the 5 years after a phase II randomised controlled, double-blind trial of MSCs transplantation for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. This small size study suggests preliminary insights that can be further tested using larger sample sizes.Trial registration numberNCT01897987.
Characterization and swelling behavior of hydrogels from N-isopropylacrylamide, N,N′-diethylacrylamide, acrylic acid, and its use for drug release
Authors: Tuan Huynh Nguyen Anh , Phuong Ho 
Published: August 2023

Here, a series of semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) hydrogels were synthesized and investigated by combining three materials such as N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM), N,N′-diethylacrylamide (DEA), and acrylic acid (AAc). The linear copolymer p(NIPAM-co-AAc) was introduced into DEA solution in the presence of N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide to synthesize p(NIPAM-co-AAc)/pDEA semi-IPN hydrogels using free radical polymerization. Scanning electron microscope images demonstrated the porous morphology of hydrogels with pore sizes in the range of 220–969 µm. The physicochemical properties of polymers were evaluated by various characterization techniques, including gel permeation chromatography, dynamic light scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, rheological measurement, mechanical properties, and swelling behaviors. The results indicated that the introduction of linear copolymers into conventional hydrogels has significantly improved the properties of the hydrogels. Besides, the use of NIPAM has significantly improved the thermal sensitivity of the polymers in this work. Finally, a selected semi-IPN hydrogel was evaluated for its potential for the drug release of paracetamol. The sorption of paracetamol was an exothermic process that obeyed the Freundlich isotherms, with the highest sorption of 119.57 mg/g. The paracetamol release followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model and was consistent with the Fickian diffusion mechanism.
Wind farm and wildfire: spatial ecology of an endangered freshwater turtle in a recovering landscape
Authors: Delay S.J. , Urquhart O. , Litzgus J.D. 
Published: August 2023

Wind energy presents many advantages, but wind farms pose risks to wildlife and habitats. We hypothesized that habitat changes caused by the impacts of wind farm construction and wildfire would alter the spatial ecology of Spotted Turtles ( Clemmys guttata (Schneider, 1792)). In a space-for-time study design, we outfitted 28 turtles with radio transmitters in three treatments (Control n = 10, Wind farm n = 9, and Windburn (wind farm and wildfire n = 9)) and located turtles every 3–5 days throughout the active season. We did not detect any significant differences in turtle body condition, home range size, minimum daily distance moved, or microhabitat selection among treatments. Macrohabitat selection differed slightly among treatments; only Windburn turtles used wet depressions on rock barrens, which may indicate that turtles exploited early successional habitats created by wildfire. Turtles did not avoid habitats near wind farm infrastructure yet did not cross service roads unless a culvert was present, highlighting the need to maintain habitat connectivity in modified landscapes. Our findings suggest that Spotted Turtles that survived the acute impacts of the wildfire and wind farm construction were able to navigate the recovering landscape, but a before–after–control–impact study is required to understand the acute and long-term impacts of wind farms and wildfires on turtles.
Textural mapping and building a paragenetic interpretation of hydrothermal veins
Authors: Webb Shane , Torvela Taija , Chapman Rob , Savastano Lucia 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Paragenetic interpretation, defined as the process of constraining the order in which the phases (minerals) comprising a rock formed, are fundamental in all disciplines requiring a detailed mapping of the genetic relationships between the investigated crystal(s) and their surrounding phases. Ore geology, geochronology, petrological and fluid inclusion studies are underpinned by a robust interpretation of the paragenesis. Without this understanding, the interpretation of the analytical data will be greatly restricted and potentially wrong. Textural mapping is particularly useful for studying phases precipitated into hydrothermal veins because the host many metallic ore deposits. Understanding the paragenesis and the association of ore minerals feeds directly into the approach taken towards exploration, mining operation and ore processing. Apart from ore deposits, precipitation of hydrothermal phases occurs in any setting where hot fluids interact with rock or sediment (e.g. CCS storage; geothermal facilities). This paper summarizes the principles for developing a robust paragenetic interpretation, including demonstrating the practical workflow via a case study from a sulfide-bearing vein near Loch Tay, Scotland. The principles and the workflow outlined in this paper are applicable to any discipline and route of investigation that necessitates a robust understanding of the relationships of the phases in a rock.
Wadi Al-Hitan or ‘Valley of Whales’ – an Eocene World Heritage Site in the Western Desert of Egypt
Authors: Gingerich Philip D. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Wadi Al-Hitan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Western Desert of Egypt famous for the fossils it has produced, including some of the most complete skulls and skeletons of Eocene whales known anywhere in the world. Most are from the early part of the late Eocene epoch of Earth history and lived in the Tethys Sea some 38 to 36 million years before present.
Basilosaurus isis
and
Dorudon atrox
are the most abundant and best known of the archaic whales. Sea cow skeletons are present as well, as are bones or teeth of a bird, crocodiles, turtles, bony fishes, and a diversity of sharks and rays. The fossils are preserved in sedimentary strata that accumulated as sea level rose and fell, producing a succession of nearshore marine environments. Rocks exposed at the surface, now dissected by erosion, enable study of stratigraphic sequences and their architecture. Taken together, the fossil-and-strata geoheritage of Wadi Al-Hitan has exceptional value for science and for public education.
The geoheritage of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania: providing geological answers to human origin questions
Authors: McHenry Lindsay J. , Stanistreet Ian G. , Njau Jackson K. , Mwankunda Joshua 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

While Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, is most famous for its impressive and formative record of early human technology, Pleistocene fauna and hominin fossils, its geological record is equally important. At Olduvai, palaeoanthropologically significant sites are often preserved in primary context (not redeposited), and they can be contextualized within the palaeoenvironments in which the hominins lived. This has provided an exceptional opportunity to assess not only hominin evolutionary changes over time, but also to understand their adaptive behaviour including toolmaking, foraging and sociality. Abundant volcanic material from the nearby Ngorongoro Volcanic Highlands, interspersed within and between archaeology-bearing deposits, made Olduvai a target for some of the earliest applications of radiometric dating using the K/Ar system. Ultimately, the
40
Ar/
39
Ar dating system has produced ages with exceptional precision. Early radiometric dating at Olduvai helped establish the antiquity of the hominin lineage, and early palaeomagnetic studies (and the ‘Olduvai event,’ the longest normal subchron within the reversed Matuyama Chron) were critical in establishing the importance of Olduvai in the field of geochronology. More recently, high-resolution palaeoclimate studies of the palaeolake that once occupied the Olduvai Basin have helped to reconstruct the palaeoenvironments encountered by hominin species. Over a century of geological research has secured Olduvai's status as an important site for geoheritage.
DNA Methylation-Based Testing in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Enables Accurate and Early Detection of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Xie Yan , Li Peilong , Sun Dong , Qi Qiuchen , Ma Suhong , Zhao Yinghui , Zhang Shujun , Wang Tiantian , Wang Jing , Li Shijun , Gong Tingting , Xu Huiting , Xiong Mengqiu , Li Guanghua , You Chongge , Luo Zhaofan , Li Juan , Wang Chuanxin , Du Lutao 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

An effective blood-based method for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer has not yet been developed. Molecular alterations of immune cells occur early in tumorigenesis, providing the theoretical underpinning for early cancer diagnosis based on immune cell profiling. Therefore, we aimed to develop an effective detection method based on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to improve the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Analysis of the genome-wide methylation landscape of PBMCs from patients with colorectal cancer and healthy controls by microarray, pyrosequencing, and targeted bisulfite sequencing revealed five DNA methylation markers for colorectal cancer diagnosis, especially early-stage colorectal cancer. A single-tube multiple methylation–specific quantitative PCR assay (multi-msqPCR) for simultaneous detection of five methylation markers was established, which allowed quantitative analysis of samples with as little as 0.1% PBMC DNA and had better discriminative performance than single-molecule detection. Then, a colorectal cancer diagnostic model (CDM) based on methylation markers and the multi-msqPCR method was constructed that achieved high accuracy for early-stage colorectal cancer (AUC = 0.91; sensitivity = 81.18%; specificity = 89.39%), which was improved compared with CEA (AUC = 0.79). The CDM also enabled a high degree of discrimination for advanced adenoma cases (AUC = 0.85; sensitivity = 63.04%). Follow-up data also demonstrated that the CDM could identify colorectal cancer potential up to 2 years before currently used diagnostic methods. In conclusion, the approach constructed in this study based on PBMC-derived DNA methylation markers and a multi-msqPCR method is a promising and easily implementable diagnostic method for early-stage colorectal cancer.

Significance:
Development of a diagnostic model for early colorectal cancer based on epigenetic analysis of PBMCs supports the utility of altered DNA methylation in immune cells for cancer diagnosis.
The Tumor Immune Microenvironment Architecture Correlates with Risk of Recurrence in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Weed Donald T. , Zilio Serena , McGee Christie , Marnissi Boutheina , Sargi Zoukaa , Franzmann Elizabeth , Thomas Giovana , Leibowitz Jason , Nicolli Elizabeth , Arnold David , Bicciato Silvio , Serafini Paolo 
Published: August 2023

AbstractEmerging evidence suggests that not only the frequency and composition of tumor-infiltrating leukocytes but also their spatial organization might be a major determinant of tumor progression and response to therapy. Therefore, mapping and analyzing the fine tumor immune architecture could potentially provide insights for predicting cancer prognosis. Here, we performed an explorative, prospective clinical study to assess whether structures within the tumor microenvironment can predict recurrence after salvage surgery in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The major immune subsets were measured using flow cytometry and co-detection by indexing (CODEX) multiparametric imaging. Flow cytometry underestimated the number of PMN-MDSCs and neutrophils in the tumor and overestimated the tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte frequency. An ad hoc computational framework was used to identify and analyze discrete cellular neighborhoods. A high frequency of tertiary lymphoid structures composed of CD31highCD38high plasma cells was associated with reduced recurrence after surgery in HNSCC. These data support the notion that the structural architecture of the tumor immune microenvironment plays an essential role in tumor progression and indicates that type 1 tertiary lymphoid structures and long-lived CD31highCD38high plasma cells are associated with good prognosis in HNSCC.Significance:Imaging the spatial tumor immune microenvironment and evaluating the presence of type 1 tertiary lymphoid structures enables prediction of recurrence after surgery in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Anthologies as Tools of Literary Hospitality
Authors: Rodríguez Guerrero-Strachan Santiago , Ibáñez José R. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
This article examines the presence of Poe’s fiction in Spain, focusing on the reception of his anthologized short stories in the second half of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, and taking this as a case of literary hospitality that helped to develop the fantasy genre in the country. In the early decades of publication, collections of Poe’s short stories were generally introduced into Spain as translations of anthologies of Baudelaire’s French versions. These anthologies appealed to a broad readership and sold well, being published by both large, professional houses and smaller, family-run presses. Poe came to form part of the literary canon that was being shaped in the final decades of the nineteenth century in Spain, and was thus published alongside major literary figures, which attests to the kind of literary hospitality he enjoyed in Spain’s cultural world in the decades following his introduction into the country.
Seasonal Storm Characteristics Govern Urban Flash Floods: Insights from the Arid Las Vegas Wash Watershed
Authors: Yu Guo , Hatchett Benjamin J. , Miller Julianne J. , Berli Markus , Wright Daniel B. , Mejia John F. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
In the arid and semiarid southwestern United States, both cool- and warm-season storms result in flash flooding, although the former storms have been much less studied. Here, we investigate a catalog of 52 flash-flood-producing storms over the 1996–2021 period for the arid Las Vegas Wash watershed using rain gauge observations, reanalysis fields, radar reflectivities, cloud-to-ground lightning flashes, and streamflow records. Our analyses focus on the hydroclimatology, convective intensity, and evolution of these storms. At the synoptic scale, cool-season storms are associated with open wave and cutoff low weather patterns, whereas warm-season storms are linked to classic and troughing North American monsoon (NAM) patterns. At the storm scale, cool-season events are southwesterly and southeasterly under open wave and cutoff low conditions, respectively, with long duration and low to moderate rainfall intensity. Warm-season storms, however, are characterized by short-duration, high-intensity rainfall, with either no apparent direction or southwesterly under classic and troughing NAM patterns, respectively. Atmospheric rivers and deep convection are the principal agents for the extreme rainfall and upper-tail flash floods in cool and warm seasons, respectively. Additionally, intense rainfall over the developed low valley is imperative for urban flash flooding. The evolution properties of seasonal storms and the resulting streamflows show that peak flows of comparable magnitude are “intensity driven” in the warm season but “volume driven” in the cool season. Furthermore, the distinctive impacts of complex terrain and climate change on rainfall properties are discussed with respect to storm seasonality.