bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic alteration of heparan sulfate in CD11c + immune cells inhibits inflammation and facilitates pathogen clearance during influenza A virus infection
Authors: Kim So Young , Gupta Purva , Johns Scott C. , Zuniga Elina I. , Teijaro John R. , Fuster Mark M. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSurvival from influenza A virus (IAV) infection largely depends on an intricate balance between pathogen clearance and immunomodulation in the lung. We demonstrate that genetic alteration of the glycan heparan sulfate (HS) in CD11c + cells viaNdst1f/fCD11cCre + mutation, which inhibits HS sulfation in a major antigen presenting cell population, reduces lung inflammation by A/Puerto Rico/8/1934(H1N1) influenza in mice. Mutation was also characterized by a reduction in lung infiltration by CD4+regulatory T (Treg) cells in the late infection/effector phase, 9 days post inoculation (p.i.), without significant differences in lung CD8 + T cells, or Tregcells at an earlier point (day 5) following infection. Induction of under-sulfated HS via Ndst1 silencing in a model dendritic cell line (DC2.4) resulted in up-regulated basal expression of the antiviral cytokine interferon β (IFN-β) relative to control. Stimulating cells with the TLR9 ligand CpG resulted in greater nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) phosphorylation in Ndst1 silenced DC2.4 cells. While stimulating cells with CpG also modestly increased IFN-β expression, this did not lead to significant increases in IFN-β protein production. In further IFN-β protein response studies using primary bone marrow DCs fromNdst1f/fCD11cCre + mutant andCre− control mice, while trace IFN-β protein was detected in response to CpG, stimulation with the TLR7 ligand R848 resulted in robust IFN-β production, with significantly higher levels associated with DCNdst1mutation. In vivo, improved pathogen clearance inNdst1f/fCD11cCre + mutant mice was suggested by reduced IAV AA5H nucleoprotein in lung examined in the late/effector phase. Earlier in the course of infection (day 5 p.i.), mean viral load, as measured by viral RNA, was not significantly different among genotypes. These findings point to novel regulatory roles for DC HS in innate and adaptive immunity during viral infection. This may have therapeutic potential and guide DC targeted HS engineering platforms in the setting of IAV or other respiratory viruses.
Detection and quantification of infectious severe acute respiratory coronavirus-2 in diverse clinical and environmental samples
Authors: Lin Yi-Chan , Malott Rebecca J. , Ward Linda , Kiplagat Linet , Pabbaraju Kanti , Gill Kara , Berenger Byron M. , Hu Jia , Fonseca Kevin , Noyce Ryan S. , Louie Thomas , Evans David H. , Conly John M. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractTo explore the potential modes of Severe Acute Respiratory Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission, we collected 535 diverse clinical and environmental samples from 75 infected hospitalized and community patients. Infectious SARS-CoV-2 with quantitative burdens varying from 5 plaque-forming units/mL (PFU/mL) up to 1.0 × 106 PFU/mL was detected in 151/459 (33%) of the specimens assayed and up to 1.3 × 106 PFU/mL on fomites with confirmation by plaque morphology, PCR, immunohistochemistry, and/or sequencing. Infectious virus in clinical and associated environmental samples correlated with time since symptom onset with no detection after 7–8 days in immunocompetent hosts and with N-gene based Ct values ≤ 25 significantly predictive of yielding plaques in culture. SARS-CoV-2 isolated from patient respiratory tract samples caused illness in a hamster model with a minimum infectious dose of ≤ 14 PFU. Together, our findings offer compelling evidence that large respiratory droplet and contact (direct and indirect i.e., fomites) are important modes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Significance of borderline HbA2 levels in β thalassemia carrier screening
Authors: Colaco Stacy , Colah Roshan , Nadkarni Anita 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIncreased HbA2 levels are the characteristic feature of β-thalassemia carriers. A subset of carriers however do not show HbA2 levels in the typical carrier range (≥ 4.0%) but show borderline HbA2 levels. As a result, these carriers escape diagnosis and carry the risk of having β-thalassemia major offspring. Borderline HbA2 values may occur as a consequence of mild β-thalassemia mutations, co-inherited β-thalassemia and α- or δ- thalassemia or iron deficiency anemia. However, there is insufficient knowledge regarding the cause of borderline HbA2 levels in specific populations. This study aimed to identify the determinants of borderline HbA2 levels (which we have considered as HbA2 3.0–3.9%) in 205 individuals. Primary screening involved detecting the presence of iron deficiency anemia followed by molecular analysis of α, β and δ globin genes. Remarkably, 168 of 205 individuals were positive for a defect. 87% (149/168) of positive individuals were heterozygous for β thalassemia with (59/149) or without (90/149) the presence of co-existing IDA, α or δ gene defects. Notably, 20 of 149 β thalassemia carriers showed HbA2 < 3.5% and MCV > 80fL. 7 of these 20 carriers were married to carriers of hemoglobinopathies. Our findings describe the genetic basis of borderline HbA2 levels and emphasize the necessity of a molecular diagnosis in these individuals in the routine clinical setting.
Deciphering single- and multi-particle trapping dynamics under femtosecond pulsed excitation with simultaneous spatial and temporal resolution
Authors: Devi Anita , Yadav Sumit , De Arijit K. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractRecent theoretical and experimental studies have shed light on how laser trapping dynamics under femtosecond pulsed excitation are fine-tuned by optical and thermal nonlinearities. Here, we present experimental results of trapping of single and multiple polystyrene beads (of 1 μm diameter). We show how integration and synchronization of bright-field video microscopy with confocal detection of backscatter provide both spatial and temporal resolution required to capture intricate details of nonlinear trapping dynamics. Such spatiotemporal detection is promising to have far-reaching applications in exploring controlled laser trapping and manipulations harnessed by optical and thermal nonlinearities.
Development of a high sensitivity RT-PCR assay for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in individual and pooled nasopharyngeal samples
Authors: Jayakody Harindi , Rowland Daniel , Pereira Clint , Blackwell Rachel , Lasota Tomasz , Laverick Mark , Tisi Laurence , Leese Hannah S. , Walsham Alistair D. S. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic requires sensitive detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from samples to ensure accurate detection of infected patients, an essential component of effective national track and trace programs. Due to the scaling challenges of large sample numbers, sample pooling is an attractive solution to reduce both extraction and amplification reagent costs, if high sensitivity can be maintained. We demonstrate that the Erba Molecular ErbaMDx SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Kit (EM kit) delivers high sensitivity, achieving analytical detection of 5 copies/reaction SARS-CoV-2 genomic RNA, and 200 copies/mL SARS-CoV-2 inactivated virus spiked into nasopharyngeal swab (NP) samples and extracted through workflow. Furthermore, the EM Kit demonstrates high sensitivity in both pooled (1 in 5) and non-pooled NP samples when compared to an FDA Emergency Use Authorization approved assay, following published FDA guidelines. These findings demonstrate that the EM Kit is suitable for sample pooling, with minimal impact on assay performance. As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, high sensitivity assays such as the EM Kit will have an important role in ensuring high throughput and sensitive testing using pooled samples can be maintained, delivering the most cost-effective sample extraction and amplification option for national test and trace programs.
Impacts of plasmonic nanoparticles incorporation and interface energy alignment for highly efficient carbon-based perovskite solar cells
Authors: Omrani MirKazem , Keshavarzi Reza , Abdi-Jalebi Mojtaba , Gao Peng 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThis work utilizes a realistic electro-optical coupled simulation to study the (i) impact of mesoporous TiO2 removal; (ii) the embedding of Ag@SiO2 and SiO2@Ag@SiO2 plasmonic nanoparticles; (iii) utilization of solution-processed inorganic p-type copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) layer at the perovskite/carbon interface; and (iv) the increase of the work function of carbon electrodes (via incorporation of suitable additives/binders to the carbon ink) on the performance of carbon-based PSCs. Removal of mesoporous TiO2 increased the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device from 14.83 to 16.50% due to the increase in exciton generation rate and charge carriers’ mobility in the vicinity of the perovskite-compact TiO2 interface. Subsequently, variable mass ratios of Ag@SiO2 and SiO2@Ag@SiO2 plasmonic nanoparticles are embedded in the vicinity of the perovskite-compact TiO2 interface. In the optimum cases, the PCE of the devices increased to 19.72% and 18.92%, respectively, due to light trapping, scattering, and strong plasmonic fields produced by the plasmonic nanoparticles. Furthermore, adding the CuSCN layer remarkably increased the PCE of the device with a 0.93% mass ratio of Ag@SiO2 nanoparticles from 19.72 to 26.58% by a significant improvement of Voc and FF, due to the proper interfacial energy band alignment and the reduction of the recombination current density. Similar results were obtained by increasing the carbon work function, and the cell PCE was enhanced up to 26% in the optimal scenario. Our results pave the way to achieve high efficiencies in remarkably stable printable carbon-based PSCs.
Effect of preparation methods of CeO2 on the properties and performance of Ni/CeO2 in CO2 reforming of CH4
Authors: Ni Zenan , Djitcheu Xavier , Gao Xiaoxu , Wang Jian , Liu Huimin , Zhang Qijian 
Published: March 2022

AbstractCO2reforming of CH4(CRM) is not only beneficial to environmental protection, but also valuable for industrial application. Different CeO2supports were prepared to investigate the matching between Ni and CeO2over Ni/CeO2and its effect on CRM. The physicochemical properties of Ni/CeO2-C (commercial CeO2), Ni/CeO2-H (hydrothermal method) as well as Ni/CeO2-P (precipitation method) were characterized by XRD, N2adsorption at − 196 °C, TEM, SEM–EDS, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD and XPS. Ni0with good dispersion and CeO2with more oxygen vacancies were obtained on Ni/CeO2-H, proving the influence on Ni/CeO2catalysts caused by the preparation methods of CeO2. The initial conversion of both CO2and CH4of Ni/CeO2-H was more than five times that of Ni/CeO2-P and Ni/CeO2-C. The better matching between Ni and CeO2on Ni/CeO2-H was the reason for its best catalytic performance in comparison with the Ni/CeO2-C and Ni/CeO2-P samples.
Direct visualization of interstitial flow distribution in aortic walls
Authors: Fukui Wataru , Ujihara Yoshihiro , Nakamura Masanori , Sugita Shukei 
Published: March 2022

AbstractVascular smooth muscle cells are exposed to interstitial flow across aortic walls. Fluid shear stress changes the phenotype of smooth muscle cells to the synthetic type; hence, the fast interstitial flow might be related to aortic diseases. In this study, we propose a novel method to directly measure the interstitial flow velocity from the spatiotemporal changes in the concentration of a fluorescent dye. The lumen of a mouse thoracic aorta was filled with a fluorescent dye and pressurized in ex vivo. The flow of the fluorescent dye from the intimal to the adventitial sides was successfully visualized under a two-photon microscope. The flow velocity was determined by applying a one-dimensional advection–diffusion equation to the kymograph obtained from a series of fluorescent images. The results confirmed a higher interstitial flow velocity in the aortic walls under higher intraluminal pressure. A comparison of the interstitial flow velocity in the radial direction showed faster flow on the more intimal side, where hyperplasia is often found in hypertension. These results indicate that the proposed method can be used to visualize the interstitial flow directly and thus, determine the local interstitial flow velocity.
Selective effects of psychosocial stress on plan based movement selection
Authors: Stoll Sarah E. M. , Mack Leonie , Scheib Jean P. P. , Pruessner Jens , Randerath Jennifer 
Published: March 2022

AbstractEfficient movement selection is crucial in everyday activities. Whether this function is governed by our stress system is so far unknown. In the current study, data from thirty-six young male adults were analyzed. They performed rule- and plan-based movement selection tasks before (session 1) and after (session 2) a psychosocial stressor, or after a control condition without additional social stressor. Results showed that the rule-based efficiency advantage which was observed prior to the psychosocial stressor was significantly reduced afterwards in the whole sample, as well as in the stress group. Regression analyses revealed that this effect was due to a modulation of the plan-based approach. Especially variations—both increase and decrease—in the parasympathetic activity (reflected by the heart rate variability measure RMSSD) appeared to be disadvantageous for plan-based movement selection improvement. In contrast, performance in the rule-based movement selection tasks appeared to be rather invariant to external influences. The current results suggest that autonomic nervous system activity might modulate motor-cognitive performance. This modulatory capability might be selective for plan-based approaches, hence the applied strategy to movement selection could be decisive when it comes to the vulnerability of motor-cognitive processes towards psychosocial stress.
Influence of air pollutants on circulating inflammatory cells and microRNA expression in acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Cecconi Alberto , Navarrete Gonzalo , Garcia-Guimaraes Marcos , Vera Alberto , Blanco-Dominguez Rafael , Sanz-Garcia Ancor , Lozano-Prieto Marta , Lopez-Melgar Beatriz , Rivero Fernando , Martin Pilar , Sanchez-Madrid Francisco , de la Fuente Hortensia , Jimenez-Borreguero Luis Jesus , Alfonso Fernando 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAir pollutants increase the risk and mortality of myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of this study was to assess the inflammatory changes in circulating immune cells and microRNAs in MIs related to short-term exposure to air pollutants. We studied 192 patients with acute coronary syndromes and 57 controls with stable angina. For each patient, air pollution exposure in the 24-h before admission, was collected. All patients underwent systematic circulating inflammatory cell analyses. According to PM2.5 exposure, 31 patients were selected for microRNA analyses. STEMI patients exposed to PM2.5 showed a reduction of CD4+ regulatory T cells. Furthermore, in STEMI patients the exposure to PM2.5 was associated with an increase of miR-146a-5p and miR-423-3p. In STEMI and NSTEMI patients PM2.5 exposure was associated with an increase of miR-let-7f-5p. STEMI related to PM2.5 short-term exposure is associated with changes involving regulatory T cells, miR-146a-5p and miR-423-3p.
Effects and correctability of pile-up distortion using established figures of merit in time-domain diffuse optics at extreme photon rates
Authors: Avanzi Elisabetta , Behera Anurag , Contini Davide , Spinelli Lorenzo , Dalla Mora Alberto , Di Sieno Laura 
Published: March 2022

AbstractTime-domain diffuse optics (TD-DO) allows one to probe diffusive media with recognized advantages over other working domains but suffers from a poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) resulting from the need to build-up the histogram of single-photon arrival times with maximum count rates (CR) of few percent of the laser pulse rate to avoid the so-called “pile-up” distortion. Here we explore the feasibility of TD-DO under severe pile-up conditions with a systematic in-silico/experimental study evaluating the effects and correctability of the distortion by means of shared figures of merit. In-silico, we demonstrate that pile-up correction allows one the retrieval of homogeneous optical properties with average error < 1% up to a CR > 99%, while the optimal CR needed to detect localized perturbation was found to be 83%. Experiments reported here confirm these findings despite exhibiting higher accuracy errors in the retrieval of homogeneous optical properties and higher noise in the detection of localized absorption perturbations, but in line with the state-of-the-art systems. This work validates a new working regime for TD-DO, demonstrating an increase of the SNR at constant acquisition time, but also potentially leading in the future to previously unrealizable measurements of dynamic phenomena or in spatial scanning applications.
Parafoveal and peripapillary vessel density in pediatric and juvenile craniopharyngioma patients
Authors: Lee Ga-In , Kim Yikyung , Park Kyung-Ah , Oh Sei Yeul , Kong Doo-Sik , Hong Sang Duk 
Published: March 2022

AbstractWe assessed the retinal microvascular alterations detected by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in pediatric and juvenile craniopharyngioma (CP) patients with chiasmal compression. We included 15 eyes of 15 pediatric or juvenile CP patients and 18 eyes of 18 healthy subjects. The evaluation of vessel density from the superficial retinal capillary plexus (SRCP), the deep retinal capillary plexus, and the radial peripapillary capillary (RPC) segments was obtained by OCT-A. The association between vessel density measures and functional and structural measurements was also analyzed. There were significant reductions in the nasal sector of the SRCP (p < 0.0001) and all sectors of the RPC segment vessel density (nasal, temporal, and superior; p < 0.0001, inferior; p = 0.0015) in CP patients postoperatively compared to the healthy subjects. The peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (r = 0.6602, p = 0.0074) and ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thicknesses (r = 0.7532, p = 0.0030) were associated with RPC segment vessel density. Visual acuity (r = − 0.5517, p = 0.0330) and temporal visual field sensitivity loss (r = 0.5394, p = 0.0465) showed an association with SRCP vessel density. In pediatric and juvenile patients with CP, parafoveal and peripapillary vascular changes following chiasmal compression were observed. The changes in vascular structures were closely related to structural and functional outcomes.
In vitro ballooned hepatocytes can be produced by primary human hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cell sheets
Authors: Hasui Nobuhiro , Sakaguchi Katsuhisa , Ogawa Tetsuya , Sakamoto Yoshihiro , Shimizu Tatsuya 
Published: March 2022

AbstractDespite the increasing prevalence of Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) worldwide, there is no effective treatment available for this disease. “Ballooned hepatocyte” is a characteristic finding in NASH and is correlated with disease prognosis, but their mechanisms of action are poorly understood; furthermore, neither animal nor in vitro models of NASH have been able to adequately represent ballooned hepatocytes. Herein, we engineered cell sheets to develop a new in vitro model of ballooned hepatocytes. Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) and Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were co-cultured to produce cell sheets, which were cultured in glucose and lipid containing medium, following which histological and functional analyses were performed. Histological findings showed hepatocyte ballooning, accumulation of fat droplets, abnormal cytokeratin arrangement, and the presence of Mallory–Denk bodies and abnormal organelles. These findings are similar to those of ballooned hepatocytes in human NASH. Functional analysis showed elevated levels of TGFβ-1, SHH, and p62, but not TNF-α, IL-8. Exposure of PHH/HSC sheets to a glucolipotoxicity environment induces ballooned hepatocyte without inflammation. Moreover, fibrosis is an important mechanism underlying ballooned hepatocytes and could be the basis for the development of a new in vitro NASH model with ballooned hepatocytes.
Gene knockdown of CCR3 reduces eosinophilic inflammation and the Th2 immune response by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway in allergic rhinitis mice
Authors: Yuan Jiasheng , Liu Yuehui , Yu Juan , Dai Meina , Zhu Yu , Bao Youwei , Peng Haisen , Liu Ke , Zhu Xinhua 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe CCR3 gene plays a critical role in allergic airway inflammation, such as allergic rhinitis (AR), and there is an inflammatory signal link between the nasal cavity and the CCR3 gene in bone marrow. However, the effects of the CCR3 gene in bone marrow cells on AR are not clear. The present study investigated the roles and underlying mechanisms of the bone marrow CCR3 gene in AR mice. Conditional knockout of the bone marrow CCR3 gene (CKO) in mice was generated using the Cre-LoxP recombination system, and offspring genotypes were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An ovalbumin-induced AR model was established in CKO and wild-type mice to measure eosinophilic inflammation and the Th2 immune response. The following mechanisms were explored using a specific PI3K/AKT pathway inhibitor (Ly294002). We successfully constructed and bred homozygous CKO mice and confirmed a significant increase in CCR3 expression and PI3K/AKT pathway activity in AR mice. Deficiency of the bone marrow CCR3 gene caused a remarkable reduction of CCR3 expression and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway activity, inhibited histopathological lesions and eosinophil infiltration of the nasal cavity, and reduced the production of Th2 cytokines in serum, which led to the remission of allergic symptoms in AR mice. Ly294002 treatment also decreased these inflammatory indexes in a concentration-dependent manner and blocked inflammatory signals from CCR3, but it did not affect the high expression of CCR3 in AR mice. Collectively, our results suggest that conditional knockout of the bone marrow CCR3 gene can reduce eosinophilic inflammation and the Th2 immune response, which may be due to inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway.
A Review of Strategies Associated with Surgical Decompression in Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Zhu Ying-Kang , Lu Fa-Tai , Zhang Guo-Dong , Liu Zun-Peng 
Published: March 2022

AbstractTraumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) is frequent. Timely diagnosis and treatment have reduced the mortality, but the long-term recovery of neurologic functions remains ominous. After TSCI, tissue bleeding, edema, and adhesions lead to an increase in the intraspinal pressure, further causing the pathophysiologic processes of ischemia and hypoxia and eventually accelerating the cascade of secondary spinal cord injury. Timely surgery with appropriate decompression strategies can reduce that secondary injury. However, disagreement about the safety and effectiveness of decompression surgery and the timing of surgery still exists. The level and severity of spinal cord injury do have an impact on the timing of surgery; therefore, TSCI subpopulations may benefit from early surgery. Early surgery perhaps has little effect on recovery from complete TSCI but might be of benefit in patients with incomplete injury. Early decompression should be considered in patients with incomplete cervical TSCI. Patient age should not be used as an exclusion criterion for early surgery. The best time point for early surgery is although influenced by the shortest duration to thoroughly examine the patient's condition and stabilize the patient's state. After the patient's condition is fully evaluated, we can perform the surgical modality of emergency myelotomy and decompression. Therefore, a number of conditions should be considered, such as standardized decompression methods, indications and operation timing to ensure the effectiveness and safety of early surgical intervention, and promotion of the functional recovery of residual nerve tissue.