bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hypertension and cognitive function: a review of life-course factors and disparities
Authors: De Anda-Duran Ileana , Woltz Sara G. , Bell Caryn N. , Bazzano Lydia A. 
Published: June 2022

Purpose of review
Dementia is a life-course condition with modifiable risk factors many from cardiovascular (CV) origin, and disproportionally affects some race/ethnic groups and underserved communities in the USA. Hypertension (HTN) is the most common preventable and treatable condition that increases the risk for dementia and exacerbates dementia pathology. Epidemiological studies beginning in midlife provide strong evidence for this association. This study provides an overview of the differences in the associations across the lifespan, and the role of social determinants of health (SDoH).

Recent findings
Clinical trials support HTN management in midlife as an avenue to lower the risk for late-life cognitive decline. However, the association between HTN and cognition differs over the life course. SDoH including higher education modify the association between HTN and cognition which may differ by race and ethnicity. The role of blood pressure (BP) variability, interactions among CV risk factors, and cognitive assessment modalities may provide information to better understand the relationship between HTN and cognition.

Summary
Adopting a life-course approach that considers SDoH, may help develop tailored interventions to manage HTN and prevent dementia syndromes. Where clinical trials to assess BP management from childhood to late-life are not feasible, observational studies remain the best available evidence.
Implementation of a Mobile Technology–Supported Diaphragmatic Breathing Intervention in Military mTBI With PTSD
Authors: Wallace Tracey , Morris John T. , Glickstein Richard , Anderson Raeda K. , Gore Russell K. 
Published: June 2022

Background:
Diaphragmatic breathing is an evidence-based intervention for managing stress and anxiety; however, some military veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) report challenges to learning and practicing the technique. BreatheWell Wear assists performance of breathing exercises through reminders, biofeedback, and visual, tactile, and auditory guidance.

Objective:
To evaluate feasibility of implementing BreatheWell Wear, a mobile smartwatch application with companion smartphone app, as an intervention for stress management in military veterans with mTBI and PTSD.

Methods:
Thirty veterans with chronic symptoms of mTBI and PTSD recruited from an interdisciplinary, intensive outpatient program participated in this pilot pragmatic clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to the experimental (BreatheWell Wear and conventional care) and control (conventional care) groups for 4 weeks. Conventional care included instruction on relaxation breathing and participation in behavioral health therapy. Effects on goal attainment, treatment adherence, diaphragmatic breathing technique knowledge, and stress were measured through surveys and diaries. Changes in symptoms, mood, and well-being were measured pre/postintervention via the Posttraumatic Checklist for DSM-5, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, and Flourishing Scale.

Results:
Person-centered goal attainment (t = 4.009, P < .001), treatment adherence (t = 2.742, P = .001), diaphragmatic breathing technique knowledge (t = 1.637, P < .001), and reported ease of remembering to practice (t = −3.075, P = .005) were significantly greater in the experimental group. As expected, measures of PTSD, anxiety, depression, and psychological well-being showed clinically meaningful change in both groups, and both groups demonstrated reduced stress following diaphragmatic breathing.

Conclusion:
These preliminary findings indicate that BreatheWell Wear may be a clinically feasible tool for supporting diaphragmatic breathing as an intervention in veterans with mTBI and PTSD, and a future effectiveness trial is warranted.
DNA metabarcoding captures dietary plant diversity in individuals and cohorts
Authors: Petrone Brianna L. , Aqeel Ammara , Jiang Sharon , Durand Heather K. , Dallow Eric P. , McCann Jessica R. , Dressman Holly K. , Hu Zhengzheng , Tenekjian Christine B. , Yancy William S. , Seed Patrick C. , Rawls John F. , Armstrong Sarah C. , Stevens June , David Lawrence A. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractEating a varied diet is a central tenet of good nutrition. Here, we develop the first molecular tool to quantify human dietary plant diversity by applying DNA metabarcoding with the chloroplast trnL-P6 marker to 1,001 fecal samples from 310 participants across four cohorts. The number of plant taxa per sample (plant metabarcoding richness, or pMR) correlated with recorded intakes in interventional diets (ρ=0.31) and with indices calculated from a food-frequency questionnaire in freely-chosen diets (ρ=0.40-0.63). In adolescents unable to collect validated dietary survey data, trnL metabarcoding detected 111 plant taxa, with 86 consumed by more than one individual and four (wheat, chocolate, corn, and potato family) consumed by >70% of individuals. Adolescent pMR was associated with age and income, replicating prior epidemiologic findings. Overall, trnL metabarcoding promises an objective and accurate measure of the number and types of plants consumed that is applicable to diverse human populations.
Direct Observation of Stepping Rotation of V-ATPase Reveals Rigid Coupling between Vo and V1 Motors
Authors: Otomo Akihiro , Iida Tatsuya , Okuni Yasuko , Ueno Hiroshi , Murata Takeshi , Iino Ryota 
Published: June 2022

AbstractV-ATPases are rotary motor proteins which convert chemical energy of ATP into electrochemical potential of ions across the cell membrane. V-ATPases consist of two rotary motors, Vo and V1, and Enterococcus hirae V-ATPase (EhVoV1) actively transports Na+ in Vo (EhVo) by using torque generated by ATP hydrolysis in V1 (EhV1). Here, we observed ATP-driven stepping rotation of detergent-solubilized EhVoV1 wild-type, aE634A, and BR350K mutants under the various Na+ and ATP concentrations ([Na+] and [ATP], respectively) by using a 40-nm gold nanoparticle as a low-load probe. When [Na+] was low and [ATP] was high, under the condition that only Na+ binding to EhVo is the rate-limiting, wild-type and aE634A exhibited 10-pausing positions reflecting 10-fold symmetry of the EhVo rotor and almost no backward steps. Duration time before forward steps was inversely proportional to [Na+], confirming that Na+ binding triggers the steps. When both [ATP] and [Na+] were low, under the condition that both Na+ and ATP bindings are rate-limiting, aE634A exhibited 13-pausing positions reflecting 10- and 3-fold symmetries of EhVo and EhV1, respectively. Distribution of duration time before forward step was well fitted by a sum of two exponential decay functions with distinct time constants. Furthermore, frequent backward steps smaller than 36° were observed. Small backward steps were also observed during long, three ATP cleavage pauses of BR350K. These results indicate that EhVo and EhV1 do not share pausing positions and Na+ and ATP bindings occur at different angles, and the coupling between EhVo and EhV1 is not elastic but rigid.Significance StatementV-ATPases are ion pumps consisting of two rotary motor proteins Vo and V1, and actively transport ions across the cell membrane by using chemical energy of ATP. To understand how V-ATPases transduce the energy in the presence of structural symmetry mismatch between Vo and V1, we simultaneously visualized rotational pauses and forward and backward steps of Vo and V1 coupled with ion transport and ATP hydrolysis reaction, respectively. Our results indicate rigid coupling of a V-ATPase which has multiple peripheral stalks, in contrast to elastic coupling of F-ATPases with only one peripheral stalk, which work as ATP synthase. Our high-speed/high-precision single-molecule imaging of rotary ATPases in action will pave the way for a comprehensive understanding of their energy transduction mechanisms.
Spectroscopic and QM/MM studies of the Cu(I) binding site of the plant ethylene receptor ETR1
Authors: Cutsail George , Schott-Verdugo Stephan , Müller Lena , DeBeer Serena , Groth Georg , Gohlke Holger 
Published: June 2022

AbstractHerein, we present the first spectroscopic characterization of the Cu(I) active site of the plant ethylene receptor ETR1. The X-ray absorption (XAS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy presented here establish that ETR1 has a low-coordinate Cu(I) site. The EXAFS resolves a mixed first coordination sphere of N/O and S scatterers at distances consistent with potential histidine and cysteine residues. This finding agrees with the coordination of residues C65 and H69 to the Cu(I) site, which are critical for ethylene activity and well-conserved. Further, the Cu K-edge XAS and EXAFS of ETR1 exhibit spectroscopic changes upon addition of ethylene that are attributed to modifications in the Cu(I) coordination environment, suggestive of ethylene binding. Results from umbrella sampling simulations of the proposed ethylene binding helix of ETR1 at a mixed quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) level agree with the EXAFS fit distance changes upon ethylene binding, particularly in the increase of the distance between H69 and Cu(I), and yield binding energetics comparable to experimental dissociation constants. The observed changes in the copper coordination environment might be the triggering signal for the transmission of the ethylene response.
Impact of COVID-19 on College Students’ at One of the Most Diverse Campuses in the United States: A Factor Analysis of Survey Data
Authors: Liu Bowen , Huynh Edward , Li Chengcheng , Wu Qing 
Published: June 2022

AbstractObjectiveThis survey study is designed to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stress among specific sub-populations of college students.Design, Settings and ParticipantsAn online questionnaire was sent to the students from University of Nevada, Las Vegas between 2020 October and December to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19. A total of 2,091 respondents signed the consent form online and their responses were collected.MethodsThe Perceived Stress levels of college students were analyzed via exploratory factor analysis of a survey of college students, which was collected at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). An explanatory factor analysis was carried out on the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) results. We subsequently analyzed each factor using stepwise linear regression that focused on various socio-demographic groups.ResultsA two-factor model was obtained using the explanatory factor analysis. After comparing with the past studies that investigated the factor structure of the PSS-10 scale, we identified these two factors as “Anxiety” and “Irritability”. The subsequent stepwise linear regression analysis suggested that gender and age (P< 0.01) are significantly associated with both factors. However, the ethnicities of students are not significantly associated with both factors.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first study that assessed the perceived stress of university students in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. We showed that the PSS-10 scale could be summarized as a two-factor structure through an exploratory factor analysis. A stepwise regression approach was used and we found both of the factors are significantly associated with the gender of the participants. However, we found no significant association between both factors and ethnicity. In summary, our findings will help identify students with higher risk for stress and mental health issues in pandemics and future crises.Strengths and limitations of this study➣To our knowledge, this is the first study that assessed the perceived stress of university students with PSS-10 scale in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic.➣Ethnicities of the participants are not significantly associated with the perceived stress. This finding is different compared to most of the previous studies.➣Only quantitative questions were used in this survey study. To gain a better understanding for the psychological impact of COVID-19 on students, qualitative questions need to be included in the future survey studies.➣The fact that only the participants who completed the PSS-10 scale were included in the quantitative analysis in this study leads to potential selection bias.➣The proportions of African American students and Pacific Islander students are low within the survey sample compared to the demographics of UNLV. This leads to potential volunteer bias.
Rapid compensatory evolution by secondary perturbation of a primary disrupted transcriptional network
Authors: Hsu Po-Chen , Cheng Yu-Hsuan , Liao Chia-Wei , Jhou Yu-Ting , Opoc Florica Jean Ganaden , Amine Ahmed A A , Leu Jun-Yi 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThe discrete steps of transcriptional rewiring have been proposed to occur neutrally to ensure steady gene expression under stabilizing selection over long time-scales, especially when a regulon is being transferred from one transcription factor (TF) to another. Cooperative DNA binding between redundant regulatory components at the intermediate transition stage is believed to mediate this process, enabling a conflict-free switch between two TFs without a disruptive change in gene expression. Here, we have performed an evolutionary repair experiment on the Lachancea kluyveri yeast sef1Δ mutant by means of a suppressor development strategy. Complete loss of SEF1 forced cells to activate a rewiring process to compensate for the pleiotropic defects arising from misexpression of multiple TCA cycle genes. Using different selective conditions, we identified one generalist and one specialist suppressive loss-of-function mutation of IRA1 and AZF1, respectively. Our subsequent analyses show that Azf1 is a weak transcriptional activator regulated by the Ras1-PKA pathway. Azf1 loss-of-function triggers extensive gene expression changes responsible for both the compensatory and trade-off phenotypes. Our results indicate that the pleiotropic effects of dual perturbation of transcriptional networks are a potential mechanism for rapid adaptive compensation, facilitating the process of incipient transcriptional rewiring, and formation of complex traits.
The fat body cortical actin network regulatesDrosophilainter-organ nutrient trafficking, signaling, and adipose cell size
Authors: Ugrankar-Banerjee Rupali , Tran Son , Bowerman Jade , Kovalenko Anastasiia , Paul Blessy , Mike Henne W. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractDefective nutrient storage and adipocyte enlargement (hypertrophy) are emerging features of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Within adipose tissues, how the cytoskeletal network contributes to adipose cell size, nutrient uptake, fat storage, and signaling remain poorly understood. Utilizing theDrosophilalarval fat body (FB) as a model adipose tissue, we show that a specific actin isoform—Act5C—forms the cortical actin network necessary to expand adipocyte cell size for biomass storage in development. Additionally, we uncover a non-canonical role for the cortical actin cytoskeleton in inter-organ lipid trafficking. We find Act5C localizes to the FB cell surface and cell-cell boundaries, where it intimately contacts peripheral LDs (pLDs), forming a cortical actin network for cell architectural support. FB-specific loss of Act5C perturbs FB triglyceride (TG) storage and LD morphology, resulting in developmentally delayed larvae that fail to develop into flies. Utilizing temporal RNAi-depletion approaches, we reveal that Act5C is indispensable post-embryogenesis during larval feeding as FB cells expand and store fat. Act5C-deficient FBs fail to grow, leading to lipodystrophic larvae unable to accrue sufficient biomass for complete metamorphosis. In line with this, Act5C-deficient larvae display blunted insulin signaling and reduced feeding. Mechanistically, we also show this diminished signaling correlates with decreased lipophorin (Lpp) lipoprotein-mediated lipid trafficking, and find Act5C is required for Lpp secretion from the FB for lipid transport. Collectively, we propose that the Act5C-dependent cortical actin network ofDrosophilaadipose tissue is required for adipose tissue size-expansion and organismal energy homeostasis in development, and plays an essential role in inter-organ nutrient transport and signaling.
Effect of phone text message reminders on compliance with rabies post-exposure prophylaxis following dog-bites in rural Kenya
Authors: Chuchu Veronicah Mbaire , Nyamai Mutono , Bichanga Philet , Philip Kitala , Ksee Daniel , Muturi Mathew , Mwatondo Athman , Nasimiyu Caroline , Akunga Lawrence , Amiche Amine , Hampson Katie , Thumbi SM 
Published: June 2022

AbstractContextPrompt administration of post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is one of the key strategies for ending human deaths from rabies. Delay in seeking first dose of rabies PEP or failure to complete the recommended PEP dosage may result in clinical rabies and death.ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy of short message system (SMS) phone texts on adherence to scheduled PEP doses among bite patients in rural eastern Kenya.Trial design and methodsWe conducted a single arm before-after field trial that compared adherence among bite patients presenting at Makueni Referral Hospital in October – December 2018 (control group) and January – March 2019 (intervention group that received an SMS reminder one day prior to their scheduled PEP doses). Data on demographics, socio-economic status, circumstances surrounding the bite, expenditures related to the bite were collected for all patients.ResultsA total of 186 bite patients were enrolled in the study, with 82 (44%) being in the intervention and 104 (56%) in the control group. The odds of PEP completion was three times (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.28, 10.20) among patients that received the SMS reminder compared to those that did not. The intervention group had better compliance on the scheduled doses 2 to 5 with a mean deviation of 0.18 days compared to 0.79 days for the control group (p = 0.004). The main reasons for non-compliance included lack of funds (30%), forgetfulness (23%) on days for follow-up treatment, among others. Although the majority of bite patients (94%) were under the Makueni medical insurance cover and did not pay for PEP, nearly all (96%, n=179) the bite patients incurred indirect costs of transport at an average of 4 USD (0 - 45 USD) per visit.ConclusionThis study suggests integrating SMS reminders in healthcare service delivery increases compliance to PEP and may strengthen rabies control and elimination strategies.Trial registrationThe study trial is registered at US National Institute of Health (clinicalTrial.gov) identifier number NCT05350735. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05350735
Electrostatic features for the Receptor binding domain of SARS-COV-2 wildtype and its variants. Compass to the severity of the future variants with the charge-rule
Authors: Barroso da Silva Fernando L. , Giron Carolina Corrêa , Laaksonen Aatto 
Published: June 2022

AbstractElectrostatic intermolecular interactions are important in many aspects of biology. We have studied the main electrostatic features involved in the interaction of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein with the human receptor Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As the principal computational tool, we have used the FORTE approach, capable to model proton fluctuations and computing free energies for a very large number of protein-protein systems under different physical-chemical conditions, here focusing on the RBD-ACE2 interactions. Both the wild-type and all critical variants are included in this study. From our large ensemble of extensive simulations, we obtain, as a function of pH, the binding affinities, charges of the proteins, their charge regulation capacities, and their dipole moments. In addition, we have calculated the pKas for all ionizable residues and mapped the electrostatic coupling between them. We are able to present a simple predictor for the RBD-ACE2 binding based on the data obtained for Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron variants, as a linear correlation between the total charge of the RBD and the corresponding binding affinity. This “RBD charge rule” should work as a quick test of the degree of severity of the coming SARS-CoV-2 variants in the future.Categories and Subject Descriptors:
Exome sequencing identifies novel susceptibility genes and defines the contribution of coding variants to breast cancer risk
Authors: Wilcox Naomi , Dumont Martine , González-Neira Anna , Carvalho Sara , Beauparlant Charles Joly , Crotti Marco , Luccarini Craig , Soucy Penny , Dubois Stéphane , Nuñez-Torres Rocio , Pita Guillermo , Alonso M. Rosario , Álvarez Nuria , Baynes Caroline , Becher Heiko , Behrens Sabine , Bolla Manjeet K. , Castelao Jose E. , Chang-Claude Jenny , Cornelissen Sten , Dennis Joe , Dörk Thilo , Engel Christoph , Gago-Dominguez Manuela , Guénel Pascal , Hadjisavvas Andreas , Hahnen Eric , Hartman Mikael , Herráez Belén ,   SGBCC Investigators, Jung Audrey , Keeman Renske , Kiechle Marion , Li Jingmei , Loizidou Maria A. , Lush Michael , Michailidou Kyriaki , Panayiotidis Mihalis I. , Sim Xueling , Teo Soo Hwang , Tyrer Jonathan P. , van der Kolk Lizet E. , Wahlström Cecilia , Wang Qin , Benitez Javier , Schmidt Marjanka K. , Schmutzler Rita K. , Pharoah Paul D.P. , Droit Arnaud , Dunning Alison M. , Kvist Anders , Devilee Peter , Easton Douglas F. , Simard Jacques 
Published: June 2022

Introductory paragraphLinkage and candidate gene studies have identified several breast cancer susceptibility genes, but the overall contribution of coding variation to breast cancer is unclear. To evaluate the role of rare coding variants more comprehensively, we performed a meta-analysis across three large whole-exome sequencing datasets, containing 16,498 cases and 182,142 controls. Burden tests were performed for protein-truncating and rare missense variants in 16,562 and 18,681 genes respectively. Associations between protein-truncating variants and breast cancer were identified for 7 genes at exome-wide significance (P<2.5×10-6): the five known susceptibility genes BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2, PALB2 and ATM, together with novel associations for ATRIP and MAP3K1. Predicted deleterious rare missense or protein-truncating variants were additionally associated at P<2.5×10-6 for SAMHD1. The overall contribution of coding variants in genes beyond the previously known genes is estimated to be small.