bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the contribution of aestivation to the persistence of malaria mosquitoes through the Sahelian dry season using stable isotopes
Authors: Faiman Roy , Yaro Alpha , Dao Adama , Sanogo Zana , Diallo Moussa , Samake Djibril , Yossi Ousmane , Veru Laura , Graber Leland , Conte Abigail , Kouam Cedric , Krajacich Benjamin , Lehmann Tovi 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Data suggests the malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii persists in the Sahel by dry-season aestivation though its specific contribution compared with alternative strategies, i.e., migration is unknown. We have marked Anopheles mosquitoes using deuterium (2H) to assess the contribution of aestivation to persistence of mosquitoes through the seven-month dry season. If local aestivation is the only way An. coluzzii persists, the frequency of marked mosquitoes should remain stable throughout, whereas finding no marked mosquitoes would be evidence against aestivation. Larval sites were enriched with 2H at the end of the 2017 wet season (September) in two Sahelian villages in Mali. We monitored 2H-enriched populations until the onset of rains (June 2018). By the end of the enrichment period (November 2017), 33% of An. coluzzii mosquitoes were strongly marked. Expectedly, 2H levels in marked mosquitoes degraded over time. We utilized three methods to estimate the fraction of marked mosquitoes in the population. Seven months following enrichment all three methods supported the presence of marked mosquitoes: 7% of the population had 2H values above the highest pre-enrichment value. An excess of 21% exceeded the expected 25% in the 3rd quartile of the pre-enrichment population. Finally, a finite mixed population model showed 2.5% represented a subpopulation of marked mosquitoes with elevated 2H, compatible with our predictions. We provide evidence that aestivation is a major persistence mechanism of An. coluzzii in the Sahel, contributing at least 20% of the adults at the onset of rains, suggesting either mixture among local populations or that An. coluzzii utilizes several persistence strategies. The implications for mosquito control and malaria elimination campaigns are highlighted.
Aortic root aneurysm with right atrial clot: a rare combination
Authors: Saha Debmalya , Mukherjee Kaushik , Guha Amrita 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Though the incidence of aneurysm involving the aortic root and/or ascending aorta is common, the combination of aortic root aneurysm and right atrial clot is extremely rare. No such case is reported in literature till date. This case report presents a 52-year gentleman who came to our emergency department with complains of breathlessness, abdominal distention, pedal swelling, and decreased urine output with extremely poor general condition. After hemodynamic stabilization and preoperative optimization and work up he was managed with Bentall procedure with right atrial clot removal. Immediate post-operative course was normal except deranged liver function tests. The patient was discharged on post-operative day ten.
Lung structure and function on MRI in preterm born school children with and without BPD: a feasibility study
Authors: Ciet Pierluigi , Elders Bernadette , Tiddens Harm A.W.M. , Pijnenburg Mariëlle W.H. , Reiss Irwin K.M. , Wielopolski Piotr A. 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background and objective: The most common respiratory complication of extreme prematurity is bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD), leading to structural lung changes and impaired respiratory outcomes. However, also extremely preterm children without BPD may show similar adverse respiratory outcomes. There is need for a safe imaging modality for preterm children with and without BPD for disease severity and risk stratification assessment. Our objective was to develop a chest Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) protocol in preterm children with and without BPD at school age. Methods: Nine healthy volunteers (median age 11.6(range 8.8-12.8) years), eleven preterm children with BPD (11.0(7.2-15.6) years) and nine without BPD (11.1(10.7-12.6) years) underwent MRI. MR images were scored on hypo- and hyperintense abnormalities, bronchopathy and architectural distortion. MRI data were correlated to spirometry. Ventilation and perfusion defects were analysed using Fourier Decomposition (FD) MRI. Results: On MRI, children with BPD had a higher %diseased lung (9.1 (IQR 5.9-11.6)%) compared to preterm children without BPD (3.4 (IQR 2.5-5.4)%, p<0.001) and healthy volunteers (0.4 (IQR 0.1-0.8)%, p<0.001). %Diseased lung correlated negatively with %predicted FEV1 (r=-0.40, p=0.04), FEV1/FVC (r=-0.49, p=0.009) and FEF75 (r=-0.63, p<0.001). Ventilation and perfusion defects on FD sequence corresponded to hypointense regions on expiratory MRI. Conclusion: MRI can identify structural and functional lung damage at school age in preterm children with and without BPD, showing good correlation with spirometry. We propose chest MRI as a sensitive and safe imaging method (without ionising radiation, contrast agents or the use of anaesthesia) for the long-term follow up of preterm children.
LGR5 is a Conserved Marker of Hair Follicle Stem Cells Across Species and is Present Early and Throughout Follicle Morphogenesis
Authors: Polkoff Kathryn M. , Gupta Nithin K. , Green Adrian J. , Murphy Yanet , Chung Jaewook , Gleason Katherine L. , Simpson Sean G. , Walker Derek M. , Collins Bruce , Piedrahita Jorge A. 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Hair follicle stem cells are key for driving growth and homeostasis of the hair follicle niche and have remarkable regenerative capacity throughout hair cycling and display fate plasticity during cutaneous wound healing. Due to the need for a transgenic reporter, essentially all observations related to LGR5+ hair follicle stem cells have been generated using transgenic mice, which have significant differences in anatomy and physiology from the human. Using a transgenic pig model, a widely accepted model for human skin and human skin repair, we demonstrate that LGR5 is a marker of hair follicle stem cells across species in homeostasis and development. We also report the strong similarities and important differences in expression patterns, gene expression profiles, and developmental processes between species. This information is important for understanding the fundamental differences and similarities across species, and ultimately improving human hair follicle regeneration, cutaneous wound healing, and skin cancer treatment.
Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation in Sepsis or Septic Shock: An Observational Study of Serial Changes by Three-Dimensional and Two-Dimensional Echocardiography
Authors: Xie Mingxing , Yan Xiaojun , Li Yuman , Liu Juanjuan , Zhou Ting , Zhou Yi , Sun Wei , Sun Chenchen , Ma Jing , Zhang Li , Shang You 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
BackgroundLeft ventricular myocardial deformation develops dynamically when circulatory system is disturbed. What is less clear are the nature and clinical fetures of the deformation., and a consensus is yet to be reached for an ideal treatment plan. This study aims to explore the development of left ventricular myocardial deformation in septic patients by observing the serial changes in three- and two-dimensional strain parameters.Methods In this single-centered, prospective, and observational study, we eventually included 103 patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock at the intensive care unit (ICU) from December 2020 until December 2021. Demographic data, medicine, laboratory and ultrasound values were collected and measured on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th days after sepsis or septic shock. A total of 88 adult patients for 2D-STE and 3D-STE were divided into two groups according to their wall motion status: the non-hypokinetics group and the secondary hypokinesia group. Results Patients underwent both 3D and 2D echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular function. Comparison of four time points between the two groups showed that 2D-LVEF demonstrated a progressive, stepwise improvement each time point assessed (Ptime=0.033, Pgroup=0.041, respectively). Although 3D-LVEF slightly underestimated the LV volumes at each time point, it displayed a same changing tendency during the 10 days (Ptime=0.002, Pgroup=0.011, respectively). Then, we used both 3D and 2D STE to observe left ventricular myocardial function and validated the applicability and feasibility of 3D-STE: 2D-LVGLS Ptime=0.000, Pgroup=0.018, respectively, 2D-LVGCS Ptime=0.000, Pgroup=0.332 respectively; 3D-LVGLS Ptime=0.000, Pgroup=0.391, respectively, 3D-LVGCS Ptime=0.022, Pgroup=0.362 respectively. The level of strain first decreased and then increased in these two groups during hospitalization, but both 3D and 2D strain imaged at the 10th day assessed were lower compared to that of normal healthy people. Moreover, 3D-LVGLS had a stronger correlation with 2D- LVGLS (r=0.772, P＜0.0001).ConclusionPatients with sepsis or septic shock demonstrated improvement of LV myocardial function during hospitalization, but their myocardial function was not fully recovered to normal on the 10th day. Both 3D and 2D LVGLS could quickly detect changes of patients with covert septic myocardial dysfunction, whereas LVEF could not.
Modelling of Lead and Cadmium Removal by Porous Biosorbent in Silent and Ultrasound-assisted Systems
Authors: Ahmed Shaalan Bdaiwi , Dobre Tănase , Kamar Firas Hashim , Mocanu Alexandra , Deleanu Iuliana Mihaela 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Present work aimed to analyse experimentally, statistically and using mathematical modelling the behaviour of single and competitive lead and cadmium batch adsorption. The process was conducted in silent, and ultrasound (US)-assisted systems, in aqueous environment, on grinded hazelnut shells (HS) as sustainable and cost-effective porous biosorbent. The dynamic study was based on experimentally obtained removal rates, modelled considering species diffusion with reversible kinetics of sorption inside solid particles. The influence of process factors (pH, adsorbent concentration, adsorbent particle size, and initial species concentration in liquid phase) on species removal efficiency was studied when process equilibrium was attained. The study, following a 24 factorial experimental design, allowed the development of a statistical model to predict variables influences. Based on the obtained results a deeper analysis of separation efficiency depending on process factors was conducted. Hence, the dynamics of removal efficiency was determined for several representative experiments. The equilibrium isotherms data, best fitted by an appropriate Langmuir model, were used in the dynamic model to reduce the number of model parameters which normally require experimental identification.
Breast Cancer Detection by Analyzing the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Signature in Human Urine
Authors: Benet Judit Giró , Seo Minjun , Khine Michelle , Kurdahi Fadi , Padró Josep Gumà , Martínez Antonio Pardo 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
A rising number of authors are drawing evidence to the diagnostic capacity of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) resulting from some body fluids. While cancer incidence in society is on the rise, it becomes clear that the analysis of these VOCs can yield new strategies to mitigate advanced cancer incidence rates. This paper presents the methodology implemented to test whether a device consisting of an electronic nose inspired after a dog’s olfactory system and olfactory neurons is significantly informative to detect breast cancer (BC). To test this device, 90 human urine samples were collected from control subjects and BC patients at a hospital. To test this system, an artificial intelligence-based classification algorithm was developed. The algorithm was firstly trained and tested with data resulting from gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) urine readings, leading to a classification rate of 92.31%, sensitivity of 100.00%, and specificity of 85.71% (N=90). Secondly, the same algorithm was trained and tested with data obtained with our eNose prototype hardware, and class prediction was achieved with a classification rate of 75%, sensitivity of 100%, and specificity of 50%.
Perennial rice improves farmer livelihood and ecosystem security
Authors: Hu Fengyi , Zhang Shilai , Huang Guangfu , Zhang Yujiao , Lv Xiutao , Wan Kejiang , Liang Jian , Dao Jinrong , Wu Shukang , Zhang Lin , Yang Xu , Lian Xiaoping , Huang Liyu , Shao Lin , Zhang Jing , Qin Shiwen , Tao Da-yun , Crews Timothy , Sacks Erik , Lv Jun , Wade Len 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
To tackle food insecurity faced by an ever-growing population, there is an urgent need to develop new forms of highly productive and ecologically-secure agricultural systems. Crop perennialization provides a novel and promising solution to both food security and environmental challenges. Compared with annual grain production systems, which often undermine basic ecosystem services, perennial crops could maintain important ecosystem functions and reduce agricultural inputs. Here, we report our successful breeding of perennial rice (PR) taking over 20 years. We introduced perennial growth into domesticated Asian rice by interspecific hybridization and subsequently developed several perennial cultivars that have been commercialized recently in China and successfully trialed in multiple countries. The perennial cultivars produce yields comparable to commercialized annual rice (AR) varieties and maintain them for 4-5 consecutive years from a single planting. They exhibit robust regrowth, acceptable grain and milling quality, and are strongly preferred by farmers. We also quantified the social-economic, ecological and soil benefits attributable to perennial rice cultivation. Finally, we estimated the geographical areas potentially suitable for perennial rice cultivation worldwide, based on the correlation between regrowth rate and over-winter temperatures. Our innovation would help maintain food security and ecological integrity, and also inspire research on other perennial grains.
Deconwolf enables high-performance deconvolution of widefield fluorescence microscopy images
Authors: Wernersson Erik , Gelali Eleni , Girelli Gabriele , Wang Su , Castillo David , Langseth Christoffer Mattsson , Nguyen Huy , Chattoraj Shyamtanu , Casals Anna Martinez , Lundberg Emma , Nilsson Mats , Marti-Renom Marc , Wu Chao-ting , Crosetto Nicola , Bienko Magda 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Microscopy-based spatially resolved omic methods are transforming biology and medicine. Currently, these methods rely on high magnification objectives and cannot resolve crowded molecular targets, which limits the amount of biological information that can be extracted from a sample. To overcome these limitations, we developed Deconwolf (DW), an open-source software enabling high-performance deconvolution of widefield fluorescence microscopy image stacks and large tissue scans on a laptop computer. DW significantly outperformed two popular deconvolution tools on images generated by standard immunofluorescence as well as on images of crowded diffraction limited fluorescence dots generated by single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) and high-definition DNA FISH. In addition, widefield imaging followed by DW produced images comparable, if not superior in quality to confocal microscopy, but more than 200 times faster. Application of DW to smFISH images enabled accurate quantification of Ki-67 gene transcripts across a tumor microarray tissue core imaged with a 20x air objective. Finally, we applied DW to deconvolve images generated by in situ spatial transcriptomics (ISST) and in situ genomics by OligoFISSEQ. In ISST, DW increased the number of transcripts identified more than three times, while its application to OligoFISSEQ images drastically improved the efficiency of chromosome tracing without the need for signal interpolation. We conclude that DW greatly facilitates the use of deconvolution in many bioimaging applications and paves the way to the application of microscopy-based spatially resolved omic technologies in diagnostics.
Processing Mechanism of Guanidinoacetate in Choroid Plexus Epithelial Cells: Conversion of Guanidinoacetate to Creatine via Guanidinoacetate N-Methyltransferase and Monocarboxylate Transporter 12-Mediated Creatine Release into the CSF
Authors: Jomura Ryuta , Akanuma Shin-ichi , Kubo Yoshiyuki , Tachikawa Masanori , Hosoya Ken-ichi 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background: Guanidinoacetate (GAA) induces epileptogenesis and neurotoxicity in the brain. As epileptic animal models have been reported to show elevated cerebral GAA levels, the processing mechanism of GAA in the brain is important for maintaining brain homeostasis. Our previous study revealed that GAA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is removed by incorporation into the choroid plexus epithelial cells (CPxEpic), which form the blood-CSF barrier (BCSFB). However, the processing mechanism of GAA incorporated into CPxEpic remains unknown. Our previous studies have revealed that monocarboxylate transporter 12 (MCT12) functions as an efflux transporter of GAA and creatine (Cr), a metabolite of GAA, in the kidneys and liver. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the role of MCT12 in GAA dynamics in CPxEpic.Methods: Protein expression and localization in CPxEpic were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Metabolic analysis was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 24 h after the addition of [14C]GAA to TR-CSFB3 cells, which are conditionally immortalized rat CPxEpic. The efflux transport of [14C]Cr was evaluated in TR-CSFB3 cells after transfection with MCT12 small interfering RNA (siRNA). The CSF-to-brain parenchyma transfer of Cr was measured after intracerebroventricular injection in rats.Results: Immunohistochemical staining revealed that MCT12-derived signals merged with those of the marker protein at the apical membrane of CPxEpic, suggesting that MCT12 is localized on the apical membrane of CPxEpic. The expression levels of guanidinoacetate N-methyltransferase (GAMT), which catalyzes the conversion of GAA to Cr, in TR-CSFB3 cells was also indicated, and GAA was hypothesized to be metabolized to Cr after influx transport into CPxEpic, after which Cr was released into the CSF. Cr release from TR-CSFB3 cells decreased following MCT12 knockdown. The contribution ratio of MCT12 to the release of Cr was more than 50%. The clearance of CSF-to-brain parenchyma transfer of Cr was 4.65 µL/(min·g brain), suggesting that biosynthesized Cr in CPxEpic is released into the CSF and supplied to the brain parenchyma.Conclusions: In CPxEpic, GAA is metabolized to Cr via GAMT. Biosynthesized Cr is then released into the CSF via MCT12 and supplied to the brain parenchyma.
Psychometric Properties of The 12-Item Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale Among Stroke Survivors In Hong Kong
Authors: Fong Ted C. T. , Lo Temmy L. T. , Ho Rainbow T. H. 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
The present study examined the psychometric properties of the 12-item Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SSQOL-12) as a measure of quality of life specific to stroke in 184 stroke survivors in Hong Kong. The participants also completed a questionnaire on short form health survey (SF-12) and validating variables at baseline and 148 of them completed SSQOL-12 two months later. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to investigate the construct validity, reliability, and longitudinal invariance of SSQOL-12 across two months. Convergent and discriminant validity was examined with respect to hope, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and SF-12. The original 2-factor model did not reveal a superior fit and a modified 1-factor model with 4 residual covariances provided an acceptable fit to data in both waves. The SSQOL-12 factor displayed substantial factor loadings (λ = 0.40–0.87), good reliability (Ω = 0.88), temporal stability (r = 0.70), and scalar measurement invariance across time. Stroke-specific quality of life was significantly associated with ischemic stroke, lower functional disability, anxiety, and depression and higher levels of hope of self-esteem. Most of the associations remained significant after controlling for SF-12. These findings provided support for validity and reliability of the unidimensional structure for SSQOL-12 among stroke survivors.
Development of COVID-19 Severity Assessment Score in Adults Presenting With COVID-19 to the Emergency Department
Authors: Subhani Faysal , Chhotani Abdul Ahad , Waheed Shahan , Zahid Rana Osama , Azizi Kiran , Buksh Ahmed Raheem 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background:Critically-ill Covid-19 patients require extensive resources which can overburden a healthcare system already under strain due to a pandemic. A good disease severity prediction score can help allocate resources to where they are needed most. Objectives:We developed a Covid-19 Severity Assessment Score (CoSAS) to predict those patients likely to suffer from mortalities within 28 days of hospital admission. We also compared this score to Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) in adults.Methods:CoSAS includes the following 10 components: Age, gender, Clinical Frailty Score, number of comorbidities, Ferritin level, D-dimer level, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive Protein levels, systolic blood pressure and oxygen saturation. Our study was a single center study with data collected via chart review and phone calls. 309 patients were included in the study.Results: CoSAS proved to be a good score to predict Covid-19 mortality with an Area under the Curve (AUC) of 0.78. It also proved better than qSOFA (AUC of 0.70). More studies are needed to externally validate CoSAS.Conclusion:CoSAS is an accurate score to predict Covid-19 mortality in the Pakistani population.
Effect of Acute High-Intensity Exercise on Rat Myocardium metabolic Profiles. An LC-MS Based Metabolomics Study
Authors: Wu Lijun , WANG Jiayi , Cao Xiuhui , Tian Yue , Li Jia 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Acute high-intensity exercise is a harmful manner associated with a series of myocardial injuries. Metabolism disorder of myocardium is one of the most serious conditions. However, few metabolomics-based studies provide data on the effect of exercise along with myocardial metabolism. Our study aimed to identify metabolic signatures in rat myocardium during acute high-intensity exercise and evaluate their diagnostic potential to sports injuries. SD rats were divided into control group and acute high-intensity exercise group and their myocardium samples were analyzed by LC-MS to explore metabolic alterations of rats’ myocardium. This study showed myocardium metabolism clearly differed between the two groups. there were 6 target metabolic pathways and 12 potential metabolic markers for acute high-intensity exercise. Our findings provide an insight that myocardium metabolism during acute high-intensity exercise have distinct disorders in complex lipids and fatty acids. Moreover, an increase of purine degradation products as well as signs of impaired glucose metabolism were observed. However, the amino acid was enhanced, which had a certain protective effect on the myocardium.