bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meditation practice, mindfulness and pain-related outcomes in mindfulness-based treatment for episodic migraine
Authors: Hunt Carly , Letzen Janelle , Krimmel Samuel R , Burrowes Shana A.B. , Haythornthwaite Jennifer A. , Keaser Michael , Reid Matthew , Finan Patrick , Seminowicz David A. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractObjectivesMindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have emerged as promising prophylactic episodic migraine treatments. The present study investigated biopsychosocial predictors and outcomes associated with formal, daily-life meditation practice in migraine patients undergoing MBI, and whether augmented mindfulness mechanistically underlies change.MethodsSecondary analyses of clinical trial comparing data 12-week mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR+; n = 50) to stress management for headache (SMH; n = 48) were conducted.ResultsPre-treatment mesocorticolimbic system functioning (i.e., greater resting state ventromedial prefrontal cortex-right nucleus accumbens [vmPFC-rNAC] functional connectivity) positively predicted meditation practice duration over MBSR+ (r = .58, p = .001), and moderated change in headache frequency from pre to post-treatment (b = -12.60, p = .02) such that patients with greater vmPFC-rNAC connectivity showed greater reductions in headache frequency. Patients who meditated more showed greater increases in mindfulness (b = .52, p = .02) and reductions in the helplessness facet of pain catastrophizing (b = -.13, p = .01), but not headache frequency, severity or impact. Augmented mindfulness mediated reductions in headache impact resulting from MBSR+, but not headache frequency.ConclusionsMesocorticolimbic system function is implicated in motivated behavior, and thus could be a target of augmentative interventions designed to enhance meditation practice engagement. Meditation practice appears to benefit pain-related cognitions, but not clinical pain, while mindfulness emerges as a mechanism of MBIs on headache impact, but not frequency. Further research is needed to investigate the day-to-day effects of meditation practice on pain, and continue to characterize the specific mechanisms of MBIs on headache outcomes.
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children, parents and school personnel from June 2020 to April 2021: cohort study of 55 schools in Switzerland
Authors: Ulyte Agne , Haile Sarah R. , Blankenberger Jacob , Radtke Thomas , Puhan Milo A. , Kriemler Susi 
Published: January 2022

AbstractWe measured SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in cohorts of children, parents and school personnel in 55 randomly selected schools in the canton of Zurich, Switzerland. In June-September 2020, seroprevalence was low (4.4% to 5.8%) in all cohorts. In March-April 2021, seroprevalence in children and parents (18.1% and 20.9%) was slightly higher than in school personnel (16.9%). Children’s seroprevalence was slightly higher in classes with infected main teachers and families with one infected parent, and substantially higher in families with two infected parents.
Positive attribute framing increases COVID-19 booster vaccine intention for unfamiliar vaccines
Authors: Barnes K. , Colagiuri B. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractPositive framing has been proposed as a potential intervention to increase COVID-19 vaccination intentions. However, most available research has examined fictitious or unfamiliar treatments. This pre-registered study compared positively and negatively attribute-framed side effect information for real COVID-19 booster vaccines (AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna) and measured booster intentions pre- and post-intervention in 1,222 UK-based participants. As hypothesised, vaccine familiarity significantly modulated the effect of framing. While positive framing was effective for the least familiar vaccine (i.e., Moderna), standard negative framing appeared to increase intentions for familiar vaccines (AstraZeneca/Pfizer), particularly among those with low baseline intentions. These findings provide important new evidence that positive framing could improve vaccine uptake globally when switches or new developments require individuals to receive less familiar vaccines – as is currently the case for millions of booster vaccines across the world. Positive framing of familiar vaccines, however, should be treated with caution.
CD38 expression by antigen-specific CD4 T cells correlates with sputum bacterial load at time of tuberculosis diagnosis and is significantly restored 5-months after treatment initiation
Authors: Hiza Hellen , Hella Jerry , Arbués Ainhoa , Sasamalo Mohamed , Misana Veronica , Fellay Jacques , Gagneux Sébastien , Reither Klaus , Portevin Damien 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACTT cell activation markers (TAM) expressed by antigen-specific T cells constitute promising candidates to attest the presence of an active infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Reciprocally, their modulation may be used to assess antibiotic treatment efficacy and eventually attest disease resolution. We hypothesized that the phenotype of Mtb-specific T cells may be quantitatively impacted by the load of bacteria present in a patient. We recruited 105 Tanzanian adult tuberculosis (TB) patients and obtained blood before and after 5 months of antibiotic treatment. We studied relationships between patients’ clinical characteristics of disease severity and microbiological as well as molecular proxies of bacterial load in sputum at the time of diagnosis. Besides, we measured by flow cytometry the expression of CD38 or CD27 on CD4+ T cells producing interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and/or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in response to a synthetic peptide pool covering the sequences of Mtb antigens ESAT-6, CFP-10 and TB10.4. Reflecting the difficulty to extrapolate bacterial burden from a single end-point read-out, we observed statistically significant, but weak, correlations between Xpert MTB/RIF, MBLA and time to culture positivity. Unlike CD27, the resolution of CD38 expression by antigen-specific T cells was observed readily following 5 months of antibiotic therapy. In addition, only the intensity of CD38-TAM signals measured at diagnosis significantly correlated with Mtb 16S RNA recovered from patients’ sputa. Altogether, our data support CD38-TAM as an accurate marker of infection resolution and a sputum-independent proxy of bacterial load.
The impacts of increased global vaccine sharing on the COVID-19 pandemic; a retrospective modelling study
Authors: Moore Sam , Hill Edward M. , Dyson Louise , Tildesley Michael J. , Keeling Matt J. 
Published: January 2022

SummaryBackgroundThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has generated considerable morbidity and mortality world-wide. While the protection offered by vaccines (and booster doses) offers a method of mitigating the worst effects, by the end of 2021 the distribution of vaccine was highly heterogeneous with some countries achieving over 90% coverage in adults by the end of 2021, while others have less than 2%. In part, this is due to the availability of sufficient vaccine, although vaccine hesitancy also plays a role.MethodsWe use an age-structured model of SARS-CoV-2 dynamics, matched to national data from 152 countries, to investigate the global impact of different vaccine sharing protocols during 2021. We assume a direct relationship between the emergence of variants with increased transmissibility and the cumulative amount of global infection, such that lower global prevalence leads to a lower reproductive number within each country. We compare five vaccine sharing scenarios, from the current situation, through sharing once a particular within-country threshold is reached (e.g. all over 40s have received 2 doses), to full sharing where all countries achieve equal age-dependent vaccine deployment.FindingsCompared to the observed distribution of vaccine uptake, we estimate full vaccine sharing would have generated a 1.5% (PI -0.1 - 4.5%) reduction in infections and a 11.3% (PI 0.6 - 23.2%) reduction in mortality globally by January 2022. The greatest benefit of vaccine sharing would have been experienced by low and middle income countries, who see an average 5.2% (PI 2.5% - 10.4%) infection reduction and 26.8% (PI 24.1% - 31.3%) mortality reduction. Many high income countries, that have had high vaccine uptake (most notably Canada, Chile, UK and USA), suffer increased infections and mortality under most of the sharing protocols investigated, assuming no other counter measures had been taken. However, if reductions in vaccine supply in these countries had been offset by prolonged use of non-pharmaceutical intervention measures, we predict far greater reductions in global infection and mortality of 64.5% (PI 62.6% - 65.4%) and 62.8% (PI 44.0% - 76.3%), respectively.InterpretationBy itself, our results suggest that although more equitable vaccine distribution would have had limited impact on overall infection numbers, vaccine sharing would have substantially reduced global mortality by providing earlier protection of the most vulnerable. If increased vaccine sharing from high income nations had been combined with slower easing of non pharmaceutical interventions to compensate for this, a large reduction in both infection and mortality globally would be expected, confounded by a lower risk of new variants arising.
Local PI(4,5)P2 generation controls fusion pore expansion during exocytosis
Authors: Omar-Hmeadi Muhmmad , Guček Alenka , Barg Sebastian 
Published: January 2022

SummaryPhosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) is an important signaling phospholipid that is required for regulated exocytosis and some forms of endocytosis. The two processes share a topologically similar pore structure that connects the vesicle lumen with the outside. Widening of the fusion pore during exocytosis leads to cargo release, while its closure initiates kiss&run or cavicapture endocytosis. We show here, using live cell TIRF microscopy of insulin granule exocytosis, that transient accumulation of PI(4,5)P2 at the release site recruits components of the endocytic fission machinery, and stalls the late fusion pore expansion that is required for peptide release. The absence of clathrin differentiates this mechanism from clathrin-mediated endocytosis. The PI(4,5)P2 transients result from local phosphatidylinositol-phosphate-5-kinase-1c (PIP5K1c) activity, and knockdown of PIP5K1c, or optogenetic ablation of PI(4,5)P2 promotes fusion pore expansion. Thus, local phospholipid signaling controls fusion pore expansion peptide release through an unconventional endocytic mechanism.
The thresholding problem and variability in the EEG graph network parameters
Authors: Adamovich Timofey , Zakharov Ilya , Tabueva Anna , Malykh Sergey 
Published: January 2022

AbstractGraph thresholding is a frequently used practice of eliminating the weak connections in brain functional connectivity graphs. The main aim of the procedure is to delete the spurious connections in the data. However, the choice of the threshold is arbitrary, and the effect of the threshold choice is not fully understood. Here we present the description of the changes in the global measures of a functional connectivity graph depending on the different proportional thresholds based on the 146 resting-state EEG recordings. The dynamics is presented in five different synchronization measures (wPLI, ImCoh, Coherence, ciPLV, PPC) in sensors and source spaces. The analysis shows significant changes in the graph’s global connectivity measures as a function of the chosen threshold which may influence the outcome of the study. The choice of the threshold could lead to different study conclusions; thus it is necessary to improve the reasoning behind the choice of the different analytic options and consider the adoption of different analytic approaches. We also proposed some ways of improving the procedure of thresholding in functional connectivity research.
Breadth of SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization and Protection Induced by a Nanoparticle Vaccine
Authors: Li Dapeng , Martinez David R. , Schäfer Alexandra , Chen Haiyan , Barr Maggie , Sutherland Laura L. , Lee Esther , Parks Robert , Mielke Dieter , Edwards Whitney , Newman Amanda , Bock Kevin W. , Minai Mahnaz , Nagata Bianca M. , Gagne Matthew , Douek Daniel C. , DeMarco C. Todd , Denny Thomas N. , Oguin Thomas H. , Brown Alecia , Rountree Wes , Wang Yunfei , Mansouri Katayoun , Edwards Robert J. , Ferrari Guido , Sempowski Gregory D. , Eaton Amanda , Tang Juanjie , Cain Derek W. , Santra Sampa , Pardi Norbert , Weissman Drew , Tomai Mark A. , Fox Christopher B. , Moore Ian N. , Andersen Hanne , Lewis Mark G. , Golding Hana , Seder Robert , Khurana Surender , Baric Ralph S. , Montefiori David C. , Saunders Kevin O. , Haynes Barton F. 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACTCoronavirus vaccines that are highly effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants are needed to control the current pandemic. We previously reported a receptor-binding domain (RBD) sortase A-conjugated ferritin nanoparticle (RBD-scNP) vaccine that induced neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and pre-emergent sarbecoviruses and protected monkeys from SARS-CoV-2 WA-1 infection. Here, we demonstrate SARS-CoV-2 RBD-scNP immunization induces potent neutralizing antibodies in non-human primates (NHPs) against all eight SARS-CoV-2 variants tested including the Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants. The Omicron variant was neutralized by RBD-scNP-induced serum antibodies with a mean of 10.6-fold reduction of ID50 titers compared to SARS-CoV-2 D614G. Immunization with RBD-scNPs protected NHPs from SARS-CoV-2 WA-1, Beta, and Delta variant challenge, and protected mice from challenges of SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant and two other heterologous sarbecoviruses. These results demonstrate the ability of RBD-scNPs to induce broad neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants and to protect NHPs and mice from multiple different SARS-related viruses. Such a vaccine could provide the needed immunity to slow the spread of and reduce disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 variants such as Delta and Omicron.
Transcriptomic and phenomic investigations reveal elements in biofilm repression and formation in the cyanobacteriumSynechococcus elongatusPCC 7942
Authors: Simkovsky Ryan , Parnasa Rami , Wang Jingtong , Nagar Elad , Zecharia Eli , Suban Shiran , Yegorov Yevgeni , Veltman Boris , Sendersky Eleonora , Schwarz Rakefet , Golden Susan S. 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBiofilm formation by photosynthetic organisms is a complex behavior that serves multiple functions in the environment. Biofilm formation in the unicellular cyanobacteriumSynechococcus elongatusPCC 7942 is regulated in part by a set of small secreted proteins that promotes biofilm formation and a self-suppression mechanism that prevents their expression. Little is known about the regulatory and structural components of the biofilms in PCC 7942, or response to the suppressor signal(s). We performed transcriptomics (RNA-Seq) and phenomics (RB-TnSeq) screens that identified four genes involved in biofilm formation and regulation, more than 25 additional candidates that may impact biofilm formation, and revealed the transcriptomic adaptation to the biofilm state. In so doing, we compared the effectiveness of these two approaches for gene discovery.
Evaluation of heat inactivation of human norovirus in freshwater clams using human intestinal enteroids
Authors: Hayashi Tsuyoshi , Yamaoka Yoko , Ito Atsushi , Kamaishi Takashi , Estes Mary K. , Muramatsu Masamichi , Murakami Kosuke 
Published: January 2022

AbstractFoodborne disease attributed to consumption of shellfish contaminated with human norovirus (HuNoV) is one of many global health concerns. Our study aimed to determine conditions of heat-inactivation of HuNoV in freshwater clams (Corbicula japonica) using a recently developed HuNoV cultivation system employing stem-cell derived human intestinal enteroids (HIEs). We first measured the internal temperature of clam tissue in a water bath during boiling at 90 °C and found that approximately 2 minutes are required for the tissue to reach 90 °C. Next, GII.4 HuNoV was spiked into the center of the clam tissue followed by boiling at 90 °C for 1, 2, 3, or 4 minutes. The infectivity of the HuNoV in clam tissue homogenates was evaluated using HIEs. We demonstrated that HuNoV in unboiled clam tissue homogenates replicated in HIEs, whereas infectivity was lost in all boiled samples, indicating that heat treatment at 90 °C for 1 minute is sufficient to inactivate HuNoV in freshwater clams. To our knowledge, this is the first study to determine the infectivity of HuNoV tolerability in shellfish using HIEs and our results will be informative to develop strategies to inactivate HuNoV in foods.
Inducible degradation of dosage compensation protein DPY-27 facilitates isolation of Caenorhabditis elegans males for molecular and biochemical analyses
Authors: Li Qianyan , Kaur Arshdeep , Mallory Benjamin , Hariri Sara , Engebrecht JoAnne 
Published: January 2022

AbstractBiological sex affects numerous aspects of biology, yet how sex influences different biological processes has not been extensively studied at the molecular level. Caenorhabditis elegans, with both hermaphrodites (functionally females as adults) and males, is an excellent system to uncover how sex influences physiology. Here, we describe a method to isolate large quantities of C. elegans males by conditionally degrading DPY-27, a component of the dosage compensation complex essential for hermaphrodite, but not male, development. We show that germ cells from males isolated following DPY-27 degradation undergo meiosis and spermiogenesis like wild type and are competent to mate and produce viable offspring. We demonstrate the efficacy of this system by analyzing gene expression and performing affinity pull-downs from male worm extracts.
Shared and distinct functional effects of patient-specific Tbr1 mutations on cortical development
Authors: Co Marissa , Barnard Rebecca A. , Jahncke Jennifer N. , Grindstaff Sally , Fedorov Lev M. , Adey Andrew C. , Wright Kevin M. , O’Roak Brian J. 
Published: January 2022

SUMMARYPredicted loss-of-function and missense heterozygous de novo mutations of TBR1 are strongly associated with intellectual disability and autism. The functional effects of these heterogeneous mutations on cortical development and genotype-phenotype relationships have yet to be explored. We characterized mouse models carrying patient mutations A136PfsX80 and K228E, finding convergent and discordant phenotypes. The A136PfsX80 mutation is loss-of-function and allelic to the Tbr1 knockout. In contrast, K228E causes significant upregulation of TBR1. Heterozygosity of either mutation produces axon defects, including reduction of the anterior commissure, and CTIP2 downregulation in adult cortex. While mice lacking TBR1 show extensive cortical apoptosis and inverted layering, K228E homozygotes show normal apoptosis levels and a complex layering phenotype—suggesting partial, yet abnormal, function of the allele. The construct and face validity of these Tbr1 patient mutation mice suggests they will be valuable translational models for studying the function of this essential brain transcription factor.
Gnas ablation in CD11c+ cells prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity by elevating adipose tissue catecholamine levels and thermogenesis
Authors: Zeng Liping , Herdman D. Scott , Lee Jihyung , Tao Ailin , Das Manasi , Bertin Samuel , Eckmann Lars , Mahata Sushil , Devulapalli Shwetha , Patel Hemal H. , Molina Anthony J.A. , Osborn Olivia , Corr Maripat , Raz Eyal , Webster Nicholas J.G. 
Published: January 2022

ABSTRACTCD11c+ immune cells are a potential therapeutic target for treatment of obesity-related insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D). In obesity, CD11c+ immune cells are recruited to white adipose tissue and create an inflammatory state that causes both insulin and catecholamine resistance. In this study, we found that ablation of Gnas, the gene that encodes Gas, in CD11c expressing cells protects mice from high-fat diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance. GnasΔCD11c mice (KO) had increased oxygen consumption, energy expenditure, and beigeing of white adipose tissue (WAT). Transplantation studies showed that the lean phenotype was conferred by bone marrow-derived cells and the absence of T and B cells by crossing the KO to a Rag1-/- background did not alter the phenotype. Notably, we observed elevated norepinephrine and elevated cAMP signaling in the WAT of KO mice. The KO adipose tissue also had reduced expression of catecholamine transport and degradation enzymes. Collectively, our results identified an important role of Gas in CD11c+ cells in whole body metabolism regulation by controlling norepinephrine levels in WAT, modulating catecholamine-induced lipolysis and increasing thermogenesis that together created a lean phenotype.
Fe(III)-dependent anaerobic methane-oxidizing activity in a deep underground borehole demonstrated by in-situ pressure groundwater incubation
Authors: Nishimura Hiroki , Kouduka Mariko , Fukuda Akari , Ishimura Toyoho , Amano Yuki , Beppu Hikari , Miyakawa Kazuya , Suzuki Yohey 
Published: January 2022

SummaryThe family Methanoperedenaceae archaea mediate anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in various terrestrial environments. In this study, we newly developed a high-pressure laboratory incubation system by controlling hydraulic pressure ranging from ambient to 5 MPa. Using the system, we investigated groundwater from 214- and 249-m deep boreholes at Horonobe Underground Research Laboratory, Japan, where the high and low abundances of Methanoperedenaceae archaea have been revealed by genome-resolved metagenomics, respectively. We incubated the groundwater samples amended with or without amorphous Fe(III) as an electron acceptor and 13C-labelled methane at an in-situ pressure of 1.6 MPa. After three to seven-day incubation, AOM activities were not detected from the 249-m deep groundwater but from the 214-m deep groundwater. The AOM rates were 93.7 ± 40.6 and 27.7 ± 37.5 nM/day with and without Fe(III) amendment. To clarify the differences in AOM activity between the 214- and 249-m deep groundwater samples, we characterized Fe(III) contents in suspended particulates collected by filtration. The particulates were not visible in the 249-m deep groundwater on the filter, while they were abundant and contained Fe(III)-bearing phyllosilicates in the 214-m deep groundwater. These results support the in-situ activity of Fe(III)-dependent AOM in the deep subsurface borehole.