bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antifungal activity of 2-chloro-N-phenylacetamide, docking and molecular dynamics studies against clinical isolates of Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis
Authors: Silva Shellygton Lima , de Oliveira Pereira Fillipe , Cordeiro Laisa Vilar , Neto Hermes Diniz , dos Santos Maia Mayara , da Silva Souza Helivaldo Diogenes , de Athayde-Filho Petrônio F. , Scotti Marcus Tullius , Scotti Luciana , de Oliveira Lima Edeltrudes 
Published: February 2022

Abstract

Aims
This study evaluated the antifungal, antibiofilm and molecular docking of 2-chloro-N-phenylacetamide against clinical isolates of Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis.

Methods and results
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the test drugs was determined by microdilution. A1Cl obtained MIC values ranging from 16 and 256 μg/ml. Fluconazole MIC ranging from 16 and 512 μg/ml. MIC of A1Cl showed fungicide activity, emphasizing the solid antifungal potential of this drug. An association study was performed with A1Cl and fluconazole (checkerboard), revealing indifference by decreasing. Thus, we conducted this study using A1Cl isolated. In the micromorphological assay, the test drugs reduced the production of virulence structures compared to the control (concentration-dependent effect). A1Cl inhibited in vitro biofilm formation at all concentrations tested (1/4MIC to 8 × MIC) (p &lt; 0.05) and reduced mature biofilm biomass (p &lt; 0.05) against C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis. In the ex vivo biofilm susceptibility testing (human nails fragments), A1Cl inhibited biofilm formation and reduced mature biofilm biomass (p &lt; 0.05) more than 50% at MIC. Fluconazole had a similar effect at 4 × MIC. In silico studies suggest that the mechanism of antifungal activity of A1Cl involves the inhibition of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) rather than geranylgeranyltransferase-I.

Conclusions
The results suggest that A1Cl is a promising antifungal agent. Furthermore, this activity is related to attenuation of expression of virulence factors and antibiofilm effects against C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis.

Significance and impact of the study
Our study provides the first evidence that A1Cl, a novel synthetic drug, has fungicidal effects against C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis. Furthermore, in vitro and ex vivo biofilms assays have demonstrated the potential antibiofilm of A1Cl. The mechanism of action involves inhibiting the enzyme DHFR, which was supported by in silico analyses. Therefore, this potential can be explored as a therapeutic alternative for onychomycosis and, at the same time, contribute to decreasing the resistance of clinical isolates of C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis.
Replication of gene polymorphisms associated with periodontitis‐related traits in an elderly cohort: the Washington Heights/Inwood Community Aging Project Ancillary Study of Oral Health
Authors: Yang Teresa , Cheng Bin , Noble James M. , Reitz Christiane , Papapanou Panos N. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAimWe sought to replicate findings from published genome‐wide association studies (GWAS), linking specific candidate gene loci with periodontitis‐related clinical/microbial traits.Materials and MethodsIn the published GWAS, a total of 2196 single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with periodontitis‐related traits at a p ≤ 5 × 10−6 and mapped to 136 gene loci. The replication cohort included 1124 individuals, 65–98 years old (67% female, 45% Hispanic, 30% Black, 23% White) with available genome‐wide genotypes and full‐mouth periodontal status. Microbial profiles using checkerboard DNA–DNA hybridization and 16SrRNA sequencing were available from 912 and 739 participants, respectively.ResultsUsing gene‐specific p‐values after linkage disequilibrium pruning, the following gene/phenotype associations replicated successfully: CLEC19A with edentulism and %teeth with pocket depth (PD) ≥4 mm; IL37, HPVC1, TRPS1, ABHD12B, LDLRAD4 (C180rF1), TGM3, and GRK5 with %teeth with PD ≥4 mm; DAB2IP with presence of PD ≥6 mm; KIAA1715(LNPK), ROBO2, RAB28, LINC01017, NELL1, LDLRAD4(C18orF1), and CRYBB2P1 with %teeth with clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥3 mm; RUNX2 and LAMA2 with %teeth with CAL ≥5 mm; and KIAA1715(LNPK) with high colonization by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. In addition, CLEC19A, IQSEC1, and EMR1 associated with microbial abundance based on checkerboard data, LBP and NCR2 with abundance based on sequencing data, and NCR2 with microbial diversity based on sequencing data.ConclusionsSeveral gene loci identified in published GWAS as associated with periodontitis‐related phenotypes replicated successfully in an elderly cohort.
Commentary: The origins of intellectual disability
Authors: Plomin Robert 
Published: February 2022

Despite the importance and prevalence of intellectual disability (ID), its origins have not been well understood until now. Lichtenstein et al. report in this issue findings from a population‐based sample four times larger than all previous family studies of ID put together (Lichtenstein et al., 2022). From more than four million people, 37,787 individuals were identified with ID. Relative risks (RRs) are reported for relatives of ID probands (55,000 first‐degree, 55,000 second‐degree, and 170,000 third‐degree) as compared with matched relatives of individuals without ID. These relatives plus 400 pairs of twins in which at least one twin was diagnosed with ID yield an astonishing estimate of 95% heritability with no evidence for shared environmental influence in their model. Another important finding is that maternal half‐siblings of ID individuals were at greater risk than paternal half‐siblings, a maternal effect that could indicate X‐chromosome linkage. Finally, profound and severe ID is etiologically distinct from the normal distribution, due in part to noninherited (de novo) genetic mutations and chromosomal abnormalities. However, 90% of individuals with ID are moderate or mild, and these represent the low end of the normal distribution of genetic influence on cognitive ability, which has important implications for DNA research on ID.
Factors associated with hospital admission and severe outcomes for older patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Kim Jiyu , Blaum Caroline , Ferris Rosie , Arcila‐Mesa Mauricio , Do Hyungrok , Pulgarin Claudia , Dolle Johanna , Scherer Jennifer , Kalyanaraman Marcello Roopa , Zhong Judy 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundMorbidity and death due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) experienced by older adults in nursing homes have been well described, but COVID‐19's impact on community‐living older adults is less studied. Similarly, the previous ambulatory care experience of such patients has rarely been considered in studies of COVID‐19 risks and outcomes.MethodsTo investigate the relationship of advanced age (65+), on risk factors associated with COVID‐19 outcomes in community‐living elders, we identified an electronic health records cohort of older patients aged 65+ with laboratory‐confirmed COVID‐19 with and without an ambulatory care visit in the past 24 months (n = 47,219) in the New York City (NYC) academic medical institutions and the NYC public hospital system from January 2020 to February 2021. The main outcomes are COVID‐19 hospitalization; severe outcomes/Intensive care unit (ICU), intubation, dialysis, stroke, in‐hospital death), and in‐hospital death. The exposures include demographic characteristics, and those with ambulatory records, comorbidities, frailty, and laboratory results.ResultsThe 31,770 patients with an ambulatory history had a median age of 74 years; were 47.4% male, 24.3% non‐Hispanic white, 23.3% non‐Hispanic black, and 18.4% Hispanic. With increasing age, the odds ratios and attributable fractions of sex, race–ethnicity, comorbidities, and biomarkers decreased except for dementia and frailty (Hospital Frailty Risk Score). Patients without ambulatory care histories, compared to those with, had significantly higher adjusted rates of COVID‐19 hospitalization and severe outcomes, with strongest effect in the oldest group.ConclusionsIn this cohort of community‐dwelling older adults, we provided evidence of age‐specific risk factors for COVID‐19 hospitalization and severe outcomes. Future research should explore the impact of frailty and dementia in severe COVID‐19 outcomes in community‐living older adults, and the role of engagement in ambulatory care in mitigating severe disease.
Safeguarding patients while implementing mechanical restraints: A qualitative study of nurses and ward staff’s perceptions and assessment
Authors: Bachmann Liv , Vatne Solfrid , Mundal Ingunn Pernille 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAims and ObjectivesTo explore nurses’ and ward staff's perceptions and assessments of patient care while implementing mechanical restraints.BackgroundTo prevent the risks associated with the use of restraints in psychiatry and ensure safe mental health care, it is necessary to know more about how the nursing staff experiences, comprehends and intervenes in managing patients subjected to coercive measures.DesignThis study employed a qualitative descriptive design, in accordance with the COREQ guidelines.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with 18 nurses and ward staff aged between 22 and 45 years old, who had experience implementing mechanical restraints. Data were digitally audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo 12.ResultsThe participants believed that mechanical restraints should be used as a last resort and that safeguarding patients during implementation is important; however, their assessments of the patients’ physical and mental conditions varied. A clear difference emerged in how management qualified professionals handled situations prior to and during the implementation of mechanical coercive measures.ConclusionsThe findings emphasise the need to focus on the assessment of patients prior to and during restraint, ensure the quality of safe implementation in a risk‐of‐harm situation, prioritise competence in education, and practice, and improve management.Relevance to clinical practiceThe findings highlight the importance of assessing the physical and mental condition of patients while implementing restraints, as well as aiding the management, nurses and ward staff in tailoring safety procedures.
Infant sleep patterns and maternal postpartum fatigue: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Yan Shuhan , Chen Jing , Zhang Feng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAimUnpredictable nature of infant sleep–wake cycles go against that of the adult sleep. Maternal sleep quality is acknowledged as a main factor to postpartum fatigue. This study explored the effects of infant sleep patterns on maternal postpartum fatigue.MethodsA total of 319 mothers of infants from two teaching hospitals in the Nantong City were enrolled. Maternal fatigue status and infant sleep patterns were assessed by the Fatigue Scale (FS‐14) and the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ). Generalized estimating equation analyses were perform to explored the effect of infant sleep patterns on maternal fatigue.ResultsSleep‐onset time later than 10 p.m., and nocturnal wakefulness more than 60 min were risk factors of postpartum fatigue. After controlling the confounding variables, infant sleep patterns were still the determinant factors of postpartum fatigue.ConclusionInfant sleep pattern is a factor of maternal postpartum fatigue. It is recommended to promote infant sleep so as to improve maternal sleep quality and finally alleviate postpartum fatigue.
Progesterone receptor genetic variants in pregnant women and fetuses as possible predictors of spontaneous premature birth: A preliminary case–control study
Authors: Kadivnik Mirta , Kralik Kristina , Muller‐Vranješ Andrijana , Vučemilović‐Jurić Valentina , Šijanović Siniša , Wagner Jasenka 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAimTo evaluate the roles of four selected genetic variations in fetal and maternal progesterone receptor gene (PGR) and to identify women who may have higher or lower odds for spontaneous premature birth compared to the general population.MethodsA preliminary case–control study with two groups of pregnant women (with term and premature delivery, 218 in total) and two groups of newborns (term and preterm, 218 in total) was performed. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the progesterone receptor gene (rs1042838, rs1042839, rs10895068, and rs1942836) were genotyped.ResultsThere was statistically significant difference between cases and controls in the distribution of newborns' allele frequency of minor C allele of the PGR SNP rs1942836 (p = 0.03, Fishers' exact test) in favor of premature birth. A statistically significant difference between the frequency of the mothers' minor T allele of rs1042838 (p = 0.005; chi‐squared test) and the mothers' minor T allele of rs1042839 (p = 0.005; chi‐squared test) in favor of extremely premature birth has been found. There was a statistically significant difference between the frequency of the newborns' minor C allele of rs1942836 (p = 0.03; chi‐squared test) and newborns' heterozygotes CT genotype of rs1942836 (p = 0.03; Fishers' exact test) when comparing the group of term births and the group of early premature birth.ConclusionOur study suggests that patients with selected genetic variants of the progesterone receptor gene could have greater odds for premature birth compared to term birth. Replication studies with a larger population and different ethnicity are needed in order to confirm these findings.
Lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with small prostates: Smooth muscle proliferation and calcification might be causative factors
Authors: Ather Muhammad Muneeb , Aman Sadia , Qamar Huma , Latif Rabia , Baloch Muhammad Bahadur , Zehra Uruj 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectivesThe current study is designed to evaluate and compare the histological changes in the surgical samples of prostate taken from patients undergoing transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) for benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) with different sizes.MethodsProstate surgical tissue samples were obtained from BPH patients undergoing TURP after taking informed consent. Ultrasound measure of prostatic weight and prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels were obtained from the patients along with other clinical and demographic details. Tissue samples were fixed, processed, sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome to look for histological features, specifically smooth muscle proliferation. Immunohistochemical expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐2 was recorded to assess the calcification potential.ResultsFifty‐nine surgical samples were obtained from the patients of age range 50–90 years and body mass index (BMI) 15.6–33.3 kg/m2. The range of ultrasound measures of prostate weight was 20–137 g with PSA ranged 1.03–93.3 ng/mL. Patients with small‐sized prostate had significant severe smooth muscle proliferation (P < .001). Prostate size/weight had significant positive association with BMI (P < 0.001, r = 0.543) and negative association with BMP‐2 (P < 0.001, r = −0.654). Samples with severe smooth muscle proliferation were with increased BMP‐2 expression (P < .001) and higher levels of PSA levels (P = 0.004). BMP‐2 expression revealed positive significant association with PSA (P < .001, r = 0.432).ConclusionFrom this study we conclude that BPH patients with small‐sized glands and high PSA levels have increased smooth muscle proliferation and calcification potential causing the symptoms of lower urinary tract symptoms in these patients.
Segment‐condition‐based railway track maintenance schedule optimization
Authors: Chang Yanyan , Liu Rengkui , Tang Yuanjie 
Published: February 2022

AbstractReasonable maintenance plans are important for ensuring safe train operation and prolonging the service life of tracks. However, previous studies on the scheduling and optimization of railway track maintenance plans possess the following limitations. First, scheduling optimization models generally operate at the planning level with months as the time units rather than at the operation scheduling level with days as the time units. Second, they fail to consider the bidirectional feedback and dynamic impact between predicted condition and maintenance scheduling. Third, actual on‐site operation strategies (e.g., opportunistic and centralized maintenance) are neglected. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel operation‐level maintenance scheduling framework based on segment condition considering both opportunistic and centralized maintenance strategies. According to the problem characteristics, ae hybrid multi‐objective optimization algorithm based on a quantum‐behaved particle swarm optimization was designed. Furthermore, by utilizing actual practical cases, the effectiveness of the model and algorithm was verified via comparison with MOPSO, NSGA‐II, NSGA‐III, and Gurobi in different scenarios.
A novel U‐shaped encoder–decoder network with attention mechanism for detection and evaluation of road cracks at pixel level
Authors: Chen Jun , He Ye 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAs the most common road distress, cracks have a substantial influence on the integrity of pavement structures. Accurate identification of crack existence and quantification of crack geometry are thus critical for the decision‐making of maintenance measures. This paper proposes a novel neural network for the detection and evaluation of road cracks at pixel level, which combines the advantage of encoding–decoding network and attention mechanism and can thus extract the crack pixels more accurately and efficiently. The proposed network achieves an excellent detection performance with IOU = 92.85%, precision = 96.90%, recall = 95.36%, F1 = 95.53%. Compared with the other advanced networks, the accuracy of the proposed method is substantially enhanced. The quantitative estimation of key geometrical features of cracks including length, width, and area is successfully realized with the development of a prototype of an intelligent mobile system. Compared with the ground truth, the maximum crack width shows the lowest relative error rate, which ranges −31.75%∼28.57%.
Age at menarche and its association with overweight including obesity and socio‐economic conditions of Brazilian schoolgirls: A time‐trend analysis
Authors: Matsuo Luísa Harumi , Adami Fernando , Pereira Luciana Jeremias , Silva Diego Augusto Santos , de Vasconcelos Francisco de Assis Guedes , Longo Giana Zarbato , Vieira Francilene Gracieli Kunradi , Hinnig Patrícia de Fragas 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThis study aims to describe the time trend of age at menarche in Brazilian schoolgirls evaluated in 2007, 2012/2013 and 2018/2019, and to assess its association with having overweight, including obesity and socio‐economic conditions. Three cross‐sectional studies were carried out in 2007, 2012/2013 and 2018/2019 in schoolchildren enrolled between the second and ninth years of elementary school and comprising 838, 688 and 326 schoolgirls, respectively. Body mass index Z scores were calculated and categorised as either without overweight or with overweight (including obesity). The type of school (a proxy of socio‐economic condition) was categorised as either public or private. Menarche data were collected using the status quo and recall methods. The mean age at menarche was estimated by survival analysis. Differences in age at menarche according to the year of survey, weight status and type of school were verified by the Log‐Rank test and Cox's univariate and multiple regression. There was an increase in the prevalence of overweight in girls throughout the surveys, with 21.4% in 2007, 27.2% in 2012 and 28.5% in 2018 (p = 0.007) having overweight. There was a decrease in the mean age at menarche between 2007 and 2018/2019 (12.3 vs. 11.9 years, respectively). The mean age at menarche in girls with overweight was lower in the three time periods when compared to girls without overweight (11.9, 11.8 and 11.5 vs. 12.4, 12.4 and 12.1, respectively). Girls with overweight were more likely to have had earlier age at menarche than girls without overweight (Hazard Ratio 1.57; 95% CI 1.36; 1.80). There were no differences in the age at menarche according to the type of school. The increase in the prevalence of girls with overweight (including obesity) may be associated with the age at menarche. Girls with overweight had a higher risk of earlier age at menarche than girls without overweight.
Leaf out time correlates with wood anatomy across large geographic scales and within local communities
Authors: Savage Jessica A. , Kiecker Thomas , McMann Natalie , Park Daniel , Rothendler Matthew , Mosher Kennedy 
Published: February 2022

Summary

There is a long‐standing idea that the timing of leaf production in seasonally cold climates is linked to xylem anatomy, specifically vessel diameter because of the hydraulic requirements of expanding leaves.

We tested for a relationship between the timing of leaf out and vessel diameter in 220 plants in three common gardens accounting for species’ phylogenetic relationships. We investigated how vessel diameter related to wood porosity, plant height and leaf length. We also used dye perfusion tests to determine whether plants relied on xylem produced during the previous growing season at the time of leaf out.

In all three gardens, there was later leaf out in species with wider vessels. Ring‐porous species had the widest vessels, exhibited latest leaf out and relied less on xylem made during the previous growing season than diffuse‐porous species. Wood anatomy and leaf phenology did not exhibit a phylogenetic signal.

The timing of leaf out is correlated with wood anatomy across species regardless of species’ geographic origin and phylogenetic relationships. This correlation could be a result of developmental and physiological links between leaves and wood or tied to a larger safety efficiency trade‐off.
‘Boom‐and‐busted’ dynamics of phytoplankton–virus interactions explain the paradox of the plankton
Authors: Flynn Kevin J. , Mitra Aditee , Wilson William H. , Kimmance Susan A. , Clark Darren R. , Pelusi Angela , Polimene Luca 
Published: February 2022

Summary

Rapid virus proliferation can exert a powerful control on phytoplankton host populations, playing a significant role in marine biogeochemistry and ecology. We explore how marine lytic viruses impact phytoplankton succession, affecting host and nonhost populations.

Using an in silico food web we conducted simulation experiments under a range of different abiotic and biotic conditions, exploring virus–host–grazer interactions and manipulating competition, allometry, motility and cyst cycles.

Virus‐host and predator–prey interactions, and interactions with competitors, generate bloom dynamics with a pronounced ‘boom‐and‐busted’ dynamic (BBeD) which leads to the suppression of otherwise potentially successful phytoplankton species. The BBeD is less pronounced at low nutrient loading through distancing of phytoplankton hosts, while high sediment loading and high nonhost biomass decrease the abundance of viruses through adsorption. Larger hosts are inherently more distanced, but motility increases virus attack, while cyst cycles promote spatial and temporal distancing.

Virus control of phytoplankton bloom development appears more important than virus‐induced termination of those blooms. This affects plankton succession – not only the growth of species infected by the virus, but also those that compete for the same resources and are collectively subjected to common grazer control. The role of viruses in structuring plankton communities via BBeDs can thus provide an explanation for the paradox of the plankton.