bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mouse fetal growth restriction through parental and fetal immune gene variation and intercellular communications cascade
Authors: Kaur Gurman , Porter Caroline B. M. , Ashenberg Orr , Lee Jack , Riesenfeld Samantha J. , Hofree Matan , Aggelakopoulou Maria , Subramanian Ayshwarya , Kuttikkatte Subita Balaram , Attfield Kathrine E. , Desel Christiane A. E. , Davies Jessica L. , Evans Hayley G. , Avraham-Davidi Inbal , Nguyen Lan T. , Dionne Danielle A. , Neumann Anna E. , Jensen Lise Torp , Barber Thomas R. , Soilleux Elizabeth , Carrington Mary , McVean Gil , Rozenblatt-Rosen Orit , Regev Aviv , Fugger Lars 
Published: July 2022

AbstractFetal growth restriction (FGR) affects 5–10% of pregnancies, and can have serious consequences for both mother and child. Prevention and treatment are limited because FGR pathogenesis is poorly understood. Genetic studies implicateKIRandHLAgenes in FGR, however, linkage disequilibrium, genetic influence from both parents, and challenges with investigating human pregnancies make the risk alleles and their functional effects difficult to map. Here, we demonstrate that the interaction between the maternal KIR2DL1, expressed on uterine natural killer (NK) cells, and the paternally inherited HLA-C*0501, expressed on fetal trophoblast cells, leads to FGR in a humanized mouse model. We show that the KIR2DL1 and C*0501 interaction leads to pathogenic uterine arterial remodeling and modulation of uterine NK cell function. This initial effect cascades to altered transcriptional expression and intercellular communication at the maternal-fetal interface. These findings provide mechanistic insight into specific FGR risk alleles, and provide avenues of prevention and treatment.
Orbitofrontal cortex contributes to the comparison of values underlying economic choices
Authors: Ballesta Sébastien , Shi Weikang , Padoa-Schioppa Camillo 
Published: July 2022

AbstractEconomic choices between goods entail the computation and comparison of subjective values. Previous studies examined neuronal activity in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) of monkeys choosing between different types of juices. Three groups of neurons were identified: offer value cells encoding the value of individual offers, chosen juice cells encoding the identity of the chosen juice, and chosen value cells encoding the value of the chosen offer. The encoded variables capture both the input (offer value) and the output (chosen juice, chosen value) of the decision process, suggesting that values are compared within OFC. Recent work demonstrates that choices are causally linked to the activity of offer value cells. Conversely, the hypothesis that OFC contributes to value comparison has not been confirmed. Here we show that weak electrical stimulation of OFC specifically disrupts value comparison without altering offer values. This result implies that neuronal populations in OFC participate in value comparison.
Age-dependent effects of blue light exposure on lifespan, neurodegeneration, and mitochondria physiology in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Song Yujuan , Yang Jun , Law Alexander D. , Hendrix David A. , Kretzschmar Doris , Robinson Matthew , Giebultowicz Jadwiga M. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBlue light is a predominant component of light emitting devices (LEDs), which are increasingly present in our environment. There is already accumulating evidence that blue light exposure causes damage to retinal cells in vitro and in vivo; however, much less is known about potential effects of blue light on non-retinal cells. That blue light may be detrimental at the organismal level independent from retinal effect was recently shown by findings that it reduces lifespan in worms and also in flies with genetically ablated retinas. Here, we investigated the effects of blue light exposure across the fly lifespan and found that susceptibility to blue light stress is strongly age-dependent. The blue light of the same intensity and duration reduced survival and increased neurodegeneration more significantly in old flies than in young flies. These differences appear to be caused, at least in part, by impairments of mitochondrial respiratory function. We report that blue light significantly reduces the activity of Complex II in the electron transport system and decrease the biochemical activity of succinate dehydrogenase in both young and old flies. In addition, complex I and complex IV activities are reduced by age, as are ATP levels. We therefore propose that older flies are more sensitive to blue light because the light-induced mitochondrial damage potentiates the age-related impairments in energy metabolism that occurs even in darkness. Taken together, our results show that damaging effects of blue light at the organismal level are strongly age dependent and are associated with reduced activity of specific components of energy producing pathways in mitochondria.
Changes in intestinal microbiota in postmenopausal oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients treated with (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Aarnoutse Romy , Ziemons Janine , Hillege Lars E. , de Vos-Geelen Judith , de Boer Maaike , Bisschop Saskia M. P. , Vriens Birgit E. P. J. , Vincent Jeroen , van de Wouw Agnes J. , Le Giang N. , Venema Koen , Rensen Sander S. , Penders John , Smidt Marjolein L. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThis clinical study explored the associations between the intestinal microbiota, chemotherapy toxicity, and treatment response in postmenopausal oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer patients.Oestrogen receptor positive postmenopausal breast cancer patients were prospectively enroled in a multicentre cohort study and treated with 4 cycles of (neo)adjuvant adriamycin, cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by 4 cycles of docetaxel (D). Patients collected a faecal sample and completed a questionnaire before treatment, during AC, during D, and after completing AC-D. Chemotherapy toxicity and tumour response were determined. Intestinal microbiota was analysed by amplicon sequencing of the 16 S rRNA V4 gene-region. In total, 44 patients, including 18 neoadjuvant patients, were included, and 153 faecal samples were collected before AC-D (n = 44), during AC (n = 43), during D (n = 29), and after AC-D treatment (n = 37), 28 participants provided all four samples. In the whole group, observed species richness reduced during treatment (p = 0.042). The abundance of Proteobacteria, unclassified Enterobacterales, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcaceae NK4A214 group, Marvinbryantia, Christensenellaceae R7 group, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-005 changed significantly over time. Patients with any grade diarrhoea during docetaxel treatment had a significantly lower observed species richness compared to patients without diarrhoea. In the small group neoadjuvant treated patients, pathologic response was unrelated to baseline intestinal microbiota richness, diversity and composition. While the baseline microbiota was not predictive for pathologic response in a rather small group of neoadjuvant treated patients in our study, subsequent shifts in microbial richness, as well as the abundance of specific bacterial taxa, were observed during AC-D treatment in the whole group and the neoadjuvant group.
Single-input single-output multi-touch soft sensor systems using band-pass filters
Authors: Kim Junhyung , Kim Suhan , Park Yong-Lae 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn many soft sensor systems, external wires for connecting the sensors to control circuits have posed practical problems, in terms of compact form factors and physical robustness. This study proposes a design of soft sensor arrays that can operate with a drastically reduced number of wires without degrading the original performance. The proposed concept is an array of soft sensing modules, each of which consists of an inductor and a capacitor embedded next to the resistive sensing module, constructing a resistor-inductor-capacitor band-pass filter. By adjusting the values of the capacitance and the inductance, unique frequency band is assigned to each sensing module, enabling the distinctive detection using only two external wires regardless of the number of modules. The multi-touch sensing functionality of the system is analytically modeled and experimentally characterized. Taking advantage of the design, a fingertip tactile sensor and an insole foot pressure sensor are demonstrated as practical applications.
Evaluation of the PREDIGT score’s performance in identifying newly diagnosed Parkinson’s patients without motor examination
Authors: Li Juan , Mestre Tiago A. , Mollenhauer Brit , Frasier Mark , Tomlinson Julianna J. , Trenkwalder Claudia , Ramsay Tim , Manuel Douglas , Schlossmacher Michael G. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractSeveral recent publications described algorithms to identify subjects with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In creating the “PREDIGT Score”, we previously developed a hypothesis-driven, simple-to-use formula to potentially calculate the incidence of PD. Here, we tested its performance in the ‘De Novo Parkinson Study’ (DeNoPa) and ‘Parkinson’s Progression Marker Initiative’ (PPMI); the latter included participants from the ‘FOllow Up persons with Neurologic Disease’ (FOUND) cohort. Baseline data from 563 newly diagnosed PD patients and 306 healthy control subjects were evaluated. Based on 13 variables, the original PREDIGT Score identified recently diagnosed PD patients in the DeNoPa, PPMI + FOUND and the pooled cohorts with area-under-the-curve (AUC) values of 0.88 (95% CI 0.83–0.92), 0.79 (95% CI 0.72–0.85), and 0.84 (95% CI 0.8–0.88), respectively. A simplified version (8 variables) generated AUC values of 0.92 (95% CI 0.89–0.95), 0.84 (95% CI 0.81–0.87), and 0.87 (0.84–0.89) in the DeNoPa, PPMI, and the pooled cohorts, respectively. In a two-step, screening-type approach, self-reported answers to a questionnaire (step 1) distinguished PD patients from controls with an AUC of 0.81 (95% CI 0.75–0.86). Adding a single, objective test (Step 2) further improved classification. Among seven biological markers explored, hyposmia was the most informative. The composite AUC value measured 0.9 (95% CI 0.88–0.91) in DeNoPa and 0.89 (95% CI 0.84–0.94) in PPMI. These results reveal a robust performance of the original PREDIGT Score to distinguish newly diagnosed PD patients from controls in two established cohorts. We also demonstrate the formula’s potential applicability to enriching for PD subjects in a population screening-type approach.
Stochastic gradient line Bayesian optimization for efficient noise-robust optimization of parameterized quantum circuits
Authors: Tamiya Shiro , Yamasaki Hayata 
Published: July 2022

AbstractOptimizing parameterized quantum circuits is a key routine in using near-term quantum devices. However, the existing algorithms for such optimization require an excessive number of quantum-measurement shots for estimating expectation values of observables and repeating many iterations, whose cost has been a critical obstacle for practical use. We develop an efficient alternative optimization algorithm, stochastic gradient line Bayesian optimization (SGLBO), to address this problem. SGLBO reduces the measurement-shot cost by estimating an appropriate direction of updating circuit parameters based on stochastic gradient descent (SGD) and further utilizing Bayesian optimization (BO) to estimate the optimal step size for each iteration in SGD. In addition, we formulate an adaptive measurement-shot strategy and introduce a technique of suffix averaging to reduce the effect of statistical and hardware noise. Our numerical simulation demonstrates that the SGLBO augmented with these techniques can drastically reduce the measurement-shot cost, improve the accuracy, and make the optimization noise-robust.
Pathogenic bacteria remodel central metabolic enzyme to build a cyclopropanol warhead
Authors: Trottmann Felix , Ishida Keishi , Ishida-Ito Mie , Kries Hajo , Groll Michael , Hertweck Christian 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBacteria of the Burkholderia pseudomallei (BP) group pose a global health threat, causing the infectious diseases melioidosis, a common cause of pneumonia and sepsis, and glanders, a contagious zoonosis. A trait of BP bacteria is a conserved gene cluster coding for the biosynthesis of polyketides (malleicyprols) with a reactive cyclopropanol unit that is critical for virulence. Enzymes building this warhead represent ideal targets for antivirulence strategies but the biochemical basis of cyclopropanol formation is unknown. Here we describe the formation of the malleicyprol warhead. We show that BurG, an unusual NAD+-dependent member of the ketol-acid reductoisomerase family, constructs the strained cyclopropanol ring. Biochemical assays and a suite of eight crystal structures of native and mutated BurG with bound analogues and inhibitors provide snapshots of each step of the complex reaction mechanism, involving a concealed oxidoreduction and a C–S bond cleavage. Our findings illustrate a remarkable case of neofunctionalisation, where a biocatalyst from central metabolism has been evolutionarily repurposed for warhead production in pathogens.
Balsam fir (Abies balsamea) needles and their essential oil kill overwintering ticks (Ixodes scapularis) at cold temperatures
Authors: Adamo Shelley A. , El Nabbout Amal , Ferguson Laura V. , Zbarsky Jeffrey S. , Faraone Nicoletta 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, vectors Borrelia burgdorferi, a bacterium that causes Lyme Disease. Although synthetic pesticides can reduce tick numbers, there are concerns about their potential effects on beneficial insects, such as pollinators. Plant-based pest control agents such as essential oils could provide an alternative because they have low environmental persistency; however, these products struggle to provide effective control. We found a new natural acaricide, balsam fir (Abies balsamea) needles, that kill overwintering I. scapularis ticks. We extracted the essential oil from the needles, analyzed its chemical composition, and tested it for acaricidal activity. We placed ticks in tubes with substrate and positioned the tubes either in the field or in incubators simulating winter temperatures. We added balsam fir essential oil, or one of the main components of balsam fir essential oil (i.e., ß-pinene), to each tube. We found that both the oil and ß-pinene kill overwintering ticks. Whole balsam fir needles require several weeks to kill overwintering ticks, while the essential oil is lethal within days at low temperatures (≤ 4 °C). Further, low temperatures increased the efficacy of this volatile essential oil. Higher temperatures (i.e., 20 °C) reduce the acaricidal effectiveness of the essential oil by 50% at 0.1% v/v. Low temperatures may promote the effectiveness of other natural control products. Winter is an overlooked season for tick control and should be explored as a possible time for the application of low toxicity products for successful tick management.
Photo-responsive hydrogel-based re-programmable metamaterials
Authors: Patel Herit , Chen Jiehao , Hu Yuhang , Erturk Alper 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThis paper explores a novel programmable metamaterial using stimuli-responsive hydrogels with a demonstration of bandgap formation and tuning. Specifically, a photo-responsive hydrogel beam that can achieve re-programmable periodicity in geometric and material properties through patterned light irradiation is designed. Hydrogels consist of polymeric networks and water molecules. Many unique properties of hydrogels, including bio-compatibility, stimuli-responsiveness, and low dissipation make them ideal for enabling re-programmable metamaterials for manipulating structural dynamic response and wave propagation characteristics. Bandgap generation and tunability in photo-responsive hydrogel-based metamaterial (in the form of a diatomic phononic chain) as well as the effects of system parameters such as light exposure pattern and photo-sensitive group concentration on the bandgap width and center frequency are systematically studied. In agreement with finite-element model simulations, it is observed that an increase in light exposure region size reduces both the bandgap width and center frequency, while an increase in the concentration of photo-sensitive group increases bandgap width, attenuation and reduces its center frequency. This work unveils the potential of stimuli-response hydrogels as a new class of low-loss soft metamaterials, unlike most other soft materials that are too lossy to sustain and exploit wave phenomena.
Research on smoke control for an underground mall fire, based on smoke barrier and mechanical smoke exhaust system
Authors: Jia Jinzhang , Tian Xiuyuan , Wang Fengxiao 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThis study examines smoke spread in an underground mall fire under the composite smoke control mode of a smoke barrier and a mechanical smoke exhaust system. The objective is to optimize the selection of smoke containment and exhaust methods in an underground mall in Fuxin City, China. A Fire Dynamics Simulator was used for numerical simulation to investigate the effects of the sagging height and spacing of smoke barriers on smoke containment, as well as the effects of size, number, and arrangement of smoke vents in the mechanical smoke exhaust system on the effectiveness of smoke exhaust. The results indicated that a smoke barrier with a sagging height of 1 m and a spacing of 5 m was effective in preventing the spread of high-temperature smoke. When the sagging height of the smoke barrier increased to 1.2 m, the smoke barrier effect was comparable to that of a 1 m height barrier. Regarding the mechanical smoke exhaust system, the size of the opening area of the smoke vent had no significant effect on the smoke exhaust effect. The best smoke exhaust effect was achieved when the number of smoke vents was 12. Additionally, the double-row setting of smoke vents was more efficient than the single-row setting. Combining a smoke barrier and a mechanical smoke exhaust system can provide a more effective smoke control compared to either system alone. Comprehensively, considering the effectiveness and economy of smoke containment and exhaust, the optimal combination of smoke containment and exhaust was determined to be a smoke barrier with a sagging height of 1 m and spacing of 5 m, and a mechanical smoke exhaust system with 12 smoke vents in a double-row arrangement.
ICAM-1-binding Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 variants elicits opsonic-phagocytosis IgG responses in Beninese children
Authors: Suurbaar Jennifer , Moussiliou Azizath , Tahar Rachida , Olsen Rebecca W. , Adams Yvonne , Dalgaard Nanna , Baafour Eric K. , Adukpo Selorme , Hviid Lars , Kusi Kwadwo A. , Alao Jules , Ofori Michael F. , Ndam Nicaise T. , Jensen Anja R. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractMembers of the highly polymorphic Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) family expressed on the surface of infected erythrocytes (IEs) are important virulence factors, which mediate vascular adhesion of IEs via endothelial host receptors and are targets of naturally acquired immunity. The PfEMP1 family can be divided into clinically relevant subgroups, of which some bind intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). While the acquisition of IgG specific for ICAM-1-binding DBLβ domains is known to differ between PfEMP1 groups, its ability to induce antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) is unclear. We therefore measured plasma levels of DBLβ-specific IgG, the ability of such IgG to inhibit PfEMP1-binding to ICAM-1, and its ability to opsonize IEs for ADCP, using plasma from Beninese children with severe (SM) or uncomplicated malaria (UM). IgG specific for DBLβ from group A and B ICAM-1-binding PfEMP1 were dominated by IgG1 and IgG3, and were similar in SM and UM. However, levels of plasma IgG inhibiting ICAM-1-binding of group A DBLβ of PFD1235w was significantly higher in children with UM than SM, and acute UM plasma induced a higher ADCP response than acute SM plasma.
Therapeutic exercise to improve motor function among children with Down Syndrome aged 0 to 3 years: a systematic literature review and meta‑analysis
Authors: Rodríguez-Grande Eliana-Isabel , Buitrago-López Adriana , Torres-Narváez Martha-Rocio , Serrano-Villar Yannely , Verdugo-Paiva Francisca , Ávila Camila 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe effects and the prescription parameters of therapeutic exercise are not clear. For this reason, is needed to determine the effect of therapeutic exercises on the motor function of children with Down Syndrome (DS) aged 0 to 3 years. The present study is systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness outcomes in this population: gait, balance, motor development, fine motor skills, and executive functions. The databases of PubMed, PEDro, EMBASE, SCIELO, Lilacs, Cochrane library were searched from January to December 2019. We recruited Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) which met the inclusion criteria in our study. Six studies and 151 participants were included. Two types of therapeutic exercises, aerobic and neuromuscular, were identified. Both types of exercise were effective in improving outcomes. There were no differences between the modes of application of the exercise. No differences were identified between the treadmill and the physiotherapy plan for the reduction of the time to reach independent walking, Mean Difference (MD) 46.79, 95% Confidence Interval (IC) (− 32.60, 126.19), nor for the increase in walking speed MD 0.10 IC (− 0.02, 0.21) m/s. This study suggests that aerobic exercise therapy has a potentially effective role to promote the gait and motor development of children with DS aged 0 to 3 years when it is applied using a treadmill with a frequency of 5 days, a duration of 6–8 min, and an intensity of between 0.2 and 0.5 m/s. Studies with less heterogeneity and larger sample sizes are required.
Contamination analysis of Arctic ice samples as planetary field analogs and implications for future life-detection missions to Europa and Enceladus
Authors: Coelho Lígia F. , Blais Marie-Amélie , Matveev Alex , Keller-Costa Tina , Vincent Warwick F. , Costa Rodrigo , Martins Zita , Canário João 
Published: July 2022

AbstractMissions to detect extraterrestrial life are being designed to visit Europa and Enceladus in the next decades. The contact between the mission payload and the habitable subsurface of these satellites involves significant risk of forward contamination. The standardization of protocols to decontaminate ice cores from planetary field analogs of icy moons, and monitor the contamination in downstream analysis, has a direct application for developing clean approaches crucial to life detection missions in these satellites. Here we developed a comprehensive protocol that can be used to monitor and minimize the contamination of Arctic ice cores in processing and downstream analysis. We physically removed the exterior layers of ice cores to minimize bioburden from sampling. To monitor contamination, we constructed artificial controls and applied culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques such as 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. We identified 13 bacterial contaminants, including a radioresistant species. This protocol decreases the contamination risk, provides quantitative and qualitative information about contamination agents, and allows validation of the results obtained. This study highlights the importance of decreasing and evaluating prokaryotic contamination in the processing of polar ice cores, including in their use as analogs of Europa and Enceladus.