bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Energy–water nexus of formal and informal water systems in Beirut, Lebanon
Authors: Choueiri Yasmina , Lund Jay , London Jonathan , Spang Edward S 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Many areas in the world with chronic and intermittent water shortages rely on informal water systems for much of their daily water needs with water from tanker trucks, purchased bottled water, rainwater cisterns, or pumped well water. These alternative sources all require varying amounts of energy. Water–energy nexus studies have not yet considered environmental impacts of informal water sources, specifically from an energy intensity and carbon emissions perspective. This study compares energy use and carbon emissions per cubic meter and per capita for both formal and informal water sources for a neighborhood in Beirut Lebanon. Energy use and carbon emissions are calculated for three delivery stages per source including pumping, treatment and distribution. The results show that informal sources have the highest energy use and carbon emissions. From the total water delivered to households, they account for 83% of energy use and 72% of carbon emissions per capita, even though they only provide 23% of total delivered volume per capita. Bottled water and distribution of water by tanker trucks have the highest energy intensity values per cubic meter of all water sources. Moreover, internal building water pumping, which is not typically accounted for, takes up to 14% of total energy use and 23% of total carbon emissions per capita compared to other water sources. To address model uncertainty, we conduct a sensitivity analysis, showing that the base model presented reasonably stable results and identifying the most sensitive parameters for further research. While informal sources help communities overcome water shortages they result with negative impacts. Strategies are proposed to improve the environmental performance of the Lebanese electrical grid, reduce water losses, replace inefficient truck engines and incentivize household to invest in low carbon technologies.
Ensemble classification based signature discovery for cancer diagnosis in RNA expression profiles across different platforms
Authors: Zhao Xudong , Liu Tong , Wang Guohua 
Published: May 2022

AbstractMolecular signatures have been excessively reported for diagnosis of many cancers during the last 20 years. However, false-positive signatures are always found using statistical methods or machine learning approaches, and that makes subsequent biological experiments fail. Therefore, signature discovery has gradually become a non-mainstream work in bioinformatics. Actually, there are three critical weaknesses that make the identified signature unreliable. First of all, a signature is wrongly thought to be a gene set, each component of which keeps differential expressions between or among sample groups. Second, there may be many false-positive genes expressed differentially found, even if samples derived from cancer or normal group can be separated in one-dimensional space. Third, cross-platform validation results of a discovered signature are always poor. In order to solve these problems, we propose a new feature selection framework based on ensemble classification to discover signatures for cancer diagnosis. Meanwhile, a procedure for data transform among different expression profiles across different platforms is also designed. Signatures are found on simulation and real data representing different carcinomas across different platforms. Besides, false positives are suppressed. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
webSCST: an interactive web application for single-cell RNA-sequencing data and spatial transcriptomic data integration
Authors: Zhang Zilong , Cui Feifei , Su Wei , Dou Lijun , Xu Anqi , Cao Chen , Zou Quan 
Published: May 2022

AbstractSummaryIntegrative analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data with spatial data for the same species and organ would provide each cell sample with a predictive spatial location, which would facilitate biological study. However, publicly available spatial sequencing datasets for specific species and organs are rare and are often displayed in different formats. In this study, we introduce a new web-based scRNA-seq analysis tool, webSCST, that integrates well-organized spatial transcriptome sequencing datasets categorized by species and organs, provides a user-friendly interface for raw single-cell processing with popular integration methods and allows users to submit their raw scRNA-seq data once to obtain predicted spatial locations for each cell type.Availability and implementationwebSCST implemented in shiny with all major browsers supported is available at http://www.webscst.com. webSCST is also freely available as an R package at https://github.com/swsoyee/webSCST.
Plasma Acylcarnitines as Metabolic Signatures of Declining Health-Related Quality of Life Measure in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Combined Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Pilot Study
Authors: Ng Ted Kheng Siang , Wee Hai Ning , Ching Jianhong , Kovalik Jean-Paul , Chan Angelique W , Matchar David Bruce 
Published: May 2022

Abstract

Background
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures are predictors of adverse health outcomes in older adults. Studies have demonstrated cross-sectional associations between HRQoL measures and blood-based biochemical markers. Acylcarnitines (ACs) are a class of metabolites generated in the mitochondria and are predictive of multiple geriatric syndromes. Changes in ACs reflect alterations in central carbon metabolic pathways. However, the prospective relationship between plasma ACs and declining HRQoL has not been examined. This study aimed to investigate both cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of baseline ACs with baseline and declining EuroQol-5 Dimension/EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-5D/EQ-VAS) in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods
One hundred and twenty community-dwelling older adults with EQ-5D/EQ-VAS measurements at baseline and follow-up were included. We quantified ACs at baseline using targeted plasma metabolomics profiling. Multivariate regressions were performed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between the measures.

Results
Cross-sectionally, ACs showed no significant associations with either EQ-5D index or EQ-VAS scores. Longitudinally, multiple baseline short-chain ACs were significantly and inversely associated with declining EQ-5D index score, explaining up to 8.5% of variance in the decline.

Conclusions
Within a cohort of community-dwelling older adults who had high HRQoL at baseline, we showed that higher levels of short-chain ACs are longitudinally associated with declining HRQoL. These findings reveal a novel association between central carbon metabolic pathways and declining HRQoL. Notably, dysregulation in mitochondrial central carbon metabolism could be detected prior to clinically important decline in HRQoL, providing the first evidence of objective biomarkers as novel predictors to monitor HRQoL in nonpharmacological interventions and epidemiology.
Evidence to Inform Policy and Practice: Mechanisms to Address Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Nursing Home Quality of Life
Authors: Shippee Tetyana P , Davila Heather , Ng Weiwen , Bowblis John R , Akosionu Odichinma , Skarphol Tricia , See Thao Mai , Woodhouse Mark , Thorpe Roland J 
Published: May 2022

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Abundant evidence documents racial/ethnic disparities in access, quality of care, and quality of life (QoL) among nursing home (NH) residents who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) compared with White residents. BIPOC residents are more likely to be admitted to lower quality NHs and to experience worse outcomes. Yet, little is known about processes for differences in QoL among residents receiving care in high-proportion BIPOC NHs. This study presents an examination of the processes for racial/ethnic disparities in QoL in high-proportion BIPOC facilities while highlighting variability in QoL between these facilities.

Research Design and Methods
Guided by the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Framework and the Zubritsky framework for QoL in NHs, we employ a concurrent mixed-methods approach involving in-depth case studies of 6 high-proportion BIPOC NHs in Minnesota (96 resident interviews; 61 staff interviews; 614 hours of observation), coupled with statewide survey data on residents’ QoL linked to resident clinical Minimum Data Set assessments.

Results
Quantitative findings show that BIPOC residents experience lower QoL than White residents across various domains. Qualitative findings reveal variability in BIPOC residents’ QoL between high-proportion BIPOC facilities. In some facilities, BIPOC residents experienced worse QoL based on their race/ethnicity, whereas in others BIPOC residents QoL was not directly affected by their race/ethnicity or they had mixed experiences.

Discussion and Implications
The findings highlight variability in racial/ethnic disparities in QoL across NHs with a high proportion of BIPOC residents. We identify health equity initiatives, including engaging with community BIPOC organizations and volunteers, and providing more resources to high-proportion BIPOC facilities to support staff training, additional staffing, and culturally specific programming. Given the increasing racial/ethnic diversity of NHs, ensuring equity in QoL for BIPOC residents is an urgent priority for NHs to remain relevant in the future.
Functional diversification and exaptation: the emergence of new drug uses in the pharma industry
Authors: Andriani Pierpaolo , Cattani Gino 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe process by which new uses or functions for an existing artifact (e.g. technology) emerge is an important yet understudied source of innovation. We call this process functional diversification (FD). We measure and characterize FD by focusing on the emergent uses of a class of technological resources: pharmaceutical drugs. We show that FD contains both an adaptive and an exaptive part and that it exhibits several empirical regularities regarding the number of new uses embedded in existing technological resources, the distant/proximate distribution of uses relative to their original use, and the role played by what in the life sciences are known as “mechanisms of action” and in the technology realm “functionalities” in the generation of new uses. We argue (or suggest) that FD is at the core of several theoretical perspectives—exaptation, Penrose’s firm growth, and shadow option theories—whose complementarities could be integrated into a general framework to understand and manage the emergence of new uses from existing resources.
Evaluation of Selective Deltamethrin Application with Household and Community Awareness for the Control of Chagas Disease in Southern Ecuador
Authors: Grijalva Mario J , Moncayo Ana L , Yumiseva Cesar A , Ocaña-Mayorga Sofia , Baus Esteban G , Villacís Anita G 
Published: May 2022

AbstractChagas disease is endemic in ~70% of Ecuador. Rhodnius ecuadoriensis and Triatoma carrioni (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) are the primary vectors of Chagas disease in Southern Ecuador. This study tested the effectiveness of selective deltamethrin application of Domiciliary Units (DUs) infested with triatomines, coupled with community education activities and a community-based surveillance system. Ten communities were selected in Loja Province, 466 DUs were examined, of these, 5.6% were infested with R. ecuadoriensis (Density [D] = 4 triatomines/DUs searched, Crowding [CR] = 71 triatomines/infested house, Colonization Index [CI] = 77% infested DUs with nymphs) and 8% with T. carrioni (D = 0.6, CR = 7, CI = 64%). Infested DUs were sprayed with deltamethrin. Subsequent visits were conducted at 6 and 12 mo after spraying. At each time point, new entomological searches were carried out in all DUs. All entomological indexes dropped significantly for the primary vector species one year after the initial intervention (R. ecuadoriensis: I = 2%, D = 0.1, CR = 7, CI = 100%; T. carrioni: I = 1.6%, D = 0.1, CR = 5.5, CI = 50%). Fifteen min educational talks were conducted in every DUs and workshops for schoolchildren were organized. Community-based surveillance system was established. However, there is a high risk of DUs reinfestation, possibly from sylvatic habitats (especially of R. ecuadoriensis) and reinforcing educational and surveillance activities are necessary.
Evolutionary Conservation Genomics Reveals Recent Speciation and Local Adaptation in Threatened Takins
Authors: Yang Lin , Wei Fuwen , Zhan Xiangjiang , Fan Huizhong , Zhao Pengpeng , Huang Guangping , Chang Jiang , Lei Yinghu , Hu Yibo 
Published: May 2022

AbstractIncorrect species delimitation will lead to inappropriate conservation decisions, especially for threatened species. The takin (Budorcas taxicolor) is a large artiodactyl endemic to the Himalayan–Hengduan–Qinling Mountains and is well known for its threatened status and peculiar appearance. However, the speciation, intraspecies taxonomy, evolutionary history, and adaptive evolution of this species still remain unclear, which greatly hampers its scientific conservation. Here, we de novo assembled a high-quality chromosome-level genome of takin and resequenced the genomes of 75 wild takins. Phylogenomics revealed that takin was positioned at the root of Caprinae. Population genomics based on the autosome, X chromosome, and Y chromosome SNPs and mitochondrial genomes consistently revealed the existence of two phylogenetic species and recent speciation in takins: the Himalayan takin (B. taxicolor) and the Chinese takin (B. tibetana), with the support of morphological evidence. Two genetically divergent subspecies were identified in both takin species, rejecting three previously proposed taxonomical viewpoints. Furthermore, their distribution boundaries were determined, suggesting that large rivers play important roles in shaping the genetic partition. Compared with the other subspecies, the Qinling subspecies presented the lowest genomic diversity, higher linkage disequilibrium, inbreeding, and genetic load, thus is in urgent need of genetic management and protection. Moreover, coat color gene (PMEL) variation may be responsible for the adaptive coat color difference between the two species following Gloger’s rule. Our findings provide novel insights into the recent speciation, local adaptation, scientific conservation of takins, and biogeography of the Himalaya–Hengduan biodiversity hotspot.
Therapeutic targeting of prenatal pontine ID1 signaling in diffuse midline glioma
Authors: Messinger Dana , Harris Micah K , Cummings Jessica R , Thomas Chase , Yang Tao , Sweha Stefan R , Woo Rinette , Siddaway Robert , Burkert Martin , Stallard Stefanie , Qin Tingting , Mullan Brendan , Siada Ruby , Ravindran Ramya , Niculcea Michael , Dowling Abigail R , Bradin Joshua , Ginn Kevin F , Gener Melissa A H , Dorris Kathleen , Vitanza Nicholas A , Schmidt Susanne V , Spitzer Jasper , Li Jiang , Filbin Mariella G , Cao Xuhong , Castro Maria G , Lowenstein Pedro R , Mody Rajen , Chinnaiyan Arul , Desprez Pierre-Yves , McAllister Sean , Dun Matthew D , Hawkins Cynthia , Waszak Sebastian M , Venneti Sriram , Koschmann Carl , Yadav Viveka Nand 
Published: May 2022

Abstract

Background
Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) are highly invasive brain tumors with rare survival beyond two years past diagnosis and limited understanding of the mechanism behind tumor invasion. Previous reports demonstrate upregulation of the protein ID1 with H3K27M and ACVR1 mutations in DMG, but this has not been confirmed in human tumors or therapeutically targeted.

Methods
Whole exome, RNA, and ChIP-sequencing was performed on the ID1 locus in DMG tissue. Scratch-assay migration and transwell invasion assays of cultured cells were performed following shRNA-mediated ID1-knockdown. In vitro and in vivo genetic and pharmacologic [cannabidiol (CBD)] inhibition of ID1 on DMG tumor growth was assessed. Patient-reported CBD dosing information was collected.

Results
Increased ID1 expression in human DMG and in utero electroporation (IUE) murine tumors is associated with H3K27M mutation and brainstem location. ChIP-sequencing indicates ID1 regulatory regions are epigenetically active in human H3K27M-DMG tumors and prenatal pontine cells. Higher ID1-expressing astrocyte-like DMG cells share a transcriptional program with oligo/astrocyte-precursor cells (OAPCs) from the developing human brain and demonstrate upregulation of the migration regulatory protein SPARCL1. Genetic and pharmacologic (CBD) suppression of ID1 decreases tumor cell invasion/migration and tumor growth in H3.3/H3.1K27M PPK-IUE and human DIPGXIIIP* in vivo models of pHGG. The effect of CBD on cell proliferation appears to be non-ID1 mediated. Finally, we collected patient-reported CBD treatment data, finding that a clinical trial to standardize dosing may be beneficial.

Conclusions
H3K27M-mediated re-activation of ID1 in DMG results in a SPARCL1+ migratory transcriptional program that is therapeutically targetable with CBD.
Mycorrhizal symbiosis reprograms ion fluxes and fatty acid metabolism in wild jujube during salt stress
Authors: Ma Zhibo , Zhao Xinchi , He Aobing , Cao Yan , Han Qisheng , Lu Yanjun , Yong Jean Wan Hong , Huang Jian 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) is an important fruit tree in China, and soil salinity is the main constraint affecting jujube production. It is unclear how arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis supports jujube adaptation to salt stress. Herein, we performed comparative physiological, ion flux, fatty acid (FA) metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses to examine the mechanism of AM jujube responding to salt stress. AM seedlings showed better performance during salt stress. AM symbiosis altered phytohormonal levels: indole-3-acetic acid and abscisic acid contents were significantly increased in AM roots and reduced by salt stress. Mycorrhizal colonization enhanced root H+ efflux and K+ influx, while inducing expression of plasma membrane-type ATPase 7 (ZjAHA7) and high-affinity K+ transporter 2 (ZjHAK2) in roots. High K+/Na+ homeostasis was maintained throughout salt exposure. FA content was elevated in AM leaves as well as roots, especially for palmitic acid, oleic acid, trans oleic acid, and linoleic acid, and similar effects were also observed in AM poplar (Populus. alba × Populus. glandulosa cv. 84K) and Medicago truncatula, indicating AM symbiosis elevating FA levels could be a conserved physiological effect. Gene co-expression network analyses uncovered a core gene set including 267 genes in roots associated with AM symbiosis and conserved transcriptional responses, for example, FA metabolism, phytohormone signal transduction, SNARE interaction in vesicular transport, and biotin metabolism. In contrast to widely up-regulated genes related to FA metabolism in AM roots, limited genes were affected in leaves. We propose a model of AM symbiosis-linked reprogramming of FA metabolism and provide a comprehensive insight into AM symbiosis with a woody species adaptation to salt stress.
First Spanish study on the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided sacroiliac joint injection in patients with spondyloarthritis
Authors: Ramírez Huaranga Marco A , Castro Corredor David , Plasencia Ezaine Angel E , Paulino Huertas Marco , Arenal Lopez Rocío , Fernández Joaquín Anino , Ramos Rodríguez Claudia C 
Published: May 2022

Abstract

Objective
The aim was to assess clinical improvement after US-guided injection of CSs into the SI joint of patients with SpA.

Methods
This was an observational, descriptive, retrospective study of patients with SpA and sacroiliitis who received an US-guided injection into the SI joint between 1 June 2020 and 31 May 2021. Means were compared using Student’s paired t-test for the variables visual analog scale (VAS), BASDAI, ASDAS, CRP and ESR before and after the procedure. We evaluated the association between these variables and the clinical response using the odds ratio.

Results
We analysed 32 patients with SpA [age 42.69 (8.19) years; female sex, 56.25%], with a VAS score of 7.88 (0.79), BASDAI of 5.43 (1.48) and ASDAS of 3.27 (0.86) before the procedure. At 2–3 months, 75% of patients had improved: VAS 3.81 (2.33) (−4.07, P &lt; 0.0001) and BASDAI 3.24 (1.6) (−2.19, P &lt; 0.0001). At 5–6 months, 59.37% had improved: VAS 4.63 (2.31) (−3.25, P &lt; 0.0001), BASDAI 3.57 (1.67) (−1.86, P &lt; 0.0001) and ASDAS 2.27 (0.71) (−1.0, P &lt; 0.0001). Bone marrow oedema resolved in 87.5% of cases compared with the previous MRI scan. No significant association was identified with the clinical response to the injection.

Conclusion
US-guided injection of CSs into the SI joint of patients with SpA and active sacroiliitis leads to an improvement in symptoms that is maintained at 5–6 months. The procedure is effective, safe, inexpensive and easy to apply.
Anatomical and biochemical evolutionary ancient traits ofAraucaria araucana(Molina) K. Koch and their effects on carbon assimilation
Authors: Rivera Betsy K , Sáez Patricia L , Cavieres Lohengrin A , Capó-Bauçà Sebastià , Iñiguez Concepción , Sanfuentes von Stowasser Eugenio , Fuentes Francisca , Ramírez Constanza F , Vallejos Valentina , Galmés Jeroni 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe study of ancient species provides valuable information concerning the evolution of specific adaptations to past and current environmental conditions. Araucaria araucana (Molina) K. Koch belongs to one of the oldest families of conifers in the world, but despite this, there are few studies focused on its physiology and responses to changes in environmental conditions. We used an integrated approach aimed at comprehensively characterizing the ecophysiology of this poorly known species, focusing in its stomatal, mesophyll and biochemical traits, hypothesizing that these traits govern the carbon assimilation of A. araucana under past and present levels of atmospheric CO2. Results indicated that A. araucana presents the typical traits of an ancient species, such as large stomata and low stomatal density, which trigger low stomatal conductance and slow stomatal responsiveness to changing environmental conditions. Interestingly, the quantitative analysis showed that photosynthetic rates were equally limited by both diffusive and biochemical components. The Rubisco catalytic properties proved to have a low Rubisco affinity for CO2 and O2, similar to other ancient species. This affinity for CO2, together with the low carboxylation turnover rate, are responsible for the low Rubisco catalytic efficiency of carboxylation. These traits could be the result of the diverse environmental selective pressures that A. araucana was exposed during its diversification. The increase in measured temperatures induced an increase in stomatal and biochemical limitations, which together with a lower Rubisco affinity for CO2 could explain the low photosynthetic capacity of A. araucana in warmer conditions.