bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive characterization of pre- and post-treatment samples of breast cancer reveal potential mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance
Authors: Hoogstraat Marlous , Lips Esther H. , Mayayo-Peralta Isabel , Mulder Lennart , Kristel Petra , van der Heijden Ingrid , Annunziato Stefano , van Seijen Maartje , Nederlof Petra M. , Sonke Gabe S. , Zwart Wilbert , Wesseling Jelle , Wessels Lodewyk F. A. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractWhen locally advanced breast cancer is treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the recurrence risk is significantly higher if no complete pathologic response is achieved. Identification of the underlying resistance mechanisms is essential to select treatments with maximal efficacy and minimal toxicity. Here we employed gene expression profiles derived from 317 HER2-negative treatment-naïve breast cancer biopsies of patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, deep whole exome, and RNA-sequencing profiles of 22 matched pre- and post-treatment tumors, and treatment outcome data to identify biomarkers of response and resistance mechanisms. Molecular profiling of treatment-naïve breast cancer samples revealed that expression levels of proliferation, immune response, and extracellular matrix (ECM) organization combined predict response to chemotherapy. Triple negative patients with high proliferation, high immune response and low ECM expression had a significantly better treatment response and survival benefit (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.10–0.85;p = 0.02), while in ER+ patients the opposite was seen (HR 4.73, 95% CI 1.51–14.8;p = 0.008). The characterization of paired pre-and post-treatment samples revealed that aberrations of known cancer genes were either only present in the pre-treatment sample (CDKN1B) or in the post-treatment sample (TP53, APC, CTNNB1). Proliferation-associated genes were frequently down-regulated in post-treatment ER+ tumors, but not in triple negative tumors. Genes involved in ECM were upregulated in the majority of post-chemotherapy samples. Genomic and transcriptomic differences between pre- and post-chemotherapy samples are common and may reveal potential mechanisms of therapy resistance. Our results show a wide range of distinct, but related mechanisms, with a prominent role for proliferation- and ECM-related genes.
High-throughput discovery of fluoride-ion conductors via a decoupled, dynamic, and iterative (DDI) framework
Authors: Sundberg Jack D. , Druffel Daniel L. , McRae Lauren M. , Lanetti Matthew G. , Pawlik Jacob T. , Warren Scott C. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractFluoride–ion batteries are a promising alternative to lithium–ion batteries with higher theoretical capacities and working voltages, but they have experienced limited success due to the poor ionic conductivities of known electrolytes and electrodes. Here, we report a high-throughput computational screening of 9747 fluoride-containing materials in search of fluoride-ion conductors. Via a combination of empirical, lightweight DFT, and nudged elastic band (NEB) calculations, we identified >10 crystal systems with high fluoride mobility. We applied a search strategy where calculations are performed in any order (decoupled), computational resources are reassigned based on need (dynamic), and predictive models are repeatedly updated (iterative). Unlike hierarchical searches, our decoupled, dynamic, and iterative framework (DDI) began by calculating high-quality barrier heights for fluoride-ion mobility in a large and diverse group of materials. This high-quality dataset provided a benchmark against which a rapid calculation method could be refined. This accurate method was then used to measure the barrier heights for 6797 fluoride–ion pathways. The final dataset has allowed us to discover many fascinating, high-performance conductors and to derive the design rules that govern their performance. These materials will accelerate experimental research into fluoride–ion batteries, while the design rules will provide an improved foundation for understanding ionic conduction.
The rubber hand illusion in microgravity and water immersion
Authors: Bruno V. , Sarasso P. , Fossataro C. , Ronga I. , Neppi-Modona M. , Garbarini F. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractOur body has evolved in terrestrial gravity and altered gravitational conditions may affect the sense of body ownership (SBO). By means of the rubber hand illusion (RHI), we investigated the SBO during water immersion and parabolic flights, where unconventional gravity is experienced. Our results show that unconventional gravity conditions remodulate the relative weights of visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular inputs favoring vision, thus inducing an increased RHI susceptibility.
The stress-vulnerability model on the path to schizophrenia: Interaction between BDNF methylation and schizotypy on the resting-state brain network
Authors: Park Hye Yoon , Bang Minji , Seo Eunchong , Koo Se Jun , Lee Eun , Lee Seung-Koo , An Suk Kyoon 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe interplay between schizophrenia liability and environmental influences has been considered to be responsible for the development of schizophrenia. Recent neuroimaging studies have linked aberrant functional connectivity (FC) between the default-mode network (DMN) and the frontoparietal network (FPN) in the resting-state to the underlying neural mechanism of schizophrenia. By using schizotypy as the proxy for genetic-based liability to schizophrenia and methylation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to represent environmental exposure, this study investigated the impact of the interaction between vulnerability and the environment on the neurobiological substrates of schizophrenia. Participants in this study included 101 healthy adults (HC) and 46 individuals with ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR). All participants were tested at resting-state by functional magnetic resonance imaging, and group-independent component analysis was used to identify the DMN and the FPN. The Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS) was used to evaluate the schizotypy level. The methylation status of BDNF was measured by pyrosequencing. For moderation analysis, the final sample consisted of 83 HC and 32 UHR individuals. UHR individuals showed reduced DMN-FPN network FC compared to healthy controls. PAS scores significantly moderated the relationship between the percentage of BDNF methylation and DMN-FPN network FC. The strength of the positive relationship between BDNF methylation and the network FC was reduced when the schizotypy level increased. These findings support the moderating role of schizotypy on the neurobiological mechanism of schizophrenia in conjunction with epigenetic changes.
Omicron infection enhances Delta antibody immunity in vaccinated persons
Authors: Khan Khadija , Karim Farina , Cele Sandile , Reedoy Kajal , San James Emmanuel , Lustig Gila , Tegally Houriiyah , Rosenberg Yuval , Bernstein Mallory , Jule Zesuliwe , Ganga Yashica , Ngcobo Nokuthula , Mazibuko Matilda , Mthabela Ntombifuthi , Mhlane Zoey , Mbatha Nikiwe , Miya Yoliswa , Giandhari Jennifer , Ramphal Yajna , Naidoo Taryn , Sivro Aida , Samsunder Natasha , Kharsany Ayesha B. M. , Amoako Daniel , Bhiman Jinal N. , Manickchund Nithendra , Abdool Karim Quarraisha , Magula Nombulelo , Abdool Karim Salim S. , Gray Glenda , Hanekom Willem , von Gottberg Anne ,   COMMIT-KZN Team, Harrichandparsad Rohen , Herbst Kobus , Jeena Prakash , Khoza Thandeka , Kløverpris Henrik , Leslie Alasdair , Madansein Rajhmun , Marakalala Mohlopheni , Moshabela Mosa , Naidoo Kogie , Ndhlovu Zaza , Ndung’u Thumbi , Nyamande Kennedy , Patel Vinod , Smit Theresa , Steyn Adrie , Wong Emily , Milo Ron , Gosnell Bernadett I. , Lessells Richard J. , Moore Penny L. , de Oliveira Tulio , Moosa Mahomed-Yunus S. , Sigal Alex 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe extent to which Omicron infection1–9, with or without previous vaccination, elicits protection against the previously dominant Delta (B.1.617.2) variant is unclear. Here we measured the neutralization capacity against variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in 39 individuals in South Africa infected with the Omicron sublineage BA.1 starting at a median of 6 (interquartile range 3–9) days post symptom onset and continuing until last follow-up sample available, a median of 23 (interquartile range 19–27) days post symptoms to allow BA.1-elicited neutralizing immunity time to develop. Fifteen participants were vaccinated with Pfizer's BNT162b2 or Johnson & Johnson's Ad26.CoV2.S and had BA.1 breakthrough infections, and 24 were unvaccinated. BA.1 neutralization increased from a geometric mean 50% focus reduction neutralization test titre of 42 at enrolment to 575 at the last follow-up time point (13.6-fold) in vaccinated participants and from 46 to 272 (6.0-fold) in unvaccinated participants. Delta virus neutralization also increased, from 192 to 1,091 (5.7-fold) in vaccinated participants and from 28 to 91 (3.0-fold) in unvaccinated participants. At the last time point, unvaccinated individuals infected with BA.1 had low absolute levels of neutralization for the non-BA.1 viruses and 2.2-fold lower BA.1 neutralization, 12.0-fold lower Delta neutralization, 9.6-fold lower Beta variant neutralization, 17.9-fold lower ancestral virus neutralization and 4.8-fold lower Omicron sublineage BA.2 neutralization relative to vaccinated individuals infected with BA.1. These results indicate that hybrid immunity formed by vaccination and Omicron BA.1 infection should be protective against Delta and other variants. By contrast, infection with Omicron BA.1 alone offers limited cross-protection despite moderate enhancement.
Multispectral pattern recognition measures change in drusen area in age-related macular degeneration with high congruency to expert graders
Authors: Nam Judy , Ly Angelica , Kalloniatis Michael , Nivison-Smith Lisa 
Published: May 2022

AbstractDrusen are a hallmark lesion of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and changes in their area and/or volume are strongly associated with disease progression. Assessment of longitudinal change in drusen size in clinical practice however is limited to a single commercial tool or manual inspection by clinicians. In this study we analysed change in drusen area in 33 eyes with intermediate AMD across two separate visits using a novel technique known as multispectral pattern recognition for en face retinal images from various imaging modalities (infrared (815 nm), fundus autofluorescence (488 nm) and green (532 nm) scanning laser ophthalmoscopy). We found 91% (30/33 eyes) agreement in the direction of drusen change for multispectral pattern recognition relative to expert graders who graded eyes as having drusen progression, regression or being stable. Multispectral pattern recognition showed 100% sensitivity (22/22 eyes) and 73% specificity (8/11 eyes). In comparison, we found only 70% (23/33 eyes) agreement in the direction of drusen change with a commercially available change analysis software, the Cirrus Advanced RPE Analysis relative to expert graders, with a sensitivity 64% (14/22 eyes) and specificity of 82% (9/11 eyes). Total drusen area or amount of change between visits had no significant effect on agreement. This suggests multispectral pattern recognition can quantify longitudinal change in drusen area from multimodal imaging with greater congruency to expert graders than a commercially available platform based on a single imaging modality. Considering the association of drusen area and disease progression, this method could aid clinical assessment and monitoring of AMD.
The association between anion gap and in-hospital mortality of post-cardiac arrest patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Chen Jun , Dai Chuxing , Yang Yang , Wang Yimin , Zeng Rui , Li Bo , Liu Qiang 
Published: May 2022

AbstractWe aimed to determine the association between anion gap and in-hospital mortality in post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients. Extracted the data of patients diagnosed with CA from MIMIC-IV database. Generalized additive model (GAM), Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis were used to demonstrate the association between AG levels and in-hospital mortality. ROC curve analysis for assessing the discrimination of AG for predicting in-hospital mortality. Totally, 1724 eligible subjects were included in our study finally. 936 patients (551 males and 385 females) died in hospital, with the prevalence of in-hospital mortality was 54.3%. The result of the Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that the higher value of AG had significant lower survival possibility during the hospitalization compared with the lower-value of AG patients. In the crude Cox regression model, high-level of AG subjects was associated with significant higher HR compared with low-level of AG subjects. After adjusted the vital signs data, laboratory data, and treatment, high-level of AG (group Q3 and group Q4) were also associated with increased risk of in-hospital mortality compared with low-level of AG group, 1.52 (95% Cl 1.17–1.85; P < 0.001), 1.64 (95% Cl 1.21–2.08; P < 0.001), respectively. The ROC curve indicated that AG has acceptable discrimination for predicting in-hospital mortality. The AUC value was found to be 0.671 (95% CI 0.646–0.698). Higher AG levels was associated with poor prognosis in post-CA patients. AG is a predictor for predicting in-hospital mortality of CA, and could help refine risk stratification.
Optimization of IL-1RA structure to achieve a smaller protein with a higher affinity to its receptor
Authors: Nouri Barkestani Mahsa , Naserian Sina , Khoddam Fatemeh , Shamdani Sara , Bambai Bijan 
Published: May 2022

AbstractInterleukine-1 family cytokines are key orchestrators of innate and adaptive immunity. In particular, up-regulation of IL-1R1 via its agonistic ligands consisting of IL-1β and IL-1α is implicated in a variety of human diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, type I diabetes, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and dry-eye disease. Until now, there are no small-molecule inhibitors of the IL-1R1 with increased antagonistic potency to be used for the treatment of peripheral inflammation. The objective of this study was to engineer a low-molecular-weight version of IL-1RA with increased affinity and enhanced antagonistic activity for potential therapeutic use. To develop a smaller protein–ligand with a better affinity to IL-1R, we used bioinformatics studies and in silico simulations to anticipate non-binding areas on IL-1RA. In this study, we have identified a 41aa (F57-F98) non-binding site of IL-1RA. Overall RMSF of the Truncated complex (1.5 nm) was lower than the Native complex (2 nm), which could prove higher stability of the Truncated complex. The free binding energy of the T-IL-1RA (− 1087.037 kJ/mol) was significantly lower than the IL-1RA (− 836.819 kJ/mol) which could demonstrate a higher binding affinity of the truncated ligand with its receptor as a result of new important interactions. These findings have demonstrated a higher binding affinity of the T-IL-1RA with its receptor than the native protein. These results should: have an impact on the development of new treatments that block IL-1 signaling, although more research is needed in vitro and in vivo.
Eye movement analysis of children’s attention for midline diastema
Authors: Cho Vanessa Y. , Hsiao Janet H. , Chan Antoni B. , Ngo Hien C. , King Nigel M. , Anthonappa Robert P. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractNo previous studies have investigated eye-movement patterns to show children’s information processing while viewing clinical images. Therefore, this study aimed to explore children and their educators’ perception of a midline diastema by applying eye-movement analysis using the hidden Markov models (EMHMM). A total of 155 children between 2.5 and 5.5 years of age and their educators (n = 34) viewed pictures with and without a midline diastema while Tobii Pro Nano eye-tracker followed their eye movements. Fixation data were analysed using data-driven, and fixed regions of interest (ROIs) approaches with EMHMM. Two different eye-movement patterns were identified: explorative pattern (76%), where the children’s ROIs were predominantly around the nose and mouth, and focused pattern (26%), where children’s ROIs were precise, locating on the teeth with and without a diastema, and fixations transited among the ROIs with similar frequencies. Females had a significantly higher eye-movement preference for without diastema image than males. Comparisons between the different age groups showed a statistically significant difference for overall entropies. The 3.6–4.5y age groups exhibited higher entropies, indicating lower eye-movement consistency. In addition, children and their educators exhibited two specific eye-movement patterns. Children in the explorative pattern saw the midline diastema more often while their educators focussed on the image without diastema. Thus, EMHMMs are valuable in analysing eye-movement patterns in children and adults.
The effects of modest drinking on life expectancy and mortality risks: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Liu Yen-Tze , Lee June Han , Tsai Min Kuang , Wei James Cheng-Chung , Wen Chi-Pang 
Published: May 2022

AbstractModest drinking has been repeatedly discussed in scientific papers as protective against certain diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, but in most cases, alcohol worsens health conditions, especially when consumed at high risk levels. The complexity of the risk relationship between alcohol and health conditions has confused clinicians as to whether it should be recommended. The study aims to balance the risks and benefits of modest drinking. This retrospective cohort study of 430,016 adults recruited from a standard health-screening program since 1994, with 11,031 deaths identified as of 2008. Drinking distinguished “modest drinker” (no more than one drink a day) from “regular drinker”. Mortality risks including all-cause mortality and diseases-specific mortality with hazard ratio (HR) were calculated by adjusting for 15 confounders. Life table was used for life expectancy. Risk predictors were subjected to Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to identify significant predictors in multivariate models and life expectancy analysis. Nearly one out of 4 males (23%) was a modest drinker, who gained 0.94 year (95% CI 0.65–1.23 year) in life over non-drinker and had 8% reduction in adjusted all-cause mortality (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86–0.97). In contrast, regular drinkers had 43% increase in overall mortality (HR 1.43, CI 1.35–1.52) and shortened life by 6.9 years (95% CI 6.6–7.1 years). As most drinkers also smoked, 59% in modest and 75% in regular, the combined effect shortened life by 2.0 years (95% CI 1.6–2.4 years) in modest drinker and 10.3 years (95% CI 9.8–10.7 years) in regular drinker. Cancer were increased in modest drinkers for oral (HR 2.35, CI 1.38–4.01) and esophageal (HR 3.83, CI 1.90–7.73) cancer. The gain of one year by modest drinkers was erased by a two to fourfold increase in oral and esophageal cancer and that drinking beyond modest amount led to a large loss of life expectancy. Given that drinkers are prone to cross the line of drinking, clinicians should balance the risks and benefits of drinking, as well as the understanding of whether the patient is at risk for addiction.
Migraine abortive treatment in children and adolescents in Israel
Authors: Genizi Jacob , Lahoud Dana , Cohen Rony 
Published: May 2022

AbstractMigraine headaches in children may cause attacks that require abortive treatment. This study evaluated the incidence and efficacy of medications used for relieving migraine headache attacks in the pediatric population in Israel. Children 6–18 years of age who were diagnosed in our pediatric neurology clinic as having migraine headaches were enrolled into the study. Children and their parents recorded the children response to abortive treatment during consecutive migraine attacks. Fifty children, with 116 migraine attacks, were included in the study (30 females; mean age 12; range 6–18). Forty-seven (94%) reported on abortive treatment on the first migraine attack, 43 (86%) on a second migraine attack and 26 (52%) on a third migraine attack. During the first recorded migraine attack, 41 children (87.5%) reported taking only one type of medication for each headache episode, mainly ibuprofen or acetaminophen; less than a quarter used dipyrone (metamizol). Overall the improvement rate after two hours was 65.4% ± 27 for ibuprofen, 59.8 ± 35.3 for acetaminophen and 50.9 ± 27.4 for dipyrone without statistical difference. However, in the first recorded headache episode, males had a significantly better response to acetaminophen, compared to ibuprofen (95% ± 28 vs 75 ± 20). In conclusion, Children with migraine in Israel mainly use a single medication for each headache episode. Ibuprofen is the most commonly used abortive treatment; however, acetaminophen was associated with a better response among some of our patients.
Preparation of bioplastic consisting of salmon milt DNA
Authors: Yamada Masanori , Kawamura Midori , Yamada Tetsuya 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe microplastic that pollutes the ocean is a serious problem around the world. The bioplastic consisting of biopolymers which is degraded in nature, is one of the strategies to solve this problem. Although the bioplastics consisting of protein, polysaccharide, polylactic acid, etc., have been reported, which consist of DNA, one of the most important materials in the genetic process, have not been reported to the best of our knowledge. In addition, a large amount of DNA-containing materials, such as salmon milts, is discarded as industrial waste around the world. Therefore, we demonstrated the preparation of a bioplastic consisting of salmon milt DNA. The DNA plastic was prepared by the immersion of a DNA pellet in a formaldehyde (HCHO) solution and heating. As a result, the water-stable DNA plastics were obtained at the HCHO concentration of 20% or more. Particularly, the DNA plastic with a 25% HCHO treatment showed water-insoluble, thermally stable, and highly mechanical properties. These are due to the formation of a three-dimensional network via the crosslinking reaction between the DNA chains. In addition, since DNA in plastic possesses the double-stranded structure, these plastics effectively accumulated the DNA intercalator, such as ethidium bromide. Furthermore, the DNA plastics indicated a biodegradable property in a nuclease-containing aqueous solution and the biodegradable stability was able to be controlled by the HCHO concentration. Therefore, salmon milt DNA has shown the potential to be a biodegradable plastic.