bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of MIND diet intervention on cognitive performance and brain structure in healthy obese women: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Arjmand Golnaz , Abbas-Zadeh Mojtaba , Eftekhari Mohammad Hassan 
Published: February 2022

AbstractPrevious studies suggested adherence to recently developed Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) associated with cognitive performance. This study aimed to examine the effect of MIND dietary pattern on cognitive performance features and changes in brain structure in healthy obese women. As a total of 50 obese women were assessed for eligibility, we randomly allocated 40 participants with mean BMI 32 ± 4.31 kg/m2and mean age 48 ± 5.38 years to either calorie-restricted modified MIND diet or a calorie-restricted standard control diet. Change in cognitive performance was the primary outcome measured with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery. We also performed voxel-based morphometry as a secondary outcome to quantify the differences in brain structure. All of the measurements were administered at baseline and 3 months follow-up. Thirty-seven participants (MIND group = 22 and control group = 15) completed the study. The results found in the MIND diet group working memory + 1.37 (95% CI 0.79, 1.95), verbal recognition memory + 4.85 (95% CI 3.30, 6.40), and attention + 3.75 (95% CI 2.43, 5.07) improved more compared with the control group (ps < 0.05). Results of brain MRI consist of an increase in surface area of the inferior frontal gyrus in the MIND diet group. Furthermore, the results showed a decrease in the cerebellum-white matter and cerebellum-cortex in two groups of study. Still, the effect in the MIND group was greater than the control group. The study findings declare for the first time that the MIND diet intervention can reverse the destructive effects of obesity on cognition and brain structure, which could be strengthened by a modest calorie restriction.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04383704 (First registration date: 05/05/2020).
Evolutionary history and colonization patterns of the wing dimorphic grasshopper Dichroplus vittatus in two Argentinean biomes
Authors: Rosetti Natalia , Krohling Daniela , Remis Maria Isabel 
Published: February 2022

AbstractQuaternary climate oscillations and modification of the environment by humans have played an important role in shaping species distribution and genetic structure of modern species. Here, population genetic parameters were inferred from the analysis of 168 individuals belonging to 11 populations of the South American grasshopper, Dichroplus vittatus, distributed in two Argentinean Biomes (Grassland and Savanna), by sequencing a 543 bp of the mitochondrial COI gene. Overall, we detected considerable haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity. AMOVA analyses showed a significant degree of differentiation among Biomes and between populations. Two major mitochondrial lineages can be distinguished. The haplogroup containing the most common haplotype split 17,000 years BP while the haplogroup including the second most common haplotype has a divergence date of about 11,700 years. Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) analyses showed that the palaeodemographic scenario that best fitted our data is consistent with a hypothesis of divergence from an ancestral population and subsequent admixture with Grassland-Savanna (South–North) direction. Our results suggest that populations located in both Biomes would derive from a single ancestral population that colonized the region after the Last Glacial Maximum and Grassland would have a more ancestral origin than Savanna. Further, our results emphasize the importance of human-mediated dispersal in the reconfiguration of genetic diversity of species with potential pest capacity.
Model based estimation of the SARS-CoV-2 immunization level in austria and consequences for herd immunity effects
Authors: Bicher Martin , Rippinger Claire , Schneckenreither Günter , Weibrecht Nadine , Urach Christoph , Zechmeister Melanie , Brunmeir Dominik , Huf Wolfgang , Popper Niki 
Published: February 2022

AbstractSeveral systemic factors indicate that worldwide herd immunity against COVID-19 will probably not be achieved in 2021. On the one hand, vaccination programs are limited by availability of doses and on the other hand, the number of people already infected is still too low to have a disease preventing impact and new emerging variants of the virus seem to partially neglect developed antibodies from previous infections. Nevertheless, by February 2021 after one year of observing high numbers of reported COVID-19 cases in most European countries, we might expect that the immunization level should have an impact on the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Here we present an approach for estimating the immunization of the Austrian population and discuss potential consequences on herd immunity effects. To estimate immunization we use a calibrated agent-based simulation model that reproduces the actual COVID-19 pandemic in Austria. From the resulting synthetic individual-based data we can extract the number of immunized persons. We then extrapolate the progression of the epidemic by varying the obtained level of immunization in simulations of an hypothetical uncontrolled epidemic wave indicating potential effects on the effective reproduction number. We compared our theoretical findings with results derived from a classic differential equation SIR-model. As of February 2021, $$14.7\%$$

14.7
%

of the Austrian population has been affected by a SARS-CoV-2 infection which causes a $$9\%$$

9
%

reduction of the effective reproduction number and a $$24.7\%$$

24.7
%

reduction of the prevalence peak compared to a fully susceptible population. This estimation is now recomputed on a regular basis to publish model based analysis of immunization level in Austria also including the fast growing effects of vaccination programs. This provides substantial information for decision makers to evaluate the necessity of non pharmaceutical intervention measures based on the estimated impact of natural and vaccinated immunization.
Ultrasounds induce blood–brain barrier opening across a sonolucent polyolefin plate in an in vitro isolated brain preparation
Authors: Librizzi Laura , Uva Laura , Raspagliesi Luca , Gionso Matteo , Regondi Maria Cristina , Durando Giovanni , DiMeco Francesco , de Curtis Marco , Prada Francesco 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe blood–brain barrier (BBB) represents a major obstacle to the delivery of drugs to the central nervous system. The combined use of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound waves and intravascular microbubbles (MB) represents a promising solution to this issue, allowing reversible disruption of the barrier. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of BBB opening through a biocompatible, polyolefin-based plate in an in vitro whole brain model. Twelve in vitro guinea pig brains were employed; brains were insonated using a planar transducer with or without interposing the polyolefin plate during arterial infusion of MB. Circulating MBs were visualized with an ultrasonographic device with a linear probe. BBB permeabilization was assessed by quantifying at confocal microscopy the extravasation of FITC-albumin perfused after each treatment. US-treated brains displayed BBB permeabilization exclusively in the volume under the US beam; no significant differences were observed between brains insonated with or without the polyolefin plate. Control brains not perfused with MB did not show signs of FITC-albumin extravasation. Our preclinical study suggests that polyolefin cranial plate could be implanted as a skull replacement to maintain craniotomic windows and perform post-surgical repeated BBB opening with ultrasound guidance to deliver therapeutic agents to the central nervous system.
Associations between potential inflammatory properties of the diet and frequency, duration, and severity of migraine headaches: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ghoreishy Seyed Mojtaba , Askari Gholamreza , Mohammadi Hamed , Campbell Marilyn S. , Khorvash Fariborz , Arab Arman 
Published: February 2022

AbstractDespite a large body of literature on the association between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and various chronic diseases, limited knowledge is available regarding the association between DII and migraine. Therefore, we assessed the relationship between the DII and migraine characteristics, including duration, frequency, and severity of migraine headaches, Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6), and serum levels of nitric oxide (NO). This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2019 to June 2020 among 262 patients (38 men and 224 women; 20–50 years). A 168-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was gathered to evaluate dietary intake, and subsequently, an energy-adjusted DII score was calculated. After controlling for potential confounders, an increase of 3.48 in headache frequency was observed when the DII score increased from − 4.04 to − 1.83 (β = 3.48; 95% CI 1.43, 5.54). In the crude model, headache duration tended to be inversely associated with DII in the subjects with the pro-inflammatory diet compared to those with the anti-inflammatory diet (β = − 0.22; 95% CI − 0.46, 0.02). After adjustment for confounders, those with the highest DII values were at a higher risk of severe headaches than those with the lowest values (OR = 2.25; 95% CI 1.17, 4.32). No other significant results were found in terms of the association between DII and HIT-6 or serum NO levels. We found evidence suggesting that higher adherence to a diet with anti-inflammatory properties was significantly and inversely related to headache frequency. Furthermore, our results suggest that the DII score is substantially related to migraine severity.
Origin of observed narrow bandgap of mica nanosheets
Authors: Wu Shunnian , Lee W. P. Cathie , Wu Ping 
Published: February 2022

AbstractMica nanosheets possess peculiar feature of narrowed bandgap with the decrease of thickness but a conclusive theoretical understanding of the narrowing mechanisms is still under development. In this report, first-principles calculations were carried out to investigate the electronic band structure of mica nanosheets with the deposition of K2CO3. Bulk mica shows an indirect bandgap of 4.90 eV. Mica nanosheets show similar electronic structures to bulk mica with a gradually increased bandgap of 4.44 eV, 4.52 eV and 4.67 eV for 1-layer, 2-layers and 3-layers nanosheets, respectively, which is attributed to the lattice relaxation. K2CO3 is found to have strong affinity towards mica nanosheets. The K2CO3 deposited mica nanosheets showed an increased bandgap with the increase of thickness, consistent with experimental observations. The calculated bandgap of K2CO3 deposited mica for 2-layers and 3-layers nanosheets are 2.60 eV and 2.75 eV, respectively, which are comparable with the corresponding experimental values of 2.5 eV and 3.0 eV. Our theoretical findings support the experimental evidence of surface contamination of mica by K2CO3, and provide new insight into the structure and properties of 2D mica.
A descriptive report on short QT interval in Kherameh branch of the PERSIAN cohort study
Authors: Nikoo Mohammad Hossein , Heiran Alireza , Mashayekh Fardin , Rezaianzadeh Abbas , Shiravani Abbas , Azadian Fatemeh 
Published: February 2022

AbstractShort QT-interval is a condition that bear the suspicion of short QT syndrome (SQTS). SQTS is known to increase risk of life-threatening arrythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Due to the insufficient population-based studies and use of various QT cut-off values, it accounts for as an undiagnosed condition. In this study, we sought for prevalence of short QT interval in Kherameh cohort study, one of the southern branches of the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN). Data of 4363 adult subjects were analyzed from phase 1 of the cohort during 2014–2017. The corrected QT (QTc) intervals were calculated and electrocardiograms (ECGs) with QTc of less than 370 ms (msec) were reanalyzed for bradycardia, early repolarization, atrial fibrillation (AF), arrhythmias, and other electrical conduction abnormalities. Seventy-two subjects (1.65%) had a QTc of less than 370 ms (mean QTc of 360.72 ± 11.72). A male predominance and a lower mean heart rate observed in SQTS susceptible group (M/F of 1/0.26 vs. 1/1.145, p-value < 0.0001; 58.389 ± 9.787 vs. 70.899 ± 11.775; p-value < 0.0001) compare to the subjects with normal QTc. At least, 2 subjects with high-probability SQTS and 3 with intermediate-probability SQTS identified. The frequency of AF, syncope, bradycardia, early repolarization, low voltage ECG, and infantile SCD in first- and second-degree relatives were 16.67, 4.17, 33.33, 11.11, 11.11, 11.11%, respectively. The prevalence of short QT interval in our cohort was in line with previous studies. The incidence of cardiac symptoms/events, familial SCDs and ECG derived specific findings were high amongst SQTS-susceptible index persons. However, these variables could not predict the symptomatic subjects, which emphasizes gene studies and family screening.
A novel hepadnavirus in domestic dogs
Authors: Diakoudi Georgia , Capozza Paolo , Lanave Gianvito , Pellegrini Francesco , Di Martino Barbara , Elia Gabriella , Decaro Nicola , Camero Michele , Ghergo Paola , Stasi Fabio , Cavalli Alessandra , Tempesta Maria , Barrs Vanessa R. , Beatty Julia , Bányai Krisztián , Catella Cristiana , Lucente Maria S. , Buonavoglia Alessio , Fusco Giovanna , Martella Vito 
Published: February 2022

AbstractHepadnaviruses have been identified in several animal species. The hepadnavirus prototype, human hepatitis B virus (HBV), is a major public health problem associated with chronic liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, a novel hepadnavirus, similar to HBV, was identified in domestic cats. Since several pathogens can be shared between cats and dogs, we hypothesized that dogs could also harbor hepadnaviruses and we tested a collection of canine sera with multiple molecular strategies. Overall, hepadnavirus DNA was identified in 6.3% (40/635) of canine serum samples, although the viral load in positive sera was low (geometric mean of 2.70 × 102genome copies per mL, range min 1.36 × 102—max 4.03 × 104genome copies per mL). On genome sequencing, the canine hepadnaviruses revealed high nucleotide identity (about 98%) and similar organization to the domestic cat hepadnavirus. Altered hepatic markers were found in hepadnavirus-positive dogs, although the role of hepadnavirus in canine health remains to be elucidated.
Aversive view memories and risk perception in navigating ants
Authors: Freas Cody A. , Wystrach Antoine , Schwarz Sebastian , Spetch Marcia L. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractMany ants establish foraging routes through learning views of the visual panorama. Route models have focused primarily on attractive view use, which experienced foragers orient towards to return to known sites. However, aversive views have recently been uncovered as a key component of route learning. Here, Cataglyphis velox rapidly learned aversive views, when associated with a negative outcome, a period of captivity in vegetation, triggering increases in hesitation behavior. These memories were based on the accumulation of experiences over multiple trips with each new experience regulating forager hesitancy. Foragers were also sensitive to captivity time differences, suggesting they possess some mechanism to quantify duration. Finally, we analyzed foragers' perception of risky (i.e. variable) versus stable aversive outcomes by associating two sites along the route with distinct captivity schedules, a fixed or variable duration, with the same mean across training. Foragers exhibited fewer hesitations in response to risky outcomes compared to fixed ones, indicating they perceived risky outcomes as less severe. Results align with a logarithmic relationship between captivity duration and hesitations, suggesting that aversive stimulus perception is a logarithm of its actual value. We discuss how aversive view learning could be executed within the mushroom bodies circuitry following a prediction error rule.
Casimir forces out of thermal equilibrium near a superconducting transition
Authors: Castillo-López S. G. , Esquivel-Sirvent R. , Pirruccio G. , Villarreal C. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractWe present a comprehensive analysis of the out-of-equilibrium Casimir pressure between two high-$$T_c$$

T
c

superconducting plates, each kept at a different temperature. Two interaction regimes can be distinguished. While the zero-point energy dominates in the near field, thermal effects become important at large interplate separations causing a drop in the force’s magnitude compared with the usual thermal-equilibrium case. Our detailed calculations highlight the competing role played by propagating and evanescent modes. Moreover, as one of the plates undergoes the superconducting transition, we predict an abrupt change in the force for any plate distance, which has not been previously observed in other systems. The sensitivity of the dielectric function of the high-$$T_c$$

T
c

superconductors makes them ideal systems for a possible direct measurement of the out-of-equilibrium Casimir pressure.
Renal artery denervation prevents ventricular arrhythmias in long QT rabbit models
Authors: Ton An Nu-Khanh , Liu Shin-Huei , Lo Li-Wei , Khac Thien Chuong-Nguyen , Chou Yu-Hui , Cheng Wen-Han , Lin Wei-Lun , Peng Tzu-Yen , Lin Pin-Yi , Chang Shih-Lin , Chen Shih-Ann 
Published: February 2022

AbstractLong QT syndrome (LQTS) is commonly presented with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (VA). Renal artery denervation (RDN) is an alternative antiadrenergic treatment that attenuates sympathetic activity. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of RDN on preventing VAs in LQTS rabbits induced by drugs. The subtypes of LQTS were induced by infusion of HMR-1556 for LQTS type 1 (LQT1), erythromycin for LQTS type 2 (LQT2), and veratridine for LQTS type 3 (LQT3). Forty-four rabbits were randomized into the LQT1, LQT2, LQT3, LQT1-RDN, LQT2-RDN, and LQT3-RDN groups. All rabbits underwent cardiac electrophysiology studies. The QTc interval of the LQT2-RDN group was significantly shorter than those in the LQT2 group (650.08 ± 472.67 vs. 401.78 ± 42.91 ms, p = 0.011). The QTc interval of the LQT3-RDN group was significantly shorter than those in the LQT3 group (372.00 ± 22.41 vs. 335.70 ± 28.21 ms, p = 0.035). The VA inducibility in all subtypes of the LQT-RDN groups was significantly lower than those in the LQT-RDN groups, respectively (LQT1: 9.00 ± 3.30 vs. 47.44 ± 4.21%, p < 0.001; LQT2: 11.43 ± 6.37 vs. 45.38 ± 5.29%, p = 0.026; LQT3: 10.00 ± 6.32 vs. 32.40 ± 7.19%, p = 0.006). This study demonstrated the neuromodulation of RDN leading to electrical remodeling and reduced VA inducibility of the ventricular substrate in LQT models.
Physicochemical and biological analysis of river Yamuna at Palla station from 2009 to 2019
Authors: Joshi Pankaj , Chauhan Akshansha , Dua Piyush , Malik Sudheer , Liou Yuei-An 
Published: February 2022

AbstractYamuna is one of the main tributaries of the river Ganga and passes through Delhi, the national capital of India. In the last few years, it is considered one of the most polluted rivers of India. We carried out the analysis for the physiochemical and biological conditions of the river Yamuna based on measurements acquired at Palla station, Delhi during 2009–19. For our analysis, we considered various physicochemical and biological parameters (Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Saturation, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Alkalinity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and Total Coliform. The water stats of river Yamuna at Palla station were matched with Water Standards of India, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and World Health Organization (WHO). Maximum changes are observed in DO saturation and total coliform, while BOD and COD values are also seen higher than the upper limits. Total alkalinity rarely meets the minimum standards. TDS is found to be satisfactory as per the standard limit. The river quality falls under Class D or E (IS2296), Class III or IV (UNECE), and fails to fulfill WHO standards for water. After spending more than 130 million USD for the establishment of a large number of effluent treatment plants, sewage treatment plants, and common effluent treatment plants, increasing discharges of untreated sewage, partially treated industrial effluents and reduced discharge of freshwater from Hathnikund are causing deterioration in water quality and no major improvements are seen in water quality of river Yamuna.
Enhanced O-GlcNAc modification induced by the RAS/MAPK/CDK1 pathway is required for SOX2 protein expression and generation of cancer stem cells
Authors: Shimizu Masahiro , Shibuya Hiroshi , Tanaka Nobuyuki 
Published: February 2022

AbstractCancer stem cells (CSCs) have tumour initiation, self-renewal, and long-term tumour repopulation properties, and it is postulated that differentiated somatic cells can be reprogrammed to CSCs by oncogenic signals. We previously showed that oncogenic HRASV12 conferred tumour initiation capacity in tumour suppressor p53-deficient (p53−/−) primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) through transcription factor NF-κB-mediated enhancement of glucose uptake; however, the underlying mechanisms of RAS oncogene-induced CSC reprogramming have not been elucidated. Here, we found that the expression of the reprogramming factor SOX2 was induced by HRASV12 in p53−/− MEFs. Moreover, gene knockout studies revealed that SOX2 is an essential factor for the generation of CSCs by HRASV12 in mouse and human fibroblasts. We demonstrated that HRASV12-induced cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) activity and subsequent enhancement of protein O-GlcNAcylation were required for SOX2 induction and CSC generation in these fibroblasts and cancer cell lines containing RAS mutations. Moreover, the CDK inhibitor dinaciclib and O-GlcNAcylation inhibitor OSMI1 reduced the number of CSCs derived from these cells. Taken together, our results reveal a signalling pathway and mechanism for CSC generation by oncogenic RAS and suggest the possibility that this signalling pathway is a therapeutic target for CSCs.