bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 34 promotes secondary cell wall thickening and strength of rice peduncles
Authors: Zhang Jiao , Liu Zengyu , Sakamoto Shingo , Mitsuda Nobutaka , Ren Anran , Persson Staffan , Zhang Dabing 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Cellulose and lignin are critical cell wall components for plant morphogenesis and adaptation to environmental conditions. The cytoskeleton supports cell wall deposition, but much of the underpinning regulatory components remain unknown. Here, we show that an APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR (ERF) family transcription factor, OsERF34, directly promotes the expression of the actin- and microtubule-binding protein Rice Morphology Determinant (RMD) in rice (Oryza sativa) peduncles. OsERF34 and RMD are highly expressed in sclerenchymatous peduncle cells that are fortified by thick secondary cell walls (SCWs) that provide mechanical peduncle strength. erf34 and rmd-1 mutants contained lower cellulose and lignin contents and thinner SCWs, while ERF34 over-expressing (OE) lines maintained high cellulose and lignin content with thicker SCWs. These characteristics impacted peduncle mechanical strength, that is, reduced strength in erf34 and rmd-1 and increased strength of ERF34 OE plants. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the OsERF34-RMD cascade positively regulates SCW synthesis and mechanical strength in rice peduncles, which is important for yield, and provide a potential guide for improved peduncle breeding efforts in rice.
Probing the mutational landscape of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein via quantum mechanical modeling of crystallographic structures
Authors: Zaccaria Marco , Genovese Luigi , Dawson William , Cristiglio Viviana , Nakajima Takahito , Johnson Welkin , Farzan Michael , Momeni Babak 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
We employ a recently developed complexity-reduction quantum mechanical (QM-CR) approach, based on complexity reduction of density functional theory calculations, to characterize the interactions of the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor binding domain (RBD) with ACE2 host receptors and antibodies. QM-CR operates via ab initio identification of individual amino acid residue’s contributions to chemical binding and leads to the identification of the impact of point mutations. Here, we especially focus on the E484K mutation of the viral spike protein. We find that spike residue 484 hinders the spike's binding to the human ACE2 receptor (hACE2). In contrast, the same residue is beneficial in binding to the bat receptor Rhinolophus macrotis ACE2 (macACE2). In agreement with empirical evidence, QM-CR shows that the E484K mutation allows the spike to evade categories of neutralizing antibodies like C121 and C144. The simulation also shows how the Delta variant spike binds more strongly to hACE2 compared to the original Wuhan strain, and predicts that a E484K mutation can further improve its binding. Broad agreement between the QM-CR predictions and experimental evidence supports the notion that ab initio modeling has now reached the maturity required to handle large intermolecular interactions central to biological processes.
Faith Community Nurses Making a Difference for Older African Americans in a Pandemic
Authors: Bradley Linda 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACT:
During and after COVID-19, African Americans experienced a disparate amount of social isolation and loneliness and subsequent increases in morbidity and mortality. Faith community nurses are equipped to assist community providers, health practitioners, and local officials in addressing gaps in older African Americans' financial, social, physical, and spiritual needs during social distancing.
External Validation of Cochlear Implant Screening Tools Demonstrates Modest Generalizability
Authors: Lee David S. , Herzog Jacques A. , Walia Amit , Firszt Jill B. , Zhan Kevin Y. , Durakovic Nedim , Wick Cameron C. , Buchman Craig A. , Shew Matthew A. 
Published: September 2022

Objective
To assess the clinical application of five recently published cochlear implant (CI) candidacy evaluation (CICE) referral screening tools through external validation.

Study Design
Retrospective cohort study.

Setting
Tertiary otology/neurotology practice.

Patients
Adults who underwent CICE between December 2020 and September 2021.

Intervention(s)
CICE referral screening tools versus CI candidacy criteria.

Main Outcome Measure(s)
CICE screening tool performance, based on the ability to identify patients who met the CI candidacy criteria, was evaluated. CI candidacy criteria were defined as best-aided AzBio sentences at +10 signal-to-noise ratio and either 60% or less accuracy to reflect traditional criteria used in clinical settings or 40% or less accuracy (only patients 65 years or older) to reflect Medicare-eligible criteria.

Results
Screening criteria of proposed CICE referral tools vary widely across pure-tone average and word recognition scores. When screened by traditional criteria, the sensitivities and specificities of these referral tools varied from 40 to 77% and from 22 to 86%, respectively. When screened by Medicare-eligible criteria, sensitivities and specificities varied from 41 to 81% and from 24 to 91%, respectively. The screening tool proposed by Zwolan et al. (Otol Neurotol 2020;41(7):895–900) demonstrated the best overall performance for traditional (Youden's J, 0.37; sensitivity, 62%; specificity, 75%) and Medicare-eligible patients (Youden's J, 0.44; sensitivity, 66%; specificity, 78%). All screening tools performed worse on the validation cohort compared with their respective development cohorts.

Conclusions
Current tools for determining CICE referral have diverse screening criteria. These combinations of pure-tone average and word recognition score are modestly successful at identifying CI candidates.
Multisite longitudinal efficacy trial of a disclosure intervention (TRACK) for HIV+ mothers: An update
Authors: Murphy Debra A. , Marelich William D. , Armistead Lisa , Schulte Marya T. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe Teaching, Raising, And Communicating with Kids (TRACK) intervention full-scale longitudinal efficacy trial was published in 2021 and was based on a previously successful pilot intervention published in 2011. The TRACK intervention assists mothers living with HIV (MLH) with serostatus disclosure to their young children. In the publication reporting the full-scale trial, TRACK MLH were four times more likely to disclose their HIV serostatus than controls, with the rate increasing to six times more likely applying GEE logistic regression. Intervention MLH showed improvements in communication, social support, family routines, and disclosure self-efficacy; they also demonstrated decreased anxiety and better physical and mental health scores; and their children reported significantly more decline in worry than controls.MethodsThis preprint presents recent analyses showing increases in the reported HIV disclosure rates over and above those reported in the full-scale trial, due to additional follow-up datapoints received after the 2021 publication.ResultsFor MLH in the intervention group, disclosure is 37.6% compared to 34.1% from the 2021 publication, and 12.1% in the control condition compared to 11%. Odds of disclosing if participants were in the intervention group are 4.39 (95% CI. = 2.0, 9.5) compared to 4.20 (95% CI. = 1.8, 9.3), with the intervention group 30% more likely to disclose compared to the 28% reported in 2021. Regarding site disclosure rates for the intervention group, the California disclosure rate is 43.6% compared to 35.9% previously reported; Georgia’s site rate remained unchanged.ConclusionsThese updates are now included in our final analysis dataset and show the intervention was more successful than previously reported.
UB-612 Multitope Vaccine Targeting SARS-CoV-2 Spike and Non-Spike Proteins Provides Broad and Durable Immune Responses
Authors: Wang Chang Yi , Peng Wen-Jiun , Kuo Be-Sheng , Liu Hope , Ho Yu-Hsin , Wang Min-Sheng , Yang Ya-Ting , Chang Po-Yen , Shen Yea-Huei , Hwang Kao-Pin 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACTThe SARS-CoV-2 non-Spike (S) structural protein targets of nucleocapsid (N), membrane (M) and envelope (E), critical in the host cell interferon response and memory T-cell immunity, have been grossly overlooked since the inception of COVID vaccine development. To pursue a universal (pan-sarbecovirus) vaccine against ever-emergent future mutants, we explored booster immunogenicity of UB-612, a multitope-vaccine that contains S1-RBD-sFc protein and sequence-conserved rationally designed promiscuous Th and CTL epitope peptides on the Sarbecovirus N, M and S2 proteins. To a subpopulation of infection-free participants (aged 18-85 years) involved in a two-dose Phase-2 trial, a UB-612 booster (third dose) was administered 6-8 months after the second dose. The immunogenicity was evaluated at 14 days post-booster with overall safety monitored until the end of study. The booster induced high viral-neutralizing antibodies against live Wuhan WT (VNT50, 1,711) and Delta (VNT50, 1,282); and against pseudovirus WT (pVNT50, 11,167) vs. Omicron BA.1/BA.2/BA.5 variants (pVNT50, 2,314/1,890/854), respectively. The lower primary neutralizing antibodies in the elderly were uplifted upon boosting to approximately the same high level in young adults. UB-612 also induced potent, durable Th1-oriented (IFN-γ+-) responses (peak/pre-boost/post-boost SFU/106 PBMCs, 374/261/444) along with robust presence of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells (peak/pre-boost/post-boost CD107a+-Granzyme B+, 3.6%/1.8%/1.8%). Booster vaccination is safe and well tolerated without SAEs. By recognition against epitopes on Spike (S1-RBD and S2) and non-Spike (N and M) structure proteins, UB-612 provides potent, broad and long-lasting B-cell and T-cell memory immunity and offers a potential as a universal vaccine to fend off Omicrons and new VoCs.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe Omicron has swept the globe with a rapid succession of dominating sublineages from BA.1, BA.2, to the current BA.5 with increasing infectivity and antibody evasion. Concerningly, the non-Spike structure proteins that promote T-cell immunity are grossly overlooked in vaccine development. Looking beyond short-interval booster jabs and omicron-updated vaccines, a pragmatic approach to curbing ever-emergent new mutants would be “universal (pan-Sarbecovirus) vaccines” targeting conserved nonmutable epitopes on coronavirus. UB-612, a multitope-vaccine armed with Spike (S1-RBD and S2) and non-Spike targets (Nucleocapsid N and Membrane M), allows booster vaccination to elicit potent, broadly-recognizing, durable B- and T-cell memory immunity. Sequence-conserved epitope peptides were rationally-designed from S2, N and M proteins to synergistically enhance memory helper and cytotoxic T-cell immunity and B-cell immunity.
Soluble TREM2 mediates earliest amyloid-associated p-tau increases and cerebral glucose hypermetabolism in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Biel Davina , Suárez-Calvet Marc , Hager Paul , Rubinski Anna , Dewenter Anna , Steward Anna , Roemer Sebastian , Ewers Michael , Haass Christian , Brendel Matthias , Franzmeier Nicolai ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundMicroglial activation occurs early in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and previous studies reported both detrimental and protective effects of microglia on AD progression. Therefore, it is critical to investigate at which AD stages microglial activation could be protective or detrimental to evaluate microglia as a treatment target. To address this, we used CSF sTREM2 (i.e. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2) to investigate disease stage-dependent drivers of microglial activation and to determine downstream consequences on AD biomarker progression.MethodsWe included 402 cognitively normal and mild cognitively impaired patients with CSF sTREM2 assessments. To assess AD severity, we included measures of earliest beta-amyloid (i.e. Aβ) in CSF (i.e. Aβ1-42) and late-stage fibrillary Aβ pathology (i.e. amyloid-PET centiloid), as well as p-tau181and FDG-PET for assessing downstream changes in tau and cerebral glucose metabolism. To determine disease stage, we stratified participants according to earliest Aβ abnormalities (i.e. Aβ CSF+/PET−; early Aβ-accumulators, n=70) or fully developed fibrillary Aβ pathology (i.e. Aβ CSF+/PET+; late Aβ-accumulators, n=201) plus 131 healthy controls (i.e. Aβ CSF−/PET−).ResultsIn early Aβ-accumulators, higher centiloid was associated with cross-sectional/longitudinal sTREM2 and p-tau increases, suggesting reactive microglial and p-tau increases in response to earliest Aβ fibrillization. Further, higher sTREM2 mediated the association between centiloid and cross-sectional/longitudinal p-tau increases and higher sTREM2 was associated with FDG-PET hypermetabolism in line with previous findings of increased glucose consumption of activated microglia. In late Aβ-accumulators, we found no association between centiloid and sTREM2 but a cross-sectional association between higher sTREM2, higher p-tau and glucose hypometabolism, suggesting that sTREM2 parallels tau and neurodegeneration rather than Aβ once fully developed Aβ pathology is present.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that sTREM2-related microglial activation occurs in response to earliest Aβ fibrillization, manifests in inflammatory glucose hypermetabolism and may facilitate subsequent p-tau increases in earliest AD, while previous reports of protective sTREM2 effects may occur in later AD stages.
SOCIAL INEQUITIES IN A PSYCHOLOGICAL DOMAIN OF FOOD INSECURITY AMONG MOTHERS FROM SOUTHERN BRAZIL DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Authors: Martins-Silva Thais , Carpena Marina Xavier , Blumenberg Cauane , Martins Rafaela Costa , Olazo Kamyla M. , Del-Ponte Bianca , Marmitt Luana P. , Meucci Rodrigo , Cesar Juraci A. , Trude Angela C. B. , de Mola Christian Loret 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACTWe aimed to investigate the social inequalities in the fear of not having enough food for the household, a psychological domain of food insecurity, during the COVID-19 pandemic among mothers from the 2019 Rio Grande birth cohort. In 2019 we invited all mothers who gave birth to a singleton liveborn in the municipality of Rio Grande (southern Brazil) to respond to a standardized questionnaire. In 2020, we followed these mothers twice. In wave I we located 1,077 of all eligible mothers and 1,033 in wave II (follow-up rate of 52.1% and 50.4%). We estimated the absolute and relative inequalities of food insecurity according to the number of people living in the household, maternal education, family income, and income change during the pandemic using the slope index of inequalities (SII) and the concentration index (CIX), respectively. 1,021 mothers reported having food insecurity, and the prevalence was 42.8% and 44.7% for waves I and II, respectively. In wave I we observed inequities in the distribution of food insecurity, being higher among mothers living with ≥3 people (SII:-17.3; 95%CI[-29.6;-5.0]), with a lower education (SII:-36.7; 95%CI[-47.0;-26.4]), lower income (SII-48.9; 95%CI[-58.0;-39.7]), and with an income that decreased during the pandemic (SII:-47.1; 95%CI[-57.3;-36.9]). These inequities widened from wave I to wave II. This study describes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and family food insecurity and the increased social disparities during the pandemic, especially among the most vulnerable populations.
Relationship of preoperative oral hypofunction with prognostic nutritional index in gastric cancer
Authors: Abe Atsushi , Nakayama Atsushi , Otsuka Yuya , Shibata Kanae , Matsui Yoshihito , Ito Yu , Hayashi Hiroki , Momokita Moeko , Taniguchi Shinichi 
Published: September 2022

AbstractWe recruited patients with perioperative gastric cancer and examined preoperative oral hypofunction and its relationship with prognostic nutritional index. This cross-sectional study analysed 95 patients who underwent oral function management. We assessed the following parameters: body mass index, stage of gastric cancer, C-reactive protein, total lymphocyte count, albumin, and prognostic nutritional index. The patients were divided into two groups: prognostic nutritional index <45 and prognostic nutritional index >45. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between the measurements of oral function and the prognostic nutritional index.A univariate analysis of factors associated with decreased oral function and prognostic nutritional index showed significant differences in C-reactive protein, neutrophils and tongue pressure (p<0.01) between the two groups. However, oral hygiene, oral dryness, occlusal force, tongue-lip motor function, masticatory function, and swallowing function were not significantly different. Multivariate analysis showed that C-reactive protein (odds ratio: 0.12, 95% confidence interval: 0.30–0.45, p<0.01) and tongue pressure (odds ratio: 3.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.04–12.60, p<0.05) were independent risk factors for oral hypofunction. Oral function is decreased in perioperative patients with gastric cancer, and decreased tongue pressure is associated with decreased prognostic nutritional index.
Computed Tomography 3D Segmentation Based on Gray-Level Histograms
Authors: Guimeráns-Otero Carlos T. , Martín-Rodríguez Fernando , Isasi-de-Vicente Fernando , Fernández-Barciela Mónica 
Published: September 2022

Abstract3D imaging technologies like CT (Computed Tomography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) have represented a great advance for diagnosis. These studies are composed of many 2D grayscale images that represent slices of patient’s body, normally orthogonal to body main axis (from head to feet, normally axis Z in Cartesian representation). These slices (normally called axial slices) are good for many diagnosis issues, but sometimes it is interesting to consider the whole study as a 3D volume. This paper is about segmenting 3D volumes obtained from medical studies (mainly CT). We base ourselves on studying the statistical distribution of gray levels so that we can segment different tissues and treating them as separate 3D objects. Note than in a CT image, gray level is basically proportional to tissue density and this technique should be good to distinguish hard tissues like bones or teeth from soft ones like muscles or skin.
Impact of hyperactive neuropsychiatric symptoms on brain morphology in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: El Haffaf Lyna Mariam , Ronat Lucas , Cannizzaro Adriana , Hanganu Alexandru ,   for the ADNI
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe neuroanatomy of hyperactive neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) is poorly understood, and it is unclear whether these symptoms result from the same pathogenic processes responsible for cognitive decline or if they have an independent etiology to the neurodegeneration due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD).ObjectiveWe aim to investigate how the severity of hyperactive NPS (i.e., agitation, disinhibition, and irritability) can impact brain structures at different stages of cognitive decline.MethodsNeuropsychiatric and 3T MRI data from 223 cognitively normal (CN) participants, 367 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 175 participants with AD were extracted from the Alzheimer Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database. Statistical analyses based on the general linear model (GLM) were performed to define the effects of neuropsychiatric variables on brain structures in a two-by-two comparison (AD-MCI, CN-MCI and CN-AD). Linear regression analysis was also performed to investigate cortical changes as a function of NPS severity.ResultsIn the AD group, the frontal dorsolateral is the most influenced region receiving an impact from more severe agitation, disinhibition and irritability. In AD, agitation and irritability influence some temporal inferior and parietal superior regions. Furthermore, severe disinhibition seems to have a stronger influence on CN participants compared to the other two groups, particularly in the occipital lingual, frontal middle rostral and frontal pars triangularis regions.ConclusionOur study shows that hyperactive NPS influence differently the brain morphology at different stages of cognitive performance. This might imply that their severity should be evaluated in relation to results of cognitive evaluations.
Optimizing the Implementation of Clinical Predictive Models to Minimize National Costs: A Sepsis Case Study
Authors: Rogers Parker , Boussina Aaron E. , Shashikumar Supreeth P. , Wardi Gabriel , Longhurst Christopher A. , Nemati Shamim 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACTObjectiveTo optimize the parameters of a sepsis prediction model within distinct patient groups to minimize the excess cost of sepsis care and analyze the potential effect of factors contributing to end-user response to sepsis alerts on overall model utility.Materials and MethodsWe calculated the excess costs of sepsis by comparing patients with and without a secondary sepsis diagnosis but with the same primary diagnosis and baseline comorbidities. We optimized the parameters of a sepsis prediction algorithm across different diagnostic categories to minimize these excess costs. At the optima, we evaluated diagnostic odds ratios and analyzed the impact of compliance factors—like non-compliance, treatment efficacy, and tolerance for false alarms—on the net benefit of triggering sepsis alerts.ResultsCompliance factors significantly contributed to the net benefit of triggering a sepsis alert. However, a customized deployment policy can achieve a significantly higher diagnostic odds ratio and reduced costs of sepsis care. Implementing our optimization routine with powerful predictive models could result in $4.6 billion in excess cost savings for the Medicare program.DiscussionSepsis costs and incidence vary dramatically across diagnostic categories, warranting a customized approach for implementing predictive models. We designed a framework for customizing sepsis alert protocols within different diagnostic categories to minimize excess costs and analyzed model performance as a function of false alarm tolerance and compliance with model recommendations.ConclusionCustomizing the implementation of clinical predictive models by accounting for various behavioral and economic factors may improve the practical benefit of predictive models.