bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal variability in the urinary microbiota of healthy premenopausal women and the relation to neighboring microbial communities: A pilot study
Authors: Biehl Lena M. , Farowski Fedja , Hilpert Catharina , Nowag Angela , Kretzschmar Anne , Jazmati Nathalie , Tsakmaklis Anastasia , Wieters Imke , Khodamoradi Yascha , Wisplinghoff Hilmar , Vehreschild Maria J. G. T. 
Published: January 2022

Background
The understanding of longitudinal changes in the urinary microbiota of healthy women and its relation to intestinal microbiota is limited.

Methods
From a cohort of 15 premenopausal women without known urogenital disease or current symptoms, we collected catheter urine (CU), vaginal and periurethral swabs, and fecal samples on four visits over six months. Additionally, ten participants provided CU and midstream urine (MU) to assess comparability. Urine was subjected to expanded culture. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on all urine, fecal, and selected vaginal and periurethral samples. Sequence reads were processed (DADA2 pipeline) and analyzed using QIIME 2 and R.

Results
Relative abundances of urinary microbiota were variable over 6–18 months. The degree of intraindividual variability of urinary microbiota was higher than that found in fecal samples. Still, nearly half of the observed beta diversity of all urine samples could be attributed to differences between volunteers (R2 = 0.48, p = 0.001). After stratification by volunteer, time since last sexual intercourse was shown to be a factor significantly contributing to beta diversity (R2 = 0.14, p = 0.001). We observed a close relatedness of urogenital microbial habitats and a clear distinction from intestinal microbiota in the overall betadiversity analysis. Microbiota compositions derived from MU differed only slightly from CU compositions. Within this analysis of low-biomass samples, we identified contaminating sequences potentially stemming from sequencing reagents.

Conclusions
Results from our longitudinal cohort study confirmed the presence of a rather variable individual urinary microbiota in premenopausal women. These findings from catheter urine complement previous observations on temporal dynamics in voided urine. The higher intraindividual variability of urinary microbiota as compared to fecal microbiota will be a challenge for future studies investigating associations with urogenital diseases and aiming at identifying pathogenic microbiota signatures.
Riemannian classification of single-trial surface EEG and sources during checkerboard and navigational images in humans
Authors: Simar Cédric , Petit Robin , Bozga Nichita , Leroy Axelle , Cebolla Ana-Maria , Petieau Mathieu , Bontempi Gianluca , Cheron Guy 
Published: January 2022

Objective
Different visual stimuli are classically used for triggering visual evoked potentials comprising well-defined components linked to the content of the displayed image. These evoked components result from the average of ongoing EEG signals in which additive and oscillatory mechanisms contribute to the component morphology. The evoked related potentials often resulted from a mixed situation (power variation and phase-locking) making basic and clinical interpretations difficult. Besides, the grand average methodology produced artificial constructs that do not reflect individual peculiarities. This motivated new approaches based on single-trial analysis as recently used in the brain-computer interface field.

Approach
We hypothesize that EEG signals may include specific information about the visual features of the displayed image and that such distinctive traits can be identified by state-of-the-art classification algorithms based on Riemannian geometry. The same classification algorithms are also applied to the dipole sources estimated by sLORETA.

Main results and significance
We show that our classification pipeline can effectively discriminate between the display of different visual items (Checkerboard versus 3D navigational image) in single EEG trials throughout multiple subjects. The present methodology reaches a single-trial classification accuracy of about 84% and 93% for inter-subject and intra-subject classification respectively using surface EEG. Interestingly, we note that the classification algorithms trained on sLORETA sources estimation fail to generalize among multiple subjects (63%), which may be due to either the average head model used by sLORETA or the subsequent spatial filtering failing to extract discriminative information, but reach an intra-subject classification accuracy of 82%.
An analysis of the HIV testing cascade of a group of HIV-exposed infants from birth to 18 months in peri-urban Khayelitsha, South Africa
Authors: Nelson Aurelie Kennedy , Cassidy Tali , Trivino Duran Laura , Cox Vivian , Wedderburn Catherine J. , Giddy Janet , Pieters Pauline , Cotton Mark F. , Mutseyekwa Tabitha , Rorwana Bulelwa , Sibanda Beryl , Bernheimer Jonathan , Matise Nopinky , Isaakidis Petros , Maritz Jean 
Published: January 2022

Background
Despite the reduction of HIV mother-to-child transmission, there are concerns regarding transmission rate in the breastfeeding period. We describe the routine uptake of 6 or 10 (6/10) weeks, 9 months and 18 months testing, with and without tracing, in a cohort of infants who received HIV PCR testing at birth (birth PCR) (with and without point of care (POC) testing) in a peri-urban primary health care setting in Khayelitsha, South Africa.

Methods
In this cohort study conducted between November 2014 and February 2018, HIV-positive mothers and their HIV-exposed babies were recruited at birth and all babies were tested with birth PCR. Results of routine 6/10 weeks PCR, 9 months and 18 months testing were followed up by a patient tracer. We compared testing at 6/10 weeks with a subgroup from historical cohort who was not tested with birth PCR.

Results
We found that the uptake of 6/10 weeks testing was 77%, compared to 82% with tracing. When including all infants in the cascade and comparing to a historical cohort without birth testing, we found that infants who tested a birth were 22% more likely to have a 6/10 weeks test compared to those not tested at birth. There was no significant difference between the uptake of 6/10 weeks testing after birth PCR POC versus birth PCR testing without POC. Uptake of 9 months and 18 months testing was 39% and 24% respectively. With intense tracing efforts, uptake increased to 45% and 34% respectively.

Conclusion
Uptake of HIV testing for HIV-exposed uninfected infants in the first 18 months of life shows good completion of the 6/10 weeks PCR but suboptimal uptake of HIV testing at 9 months and 18 months, despite tracing efforts. Birth PCR testing did not negatively affect uptake of the 6/10 weeks HIV test compared to no birth PCR testing.
Iron Deficiency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Is Associated With Low Levels of Vitamin D Modulating Serum Hepcidin and Intestinal Ceruloplasmin Expression
Authors: Stallhofer Johannes , Veith Lisa , Diegelmann Julia , Probst Philipp , Brand Stephan , Schnitzler Fabian , Olszak Torsten , Török Helga , Mayerle Julia , Stallmach Andreas , Beigel Florian 
Published: January 2022

INTRODUCTION:
Iron deficiency and vitamin D deficiency are common comorbidities in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Accumulating evidence indicates that active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)D) may enhance iron absorption by suppressing hepcidin. We investigated the influence of vitamin D on iron metabolism in patients with IBD and on the expression of genes facilitating intestinal epithelial iron absorption.

METHODS:
Iron parameters and serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), 1,25(OH)D, and hepcidin were measured in 104 adult patients with IBD (67 with Crohn's disease and 37 with ulcerative colitis). Genes involved in iron absorption were tested for induction by 1,25(OH)D in Caco-2 cells, which resemble the small intestinal epithelium.

RESULTS:
In multiple regression models controlling for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, disease activity, and C-reactive protein levels, low 25(OH)D levels were associated with iron deficiency in patients with IBD (β [SE] = −0.064 [0.030], P = 0.029). Vitamin D sufficiency was associated with increased levels of ferritin (β [SE] = 0.25 [0.11], P = 0.024) and transferrin saturation (β [SE] = 8.41 [4.07], P = 0.044). Higher 1,25(OH)D:25(OH)D ratios were associated with lower hepcidin levels (β [SE] = −4.31 [1.67], P = 0.012). Especially in Crohn's disease, increased 1,25(OH)D correlated with higher transferrin saturation (β [SE] = 0.43 [0.18], P = 0.027). Furthermore, 1,25(OH)D strongly induced the expression of the ferroxidase ceruloplasmin in Caco-2 cells.

DISCUSSION:
Low vitamin D levels in IBD correlate with iron deficiency. Vitamin D may ameliorate iron deficiency, potentially by downregulating hepcidin and upregulating ceruloplasmin, enhancing intestinal iron absorption.
Le buzz ou l’art de pimenter les émissions-débats
Authors: Landolsi Houda 
Published: January 2022

Cet article s’intéresse aux rôles énonciatifs que joue le producteur-présentateur de l’émission Les Terriens du dimanche, Thierry Ardisson, lors de l’affaire Zemmour/Sy ; une affaire qui éclate suite à un commentaire fait par le polémiste Éric Zemmour sur le prénom de la chroniqueuse Hapsatou Sy. L’objectif de l’article est d’analyser l’articulation entre postures énonciatives et rôles interactionnels du producteur/présentateur de l’émission avant, pendant et après le clash. L’étude essaiera de montrer que dans son rôle de producteur, Thierry Ardisson agit en tant que sur-énonciateur ; alors que dans son rôle de présentateur/modérateur du débat, il choisit plutôt la posture d’effacement énonciatif, mais cette posture bascule, rapidement, vers une forme de sur-énonciation. L’étude s’arrêtera également sur le lien sous-jacent entre la responsabilité énonciative du journaliste et sa responsabilité éthique ; un lien explicitement évoqué par des commentateurs de différentes professions et colorations politiques.
Photo-modulated optical and electrical properties of graphene
Authors: Tang Hongyu , Menabde Sergey G. , Anwar Tarique , Kim Junhyung , Jang Min Seok , Tagliabue Giulia 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Photo-modulation is a promising strategy for contactless and ultrafast control of optical and electrical properties of photoactive materials. Graphene is an attractive candidate material for photo-modulation due to its extraordinary physical properties and its relevance to a wide range of devices, from photodetectors to energy converters. In this review, we survey different strategies for photo-modulation of electrical and optical properties of graphene, including photogating, generation of hot carriers, and thermo-optical effects. We briefly discuss the role of nanophotonic strategies to maximize these effects and highlight promising fields for application of these techniques.
Indole based prostate cancer agents
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Patil Madhuri T. , Salunke Deepak B. 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Cancer weakens the immune system which fails to fight against the rapidly growing cells. Among the various types of cancers, prostate cancer (PCa) is causing greater number of deaths in men after lung cancer, demanding advancement to prevent, detect and treat PCa. Several small molecule heterocycles and few peptides are being used as oncological drugs targeting PCa. Heterocycles are playing crucial role in the development of novel cancer chemotherapeutics as well as immunotherapeutics. Indole skeleton, being a privileged structure has been extensively used for the discovery of novel anticancer agents and the application of indole derivatives against breast cancer is well documented. The present article highlights the usefulness of indole linked heterocyclic compounds as well as the fused indole derivatives against prostate cancer.
Sugammadex affects GH/GHR’s signaling transduction on muscle cells by regulating the membrane-localized GHR level
Authors: Lyu Xiaoqian , Xie Fei , Tao Yujuan , Bai Jie 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Objectives
Sugammadex (also known as bridion) is a modified γ-cyclodextrin, which is a reversal agent for the neuromuscular block. Growth hormone (GH) has an important biological effect on muscle, regulating muscle growth and development. In the current work, we explored the effect of Sugammadex on GH’s bioactivities.

Methods
Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), flow cytometry, indirect immunofluorescence, Western-blot, and IP-WB were used to explore the effect of Sugammadex on GH’s bioactivities.

Results
We found that Sugammadex reduced the activity of GH on muscle cells, which down-regulated GH/GHR-mediated intracellular signaling pathway, such as Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 5 (STAT5). We further study the potential biological mechanism by which Sugammadex down-regulated GH/GHR-mediated signaling pathway, a series of related experiments were conducted, and found that Sugammadex may inhibit the proliferation of C2C12 cell via regulating the membrane-localized GHR, which may be the underlying mechanism by which Sugammadex suppressed GHR-induced signaling transduction. This work has laid the theoretical and experimental basis for further exploring the relationship between Sugammadex and GH’s activity.

Conclusions
In conclusion, this study laid a foundation for further study on the relationship between Sugammadex and GH’s activity.
Electron density of a benzoylated tetrafructopyranose
Authors: Luger Peter , Dittrich Birger 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The electron density distribution (EDD) of a tetrasaccharide composed of four benzoylated fructopyranosyl units was obtained by refinement with scattering factors from the invariom library. X-ray diffraction data was downloaded from the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). Bond topological and atomic properties were obtained by application of Bader’s QTAIM formalism. From a large number of 105 C–C bonds in the molecule average bond orders for 33 single and 72 aromatic bonds were calculated yielding values of 1.33 and 1.61. Molecular Hirshfeld and electrostatic potential (ESP) surfaces show that only weak non-covalent interactions exist. The phenyl rings of the benzoyl fragments in the outer regions of the molecule generate a positive ESP shell with repulsive properties between adjacent molecules. Weak surface interactions result in a rather unusual low density around 1.3 g cm−3, which is understandable when compared to other carbohydrates where strong O–H⋯O hydrogen bonds allow a 20% more dense packing with densities >1.5 g cm−3 as determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.
Transient Coupling between Infragranular and Subplate Layers to Layer 1 Neurons Before Ear Opening and throughout the Critical Period Depends on Peripheral Activity
Authors: Xue Binghan , Meng Xiangying , Xu Yanqing , Kao Joseph P.Y. , Kanold Patrick O. 
Published: January 2022

Cortical layer 1 (L1) contains a diverse population of interneurons that can modulate processing in superficial cortical layers, but the intracortical sources of synaptic input to these neurons and how these inputs change over development and with sensory experience is unknown. We here investigated the changing intracortical connectivity to L1 in the primary auditory cortex (A1) of mice of both sexes inin vitroslices across development using laser-scanning photostimulation. Before postnatal day (P)10, L1 cells receive excitatory input from within L1, L2/3, L4, and L5/6 as well as from subplate. Excitatory inputs from all layers increase, especially from L4, and peak during P10–P16, around the peak of the critical period for tonotopy. Inhibitory inputs followed a similar pattern. Functional circuit diversity in L1 emerges after P16. In adults, L1 neurons receive ascending inputs from L2/3 and L5/6, but only few inputs from L4. The transient hyperconnectivity from deep layers but not L2/3 is absent in deaf mice. Our results demonstrate that deep excitatory and superficial inhibitory circuits are tightly linked in early development and might provide a functional scaffold for the layers in between. These results suggest that early thalamically driven spontaneous and sensory activity in subplate can be relayed to L1 from the earliest ages on and shape L1 connectivity from deep layers. Our results also reveal a period of high transient columnar hyperconnectivity after ear opening coinciding with the critical period, suggesting that circuits originating in deep layers might play a key role in this process.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTL1 contains a diverse population of interneurons that can modulate processing in superficial cortical layers but the sources of synaptic input to these neurons and how these inputs change over development is unknown. We found that during the critical period a large fraction of excitatory inputs to L1 originated in L5/6 and the cortical subplate. This hyperconnectivity is absent in deaf mice. Our results directly demonstrate that deep excitatory and superficial inhibitory circuits are tightly linked in early development and might provide a functional scaffold for the layers in between.
Sedentary lifestyle and precocious puberty in girls during the COVID-19 pandemic: an Italian experience
Authors: Chioma Laura , Bizzarri Carla , Verzani Martina , Fava Daniela , Salerno Mariacarolina , Capalbo Donatella , Guzzetti Chiara , Penta Laura , Di Luigi Luigi , di Iorgi Natascia , Maghnie Mohamad , Loche Sandro , Cappa Marco 
Published: January 2022

Objective
This retrospective study aimed to evaluate children observed for suspected precocious puberty in five Italian centers of Pediatric Endocrinology during the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (March–September 2020), compared to subjects observed in the same period of the previous year.

Design
The study population (490 children) was divided according to the year of observation and final diagnosis: transient thelarche, non-progressive precocious puberty, central precocious puberty (CPP), or early puberty.

Results
Between March and September 2020, 338 subjects were referred for suspected precocious puberty, compared to 152 subjects in the same period of 2019 (+122%). The increase was observed in girls (328 subjects in 2020 vs 140 in 2019, P  < 0.05), especially during the second half of the period considered (92 girls from March to May vs 236 girls from June to September); while no difference was observed in boys (10 subjects in 2020 vs 12 in 2019). The percentage of girls with confirmed CPP was higher in 2020, compared to 2019 (135/328 girls (41%) vs 37/140 (26%), P  < 0.01). Anthropometric and hormonal parameters in 2019 and 2020 CPP girls were not different; 2020 CPP girls showed more prolonged use of electronic devices and a more sedentary lifestyle both before and during the pandemic, compared to the rest of the 2020 population.

Conclusions
The present findings corroborate the recently reported association between the complex lifestyle changes related to the lockdown and a higher incidence of CPP in Italian girls.
Computational study of some potential inhibitors of COVID‐19: A DFT analysis
Authors: Ranjan Prabhat , Gaurav Kumar , Chakraborty Tanmoy 
Published: January 2022

BackgroundThere is an urgent demand of drug or therapy to control the COVID‐19. Until July 22, 2021 the worldwide total number of cases reported is more than 192 million and the total number of deaths reported is more than 4.12 million. Several countries have given emergency permission for use of repurposed drugs for the treatment of COVID‐19 patients. This report presents a computational analysis on repurposing drugs—tenofovir, bepotastine, epirubicin, epoprostenol, tirazavirin, aprepitant and valrubicin, which can be potential inhibitors of the COVID‐19.MethodDensity functional theory (DFT) technique is applied for computation of these repurposed drug. For geometry optimization, functional B3LYP/6‐311G (d, p) is selected within DFT framework.ResultsDFT based descriptors—highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)‐lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gap, molecular hardness, softness, electronegativity, electrophilicity index, nucleophilicity index and dipole moment of these species are computed. IR and Raman activities are also analysed and studied. The result shows that the HOMO‐LUMO gap of these species varies from 1.061 eV to 5.327 eV. Compound aprepitant with a HOMO‐LUMO gap of 1.419 eV shows the maximum intensity of IR (786.176 km mol‒1) and Raman spectra (15036.702 a.u.).ConclusionSome potential inhibitors of COVID‐19 are studied by using DFT technique. This study shows that epirubicin is the most reactive compound whereas tenofovir is found to be the most stable. Further analysis and clinical trials of these compounds will provide more insight.
ASTM: Developing the web service for anthrax related spatiotemporal characteristics and meteorology study
Authors: Fan Shiwei , Xiao Ming , Sun Boyu , Zhou Weizhong , Chen Qingrong , Lv Weimin , Zhang Pengfei , Zhang Le 
Published: January 2022

BackgroundAnthrax is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. Investigating the spatiotemporal characteristics of anthrax and the impact of meteorological factors on the incidence of anthrax is helpful for the prevention and control of anthrax.MethodsAt first, we applied the Granger causality test to explore the spatiotemporal characteristics of anthrax transmission between the counties and cities of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province of China. Then, we constructed three generalized linear models to analyze the impact of meteorological factors on the monthly number of anthrax cases in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Finally, we developed an easy‐to‐use online web server that integrates the above functions.ResultsThis study developed an online service website (ASTM Anthrax in Gannan, Zhang Lab) for the analysis and visualization of anthrax, which not only can investigate the correlation of anthrax among different regions in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, but also can analyze the correlation between meteorological factors and the number of anthrax cases.ConclusionsOur study not only explored spatiotemporal characteristics of anthrax transmission, but also analyzed the impact of seven meteorological factors on the monthly number of anthrax cases. Meanwhile, the online service website which integrates the above functions is useful for the prevention and control of anthrax.