bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Pilot Study on Zinc Isotopic Compositions in Shallow‐Water Coral Skeletons
Authors: Xiao Hangfang , Deng Wenfeng , Wei Gangjian , Chen Jiubin , Zheng Xinqing , Shi Tuo , Chen Xuefei , Wang Chenying , Liu Xi , Zeng Ti 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe trace metal element zinc (Zn) participates in coral metabolic processes and therefore accumulates in their skeletons. These metabolic processes are largely controlled by the changes of environment in which they live, so Zn isotopic compositions (δ66Zn) in coral skeletons may possibly serve as potential tracers for climate and environmental changes. In this study, we first reported the δ66Zn in shallow‐water coral skeletons by investigating with monthly resolution δ66Zn values in the skeleton of a modern Porites coral 10AR2 from the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, and the bulk skeletal δ66Zn values of several coral species from the Luhuitou Reef of Hainan Island in the northern South China Sea. Correlations between δ66Zn and other climate and environmental proxies (Sr/Ca, δ18O, and δ13C) and instrumental environmental variables (sea surface temperature, river runoff, and chlorophyll a) are poor, suggesting that the effects of external environmental changes on monthly variations in δ66Zn in coral skeletons are not significant. However, significant interspecific differences in the skeletal δ66Zn of corals growing under identical external environments may suggest the occurrence of biologically controlled δ66Zn fractionation during coral skeletons formation. In addition, the monthly δ66Zn in the 10AR2 coral skeleton roughly decreases with increasing temperature, which is in agreement with the recent finding that δ66Zn in coral tissues and zooxanthellae increases with increasing temperature and can serve as a proxy for thermal stress in corals. We thus suggest that the complicated coral internal biological processes hinder the use of skeletal δ66Zn as a climate and environmental proxy.
Physical and Mechanical Characteristics of Lunar Soil at the Chang'E‐4 Landing Site
Authors: Tang Zhencheng , Liu Jianjun , Wang Xing , Ren Xin , Chen Wangli , Yan Wei , Zhang Xiaoxia , Tan Xu , Zeng Xingguo , Liu Dawei , Zhang Hongbo , Wen Weibin , Zuo Wei , Su Yan , Yang Jianfeng , Li Chunlai 
Published: October 2020

AbstractChang'E‐4, with the Yutu‐2 rover, is the first lunar probe to successfully land and conduct a tour on the far side of the Moon from early 2019. We analyze the physical and mechanical characteristics of lunar soil through the in situ terrain data collected by the panoramic camera onboard the Yutu‐2 rover. With the slip ratio and wheel sinkage obtained by the derived Digital Orthophoto Map (DOM) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM), the mechanical parameters of lunar soil are derived from the slip‐sinkage model. These mechanical parameters and wheel size of the rover are used to obtain the pressure‐sinkage curves, which can estimate the lunar soil strength. The experimental results indicate that the soil strength at the Chang'E‐4 landing site is much higher than that at the Chang'E‐3 landing site. The discrepancies in lunar soil strength between the two landing sites may be related to the local surface topography and degree of space weathering.
Characteristics of Energetic Electrons Near Active Magnetotail Reconnection Sites: Statistical Evidence for Local Energization
Authors: Cohen Ian J. , Turner Drew L. , Mauk Barry H. , Bingham Sam T. , Blake J. Bern , Fennell Joseph F. , Burch James L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMagnetic reconnection is a universal process where energy is transferred from magnetic fields to particles. However, it remains unclear whether this transfer of energy includes the direct energization of particles to high energies (i.e., >10s of keV). We compare the spectral indices of energetic (50–200 keV) electrons from six magnetotail electron diffusion region candidates encountered by MMS with those from “quiet‐time” plasma sheet crossings to test whether energetic electron enhancements result from direct energization at/near the reconnection site or simply focusing high‐energy populations that do not originate from the nearby X‐line and already exist in the plasma sheet along the newly reconnected field lines. The study suggests that active reconnection can be a source of localized electron energization. However, the EDR spectra are not outside the range of those from the quiet‐time plasma sheet, which surprisingly still often have very energetic (up to and beyond 200 keV) electrons present.
Seismicity Rate Changes and Geodetic Transients in Central Apennines
Authors: Vičič Blaž , Aoudia Abdelkrim , Borghi Alessandra , Momeni Seyyedmaalek , Vuan Alessandro 
Published: October 2020

AbstractUsing template matching and GPS data, we investigate the evolution of seismicity and observable deformation in Central Apennines. Seismicity appears more persistent at the base of the seismogenic layer than in the shallower crust. Diffuse activity is reported on segments at depth, alternating along strike with apparent quiescence on segments that experienced one or more Mw6+ earthquakes in 1997, 2009, and 2016. Central Apennines are likely underlain by a sizeable shear zone with areas of diffuse seismicity bounding shallow normal faults where Mw6+ earthquakes occurred. The deformation observed at the surface seems to follow the seismicity variations at the base of seismogenic layer along the Apenninic chain. Principal and independent component analyses of GPS data exhibit a transient when the 2016 foreshock sequence starts. This transient propagated northward from the Campotosto fault up to the Alto Tiberina fault system and has likely loaded the Mw6+ 2016 earthquake sequence.
Observational Evidence of the Basin‐Wide Gyre Reversal in the Gulf of Taranto
Authors: Federico I. , Pinardi N. , Lyubartsev V. , Maicu F. , Causio S. , Trotta F. , Caporale C. , Coppini G. , Demarte M. , Falconieri A. , Lacava T. , Lecci R. , Lisi M. , Lorenzetti G. , Manfè G. , Sepp‐Neves A. A. , Zaggia L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe paper shows for the first time the observational evidence of basin‐wide gyre reversal in the Gulf of Taranto (north‐western Ionian Sea in the eastern Mediterranean Sea) by means of two specifically designed in situ oceanographic campaigns (based on CTD and ADCP measurements). The analysis of the in situ data shows a change in circulation from anticyclonic in October 2014 to cyclonic in June–July 2016. Furthermore, long‐term (1993–2018) analysis using gridded satellite altimetry data in the Gulf of Taranto shows that the cyclonic gyres are more frequent than anticyclonic gyres. The latter occur only for 2 to 3 years at a time in some decades.
Multispecies Reactive Transport in a Microporous Rock: Impact of Flow Heterogeneity and Reversibility of Reaction
Authors: Oliveira Thomas D. S. , Blunt Martin J. , Bijeljic Branko 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe study the impact of pore space heterogeneity on mixing and reaction in porous media. We simulate the parallel injection of two streams of reactants at different pH in a three‐dimensional microporous consolidated rock whose pore space was resolved by differential micro‐CT imaging. As an exemplar of a heterogeneous medium, we consider the pore structure obtained from a Portland carbonate sample. We use direct numerical simulation to study the coupled impact of flow heterogeneity, characterized by a wide distribution of velocities and chemical reversibility on multispecies reaction. The flow field is found from the Darcy‐Brinkman equation while the advection‐diffusion equation describes transport, which is coupled to a general multispecies geochemical solver for homogeneous reactions; precipitation, and dissolution are ignored. We observe a highly nonuniform spatial distribution of concentration and rates of formation and consumption. For advection‐dominated transport, the heterogeneous flow field leads to significant transverse mixing in macropores at early times, followed by a slower mixing driven by diffusion between macropore and micropore regions. The effective rates of formation and consumption are species‐dependent and distinct in macroporosity and microporosity: while some species reach an asymptotic rate in well‐mixed regions, others still show a transient nonmonotonic behavior as a consequence of incomplete mixing. Our findings have important implications for the understanding of time‐ and space‐dependent reaction rate behavior: the coupled impact of pore space heterogeneity and reversible reactions need to be taken into account as key determinants to describe multispecies reactive transport.
Soluble PD-L1 improved direct ARDS by reducing monocyte-derived macrophages
Authors: Xu Jing , Wang Jiahui , Wang Xiaoli , Tan Ruoming , Qi Xiaoling , Liu Zhaojun , Qu Hongping , Pan Tingting , Zhan Qingyuan , Zuo Yong , Yang Wen , Liu Jialin 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is common in intensive care units (ICUs), although it is associated with high mortality, no effective pharmacological treatments are currently available. Despite being poorly understood, the role of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis in ARDS may provide significant insights into the immunosuppressive mechanisms that occur after ARDS. In the present study, we observed that the level of soluble PD-L1 (sPD-L1), a potential activator of the PD-1 pathway, was upregulated in survivors of direct ARDS than in non-survivors. Administration of sPD-L1 in mice with direct ARDS relieved inflammatory lung injury and improved the survival rate, indicating the protective role of sPD-L1 in direct ARDS. Using high-throughput mass cytometry, we found a marked decrease in the number of lung monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) with proinflammatory markers, and the protective role of sPD-L1 diminished in ARDS mice with monocyte/macrophage depletion. Furthermore, PD-1 expression increased in the MDMs of patients and mice with direct ARDS. Finally, we showed that sPD-L1 induced MDM apoptosis in patients with direct ARDS. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the engagement of sPD-L1 on PD-1 expressing macrophages resulted in a decrease in pro-inflammatory macrophages and eventually improved direct ARDS. Our study identified a prognostic indicator for patients with direct ARDS and a potential target for therapeutic development in direct ARDS.
Anterior chamber angle imaging with swept-source optical coherence tomography: comparison between CASIAII and ANTERION
Authors: Chan Poemen Pui-man , Lai Gilda , Chiu Vivian , Chong Anita , Yu Marco , Leung Christopher Kai-shun 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis study compared the test–retest variabilities and measurement agreement of anterior chamber angle (ACA) dimensions measured by two anterior segment swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT)—the ANTERION (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) and CASIAII (Tomey, Nagoya, Japan). Thirty-eight subjects, 18 patients with primary angle closure and 20 healthy participants with open angles, were included. The mean age was 54.7 ± 15.8 years (range: 26–75 years). One eye of each subject was randomly selected for anterior segment imaging by ANTERION and CASIAII, using the same scan pattern (6 evenly spaced radial scans across the anterior segment for three times) in the same visit. The between- and within-instrument agreement and repeatability coefficients of angle open distance (AOD500), trabecular-iris space area (TISA500), lens vault (LV), scleral spur-scleral spur distance (SSD), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and pupil diameter (PD) were measured. The anterior and posterior boundaries of the cornea, iris, and lens were automatically segmented by the SS-OCT instruments; the scleral spur was manually located by a single masked observer. There were significant differences between ANTERION and CASIAII measurements; the SSD, PD, and ACD were smaller whereas AOD500 and TISA500 were greater in ANTERION compared with CASIAII (P < 0.001). Anterior segment measurements obtained from the two SS-OCT instruments showed strong associations (R2 ranged between 0.866 and 0.998) although the between-instrument agreement was poor; the spans of 95% limits of between-instrument agreement were ≥ 1.5-folds than the within-instrument agreement for either instrument. Whereas both SS-OCT instruments showed low test–retest measurement variabilities, the repeatability coefficients of AOD500, TISA500, ACD, and PD were slightly smaller for CASIAII than ANTERION (P ≤ 0.012).
Growth hormone alleviates oxidative stress and improves oocyte quality in Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Gong Yan , Luo Shan , Fan Ping , Jin Song , Zhu Huili , Deng Tang , Quan Yi , Huang Wei 
Published: October 2020

AbstractOxidative stress (OS) is associated with poor oocyte quality and in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcomes for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Growth hormone (GH) can function to reduce OS in some types of cells. Therefore, this prospective randomized study investigated whether GH can significantly improve OS and oocyte quality in women with PCOS. This study enrolled 109 and 50 patients with and without PCOS (controls), respectively. The patients with PCOS were randomly assigned to receive treatment with GH (PCOS-T) or not (PCOS-C). The primary outcome included markers of OS in serum and FF, and secondary outcomes were mitochondrial function in granulosa cells (GCs) and IVF-ET outcomes. The PCOS groups showed higher basal serum total oxidant status (TOS) and OS index (OSI) levels. The follicle fluid (FF) TOS and OSI and GC apoptosis rate were significantly higher, whereas the GC mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was significantly lower in the PCOS-C group than in the PCOS-T and non-PCOS control groups (P < 0.05). Significantly more oocytes were fertilised and cleavage stage embryos were produced in the PCOS-T group than in the PCOS-C group (P < 0.05). GH also improved the rates of implantation and clinical pregnancy, but not significantly (P > 0.05). This study showed that GH alleviated the TOS and OSI level in FF and improved GC mitochondrial dysfunction and oocyte quality in patients with PCOS.Clinical Trial Registration Number: This project was prospectively registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on October 20, 2018. (ChiCTR1800019437) (https://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=28663&htm=4).
Proteomics reveals the preliminary physiological states of the spotted seal (Phoca largha) pups
Authors: Tian Jiashen , Du Jing , Han Jiabo , Bao Xiangbo , Song Xinran , Lu Zhichuang 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSpotted seal (Phoca largha) is a critically endangered pinniped in China and South Korea. The conventional method to protect and maintain the P. largha population is to keep them captive in artificially controlled environments. However, little is known about the physiological differences between wild and captive P. largha. To generate a preliminary protein expression profile for P. largha, whole blood from wild and captive pups were subjected to a label-free comparative proteomic analysis. According to the results, 972 proteins were identified and predicted to perform functions related to various metabolic, immune, and cellular processes. Among the identified proteins, the expression level of 51 were significantly different between wild and captive P. large pups. These differentially expressed proteins were enriched in a wide range of cellular functions, including cytoskeleton, phagocytosis, proteolysis, the regulation of gene expression, and carbohydrate metabolism. The abundances of proteins involved in phagocytosis and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis were significantly higher in the whole blood of wild P. largha pups than in captive individuals. In addition, heat shock protein 90-beta, were determined as the key protein associated with the differences in the wild and captive P. largha pups due to the most interactions of it with various differentially expressed proteins. Moreover, wild P. largha pups could be more nutritionally stressed and have more powerful immune capacities than captive pups. This study provides the first data on the protein composition of P. largha and provides useful information on the physiological characteristics for research in this species.
Acute pain and side effects after tramadol in breast cancer patients: results of a prospective double-blind randomized study
Authors: Besic Nikola , Smrekar Jaka , Strazisar Branka 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the severity of acute pain and side effects in breast cancer patients postoperatively treated with two regimens of tramadol with paracetamol in a prospective double-blind study. Altogether 117 breast cancer patients who had axillary lymphadenectomy were randomized into two analgesic study groups and the analgesic treatment lasted 4 weeks. Stronger analgesia group received every 8 h 75/650 mg of tramadol with paracetamol, while weaker analgesia group received every 8 h 37.5/325 mg of tramadol with paracetamol. Patients with the higher dose of tramadol had less pain during the 1st and 4th week than patients with the lower dose. Frequency of nausea, vomiting, lymphedema or range of shoulder movement was not significantly different between the two groups of patients. Constipation was significantly more common in the group with stronger analgesia during the 2nd week in comparison to patients with weaker analgesia. The patients who were on 75/650 mg of tramadol with paracetamol had less pain in comparison to patients who were on 37.5/325 mg. Side effects were mild, but common in both groups of patients.
The preliminary experience of methylene blue assisted laparoscopy in the treatment of renal parapelvic cysts
Authors: Ma Zhen , Li Song , Chen Fang-Min , Yu Da-Hai , Zhang Xiao-Guang , Li Kai , Zhang Ming-Hao , Tang Shuai , Wang Qi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractRenal cyst is a common disease in humans and laparoscopic renal cyst decortication is the gold standard for treatment. However, specialized surgical skills are required for the treatment of renal parapelvic cysts. In this study, we describe an improved laparoscopic method for the treatment of renal parapelvic cysts involving the use of continuous infusion of methylene blue. Sixteen patients with renal parapelvic cyst were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent retrograde ureteral catheterization, with continuous perfusion of the renal pelvis using a solution of 0.2% methylene blue and saline, during laparoscopic decortication of the parapelvic cyst. In one patient, the cyst communicated with the renal collection system which was injured, but this was immediately repaired intraoperatively. All operations were successful, and none was converted to open surgery. There were no occurrences of persistent urinary fistula, bleeding, or other complications postoperatively. All patients were followed-up for 3–24 months, and results of postoperative imaging investigations revealed that all of our patients experienced either complete recovery or a greater than 50% decrease in size of the cysts. Our study demonstrates that methylene blue-assisted laparoscopic treatment is a safe, effective and practical method for the treatment of renal parapelvic cysts.
An in-silico method leads to recognition of hub genes and crucial pathways in survival of patients with breast cancer
Authors: Dashti Sepideh , Taheri Mohammad , Ghafouri-Fard Soudeh 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBreast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disorder characterized by dysregulation of expression of numerous genes and cascades. In the current study, we aim to use a system biology strategy to identify key genes and signaling pathways in breast cancer. We have retrieved data of two microarray datasets (GSE65194 and GSE45827) from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus database. R package was used for identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), assessment of gene ontology and pathway enrichment evaluation. The DEGs were integrated to construct a protein–protein interaction network. Next, hub genes were recognized using the Cytoscape software and lncRNA–mRNA co-expression analysis was performed to evaluate the potential roles of lncRNAs. Finally, the clinical importance of the obtained genes was assessed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. In the present study, 887 DEGs including 730 upregulated and 157 downregulated DEGs were detected between breast cancer and normal samples. By combining the results of functional analysis, MCODE, CytoNCA and CytoHubba 2 hub genes including MAD2L1 and CCNB1 were selected. We also identified 12 lncRNAs with significant correlation with MAD2L1 and CCNB1 genes. According to The Kaplan–Meier plotter database MAD2L1, CCNA2, RAD51-AS1 and LINC01089 have the most prediction potential among all candidate hub genes. Our study offers a framework for recognition of mRNA–lncRNA network in breast cancer and detection of important pathways that could be used as therapeutic targets in this kind of cancer.
Chemicals orchestrate reprogramming with hierarchical activation of master transcription factors primed by endogenous Sox17 activation
Authors: Yang Zhenghao , Xu Xiaochan , Gu Chan , Li Jun , Wu Qihong , Ye Can , Nielsen Alexander Valentin , Mao Lichao , Ye Junqing , Bai Ke , Guo Fan , Tang Chao , Zhao Yang 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMouse somatic cells can be chemically reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells (CiPSCs) through an intermediate extraembryonic endoderm (XEN)-like state. However, it is elusive how the chemicals orchestrate the cell fate alteration. In this study, we analyze molecular dynamics in chemical reprogramming from fibroblasts to a XEN-like state. We find that Sox17 is initially activated by the chemical cocktails, and XEN cell fate specialization is subsequently mediated by Sox17 activated expression of other XEN master genes, such as Sall4 and Gata4. Furthermore, this stepwise process is differentially regulated. The core reprogramming chemicals CHIR99021, 616452 and Forskolin are all necessary for Sox17 activation, while differently required for Gata4 and Sall4 expression. The addition of chemical boosters in different phases further improves the generation efficiency of XEN-like cells. Taken together, our work demonstrates that chemical reprogramming is regulated in 3 distinct “prime–specify–transit” phases initiated with endogenous Sox17 activation, providing a new framework to understand cell fate determination.
Single-cell analysis of AIMP2 splice variants informs on drug sensitivity and prognosis in hematologic cancer
Authors: Ku Jayoung , Kim Ryul , Kim Dongchan , Kim Daeyoon , Song Seulki , Lee Keonyong , Lee Namseok , Kim MinA , Yoon Sung-Soo , Kwon Nam Hoon , Kim Sunghoon , Kim Yoosik , Koh Youngil 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAminoacyl-tRNA synthetase-interacting multifunctional protein 2 (AIMP2) is a non-enzymatic component required for the multi-tRNA synthetase complex. While exon 2 skipping alternatively spliced variant of AIMP2 (AIMP2-DX2) compromises AIMP2 activity and is associated with carcinogenesis, its clinical potential awaits further validation. Here, we found that AIMP2-DX2/AIMP2 expression ratio is strongly correlated with major cancer signaling pathways and poor prognosis, particularly in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Analysis of a clinical patient cohort revealed that AIMP2-DX2 positive AML patients show decreased overall survival and progression-free survival. We also developed targeted RNA-sequencing and single-molecule RNA-FISH tools to quantitatively analyze AIMP2-DX2/AIMP2 ratios at the single-cell level. By subclassifying hematologic cancer cells based on their AIMP2-DX2/AIMP2 ratios, we found that downregulating AIMP2-DX2 sensitizes cells to anticancer drugs only for a subgroup of cells while it has adverse effects on others. Collectively, our study establishes AIMP2-DX2 as a potential biomarker and a therapeutic target for hematologic cancer.