bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B Virus RNA Profiles in Liver Biopsies by Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Prakash Kasthuri , Larsson Simon B. , Rydell Gustaf E. , Andersson Maria E. , Ringlander Johan , Norkrans Gunnar , Norder Heléne , Lindh Magnus 
Published: March 2020

Replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) originates from covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and involves reverse transcription of pregenomic RNA (pgRNA), which is also called core RNA and encodes the capsid protein. The RNA coding for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the envelope of viral or subviral particles is produced from cccDNA or from HBV DNA integrated into the host genome. Because only cccDNA can generate the core and the 3′ redundancy regions of HBV RNA, we aimed to clarify to what extent such HBV integrations are expressed by quantifying the different HBV RNA species in liver tissue. Digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) was employed to quantify six HBV RNA targets in 76 liver biopsies from patients with chronic infection, comprising 14 who were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive and 62 who were HBeAg negative. In patients who were HBeAg negative, HBV RNA from the S RNA region was >1.6 log10 units higher than in the core and 3′ redundancy regions (P < 0.0001), indicating that >90% of S RNA was integration derived. HBeAg‐negative samples showed 10 times lower levels of pgRNA (5′ core) compared with core RNA (3′ part of core; P < 0.0001), suggesting that a large proportion of core RNA might have a downstream shift of the transcription starting point. In multiple regression analysis, HBV DNA levels in serum were most strongly dependent on pgRNA. Conclusion: In patients who were HBeAg negative, integration‐derived S RNA seemed to predominate and a large proportion of the core RNA lacked the 5′ part. Because this part comprises the down‐regulator of transcription 1 sequences, which are necessary for virus production (plus strand translocation), the finding might help to explain the low level of HBV DNA in serum that frequently is observed in patients with chronic HBV infection who are HBeAg negative.
Clinical impact of controlling nutritional status score on the prognosis of patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Nagata Akihito , Kanemasa Yusuke , Sasaki Yuki , Nakamura Shohei , Okuya Toshihiro , Funasaka Chikako , Kageyama Akihiko , Shimoyama Tatsu , Omuro Yasushi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score is a nutritional index calculated from serum albumin and total cholesterol levels and lymphocyte counts. Its role in predicting clinical outcomes of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has not been evaluated. In this retrospective study, data from 476 patients with DLBCL were analyzed. The cutoff value of the CONUT score was set as 4. CONUT score significantly stratified the overall survival (OS) and the progression‐free‐survival (PFS) (5‐year OS, 49.0% vs 83.2%, P < .001; 5‐year PFS, 46.1% vs 73.1%, P < .001) of the patients. Among patients at high‐intermediate or high risk, as per the National Comprehensive Cancer Network International Prognostic Index (NCCN‐IPI), 5‐year OS was lower in patients with high CONUT scores than in those with low CONUT scores (high‐intermediate risk, 51.2% vs 75.5%, P < .001; high risk, 29.9% vs 63.3%, P = .007). Additionally, in patients with high CONUT scores, maintenance of relative dose intensity (RDI) of chemotherapy did not affect the 5‐year OS (RDI > 80% vs RDI ≤ 80%: 59.8% vs 50.9%, P = .73). In the present study, we have demonstrated that the CONUT score is an independent prognostic factor in patients with DLBCL.
Hillslope groundwater discharges provide localized stream ecosystem buffers from regional per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination
Authors: Briggs Martin A. , Tokranov Andrea K. , Hull Robert B. , LeBlanc Denis R. , Haynes Adam B. , Lane John W. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEmerging groundwater contaminants such as per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may impact surface‐water quality and groundwater‐dependent ecosystems of gaining streams. Although complex near‐surface hydrogeology of stream corridors challenges sampling efforts, recent advances in heat tracing of discharge zones enable efficient and informed data collection. For this study, we used a combination of streambed temperature push‐probe and thermal infrared methods to guide a discharge‐zone‐oriented sample collection along approximately 6 km of a coastal trout stream on Cape Cod, MA. Eight surface‐water locations and discharging groundwater from 24 streambed and bank seepages were analysed for dissolved oxygen (DO), specific conductance, stable water isotopes, and a range of PFAS compounds, which are contaminants of emerging concern in aquatic environments. The results indicate a complex system of groundwater discharge source flowpaths, where the sum of concentrations of six PFAS compounds (corresponding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule “UCMR 3”) showed a median concentration of 52 ± 331 (SD) ng/L with two higher outliers and three discharges with PFAS concentrations below the quantification limit. Higher PFAS concentration was related (−0.66 Spearman rank, p < .001) to discharging groundwater that showed an evaporative signature (deuterium excess), indicating flow through at least one upgradient kettle lake. Therefore, more regional groundwater flowpaths originating from outside the local river corridor tended to show higher PFAS concentrations as evaluated at their respective discharge zones. Conversely, PFAS concentrations were typically low at discharges that did not indicate evaporation and were adjacent to steep hillslopes and, therefore, were classified as locally recharged groundwater. Previous research at this stream found that the native brook trout spawn at discharge points of groundwater recharged on local hillslopes, likely in response to generally higher levels of DO. Our study shows that by targeting high oxygen discharges the trout may thereby be avoiding emerging contaminants such as PFAS in groundwater recharged farther from the stream.
Lagged rejuvenation of groundwater indicates internal flow structures and hydrological connectivity
Authors: Kolbe Tamara , Marçais Jean , de Dreuzy Jean‐Raynald , Labasque Thierry , Bishop Kevin 
Published: March 2020

AbstractLarge proportions of rainwater and snowmelt infiltrate into the subsurface before contributing to stream flow and stream water quality. Subsurface flow dynamics steer the transport and transformation of contaminants, carbon, weathering products and other biogeochemistry. The distribution of groundwater ages with depth is a key feature of these flow dynamics. Predicting these ages are a strong test of hypotheses about subsurface structures and time‐varying processes. Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)‐based groundwater ages revealed an unexpected groundwater age stratification in a 0.47 km2 forested catchment called Svartberget in northern Sweden. An overall groundwater age stratification, representative for the Svartberget site, was derived by measuring CFCs from nine different wells with depths of 2–18 m close to the stream network. Immediately below the water table, CFC‐based groundwater ages of already 30 years that increased with depth were found. Using complementary groundwater flow models, we could reproduce the observed groundwater age stratification and show that the 30 year lag in rejuvenation comes from return flow of groundwater at a subsurface discharge zone that evolves along the interface between two soil types. By comparing the observed groundwater age stratification with a simple analytical approximation, we show that the observed lag in rejuvenation can be a powerful indicator of the extent and structure of the subsurface discharge zone, while the vertical gradient of the age‐depth‐relationship can still be used as a proxy of the overall aquifer recharge even when sampled in the discharge zone. The single age stratification profile measured in the discharge zone, close to the aquifer outlet, can reveal the main structure of the groundwater flow pattern from recharge to discharge. This groundwater flow pattern provides information on the participation of groundwater in the hydrological cycle and indicates the lower boundary of hydrological connectivity.
Physically based modelling of water age at the hillslope scale: The Boussinesq age equations
Authors: Zarlenga Antonio , Fiori Aldo 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWater age distribution is recognized as a key descriptor of hydrological systems, providing information on the natural phenomena taking place in such systems. It is widely used in the theoretical and experimental studies on hillslope and catchments, allowing a synthetic description of the complex dynamics by which the hillslopes store and release water and solutes at the outlet. In this study, we present a physically based framework for the description of the water or solute age within small catchments or hillslopes. The model matches the age equation with the three‐dimensional flow equations under transient conditions, employing the Boussinesq approximation. The approach leads to a system of differential equations for the moments of water age, spatially integrated over cross sections normal to mean flow, denoted as Boussinesq‐age‐equations, that are both simple to use and to solve. The framework overcomes some of the limitations of previous studies, such as of steady state conditions or perfect mixing, merging the simplicity of 1D solutions with the complexity of the physically based models, being suitable for theoretical investigation and experimental data set analysis. Besides introducing the model, we provide some relevant examples for synthetic hillslopes, exploring the effects of the main topographic controls and of the main drivers of water flow such as the recharge.
Tantalum boride as a biocompatible coating to improve osteogenesis of the bionano interface
Authors: Li Ruiyan , Liu Guancong , Yang Lina , Qing Yun'an , Tang Xiongfeng , Guo Deming , Zhang Kan , Qin Yanguo 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA proper biological microenvironment conducive to tissue repair and regeneration, while the bioimplant interface directly affects the local microenvironment. In this study, to improve the biological microenvironment, a nanosized tantalum boride (Ta‐B) was coated on a titanium alloy substrate (Ti6Al4V, TC4) using magnetron cosputtering. The sample surface was characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). To investigate the effects of tantalum boride coating on the microenvironment, rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), and RAW 264.7 cells were respectively seeded on the sample surface and relevant experiments were conducted in vitro. The pure tantalum coating (Ta) and naked TC4 were prepared as controls. Our results showed that the Ta‐B coating enhanced cell proliferation and adhesion and inhibited the inflammatory response. Findings of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, alizarin red staining and real‐time PCR for osteoblastic gene expression indicated that Ta‐B and Ta coating improve the osteogenesis, in which Ta‐B coating showed higher osteogenesis than Ta coating. Thus, this study suggests that Ta‐B coating with excellent biocompatibility could have new applications for wound healing in bone tissue engineering.
Perspectives from individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia on direct contact in cascade screening
Authors: Schwiter Rachel , Brown Emily , Murray Brittney , Kindt Iris , Van Enkevort Erin , Pollin Toni I. , Sturm Amy C. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common inherited form of high cholesterol that significantly increases the risk for coronary artery disease. Early detection and treatment can decrease morbidity and mortality and provide important risk information to family members. However, FH remains vastly underdiagnosed and undertreated. Cascade screening is the process of iteratively testing first‐degree relatives for a genetic disease. It has been shown to effectively identify individuals with undiagnosed FH. The majority of research on methods for cascade screening has been conducted outside of the United States (U.S.). For indirect contact, index cases encourage relatives to undergo testing, and for direct contact, healthcare providers (HCP) obtain the index case's consent to contact relatives and offer information. Currently, there is not an accepted strategy for cascade screening programs in the U.S. This study investigated perspectives on direct and indirect contact for cascade screening from individuals with FH. An online survey was designed in collaboration with the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Foundation (FHF). Fifty‐eight percent of U.S. index cases (11/19, 57.9%) and all international index cases (8/8, 100%) indicated willingness to provide contact information for certain at‐risk relatives to a HCP for the purpose of directly informing relatives of their risk for FH in a hypothetical scenario. These findings provide an example of U.S. data and additional international data suggesting that some individuals with FH may consider direct contact a reasonable approach to improve screening uptake among family members. These initial findings need further confirmation in a larger group.
Green and efficient synthesis of 1H‐indazolo[1,2‐b] phthalazine‐1,6,11(13H)‐triones using ZrO(NO3)2.2H2O as a novel catalyst and theoretical study of synthesized compounds
Authors: Saberi Biroon Shabnam , Shajari Nahid , Yahyaei Hooriye 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe one‐pot three‐component synthesis for the preparation of 1H‐indazolo[1,2‐b] phthalazine‐1,6,11(13H)‐triones through condensation of phthalimide, hydrazine monohydrate, dimedone, and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of a novel catalytic amount of ZrO(NO3)2.2H2O at reflux conditions in water has been reported. Quantum theoretical calculations for the three structures of compounds (5a, 5b, and 5c) were performed using the G3MP2, LC‐ωPBE, MP2, and B3LYP methods with the 6‐311 + G** basis set. After optimizing the structures, geometric parameters were obtained and experimental measurements were compared with the calculated data. The structures of the products were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and elemental analysis. IR spectra data and 1H NMR and 13C NMR chemical shifts computations of the 1H‐indazolo[1,2‐b]phthalazine‐1,6,11(13H)‐trione derivatives in the ground state were calculated. Frontier molecular orbitals, total density of states, thermodynamic parameters, and molecular electrostatic potentials of the title compounds were investigated by theoretical calculations. Molecular properties such as the ionization potential (I), electron affinity (A), chemical hardness (η), electronic chemical potential (μ), and electrophilicity (ω) were investigated for the structures. Consequently, there was an excellent agreement between experimental and theoretical results.
Clinical characteristics of 54 medical staff with COVID‐19: A retrospective study in a single center in Wuhan, China
Authors: Chu Jiaojiao , Yang Nan , Wei Yanqiu , Yue Huihui , Zhang Fengqin , Zhao Jianping , He Li , Sheng Gaohong , Chen Peng , Li Gang , Wu Sisi , Zhang Bo , Zhang Shu , Wang Congyi , Miao Xiaoping , Li Juan , Liu Wenhua , Zhang Huilan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn December 2019, an outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐Cov‐2) infection occurred in Wuhan, and rapidly spread to worldwide, which has attracted many people's concerns about the patients. However, studies on the infection status of medical personnel is still lacking. A total of 54 cases of SARS‐Cov‐2 infected medical staff from Tongji Hospital between 7 January and 11 February 2020 were analyzed in this retrospective study. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were compared between different groups by statistical method. From 7 January to 11 February 2020, 54 medical staff of Tongji Hospital were hospitalized due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Most of them were from other clinical departments (72.2%) rather than emergency department (3.7%) or medical technology departments (18.5%). Among the 54 patients with COVID‐19, the distribution of age had a significant difference between non‐severe type and severe/critical cases (median age: 47 years vs 38 years; P = .0015). However, there was no statistical difference in terms of gender distribution and the first symptoms between theses two groups. Furthermore, we observed that the lesion regions in SARS‐Cov‐2 infected lungs with severe‐/critical‐type of medical staff were more likely to exhibit lesions in the right upper lobe (31.7% vs 0%; P = .028) and right lung (61% vs 18.2%; P = .012). Based on our findings with medical staff infection data, we suggest training for all hospital staff to prevent infection and preparation of sufficient protection and disinfection materials.
Genomic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of SARS‐COV‐2 in Italy
Authors: Zehender Gianguglielmo , Lai Alessia , Bergna Annalisa , Meroni Luca , Riva Agostino , Balotta Claudia , Tarkowski Maciej , Gabrieli Arianna , Bernacchia Dario , Rusconi Stefano , Rizzardini Giuliano , Antinori Spinello , Galli Massimo 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis report describes the isolation, molecular characterization, and phylogenetic analysis of the first three complete genomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) isolated from three patients involved in the first outbreak of COVID‐19 in Lombardy, Italy. Early molecular epidemiological tracing suggests that SARS‐CoV‐2 was present in Italy weeks before the first reported cases of infection.
Detectable SARS‐CoV‐2 viral RNA in feces of three children during recovery period of COVID‐19 pneumonia
Authors: Zhang Tongqiang , Cui Xiaojian , Zhao Xue , Wang Jinhu , Zheng Jiafeng , Zheng Guifen , Guo Wei , Cai Chunquan , He Sijia , Xu Yongsheng 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a newly emerging infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). After its first occurrence in Wuhan of China from December 2019, COVID‐19 rapidly spread around the world. According to the World Health Organization statement on 13 March 2020, there had been over 132 500 confirmed cases globally. Nevertheless, the case reports of children are rare, which results in the lack of evidence for preventing and controlling of children's infection. Here, we report three cases of SARS‐CoV‐2 infected children diagnosed from 3 February to 17 February 2020 in Tianjin, China. All of these three cases experienced mild illness and recovered soon after the treatment, with the nucleic acid of throat swab turning negative within 14, 11, and 7 days after diagnosis, respectively. However, after been discharged, all three cases were tested SARS‐CoV‐2 positive in the stool samples within 10 days, in spite of their remained negative nucleic acid in throat swab specimens. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of the possibility of fecal‐oral transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, especially for children cases.
Phylogenetic analysis of the first four SARS‐CoV‐2 cases in Chile
Authors: Castillo Andrés E. , Parra Bárbara , Tapia Paz , Acevedo Alejandra , Lagos Jaime , Andrade Winston , Arata Loredana , Leal Gabriel , Barra Gisselle , Tambley Carolina , Tognarelli Javier , Bustos Patricia , Ulloa Soledad , Fasce Rodrigo , Fernández Jorge 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe current pandemic caused by the new coronavirus is a worldwide public health concern. To aboard this emergency, and like never before, scientific groups around the world have been working in a fast and coordinated way to get the maximum of information about this virus when it has been almost 3 months since the first cases were detected in Wuhan province in China. The complete genome sequences of around 450 isolates are available, and studies about similarities and differences among them and with the close related viruses that caused similar epidemics in this century. In this work, we studied the complete genome of the first four cases of the new coronavirus disease in Chile, from patients who traveled to Europe and Southeast Asia. Our findings reveal at least two different viral variants entries to Chilean territory, coming from Europe and Asia. We also sub‐classified the isolates into variants according to punctual mutations in the genome. Our work contributes to global information about transmission dynamics and the importance to take control measures to stop the spread of the infection.
How could a difference of 0.5°C in global warming modify the mean and extreme climate conditions around Antarctica?
Authors: Saurral Ramiro I. , Raggio Gabriela A. , Gulizia Carla N. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis paper quantifies the potential benefit of limiting the global warming to 1.5°C above the preindustrial level on the high‐latitude climate of the Southern Hemisphere compared to 2.0°C and above. A set of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 global climate model experiments is used in order to determine the mean projected changes in surface air temperature, sea level pressure, surface winds and sea ice distribution over and around Antarctica. Alongside, changes in selected variables related to extremes (such as the annual number of extremely cold mornings and extremely cold days) are also quantified as a function of the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) considered reaching the given warming threshold. Physical mechanisms for the projected variations in sea ice are proposed, including surface air temperature, changes in low‐level air temperature advection and meridional winds. Results show that there would be significant differences in the atmospheric and sea ice variable changes depending on the warming threshold and RCP considered, and that indeed keeping the global warming under 1.5°C could have a noticeable impact particularly on the distribution of sea ice over the Southern Ocean.
Estimating near‐surface air temperature across Israel using a machine learning based hybrid approach
Authors: Zhou Bin , Erell Evyatar , Hough Ian , Rosenblatt Jonathan , Just Allan C. , Novack Victor , Kloog Itai 
Published: March 2020

AbstractRising global temperatures over the last decades have increased heat exposure among populations worldwide. An accurate estimate of the resulting impacts on human health demands temporally explicit and spatially resolved monitoring of near‐surface air temperature (Ta). Neither ground‐based nor satellite‐borne observations can achieve this individually, but the combination of the two provides synergistic opportunities. In this study, we propose a two‐stage machine learning‐based hybrid model to estimate 1 × 1 km2 gridded intra‐daily Ta from surface skin temperature (Ts) across the complex terrain of Israel during 2004–2016. We first applied a random forest (RF) regression model to impute missing Ts from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua and Terra satellites, integrating Ts from the geostationary Spinning Enhanced Visible and InfraRed Imager (SEVIRI) satellite and synoptic variables from European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts' (ECMWF) ERA5 reanalysis data sets. The imputed Ts are in turn fed into the Stage 2 RF‐based model to estimate Ta at the satellite overpass hours of each day. We evaluated the model's performance applying out‐of‐sample fivefold cross validation. Both stages of the hybrid model perform very well with out‐of‐sample fivefold cross validated R2 of 0.99 and 0.96, MAE of 0.42°C and 1.12°C, and RMSE of 0.65°C and 1.58°C (Stage 1: imputation of Ts, and Stage 2: estimation of Ta from Ts, respectively). The newly proposed model provides excellent computationally efficient estimation of near‐surface air temperature at high resolution in both space and time, which helps further minimize exposure misclassification in epidemiological studies.