bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
AAV9-Retro mediates efficient transduction with axon terminal absorption and blood–brain barrier transportation
Authors: Lin Kunzhang , Zhong Xin , Li Lei , Ying Min , Yang Tian , Zhang Zhijian , He Xiaobin , Xu Fuqiang 
Published: October 2020

AbstractRecombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs), particularly those that permit efficient gene transfer to neurons from axonal terminals or across the blood–brain barrier, are useful vehicles for structural and functional studies of the neural circuit and for the treatment of many gene-deficient brain diseases that need to compensate for the correct genes in every cell in the whole brain. However, AAVs with these two advantages have not been reported. Here, we describe a new capsid engineering method, which exploits the combination of different capsids and aims to yield a capsid that can provide more alternative routes of administration that are more suitable for the wide-scale transduction of the central nervous system (CNS). A new AAV variant, AAV9-Retro, was developed by inserting the 10-mer peptide fragment from AAV2-Retro into the capsid of AAV9, and the biodistribution properties were evaluated in mice. By intracranial and intravenous injection in the mice, we found that AAV9-Retro can retrogradely infect projection neurons with an efficiency comparable to that of AAV2-Retro and retains the characteristic of AAV9, which can be transported across the nervous system. Our strategy provides a new tool for the manipulation of neural circuits and future preclinical and clinical treatment of some neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.
Clinical and imaging features of pediatric COVID-19
Authors: Zhang Yu , Xie Ru-Ming , He Yu-Lin , Xing Li-Hong , Dong Li , Zhang Jian-Zhong , Xing Wei-Hong , Lv Xiao-Yan , Lu Yi-Bo , Liu Qiang , Lin Ling-Bo , Liu Gui-Zeng , Li Li , Li Pan , Xie Yuan-Zhong , Ni Zhi-Yu , Yin Xiao-Ping , Li Hong-Jun , Gao Bu-Lang 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundPediatric COVID-19 is relatively mild and may vary from that in adults. This study was to investigate the epidemic, clinical, and imaging features of pediatric COVID-19 pneumonia for early diagnosis and treatment.MethodsForty-one children infected with COVID-19 were analyzed in the epidemic, clinical and imaging data.ResultsAmong 30 children with mild COVID-19, seven had no symptoms, fifteen had low or mediate fever, and eight presented with cough, nasal congestion, diarrhea, headache, or fatigue. Among eleven children with moderate COVID-19, nine presented with low or mediate fever, accompanied with cough and runny nose, and two had no symptoms. Significantly (P < 0.05) more children had a greater rate of cough in moderate than in mild COVID-19. Thirty children with mild COVID-19 were negative in pulmonary CT imaging, whereas eleven children with moderate COVID-19 had pulmonary lesions, including ground glass opacity in ten (90.9%), patches of high density in six (54.5%), consolidation in three (27.3%), and enlarged bronchovascular bundles in seven (63.6%). The lesions were distributed along the bronchus in five patients (45.5%). The lymph nodes were enlarged in the pulmonary hilum in two patients (18.2%). The lesions were presented in the right upper lobe in two patients (18.1%), right middle lobe in one (9.1%), right lower lobe in six (54.5%), left upper lobe in five (45.5%), and left lower lobe in eight (72.7%).ConclusionsChildren with COVID-19 have mild or moderate clinical and imaging presentations. A better understanding of the clinical and CT imaging helps ascertaining those with negative nucleic acid and reducing misdiagnosis rate for those with atypical and concealed symptoms.
Cancer predictive studies
Authors: Amelio Ivano , Bertolo Riccardo , Bove Pierluigi , Candi Eleonora , Chiocchi Marcello , Cipriani Chiara , Di Daniele Nicola , Ganini Carlo , Juhl Hartmut , Mauriello Alessandro , Marani Carla , Marshall John , Montanaro Manuela , Palmieri Giampiero , Piacentini Mauro , Sica Giuseppe , Tesauro Manfredi , Rovella Valentina , Tisone Giuseppe , Shi Yufang , Wang Ying , Melino Gerry 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe identification of individual or clusters of predictive genetic alterations might help in defining the outcome of cancer treatment, allowing for the stratification of patients into distinct cohorts for selective therapeutic protocols. Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial childhood tumour, clinically defined in five distinct stages (1–4 & 4S), where stages 3–4 define chemotherapy-resistant, highly aggressive disease phases. NB is a model for geneticists and molecular biologists to classify genetic abnormalities and identify causative disease genes. Despite highly intensive basic research, improvements on clinical outcome have been predominantly observed for less aggressive cancers, that is stages 1,2 and 4S. Therefore, stages 3–4 NB are still complicated at the therapeutic level and require more intense fundamental research. Using neuroblastoma as a model system, here we herein outline how cancer prediction studies can help at steering preclinical and clinical research toward the identification and exploitation of specific genetic landscape. This might result in maximising the therapeutic success and minimizing harmful effects in cancer patients.
Doppler radar rainfall prediction and gauge data
Authors: Lansford Jesse W. , Walsh Tyson H. , Hromadka T. V. , Rao P. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Objective
The data herein represents multiple gauge sets and multiple radar sites of like-type Doppler data sets combined to produce populations of ordered pairs. Publications spanning decades yet specific to Doppler radar sites contain graphs of data pairs of Doppler radar precipitation estimates versus rain gauge precipitation readings.

Data description
Taken from multiple sources, the data set represents several radar sites and rain gauge sites combined for 8830 data points. The data is relevant in various applications of hydrometeorology and engineering as well as weather forecasting. Further, the importance of accuracy in radar and precipitation estimates continues to increase, necessitating the incorporation of as much data as possible.
Rebelled epigenome: histone H3S10 phosphorylation and H3S10 kinases in cancer biology and therapy
Authors: Komar Dorota , Juszczynski Przemyslaw 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundWith the discovery that more than half of human cancers harbor mutations in chromatin proteins, deregulation of epigenetic mechanisms has been recognized a hallmark of malignant transformation. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histone proteins, as main components of epigenetic regulatory machinery, are also broadly accepted as therapeutic target. Current “epigenetic” therapies target predominantly writers, erasers and readers of histone acetylation and (to a lesser extent) methylation, leaving other types of PTMs largely unexplored. One of them is the phosphorylation of serine 10 on histone H3 (H3S10ph).Main bodyH3S10ph is emerging as an important player in the initiation and propagation of cancer, as it facilitates cellular malignant transformation and participates in fundamental cellular functions. In normal cells this histone mark dictates the hierarchy of additional histone modifications involved in the formation of protein binding scaffolds, transcriptional regulation, blocking repressive epigenetic information and shielding gene regions from heterochromatin spreading. During cell division, this mark is essential for chromosome condensation and segregation. It is also involved in the function of specific DNA–RNA hybrids, called R-loops, which modulate transcription and facilitate chromosomal instability. Increase in H3S10ph is observed in numerous cancer types and its abundance has been associated with inferior prognosis. Many H3S10-kinases, including MSK1/2, PIM1, CDK8 and AURORA kinases, have been long considered targets in cancer therapy. However, since these proteins also participate in other critical processes, including signal transduction, apoptotic signaling, metabolic fitness and transcription, their chromatin functions are often neglected.ConclusionsH3S10ph and enzymes responsible for deposition of this histone modification are important for chromatin activity and oncogenesis. Epigenetic-drugs targeting this axis of modifications, potentially in combination with conventional or targeted therapy, provide a promising angle in search for knowledge-driven therapeutic strategies in oncology.
Aiming for a shorter time to diagnosis: pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis in British Columbia
Authors: Jia Jocelyn , Chan Edmond S. , Avinashi Vishal , Hsu Elaine , Ko Hin Hin , Soller Lianne 
Published: October 2020

AbstractLonger time to diagnosis for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis can lead to adverse patient outcomes, but the length of diagnostic delay has not been quantified for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis in Canada. Our study defines the time to diagnosis (TTD) for pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis in British Columbia and identifies factors that predict increased time to diagnosis. The median TTD was 21 months (1.75 years; IQR = 7, 45) with a median age at EoE diagnosis of 105 months (8.75 years; IQR = 44, 156). Caucasians experienced significantly longer TTD compared to other ethnicities (24 months (IQR = 7, 52) and 12 months (IQR = 4.5, 23) respectively, p = 0.008). Caucasian ethnicity (p = 0.037) and older age at the time of diagnosis (p = 0.006) predicted increased TTD. Our model explained 7.9% (Adjusted R2 = 0.079) of the total variance for our cohort.
Stochastic mathematical model for the spread and control of Corona virus
Authors: Hussain Sultan , Zeb Anwar , Rasheed Akhter , Saeed Tareq 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis work is devoted to a stochastic model on the spread and control of corona virus (COVID-19), in which the total population of a corona infected area is divided into susceptible, infected, and recovered classes. In reality, the number of individuals who get disease, the number of deaths due to corona virus, and the number of recovered are stochastic, because nobody can tell the exact value of these numbers in the future. The models containing these terms must be stochastic. Such numbers are estimated and counted by a random process called a Poisson process (or birth process). We construct an SIR-type model in which the above numbers are stochastic and counted by a Poisson process. To understand the spread and control of corona virus in a better way, we first study the stability of the corresponding deterministic model, investigate the unique nonnegative strong solution and an inequality managing of which leads to control of the virus. After this, we pass to the stochastic model and show the existence of a unique strong solution. Next, we use the supermartingale approach to investigate a bound managing of which also leads to decrease of the number of infected individuals. Finally, we use the data of the COVOD-19 in USA to calculate the intensity of Poisson processes and verify our results.
Consumption smoothing and price enhancement motives for grain storage: empirical perspectives from rural Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfaye Wondimagegn , Gebremariam Gebrelibanos 
Published: October 2020

AbstractConsumption smoothing and temporal price arbitrage are the two main economic motives for grain storage in semi-subsistence economies. Nonetheless, little has been documented on the determinants of households’ grain storage behavior. Using a rich panel data from maize producing households in Ethiopia, this paper investigates the determinants of households’ decision to store grain for consumption and/or for the market. We found that grain storage is mainly determined by climatic factors, technological innovations, and shocks. Grain storage for consumption and for the markets are not mutually exclusive decisions. While the decisions made by the households to store maize for consumption and for the markets are influenced by a host of similar factors, the effects of climatic factors and infrastructure are found to be heterogeneous.
Weekly group tummy time classes are feasible and acceptable to mothers with infants: a pilot cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hewitt Lyndel , Stephens Samantha , Spencer Abbe , Stanley Rebecca M. , Okely Anthony D. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
The World Health Organization recommends 30 min of tummy time daily for improved motor development and reduced likelihood of plagiocephaly. As only 30% of infants meet this recommendation, parents require strategies and support to increase this proportion.

Methods
The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a group intervention to promote tummy time. The design is a cluster randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis. Five groups of healthy infants (N = 35, baseline mean (SD) age 5.9 (2.8) weeks) and their mothers attending local mother’s groups (Australia) were randomly allocated to the intervention or control group. The intervention group received group tummy time classes in addition to usual care. The control group received usual care with their child and family health nurse. Primary outcomes were intervention feasibility and acceptability. Secondary outcomes were tummy time duration (accelerometry), adherence to physical activity guidelines, head shape, and motor development. Measures were taken at baseline, post-intervention, and when infants were 6 months of age. Analyses were by linear mixed models and Cohen’s d statistic.

Results
Recruitment, retention, and collection of objective data met feasibility targets. Acceptability was also met with intervention mothers reporting the information, goal planning, and handouts significantly more useful and relevant than control group mothers (p < 0.01). Moderate effect sizes were also found at post-intervention for tummy time duration, adherence to physical activity guidelines and infant ability in prone and supine favoring the intervention group (intervention infants had a mean of 30 min and 30% adherence to guidelines (95% CI 0 to 60.6 min) compared to the control infants who had a mean of 16.6 min and 13% adherence to the guidelines (95% CI 0 to 42.1 min, Cohen’s d = 0.5). Limitations were the small sample size, 4-week intervention, limited accelerometer use, and a homogenous sample of participants.

Conclusion
Group tummy time classes delivered in a mother’s group setting were shown to be feasible and acceptable. A larger randomized controlled trial is warranted.

Trial registration
ANZCTR, ACTRN12617001298303p. Registered 11 September 2017
High serum uric acid within the normal range is a useful predictor of hypertension among Japanese community-dwelling elderly women
Authors: Kawamoto Ryuichi , Ninomiya Daisuke , Akase Taichi , Asuka Kikuchi , Kumagi Teru 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
The risk associated with serum uric acid (SUA) levels when within the normal range is unknown. This study aims to examine whether SUA within the normal range is a predictor of hypertension.

Methods
The subjects comprised 704 men aged 71 ± 9 (mean ± standard deviation) years and 946 women aged 70 ± 8 years recruited for a survey at the community based annual medical check-up. The main outcome was the presence of hypertension (antihypertensive medication and/or having SBP ≥140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥90 mmHg).

Results
At baseline, 467 (66.3%) men and 608 (64.3%) women had hypertension. Comparing to lowest quartile in women (SUA-1, uric acid < 4.1 mg/dL), the unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for hypertension of SUA-2 (4.1 to 4.7 mg/dL), SUA-3 (4.8 to 5.4 mg/dL), and SUA-4 (≥5.5 mg/dL) were 1.11 (0.78–1.59), 1.75 (1.20–2.55), and 1.89 (1.30–2.77), respectively. These associations were apparent even after adjustments for age, but ORs were attenuated after adjusting for all confounding factors. During a follow-up of 3.0 years, there were 35 (24.0%) hypertension cases in men and 51 (20.8%) in women. In women only, a significant association between increased SUA categories and incidence of hypertension was observed, and the multivariate-ORs (95% (CI) for incident hypertension of SUA-3 (4.5–5.2 mg/dL) and SUA-4 (≥5.3 mg/dL) were 2.23 (0.81–6.11) and 3.84 (1.36–10.8), respectively.

Conclusions
These results suggest that baseline SUA within the normal range could be an important predictor for incidence of hypertension in Japanese community-dwelling elderly women.
Partnering with patients to get better outcomes with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy: towards engagement of patients in early phase trials
Authors: Foster Madison , Fergusson Dean A , Hawrysh Terry , Presseau Justin , Kekre Natasha , Schwartz Stuart , Castillo Gisell , Asad Sarah , Fox Grace , Atkins Harold , Thavorn Kednapa , Montroy Joshua , Holt Robert A , Monfaredi Zarah , Lalu Manoj M 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Aim
Though patient engagement in clinical research is growing, recent reports suggest few clinical trials report on such activities. To address this gap, we describe our approach to patient engagement in the development of a clinical trial protocol to assess a new immunotherapy for blood cancer (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, CAR-T cell therapy).

Methods
Our team developed a clinical trial protocol by working with patient partners from inception. Two patient partners with lived blood cancer experience were identified through referrals from our team’s professional network and patient organization contacts. Our patient partners were onboarded to the team and engaged in several studies conducted to develop the clinical trial protocol, including a systematic review of the existing literature on the therapy, patient interviews and a survey to obtain perspectives on barriers and enablers to participating in the trial, an early economic analysis, and a retrospective cohort study.

Results
Engaging patient partners enhanced our research in ways that would not have otherwise occurred. By selecting patient important outcomes for data collection, our partners helped flag that quality of life and health utility measures have not been reported in previous CAR-T cell therapy trials for blood cancer. Our partners also co-developed a non-technical summary of the systematic review that summarized results in an accessible manner. Our patient partners reviewed interview and survey questions, to improve the language and appropriateness; provided recruitment suggestions; and provided a patient perspective on the results, thereby confirming the importance of findings. Input was also obtained on costs for the early economic analysis. Our patient partners identified costs that may be a burden to both patients and caregivers during a trial and helped to confirm that the overall structure of the economic model reflected the patient care pathway. Our patient partners also shared their diagnosis and treatment stories, which helped to provide the research team with insight into this experience.

Conclusions
Contributions by our patient partners were invaluable to each component study, as well as the overall development of the trial protocol. We plan to use this approach in the future in order to meaningfully engage patients in the development of other clinical trials; we also hope that by reporting our methods this will help other research teams to do the same.

Trial registration
Affiliated with the development of NCT03765177.
A competitive analysis of EU ports by fixing spatial and economic dimensions
Authors: Quintano Claudio , Mazzocchi Paolo , Rocca Antonella 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiencies of ten of the leading European ports. The motivation of the research refers to the relevant topic of selection of indicators that can be involved in the comparative analysis. Concerning the theoretical model, the authors’ efforts are especially directed towards the usage of the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and of the data envelopment analysis (DEA). These techniques have been widely adopted for benchmarking and performance evaluation by involving indicators based on data from National Accounts. If one of these indicators, such as labour force consistency, is not available at a specific level of aggregation, detailed assumptions are needed to address this complication. The present study proposes an additive model in order to provide an estimation of ports’ economic activities by fixing the port activity boundaries and the spatial perimeter of the firms investigated. Several NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) levels and NACE (EU Statistical Classification of Economic Activities) codes are fixed to offer a useful comparable labour indicator. Empirical results reveal that each port area presents a combination of the NACE categories which significantly impact the efficiency that can reach very high performance values through both the SFA and DEA techniques. Since the managers can choose which sectors to improve, which particular improvement strategies to support, which specific service to add, their decisions impact this performance evaluation, and their performance can be verified through the approaches proposed.
Pathogenicity of indigenous Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) against Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) under laboratory conditions
Authors: Chergui Sabrina , Boudjemaa Khadidja , Benzehra Abdelmadjid , Karaca Ismail 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is the major insect pest of fruit production worldwide. Chemical control of this pest has induced the selection of resistant medflies populations and negative environmental impact. In addition, the use of pesticides has become an obstacle to the fresh agricultural products exported to many countries that restrict pesticides residues. The aim of this study was to propose alternatives based on the use of microbiological products for the control of C. capitata.

Main body
The pathogenicity of the Turkish isolate Beauveria bassiana BMAUM M6-4 was evaluated against immature stages and adult of C. capitata under laboratory conditions at a concentration of 107 conidia/ml via different routes of exposure. Conidial treatment was applied by spraying soil and filter paper against 3rd instar larvae and pupae. In contrast, the treatment was administered to adult males and females by contact and ingestion. The percentage of mortality was recorded on the 3rd, 7th, 12th and 15th day after inoculation. Obtained results showed that B. bassiana was very effective against the adult’s fly, where males were more susceptible than females in both treatments (contact and ingestion). This isolate was tested against 3rd instar larvae. It achieved an infection rate of 33.33 and 43.5% of the larvae treated on filter paper and in the soil, respectively. Application of conidial preparations to soil reduced insect emergence and CAN represent a promising strategy for fruit fly integrated management (57.33 and 56.66% emergence from the treatments in soil and filter paper).

Conclusion
Entomopathogenic fungi are promising as a biocontrol agent that can be used under different modes of ground application against larvae, prepupae and pupae, and/or as a bait spraying or contact against adults.