bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Economy-wide effects of reducing the time spent for water fetching and firewood collection in Ethiopia
Authors: Mosa Abdulaziz , Grethe Harald , Siddig Khalid 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Water fetching and firewood collection are among home activities that are part of the daily routine of many households in rural Ethiopia. Households travel long distances and spend large amounts of time every day for collecting water and firewood. Fetching water and firewood reduce labor available for market related activities such as agriculture that affects production and productivity of these sectors negatively. Better access to water facility and energy efficient technology (such as improved stoves) is expected to release labor for market related activities that can have economy-wide impacts. The objective of this study is to investigate the economy-wide effects of access to water facility and improved stoves. Methods: The study uses the updated 2004/05 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) of Ethiopia. The SAM is modified to account for a detailed representation of water fetching, firewood collection and leisure activities and commodities. This study applies a single country Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model to the updated SAM of Ethiopia. The simulation scenario is a 50% increase in the Total Factor Productivity (TFP) of both water fetching and firewood collection activities due to better access to water infrastructure and cooking improved stoves. Results: The findings of the study show that better access to drinking water supply and improved stoves reduces labor time spent for water fetching and firewood collection. The released labor from water fetching and firewood collection partly reallocated to leisure consumption and partly to market related activities. Those freed labors that are reallocated to marketed sectors including agricultural and non-agricultural activities leads to increase employment and enhance domestic production. Better access to drinking water and improved stoves also enhances household welfare. Households that allocate a relatively large proportion of labor to water fetching and firewood collection gain relatively more welfare. Macroeconomic indicators such as GDP, total domestic production, absorption, and imports are also positively affected due to improved access to water and energy efficient technology.Conclusions: It is helpful to recognize the economic significance of labor released from water fetching and firewood collection in any developing economy with a limited supply of water facility and access to energy technology.
Exploration of the Pregnant Women's Experiences During COVID-19 Disease Crisis:&nbsp;A Qualitative Study
Authors: Bakouei Fatemeh , Nikpour Maryam , Rad Hajar Adib , marzoni zahra abadi 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Prevention and control of COVID-19 disease in pregnant women has become a major concern. Healthcare providers should be aware that restriction of the routine prenatal care may have adverse effects. A qualitative approach can be helpful in understanding the pregnant women's experience and perspective in crisis. The study was conducted to explain the pregnant women's experiences during COVID-19 disease crisis.Methods: The qualitative study was conducted with conventional content analysis. Pregnant women selected with purposive sampling from six urban health centers in Babol (North of Iran). The semi structured individual interviews were done by telephone from May 03 to June 10, 2020. The systematic thematic analysis was used to identify and organize themes into clusters and categories across interviews.Result: We recruited twelve pregnant women until data saturation. Three theme categories extracted from data analysis. The first was "unpleasant feelings during pregnancy", the pregnant women stated feelings in this crisis such as worry, fear, obsession, boredom, nervousness, discouragement, and the like, which led them to have no positive pregnancy experience. The second category was "adjusted lifestyle". They experienced changes in lifestyle with the aim of preventing COVID-19 disease. The third category was “safe pregnancy care”. The pregnant women, while paying attention to the importance of pregnancy care, were forced to limit, delay, or modify some cares in order to be safe. Conclusion: The pregnant women experienced unpleasant feelings in this crisis; therefore, they should receive the necessary consulting to maintain mental health. All pregnant women reported some changes in their lifestyle and pregnancy care in order to health considerations to prevent the disease. Regular training for all pregnant women is necessary to manage this important pregnancy period while maintaining the maternal and fetal health in crisis.
Stromal Changes In The Aged Lung Induce An Emergence From Melanoma Dormancy
Authors: Weeraratna Ashani , Fane Mitchell , Douglass Stephen , Alicea Gretchen , Webster Marie , Rebecca Vito , Marino Gloria , Chhabra Yash , Almeida Filipe , Ecker Brett , Beer Thomas , Tang Hsin-Yao , Kossenkov Andrew , Speicher David , Aguirre-Ghiso Julio 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Dormant tumor cells escape the primary site, do not grow out into macroscopic tumors in the distal site, but maintain enough plasticity to reactivate and form overt metastatic lesions, sometimes taking several decades. Despite its importance in metastasis and residual disease, few studies have been able to successfully model or characterize dormancy within melanoma. Here, we show that age-related changes in the lung microenvironment facilitate a permissive niche for efficient outgrowth of disseminated dormant tumor cells, in contrast to the aged skin, where age-related changes suppress melanoma growth but drive dissemination. A model of melanoma progression that addresses these microenvironmental complexities is the phenotype switching model, which argues that melanoma cells switch between a proliferative cell state and a slower-cycling, invasive state1–3. Dermal fibroblasts are key orchestrators of promoting phenotype switching in melanoma via changes in the secretion of soluble factors during aging4–8. Specifically, we have identified Wnt5A as a master regulator of activating metastatic dormancy, which enables efficient seeding and survival of melanoma cells in metastatic niches. Age-induced reprogramming of lung fibroblasts increases their secretion of the soluble Wnt antagonist sFRP1, which inhibits Wnt5A, enabling efficient metastatic outgrowth. Further, we have identified the tyrosine kinase receptors AXL and MER as promoting a dormancy-to-reactivation axis respectively. Overall, we find that age-induced changes in distal metastatic microenvironments promotes efficient reactivation of dormant melanoma cells in the lung.
Magnetic and Optical Field Multi-Assisted Li-O2 Batteries with Self-Regulated Charge and Discharge
Authors: Wang Xiao-Xue , Guan De-Hui , Li Fei , Li Ma-Lin , Zheng Li-Jun , Xu Ji-Jing 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
The photo-assisted lithium-oxygen (Li-O2) system emerged as an important direction for future development by effectively reducing the large overpotential in Li-O2 batteries. However, the advancement is greatly hindered by the rapidly recombined photoexcited electrons and holes upon the discharging and charging processes. Herein, we make a breakthrough in overcoming these challenges by developing a new magnetic and optical field multi-assisted Li-O2 battery with 3D porous NiO nanosheets on the Ni foam (NiO/FNi) as a photoelectrode. Under illumination, the photogenerated electrons and holes of the NiO/FNi photoelectrode play a key role in reducing the overpotential during discharging and charging, respectively. By introducing the external magnetic field, the Lorentz force acts oppositely on the photogenerated electrons and holes, suppressing the recombination of charge carriers. The magnetic and optical field multi-assisted Li-O2 battery achieves an ultra-low charge potential of 2.73 V, a high energy efficiency of 96.7%, as well as a good cycling stability of 200 h. This external magnetic and optical field multi-assisted technology paves a new way of developing high-performance Li-O2 batteries and other energy storage systems.
A Rapid Blood Test to Monitor the Immune Status Change of Dairy Cows and to Evaluate their Disease Risk during the Periparturient Period
Authors: Tsai Chia-Yu , Hassan Rick , Hung Hao-Che , Weber Tanya , Price W. J. , Rezamand Pedram , HUO QUN 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
BackgroundDairy cows are at the highest risk of developing clinical and subclinical diseases and disorders in the first few weeks following parturition. During the periparturient period, from approximately 30 days before calving to 30 days postpartum, the immune system of the dairy cows undergoes a multitude of changes to prepare for parturition, colostrum production and lactation. One such change is the transfer of a large amount of immunoglobulin G proteins, especially subclass IgG1 to colostrum, leading to a reduction of IgG1 in the blood. As IgG1 and IgG2 need to maintain a balance to protect animals from intracellular and extracellular pathogens, a disruption of this balance compromises the immune protection of the animals. Rapid tests that can detect these immunological changes may be potentially useful for predicting the risk of dairy cows developing infectious diseases and other adverse health conditions following parturition. ResultsWe report here a new rapid test to detect certain immune status changes in the blood serum of dairy cows. This test uses a nanoparticle probe to evaluate the relative quantity of IgG1 and IgG2 in a sample. The nanoparticle probes are aggregated together upon interaction with bovine IgG2, while bovine IgG1 inhibits such interactions. The nanoparticle aggregates are detected by monitoring the color change of the assay solution using a handheld device. We tested the serum samples from 230 dairy cows collected during periparturient period, from 14-7 days before calving to 7-14 days postpartum. Results show that the test clearly detected an immune status change associated with IgG1/IgG2 relative quantity change around the time of parturition. Data analysis using mixed liner model in SAS (Statistical Analysis System) revealed a significant difference (P value = 0.042) in their test responses between healthy cows and cows with mastitis and/or lameness. ConclusionThe new rapid test we report here can be used to detect and monitor certain immune status change in dairy cows during the periparturient period. The test results may be potentially used to evaluate and predict the health risk of the dairy cows following parturition.
Establishment of prediction models for lung cancer NOG/PDX models: A guideline for machine learning in small biomedical datasets
Authors: Guo Haoyue , Diao Li , Qi Hui , Dai Chunlei , Chen Yu , Tang Xuzhen , He Yayi 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Targeted therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors are the most promising treatments for lung cancers but still facing multiple challenges, including resistance and individual difference. Therefore, patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDX) models are developed for drug discovery and screening. NOG mice is under the destruction of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor common gamma chain, which is appropriate for building PDX models to test immunotherapies. However, current studies have little understanding of the causes of genotype mismatches in PDX or NOG/PDX models, which leads to a massive economic and time loss.Methods: Lung cancer tissues from 53 patients were obtained and engrafted into NOG mice. All of the patients' tumors and NOG/PDX models were detected for common gene mutations. Seventeen clinicopathological features were organized and input to stepwise logistic regression based on the lowest Akaike information criterion (AIC), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-logistic regression, support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE), eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Gradient Boosting & Categorical Features (CatBoost), and synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE). Finally, the performance of all models was evaluated by the accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), and F1 score in 100 testing groups.Results: Fifty-three lung cancer NOG/PDX models were successfully established, with a genotype matching rate of 79.2% (42/53). Two multivariable logistic regressions revealed that age, the number of driver mutations, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations, the type of prior chemotherapy, prior tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) therapy, and the source were potent predictors. Moreover, CatBoost (mean accuracy=0.960; mean AUC=0.939; mean F1 score=0.908) and 8-feature SVM (mean accuracy=0.950; mean AUC=0.934; mean F1 score=0.903) showed the best performance compared with the other algorithms. Moreover, the combination of SMOTE with SVM significantly improved the predictive capability (mean accuracy: 0.961 vs. 0.958, P=0.025; mean AUC: 0.940 vs. 0.935, P=0.045; mean F1 score: 0.909 vs. 0.903, P=0.047).Conclusions: We established an optimal predictive model to screen lung cancer patients for NOG/PDX models, and also offered a general approach for building prediction models in small unbalanced biomedical samples.
Locating hydrothermal fluid injection of the 2018 phreatic eruption at Kusatsu-Shirane volcano with volcanic tremor amplitude
Authors: Yamada Taishi , Kurokawa Aika K , Terada Akihiko , Kanda Wataru , Ueda Hideki , Aoyama Hiroshi , Ohkura Takahiro , Ogawa Yasuo , Tanada Toshikazu 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Kusatsu-Shirane volcano has been a particular study field for hydrothermal system and phreatic eruptions with plenty of thermal springs, fumaroles, and a crater lake of Yugama. On 23 January 2018, a phreatic eruption occurred at the Motoshirane cone of Kusatsu-Shirane, where no considerable volcanic activity had been reported in observational and historical records. To understand the eruption process of such a unique event, we examined observed seismic, tilt, and infrasound records. The onset of surface activity accompanied by infrasound signal was preceded by volcanic tremor and inflation of the volcano for 2 minutes. Tremor signals with a frequency of 5–20 Hz remarkably coincide with the rapid inflation. We apply an amplitude source location method to seismic signals in the 5–20 Hz band to estimate tremor source locations. Our analysis locates tremor sources at 1 km north of Motoshirane and at a depth of 0.5–1 km from the surface. Inferred source locations correspond a conductive layer of impermeable cap-rock estimated by magnetotelluric investigations, and an upper portion of the seismogenic region, suggesting hydrothermal activity hosted beneath the cap-rock. Examined seismic signals in the 5–20 Hz band are typically excited by volcano-tectonic events with faulting mechanism. Based on the above characteristics and background, we interpret that excitation of examined volcanic tremor reflects small shear fractures induced by sudden hydrothermal fluid injection to the cap-rock layer. The horizontal distance of 1 km between inferred tremor sources and Motoshirane implies lateral migration of the hydrothermal fluid, although we have not obtained direct evidence. Kusatsu-Shirane has a series of unrest at the Yugama lake since 2014. However, inferred tremor source locations do not overwrap active seismicity beneath Yugama. Therefore, our result suggests that the 2018 eruption was triggered by hydrothermal fluid injection through an independent pathway that has driven unrest activities at Yugama.
An Exploratory, Observational Cohort Study on the Dynamics of Heparin Binding Protein in Cardiothoracic Surgery Using Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Sterner Niklas , Fisher Jane , Thelaus Louise , Ketteler Carolin , Lemež Špela , Dardashti Alain , Nilsson Johan , Linder Adam , Zindovic Igor 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
BackgroundSurgical trauma and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) cause an inflammatory response, difficult to differentiate from postoperative infections. Heparin-binding protein (HBP) is released from neutrophils and has been shown to predict infection-related organ dysfunction and disease progression to severe sepsis. In order to explore the potential of HBP as a biomarker for postoperative infections and asess possible confounding effects of concomitant medications, this study aimed to investigate the pre-, intra- and postoperative dynamics of HBP in cardiac surgery with CPB.Methods Thirty patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB were included, of which 15 underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery and 15 underwent complex procedures with longer CPB duration. Ten patients undergoing lung surgery without CPB were also included as a conventional surgery reference group. HBP was measured at nine different perioperative time points.Results Our results showed that HBP levels were not affected by surgical trauma by itself. An increase in HBP levels was observed immediately following heparin administration and further increased during CPB. Prior to protaminization, we measured higher peak HBP-levels in the complex group (345.7 (287.8-472.6) ng/mL) compared with the CABG group (152.7 (85.3-204.0) ng/mL, p<0.001). HBP decreased rapidly following cessation of CPB and simultaneous protamine administration. Delay of protamine administration revealed that protamine, and not the cessation of CPB is primarily responsible for the rapidly reduced HBP concentration. At the arrival to the ICU, the median HBP levels were 24.8 (15.6-38.1) ng/mL for CABG patients compared with 50.5 (36.5-104.6) ng/mL for complex surgery patients (p=0.004). One day after surgery, HBP levels in all three groups were below the proposed cutoff of 30 ng/mL, previously found to predict development of organ dysfunction during infection, while other biomarkers for infections remained elevated.ConclusionsHBP levels are elevated by administration of heparin and the use of CPB but reduced by protamine administration. At postoperative day one, HBP levels were below the threshold for infection with organ dysfunction, indicating that postoperative HBP measurement may be a better screening tool for postoperative infections than other biomarkers of infections that remain elevated after surgery.
Crizotinib versus alectinib for treatment of ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer: a pooled analysis of the ALEX, ALESIA and J-ALEX clinical trials
Authors: Zeng Qinghua , Zhang Xiquan , He Shan , Zhou Zhiyong , Xia Luping , Zhang Wenxiong , Zeng Lin 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Crizotinib and alectinib were the two most commonly used anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We compared their antitumor efficacies and adverse effects based on a pooled analysis of the ALEX, ALESIA and J-ALEX clinical trials.Methods: Seven databases were searched for eligible articles. The primary endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), central nervous system (CNS)-PFS, drug responses and adverse effects (AEs).Results: Three randomized controlled clinical trials (ALEX, ALESIA and J-ALEX) with a total of 7 articles and 697 patients were included. Compared with crizotinib, alectinib exhibited superior efficacy in PFS (HR [hazard ratio]: 0.35, [0.25-0.49], p < 0.00001), OS (HR: 0.66, [0.47-0.92], p = 0.02), CNS-PFS (HR: 0.17, [0.11-0.24], p < 0.00001), duration of response (HR: 0.31, [0.23-0.42], p < 0.00001), objective response rate (ORR) (Risk ratio [RR]: 0.87, [0.80-0.94], p = 0.0003), partial response (PR) (RR: 0.88, [0.81-0.96], p = 0.004), and grade 3-5 AEs (RR: 1.43, [1.09-1.87], p = 0.009). Additionally, the survival advantages of alectinib compared with crizotinib increased with alectinib’s prolongation of survival time. The disease control rate, complete response and total AEs were comparable between the two groups. A greater increase in constipation, nausea, diarrhea, alanine aminotransferase, vomiting, aspartate aminotransferase, peripheral edema, dysgeusia, and visual impairment as well as a greater decrease in appetite and neutrophil count were associated with the crizotinib groupConclusions: In both antitumor efficacy and safety, alectinib appears to be superior to crizotinib for the treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC.
Identification of a Novel Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Gene Signature Regulated by KEAP1-NRF2&nbsp;Pathway in Esophageal Carcinoma
Authors: Elshaer Mohamed , Hammad Ahmed , Wang Xiu Jun , Tang xiuwen 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
BackgroundKEAP1-NRF2 pathway alterations were identified in many cancers including, esophageal cancer (ESCA). Identifying biomarkers that are associated with mutations in this pathway will aid in defining this cancer subset; and hence in supporting precision and personalized medicine. MethodsIn this study, 182 tumor samples from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-ESCA RNA-Seq V2 level 3 data were segregated into two groups KEAP1-NRF2-mutated (22) and wild-type (160).The two groups were subjected to differential gene expression analysis and we performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Then, the enriched gene set was integrated with the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to identify a gene signature regulated by the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway in ESCA. Furthermore, we validated the gene signature using mRNA expression data of ESCA cell lines provided by the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). The identified signature was tested in 3 independent ESCA datasets to assess its prognostic value.ResultsWe identified 11 epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes regulated by the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway in ESCA patients. Five of the 11 genes showed significant over-expression in KEAP1-NRF2-mutated ESCA cell lines. In addition, over-expression of these five genes was significantly associated with poor survival in 3 independent ESCA datasets, including the TCGA-ESCA dataset.ConclusionAltogether, we identified a novel EMT 5-gene signature regulated by the KEAP1-NRF2 axis and this signature is strongly associated with metastasis and drug resistance in ESCA. These 5-genes are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ESCA patients in whom the KEAP1-NRF2 pathway is altered.
Serum MALAT1 Assumes Signifying Capacity in Gastric Cancer Diagnosis.
Authors: Zhang Keqian , Mao Tianqi , He Zhicheng , Wu Xiaojiao , Peng Yu , Chen Yanrong , Dong Yan , Ruan Zhihua , Wang Zhe 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Gastric cancer (GC) represents one of the most serious cancers worldwide with the increasing mortality. Metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), a kind of lncRNAs, has been reported to be involved in the progression of cancers. This study aimed to assess serum expression pattern of MALAT1 and its clinical significance in diagnosis of GC.Methods: Serum specimens were collected from 120 GC patients and 58 healthy individuals. The expression profile of MALAT1 was examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and its association with clinical parameters was estimated by chi-square test. The diagnostic value of MALAT1 in GC was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.Results: Upregulated expression of MALTA1 was found in GC patients compared with the healthy controls (P<0.05). The overexpression of MALAT1 was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.041) and TNM stage (P=0.005). An area under the curve (AUC) was 0.897 in ROC analysis, suggesting the high diagnostic value of MALAT1. Conclusion: The expression of MALAT1 was upregulated in GC serum samples, and its expression might serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker in patients with GC.