bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A single nucleotide substitution at the 3′-end of SBPase gene involved in Calvin cycle severely affects plant growth and grain yield in rice
Authors: Li Chun , Li Na , Huang Rui , Chen Congping , Guo Jia , Yang Xiaorong , Zhang Xiangyu , Sun Changhui , Deng Xiaojian , Wang Pingrong 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Calvin cycle plays a crucial role in carbon fixation which provides the precursors of organic macromolecules for plant growth and development. Currently, no gene involved in Calvin cycle has been identified in monocotyledonous plants through mutant or/and map-based cloning approach.

Results
Here, we isolated a low-tillering mutant, c6635, in rice (Oryza sativa). The mutant displayed light green leaves and intensely declined pigment contents and photosynthetic capacity at early growth stage. Moreover, its individual plant showed a much smaller size, and most individuals produced only two tillers. At mature stage, its productive panicles, grain number and seed setting rate were significantly decreased, which lead to a sharp reduction of the grain yield. We confirmed that a single nucleotide mutation in LOC_Os04g16680 gene encoding sedoheptulose 1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase) involved in Calvin cycle was responsible for the mutant phenotype of c6635 through map-based cloning, MutMap analysis and complementation experiments. Sequence analysis suggested that the point mutation caused an amino acid change from Gly-364 to Asp at the C-terminal of SBPase. In addition, OsSBPase gene was mainly expressed in leaf, and the encoded protein was located in chloroplast. The mutation of OsSBPase could significantly affect expression levels of some key genes involved in Calvin cycle.

Conclusions
We successfully identified a SBPase gene in monocotyledonous plants. Meanwhile, we demonstrated that a single nucleotide substitution at the 3′-end of this gene severely affects plant growth and grain yield, implying that the Gly-364 at the C-terminal of SBPase could play an important role in SBPase function in rice.
Genome-wide association mapping reveals novel genes associated with coleoptile length in a worldwide collection of barley
Authors: Luo Hao , Hill Camilla Beate , Zhou Gaofeng , Zhang Xiao-Qi , Li Chengdao 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundDrought is projected to become more frequent and severe in a changing climate, which requires deep sowing of crop seeds to reach soil moisture. Coleoptile length is a key agronomic trait in cereal crops such as barley, as long coleoptiles are linked to drought tolerance and improved seedling establishment under early water-limited growing conditions.ResultsIn this study, we detected large genetic variation in a panel of 328 diverse barley (Hordeum vulgareL.) accessions. To understand the overall genetic basis of barley coleoptile length, all accessions were germinated in the dark and phenotyped for coleoptile length after 2 weeks. The investigated barleys had significant variation for coleoptile length. We then conducted genome-wide association studies (GWASs) with more than 30,000 molecular markers and identified 8 genes and 12 intergenic loci significantly associated with coleoptile length in our barley panel. TheSquamosa promoter-binding-like protein 3gene (SPL3) on chromosome 6H was identified as a major candidate gene. The missense variant on the second exon changed serine to alanine in the conserved SBP domain, which likely impacted its DNA-binding activity.ConclusionThis study provides genetic loci for seedling coleoptile length along with candidate genes for future potential incorporation in breeding programmes to enhance early vigour and yield potential in water-limited environments.
Anti-diabetic activity of field cricket glycosaminoglycan by ameliorating oxidative stress
Authors: Ahn Mi Young , Kim Ban Ji , Kim Ha Jeong , Jin Jang Mi , Yoon Hyung Joo , Hwang Jae Sam , Lee Byung Mu 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Field cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) is newly emerged as an edible insect in several countries. Anti-inflammatory effect of glycosaminoglycan derived from this cricket on chronic disease animal model such as diabetic mouse has not been fully investigated yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the anti-oxidative effect of such glycosaminoglycan on diabetic mouse.

Methods
To discover potential therapeutic agents, field cricket glycosaminoglycan (GbG) was tested in the present study. Its anti-oxidative activities in diabetic mice were determined based on its abilities to reduce glucose, ALT, AST, ALP, LDL-cholesterol and BUN levels. Dung beetle (C. molossus) glycosaminoglycan (CaG) was used as a positive control. Db mice were intraperitoneally administered for 1 month according to their group assignments: 1) normal (DB-Hetero); 2) control (DB-Homo); 3) 5 mg/kg treatment of CaG (CaG5); 4) 5 mg/kg treatment of GbG (GbG5); and 5) 10 mg/kg treatment of metformin (Metformin 10).

Results
Blood glucose level decreased after 1st week of treatment with GbG. LDL-cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase levels were also inhibited by GbG. Markers of oxidative damage, such as protein carbonyl content and levels of hepatocellular biomarkers, were reduced in db mice treated with GbG. Especially anti-oxidative activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased in GbG treated group compared to those in the control (Db Homo). GbG was composed of heparin disaccharides. Its main N-glycan was identified as Hex9GlcNAc2 (m/z 1905.7) with neutral mono-sugar mainly comprising of hexose and L (+) rhamnose by mass spectroscopy.

Conclusions
Sero-biochemical and hepatocellular anti-oxidant assay results in db mice suggest that cricket (G. bimaculatus) glycosaminoglycan might possess anti-oxidative effect in diabetic state.
Validation and psychometric properties of the drug users’ quality of life scale in Iranian population
Authors: Heydarpour Sousan , Jalali Amir , Baghaei Fatemeh , Salari Nader 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Introduction
Drug dependence and the resultant problems notably decrease the quality of life (QOL). Measuring the QOL in persons who use drugs (PWUDs) and planning to improve it can be helpful for rehabilitation programs. Given the absence of a standard tool to measure the quality of life of PWUD, the present study is an attempt to validate psychometric and cultural characteristics of non-injection drug users’ QOL scale.

Method
The study was carried out as a validation and methodological work. The study population consisted of 273 PWUDs in Kermanshah-based drug clinics including outgoing and hospitalized patients. The participants were selected through convenient-quota sampling. After securing the required permission from the copyright owner of the tool, it was forward/backward translated. Face validity and content validity were determined quantitatively and qualitatively. To examine construct validity of the tool, explorative factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (v.25) and LISREL (v.8).

Results
Explorative factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results supported the tool with one factor and 22 items. The R2 index in the model was equal to 0.99, which means that 99% of the variation of dependent variable (total score of QOL) is attributed to independent variable (22 statements). In other words, 99% of the variation of dependent variable is due to the independent variables in the model. The main indices of the model based on CFA all were higher than 0.9, which indicates goodness of fit of the model (χ2/DF = 2.18, CFI, NFI, TLI = 0.93 GF = 0.84, REMSEA = 0.066, R2 = 0.99). The correlative coefficient was significant (p < 0.05). The reliability of the tool based on internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) for the subscales ranged from 0.84 to 0.85 and equal to 0.84 for the whole tool.

Conclusion
The Farsi version of non-injection drug users’ QOL scale had acceptable indices and it was applicable to assess QOL in the target population. The tool can be used in different fields of drug addiction.
Impact of hydrogel peri-rectal spacer insertion on prostate gland intra-fraction motion during 1.5 T MR-guided stereotactic body radiotherapy
Authors: Cuccia Francesco , Mazzola Rosario , Nicosia Luca , Figlia Vanessa , Giaj-Levra Niccolò , Ricchetti Francesco , Rigo Michele , Vitale Claudio , Mantoan Beatrice , De Simone Antonio , Sicignano Gianluisa , Ruggieri Ruggero , Cavalleri Stefano , Alongi Filippo 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
The assessment of organ motion is a crucial feature for prostate stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Rectal spacer may represent a helpful device in order to outdistance rectal wall from clinical target, but its impact on organ motion is still a matter of debate. MRI-Linac is a new frontier in radiation oncology as it allows a superior visualization of the real-time anatomy of the patient and the current highest level of adaptive radiotherapy.

Methods
We present data regarding a total of 100 fractions in 20 patients who underwent MRI-guided prostate SBRT for low-to-intermediate risk prostate cancer with or without spacer. Translational and rotational shifts were computed on the pre- and post-treatment MRI acquisitions referring to the delivery position for antero-posterior, latero-lateral and cranio-caudal direction, and assessed using the Mann-Whitney U-Test.

Results
All patients were treated with a five sessions schedule (35 Gy/5fx) using MRI-Linac for a median fraction treatment time of 50 min (range, 46–65). In the entire study sample, median rotational displacement was 0.1° in cranio-caudal, − 0.002° in latero-lateral and 0.01° in antero-posterior direction; median translational shift was 0.11 mm in cranio-caudal, − 0.24 mm in latero-lateral and − 0.22 mm in antero-posterior. A significant difference between spacer and no-spacer patients in terms of rotational shifts in the antero-posterior direction (p = 0.033) was observed; also for translational shifts a positive trend was detected in antero-posterior direction (p = 0.07), although with no statistical significance. We observed statistically significant differences in the pre-treatment planning phase in favor of the spacer cohort for several rectum dose constraints: rectum V32Gy < 5% (p = 0.001), V28 Gy < 10% (p = 0.001) and V18Gy < 35% (p = 0.039). Also for bladder V35 Gy < 1 cc, the use of spacer provided a dosimetric advantage compared to the no-spacer subpopulation (p = 0.04). Furthermore, PTV V33.2Gy > 95% was higher in the spacer cohort compared to the no-spacer one (p = 0.036).

Conclusion
In our experience, the application of rectal hydrogel spacer for prostate SBRT resulted in a significant impact on rotational antero-posterior shifts contributing to limit prostate intra-fraction motion. Further studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up are required to confirm this ideally favorable effect and to assess any potential impact on clinical outcomes.
Two cases of nodular smooth muscle proliferation suspected of primary lung cancer from preoperative images: a case report
Authors: Ikeda Toshihiro , Go Tetsuhiko , Kadota Kyuichi , Ibuki Emi , Yokomise Hiroyasu 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
It is difficult to obtain a definitive diagnosis for nodular smooth muscle proliferation (NSMP) before surgery, and a pathological diagnosis is necessary to differentiate it from primary lung cancer. We report two cases of NSMP that were suspected to be primary lung cancer on preoperative images.

Case presentation
Case 1: An 81-year-old man who had undergone right upper lobectomy for lung cancer 2 years earlier was point out a nodular shadow with ground glass opacity (GGO) in the lower right lobe, suggesting a second primary lung cancer by chest computed tomography (CT). A thoracoscopic partial resection of the right lower lobe was performed, and pathological diagnosis was NSMP. The patient was discharged without any problems at 3 days postoperatively.
Case 2: A 72-year-old woman was pointed out a nodular shadow suspected primary lung cancer in the left lower lobe by chest CT. Therefore, thoracoscopic partial resection of the left lower lobe was performed, and pathological diagnosis was NSMP. The patient was discharged without any problems at 5 days postoperatively.

Conclusion
This report demonstrates that NSMP can be distinguished from leiomyoma and hamartoma by imaging features and pathological findings.
Non-specific diagnoses are frequent in patients hospitalized after calling 112 and their mortality is high – a register-based Danish cohort study
Authors: Nielsen Frederikke Vestergaard , Nielsen Mette Rønn , Amstrup Jesper , Lorenzen Ida Lund , Kløjgaard Torben A. , Færk Emil , Bøggild Henrik , Christensen Erika Frischknecht 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
The number of patients calling for an ambulance increases. A considerable number of patients receive a non-specific diagnosis at discharge from the hospital, and this could imply less serious acute conditions, but the mortality has only scarcely been studied. The aim of this study was to examine the most frequent sub-diagnoses among patients with hospital non-specific diagnoses after calling 112 and their subsequent mortality.

Methods
A historical cohort study of patients brought to the hospital by ambulance after calling 112 in 2007–2014 and diagnosed with a non-specific diagnosis, chapter R or Z, in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10). 1-day and 30-day mortality was analyzed by survival analyses and compared by the log-rank test.

Results
We included 74,847 ambulance runs in 53,937 unique individuals. The most frequent diagnoses were ‘unspecified disease’ (Z039), constituting 47.0% (n 35,279). In children 0–9 years old, ‘febrile convulsions’ was the most frequent non-specific diagnosis used in 54.3% (n 1602). Overall, 1- and 30-day mortality was 2.2% (n 1205) and 6.0% (n 3258). The highest mortality was in the diagnostic group ‘suspected cardiovascular disease’ (Z035) and ‘unspecified disease’ (Z039) with 1-day mortality 2.6% (n 43) and 2.4% (n 589), and 30 day mortality of 6.32% (n 104) and 8.1% (n 1975).

Conclusion
Among patients calling an ambulance and discharged with non-specific diagnoses the 1- and 30-day mortality, despite modest mortality percentages lead to a high number of deaths.
Single-cell RNA-seq analysis reveals ploidy-dependent and cell-specific transcriptome changes in Arabidopsis female gametophytes
Authors: Song Qingxin , Ando Atsumi , Jiang Ning , Ikeda Yoko , Chen Z. Jeffrey 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Polyploidy provides new genetic material that facilitates evolutionary novelty, species adaptation, and crop domestication. Polyploidy often leads to an increase in cell or organism size, which may affect transcript abundance or transcriptome size, but the relationship between polyploidy and transcriptome changes remains poorly understood. Plant cells often undergo endoreduplication, confounding the polyploid effect.

Results
To mitigate these effects, we select female gametic cells that are developmentally stable and void of endoreduplication. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) in Arabidopsis thaliana tetraploid lines and isogenic diploids, we show that transcriptome abundance doubles in the egg cell and increases approximately 1.6-fold in the central cell, consistent with cell size changes. In the central cell of tetraploid plants, DEMETER (DME) is upregulated, which can activate PRC2 family members FIS2 and MEA, and may suppress the expression of other genes. Upregulation of cell size regulators in tetraploids, including TOR and OSR2, may increase the size of reproductive cells. In diploids, the order of transcriptome abundance is central cell, synergid cell, and egg cell, consistent with their cell size variation. Remarkably, we uncover new sets of female gametophytic cell-specific transcripts with predicted biological roles; the most abundant transcripts encode families of cysteine-rich peptides, implying roles in cell-cell recognition during double fertilization.

Conclusions
Transcriptome in single cells doubles in tetraploid plants compared to diploid, while the degree of change and relationship to the cell size depends on cell types. These scRNA-seq resources are free of cross-contamination and are uniquely valuable for advancing plant hybridization, reproductive biology, and polyploid genomics.
Vestibular prognosis in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss with vestibular dysfunction treated with oral or intratympanic glucocorticoids: a protocol for randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hao Weiming , Zhao Liping , Yu Huiqian , Li Huawei 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundIdiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is a rapid-onset sensorineural hearing impairment with unclear etiology and unsatisfying treatment effects. Vestibular dysfunction has been considered as a poor indicator in the clinical manifestations and prognosis of ISSNHL, which occurred in approximately 28–57% cases. Glucocorticoids, administered through oral or intratympanic way, are currently regularly and standardly applied for ISSNHL to improve the hearing outcome. However, the vestibular prognosis of ISSNHL after routine treatments remains seldom explored. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of oral and intratympanic glucocorticoids in ISSNHL with vestibular dysfunction in terms of the pattern and trajectory of possible process of vestibular function recovery.Methods/designA randomized, outcome-assessor- and analyst-blinded, controlled, clinical trial (RCT) will be carried out. Seventy-two patients with ISSNHL complaining of vestibular dysfunction appearing as vertigo or imbalance will be recruited and randomized into either oral or intratympanic glucocorticoid therapy group with a 1:1 allocation ratio. The primary outcomes will be vestibular function outcomes assessed by sensory organization test, caloric test, video head impulse test, cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential, and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potential; the secondary outcomes include self-reported vestibular dysfunction symptoms; dizziness-related handicap, visual analogue scale for vertigo and tinnitus; and pure tone audiometry. Assessments of primary outcomes will be performed at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks post-randomization, while assessments of secondary outcomes will be performed at baseline and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks post-randomization.DiscussionPrevious intervention studies of ISSNHL included only hearing outcomes, with little attention paid on the prognosis of vestibular dysfunction. This trial will be the first RCT study focusing on the progress and prognosis of vestibular dysfunction in ISSNHL. The efficacy of two commonly used therapies of glucocorticoids will be compared in both auditory and vestibular function fields, rather than in the hearing outcome alone.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.govNCT03974867. Registered on 23 July 2019
Nanosecond pulsed electric fields enhance mesenchymal stem cells differentiation via DNMT1-regulated OCT4/NANOG gene expression
Authors: Li Kejia , Ning Tong , Wang Hao , Jiang Yangzi , Zhang Jue , Ge Zigang 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Multiple strategies have been proposed to promote the differentiation potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which is the fundamental property in tissue formation and regeneration. However, these strategies are relatively inefficient that limit the application. In this study, we reported a novel and efficient strategy, nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) stimulation, which can enhance the trilineage differentiation potential of MSCs, and further explained the mechanism behind.

Methods
We used histological staining to screen out the nsPEFs parameters that promoted the trilineage differentiation potential of MSCs, and further proved the effect of nsPEFs by detecting the functional genes. In order to explore the corresponding mechanism, we examined the expression of pluripotency genes and the methylation status of their promoters. Finally, we targeted the DNA methyltransferase which was affected by nsPEFs.

Results
The trilineage differentiation of bone marrow-derived MSCs was significantly enhanced in vitro by simply pre-treating with 5 pulses of nsPEFs stimulation (energy levels as 10 ns, 20 kV/cm; 100 ns, 10 kV/cm), due to that the nsPEFs demethylated the promoters of stem cell pluripotency genes OCT4 and NANOG through instantaneous downregulation of DNA methylation transferase 1 (DNMT1), thereby increasing the expression of OCT4 and NANOG for up to 3 days, and created a treatment window period of stem cells.

Conclusions
In summary, nsPEFs can enhance MSCs differentiation via the epigenetic regulation and could be a safe and effective strategy for future stem cell application.
Small extracellular vesicles secreted by human iPSC-derived MSC enhance angiogenesis through inhibiting STAT3-dependent autophagy in ischemic stroke
Authors: Xia Yuguo , Ling Xiaozheng , Hu Guowen , Zhu Qingwei , Zhang Juntao , Li Qing , Zhao Bizeng , Wang Yang , Deng Zhifeng 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundSmall extracellular vesicles (sEV) secreted by mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC, iMSC-sEV) are considered to have great potential in treating ischemic diseases. Angiogenesis play an important role in post-stroke recovery. However, no studies have yet been conducted to systemically examine the effect and the underlying mechanism of iMSC-sEV on angiogenesis under brain ischemia conditions.MethodsIschemic stroke model was performed in rats induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and the pro-angiogenic capacity of iMSC-sEV was measured. The in vitro effects of iMSC-sEV on the migration and tube formation of endothelial cells were investigated, respectively. Autophagy and autophagy-related signaling pathway were detected in vivo and in vitro.ResultsWe found that iMSC-sEV significantly reduced infarct volume, enhanced angiogenesis, and alleviated long-term neurological deficits in rats after stroke. We also demonstrated that iMSC-sEV increased migration and tube formation of endothelial cells in vitro. A further mechanism study revealed that the pro-angiogenic effect of iMSC-sEV was correlated with a reduction in autophagy. Furthermore, iMSC-sEV significantly activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and suppression of STAT3 abolished iMSC-sEV-induced inhibition of autophagy and promotion of angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro.ConclusionsTaken together, our data indicate that iMSC-sEV promote angiogenesis after ischemic stroke, potentially, by inhibiting autophagy, a process that is partially dependent on STAT3 activation.