bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Optical Low-coherence Interferometry and Scheimpflug Imaging Combined with Partial Coherence Interferometry Biometers in Cataract Patients
Authors: Kim Moonjung , Han Eui Seok 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: To evaluate the agreement between the biometers measured by optical low-coherence interferometry (OLCI, Aladdin) and those measured by Scheimpflug imaging combined with partial coherence interferometry (Scheimpflug-PCI, Pentacam AXL) in cataract patients.Methods: The axial length (AL), corneal power (keratometry, K), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and corneal astigmatism were measured with the two devices in patients with cataracts. The difference and correlation were evaluated with a paired t-test (p) and Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r), respectively.Results: One hundred sixty-four eyes of 95 patients were analyzed. The mean AL taken by OLCI was longer with excellent correlation (OLCI 23.25 mm, Scheimpflug-PCI 23.23 mm, p = < 0.0001, r = 0.9990). OLCI measured the ACD 0.08 mm shallower than Scheimpflug-PCI (p = 0.0003, r = 0.7386). The difference was statistically significant for flat K (p = 0.0428). The mean K and steep K were not significantly different. Vector analysis showed no statistically significant difference in the magnitude of astigmatism and the oblique vector between the two devices (p = 0.1441 and p = 0.4147, respectively). Only the cardinal vector was different (p = 0.0087).Conclusions: Although OCLI and Scheimpflug-PCI showed strong correlations for AL, K, ACD, and corneal astigmatism in cataract patients, there were small but statistically significant differences in the AL, ACD, flat K, and cardinal vector. The two devices are not interchangeable for calculating intraocular lens power.
Methane hydrate creates the thick oceans in Mimas and Enceladus
Authors: Nishitani Ryusuke , Kimura Jun , Tani Atsushi , Sasaki Sho 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
The difference between the inactive surface of Mimas and the active surface of Enceladus is puzzling. We investigate the conditions under which the both have a thick subsurface ocean and the thermal lithosphere of Mimas is thicker than that of Enceladus by using a one-dimensional simulation of thermal evolution. We adopt the initial core temperature, initial methane concentration, and tidal heating rate as free parameters in the calculation. The initial methane concentration and tidal heating rate greatly affect the current ocean thickness, although the initial core temperature does not affect the thickness. Methane hydrate forms in a subsurface ocean if the initial methane concentration is not 0. The methane hydrate layer plays an insulative role in an icy shell. When the initial methane concentration is 1000 \(\text{m}\text{o}\text{l}\hspace{0.17em}{\text{m}}^{-3}\), ∼3 GW is needed to achieve more than 50 km of the subsurface ocean on Mimas and ∼10 GW is needed to achieve more than 25 km of the subsurface ocean on Enceladus. These values are smaller than those needed for when the initial methane concentration is 0 \(\text{m}\text{o}\text{l}\hspace{0.17em}{\text{m}}^{-3}\). The existence of the methane hydrate layer promotes the survival of the subsurface ocean because it insulates internal heat. In addition, it is found that the surface heat flux is depressed if the methane hydrate layer exists, which is consistent with the unrelaxed craters in Mimas. Methane hydrate may explain the thick oceans in Mimas and Enceladus and the inactive shell of Mimas.
Enrichment of Intrinsically Disordered Residues in Ohnologs Facilitate Abiotic Stress Resilience in Brassica Rapa
Authors: Laha Shayani Das , Saha Deeya , Ghosh Tapash , Podder Soumita 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica rapa shared a common evolutionary clade but Brassica species experienced an extra whole genome triplication (WGT) event compared with the model plant A. thaliana. This extra round of WGT confers B. rapa more abiotic stress resistant. The study aims to unravel how the consequences of whole genome duplication steer the variation in stress adaptation competency between the two species.Result: Comparing the duplication status between abiotic stress resistant (ASR) genes in the two species, significant increase in the number of paralogs in ASR genes of B. rapa than A. thaliana was found. Investigation on the proteomic features suggests that the ohnologs pairs in both species are more enriched with intrinsically disordered residues (IDRs) than other duplicated pairs but IDRs only in B. rapa have showed a significant positive correlation with functional divergence between the duplicated pairs. The functional divergence helps to mediate more stress adaptation functions in the ohnologs of B. rapa than that of A. thaliana. Moreover, domain ontology analysis has revealed that the new domains with stress functions are significantly more enriched in the ohnologs of B. rapa. Interestingly, majority of these stress tolerant domains are found to be present in the intrinsically disordered regions of the proteins. Statistical analysis along with these observations make it reasonable to speculate that IDRs expedite stress adaption potentiality in B. rapa by enriching more stress related functions and accommodating stress specific domains in ohnologs of this plant species.Conclusion: With the occurrence of WGT in the Brassica species the stress resilience features of B. rapa as compared to A. thaliana is less studied. This study unveils the role of intrinsically disordered residues (IDRs) of ohnologs in optimizing more stress resilience in B. rapa than A. thaliana. Thus, it will open new avenues in understanding the mechanism of succeeding stress adaptation potentiality in B. rapa over evolutionary time.
Effect of Tannin Concentration on Mycelial Growth and Development of Auricularia Cornea
Authors: Zhao Zhenyu , Fan Dongyu , Zhang Chen , Tian Fenghua , Song Bing , Jia Chuanwen , Li Changtian , Li Yu 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
It is proved that the effect of tannin concentration on the mycelial growth of fungi. Auricularia cornea (white strain) were treated with different concentrations of tannins in Petri-dishes and liquid shaking flasks. The growth rate of mycelium, the ratio of clamp connection, morphology of mycelium, biomass of mycelium and activity of antioxidant enzymes were determined. The results showed that different concentrations of tannin significantly decreased the rate of mycelium. However hign concentration of tannin stress increased the content of thiobarbituric acid in mycelia and had obvious time and concentration effects. Different antioxidant enzyme activities also had different responses to tannin stress. It provides theoretical basis for fungi to utilize and develop substrates containing tannin such as pine.
AS-OCT application in quantifying Posterior capsule opacification severity with varied IOL designs
Authors: YU SHASHA , Lu Chengzhe , Guo Yawen , Zhao Yun , Yuan Xiaoyong 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background

To evaluate application of AS-OCT in PCO severity assessment and analyse relationship between PCO severity and IOL characters.
Methods

PCO patients were prospectively recruited. Cross-sectional images of the anterior segment at horizontal and vertical medians were acquired with AS-OCT. The area of the IOL-PC (posterior capsular) space and PCO severity (area, thickness and density at 3 mm and 5 mm IOL optic regions) were measured. The relationship between visual acuity and PCO severity, comparisons of PCO severity and IOL-PC space using varied IOL designs were analysed.
Results

One hundred PCO eyes were enrolled. IOL-PC space and PCO thickness and area was positively correlated with axial length. The cut-off level of visual acuity: was 0.52 Log MAR. Visual acuity were positively correlated with PCO area and thickness when visual acuity was ≤ 0.52 Log MAR. 3-piece C haptic IOL showed a smaller PCO area and thickness than the 1-piece 3 haptic IOL and 1-piece 4 haptic IOL. PCO area and thickness values for an IOL with a diameter ≤ 11.0 mm were greater than for an IOL with a diameter of 12.5 mm. The differences were statistically significant. PCO area and thickness increased when IOL haptic angulation increased (from 0 to 12 degrees).
Conclusions

In PCO eyes, cut-off level of visual acuity was 0.52 Log MAR. With more severe PCO, visual acuity maybe not enough to describe the visual function impairment. PCO severity and IOL-PC space was significantly correlated with axial length and IOL design and material.
Pectinolytic Potential of Differentbacillus Species Isolated From Lepidopteran Insects and Infected Soil
Authors: Mukry Samina Naz , Nazar Sumbul , Sohail Muhammad , Khan Shakeel Ahmed 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: The microorganisms are preferred over plants and animals for the bulk production of industrially important enzymes like pectinases because of their low production-cost, availability of fermentation raw material and the easily controllable production conditions. The pectinolytic potential of a large pool (130) of Bacillus cereus group and non-Bacillus cereus was evaluated. The effect of different physicochemical parameters on polygalacturonase(PGase) production by three promising strains, B. pumilusS76, B.thuringiensis S140(b) and B.taquilensis S140(c) with gene bank accession no. KU981112, KU981113 and KU981114, were studied and the enzyme was partially characterized. The enzyme activity was assayed using dinitrosalicylic acid method.Results: The polygalacturonases produced by Bp S76, Bt S140(b) and BtqS140(c) were thermostable at temperature above 55ºC with a melting temperature (Tm) of 72ºC,62ºC and 57ºC, respectively and the half-life (T1/2) at 60ºC of 50, 65 and 30 min., respectively. The catabolite repression was noted in presence of glucose while the production increased upon addition of 1% yeast extract to the growth medium. The enzyme activity was also induced in presence of Na+ and Ca+2.Conclusion: The strain Bp S76 appeared a better candidate for future biotechnological application owing to the production of higher titers (6.11 IU/L.hrs) of polygalacturonase with greater stability.
Clinical Course and Risk Factors for severe Disease and Death of Adult Critically Ill Inpatients with COVID-19 in Toulouse, France: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Buffières William , Sarton Benjamine , Zadro Charline , Bounes Fanny Vardon , Minville Vincent , Georges Bernard , Seguin Thierry , Conil Jean Marie , Ruiz Stephanie , Collot Samia , Ducos Guillaume , Virtos Marie , Osinski Diane , Rousset David , Geeraerts Thomas , Filleron Thomas , Bataille Benoit , Izopet Jacques , Ruiz Jean , Ramonda Veronique , Fourcade Olivier , Riu Beatrice , Guinault Damien , Silva Stein 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
BackgroundTo explore risk factors for unfavorable outcome (death or requiring invasive mechanical ventilation at 28 days from ICU admission) of critically ill COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the Toulouse regionMethodsRetrospective cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients sequentially admitted to 12 ICUs in Toulouse region (March 9, 2020, to April 8, 2020). All patients had laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and required invasive mechanical ventilation. Baseline characteristics, pathophysiological respiratory data, clinical outcomes, viral shredding, and chest CT scan were collected.ResultsA total of 150 patients were included (median age, 68 years (interquartile range, (IQR), 58-72; 81% male). The most common comorbidities were hypertension (77, 51%) and obesity (42, 28%). At ICU admission, the median PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 138 (IQR,112-178). During hospitalization, the rate of ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) was 61% and 51 (34%) patients had acute kidney injury (AKI) with a Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) score > 1. The 28-day mortality was 15.3%, and 50 (33%) patients had unfavorable outcome. We found that VAP (5.91; 2.10-10.03; p value = 0.002) and AKI with a KDIGO score > 1 (4.71; 1.69-14.41; p value = 0.004) were associated with increased odds of unfavorable outcome. Neither, chest CT scan data on admission, nor pathophysiological respiratory data during ICU stay were associated to patient’s outcome.ConclusionThe potential risk factors of AKI and VAP could help clinicians to identify patients with poor prognosis at an early stage. Targeted care of these factors might have a significant impact on COVID-19 patient’s outcome.
Novel Interactions Between Circulating microRNAs and Gut Microbiota Composition in Human Obesity.
Authors: Assmann Taís Silveira , Cuevas-Sierra Amanda , Riezu-Boj José Ignacio , Milagro Fermin , Martínez J Alfredo 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Unbalances in microRNAs (miRNA) and gut microbiota patterns have been proposed as putative factors concerning onset and development of obesity and other metabolic diseases. However, the determinants that mediate the interactions between miRNAs and the gut microbiome impacting on obesity are scarcely understood. Thus, the aim of this article was to investigate possible interactions between circulating miRNAs and gut microbiota composition in obesity. Method: The analyzed sample comprised 78 subjects with obesity [cases, body mass index (BMI): 30 – 40 kg/m2] and 25 eutrophic individuals (controls, BMI £ 25 kg/m2). The expression of 96 miRNAs was investigated in plasma of all individuals using miRCURY LNA miRNA Custom PCR Panels (Exiqon). Bacterial DNA sequencing was performed following the Illumina 16S protocol. The FDR (Benjamini-Hochberg test, q-value) correction was used for multiple comparison analyses.Results: A total of 26 circulating miRNAs and 12 bacterial species were found differentially expressed between cases and controls. Interestingly, an interaction among three miRNAs (miR-130b-3p, miR-185-5p, and miR-21-5p) with Bacteroides eggerthi, and BMI levels was evidenced (r2= 0.148, P= 0.004). Those miRNAs that correlated with obesity-associated gut bacteria abundance are known to regulate target genes that participate in metabolism-related pathways, such as fatty acid degradation, carbohydrate digestion and absorption, insulin signaling, and glycerolipid metabolism. Conclusion: This study characterized an interaction between the abundance of 4 bacterial species and 14 circulating miRNAs in relation to body adiposity. Moreover, the current study also suggests that miRNAs may serve as a communication mechanism between the gut microbiome and human hosts. Clinical trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov (reg. no. NCT02737267).
Transcriptome Assembly of Asian Buffalo Leech Hirudinaria Manillensis and An Accurate Identification of Genes Involved in Anticoagulant Biosynthesis
Authors: Fan Chun-Xu , Abbood Nibras Najm , Lu Jun-Hui , Wu Le , Guan De-Long , Huang Huateng , Xu Sheng-Quan 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: The Asian buffalo leech Hirudinaria manillensis is a valuable animal widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure blood-clotting. However, although the content of the anticoagulant genes in H. manillensis were identified, their actual expression profile remains undetermined. Herein, in this study we conducted transcriptome analysis on this species to address this subject.Results: A high qualified accurate gene expression profile of H. manillensis transcripts was obtained. By identifying genes upregulated during feeding, anticoagulant-related genes and signaling pathways were identified. The assembled Unigenes were compared in various mainstream databases, and a total of 16,682 Unigenes received annotation information. In addition, the Unigenes were evaluated in terms of length distribution, GC content, and expression level. The data showed good sequencing quality and high reliability. A total of 155 anticoagulant-related genes were found in this study, including those involved in different types of degradation of the extracellular matrix and inhibition of platelet aggregation.Conclusions：Substantial transcriptome information was obtained by transcriptome sequencing of H. manillensis. This information should help to provide a further molecular theoretical basis for functional gene analysis, genomics, genetic diversity analysis, and molecular marker development of H. manillensis and for the anticoagulation-related genes of this species and its medicinal value as an anticoagulant.
Passive Smoking Increases Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Leads to Prolonged Lipid Oxidation: Lessons From a Natural Experiment in Travelers From Los Angeles to Beijing
Authors: Lin Yan , Zhu Yifang , Qiu Xinghua , Yin Fen , Tseng Chi-Hong , Araujo Jesus A 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: There are drastic differences in smoking prevalence and control policies among different countries. However, the impact of international travels on passive smoking exposures and subsequent health effects remained unknown. Methods: We recruited 27 non-smokers who travelled from Los Angeles to Beijing for 10 weeks in 2014 and 2015. Urine samples (n=197) were collected before (LA-before), during (Beijing), and after (LA-after) the trip, for the assessment of biomarkers of passive smoking (cotinine), PAHs exposure (hydroxylated-PAHs), and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde and 8-isoprostane). Results: The geometric mean concentrations of urinary cotinine were 0.13, 1.50, and 0.22 µg/g creatinine in LA-before, Beijing, and LA-after, respectively. Likewise, hydroxylated-PAH levels were significantly higher in Beijing as compared to LA-before or LA-after (p<0.001), in association with the urinary cotinine concentrations (p<0.05). Traveling from Los Angeles to Beijing increased urinary concentrations of malondialdehyde by 51.8% (95%CI, 29.1% to 78.5%), which did not return to baseline levels, up to 4 - 10 weeks after traveling back to Los Angeles. Remarkably, while urinary 8-isoprostane concentrations were similar between Beijing and LA-before, those levels increased by 75.5% (95%CI, 48.5% to 108%) after returning to Los Angeles (LA-after), and were significantly higher than baseline (LA-before, 63.6%; 95%CI, 31.1% to 104%). Urinary concentrations of malondialdehyde and 8-isoprostane were positively associated with urinary cotinine concentrations, independently of hydroxylated-PAHs. Conclusion: Traveling from Los Angeles to Beijing increased exposures to passive smoking, which contributed to increased PAHs exposures and increased lipid peroxidation in the urine.Trial Registration: Not applicable.
Predicting an Unfavourable Course in Patients Hospitalised for COVID-19: The PREDICT-COVID Study
Authors: Ducher Michel , Elias Christelle , Florens Nans , Vanhems Philippe , fauvel jean pierre 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background. Clinical decision tools that have been proposed to predict the clinical course of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are poorly presented and are at high risk of selection bias. The aim of the study was to propose a prediction clinical tool to predict an unfavourable outcome at the admission of a SARS-CoV2 infected patient that was carefully developed using a large learning database and that was developed from models derived from artificial intelligence.Methods. The PREDICT-COVID study is a post hoc analysis of the Noso-Cor study, a multicenter prospective, observational study. All patients infected by SARS-CoV2 hospitalized in one of the 11 Lyon-University hospitals since 8-March-2020 have been included. The PREDICT-COVID database was split in two separate datasets: the learning dataset (80%) was used for the development of the model and the validation dataset (20%) for internal validation. The primary composite outcome was the need for mechanical ventilation or admission into an intensive care unit, or death within 21 days of admission.Results. Data from 823 patients were analysed: age 70.6±16·9 years; body mass index 26.7±5·4 kg/m2 and median number of comorbidities was 2. Out of the 44 recorded variables, 11 that were the most linked to the primary outcome criteria were retained to develop the optimised risk prediction tool. At admission the 5 most informative predictors were, in descending order: C-Reactive Protein, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, aspartate transaminase, shortness of breath, and prothrombin time. The ten-fold cross validation of the optimised model had an area under the ROC curve of 0.76±0.06. The performance of the developed Bayesian model to predict the primary outcome of the validation dataset had a mean area under the ROC curve of 0.78, sensitivity of 60%, and specificity of 77%.Conclusions. The proposed optimised prediction tool that uses 11 routinely determined variables to predict an unfavourable course at admission for COVID-19 had satisfactory performance. For an external validation, the PREDICT-COVID prediction tool is available online at: https://www.hed.cc/?a=covid&n=NETCRIT21J.netaTrial registration: The Noso-Cor study was registered on ClinicalTrials (NCT04290780). The present analysis was registered on ClinicalTrials (NCT04412031) the June 2, 2020.
Predictive Risk Factors at Admission and a "Burning Point" During Hospitalization Serve as Sequential Alerts for Critical Illness in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Zhou Mei , Xu Juanjuan , Wang Kai , Yin Zhengrong , Hao Xingjie , Tan Xueyun , Huang Yafei , Li Hui , Wang Fen , Dai Chengguqiu , Ma Guanzhou , Wang Zhihui , Duan Limin , Jin Yang 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background In critically ill COVID-19 patients, the crucial turning point before critical illness onset (CIO) remain largely unknown, and the combination of baseline risk factors with the turning point during hospitalization was rarely reported.Methods In this retrospective cohort study, 1150 consecutively admitted patients with confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled, including 296 critical and 854 non-critical patients. We compared the differences of all the clinically tested indicators and their dynamic changes between critical and non-critical patients. Three prediction models were established and validated based on the risk factors at admission, and an online baseline predictive tool was developed. Linear mixed model (LMM) was applied for longitudinal data analysis in 296 critical patients throughout the hospitalization, to predict the likelihood and possible time of critical illness in COVID-19 patients. A crucial turning point, where several indicators will experience a greater and significantly continuous change before CIO, was defined as “burning point” in our study. This point indicates the deterioration of patient’s condition before CIO.Results We established a novel two-checkpoint system to predict critical illness for COVID-19 patients in which the first checkpoint happened at patient admission was assessed by a baseline prediction model to project the likelihood of critical illness based on the variables selected from random forest and LASSO regression analysis, including age, SOFA score, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), International Normalized Ratio (INR), and pneumonia area derived from CT images, which yields an AUC of 0.960 (95% confidence interval, 0.941-0.972) and 0.958 (0.936-0.980) in the training and testing sets, respectively. This model has been translated into a public web-based risk calculator. Furthermore, the second checkpoint (designated as “burning point” in our study) could be identified as early as 5 days preceding the CIO, and 12 (IQR, 7-17) days after illness onset. Seven most significant and representative “burning point” indicators were SOFA score, NLR, C-reactive protein (CRP), glucose, D-dimer, LDH, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN).Conclusions With this two-checkpoint prediction system, the deterioration of COVID-19 patients could be early identified and more intensive treatments could be started in advance to reduce the incidence of critical illness.