bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shifts in potential geographical distribution of Pterocarya stenoptera under climate change scenarios in China
Authors: Zhang Keliang , Liu Huina , Pan Haolei , Shi Wenhao , Zhao Yi , Li Silei , Liu Junchi , Tao Jun 
Published: April 2020

AbstractClimate change poses a serious threat to biodiversity. Predicting the effects of climate change on the distribution of a species' habitat can help humans address the potential threats which may change the scope and distribution of species. Pterocarya stenoptera is a common fast‐growing tree species often used in the ecological restoration of riverbanks and alpine forests in central and eastern China. Until now, the characteristics of the distribution of this species' habitat are poorly known as are the environmental factors that influence its preferred habitat. In the present study, the Maximum Entropy Modeling (Maxent) algorithm and the Genetic Algorithm for Ruleset Production (GARP) were used to establish the models for the potential distribution of this species by selecting 236 sites with known occurrences and 14 environmental variables. The results indicate that both models have good predictive power. Minimum temperature of coldest month (Bio6), mean temperature of warmest quarter (Bio10), annual precipitation (Bio12), and precipitation of driest month (Bio14) were important environmental variables influencing the prediction of the Maxent model. According to the models, the temperate and subtropical regions of eastern China had high environmental suitability for this species, where the species had been recorded. Under each climate change scenario, climatic suitability of the existing range of this species increased, and its climatic niche expanded geographically to the north and higher elevation. GARP predicted a more conservative expansion. The projected spatial and temporal patterns of P. stenoptera can provide reference for the development of forest management and protection strategies.
Fractionation of hydrolysate from corn germ protein by ultrafiltration: In vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant activity
Authors: Karimi Amin , Azizi Mohammad Hossein , Ahmadi Gavlighi Hassan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIn the present work, defatted corn germ was hydrolyzed by three proteases and further separated by sequential ultrafiltration with different molecular weight cutoff (100, 10, 2 kDa). Corn germ protein hydrolysate (CGPH) and their fractions were investigated for antioxidant activity, α‐glucosidase, α‐amylase, and DPP‐IV inhibitory activity. The degree of hydrolysis (DH) after 2 hr was 17.5%, 11.14%, and 2.05% for alcalase, trypsin, and flavourzyme, respectively. Trypsin hydrolysate showed the highest DPPH and ABTS+ radical scavenging and Fe2+ chelating activity, but a lower α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity. F1 fraction (<2 kDa) exhibited highest radical scavenging and α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity. While F2 fraction (2–10 kDa) showed the higher Fe2+ chelating and α‐amylase inhibitory activity, F1 fraction of flavourzyme showed the highest α‐glucosidase inhibitory and F2 fraction of alcalase and flavourzyme exhibited highest α‐amylase inhibitory activity. Hydrolysate and F1 fraction of alcalase and F2 fraction of trypsin showed the highest DPP‐IV inhibitory activity. RP‐HPLC results showed that trypsin hydrolysate had higher levels of high‐hydrophobic peptides. The amino acid composition of the F1 fractions showed high levels of hydrophobic amino acids. Thus, CGPHs may be used as a potential source of antioxidant and antidiabetic peptides in food industry and pharmaceutical application.
Plastic Debris in the Marine Environment: History and Future Challenges
Authors: Napper Imogen Ellen , Thompson Richard C. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe success of plastic as a material has shaped the development of modern society and challenged older materials in many of their established uses. However, plastic is now a major component of litter and is extensively reported within the marine environment. Impacts from plastic debris have been identified as a major global conservation issue with implications for maritime industries, tourism, marine life, and human health. Although there are many benefits of plastic, it is clear that society's relationship and reliance on plastics needs to be addressed. Conversely, alternative materials to replace plastic items, or solutions mitigating plastic release, also need to be critiqued to make sure their properties and environmental impacts are more beneficial. This review examines the history and impact of plastics in the marine environment. Current solutions that aim to mitigate plastics accumulation in the environment and the future challenges of plastic as a material are also discussed.
A comparison of robust Mendelian randomization methods using summary data
Authors: Slob Eric A. W. , Burgess Stephen 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe number of Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses including large numbers of genetic variants is rapidly increasing. This is due to the proliferation of genome‐wide association studies, and the desire to obtain more precise estimates of causal effects. Since it is unlikely that all genetic variants will be valid instrumental variables, several robust methods have been proposed. We compare nine robust methods for MR based on summary data that can be implemented using standard statistical software. Methods were compared in three ways: by reviewing their theoretical properties, in an extensive simulation study, and in an empirical example. In the simulation study, the best method, judged by mean squared error was the contamination mixture method. This method had well‐controlled Type 1 error rates with up to 50% invalid instruments across a range of scenarios. Other methods performed well according to different metrics. Outlier‐robust methods had the narrowest confidence intervals in the empirical example. With isolated exceptions, all methods performed badly when over 50% of the variants were invalid instruments. Our recommendation for investigators is to perform a variety of robust methods that operate in different ways and rely on different assumptions for valid inferences to assess the reliability of MR analyses.
Progesterone loading as a strategy for treating postpartum depression
Authors: Barak Yoram , Glue Paul 
Published: April 2020

AbstractPostpartum depression (PPD) is a severe disorder that adversely impacts both mothers and infants. It is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and reported prevalence is 11.5% (Ko, Rockhill, Tong, Morrow, & Farr. (2017). MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 66(6), 153–158). Although PPD's fundamental pathophysiology remains to be fully illuminated, the influence of changes in perinatal hormones such as allopregnanolone (an endogenous progesterone metabolite) are most promising avenues of research. Conventional treatments for PPD are aligned with treatment strategies for depressive disorders. Brexanolone is a small molecule, neuroactive steroid GABAA receptor allosteric modulator consisting of synthetic allopregnanolone and a solubilizing agent. In early 2019, brexanolone received approval in the United States for the treatment of PPD. Brexanolone is only available through a restricted program and is costly. Animal models demonstrate that progesterone prevents depression‐like behaviors. However, studies of progesterone's effects in women suffering from PPD are few and inconclusive. We hypothesize that orally dosed progesterone will increase concentrations of allopregnanolone in the central nervous system, which should relieve symptoms of PPD.
Severity detection and infection level identification of tuberculosis using deep learning
Authors: Chithra R. S. , Jagatheeswari P. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractTuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease and is one of the major health problems all over the world. The accurate detection of TB is a major challenge faced by most of the existing methods. This work addresses these issues and developed an effective mechanism for detecting TB using deep learning. Here, the color space transformation is applied for transforming the red green and blue image to LUV space, where L stands for luminance, U and V represent chromaticity values of color images. Then, adaptive thresholding is carried out for image segmentation and various features, like coverage, density, color histogram, area, length, and texture features, are extracted to enable effective classification. After the feature extraction, the size of the features is reduced using principal component analysis. The extracted features are subjected to fractional crow search‐based deep convolutional neural network (FC‐SVNN) for the classification. Then, the image level features, like bacilli count, bacilli area, scattering coefficients and skeleton features are considered to perform severity detection using proposed adaptive fractional crow (AFC)‐deep CNN. Finally, the inflection level is determined using entropy, density and detection percentage. The proposed AFC‐Deep CNN algorithm is designed by modifying FC algorithm using self‐adaptive concept. The proposed AFC‐Deep CNN shows better performance with maximum accuracy value as 0.935.
Murine Tissue-Resident PDGFRα+ Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors Spontaneously Acquire Osteogenic Phenotype in an Altered Inflammatory Environment
Authors: Eisner Christine , Cummings Michael , Johnston Gabrielle , Tung Lin Wei , Groppa Elena , Chang Chihkai , Rossi Fabio MV 
Published: April 2020

ABSTRACT
Acquired heterotopic ossifications (HO) arising as a result of various traumas, including injury or surgical interventions, often result in pain and loss of motion. Though triggers for HO have been identified, the cellular source of these heterotopic lesions as well as the underlying mechanisms that drive the formation of acquired HO remain poorly understood, and treatment options, including preventative treatments, remain limited. Here, we explore the cellular source of HO and a possible underlying mechanism for their spontaneous osteogenic differentiation. We demonstrate that HO lesions arise from tissue-resident PDGFRα+ fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) in skeletal muscle and not from circulating bone marrow–derived progenitors. Further, we show that accumulation of these cells in the tissue after damage due to alterations in the inflammatory environment can result in activation of their inherent osteogenic potential. This work suggests a mechanism by which an altered inflammatory cell and FAP interactions can lead to the formation of HO after injury and presents potential targets for therapeutics in acquired HO. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
A pilot study of cdc6 as a biomarker for circulating tumor cells in patients with lung cancer
Authors: An Cheng , Liu Guijian , Cheng Shi , Pang Bo , Sun Shipeng , Zhang Yaying , Pan Zhongdai , Kang Xixiong 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundCell division cycle 6 (cdc6) is a key factor of DNA replication initiation license system and a proto‐oncogene. It has been detected in some tumor tissues to aid cancer diagnosis in many research projects. However, it remains unclear that if cdc6 could be detected in the peripheral blood, just like liquid biopsy, in solid tumor patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of cdc6 as a biomarker for circulating tumor cells in patients with lung cancer.MethodsWe first detected the expression of cdc6 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and tumor cells by in situ hybridization with cdc6 RNA probe. Then, we examined the expression of cdc6 in PBMCs from health individual, mononuclear cells from cord blood, or A549 cell line by RT‐qPCR. Furthermore, we used RT‐qPCR to test the cdc6 expression in PBMCs from tumor patients (test group) and non‐tumor individuals as a control group. Chi‐square test with Fisher's exact test was used to analyze the statistical significance of the difference. P < .05 is considered as statistically significant difference.ResultsWhen compared the cdc6 expression in cells from difference sources, we found that A549 tumor cell line had the strongest expression of cdc6, samples from cord blood showed the least expression level, indicating the detection strategy of RT‐qPCR is reasonable. Using this method, we studied whether cdc6 in Peripheral blood could be detected as a biomarker by examining cdc6 expression from PBMCs of patients with lung cancer. We found 20% of patients with lung cancer were cdc6 positive in PBMCs, whereas only 4.26% was found positive in the control group (P = .039, P < .05).ConclusionCell division cycle 6 has a potential to be used as a circulating tumor cell biomarker for lung cancer. Further study in clinical application is still broad needed.
Enhancing inclusion of diverse populations in genomics: A competence framework
Authors: Sharif Saghira M. , Blyth Moira , Ahmed Mushtaq , Sheridan Eamonn , Saltus Roiyah , Yu Juping , Tonkin Emma , Kirk Maggie 
Published: April 2020

AbstractGenomic knowledge and technology have developed rapidly over the last decade and increased our capabilities to diagnose and manage rare diseases. However, current genomic datasets lack ethnic diversity as many genomic studies have focused on participants of white European ancestry. Studies, such as the Deciphering Developmental Disorders study, have been available to participants of any ancestry but have been unsuccessful in recruiting diverse populations. The inclusion of diverse populations in exome and genome sequencing is important to ensure that clinical benefits of genomics advances are equally shared among all populations and to advance scientific knowledge. Our clinical and research experience with the British Pakistani population (the largest ethnic minority in Yorkshire and Humber, accounting for 4.3% of the population) has fostered the development of an innovative cultural competence framework to enhance the inclusion of diverse populations in clinical genomic research and service provision. The application of this framework has the potential to guide healthcare professionals to develop a wide range of competences, so they are ready to embrace genomic advances in order to improve health outcomes for all patients. This practice model will inform precision medicine and improve access of diverse populations to genomic studies. Although based upon work with the Pakistani population in the UK, it is anticipated that the model would be broadly applicable to all underrepresented populations across the world.
Rural–Urban Disparities in Otolaryngology: The State of Illinois
Authors: Urban Matthew J. , Wojcik Christopher , Eggerstedt Michael , Jagasia Ashok J. 
Published: April 2020

Objectives/HypothesisTo highlight rural–urban disparities in otolaryngology, and to quantify the disparities in access to otolaryngology specialist care across Illinois. Several studies across disciplines have shown increased prevalence and severity of disease in rural communities, relative to their urban counterparts. There is very little published quantifying a disparity in rural access to otolaryngologists.Study DesignPopulation study.MethodsCounties in Illinois were classified based on urbanization level on a scale from I (most urban) to VI (least urban) using the 2013 National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Urban–Rural Classification scheme. The six urbanization levels include four metropolitan (I–IV) and two nonmetropolitan levels (V and VI). The name and practice location of all registered otolaryngologists in Illinois were collected using the American Academy of Otolaryngology website (ENTnet.org). Population data were recorded from the most recent US Census (2010).ResultsTwo hundred seventy‐eight academy‐registered otolaryngologists were identified in Illinois. One hundred fifty‐one of these providers were located in a single county categorized as a level I by the NCHS scheme. There are over 18,000 square miles and 600,000 persons living in NCHS level VI counties in Illinois with zero registered otolaryngologists. Overall, metropolitan counties (I–IV) averaged 1.32 otolaryngologists per 100,000 population, whereas nonmetropolitan counties (V and VI) averaged 0.46 otolaryngologists per 100,000 (P < .01).ConclusionsThere is a paucity of academy‐certified otolaryngologists with primary practice locations in rural counties of Illinois. There is a significant rural population and massive land area with limited spatial access to otolaryngologic specialist care.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 131:E70–E75, 2021
Polysaccharide Nanoparticles Bearing HDAC Inhibitor as Nontoxic Nanocarrier for Drug Delivery
Authors: Lindemann Henry , Kühne Marie , Grune Christian , Warncke Paul , Hofmann Susanne , Koschella Andreas , Godmann Maren , Fischer Dagmar , Heinzel Thorsten , Heinze Thomas 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) are potent drugs in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and defined cancer types. However, major drawbacks of HDACi, such as valproic acid (VPA), are limited serum half‐life, side effects and the short circulation time. Thus, the immobilization of VPA in a polysaccharide matrix is used to circumvent these problems and to design a suitable nanocarrier system. Therefore, VPA is covalently attached to cellulose and dextran via esterification with degree of substitution (DS) values of up to 2.20. The resulting hydrophobic polymers are shaped to spherical nanoparticles (NPs) with hydrodynamic diameter between 138 to 221 nm and polydispersity indices from 0.064 to 0.094 by nanoprecipitation and emulsification technique. Lipase treatment of the NPs leads to in vitro release of VPA and hence to an inhibition of HDAC2 activity in a HDAC2 assay. NPs are rapidly taken up by HeLa cells and mainly localize in the cytoplasm. The NPs are hemocompatible and nontoxic as revealed by the shell‐less hen’s egg model.
pH‐Responsive Polymers for Improving the Signal‐to‐Noise Ratio of Hypoxia PET Imaging with [18F]Fluoromisonidazole
Authors: Goos Jeroen A. C. M. , Davydova Maria , Lengkeek Nigel , Greguric Ivan , Whittaker Michael R. , Quinn John F. , Baell Jonathan B. , Lewis Jason S. , Davis Thomas P. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractTo improve the signal‐to‐noise ratio of hypoxia positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, stimuli‐responsive polymers are designed for the delivery of the hypoxia PET tracer fluorine‐18 labeled fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO). Linear poly(N‐(2‐(hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide)) polymers are functionalized with hydrazide linkers that form pH‐sensitive acyl hydrazone bonds after their conjugation to an [18F]FMISO ketone analogue. The release of the [18F]FMISO ketone analogue from the polymers is considerably faster at a lower pH and its uptake is significantly higher in cancer cells growing under acidic conditions. Additionally, the retention of the PET tracer is significantly higher in hypoxic cells compared to normoxic cells. The delivery of a PET tracer using stimuli‐responsive polymers may be an attractive strategy to improve signal‐to‐noise ratios in PET imaging.
Pork Meat Proteins Alter Gut Microbiota and Lipid Metabolism Genes in the Colon of Adaptive Immune‐Deficient Mice
Authors: Zhang Min , Zou Xiaoyu , Zhao Di , Zhao Fan , Li Chunbao 
Published: April 2020

ScopeExcessive consumption of processed meat has been linked to an increasing risk of gut diseases. It is investigated how pork meat proteins affect colon homeostasis between normal and immune‐compromised mice.Methods and resultsImmune‐deficient mice (Rag1−/−) and wild‐type mice are fed a diet that contains 20% casein or protein isolated from cooked pork or dry‐cured pork for 3 months. Rag1−/− mice show greater variations in transcriptome responses and higher microbial diversity than wild‐type mice after consumption of the pork meat protein diets. Intake of pork meat protein diets also increases body weight and induces colonic oxidative stress, low‐grade inflammation, and gene expression involved in immune function, cell cycle, and migration. Key genes like Hmox1, Ppara, and Pparg are highly upregulated by pork meat protein. These changes are associated with decreased abundances of Blautia, Bifidobacterium, and Alistipes and increased abundances of Akkermansia muciniphila and Ruminococcaceae.ConclusionPork meat proteins affect colon health in both wild‐type and Rag1−/− mice by altering the microbiome profile under the complex interaction with adaptive immunity. The findings herein give a new insight into the understanding of meat intake, immunity, and gut health.
Treatment validation of the Solomon‐Greenwell nomogram for female bladder outlet obstruction
Authors: Lindsay Jamie , Solomon Eskinder , Nadeem Mehwash , Pakzad Mahreen , Hamid Rizwan , Ockrim Jeremy , Greenwell Tamsin 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAimBladder outflow in women (bladder outlet obstruction [BOO]) has no well‐accepted defining diagnostic criteria. Various nomograms exist based on flow rates, pressure‐flow data, and fluoroscopy. We have prospectively evaluated the Solomon‐Greenwell bladder outflow obstruction nomogram (SG BOO nomogram) as a measurement of BOO resolution following targeted surgical intervention.MethodsThe routine posttreatment urodynamics of 21 unselected women with an original urodynamic diagnosis of BOO on fluoroscopy and the SG BOO nomogram (BOO boundary defined as Qmax > 2.2 Pdet.Qmax + 5) were reviewed. All women had symptomatic BOO secondary to anterior pelvic organ prolapse (aPOP), urethrovaginal fistula (UVF), previous stress urinary incontinence (SUI) surgery, urethral stricture (US), or urethral diverticulum (U Div). Following treatment, all presenting symptoms resolved and simple urodynamics were performed as part of routine follow‐up.ResultsThe urodynamic findings preoperatively and postoperatively showed statistically significant changes posttreatment in mean flow rate which increased from 9.38 to 14.71 mL/s, mean Pdet.Qmax which decreased from 38 to 18.38 cmH2O, and mean SG BOO nomogram probability (PBOO) which reduced from PBOO = 0.68 to 0.08. Mean SG BOO nomogram PBOO was significantly reduced posttreatment in all individual categories except UVF where a nonsignificant reduction from PBOO = 0.55 to 0.05 occurred.ConclusionsAll urodynamic parameters significantly improve in women who become asymptomatic following surgical treatment of BOO. This improvement is best demonstrated by the change in probability of BOO according to the Solomon‐Greenwell nomogram. These findings underline the validity of the Solomon‐Greenwell female BOO nomogram for diagnosing and monitoring BOO in women.