bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multi-scale habitat selection and impacts of climate change on the distribution of four sympatric meso-carnivores using random forest algorithm
Authors: Rather Tahir Ali , Kumar Sharad , Khan Jamal Ahmad 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe habitat resources are structured across different spatial scales in the environment, and thus animals perceive and select habitat resources at different spatial scales. Failure to adopt the scale-dependent framework in species habitat relationships may lead to biased inferences. Multi-scale species distribution models (SDMs) can thus improve the predictive ability as compared to single-scale approaches. This study outlines the importance of multi-scale modeling in assessing the species habitat relationships and may provide a methodological framework using a robust algorithm to model and predict habitat suitability maps (HSMs) for similar multi-species and multi-scale studies.ResultsWe used a supervised machine learning algorithm, random forest (RF), to assess the habitat relationships of Asiatic wildcat (Felis lybica ornata), jungle cat (Felis chaus), Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis), and golden-jackal (Canis aureus) at ten spatial scales (500–5000 m) in human-dominated landscapes. We calculated out-of-bag (OOB) error rates of each predictor variable across ten scales to select the most influential spatial scale variables. The scale optimization (OOB rates) indicated that model performance was associated with variables at multiple spatial scales. The species occurrence tended to be related strongest to predictor variables at broader scales (5000 m). Multivariate RF models indicated landscape composition to be strong predictors of the Asiatic wildcat, jungle cat, and Indian fox occurrences. At the same time, topographic and climatic variables were the most important predictors determining the golden jackal distribution. Our models predicted range expansion in all four species under future climatic scenarios.ConclusionsOur results highlight the importance of using multiscale distribution models when predicting the distribution and species habitat relationships. The wide adaptability of meso-carnivores allows them to persist in human-dominated regions and may even thrive in disturbed habitats. These meso-carnivores are among the few species that may benefit from climate change.
Maintaining the balance of TDP-43, mitochondria, and autophagy: a promising therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Huang Chunhui , Yan Sen , Zhang Zaijun 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Mitochondria are the energy center of cell operations and are involved in physiological functions and maintenance of metabolic balance and homeostasis in the body. Alterations of mitochondrial function are associated with a variety of degenerative and acute diseases. As mitochondria age in cells, they gradually become inefficient and potentially toxic. Acute injury can trigger the permeability of mitochondrial membranes, which can lead to apoptosis or necrosis. Transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) is a protein widely present in cells. It can bind to RNA, regulate a variety of RNA processes, and play a role in the formation of multi-protein/RNA complexes. Thus, the normal physiological functions of TDP-43 are particularly important for cell survival. Normal TDP-43 is located in various subcellular structures including mitochondria, mitochondrial-associated membrane, RNA particles and stress granules to regulate the endoplasmic reticulum–mitochondrial binding, mitochondrial protein translation, and mRNA transport and translation. Importantly, TDP-43 is associated with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease, which are characterized by abnormal phosphorylation, ubiquitination, lysis or nuclear depletion of TDP-43 in neurons and glial cells. Although the pathogenesis of TDP-43 proteinopathy remains unknown, the presence of pathological TDP-43 inside or outside of mitochondria and the functional involvement of TDP-43 in the regulation of mitochondrial morphology, transport, and function suggest that mitochondria are associated with TDP-43-related diseases. Autophagy is a basic physiological process that maintains the homeostasis of cells, including targeted clearance of abnormally aggregated proteins and damaged organelles in the cytoplasm; therefore, it is considered protective against neurodegenerative diseases. However, the combination of abnormal TDP-43 aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and insufficient autophagy can lead to a variety of aging-related pathologies. In this review, we describe the current knowledge on the associations of mitochondria with TDP-43 and the role of autophagy in the clearance of abnormally aggregated TDP-43 and dysfunctional mitochondria. Finally, we discuss a novel approach for neurodegenerative treatment based on the knowledge.
Physiological and transcriptome changes induced by exogenous putrescine in anthurium under chilling stress
Authors: Sun Xiangli , Yuan Zebin , Wang Bo , Zheng Liping , Tan Jianzhong , Chen Fadi 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
Chilling stress is the major factor limiting plant productivity and quality in most regions of the world. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of putrescine (Put) and polyamine inhibitor d-arginine (d-arg) on the chilling tolerance of anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum).

Results
Anthurium seedlings were pretreated with five different concentrations of Put solution or d-arg solution. Subsequently, the seedlings were subjected to chilling stress at 6 °C for 3 days, followed by a recovery at 25 °C for 1 day. Relative permeability of the plasma membrane, as well as physiological and morphologic parameters was assessed during the experiments. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing and patterns of differential gene expression related to chilling response were analyzed by qRT-PCR in 1.0 mM Put-treated and untreated anthurium seedlings. Results indicated that the supplementation of exogenous Put decreased the extent of membrane lipid peroxidation and the accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), promoted the antioxidant activities and proline content and maintained the morphologic performances compared with the control group. This finding indicated that the application of exogenous Put could effectively decrease the injury and maintain the quality of anthurium under chilling conditions. In contrast, the treatment of d-arg exhibited the opposite effects, which confirmed the effects of Put.

Conclusions
This research provided a possible approach to enhance the chilling tolerance of anthurium and reduce the energy consumption used in anthurium production.
Efficacy of low-dose local clindamycin in different times for microbial decontamination of autogenous particulate bone graft
Authors: Mohajerani Hassan , Irajian Gholamreza , Latifi Fatemeh , Masjedian Faramarz , Tabrizi Reza 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
Clindamycin in low concentration (20 μg/mL) is safe for vitality and osteogenic potential of bone cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of local clindamycin (20 μg/mL) in two different exposure times, for microbial decontamination of particulate bone graft, collected during implant site preparation.
This non-randomized parallel-group study was conducted on samples from 17 patients. The particulate bone collected during implant site preparation was divided into three portions by weight: in group S1, the particulate bone was immersed in thioglycolate broth without any antibiotic treatment; in group S2, the collected particulate bone was irrigated with 100 mL clindamycin solution (20 μg/mL); and in group S3, the collected particulate bone was soaked in one ml clindamycin solution (20 μg/mL) for 3 min. Samples in the three groups were cultured in aerobic and anaerobic media and species and CFU count of isolated bacteria were determined.

Results
Analysis of the data demonstrated a significant difference among the three groups in the mean count of total microorganisms (P = 0.001). The difference in the mean count of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms in the three groups was statistically significant as well (P = 0.001). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the only microorganism that was not affected with the mentioned antibiotic.

Conclusions
Local use of low-dose clindamycin (20 μg/mL)—irrigation or 3 min immersing—is effective for the decontamination of particulate bone grafts.
nSARS-Cov-2, pulmonary edema and thrombosis: possible molecular insights using miRNA-gene circuits in regulatory networks
Authors: Khurana P. , Gupta A. , Sugadev R. , Sharma Y. K. , Varshney R. , Ganju L. , Kumar B. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundGiven the worldwide spread of the novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (nSARS-CoV-2) infection pandemic situation, research to repurpose drugs, identify novel drug targets, vaccine candidates have created a new race to curb the disease. While the molecular signature of nSARS-CoV-2 is still under investigation, growing literature shows similarity among nSARS-CoV-2, pulmonary edema, and thromboembolic disorders due to common symptomatic features. A network medicine approach is used to to explore the molecular complexity of the disease and to uncover common molecular trajectories of edema and thrombosis with nSARS-CoV-2.Results and conclusionA comprehensive nSARS-CoV-2 responsive miRNA: Transcription Factor (TF): gene co-regulatory network was built using host-responsive miRNAs and it’s associated tripartite, Feed-Forward Loops (FFLs) regulatory circuits were identified. These regulatory circuits regulate signaling pathways like virus endocytosis, viral replication, inflammatory response, pulmonary vascularization, cell cycle control, virus spike protein stabilization, antigen presentation, etc. A unique miRNA-gene regulatory circuit containing a consortium of four hub FFL motifs is proposed to regulate the virus-endocytosis and antigen-presentation signaling pathways. These regulatory circuits also suggest potential correlations/similarity in the molecular mechanisms during nSARS-CoV-2 infection, pulmonary diseases and thromboembolic disorders and thus could pave way for repurposing of drugs. Some important miRNAs and genes have also been proposed as potential candidate markers. A detailed molecular snapshot of TGF signaling as the common pathway, that could play an important role in controlling common pathophysiologies among diseases, is also put forth.
The use of patient-reported outcomes to detect adverse events in metastatic melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy: a randomized controlled pilot trial
Authors: Tolstrup Lærke K. , Bastholt Lars , Dieperink Karin B. , Möller Sören , Zwisler Ann-Dorthe , Pappot Helle 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
A randomized controlled pilot trial was conducted to assess if melanoma patients treated with immunotherapy had the number of grade 3 or 4 adverse events during treatment reduced by 50% using a tailored electronic patient-reported outcomes tool in addition to standard toxicity monitoring compared to standard monitoring alone. Secondary endpoints were: if more AEs were reported in the intervention group, if there was a difference between the two groups in the number of telephone consultations, extra out-patient visits, number of days in the hospital, days in steroid treatment and the time patients experienced grade 2 or higher toxicity.

Patients and methods
Melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy at the Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark participated. Standard care included assessment of AEs by a clinician before each treatment cycle using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. In addition, patients randomized to the intervention reported their AEs weekly by an electronic PRO-tool based on the PRO-CTCAE platform.

Results
One hundred forty-six melanoma patients were randomized. In this study, we did not detect a difference between the two groups in the number of grade 3 or 4 AEs (P = 0.983), in the overall number of AEs (P = 0.560) or in the time the patients in the two groups experienced grade 2 or higher toxicity (0.516). The number of phone contacts was significantly higher in the intervention group (P = 0.009) and there was a tendency towards patients in the intervention group having more extra visits (P = 0.156).

Conclusion
It has been examined if the number of severe AEs for melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy could be reduced by involving the patients in the reporting of symptoms. The results do not justify the expansion of the pilot study into a regular phase III study with this particular set-up. However, a significant difference in the number of phone contacts was found as patients in the intervention group called more frequently, indicating that their attention to AEs was increased. Even though the use of an electronic PRO tool could not reduce the number of severe AEs in this melanoma population, a positive impact on other endpoints such as QoL, communication, or treatment-planning, cannot be excluded.

Trial registration
Clinicaltrials.gov NCT03073031 Registered 8 March 2017, Retrospectively registered.
Whole-exome sequencing and homozygosity mapping identify variants in NCOR1 and MAP2K3 associated with non-syndromic congenital heart defects
Authors: Gholipoorfeshkecheh Rahim , Agarwala Swati , G Kavya , Krishnappa Santhosh , Savitha Mysore R. , Ramachandra Nallur B. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
Homozygosity mapping is an efficient gene mapping method applicable to recessive disorders. It can detect homozygous segments of identical haplotype structures shared at a higher frequency among ventricular septal defect (VSD) and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) cases. This study aims to identify the recessive genes involved in congenital heart disease (CHD) cases by homozygosity mapping. A total of 36 CHD cases of Indian origin were recruited based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, disease severity, and hole size. Of these, ten prediagnosed VSD and TOF cases were selected for homozygosity mapping. For in silico validation of variations, overlapping gene variants were analyzed from 26 cases based on pathogenecity and haploinsufficiency scores.

Results
Genome-wide homozygosity mapping identified 34 homozygous regions with a maximum block length of 80 bp marked for the CHD samples under study. A total of 4863 genes were identified in these 34 homozygous regions, which were present across almost all chromosomes except chromosomes 4, 8, 12, and 13. The homozygosity region found in chromosome 17 revealed genes for CHD manifestation. This homozygous region contained VSD- and TOF-related genes—Nuclear Corepressor 1 (NCOR1) and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase 3 (MAP2K3). In silico validation identified damaging variants for NCOR1 and MAP2K3. Three variants, G207C, C241T, and G244A, were found on exon 2 in the transcript NM_001190438 for NCOR1. Three variants were also found for MAP2K3, namely G194T and C199T in exon 5 and C578T in exon 8 in the transcript NM_002756. All these variants were present in the protein kinase domain.

Conclusion
Presence of homozygous regions identifies recessive genes leading to disease severity. Defects in recessive genes NCOR1 and MAP2K3 are responsible for abnormal myogenesis, resulting in CHD manifestation.
Prospective associations between ECG abnormalities and death or myocardial infarction in a cohort of 980 employed, middle-aged Swedish men
Authors: Dimberg Lennart , Eriksson Bo , Enqvist Per 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
In 1993, 1000 randomly selected employed Swedish men aged 45–50 years were invited to a nurse-led health examination with a survey on life style, fasting lab tests, and a 12-lead ECG. A repeat examination was offered in 1998. The ECGs were classified according to the Minnesota Code. Upon ethical approval, endpoints in terms of MI and death over 25 years were collected from Swedish national registers with the purpose of analyzing the independent association of ECG abnormalities as risk factors for myocardial infarction and death.

Results
Seventy-nine of 977 participants had at least one ECG abnormality 1993 or 1998.
One hundred participants had a first MI over the 25 years. Odds ratio for having an MI in the group that had one or more ECG abnormality compared with the group with two normal ECGs was estimated to 3.16. 95%CI (1.74; 5.73), p value 0.0001.
One hundred fifty-seven participants had died before 2019. For death, similarly no statistically significant difference was shown, OR 1.52, 95%CI (0.83; 2.76).

Conclusions
Our study suggests that presence of ST- and R-wave changes is associated with an independent 3–4-fold increased risk of MI after 25 years follow-up, but not of death. A 12-lead resting ECG should be included in any MI risk calculation on an individual level.
Debt sustainability and the fiscal reaction function: evidence from MIST countries
Authors: Ogbeifun Lawrence , Shobande Olatunji 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe use of public debt is not new in financing developmental objectives. A significant challenge arose when it became obvious that the indebted countries could not fulfill its existing financial obligation to the rest of the world where debt is sourced. For a panel of 4 heterogeneous countries from 1990 to 2017, we study governments’ reactions to debt accumulation and the corrective measures taken when its borrowings result in a rise in debt–GDP ratio. The study evidence is based on the fixed effect and the feasible generalized least squares estimators. We find evidence that primary balance improves by about 0.005–0.013 for every 1 percentage point increase in central government debt after controlling for other relevant factors. The results further suggest that the accrued interest payments on debt reflect the effective debt management policies across the countries, whereas the activities on the current account balance impose a possible threat to the primary balance. The study calls for policies that increase fiscal bases through the reduction in fiscal expenditure and the reinforcement of tax base revenue across the MIST countries.
The role of passive surveillance and citizen science in plant health
Authors: Brown Nathan , Pérez-Sierra Ana , Crow Peter , Parnell Stephen 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The early detection of plant pests and diseases is vital to the success of any eradication or control programme, but the resources for surveillance are often limited. Plant health authorities can however make use of observations from individuals and stakeholder groups who are monitoring for signs of ill health. Volunteered data is most often discussed in relation to citizen science groups, however these groups are only part of a wider network of professional agents, land-users and owners who can all contribute to significantly increase surveillance efforts through “passive surveillance”. These ad-hoc reports represent chance observations by individuals who may not necessarily be looking for signs of pests and diseases when they are discovered. Passive surveillance contributes vital observations in support of national and international surveillance programs, detecting potentially unknown issues in the wider landscape, beyond points of entry and the plant trade. This review sets out to describe various forms of passive surveillance, identify analytical methods that can be applied to these “messy” unstructured data, and indicate how new programs can be established and maintained. Case studies discuss two tree health projects from Great Britain (TreeAlert and Observatree) to illustrate the challenges and successes of existing passive surveillance programmes. When analysing passive surveillance reports it is important to understand the observers’ probability to detect and report each plant health issue, which will vary depending on how distinctive the symptoms are and the experience of the observer. It is also vital to assess how representative the reports are and whether they occur more frequently in certain locations. Methods are increasingly available to predict species distributions from large datasets, but more work is needed to understand how these apply to rare events such as new introductions. One solution for general surveillance is to develop and maintain a network of tree health volunteers, but this requires a large investment in training, feedback and engagement to maintain motivation. There are already many working examples of passive surveillance programmes and the suite of options to interpret the resulting datasets is growing rapidly.
Review of annual progress of bridge engineering in 2019
Authors: Zhao Renda , Yuan Yuan , Wei Xing , Shen Ruili , Zheng Kaifeng , Qian Yongjiu , Pu Qianhui , Zhang Qinghua , Liao Haili , Li Xiaozhen , Zhao Canhui , Xu Guoji , Gou Hongye , Zhang Ziyang , Yu Chuanjin 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBridge construction is one of the cores of traffic infrastructure construction. To better develop relevant bridge science, this paper introduces the main research progress in China and abroad in 2019 from 13 aspects, including concrete bridges and the high-performance materials, the latest research on steel-concrete composite girders, advances in box girder and cable-supported bridge analysis theories, advance in steel bridges, the theory of bridge evaluation and reinforcement, bridge model tests and new testing techniques, steel bridge fatigue, wind resistance of bridges, vehicle-bridge interactions, progress in seismic design of bridges, bridge hydrodynamics, bridge informatization and intelligent bridge and prefabricated concrete bridge structures.
Central-difference time-lapse 4D seismic full-waveform inversion
Authors: Zhou Wei , Lumley David 
Published: October 2020

Repeated seismic surveys contain valuable information regarding time-lapse (4D) changes in the subsurface. Full-waveform inversion (FWI) of seismic data can provide high-resolution estimates of 4D change. We have adopted a new time-domain 2D acoustic time-lapse FWI method based on the central-difference scheme with higher order mathematical accuracy and reasonable computational cost. The method is rigorously tested on the SEG Advanced Modeling 4D time-lapse model and ocean-bottom-node data set. High-resolution 4D velocity estimates are obtained, which show strong (approximately 25%) velocity increases in a 75 m thick gas layer, as well as weaker (5%) changes due to geomechanical effects, the latter of which are poorly recovered by the conventional parallel 4D FWI method. We also perform the bootstrap 4D FWI method, and the result is contaminated by strong artifacts in the underburden, whereas the proposed central-difference method has fewer underburden artifacts allowing more reliable interpretations. In this realistic case study, acoustic FWI erroneously overfits some of the elastic scattered waves, and it cannot fit the strong elastic 4D coda waves well. The results show that the proposed central-difference 4D FWI method within the acoustic approximation may be a practical solution for time-lapse seismic velocity inversion.