bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gaze Deviation and Paresis Score (GPS) Sufficiently Predicts Emergent Large Vessel Occluding Strokes
Authors: Johannes Benedikt , Habib Pardes , Schürmann Kolja , Nikoubashman Omid , Wiesmann Martin , Schulz Jörg B. , Reich Arno 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: The prognosis of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) essentially depends on both prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Endovascular stroke therapy (EST) proved to be highly efficient in the treatment of emergent large vessel occluding (ELVO) strokes in the anterior circulation. To achieve a timely diagnosis, a robust combination of few and simple signs to identify ELVOs in AIS patients applicable by paramedics in the prehospital triage is worthwhile. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 904 AIS patients (324 ELVO, 580 non-ELVO) admitted between 2010 and 2015 in a tertiary stroke center. We re-evaluated two symptoms based on NIHSS items, gaze deviation and hemiparesis of the limbs (“Gaze deviation and Paresis Score, GPS”) for the pre-hospital prediction of ELVO. Results: A positive GPS AIS in patients predicted ELVO with a sensitivity of 0.89, specificity = 0.97, positive predictive value (PPV) = 0.95, negative predictive value (NPV) = 0.94 and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) = 34.25 (CI: 20.75 - 56.53). The positive Likelihood-ratio (LR + ) was 29.67, the negative Likelihood ratio (LR - ) 0.11. NIHSS of patients with positive GPS (gaze palsy NIHSS ≥ 0, Motor arm NIHSS ≥2 and Motor leg NIHSS ≥2) was markedly higher compared to negative GPS patients (p<0.001). Conclusions: The GPS proved to be similarly accurate in detecting ELVO in the anterior circulation of AIS patients and even more specific than other published clinical scores. Its simplicity and clarity might enable non-neurological medical staff to identify ELVO AIS patients with high certainty in a preclinical setting.
Bioethanol Production From Pennisetum sp. Using Fed-Batch Simultaneous Saccharification and Co-Fermentation at High Solid Loadings and Its Life Cycle Analysis
Authors: Mohapatra Sonai , Behera Bikash Chandra , Acharya Achuyta Nanda , thatoi Hrudayanath 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Considerable progress has been achieved for production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. However, increasing the substrate concentration has shown to decrease the ethanol productivity. In the present study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pichia membreneferans were used for ethanol production from glucose and xylose sugars respectively in optimized conditions. Further, co-culture fermentations were conducted in three different strategies for 13 g of sugar (10 g of glucose and 3 g of xylose) and the best strategy was further used for ethanol production from ultrasonication assisted NaOH (UA-NaOH) pretreated and enzymatically saccharified in batch and fed-batch fermentation conditions. Further, fed-batch fermentation was used for separate hydrolysis and co-fermentation (SHCF) and simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSCF) in shake flask conditions. The highest ethanol production of 12.2 and 7.9 (g/L) was observed for fed-batch SSCF denannath grass (DG) and Hybrid napier grass (HNG) (Palkonal MBW as the enzyme) biomass (80 g) respectively in shake flask conditions. However, increasing the biomass concentration to 270 g produced an ethanol concentration of 77.6 and 51.3 (g/L) for DG and HNG respectively in fed-batch SSCF conditions in bioreactor. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the residual biomass of both DG and HNG revealed presence of lower carbohydrate content, demonstrating the efficiency of the fermentation strategy. Further Life cycle Analysis (LCA) was also conducted to analyzed the effect of the ethanol on different environmental conditionsThe substrate feeding strategy and the saccharifying enzymes play a major role for efficient bioethanol production with higher substrate loadings. Presence of lower carbohydrates and some lignin moieties demonstrating the efficiency of the SSCF strategy for maximum conversion of carbohydrates. Thus fed batch SSCF process can be considered as a promising technique for biorefinery based bioethanol production from Pennisetum sp. in the future.
The Effects of Priming Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation on Movement-Related and Mirror Visual Feedback-Induced Sensorimotor Desynchronization
Authors: ZHANG Jack Jiaqi , Fong Kenneth NK 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: The potential benefits of priming intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) with continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) have not been examined in regard to sensorimotor oscillatory activities recorded in electroencephalography (EEG). Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the modulatory effect of priming iTBS (cTBS followed by iTBS) delivered to the motor cortex on movement-related and mirror visual feedback (MVF)-induced sensorimotor event-related desynchronization (ERD), compared with iTBS alone, on healthy adults.Methods: Twenty participants were randomly allocated into Group 1: priming iTBS - cTBS followed by iTBS, and Group 2: non-priming iTBS - sham cTBS followed by iTBS. The stimulation was delivered to the right motor cortex daily for 4 consecutive days. EEG was measured before and after 4 sessions of stimulation. Movement-related ERD was evaluated during left-index finger tapping and MVF-induced sensorimotor ERD was evaluated by comparing the difference between right-index finger tapping with and without MVF.Results: After stimulation, both protocols increased movement-related ERD and MVF-induced sensorimotor ERD in high mu and low beta bands, indicated by significant time effects. A significant interaction effect favoring Group 1 in enhancing movement-related ERD was observed in the high mu band (F (1, 18) = 4.47, p = 0.049), compared with Group 2.Conclusion: Our experiment suggests that priming iTBS with cTBS delivered to the motor cortex yields similar effects with iTBS alone on enhancing sensorimotor activation induced by movement and MVF-based observation on healthy adults. Further studies are warranted.
Association of Vitamin D Deficiency And Respiratory Syncytial Virus With Severe Lower Respiratory Tract Infection In Newborn Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Tüfekci Sinan , Aygün Erhan 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Newborn infants are exposed to life-threatening conditions such as severe lower respiratory tract infections mostly caused by a respiratory syncytial virus. Previous studies suggest vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections but this hypothesis is controversial. This study aimed to assess the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the occurrence of lower respiratory tract infections among Turkish infants.Methods: We performed a case-control study including newborns admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit. Respiratory syncytial virus related respiratory infections were confirmed by the Respi-strip test. Clinical and biological data were collected from medical records and analyzed with Epi Info7.Results: We included 18 newborns (9 cases with the diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus-related lower respiratory tract infections and 9 controls admitted with another diagnosis). Their mean age was 23.72 days and sex-ratio was 2. The main clinical symptoms of lower respiratory tract infections were cough, tachypnea, and fever and respiratory syncytial virus test was positive in all cases. Vitamin D level was significantly lower in cases compared to the control group (5.40 vs 17.67 ng/ml respectively). All newborns with lower respiratory tract infections presented vitamin D deficiency and 11.1 % of controls had normal vitamin D status. All babies and mothers with vitamin D deficiency were supplemented. Conclusion: Our results suggest that severe lower respiratory tract infections is associated with lower vitamin D levels among newborns admitted in neonatal intensive care unit. Vitamin D supplementation could help correct this deficiency and prevent postnatal severe lower respiratory tract infections.
Public policies reflected on hospitalizations for ambulatory care sensitive conditions: an ecological study in Sergipe-Brazil, 2008-2017
Authors: Justo Cátia Maria , Bastos Kleyton de Andrade , Nedel Fúlvio Borges 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Hospitalization for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions (HACSC) are an indicator of failure at this level of the health system. Since 2006, a series of actions have been taken in Brazil to promote Primary Health Care (PHC), a situation that has changed radically since 2014. To analyze the trend of the HACSC in Sergipe, in the period from 2008 to 2017. Methods: Ecological time-trend analysis. The data were extracted from the hospital admission authorizations on Hospital Information System in Brazilian Unified Health System. It was classified according to the Brazilian List of HACSC. The rates were standardized by the indirect method. Findings: There were 608,083 non-obstetric admissions and 125,497 HACSC (20.6%), with an overall rate of 5.8 admissions per thousand inhabitants (5.7 male and 5.8 female). The trend described a U-curve, decreasing from 2008 to 2011, with little oscillation from 2011 to 2014, rising from 2014 to 2017. The rate was considerably higher in men over the age of 70. Throughout the period, the most frequent causes were: gastroenteritis and complications (15.6%), kidney and urinary tract infection (9.4%), asthma (9.2%), heart failure (8.8%), cerebrovascular (8.1%), and diabetes mellitus (7.2%). Conclusion: The indicator improved in the initial period of the study, following the introduction of public policies that strengthened PHC, and worsened as they were withdrawn or neglected.
Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Patients with Primary Nephrotic Syndrome: Analysis of 18 Cases
Authors: You Xiaohan , Zhang Ji , Zhou Qiongxiu , Zhang Jianna 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to analysis the clinical features, risk factors and outcomes of patients with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) who developed pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP).Methods: We systematically reviewed medical records from 18 PNS patients with PCP admitted to our hospital from April 2007 to April 2019. A total of 180 cases were randomly selected as controls from PNS inpatients without infection. Results: In PCP patients, the mean age at presentation was 48.5 years, mean duration of prednisone treatment was 3.7 months and mean prednisone dose on admission was 31.3 mg/d, the most common clinical manifestation was fever (100%) and average PaO2 on admission was 59.5 mmHg. Eight patients (44.4%) had coexisting infections, most often was cytomegalovirus (4 patients), 11 patients (61.1%) had ICU admission and 9 patients (50%) had mechanical ventilation. PCP patients had more prednisone, more immunosuppressive therapy, lower CD4+ cell counts and hemoglobin, and higher serum creatinine than those without infections (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that patients with prednisone usage and lower CD4+ cell counts were more likely to have PCP compared to controls (p<0.05). All patients survived after treatment. Conclusion: PCP was not unusual in PNS patients, and the most important risk factor was a lower CD4+ cell count, but however, these patients had a good outcome after enough treatments.
Bioinformatics Analysis of Autophagy-related LncRNAs in Esophageal Carcinoma
Authors: fan junbai , Wu Dan , Ding Yi 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) is a malignant tumor with high invasiveness and mortality. Autophagy has multiple roles in the development of cancer; however, there are limited data on autophagy genes associated with long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in ESCA. The purpose of this study was to screen potential diagnostic and prognostic molecules, and to identify gene co-expression networks associated with autophagy in ESCA. Methods: We downloaded transcriptome expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas and autophagy-related gene data from the Human Autophagy Database, and analyzed the co-expression of mRNAs and lncRNAs. In addition, the diagnostic and prognostic value of autophagy-related lncRNAs was analyzed by multivariate Cox regression. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis was carried out for high-risk patients, and enriched pathways were analyzed by gene set enrichment analysis. Results: The results showed that genes of high-risk patients were enriched in protein export and spliceosome. Based on Cox stepwise regression and survival analysis, we identified seven autophagy-related lncRNAs with prognostic and diagnostic value, with the potential to be used as a combination to predict the prognosis of patients with ESCA. Finally, a co-expression network related to autophagy was constructed. Conclusion: These results suggest that autophagy-related lncRNAs and the spliceosome play important parts in the pathogenesis of ESCA. Our findings provide new insight into the molecular mechanism of ESCA and suggest a new method for improving its treatment.
Strain-enabled ultra-broadband Ge-based photonic devices for low-cost integration in PICs
Authors: Lin Yiding , Ma Danhao , Wen Rui-Tao , Lee Kwang Hong , Syaranamual Govindo , Kimerling Lionel , Tan Chuan Seng , Michel Jurgen 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Photonic-integrated circuits (PICs) have become one of the most promising solutions to the burgeoning global data communication and are being envisioned to have revolutionary impact in many other emerging fields. This outlook requires future PICs to be significantly more broadband and cost-effective. The current germanium (Ge)-based active photonic devices in PICs are thus facing a new bandwidth-cost trade-off. Here, we demonstrate ultra-broadband, high-efficiency Ge photodetectors up to 1,630 nm operation wavelength and Ge0.99Si0.01 electro-absorption (EA) modulator arrays with an operating range of ~100 nm from 1,525 to 1,620 nm, using a CMOS-compatible recess-type silicon nitride (SiNx) stressor. The broadband operation could facilitate a wide (>100 nm) window for low-cost Ge modulator-detector co-integration, requiring only a single step of Ge epitaxy and two different SiNx depositions. The broad modulation and co-integration coverage can be entirely shifted to shorter (~1,300 nm) and longer (>1,700 nm) wavelengths with small amounts of Si or tin (Sn) alloying. This proof-of-concept work provides a pathway for PICs towards future low-cost and high-data-capacity communication networks, immediately accessible by designers through foundries.
Young Adult Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of HIV and TB Mortality in South Africa: 1997-2015
Authors: Nkwenika Tshifhiwa , Manda Samuel 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Young adult mortality is very significant in South Africa due to the influence of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), Injuries and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Previous analyses have mainly focused on assessing time effect of age and period separately. However, health outcomes often depend on three-time scales of age, period and cohort, which are linearly interlinked. Using Age-Period-Cohort (APC) models, this study estimated the time effects of age, period and cohort on HIV and TB mortality among young adults in South Africa.Methods: HIV and TB mortality data and mid population estimates were obtained from Statistics South Africa for the period 1997 to 2015. Mortality data are based on deaths reported to the Department of Home Affairs where the underlying cause of death was HIV or TB based on the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) definition. Observed HIV/AIDS deaths were adjusted for under-reporting, misclassification and systematic proportion from ill-defined natural deaths. Three-year age, period, and birth cohort intervals for 15–64 years, 1997–2015 and 1934–2000 respectively were used. The Age-Period-Cohort (APC) analysis using the Poisson distribution was used to compute the effects of age, period and cohort on mortality due to TB and HIV.Results: A total of 5, 825,502 adult deaths were recorded from the period 1997 to 2015 of which, 910,731 (15.6%) and 252,101 (4.3%) were attributed to TB and HIV, respectively. For both observed mortality rate and estimated relative effects, concave down associations were found between TB, HIV mortality rates and period, age with peaks, at 36–38 and 30–32 years, respectively. A downward trend and inverted V-shape between TB and HIV mortality by birth cohort was found, respectively.Conclusions: The study found an inverse U-shaped association between TB-related mortality and age, period, and general downward trend with birth cohort for deaths reported between 1997 and 2015. A concave down relationship between HIV-related mortality and age, period, and inverted V-shaped with birth cohort was found. Our findings have shed more light on HIV and TB mortality rates across different age groups, effect of changes in the overall TB and HIV management and care on the mortality rates and whether or not the mortality rates depended on the year an individual was born.
Crowdsourcing Without Data Bias: Building a Quality Assurance System for Air Pollution Symptom Mapping Toward an SDG Indicator
Authors: Samulowska Marta , Chmielewski Szymon , Raczko Edwin , Lupa Michał , Myszkowska Dorota , Zagajewski Bogdan 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
The United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs), a strategy to guide the world’s social and economic transformation, highlight the issue of urban air pollution in SDG 11. Open data, as an output of citizen science (CS), are needed to supply and improve the SDG indicator system. Therefore, we propose a CS framework to extend the paradigm of urban air pollution monitoring from particulate matter concentration levels to air quality-related health symptom load, and foster the development of a tier-3 SDG indicator (which we call indicator 11.6.3). Building this new perspective for CS contributions to the achievement of SDGs, we address the problem of crowdsourced data bias as a prerequisite for better quality open data output. The aim of this study is to propose an air pollution symptom mapping framework for citizen-driven research and to find the most robust data quality assurance system (QAs) in this field. The method includes a GeoWeb application as well as data quality assurance mechanisms based on conditional statements, in order to reduce crowdsourced data bias. A four-month crowdsourcing campaign, released in Lubelskie voivodship (Poland), resulted in 1823 outdoor reports with a rejection rate of up to 28%, depending on the applied QA system (QAs). Testing the QAs variants, we find the most robust data bias solving method in survey-based symptom mapping. The framework output is shared via GeoWeb dashboards, including the 11.6.3 indicator evaluation. By familiarizing the public with citizen science, a city can track the progress of its SDG achievements and increase the transparency of the process through the use of GeoWeb.
Dietary factors, gut microbiota, and serum trimethylamine-N-oxide associated with cardiovascular disease
Authors: Mei Zhendong , Chen Guo-Chong , Wang Zheng , Usyk Mykhaylo , Yu Bing , Baeza Yoshiki Vazquez , Humphrey Greg , Benitez Rodolfo Salido , Li Jun , Williams-Nguyen Jessica S. , Daviglus Martha L. , Hou Lifang , Cai Jianwen , Zheng Yan , Knight Rob , Burk Robert D. , Boerwinkle Eric , Kaplan Robert C. , Qi Qibin 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a diet-derived and gut microbiota-related metabolite, is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the major dietary determinants and the specific gut bacterial taxa related to TMAO remain to be identified in humans. We aimed to identify dietary and gut microbial factors independently and jointly associated with circulating TMAO.
Results

We examined usual dietary intake, fecal gut microbiome profiled by shotgun metagenomics, and their interactions in relation to serum TMAO and its precursors among up to 3972 adult participants from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. We confirmed the positive association between TMAO and prevalent CVD (OR = 1.28, P = 4.36⋅10− 4). Fish (P = 1.26⋅10− 17), red meat (P = 3.33⋅10− 16), and egg (P = 3.89⋅10− 5) intakes were top dietary factors positively associated with serum TMAO independently of each other. Red meat and egg intakes, but not fish intake, were positively associated with serum TMAO precursors (e.g., carnitine, choline). We identified 9 gut bacterial species significantly associated with serum TMAO after multiple testing correction (FDR < 0.05). All 4 TMAO-positively-associated bacteria belong to the Clostridiales order, 3 of which may have homologous genes encoding carnitine monooxygenase, an enzyme converting carnitine to trimethylamine (TMA)/TMAO. The red meat-TMAO association was more pronounced for participants with higher abundance of these 4 bacterial species than those with lower abundance (Pinteraction=0.013), but such microbial modification was not observed for fish-TMAO or egg-TMAO associations.
Conclusion

In US Hispanics/Latinos, fish, red meat, and egg intakes are major dietary factors associated with serum TMAO. The identified potential TMA-producing gut microbiota and microbial modification on the red meat-TMAO association support microbial TMA/TMAO production from dietary carnitine, while the fish-TMAO association is independent of gut microbiota.
Overexpression of Long Non-Coding RNA AP001505.9 Inhibits Dedifferentiation in Human Hyaline Chondrocyte
Authors: Chen Lin , Xu Jinying , Lv Shuang , Zhao Yan , Sun Dongjie , Zheng Yangyang , Li Xianglan , Zhang Lihong , Chi Guangfan , Li Yulin 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background: Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) requires a large number ofhuman hyaline chondrocytes. Unfortunately, human hyaline chondrocytes oftenundergo dedifferentiation in vitro. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) play aregulatory role in gene expression in many pathological and physiological processes.However, their role in human hyaline chondrocyte dedifferentiation remains unclear.This study aimed to investigate the expression profiles of lncRNAs in human hyalinechondrocyte dedifferentiation.Methods: Human hyaline chondrocytes were cultured in vitro and screened for theoccurrence of dedifferentiation using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR),immunofluorescence, and western blotting. The expression profiles of lncRNAs andmRNAs during dedifferentiation were analyzed by microarray analysis and real-timeqPCR. We used pellet culture to redifferentiate chondrocytes and the expression ofrelated lncRNAs were assessed. The function of lncRNA AP001505.9(ENST00000569966) was determined by overexpression, fluorescence in situhybridization, competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) analysis, and double luciferaselabeling.Results: We probed human hyaline chondrocytes dedifferentiation and identified 334upregulated and 381 downregulated lncRNAs. The expression of downregulatedlncRNA AP001505.9 in dedifferentiation was reversed by pellet culture. Theoverexpression of AP001505.9 inhibited dedifferentiation by promoting theexpression of SRY-Box transcription factor 9 (SOX-9) and inhibiting the expressionof type I collagen (COL1) both in vitro and in vivo.Conclusion: This study reveals for the first time the expression profiles of lncRNAsin human hyaline chondrocyte dedifferentiation, thereby providing a new perspectivefor exploring the potential mechanism of chondrocyte dedifferentiation.