bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Healthcare Professionals’ Perspectives on the Cross-sectoral Treatment Pathway for Women with Gestational Diabetes During and After Pregnancy – A Qualitative Study
Authors: Timm Anne , Nielsen Karoline Kragelund , Christense Ulla , Maindal Helle Terkildsen 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Gestational diabetes increases the risk of complications during and after pregnancy, including a long-term risk of type 2 diabetes. Women with gestational diabetes have to navigate a complex treatment pathway during pregnancy, which they often experience as incoherent. These women also report a lack of preventive care after pregnancy. The objective of this study is to investigate healthcare professionals’ views on the cross-sectoral treatment pathway for women with gestational diabetes – under and after pregnancy. Methods: Nine healthcare professionals handling women with gestational diabetes before and after pregnancy in Denmark were interviewed (two general practitioners, four midwives, two obstetricians and one diabetes nurse). Further, eight health visitors participated in focus group discussions. The data material was analysed using systematic text condensation. Results: Three major themes emerged: 1) professional identity which varied across the healthcare professionals and consequently shaped care practices; 2) lack of priority in the area of gestational diabetes contributed to uncertainty of tasks and responsibilities across the treatment pathway; and 3) cross-sectoral collaboration relied heavily on knowledge transfer between hospitals, general practitioners, and the local municipality. Conclusion: Knowledge transfer was fragmented as guidelines for treatment in the postpartum period were unclear to healthcare professionals outside the hospital. More awareness should be given to structures that ease clear and transparent guidelines and tailored communication strategies for healthcare professionals who provide care to women with gestational diabetes under and after pregnancy.
Production, Optimization and Characterization of an Acid Protease From Filamentous Fungi by Solid-state Fermentation
Authors: Usman Abdilbar , Mohammed Said , Mamo Jermen 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Acid proteases represent an important group of enzymes, extensively used in food and beverage industries. There are a diversification of food industries and thus an increasing demand for biocatalysts capable of adapting the industrial extreme environments. These demands can be covered by a plant and animal proteases; however there is a shortage to meet the present industrial demands. This necessitates the search for an alternative acid protease sources from fungi. The fungal isolates were recovered from grape and dairy farm soil using potato-dextrose Agar. The fungi were further screened for protease production based on the hydrolysis of clear-zone on skim-milk agar media. The potential fungi were then subjected to secondary screening under solid-state fermentation. After primary and secondary screening, the potential fungus (isolate Z1BL1) was identified to the genus level by combination of macroscopic and microscopic morphological study. The growth condition and media composition for potential fungal isolate (Z1BL1) was further optimized under solid-state fermentation. The crude enzyme produced from isolate Z1BL1 was characterized after partial purification by acetone and ammonium sulphate precipitation. A total of 9 fungal isolates were showed protease production in primary and secondary screening, however 1 potential isolate (Z1BL1) was selected for further study based on its protease activity. The potential fungus, isolate Z1BL1 was identified to the genus Aspergillus based on their morphological features. The optimization of media composition and growth conditions for acid protease production from Z1BL1 were slightly increased the protease activity. The acetone precipitated enzyme exhibited the maximum activity at 50 0C and pH 5 with stability at pH 4-6 and temperature 40-60 0C. Thus based on the above findings, the acid protease produced from Aspergillus was shown suitable enzyme characteristics required in industry and could be a candidate to be applicable in food industry after further purification by high resolution techniques.
Complementarity of Raman and Infrared Spectroscopy for Rapid Characterization of Fucoidan Extracts
Authors: Ptak Signe , Sanchez Lee , Frette Xavier , Kurouski Dmitry 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
BackgroundFucoidans are sulfated polysaccharides from the cell-wall of brown algae. They have a wide range of applications in medicine, including regenerative medicine, ophthalmology, cancer, and autoimmune disease. Biological activity of fucoidans directly depends on their structure, which remains poorly understood. This is primarily because the polymeric nature of these molecules limits the use of nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry, classical tools of structural biology for their structural characterization. Raman and Infrared spectroscopies are non-invasive and non-destructive techniques that can be used to probe the structural organization of biological specimens. In this study, we investigate the potential of Raman and Infrared spectroscopy for structural analysis of several fucoidan extracts. ResultsOur results show that Infrared and Raman provide different but complimentary information about the structure of crude extracts of fucoidans, revealing the presence of minor impurities from co-extractants. We also found that at high extraction temperatures acidic conditions limit formation of melanoidins, while also yielding relatively high sulfate ester fucoidan. However, at high temperatures, water extraction may potentially result in formation of advanced glycation end products. Their presence could be problematic for fucoidan extracts intended for medicinal use, as advanced glycation end products have been linked to endocrine interruption mechanisms in vivo by crosslinking to and permanently altering extracellular matrix proteins. ConclusionRaman and Infrared can be used as complementary tools for rapid screening of crude fucoidan extracts, which can be a valuable tool for assessing impurities that remain after extraction.
Deployment of a Lorawan Network and Evaluation of Tracking Devices in the Context of Smart Cities
Authors: Camargo Edson , Spanhol Fabio , Souza Alvaro 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Recent public cooperation between the Federal University of Technology Paraná and Toledo Municipality plans to implement the concept of smart cities in this city. In this context, one of the applications under development intends to track the recyclable garbage collector trucks in real time over the Internet. Actually, fleet vehicle tracking is one of the main applications for smart cities. LoRaWAN stands out among network technologies for smart cities due to operating in an open frequency range, covering long distances with low power consumption and low equipment cost. However, the coverage and performance of LoRaWAN is directly affected by both the environment and configuration parameters. In addition, tracking devices must be able to send its coordinates to the Internet even when the vehicle goes through zones where there are obstacles for electromagnetic waves, such as elevated buildings or valleys. In this paper we perform experimental investigations to evaluate four LoRaWAN tracking devices, two out of the box commercial and two assembled and programmed. The behavior of each tracking device is analyzed when moving through three representative urban areas. As the devices depend on the quality of the signal offered by the network, we also present the results of the development and evaluation of the LoRaWAN network, planning its coverage throughout the city. Results of tracking devices were analyzed under quantitative and qualitative aspects, including the received signal strength indication (RSSI), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), package delivery ratio (PDR), and spreading factor (SF) for the geographic coordinates received.
Novel Nomograms to Predict of Overall Survival and Cancer-specific Survival of Patients of Metaplastic Breast Cancer
Authors: Li Yongfeng , Chen Daobao , Xuan Haojun , Dragomir Mihnea P. , Calin George A. , Yang Hongjian , Chen Meng , Jin hongchuan 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background Metaplastic breast cancer (MBC) is a rare type of breast cancer with an increasing incidence, we aim to develop clinical nomograms to predict the overall survival and cancer-specific survival for patients with MBC.MethodsPatients data were collected from the SEER database between 1973 and 2015. All included patients were randomly assigned into the training and validation sets. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis were performed to identify independent prognostic factors of MBC. These essential prognostic variables were combined to construct nomogram models to predict overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in patients with MBC. Model performance was evaluated by concordance index (C-index) and calibration plots.ResultsA total of 1835 patients were collected and divided into the training (1223) and validation (612) groups. The multivariate Cox model identified age, TNM stage, T stage, and N stage, chemotherapy and radiotherapy as independent covariates associated with OS, while these variables except for age and chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors of CSS. The nomogram constructed based on these covariates demonstrated excellent accuracy in estimating 3-, and 5-year OS and CSS, with a C-index of 0.759 (95% CI, 0.746-0.772) for OS and 0.766 (95% CI, 0.751-0.781) for CSS in the training cohort. In the validation cohort, the nomogram-predicted C-index was 0.754 for OS (95%CI, 0.734-0.774) and 0.752 (95%CI, 0.728-0.776) for CSS. All calibration curves exhibited good consistency between predicted and actual survival.ConclusionsThese nomogram models established in this study can help to enhance the accuracy of prognostic prediction, which may thereby improve individualized assessment of survival risks and facilitate to provide constructive therapeutic suggestions.
Gene expression profiling to explore the protective effect of Antrodia cinnamomea compound decoction on PM2.5-induced lung inflammation in rats
Authors: Wang Guishu , Chen Weicheng , Meng Yufeng , Zhang Caijuan , Zheng Jiakun , Liu Yaqian , Zhu Changle , Shi Liangtian , Wei Yongjie , Kuo Jenhua , Feng Cuiling 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
BackgroundAntrodia cinnamomea compound decoction (ACCD), a Chinese herbal extract composed of Antrodia cinnamomea, Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz and Phellinus igniarius (L. ex Fr.), were widely used with anti-inflammatory activity. However, the effects and mechanisms of ACCD on the lung inflammation induced by PM2.5 are not fully understood. This study aims to reveal the effect of ACCD on PM2.5-induced lung inflammation and analyze the possible mechanisms through gene chip expression profiling. MethodsMale Wistar rats were subjected to lung damage by stimulation with 10% PM2.5, with/without ACCD (0.67g/kg/d) intervention. The HE, AB-PAS staining and IL-1β were performed to evaluate the effect of ACCD in the treatment of lung inflammation caused by PM2.5. In addition, the extracted lung genes were detected based on the gene chip expression profile. Bioinformatics analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (Q-PCR) were used to analysis and verify the related differentially expressed genes (DEGs). ResultsResults showed that instillation of PM2.5 increased the inflammatory cells immersion in the airways and the acid mucus content in the tracheal epithelium compared with the sham group, and it increased the IL-1β levels in Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). ACCD reduced inflammatory cell immersion in airways, alleviated goblet cell metaplasia in tracheal epithelium and reduced IL-1β levels in BALF. A total of 99 genes with significant differential expression were identified (p < 0.05) after ACCD treatment compared with the model group, including 48 up-regulated and 51 down-regulated genes. Bioinformatics analysis showed that these DEGs were mainly related to inflammatory response and significantly enriched in cancer signaling pathway. Five of the DEGs were subjected to Q-PCR and three of them (Plcβ-1, Axin2, Ccbe1) were significant difference (p < 0.05). ConclusionOur study suggests that ACCD may exert anti-inflammatory effects on PM2.5-induced lung inflammation via the cancer pathway, and that Plcβ-1, Axin2, and Ccbe1 may be key targets of ACCD action on PM2.5-induced lung inflammation. This work could provide genomic clues for the continued study of ACCD for the therapy of PM2.5-induced lung inflammation.
Association of Serum Antibodies Against the Mycobacterium Avium Complex and Hemoptysis: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ogata Hiroaki , Moriwaki Atsushi , Nakagawa Taisuke , Sakoda Soichiro , Ishimatsu Akiko , Taguchi Kazuhito , Aso Hiroshi , Nogami Hiroko , Kadowaki Masako , Tateshi Yuko , Yoshida Makoto 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Hemoptysis is very common and can be life threatening in clinical practice for nontuberculous mycobacteria. The serum antibody against the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC-Ab), the majority of nontuberculous mycobacteria species, is well known to reflect the activity of MAC lung disease; however, there is no study investigating the association between the MAC-Ab and hemoptysis in MAC patients. Therefore, we assessed whether the MAC-Ab is a good biomarker for hemoptysis among subjects with MAC lung disease. Methods: This study was conducted as a five-year retrospective survey at the National Hospital Organization Fukuoka National Hospital. A total of 155 patients aged ≥ 20 years with MAC lung disease were enrolled and separated into seropositive and seronegative groups using the cutoff for MAC-Ab levels of 0.7 U/ml. The prevalence of hemoptysis and odds ratios for the presence of hemoptysis were estimated and compared between the groups. To investigate the linear trends in the relationship between MAC-Ab levels and hemoptysis, the subjects were classified into three groups using the tertile distribution of the MAC-Ab. Results: The prevalence of hemoptysis was twice as high in the seropositive group than in the seronegative group (42.2% and 21.7%, respectively, P = 0.02). The multivariable-adjusted risk of hemoptysis was elevated in the seropositive group as compared with the seronegative group (odds ratio = 2.79 (95% confidence interval 1.15–7.44)). Likewise, when categorizing the subjects into three groups, the risk of hemoptysis increased parallel to higher MAC-Ab levels (P = 0.03 for trend). Conclusions: A positive MAC-Ab level was a significant risk factor for hemoptysis among patients with MAC lung disease. There were also positive trends in the association between the MAC-Ab titer and the likelihood of hemoptysis. MAC patients who tested positive for the MAC-Ab should be carefully followed up for the potential development of hemoptysis.
Low Expression of Mas1 Receptor in Pancreas Related with Acute Pancreatitis
Authors: Cui Tianyu , Yu Xiaozheng , Li Chunyun , Li Tianhe , Liu Ruixia , Yin Chenghong 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background：Acute pancreatitis (AP) continues to be one of the most common causes of hospitalization among all gastrointestinal disease. There is a lack of therapies directed to its molecular pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and major mechanisms of Mas1 receptor in AP. Methods: AP was induced in C57BL/6 mice by administration of caerulein and lipopolysaccharide. The effects of intervening Mas1 receptor on the severity of AP, trypsinogen activation peptide (TAP), zymogens distribution and autophagy activity were detected in vivo. Then Mas1-lentivirus transfected AR42J cell and incubated with caerulein. TAP, autophagy activity and co-location of trypsin and autophagic were further detected in vitro. Human pancreas tissue from patients with AP and without AP were also used for Mas1 receptor protein and mRNA expression levels.Results: Mas1 receptor proteins were down-regulated in AP mice pancreas tissue as well as in human patients with AP. Compared with Mas1 receptor inhibited in AP mice, AP mice with Mas1 receptor activated decreased severe pathological changes in pancreata, lower levels of trypsinogen activation concomitant with zymogens basolateral distribution, and autophagy down-regulation. Mas1 receptor knockdown and over-expression further verified those results in vitro and showed Mas1 receptor knockdown in AR42J cells had an increased colocalization of LC3II with trypsin.Conclusions: Mas1 receptor decreased expresssion in pancreas may promote zymogens premature activation relating to AP.
Social Distancing, Temperature, BCG and the Evolution of COVID-19: A Panel-Model Analysis
Authors: Campos Eduardo Lima , Cysne Rubens Penha , Madureira Alexandre 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: This work presents results concerning the impact of some variables mentioned in the literature on the daily variation rate of cases (per million inhabitants) of COVID-19, based on a large sample of countries and an empirical model with appropriate control factors. We also propose indicators for measuring social distancing and BCG (Bacilo Calmette-Guérin) vaccine immunization.Methods: A statistical panel-model was applied to daily data for 165 countries from January 22 to July 31, 2020. Besides, two indicators are constructed for each country in the sample. The first of them measures social distancing, based on percentage of people circulating on transport stations, as a proportion of the circulation in a period before pandemic. The second indicator proposed estimates the current percentage of people immunized by BCG vaccine, based on the historical coverage and demographic factors. Results: We estimate that a strict social distancing may be associated with a reduction of around 6 percentage points in the daily variation rate of cases per million of COVID-19. Besides, the effects of temperature and BCG immunization proved to be statistically significant at the usual levels, indicating that lower temperatures and a low (or a lack of) BCG immunization may be related to increases in the daily variation rate of cases (per million inhabitants) of COVID-19.Conclusions: The analysis made clear the role of social distancing to control the pandemic. In addition, the method used did not allow to exclude the hypothesis that the evolution of COVID-19 may be positively associated with lower temperatures and a low (or a lack of) BCG immunization. JEL classification codes: C13; C33; I18
Fish Predation on Corals Promotes the Dispersal of Coral Symbionts
Authors: Grupstra Carsten Guillaume Bruno , Rabbitt Kristen M. , Howe-Kerr Lauren I. , Correa Adrienne M.S. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: The microbiomes of foundation (habitat-forming) species, including stony corals, soft corals, and sponges, underpin the biodiversity, productivity, and stability of ecosystems. Consumers shape communities of foundation species through trophic interactions, but the role of consumers in dispersing the microbiomes of such species is rarely examined. For example, stony corals rely on a nutritional symbiosis with single-celled endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (family Symbiodiniaceae) to construct reefs. Most corals acquire Symbiodiniaceae from the environment, but the processes that make Symbiodiniaceae available for uptake are not resolved. Here, we provide the first comprehensive, reef-scale demonstration that predation by diverse coral-eating (corallivorous) fish species promotes the dispersal of Symbiodiniaceae, based on symbiont cell densities and community compositions from the feces of four obligate corallivores, three facultative corallivores, two grazer/detritivores as well as samples of reef sediment and water.Results: Obligate corallivore feces are environmental hotspots of Symbiodiniaceae cells; live symbiont cell concentrations in such feces are 5-7 orders of magnitude higher than sediment and water environmental reservoirs. Symbiodiniaceae community compositions in the feces of obligate corallivores are similar to those in two locally abundant coral genera (Pocillopora and Porites), but differ from Symbiodiniaceae communities in the feces of facultative corallivores and grazer/detritivores as well as sediment and water. Combining our data on live Symbiodiniaceae cell densities in feces with in situ observations of fish, we estimate that some obligate corallivorous fish species release over 100 million Symbiodiniaceae cells per 100 m2 of reef per day. Released corallivore feces came in direct contact with coral colonies in the fore reef zone following 91% of observed egestion events, providing a potential mechanism for the transfer of live Symbiodiniaceae cells among coral colonies. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings show that fish predation on corals may support the maintenance of coral cover on reefs in an unexpected way: through the dispersal of beneficial coral symbionts in corallivore feces. Few studies examine the processes that make symbionts available to foundation species, or how environmental reservoirs of such symbionts are replenished. This work sets the stage for parallel studies of consumer-mediated microbiome dispersal and assembly in other sessile, habitat-forming species.
Screening and Verification of Host Proteins Interacting with Neospora Caninum&nbsp;AMA1&nbsp;Using a Yeast Two-hybrid System
Authors: Wu Baoyi , Jin Chunmei , Wang Yinan , Zhang Yan , Zheng Tianyu , Zhou Boyu , Guan Lizeng , Yu Longzheng 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background: Neospora caninum apical membrane antigen 1 (NcAMA1) is a conservative type I transmembrane protein that is secreted by the microneme to the surface of the parasite, and is a key component of the invasion mechanism. In order to explore further the biological functions of NcAMA1 in the process of parasite invasion, we conducted research on NcAMA1 and its interacting partners. Methods: In this study, Vero cell yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) cDNA library was constructed. Using the constructed recombinant vector pGBKT7-NcAMA1 as bait, the Y2H system was used to screen the proteins that interact with NcAMA1. In addition, the interaction between NcAMA1 and the screened transmembrane emp24 domain trafficking protein 2 （Tmed2）was further verified by one-to-one Y2H experiments and pull-down, and the role of Tmed2 protein in the process of N. caninum invasion was initially verified by RNA silencing and antibody blocking experiments.Results: Our results show that, through the Y2H experiment, we have identified two proteins that interact with NcAMA1, which are the Chlorocebus sabaeus filamin A, alpha and Chlorocebus sabaeus Tmed2. When the expression of Tmed2 protein decreased or blocked, the invasion rate of N. caninum was increased.Conclusions: These findings give us a deeper understanding of the biological functions of NcAMA1, and for the first time suggest that Tmed2 may be involved in the process invasion by of N. caninum, inhibiting the invasion of parasites by interacting with the protein secreted by N. caninum.