bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of missense mutations in the signal peptide and propeptide of FIX in hemophilia B by a cell-based assay
Authors: Gao Wenwen , Xu Yaqi , Liu Hongli , Gao Meng , Cao Qing , Wang Yiyi , Cui Longteng , Huang Rong , Shen Yan , Li Sanqiang , Yang Haiping , Chen Yixiang , Li Chaokun , Yu Haichuan , Li Weikai , Shen Guomin 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMany mutations in the signal peptide and propeptide of factor IX (FIX) cause hemophilia B. A FIX variants database reports 28 unique missense mutations in these regions that lead to FIX deficiency, but the underlying mechanism is known only for the mutations on R43 that interfere with propeptide cleavage. It remains unclear how other mutations result in FIX deficiency and why patients carrying the same mutation have different bleeding tendencies. Here, we modify a cell-based reporter assay to characterize the missense mutations in the signal peptide and propeptide of FIX. The results show that the level of secreted conformation-specific reporter (SCSR), which has a functional γ-carboxyglutamate (Gla) domain of FIX, decreases significantly in most mutations. The decreased SCSR level is consistent with FIX deficiency in hemophilia B patients. Moreover, we find that the decrease in the SCSR level is caused by several distinct mechanisms, including interfering with cotranslational translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum, protein secretion, γ-carboxylation of the Gla domain, and cleavage of the signal peptide or propeptide. Importantly, our results also show that the SCSR levels of most signal peptide and propeptide mutations increase with vitamin K concentration, suggesting that the heterogeneity of bleeding tendencies may be related to vitamin K levels in the body. Thus, oral administration of vitamin K may alleviate the severity of bleeding tendencies in patients with missense mutations in the FIX signal peptide and propeptide regions.
Seventh BMC ecology image competition: the winning images
Authors: Cuff Alison L. , Baguette Michel , Blanchet Simon , Jacobus Luke M. , Mazzi Dominique , Settele Josef 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe seventh BMC Ecology competition attracted entries from talented ecologists from around the world. Together, they showcase the beauty and diversity of life on our planet as well as providing an insight into the biological interactions found in nature. This editorial celebrates the winning images as selected by the Editor of BMC Ecology and senior members of the journal’s editorial board. Enjoy!
Anti-Zika virus activity and chemical characterization by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC-DAD-UV-MS) of ethanol extracts in Tecoma species
Authors: Reis Adriana Cotta Cardoso , Silva Breno Mello , de Moura Hélia Maria Marques , Pereira Guilherme Rocha , Brandão Geraldo Célio 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
Plant species from the genus Tecoma are found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. Some of them are grown as ornamental plants and others can be used as medicinal plants. In the present study, ethanolic extracts from trunks and leaves of Tecoma species were tested in vitro using assays against the Zika virus.

Methods
There was a total of 8 extracts obtained from different anatomical parts of three Tecoma species. The Tecoma castaneifolia, T. garrocha, T. stans var. angustata and T. stans var. stans were prepared by percolation with ethanol. The antiviral activity was assayed in vitro against the Zika virus by the MTT colorimetric method (n = 3). The UPLC-DAD-MS analysis of ethanolic extracts was performed from all the studied species. The biofractionation of T. stans var. stans trunk extract using different separation techniques led to the isolation of crenatoside compound.

Results
Ethanolic extract from Tecoma species leaves were more active against the Zika virus (EC50 149.90 to 61.25 μg/mL) when compared to the trunk extracts tested (EC50 131.0 to 66.79 μg/mL and two were not active). The ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions obtained from T. stans var. stans trunk were active against the Zika virus with EC50 values of 149.90 and 78.98 μg/mL, respectively. Crenatoside is a phenylethanoid glycoside isolated from the ethyl acetate of T. stans var. stans trunk extract. This compound was tested and exhibited EC50 34.78 μM (21.64 μg/mL), thus demonstrating a better result than the original ethanolic extracts as well as others extracts of Tecoma species, and it was more active than the positive control, ribavirin (386.84 μM). Furthermore, its selectivity index was at least 2.5 times higher than the tested ethanolic extracts and 11.1 times more potent than ribavirin.

Conclusion
The Tecoma species demonstrated interesting in vitro activity against the Zika virus. The crenatoside, phenylethanoid glycoside that was for the first time isolated from Tecoma stans var. stans, exhibited a potent and relevant anti-Zika virus activity, being more active than ribavirin (positive control). The data show that crenatoside, was a promising compound with in vitro antiviral activity against the Zika virus.
On an enhancement of RNA probing data using information theory
Authors: Li Thomas J. X. , Reidys Christian M. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractIdentifying the secondary structure of an RNA is crucial for understanding its diverse regulatory functions. This paper focuses on how to enhance target identification in a Boltzmann ensemble of structures via chemical probing data. We employ an information-theoretic approach to solve the problem, via considering a variant of the Rényi-Ulam game. Our framework is centered around the ensemble tree, a hierarchical bi-partition of the input ensemble, that is constructed by recursively querying about whether or not a base pair of maximum information entropy is contained in the target. These queries are answered via relating local with global probing data, employing the modularity in RNA secondary structures. We present that leaves of the tree are comprised of sub-samples exhibiting a distinguished structure with high probability. In particular, for a Boltzmann ensemble incorporating probing data, which is well established in the literature, the probability of our framework correctly identifying the target in the leaf is greater than $$90\%$$

90
%

.
Risk factors analysis of acute kidney injury following open thoracic aortic surgery in the patients with or without acute aortic syndrome: a retrospective study
Authors: Ma Xiaochun , Li Jinzhang , Yun Yan , Zhao Diming , Chen Shanghao , Ma Huibo , Wang Zhengjun , Zhang Haizhou , Zou Chengwei , Cui Yuqi 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Background
The acute kidney injury (AKI) remains a frequent complication following open thoracic aortic surgery (OTAS) and worsens the postoperative prognosis. It remains unclear that whether the predictors of AKI following OTAS are different in the patients with or without acute aortic syndrome (AAS).

Methods
Preoperative and intraoperative variables were compared between the patients with or without AKI, and were further analyzed for identifying the potential predictors of postoperative AKI. Subgroup analysis was conducted in the patients with or without AAS, respectively.

Results
AKI after OTAS occurred in 57.6% of the overall cohort, 70.1% of the patients with AAS and 46.7% of the patients without AAS. In the multivariate analysis, history of hypertension (OR 1.011, 95% CI: [1.001–1.022], p = 0.04), preoperative platelet (OR 0.995, 95% CI: [0.991–0.999], p = 0.006) and operation time (OR 1.572, 95% CI: [1.355–1.823], p < 0.001) were identified as independent predictors of postoperative AKI for the overall cohort; CPB time (OR 1.020, 95% CI: [1.009–1.031], p < 0.001) and preoperative LMR (OR 0.823, 95% CI: [0.701–0.966], p = 0.02) as independent predictors for the patients with AAS; age (OR 1.045, 95% CI: [1.015–1.076], p = 0.003), preoperative platelet (OR 0.993, 95% CI: [0.988–0.998], p = 0.04) and operation time (OR 1.496, 95% CI: [1.166–1.918], p = 0.002) as independent predictors for the patients without AAS.

Conclusions
The patients with AAS carry a higher risk for postoperative AKI compared with those without AAS. The predictive factors for postoperative AKI after OTAS are different for AAS- and non-AAS subgroups and operation time, CPB time and preoperative platelet are modifiable predictors of AKI.
Predicting reservoir quality in the Bakken Formation, North Dakota, using petrophysics and 3C seismic data
Authors: Paris Andrea G. , Stewart Robert R. 
Published: August 2020

Combining rock-property analysis with multicomponent seismic imaging can be an effective approach for reservoir quality prediction in the Bakken Formation, North Dakota. The hydrocarbon potential of shale is indicated on well logs by low density, high gamma-ray response, low compressional-wave (P-wave) and shear-wave (S-wave) velocities, and high neutron porosity. We have recognized the shale intervals by cross plotting sonic velocities versus density. Intervals with total organic carbon (TOC) content higher than 10 wt% deviate from lower TOC regions in the density domain and exhibit slightly lower velocities and densities (<2.30 g/cm3). We consider TOC to be the principal factor affecting changes in the density and P- and S-wave velocities in the Bakken shales, where VP/ VS ranges between 1.65 and 1.75. We generate the synthetic seismic data using an anisotropic version of the Zoeppritz equations, including estimated Thomsen’s parameters. For the tops of the Upper and Lower Bakken, the amplitude shows a negative intercept and a positive gradient, which corresponds to an amplitude variation with offset of class IV. The P-impedance error decreases by 14% when incorporating the converted-wave information in the inversion process. A statistical approach using multiattribute analysis and neural networks delimits the zones of interest in terms of P-impedance, density, TOC content, and brittleness. The inverted and predicted results show reasonable correlations with the original well logs. The integration of well log analysis, rock physics, seismic modeling, constrained inversions, and statistical predictions contributes to identifying the areas of highest reservoir quality within the Bakken Formation.
Baseline measures of cerebral glutamate and GABA levels in individuals at ultrahigh risk for psychosis: Implications for clinical outcome after 12 months
Authors: Wenneberg C. , Glenthøj B. Y. , Glenthøj L. B. , Fagerlund B. , Krakauer K. , Kristensen T. D. , Hjorthøj C. , Edden R. A. E. , Broberg B. V. , Bojesen K. B. , Rostrup E. , Nordentoft M. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Background.
Cerebral glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels might predict clinical outcome in individuals at ultrahigh risk (UHR) for psychosis but have previously primarily been investigated in smaller cohorts. We aimed to study whether baseline levels of glutamate and GABA in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and glutamate in thalamus could predict remission status and whether baseline metabolites differed in the remission versus the nonremission group. We also investigated the relationship between baseline metabolite levels and severity of clinical symptoms, functional outcome, and cognitive deficits at follow-up.

Methods.
About 124 UHR individuals were recruited at baseline. In this, 74 UHR individuals were clinically and cognitively assessed after 12 months, while remission status was available for 81 (25 remission/56 nonremission). Glutamate and GABA levels were assessed at baseline using 3 T proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Psychopathology, symptom severity, and remission were assessed with the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States and Clinical Global Impression and functional outcome with the Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale. Cognitive function was estimated with the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery.

Results.
There were no differences between baseline glutamate and GABA levels in subjects in the nonremission group compared with the remission group, and baseline metabolites could not predict remission status. However, higher baseline levels of GABA in ACC were associated with clinical global improvement (r = −0.34, N = 51, p = 0.01) in an explorative analysis.

Conclusions.
The variety in findings across studies suggests a probable multifactorial influence on clinical outcome in UHR individuals. Future studies should combine multimodal approaches to attempt prediction of long-term outcome.
Reliance on Self-Medication Increase Delays in Diagnosis and Management of GI Cancers: Results From Nepal
Authors: Dulal Soniya , Paudel Bishnu Dutta , Wood Lori Anne , Neupane Prakash , Shah Aarati , Acharya Bibek , Shilpakar Ramila , Acharya Sandhya Chapagain , Karn Ambuj , Poudel Bishal , Thapa Rameej Revanta , Acharya Albira , Martin Michael Gary 
Published: August 2020

PURPOSE Patients with GI cancers in Nepal often present with advanced disease and poor outcomes. The purpose of the study was to determine the time to presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of GI cancer and the baseline factors that may be associated with delays. PATIENTS AND METHODS An institutional review board–approved study was performed in Kathmandu, Nepal, from July 2018 to June 2019. Patients with newly diagnosed GI cancers were asked to fill out a standardized questionnaire. Baseline factors such as residence, literacy, and use of self-medication were recorded. Patients were asked to report the time from first symptom to presentation, time from primary care visit to pathologic diagnosis, and time from diagnosis to surgery and/or treatment. Baseline factors were analyzed using 2-tailed t tests (Prism 8.0; GraphPad, La Jolla, CA) to determine whether any factors were associated with longer time delays in these 3 intervals. RESULTS The cohort comprised of 104 patients with a median age of 53.5 years (range, 22-77 years); 61.5% were men, 46.2% had upper GI cancers, and 83.7% presented with stage III or IV disease. The median time to presentation was 150 days, time to diagnosis was 220 days, and time to treatment was 50 days. There was no statistically significant difference in time intervals between upper and lower GI cancers. Use of self-medication (88.5%) was the only factor associated with longer time intervals to presentation, diagnosis, and treatment. CONCLUSION Patients in Nepal have long time intervals to presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of GI cancer. Self-medication led to longer delays. Reasons for self-medication and other potential barriers will be explored in future studies in the hopes of improving outcomes.
Volume Pledge is Not Associated with Better Short-Term Outcomes After Lung Cancer Resection
Authors: Farjah Farhood , Grau-Sepulveda Maria V. , Gaissert Henning , Block Mark , Grogan Eric , Brown Lisa M. , Kosinski Andrzej S. , Kozower Benjamin D. 
Published: August 2020

PURPOSEWe examined the relationship between short-term outcomes and hospitals and surgeons who met minimum volume thresholds for lung cancer resection based on definitions provided by the Volume Pledge. A secondary aim was to evaluate the volume-outcome relationship to determine alternative thresholds in the event the Volume Pledge was not associated with outcomes.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe conducted a retrospective study (2015-2017) using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database. We used generalized estimating equations that accounted for confounding and clustering to compare outcomes across hospitals and surgeons who did and did not meet the Volume Pledge criteria: ≥ 40 patients per year for hospitals and ≥ 20 patients per year for surgeons. Our secondary aim was to model volume by using restricted cubic splines to determine the association between volume and short-term outcomes.RESULTSAmong 32,183 patients, 465 surgeons, and 209 hospitals, 16,630 patients (52%) received care from both a hospital and surgeon meeting the Volume Pledge criteria. After adjustment, there was no relationship with operative mortality, complications, major morbidity, a major morbidity-mortality composite end point, or failure to rescue. The Volume Pledge group had a 0.5 day (95% CI, 0.2 to 0.7 day) shorter length of stay. Our secondary aim revealed a nonlinear relationship between hospital volume and complications in which intermediate-volume hospitals had the highest risk of complications. Surgeon volume was associated with major morbidity, a major morbidity-mortality composite end point, and length of stay in an inverse linear fashion. Only 8% of surgeons had volumes associated with better outcomes.CONCLUSIONThe Volume Pledge was not associated with better outcomes except for a marginally shorter length of stay. A re-examination of volume-outcome relationships for hospitals and surgeons yielded mixed results that did not reveal a practical alternative for volume-based quality improvement efforts.
Prospective Implementation of a Risk Prediction Model for Bloodstream Infection Safely Reduces Antibiotic Usage in Febrile Pediatric Cancer Patients Without Severe Neutropenia
Authors: Esbenshade Adam J. , Zhao Zhiguo , Baird Alaina , Holmes Emily A. , Dulek Daniel E. , Banerjee Ritu , Friedman Debra L. 
Published: August 2020

PURPOSE Management of febrile pediatric patients with cancer with an absolute neutrophil count of 500/µL or greater is unclear. The Esbenshade Vanderbilt (EsVan) risk prediction models have been shown to predict bloodstream infection (BSI) likelihood in this population, and this study sought to prospectively validate and implement these models in clinical practice. METHODS Data were prospectively collected on febrile pediatric patients with cancer with a central venous catheter from April 2015 to August 2019 at a single site, at which the models (EsVan: 2015 to 2017; EsVan2: October 2017 to 2019) were initially developed and subsequently implemented for clinical management in well-appearing nonseverely neutropenic individuals. It was recommended that patients with low BSI risk (< 10%) be discharged home without antibiotics, those with intermediate BSI risk (10%-39.9%) be administered an antibiotic before discharge, and those with high BSI risk (> 40%) be admitted on broad-spectrum antibiotics. Seven-day outcomes were then collected and EsVan models were prospectively validated and C-statistics estimated. RESULTS In 937 febrile, nonsevere neutropenia episodes, frequencies of low-, intermediate-, and high-risk episodes were 88.9%, 8.6%, and 2.3% respectively. BSI incidence was 4.2% (39 of 937). Within risk groups, low-risk BSI incidence was 1.9% (16 of 834) with BSI incidence of 13.6% and 54.5% for intermediate- and high-risk episodes, respectively. Empirical intravenous antibiotics were administered in 21.1% of low-risk episodes at presentation and at 7 days postpresentation, 72.3% of episodes never required intravenous antibiotics. There were no deaths or clinical decompensations attributable to antibiotic delay. For BSI detection, EsVan and EsVan2 models applied to the new cohort achieved C-statistics of 0.802 and 0.824, respectively. CONCLUSION Prospective, real-time clinical utilization of the EsVan models accurately predicts BSI risk and safely reduces unnecessary antibiotic use in febrile, nonseverely neutropenic pediatric patients with cancer.
High-Performance Capacitive Deionization by Lignocellulose-Derived Eco-Friendly Porous Carbon Materials
Authors: Lu Ting , Xu Xingtao , Zhang Shuaihua , Pan Likun , Wang Yong , Alshehri Saad M , Ahamad Tansir , Kim Minjun , Na Jongbeom , Hossain Md Shahriar A , Shapter Joseph G , Yamauchi Yusuke 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
The synthesis of high-performance porous carbon materials via carbonization of environment-friendly biomass fits perfectly with the concepts of sustainability and green chemistry. Herein, we report lignocellulose-derived porous carbon materials and their high capacitive deionization (CDI) performance, achieving a high salt adsorption capacity of 12.5 mg g−1 and good cycling stability. The preparation of porous carbon materials via direct carbonization of lignocellulose provides a number of advantages, including cost-effectiveness, high production yields, and environment-friendliness, which are ideal for industrial application of CDI. This work not only suggests novel insights to design and prepare high-performance carbon materials but also highlights the significance of green chemistry using nature-provided biomass materials to synthesize porous carbon materials.
Correlation between Activation Energy and the Electronic State of Pd-Based Bimetallic Catalysts for H2–D2 Equilibration Obtained by XPS and DFT Calculations
Authors: Miyazaki Masayoshi , Furukawa Shinya , Komatsu Takayuki 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
The relation between the electronic state of Pd-based bimetallics and the activation energy of a reaction based on the d-band theory is reported. A fine powder of Pd-based bimetallics was prepared by arc-melting and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In catalytic H2–D2 equilibration, good correlation between the activation energy and the position of the d-band center was observed, experimentally demonstrating the validity of d-band theory. The estimated densities of states of Pd3M intermetallics, based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, were consistent with the d-band structure obtained from XPS. With a downward shift in the d-band center, a decrease in the adsorption energy of hydrogen as well as an increase in the Pd–H distance were observed for the optimized structure of hydrogen adsorbed on a Pd site, indicating an increase in the occupancy of the antibonding state of Pd–H bonding.
Economic evaluations of human schistosomiasis interventions: a systematic review and identification of associated research needs
Authors: Turner Hugo C. , French Michael D. , Montresor Antonio , King Charles H. , Rollinson David , Toor Jaspreet 
Published: August 2020

Background: Schistosomiasis is one of the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) with an estimated 229 million people requiring preventive treatment worldwide. Recommendations for preventive chemotherapy strategies have been made by the World Health Organization (WHO) whereby the frequency of treatment is determined by the settings prevalence. Despite recent progress, many countries still need to scale up treatment and important questions remain regarding optimal control strategies. This paper presents a systematic review of the economic evaluations of human schistosomiasis interventions. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted on 22nd August 2019 using the PubMed (MEDLINE) and ISI Web of Science electronic databases. The focus was economic evaluations of schistosomiasis interventions, such as cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses. No date or language stipulations were applied to the searches. Results: We identified 53 relevant health economic analyses of schistosomiasis interventions. Most studies related to Schistosoma japonicum followed by S. haematobium. Several studies also included other NTDs. In Africa, most studies evaluated preventive chemotherapy, whereas in China they mostly evaluated programmes using a combination of interventions (such as chemotherapy, snail control and health education). There was wide variation in the methodology and epidemiological settings investigated. A range of effectiveness metrics were used by the different studies. Conclusions: Due to the variation across the identified studies, it was not possible to make definitive policy recommendations. Although, in general, the current WHO recommended preventive chemotherapy approach to control schistosomiasis was found to be cost-effective. This finding has important implications for policymakers, advocacy groups and potential funders. However, there are several important inconsistencies and research gaps (such as how the health benefits of interventions are quantified) that need to be addressed to identify the resources required to achieve schistosomiasis control and elimination.