bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pyramiding of Cry Toxins and Methanol Producing Genes to Increase Insect Resistance in Cotton
Authors: Youlu Yuan , Razzaq Abdul , Ali Arfan , Zafar Muhammad , Xiaoying Deng , Pengtao Li , Qun Ge , Ahsraf Muhammad , Ren Maozhi , Gong Wankui 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The idea of enhanced methanol production from cell wall by pectin methyl esterase enzymes (PME) combined with expression of cry genes from Bacillus thuringiensis as a strategy to improve pests control in cotton is presented. We constructed a cassette containing two cry genes (cry1Fa and Cry32Aa) and two pme genes, one from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPME), and other from Aspergillus niger (AnPME) in pCAMBIA1301 plant expression vector using CAMV-35S promoter. This construction was transformed in Eagle-2 cotton variety using shoot apex-cut Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The expression of cry genes and pme genes was confirmed by qPCR. Methanol production was measured in control and in the cry and pme transformed plants showing methanol production only in transformed plants, then the non-transgenic cotton plants. Finally, insect bioassays performed with transgenic plants expressing cry and pme genes, showed 100 % mortality for Helicoverpa armigera (cotton bollworm) larvae, 70% mortality for pectinophore gossypiella (pink bollworm) larvae and 95% mortality of Earias fabia, (spotted bollworm) larvae, that was higher than the transgenic plants expressing only cry genes that showed 84%, 49% and 79% mortality, respectively. These results demonstrate that Bt. cry-genes coupled with pme genes is an effective strategy to improve the control of different insect pests.
Cuticle Secretion Duration in the Uterus Is One of the Major Factors Affecting Eggshell Cuticle Deposition in White Leghorn Laying Hens
Authors: CHEN Xia , HE Zhaoxiang , LI Xingzheng , SONG Jianlou , HUANG Mingyi , SHI Xuefeng , LI Xianyu , LI Junying , XU Guiyun , YANG Ning , ZHENG Jiangxia 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: The cuticle formed in the uterus is the outermost layer as the first defense line of eggshell against microbial invasions in most avian species, and analyzing its genetic regulation and influencing factors are of great importance to egg biosecurity in poultry production. The current study compared the uterine transcriptome and proteome of laying hens producing eggs with good and poor cuticle deposition (GC and PC, the top and tail of the cuticle deposition distribution), and identified several genes involved with eggshell cuticle deposition.Results: Overall, transcriptomic analysis identified 53 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PC vs GC group hens, among which 25 were up-regulated and 28 were down-regulated. No differences were found in the uterine proteome. Several up-regulated DEGs of PC vs GC hen uterus, including PTGDS, PLCG2, ADM and PRLR related to uterine functions and reproductive hormones, were validated by qPCR analysis. Phenotypic measurements for verification between GC and PC hens showed GC hens had longer laying interval between two consecutive ovipositions (25.64 ± 1.23 vs 24.94 ± 1.12 h), thicker eggshell thickness (352.01 ± 23.04 vs 316.20 ± 30.58 μm) and more laying days (20.67 ± 2.58 vs 18.48 ± 2.46) within 27 laying days (P < 0.05). Apart from eggshell traits, other egg quality traits didn’t differ. The results above suggested that the expression patterns of PTGDS, PLCG2, ADM and PRLR genes in the uterus regulated the muscular activity rhythm and secretion function, which ensured the eggshell and cuticle formation duration, and lead to the good eggshell and cuticle quality of the GC hens.Conclusions: The present study demonstrated eggshell and cuticle secretion duration in the uterus is one of the major factors affecting eggshell cuticle deposition in laying hens. PTGDS, PLCG2, ADM and PRLR genes were discovered and might play crucial roles in cuticle deposition by regulating the uterine muscular activities and secretion function. Moreover, the cuticle is associated with the eggshell quality and laying performance, implying the importance of selection to the cuticle trait in laying hens. The findings in present study provide new insights into the genetic regulation of cuticle deposition in laying hens and establish a foundation for further investigations.
Extraction of bioactive compounds from Psidium guajava leaves and its utilization in preparation of jellies
Authors: N.S. Sampath Kumar , Sarbon Norizah Mhd , Rana Sandeep Singh , Chintagunta Anjani Devi , S Prathibha , Ingilala Satheesh Kumar , S.P. Jeevan Kumar , B Sai Anvesh , Dirisala Vijaya Ramu 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Psidium guajava (guava) is predominantly grown in India and known for its medicinal properties in treating various diseases and disorders. The present work focuses on aqueous extraction of bioactive compounds from the guava leaf and its utilization in the formulation of jelly to improve the public health. The guava leaf extract has been used in the preparation of jelly with pectin (1.5 g), sugar (28 g) and lemon juice (2 mL). The prepared guava leaf extract jelly (GJ) and the control jelly (CJ, without extract) were subjected to proximate, nutritional and textural analyses besides determination of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. GJ was found to contain carbohydrate (45.78 g/100 g), protein (3.0 g/100 g), vitamin C (6.15 mg/100 g), vitamin B3 (2.90 mg/100 g) and energy (120.6 kcal). Further, the texture analysis of CJ and GJ indicated that both the jellies showed similar properties emphasizing that the addition of guava leaf extract does not bring any change in the texture properties of jelly. GJ exhibited antimicrobial activity against various bacteria ranging from 11.4–13.6 mm. Similarly, GJ showed antioxidant activity of 42.38% against DPPH radical and 33.45% against hydroxyl radical. Mass spectroscopic analysis of aqueous extract confirmed the presence of esculin, quercetin, gallocatechin, 3-Sinapoylquinic acid, gallic acid, citric acid and ellagic acid which are responsible for antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
The Context of Hypertension Management in India: A National Assessment of the Potential for Digital Technology Interventions in the Public Health Care System
Authors: Patel Shivani A , Vashist Kushagra , Jarhyan Prashant , Sharma Hanspria , Gupta Priti , Jindal Devraj , Venkateshmur Nikhil Srinivasapura , Pfadenhauer Lisa , Mohan Sailesh , Tandon Nikhil 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
ImportanceThere is substantial interest in leveraging digital health technology to support hypertension management in low- and middle-income countries such as India. The potential for healthcare infrastructure and broader context to support such initiatives in the public healthcare system in India has not been examined.ObjectiveWe evaluated existing healthcare infrastructure to support digital health interventions and examined epidemiologic, socioeconomic, and geographical contextual correlates of healthcare infrastructure in 544 districts covering 29 states and union territories across India.DesignCross-sectional analysis of India’s Fourth District Level Household and Facility Survey (DLHS-4; 2012-2014), the most up-to-date district-level healthcare infrastructure data. Facilities were the unit of analysis and analyses accounted for clustering within states.SettingNationally representative data of health facilities across India.ParticipantsThe target sample was all health facilities within the government healthcare system.ExposuresEpidemiologic, socioeconomic, and geographical context.Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s)Healthcare system infrastructural context to implement hypertension management programs. Domains included diagnostics (functional BP instrument) medications (anti-hypertensive medication in stock), essential clinical staff (e.g., staff nurse, medical officer, pharmacist), and IT specific infrastructure (regular power supply, internet connection, computer availability). Infrastructure indicators were based on the Indian Public Health Standards.ResultsData from 32,215 government facilities were analyzed. Among lowest-tier subcenters, 30% had some IT infrastructure, while at the highest-tier district hospitals, 92% possessed IT infrastructure. At mid-tier primary health centres and community health centres, IT infrastructure availability was 29% and 51%, respectively. For all but sub-centres, the availability of essential staff was lower than the availability of IT infrastructure. For all but district hospitals, higher levels of blood pressure, body mass index, and urban residents were correlated with more favorable infrastructure. By region, districts in Western India tended towards having the best prepared health facilities.Conclusions and RelevanceIT infrastructure to support digital health interventions is more frequently lacking at lower and mid-tier healthcare facilities compared with apex facilities in India. Gaps were generally larger for staffing than physical infrastructure, suggesting that beyond IT infrastructure, shortages in essential staff pose as significant constraints to the adoption of digital health interventions. These data provide early benchmarks for state- and district level planning.
Enablers and Barriers to Implement COVID-19 Measures in Long-term Care Facilities: A Mixed Methods Implementation Science Assessment in Chile
Authors: Salas Jorge Browne , Palacios Josefa , Dintrans Pablo Villalobos , Madero-Cabib Ignacio , Quilodran Rocio , Ceriani Alejandro , Meza Danilo 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
BackgroundThe COVID-19 affected disproportionately older people, and particularly people living in long-term care facilities. Considering this problem, the Chilean government issued a series of guidelines and protocols to prevent and manage COVID-19 outbreaks in these facilities. MethodsThis study aims to identify barriers and enablers that affect the implementation of these prevention and management measures. For the analysis, we used an implementation science approach and a mixed-method strategy—survey to facilities’ managers and interviews to carers—, classifying enablers and barriers into four categories: agreement with the intervention’s goals, financial resources to implement the measures, technical needs of the intervention, and cultural factors in the facilities.ResultsResults highlight the importance of the four aforementioned factors in the implementation of COVID-19 guidelines and protocols. Managers and caregivers differ in their view of the main enablers and barriers for implementation. However, they both identify the knowledge about the measures and availability of personal protective equipment as enablers and human resources as a potential barrier. ConclusionsThe identification of several factors related to goals and culture highlights the need to adopt a broad implementation approach when designing intervention for long-term care facilities, avoiding restricting the discussion to resources availability.
The Effect of Psychological Factors on the Quality of Life in Iranian Lactating Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Path Analysis
Authors: Samaneh Youseflu , Sadatmahalleh Shahideh Jahanian , Nadia Jahangiri , Maleki Azam , Moini Ashraf 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: breastfeeding women are susceptible to mental disorders particularly during outbreaks of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. In this study we develop a conceptual model considering the interrelated role of anxiety, depression, general health, breastfeeding, education, income, and corona disease anxiety on the QoL of breastfeeding women. Method: In a descriptive-analytical study, 279 breastfeeding women were recruited from March to April 2020. Data were collected using a socio-demographic checklist, short Form of Health Survey (SF_12), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), and Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS).Results: The overall goodness-of-fit statistics showed that the conceptual model was acceptable (GFI =0.99, RMSEA =0.06). Results showed that breast-feeding, GHQ, anxiety, depression, and education have a direct effect on women’s QoL. We found significant total mediating effects of GH and breastfeeding and moderating effects of education and income on quality of life. Income had indirectly effect on QOL through the education.Conclusion: Our results give support for a hypothetical model in which improvement in breastfeeding, anxiety, depression, general health, education, and income led to higher levels of QoL in breastfeeding women. It seems that the predictors proposed by this model are greatly important and should be considered when designing optimal psychological care interventions.
Expression of Promyelocytic Leukemia (PML) Protein in the Mouse Developing Spermatogonia
Authors: Tavassoli Amin , DEHGHANI Hesam 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) as the main protein of PML nuclear bodies regulates various physiological processes such as transcription, DNA repair, apoptosis, senescence, and several signaling pathways in different cell types. It is well known that the PML protein is involved in the regulation of stem cell properties by maintaining an open chromatin conformation for the regulatory regions of the Oct4 gene. However, there is no experimental evidence for the presence and function of PML protein in the testis tissue. Results: In this study, we show the presence of PML protein in the developing mouse testis and its co-expression with the OCT4 protein. Immunohistochemical analysis of testis mirror sections shows that PML is co-expressed with the OCT4 protein in the outermost cellular layer of seminiferous tubules, where the spermatogonial stem cells are located. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the PML protein might be involved in the stemness of spermatogonial stem cells at different stages of its development, even before earning the ability to produce mature sperm.
Altered Amyloid-β and Tau Proteins in Neural-Derived Plasma Exosomes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Orthostatic Hypotension
Authors: Zhang Jinbiao , Chi Haiyan , Wang Tong , Zhang Shukun , Shen Tengqun , Leng Bing , Sun Hairong , Li Zhenguang , Li Fang 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
BackgroundEmerging evidence suggests a role for orthostatic hypotension (OH) in contributing to the progression of Alzheimer disease (AD). The aim of the study was to investigate whether neural-derived plasma exosomal amyloid-β and tau protein levels are associated with OH in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients.MethodsThere were 274 subjects without dementia included in the study: 81 control participants (controls), 101 normotensive patients with DM without OH, and 92 patients with DM and neurogenic OH (DMOH). Neuronal-derived exosomal proteins were measured by ELISA kits for amyloid-β and tau.ResultsThe neuronal-derived exosome levels of Aβ42, T-tau, and P-T181-tau in the DM with OH group were higher than those in the DM and control groups. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that the presence of OH in patients with DM was associated with elevated exosomal Aβ42 (β = 0.172, P = 0.018), T-tau(β = 0.159, P = 0.030), and P-T181-tau (β = 0.220, P = 0.003) levels after adjustment for age, sex, APOE ε4, duration of type 2 diabetes, HbA1c and cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, the levels of Aβ42, T-tau, and P-T181-tau in neuronal-derived exosomes were correlated with HIF-1α levels and the drop in mean cerebral blood flow velocity from the supine to upright position.ConclusionsThe presence of OH in DM patients was independently associated with elevated the Aβ42, T-tau, and PT181-tau levels in neural-derived plasma exosomes. Cerebral hypoperfusion from DM with OH are likely candidate mechanisms.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry (Identifier: ChiCTR1900021544 ). Registered 27 February 2019.
Value Added and Profitability Analysis of Bamboo Products in Case of Banja District Awi Zone Amhara Regional State Ethiopia
Authors: Mengistu Mulat , Alemu Asmamaw , Dagnew Abebe 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
BackgroundBamboo meets a rising and diverse consumer demands and generates income and contribute to reforestation and climate change mitigation due to its rapid growth and environmentally friendly character. Most bamboo processing enterprises and farmer and consumers use manual technology and produce less durable products. Since there is no research conducted in the area related to profitability of different bamboo products and the distribution of value added Therefore, this study aims to analyse the profitability of bamboo products for producers, traders and processors in the same way it analyses the value added distribution among different agents.MethodsTo collect primary data 122 smallholder bamboo producers, 13 traders and 16 bamboo product processors were selected. To analyse the data descriptive statistics were employed.ResultsOn average producers supply 374.79 bamboo culms and earn revenue of 7,623.23 ETB. The total value added at the producer level was 15.64 ETB per culm. On average local traders, retailers and wholesalers earn 7.52%, 9.51% and 9.23% of profit Margin and these traders earn average revenue of 66,420 ETB, 129,360ETB and 280,343 ETB respectively. Traditional bamboo product processors produce 687 traditional bamboo chairs on average per year and gained 3.06 ETB/culm as a net profit. Bamboo furniture enterprises on average process 823 modern bamboo chair per year and they earn 197.91 ETB per chair as a net profit. Higher value is added at bamboo furniture enterprise level and lower value is added at producer and trader level.ConclusionThe result of the study revealed that all actors have positive profit and value is added by different chain actors and distributed to different agents. Bamboo furniture enterprises gained higher profit margin than traditional bamboo processors. The contribution of the bamboo sector to the government economy is limited. Based on the finding of the study, an effort should be made to increase the contribution of the sector to the national economy. In addition to this, providing working capital and working place and enhancing the processors’ skill and capacity to transform the business into more modern and profitable bamboo furniture enterprise is advisable.
WITHDRAWN: Class and Landscape Level Habitat Fragmentation Analysis in the Bale Mountains National Park, Southeastern Ethiopia
Authors: Muhammed Annissa , Elias Eyasu 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
BackgroundThe changes of landscape structure and function due to human interference is hastening worldwide, and it is compulsory to preserve biological resources in a protected system. This study aims to measure the landscape ecological structure and the extent of habitat fragmentation in the Bale mountains national park. The land use/land cover change was determined by interpreting the 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2017 Landsat images with ArcGIS 10.3, and the selected landscape structural metrics was analyzed using FRAGSTATS 4.2.1. ResultsAll land cover classes showed a declining trend, except the farmland, and grassland depicted the highest area reduction. From 1985 to 2017 grassland, Erica, forestland, and afro-alpine were decreased by 9.36%, 0.26%, 0.06%, and 0.01%, respectively. Whereas, farmland was increased by 43.67%. The study area was characterized as progressively fragmented since it was signified by the escalated value of patch number (40.22%), area-weighted mean shape index (18.84%), and edge density (22.27%) and a declined value of mean patch size (28.68%) and core area (10.60%) over the study period. Considering this result, there was a high loss in area available for core dependent species, particularly for Mountain nyala in the grasslands and woodlands, Ethiopian wolf in afro-alpine regions, and Bale monkey in the bamboo forest. ConclusionBoth forestland and grassland need a conservation priority since these habitats were the most fragmented and habitat lost area.
QSAR-Co-X: An Open Source Toolkit for Multi-Target QSAR Modelling
Authors: Cordeiro M. Natália Dias Soeiro , Halder Amit Kumar 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Quantitative structure activity relationships (QSAR) modelling is a well-known computational tool, often used in a wide variety of applications. Yet one of the major drawbacks of conventional QSAR modelling tools is that models are set up based on a limited number of experimental and/or theoretical conditions. To overcome this, the so-called multitasking or multi-target QSAR (mt-QSAR) approaches have emerged as new computational tools able to integrate diverse chemical and biological data into a single model equation, thus extending and improving the reliability of this type of modelling. We have developed QSAR-Co-X, an open source python−based toolkit (available to download at https://github.com/ncordeirfcup/QSAR-Co-X) for supporting mt-QSAR modelling following the Box-Jenkins moving average approach. The new toolkit embodies several functionalities for dataset selection and curation plus computation of descriptors, for setting up linear and non-linear models, as well as for a comprehensive results analysis. The workflow within this toolkit is guided by a cohort of multiple statistical parameters along with graphical outputs onwards assessing both the predictivity and the robustness of the derived mt-QSAR models. To monitor and demonstrate the functionalities of the designed toolkit, three case-studies pertaining to previously reported datasets are examined here. We believe that this new toolkit, along with our previously launched QSAR-Co code, will significantly contribute to make mt-QSAR modelling widely and routinely applicable.