bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fatty liver is associated with advanced fibrosis but does not predict adverse outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Wong Sui‐Weng , Chan Wah‐Kheong , Mohamed Rosmawati 
Published: July 2020

AbstractHepatic steatosis is increasingly common and has been implicated in progression of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. We aimed to investigate the impact of hepatic steatosis on liver fibrosis and clinical outcomes in CHB patients. Consecutive CHB patients who underwent transient elastography between 2013 and 2017 at a tertiary hospital were included in this longitudinal cohort study. Presence of hepatic steatosis was defined as controlled attenuation parameter, CAP ≥ 248 dB/m, while advanced liver fibrosis was defined as liver stiffness measurement, LSM ≥ 9.4 kPa. Cardiovascular events, liver‐related complications, malignancy and mortality and a composite of these outcomes were evaluated with Kaplan‐Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression. Our study cohort included 614 patients with median follow‐up of 45 (32‐63) months. Hepatic steatosis was present in 294 patients (47.9%), and advanced liver fibrosis was present in 127 patients (21.0%). Presence of hepatic steatosis (OR: 1.956, 95% CI: 1.250‐3.060) and diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.507, 95% CI: 2.069‐5.944) was independently associated with advanced fibrosis. Advanced fibrosis was independently associated with composite outcome (HR: 2.496, 95% CI: 1.352‐4.606), liver‐related complications (HR: 3.765, 95% CI: 1.380‐10.271) and mortality (HR: 3.632, 95% CI: 1.342‐9.826), but not cardiovascular events and malignancy. Hepatic steatosis was not associated with any adverse outcomes. We conclude that hepatic steatosis is common and associated with advanced fibrosis in CHB patients. Unlike advanced fibrosis, hepatic steatosis does not predict adverse outcomes in CHB patients.
Clinical characteristics in patients with SARS‐CoV‐2/HBV co‐infection
Authors: Chen Liping , Huang Shaoping , Yang Jingmao , Cheng Xin , Shang Zhiyin , Lu Hongzhou , Cheng Jilin 
Published: July 2020

AbstractCOVID‐19 has become a global pandemic and garnered international attention. Although the clinical features of COVID‐19‐related liver injury have been investigated, there have been no reports and studies on the clinical characteristics of COVID‐19 patients co‐infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV). This study aimed to evaluate whether SARS‐CoV‐2/HBV co‐infection could influence liver function and the disease outcome. All 326 confirmed COVID‐19 cases in Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center (The COVID‐19 designated hospital in Shanghai, China) from 20 January 2020 to 24 February 2020 were enrolled and followed up until February 29 in this study. The clinical, laboratory data and the length of stay were collected and analysed retrospectively. 20 patients with HBV co‐infection (6.1%) and 306 patients (93.9%) without HBV infection showed no differences in the level of liver function parameters. However, compared with HBsAg‐ patients [145.4 mg/L (103.9‐179.2)], HBsAg + patients had a lower level of prealbumin [(102.3 mg/L (76.22‐160.2), P = .0367]. There were also no significant differences for the discharge rate and the length of stay between two groups. Taken together, we found no evidence that SARS‐CoV‐2/HBV co‐infection could aggravate liver injury or extend duration of hospitalization.
The Aguas Zarcas (CM2) meteorite: New insights into early solar system organic chemistry
Authors: Pizzarello Sandra , Yarnes Christopher T. , Cooper George 
Published: July 2020

AbstractTo date, the CM2 class of carbonaceous chondrites has provided the most detailed view of organic synthesis in the early solar system. Organic‐rich chondrites actually observed falling to Earth (“Falls”), for example, the Murchison meteorite in 1969, are even more rare. The April 23, 2019 fall of the Aguas Zarcas meteorite is therefore the most significant CM2 fall since Murchison. Samples collected immediately following the fall provide the rare opportunity to analyze its bulk mineralogy and organic inventory relatively free of terrestrial contamination. According to the Meteoritical Bulletin, Aguas Zarcas (“AZ” or “Zarcas”) is dominated by serpentine, similar to other CM2 chondrites. Likewise, our initial analyses of AZ were meant to give a broad view of its soluble organic inventory relative to other carbonaceous chondrites. We observe that while it is rich in hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, sugar alcohols, and sugar acids, some of these classes may be of lesser abundance than in the more well known carbonaceous chondrites such as Murchison. Compared generally with other CM2 meteorites, the most significant finding is the absence, or relatively low levels, of three otherwise common constituents: ammonia, amino, acids, and amines. Overall, this meteorite adds to the building database of prebiotic compounds available to the ancient Earth.
High mass resolution, spatial metabolite mapping enhances the current plant gene and pathway discovery toolbox
Authors: Dong Yonghui , Sonawane Prashant , Cohen Hagai , Polturak Guy , Feldberg Liron , Avivi Shelly Hen , Rogachev Ilana , Aharoni Asaph 
Published: July 2020

Summary

Understanding when and where metabolites accumulate provides important cues to the gene function. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) enables in situ temporal and spatial measurement of a large assortment of metabolites, providing mapping information regarding their cellular distribution.

To describe the current state and technical advances using MSI in plant sciences, we employed MSI to demonstrate its significant contribution to the study of plant specialised metabolism.

We show that coupling MSI with: (1) RNA interference (RNAi), (2) virus induced gene silencing (VIGS), (3) agroinfiltration or (4) samples derived from plant natural variation provides great opportunities to understand the accurate gene–metabolite relationship and discover novel gene‐associated metabolites. This was exemplified in three plant species (i.e. tomato, tobacco and wheat) by mapping the distribution of metabolites possessing a range of polarities. In particular, we demonstrated that MSI is able to spatially map an entire metabolic pathway, including intermediates and final products, in the intricate biosynthetic route to tomato fruit steroidal glycoalkaloids.

We therefore envisage MSI as a key component of the metabolome analysis arsenal employed in plant gene discovery strategies.
Metabolomic adjustments in the orchid mycorrhizal fungus Tulasnella calospora during symbiosis with Serapias vomeracea
Authors: Ghirardo Andrea , Fochi Valeria , Lange Birgit , Witting Michael , Schnitzler Jörg‐Peter , Perotto Silvia , Balestrini Raffaella 
Published: July 2020

Summary

All orchids rely on mycorrhizal fungi for organic carbon, at least during early development. In fact, orchid seed germination leads to the formation of a protocorm, a heterotrophic postembryonic structure colonized by intracellular fungal coils, thought to be the site of nutrient transfer. The molecular mechanisms underlying mycorrhizal interactions and metabolic changes induced by this symbiosis in both partners remain mostly unknown.

We studied plant–fungus interactions in the mycorrhizal association between the Mediterranean orchid Serapias vomeracea and the basidiomycete Tulasnella calospora using nontargeted metabolomics. Plant and fungal metabolomes obtained from symbiotic structures were compared with those obtained under asymbiotic conditions.

Symbiosis induced substantial metabolomic alterations in both partners. In particular, structural and signaling lipid compounds increased markedly in the external fungal mycelium growing near the symbiotic protocorms, whereas chito‐oligosaccharides were identified uniquely in symbiotic protocorms.

This work represents the first description of metabolic changes occurring in orchid mycorrhiza. These results – combined with previous transcriptomic data – provide novel insights on the mechanisms underlying the orchid mycorrhizal association and open intriguing questions on the role of fungal lipids in this symbiosis.
Childhood wheeze trajectory‐specific risk factors: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Owora Arthur H. , Zhang Yijia 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundThere is growing interest in the use of latent trajectory methodology to identify wheeze patterns in heterogeneous populations of children. This study systematically reviewed and meta‐analyzed childhood wheeze trajectory studies to identify childhood wheeze trajectory group‐specific risk factors among children from birth through to adolescence.MethodsWe included studies that used latent trajectory methodology to identify wheeze trajectories and associated risk factors. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar from 2000 through September 30, 2019, for relevant studies. The study was conducted according to the PRISMA recommendations.ResultsThirteen cohort studies conducted in eleven high‐income countries were included in our meta‐analysis with the length of follow‐up ranging from 3 to 18 years. Five distinct latent wheeze trajectory groups were identified: Never/Infrequent, Early‐Transient, Early‐Persistent, Intermediate‐Onset, and Late‐Onset. We found moderate‐to‐strong evidence that family history of asthma predicted persistent childhood wheezing among male children but with lower risk among first‐born children. There was weak‐to‐moderate evidence for childhood atopy, male sex, short duration of breastfeeding, tobacco exposure, daycare attendance, and having siblings as risk factors for Early‐Transient wheezing; except for breastfeeding, these factors were also associated with intermediate and Late‐Onset wheezing with varying effect sizes in high‐risk vs general population cohorts.ConclusionsOur findings confirm the consistency of wheeze trajectory groups defined by onset, peak prevalence, and duration; we also suggest a common nomenclature for future trajectory studies. With the exception of the relationship between a family history of asthma and persistent childhood wheezing, commonly suspected wheeze risk factors (childhood atopy, male sex, short duration of breastfeeding, tobacco exposure, daycare attendance, and having siblings) are not trajectory‐specific and have varying effects in high‐risk vs general population cohorts. Delineation of time‐varying risk factor effects may be critical to the specificity of wheeze trajectory group prediction to better inform prognosis and targeted early preventive intervention among at‐risk children.
Effect of Patient Characteristics on Reported Outcomes Over 12 Months Following Lumbar Radiofrequency Ablation: A Retrospective Review of 500 Patients
Authors: Yadav Abhishek , Hagedorn Jonathan M. , D’Souza Ryan S. , Engle Alyson M. , Deer Timothy R. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundLow back pain is the leading cause of years lost to disability worldwide. Approximately 15% to 45% of chronic low back pain is due to facet joint arthropathy. Currently, no large‐scale retrospective studies have investigated long‐term clinical predictors of success in individuals receiving radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the medial branches for facet joint arthropathy.ObjectiveTo determine the clinical factors associated with success and failure of RFA of lumbar facet joints at 1‐year follow‐up.MethodsClinical data were gathered from 500 consecutive patients with an International Classification of Diseases (ICD)‐10 diagnosis of lumbar spondylosis. VAS pain scores for patients undergoing lumbar medial branch RFA procedures were recorded at multiple time points, up to the 1‐year follow‐up visit. A responder was defined as having ≥30% improvement in VAS score from the pre‐procedural VAS score. For our primary analysis, regression analysis was conducted to identify associations between responder status and patient characteristics, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), hormone use, opiate dose, and smoking history at multiple time points, up to the 1‐year follow‐up visit.ResultsA total of 500 patients were included in the study. At the 1‐year post‐RFA follow‐up visit, responder status was associated with a lower rate of prior opioid use (43.22% vs. 55.76%, odds ratio 0.60 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40 to 0.92], P = 0.018), lower pre‐procedural opioid consumption in oral morphine equivalents (10.16 ± 16.02 vs. 14.67 ± 20.65, β −4.50 [95% CI −8.57 to −0.44], P = 0.030), and a higher pre‐VAS pain score (6.36 ± 2.17 vs. 5.85 ± 2.17, β 0.50 [95% CI 0.06 to 0.95], P = 0.028). There were no significant associations between responder status and age, gender, BMI, hormone use, and smoking history at the 1‐year follow‐up visit.ConclusionsOur results suggest that patients prescribed opioids, particularly at higher dosages, may find less pain relief 1 year following RFA for facetogenic pain. Additionally, patients with higher pre‐procedural VAS pain scores may be more likely to have a positive response at 1 year.
OsNRAMP1 transporter contributes to cadmium and manganese uptake in rice
Authors: Chang Jia‐Dong , Huang Sheng , Yamaji Naoki , Zhang Wenwen , Ma Jian Feng , Zhao Fang‐Jie 
Published: July 2020

AbstractRice is a major dietary source of the toxic metal, cadmium (Cd). Previous studies reported that the rice transporter, OsNRAMP1, (Natural resistance‐associated macrophage protein 1) could transport iron (Fe), Cd and arsenic (As) in heterologous yeast assays. However, the in planta function of OsNRAMP1 remains unknown. Here, we showed that OsNRAMP1 was able to transport Cd and manganese (Mn) when expressed in yeast, but did not transport Fe or As. OsNRAMP1 was mainly expressed in roots and leaves and encoded a plasma membrane‐localized protein. OsNRAMP1 expression was induced by Cd treatment and Fe deficiency. Immunostaining showed that OsNRAMP1 was localized in all root cells, except the central vasculature, and in leaf mesophyll cells. The knockout of OsNRAMP1 resulted in significant decreases in root uptake of Cd and Mn and their accumulation in rice shoots and grains, and increased sensitivity to Mn deficiency. The knockout of OsNRAMP1 had smaller effects on Cd and Mn uptake than knockout of OsNRAMP5, while knockout of both genes resulted in large decreases in the uptake of the two metals. Taken together, OsNRAMP1 contributes significantly to the uptake of Mn and Cd in rice, and the functions of OsNRAMP1 and OsNRAMP5 are similar but not redundant.
Syn‐rift mass flow generated ‘tectonofacies’ and ‘tectonosequences’ of the Kingston Peak Formation, Death Valley, California, and their bearing on supposed Neoproterozoic panglacial climates
Authors: Kennedy Kirsten , Eyles Nick 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe Kingston Peak Formation of the Pahrump Group in the Death Valley region of the Basin and Range Province, USA, is the thick (over 3 km) mixed siliciclastic–carbonate fill of a long‐lived structurally‐complex Neoproterozoic rift basin and is recognized by some as a key ‘climatostratigraphic’ succession recording panglacial Snowball Earth events. A facies analysis of the Kingston Peak Formation shows it to be largely composed of ‘tectonofacies’ which are subaqueous mass flow deposits recording cannibalization of older Pahrump carbonate strata exposed by local faulting. Facies include siltstone, sandstone and conglomerate turbidites, carbonate megabreccias (olistoliths) and related breccias, and interbedded debrites. Secondary facies are thin carbonates and pillowed basalts. Four distinct associations of tectonofacies (‘base‐of‐scarp’; FA1, ‘mid‐slope’; FA2, ‘base‐of‐slope’; FA3, and a ‘carbonate margin’ association; FA4) reflect the initiation and progradation of deep water clastic wedges at the foot of fault scarps. ‘Tectonosequences’ record episodes of fault reactivation resulting in substantial increases in accommodation space and water depths, the collapse of fault scarps and consequent downslope mass flow events. Carbonates of FA4 record the cessation of tectonic activity and resulting sediment starvation ending the growth of clastic wedges. Tectonosequences are nested within regionally‐extensive tectono‐stratigraphic units of earlier workers that are hundreds to thousands of metres in thickness, recording the long‐term evolution of the rifted Laurentian continental margin during the protracted breakup of Rodinia. Debrite facies of the Kingston Peak Formation are classically described as ice‐contact glacial deposits recording globally‐correlative panglacials but they result from partial to complete subaqueous mixing of fault‐generated coarse‐grained debris and fine‐grained distal sediment on a slope conditioned by tectonic activity. The sedimentology (tectonofacies) and stratigraphy (tectonosequences) of the Kingston Peak Formation reflect a fundamental control on local sedimentation in the basin by faulting and likely earthquake activity, not by any global glacial climate.
Dominance or prestige: A review of the effects of power poses and other body postures
Authors: Körner Robert , Schütz Astrid 
Published: July 2020

AbstractResearch on the effects of body positions has attracted enormous attention in recent years but has been plagued by failed replication attempts. Today, there is some confusion about which effects can be considered reliable. One problem that may have contributed to this confusion is the fact that most previous studies have not clearly distinguished between different types of body positions. We apply the dominance‐prestige framework to distinguish between two types of body positions. On the basis of this reasoning, we argue that research on so‐called power poses in fact has analyzed expansiveness as an indicator of dominance, whereas research on postures has focused on the straightness of the spine, which may be seen as a display of prestige. We review the literature and conclude that there is no clear evidence that short‐term interventions involving body positions affect physiology or behavior. Still, there are effects on actors' self‐perceptions. Repeatedly, studies on power poses have found effects on feelings of power and self‐evaluations, and studies on postures have found effects on emotional experience. However, there is hardly any research that has directly compared the two types of interventions.
Ongoing Debate Between Foreign Aid and Economic Growth in Nigeria: A Wavelet Analysis
Authors: Adebayo Tomiwa Sunday , Beton Kalmaz Demet 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis study aims to reexamine the interconnection between economic growth, foreign aid, trade, gross fixed capital formation, and inflation rate in one model for the case of Nigeria, which has not yet been analyzed utilizing the new econometric techniques, employing time series data covering the years between 1980 and 2018. No previous research has employed a wavelet coherence technique to gather information on the dynamic connection and/or causality between these economic indicators at dissimilar frequencies and various time frames. The main objectives are to address the questions: (a) Is there long‐run relationship between the indicators under consideration? (b) What are the main determinants of economic growth in the long run? (c) How are the indicators related at dissimilar frequencies and various time frames? The empirical findings confirm that (a) there is a long‐run relationship between the indicators under consideration; (b) in the long run, economic growth is influenced significantly by foreign aid, trade openness, gross fixed capital formation, and inflation rate; (c) the outcomes of the wavelet coherence technique give evidence to support the long‐run estimations of this study; and (d) the outcomes of wavelet coherence are supported by the Toda‐Yamamoto causality test results.
Categories, Practices and the Self – Reflections on Bordering, Ordering and Othering
Authors: Vollmer Bastian A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractSince the publication of the paper ‘Bordering, Ordering and Othering’ by Henk van Houtum and Ton van Naerssen (2002), there has been an increase of complexity and diversification of borders and border‐making practices while at the same time one can observe an unprecedented development of research on these phenomena from a multitude of disciplinary perspectives. By revisiting the text, I will discuss three main comments referring to bordering categories, bordering practices and bordering self in the wider field of migration. The growing ambiguity of borders is once more underlined, but more importantly, these comments flesh out some of the far‐reaching profundities as well as political powers and new relevance which borders and practices of bordering have gained.
Low rate of COVID‐19 pneumonia in kidney transplant recipients—A battle between infection and immune response?
Authors: Ghaffari Rahbar Maryam , Nafar Mohsen , Khoshdel Alireza , Dalili Nooshin , Abrishami Alireza , Firouzan Ahmad , Poorrezagholi Fatemeh , Samadian Fariba , Ziaie Shadi , Fatemizadeh Somayeh , Samavat Shiva 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundWith COVID‐19 pandemic, concerns about kidney transplant recipients are rising. However, the incidence, clinical course, outcome, and predictive factors of disease severity are obscured.MethodsWe describe clinical and laboratory manifestations, radiologic findings, clinical course, and finally outcome of kidney transplant recipients with COVID‐19 pneumonia.ResultsOf 2493 kidney transplant recipients under follow‐up in our clinic, 19 cases (4 cases diagnosed based on radiologic findings) were admitted. The mean age of patients was 47.6 ± 12.4 years, and the mean time from transplantation was 115.6 ± 70.3 months. Lymphopenia and eosinopenia were 84.2% and 78.9%, respectively. Nine patients did not survive the hospital course. History of acute rejection during the past 12 months, diabetes, higher N/L ratio, lower platelet count, elevated N/L x CRP, higher levels of LDH, positive D‐dimer, higher troponin, and prolonged PT were associated with mortality. Among patients with positive COVID‐19 test, history of acute rejection, low platelet count, and positive D‐dimer were associated with poor outcome. Treatment with cyclosporine was associated with better clinical outcome.ConclusionsLow rate of admission in transplant recipients specially in the very first years of transplantation might be due to protective effects of immunosuppressive agents against cytokine storm or modification of immunity function. We suggest evaluation of T‐cell number, function, and cytokine profile as a guide to manage COVID‐19 mainly in patients with higher risk of mortality.