bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the distribution of protein oligomerization degree reflects cellular information capacity
Authors: Danielli Lena , Li Ximing , Tuller Tamir , Daniel Ramez 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe generation of information, energy and biomass in living cells involves integrated processes that optimally evolve into complex and robust cellular networks. Protein homo-oligomerization, which is correlated with cooperativity in biology, is one means of scaling the complexity of protein networks. It can play critical roles in determining the sensitivity of genetic regulatory circuits and metabolic pathways. Therefore, understanding the roles of oligomerization may lead to new approaches of probing biological functions. Here, we analyzed the frequency of protein oligomerization degree in the cell proteome of nine different organisms, and then, we asked whether there are design trade-offs between protein oligomerization, information precision and energy costs of protein synthesis. Our results indicate that there is an upper limit for the degree of protein oligomerization, possibly because of the trade-off between cellular resource limitations and the information precision involved in biochemical reaction networks. These findings can explain the principles of cellular architecture design and provide a quantitative tool to scale synthetic biological systems.
Utilization of emergency ophthalmology services in Taiwan: a nationwide population study
Authors: Hsu Min-Huei , Hsu Chia-An , Hsiao Sheng-Huang , Chu Dachen , Yen Ju-Chuan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe aim of this study was to conduct a nationwide survey of the use of emergency ophthalmology services using a sub-dataset of one million beneficiaries sampled from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) for the years 2008 through 2012. By analyzing this population dataset, the study illustrates the disease landscape of emergency eye care services. The five-year, one-million-person NHIRD sub-dataset for 2008 through 2012 was used to explore emergency visits and ophthalmology specialty visits and to analyze the associated demographics and diagnosis codes based on the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). Diagnoses were categorized into three groups: urgent, non-urgent, and intermediate. A total of 2454 emergency eye care visits were identified. The mean age of the patients who made these visits was 34.6 years old, and their sex ratio was 1.36 men to women. The percentages of urgent, non-urgent, and intermediate eye care visits in this study were 48.2%, 30.9%, and 20.9%, respectively. The leading diagnoses in the urgent category were corneal abrasions, foreign bodies in the eyes, eye burns, and blunt eye injuries. The leading diagnoses for the non-urgent visits were conjunctivitis, subconjunctival hemorrhages, trichiasis, and dry eye disease. Those for the intermediate category were superficial punctate keratitis, corneal opacity and degeneration, and lid, orbital, and lacrimal drainage infections. The urgent visit category accounted for nearly half of all the visits identified in this study. Compared to outpatient department visitors, the emergency ophthalmology service patients were younger and more predominantly male. These results were consistent with those of previous reports. Low copays have made emergency ophthalmology services highly accessible in Taiwan. However, future policies can be designed to more effectively allocate resources to urgent cases.
Syringa vulgaris leaves powder a novel low-cost adsorbent for methylene blue removal: isotherms, kinetics, thermodynamic and optimization by Taguchi method
Authors: Mosoarca Giannin , Vancea Cosmin , Popa Simona , Gheju Marius , Boran Sorina 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn this study, the potential of a new low-cost adsorbent, Syringa vulgaris leaves powder, for methylene blue adsorption from aqueous solution was investigated. The adsorbent surface was examined using SEM and FTIR techniques. The experiments were conducted, in batch system, to find out the effect of pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, temperature and ionic strength on dye adsorption. The process is best described by Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo second order kinetic model. Maximum adsorption capacity, 188.2 (mg g−1), is better than other similar adsorbent materials. Thermodynamic parameters revealed a spontaneous and endothermic process, suggesting a physisorption mechanism. A Taguchi orthogonal array (L27) experimental design was used to determine the optimum conditions for the removal of dye. Various desorbing agents were used to investigate the regeneration possibility of used adsorbent. Results suggest that the adsorbent material is very effective for removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions.
Predicting human health from biofluid-based metabolomics using machine learning
Authors: Evans Ethan D. , Duvallet Claire , Chu Nathaniel D. , Oberst Michael K. , Murphy Michael A. , Rockafellow Isaac , Sontag David , Alm Eric J. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBiofluid-based metabolomics has the potential to provide highly accurate, minimally invasive diagnostics. Metabolomics studies using mass spectrometry typically reduce the high-dimensional data to only a small number of statistically significant features, that are often chemically identified—where each feature corresponds to a mass-to-charge ratio, retention time, and intensity. This practice may remove a substantial amount of predictive signal. To test the utility of the complete feature set, we train machine learning models for health state-prediction in 35 human metabolomics studies, representing 148 individual data sets. Models trained with all features outperform those using only significant features and frequently provide high predictive performance across nine health state categories, despite disparate experimental and disease contexts. Using only non-significant features it is still often possible to train models and achieve high predictive performance, suggesting useful predictive signal. This work highlights the potential for health state diagnostics using all metabolomics features with data-driven analysis.
The constraints and driving forces of oasis development in arid region: a case study of the Hexi Corridor in northwest China
Authors: Bie Qiang , Xie Yaowen 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe oasis, a special landscape with the integration of nature and humanity in the arid region, has undergone an enormous transformation during the past decades. To gain a better understanding of the tradeoff between economic growth and oases stability in the arid land, we took the oases in the Hexi Corridor as a case to explore the constraints of oases development and the driving factors of oases expansion. The dynamic changes and spatial distribution patterns underwent by the oases were examined using multispectral remote sensing imagery. The constraints of oasis development in arid land were investigated by the grid-transformed model, as well as the index system of driving forces was analyzed using the grey incidence model based on the data from statistics yearbooks. The oasis area in the Hexi Corridor had tremendous changes expanded 40% from 1986 to 2015, the stable oasis area was 9062 km2, while the maximum area reached 16,374 km2. The constraints for oases of topography, hydrology and heat condition are as follow: The elevation of oasis ranged from 1000 to 1800 m, peaked in 1500 m; the slope of oasis distribution was flatter than 3 degrees; the aspect of oases on slope land concentrated in northeast and north, accounting for more than 60%. The main driving forces of oasis spatial expansion in the arid region were population, water resource, economy, policies, and other factors. These results are expected to (1) improve the rationality of oasis development, and (2) promote the sustainable planning and management of oases in the arid land.
Use of a model to understand the synergies underlying the antibacterial mechanism of H2O2-producing honeys
Authors: Masoura Maria , Passaretti Paolo , Overton Tim W. , Lund Pete A. , Gkatzionis Konstantinos 
Published: October 2020

AbstractHoney has been valued as a powerful antimicrobial since ancient times. However, the understanding of the underlying antibacterial mechanism is incomplete. The complexity and variability of honey composition represent a challenge to this scope. In this study, a simple model system was used to investigate the antibacterial effect of, and possible synergies between, the three main stressors present in honey: sugars, gluconic acid, and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which result from the enzymatic conversion of glucose on honey dilution. Our results demonstrated that the synergy of H2O2 and gluconic acid is essential for the antibacterial activity of honey. This synergy caused membrane depolarization, destruction of the cell wall, and eventually growth inhibition of E. coli K-12. The presence of H2O2 stimulated the generation of other long-lived ROS in a dose-dependent manner. Sugars caused osmosis-related morphological changes, however, decreased the toxicity of the H2O2/gluconic acid. The susceptibility of catalase and general stress response sigma factor mutants confirmed the synergy of the three stressors, which is enhanced at higher H2O2 concentrations. By monitoring cellular phenotypic changes caused by model honey, we explained how this can be bactericidal even though the antimicrobial compounds which it contains are at non-inhibitory concentrations.
Probing light-driven quantum materials with ultrafast resonant inelastic X-ray scattering
Authors: Mitrano Matteo , Wang Yao 
Published: October 2020

AbstractUltrafast optical pulses are an increasingly important tool for controlling quantum materials and triggering novel photo-induced phase transitions. Understanding these dynamic phenomena requires a probe sensitive to spin, charge, and orbital degrees of freedom. Time-resolved resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (trRIXS) is an emerging spectroscopic method, which responds to this need by providing unprecedented access to the finite-momentum fluctuation spectrum of photoexcited solids. In this Perspective, we briefly review state-of-the-art trRIXS experiments on condensed matter systems, as well as recent theoretical advances. We then describe future research opportunities in the context of light control of quantum matter.
Liguster – eine (un)bekannte vergessene Arzneipflanze?
Authors: Melzig Matthias F 
Published: October 2020

ZusammenfassungDer Liguster, Ligustrum vulgare L., gehört zu den vergessenen Arzneipflanzen, dessen Blätter, historisch belegt, v. a. zur Entzündungshemmung im Mund- und Halsbereich genutzt wurden. Der Nachweis relevanter Mengen an Secoiridoiden, wie Oleuropein, sowie Flavonoiden und Phenylpropanoiden stützen diese Indikation und sollten neue pharmakologische Untersuchungen an Ligusterblättern rechtfertigen.
Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and risk of neoplastic progression in patients with Barrett’s esophagus
Authors: Peleg Noam , Schmilovitz-Weiss Hemda , Shamah Steven , Schwartz Ariel , Dotan Iris , Sapoznikov Boris 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background Patient’s with Barrett’s esophagus (BE) are at risk of progression to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was found to be a predictor of poor prognosis in patients with EAC; however, its performance in premalignant esophageal lesions is vague. We aimed to evaluate the utility of NLR as a predictor of histologic progression in patients with BE.
Methods A prospective cohort of patients with proven BE in a tertiary referral center was retrospectively analyzed. All biopsies were reviewed by an expert gastrointestinal pathologist. The discriminatory capacity of NLR was evaluated by area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC) curve analysis and Cox regression analysis.
Results 324 patients (mean age 62.3 years, 241 [74.4 %] males) were included in the final analysis. Overall, 13 patients demonstrated histologic progression to neoplasia over a mean follow-up of 3.7 years (progression risk 1.0 % per year). The AUC of NLR for progression to high grade dysplasia (HGD) or EAC was 0.88 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.83 – 0.96), and baseline NLR was associated with a 3-fold increase of progression to HGD and EAC during follow-up (hazard ratio [HR] 3.2, 95 %CI 1.5 – 5.8; P < 0.001). Notably, in a subgroup analysis of patients with nondysplastic BE (NDBE) at presentation, NLR was also a risk factor for histologic progression (HR 2.4, 95 %CI 1.7 – 3.4; P < 0.001).
Conclusion NLR predicted histologic progression in patients with BE. Patients with NDBE and NLR above 2.4 can be considered for specific surveillance programs with shorter intervals between sessions.
Ruthenium-Catalyzed Oxidative Dearomatization of N-Boc Indoles
Authors: Zhou Xiao-Yu , Bao Ming , Chen Xia , Feng Xiu-Juan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractRuthenium-catalyzed oxidative dearomatization of N-Boc indoles for the synthesis of indolin-3-ones is described. The N-Boc indoles can be transformed into indolin-3-ones in acetonitrile, using RuCl­3·3H2O as catalyst and sodium periodate (1.5 equiv) as oxidant. Further, a possible mechanism has been proposed on the basis of control experiments.
The Changing Landscape in Pediatric Hospitals: A Multicenter Study of How Pediatric Chronic Critical Illness Impacts NICU Throughput
Authors: Boss Renee D. , Henderson Carrie M. , Weiss Elliott M. , Falck Alison , Madrigal Vanessa , Shapiro Miriam C. , Williams Erin P. , Donohue Pamela K. ,   on behalf of the Pediatric Chronic Critical Illness Collaborative
Published: October 2020

Objective Pediatric inpatient bed availability is increasingly constrained by the prolonged hospitalizations of children with medical complexity. The sickest of these patients are chronic critically ill and often have protracted intensive care unit (ICU) stays. Numbers and characteristics of infants with chronic critical illness are unclear, which undermines resource planning in ICU's and general pediatric wards. The goal of this study was to describe infants with chronic critical illness at six academic institutions in the United States.
Study Design Infants admitted to six academic medical centers were screened for chronic, critical illness based on a combination of prolonged and repeated hospitalizations, use of medical technology, and chronic multiorgan involvement. Data regarding patient and hospitalization characteristics were collected.
Results Just over one-third (34.8%) of pediatric inpatients across the six centers who met eligibility criteria for chronic critical illness were <12 months of age. Almost all these infants received medical technology (97.8%) and had multiorgan involvement (94.8%). Eighty-six percent (115/134) had spent time in an ICU during the current hospitalization; 31% were currently in a neonatal ICU, 34% in a pediatric ICU, and 17% in a cardiac ICU. Among infants who had been previously discharged home (n = 55), most had been discharged with medical technology (78.2%) and nearly all were still using that technology during the current readmission. Additional technologies were commonly added during the current hospitalization.
Conclusion Advanced strategies are needed to plan for hospital resource allocation for infants with chronic critical illness. These infants' prolonged hospitalizations begin in the neonatal ICU but often transition to other ICUs and general inpatient wards. They are commonly discharged with medical technology which is rarely weaned but often escalated during subsequent hospitalizations. Identification and tracking of these infants, beginning in the neonatal ICU, will help hospitals anticipate and strategize for inpatient bed management.
Key Points
Association of Delivery Room and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Intubation, and Number of Tracheal Intubation Attempts with Death or Severe Neurological Injury among Preterm Infants
Authors: Debay Anthony , Patel Sharina , Wintermark Pia , Claveau Martine , Olivier François , Beltempo Marc 
Published: October 2020

Objective The study aimed to assess the association of tracheal intubation (TI) and where it is performed, and the number of TI attempts with death and/or severe neurological injury (SNI) among preterm infants.
Study Design Retrospective cohort study of infants born 23 to 32 weeks, admitted to a single level-3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between 2015 and 2018. Exposures were location of TI (delivery room [DR] vs. NICU) and number of TI attempts (1 vs. >1). Primary outcome was death and/or SNI (intraventricular hemorrhage grade 3–4 and/or periventricular leukomalacia). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess association between exposures and outcomes and to adjust for confounders.
Results Rate of death and/or SNI was 2.5% (6/240) among infants never intubated, 12% (13/105) among NICU TI, 32% (31/97) among DR TI, 20% (17/85) among infants with one TI attempt and 23% (27/117) among infants with >1 TI attempt. Overall, median number of TI attempts was 1 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1–2). Compared with no TI, DR TI (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 9.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.21–28.84) and NICU TI (AOR: 3.42, 95% CI: 1.21–10.61) were associated with higher odds of death and/or SNI. The DR TI was associated with higher odds of death and/or SNI compared with NICU TI (AOR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.17–6.22). The number of intubation attempts (1 vs. >1) was not associated with death and/or SNI (AOR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.47–2.03).
Conclusion The DR TI is associated with higher odds of death and/or SNI compared with NICU TI, and may help identify higher risk infants. There was no association between the number of TI attempts and death and/or SNI.
Key Points
Clinical and Laboratory Profile of Gangliosidosis from Southern Part of India
Authors: Gowda Vykuntaraju K. , Gupta Priya , Bharathi Narmadham K. , Bhat Maya , Shivappa Sanjay K. , Benakappa Naveen 
Published: October 2020

AbstractGangliosidoses are progressive neurodegenerative disorders caused by the deficiency of enzymes involved in the breakdown of glycosphingolipids. There are not much data about gangliosidosis in India; hence, this study was planned. The aim is to study the clinical, biochemical, and molecular profile of gangliosidosis. A retrospective chart review, in the pediatric neurology department from January 2015 to March 2020, was performed. Children diagnosed with Gangliosidosis were included. The disorder was confirmed by reduced activity of enzymes and/or pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in associated genes. We assessed age at presentation, gender, parental consanguinity, clinical manifestations, neuroimaging findings, enzyme level, and pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. Clinical data for 32 children with gangliosidosis were analyzed, which included 12 (37.5%) with GM1 gangliosidosis, 8 (25%) with Tay-Sachs disease (TSD), 11 (34.37%) with Sandhoff disease (SD), and 1 AB variant of GM2 gangliosidosis that occurs due to GM2 ganglioside activator protein deficiency. Twenty-four (75%) children were the offspring of consanguineous parents. Thirty-one (97%) had developmental delay. The median age at presentation was 15.5 months. Nine (28.12%) had seizures. Five children (41.6%) with GM1 gangliosidosis and two with SD had extensive Mongolian spots. Ten children with GM1 gangliosidosis (83.3%) had coarse facial features. Cherry red spot was found in 24 out of 32 children (75%). All children with GM1 gangliosidosis and none with TSD had hepato-splenomegaly. Two children (2/8; 25%) with TSD and seven (7/11; 63%) with SD had microcephaly. One child with SD had coarse facies and three did not have hepato-splenomegaly. Neuroimaging findings revealed bilateral thalamic involvement in 20 (62.5%) patients and periventricular hypomyelination in all cases. One child had a rare AB variant of GM2 gangliosidosis. GM2 Gangliosidoses are more common compared with GM1 variety. All of them had infantile onset except one child with TSD. Microcephaly can be present while usually megalencephaly is reported in the literature. The absence of hepato-splenomegaly does not rule out SD. Extensive Mongolian spots can be seen in GM2 gangliosidosis. AB variant of GM2 gangliosidosis should be considered when the enzyme is normal in the presence of strong clinical suspicion.
On the continuum limit of Benincasa–Dowker–Glaser causal set action
Authors: Machet Ludovico , Wang Jinzhao 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
We study the continuum limit of the Benincasa–Dowker–Glaser causal set action on a causally convex compact region. In particular, we compute the action of a causal set randomly sprinkled on a small causal diamond in the presence of arbitrary curvature in various spacetime dimensions. In the continuum limit, we show that the action admits a finite limit. More importantly, the limit is composed by an Einstein–Hilbert bulk term as predicted by the Benincasa–Dowker–Glaser action, and a boundary term exactly proportional to the codimension-two joint volume. Our calculation provides strong evidence in support of the conjecture that the Benincasa–Dowker–Glaser action naturally includes codimension-two boundary terms when evaluated on causally convex regions.
Simulation research on the forward problem of magnetoacoustic concentration tomography for magnetic nanoparticles with magnetic induction in a saturation magnetization state
Authors: Yan Xiaoheng , Pan Ye , Chen Weihua , Xu Zhengyang , Li Zhengxing 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Magnetoacoustic concentration tomography of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) with magnetic induction (MACT-MI) is a method that has been propsed recently for MNP concentration tomography for use in targeted therapy. This procedure has the advantages of being noninvasive, having high-resolution and providing quantitative estimation of MNPs. In order to further fundamentally increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the magnetoacoustic signal, the forward problem of MACT-MI in the saturation magnetization state was studied, especially the magnetization characteristics of MNPs, including the derivation of the force formula of MNPs in the saturation magnetization state and the relationships among the gradient of the external magnetic field, magnetic force, number concentration and sound pressure. Firstly, the magnetic force formula of MNPs in the saturation magnetization state was derived according to the classical Langevin theory of paramagnetism. Then, a 2D model was constructed to calculate the magnetic flux density, magnetic force and sound pressure. Finally, the 2D distribution diagram of magnetic force and sound pressure and its corresponding 1D curve were obtained. The simulation results showed that the saturation magnetic field produced by the Maxwell–Helmholtz coils made the MNPs magnetically saturated. Compared with the MNPs in an unsaturated magnetization state, the magnetic force of MNPs in the saturation magnetization state was stronger, and the stronger magnetic force could generate stronger magnetoacoustic signals, which made it possible to measure magnetoacoustic signals with higher signal-to-noise ratio. The research results can provide a research basis for the design of equipment for further MACT-MI experiment and clinical application.