bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of compound material alleviates saline and alkaline stress in cotton leaves through regulation of the transcriptome
Authors: An Mengjie , Wang Xiaoli , Chang Doudou , Wang Shuai , Hong Dashuang , Fan Hua , Wang Kaiyong 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Soil salinization and alkalinization are the main factors that affect the agricultural productivity. Evaluating the persistence of the compound material applied in field soils is an important part of the regulation of the responses of cotton to saline and alkaline stresses.

Result
To determine the molecular effects of compound material on the cotton’s responses to saline stress and alkaline stress, cotton was planted in the salinized soil (NaCl 8 g kg− 1) and alkalized soil (Na2CO3 8 g kg− 1) after application of the compound material, and ion content, physiological characteristics, and transcription of new cotton leaves at flowering and boll-forming stage were analyzed. The results showed that compared with saline stress, alkaline stress increased the contents of Na+, K+, SOD, and MDA in leaves. The application of the compound material reduced the content of Na+ but increased the K+/Na+ ratio, the activities of SOD, POD, and CAT, and REC. Transcriptome analysis revealed that after the application of the compound material, the Na+/H+ exchanger gene in cotton leaves was down-regulated, while the K+ transporter, K+ channel, and POD genes were up-regulated. Besides, the down-regulation of genes related to lignin synthesis in phenylalanine biosynthesis pathway had a close relationship with the ion content and physiological characteristics in leaves. The quantitative analysis with PCR proved the reliability of the results of RNA sequencing.

Conclusion
These findings suggest that the compound material alleviated saline stress and alkaline stress on cotton leaves by regulating candidate genes in key biological pathways, which improves our understanding of the molecular mechanism of the compound material regulating the responses of cotton to saline stress and alkaline stress.
Fine mapping of a candidate gene for cool-temperature-induced albinism in ornamental kale
Authors: Yan Chenghuan , Peng Liying , Zhang Lei , Qiu Zhengming 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
The symptoms of cool-temperature-induced chlorosis (CTIC) are widely existed in higher plants. Although many studies have shown that the genetic mechanism of CTIC is generally controlled by recessive genes in model plants, the dominant inheritance of albinism has not been reported thus far. Here, two CTIC mutants, Red Kamome and White Kamome, were utilized to analyse the inheritance of the albino trait in ornamental kale. The objective of this investigation is to fine-map the target locus and identify the most likely candidate genes for albinism.

Results
Genetic analysis revealed that the albinism in the inner leaves of ornamental kale followed semi-dominant inheritance and was controlled by a single locus in two segregating populations. BSR-seq in combination with linkage analysis was employed to fine-map the causal gene, named AK (Albino Kale), to an approximate 60 kb interval on chromosome C03. Transcriptome data from two extreme pools indicated that the differentially expressed gene of Bol015404, which encodes a cytochrome P450 protein, was the candidate gene. The Bol015404 gene was demonstrated to be upregulated in the albino leaves of ornamental kale by qPCR. Additionally, the critical temperature for the albinism was determined between 10 °C and 16 °C by gradient test.

Conclusions
Using two independent segregating populations, the albino mutants were shown to be controlled by one semi-dominant gene, AK, in ornamental kale. The Bol015404 gene was co-segregated with albinism phenotypes, suggesting this unknown function P450 gene as the most likely candidate gene. The albino trait appeared caused by the low temperatures rather than photoperiod. Our results lay a solid foundation on the genetic control of albinism in ornamental kale.
Assessment of high sensitivity C-reactive protein and coronary plaque characteristics by computed tomography in patients with and without diabetes mellitus
Authors: Zhou Hai-Ting , Zhao De-Li , Wang Guo-Kun , Wang Tian-Zuo , Liang Hong-Wei , Zhang Jin-Ling 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
To evaluate the coronary plaque characteristics of coronary arteries using computed tomography angiography (CTA) in order to assess the risk of coronary artery disease and the relevance of high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM).

Methods
The clinical data of 400 DM patients and 400 non-DM patients from January 2017 to December 2019 were collected, including the results of coronaryCTA. The plasma hs-CRP level of the two groups were divided into three groups: CRP ≤ 1, 1 < CRP ≤ 2, CRP > 2. The correlation of the degree of stenosis, the number of plaques, the nature of plaques and hs-CRP value between the two groups was evaluated.

Results
Compared with non-DM patients, the incidence of coronary artery plaques and lumen stenosis in DM patients was more higher than that in non-DM patients. DM patients were more likely to have more diseased vessels, especially diffuse vascular disease (12.00% vs 1.75%; P < 0.001). Subjects with high hs-CRP levels were more likely to have any plaque compared with individuals showing normal hs-CRP levels (p<0.01). There was no statistical significance in non calcified plaque with high level of hs-CRP, but the occurrence of plaque types in DM group was statistically significant compared with other hs-CRP levels in non DM group. Subjects with high hs-CRP were observed to be at increased risk for the presence of calcified plaque and severe narrowing in the unadjusted values.

Conclusions
Coronary CTA combined with hs-CRP can accurately detect the characteristics of coronary artery stenosis and plaque in DM patients, which has an important clinical value in the risk assessment of coronary heart disease in DM patients.
Association of Dietary Inflammatory Index with cardiovascular disease in Kurdish adults: results of a prospective study on Ravansar non-communicable diseases
Authors: Ayeneh pour Azad , Moradinazar Mehdi , Samadi Mehnoosh , Hamzeh Behrooz , Najafi Farid , Karimi Sheno , Faraji Fakhereh , Darbandi Mitra , Pasdar Yahya 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Various diets and dietary compounds, through their inflammatory properties, are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases including Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs). Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) can evaluate the inflammatory properties of diet. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between DII and CVDs in participants of the Ravansar Non-Communicable Diseases (RaNCD) cohort study, Kermanshah, Iran.

Materials
The present cross-sectional study was conducted using the recruitment phase data of the RaNCD cohort study on 6369 participants aged 35 to 65 years. The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess diet. The DII scores were calculated using FFQ data. Participants with a history of myocardial infarction, stroke and coronary artery disease, and/or taking medications for the CVDs were considered as the CVDs patients.

Results
Of the 6369 studied participants, 9% (n = 579) had CVDs history. The mean DII score in this study was − 0.84 ± 1.6. Odds ratio (OR) of CVDs in women was 1.6 times higher than in men (CI 95% = 1.3–1.9), which this association was remained after adjusting for confounding variables (OR = 1.5, CI% = 1.2–1.9). The risk of CVDs in the fourth quartile of DII was 1.4 times higher than the first quartile of DII (OR: 1.4, CI 95% = 1.1–1.8). We found that higher adhere to DII was associated with risk of CVDs.

Conclusion
According to current documents, given the role of diet through inflammatory properties on the risk of CVDs, it is recommended to use DII as an appropriate index to measure the effect of diet on CVDs in Iranian population. In addition, a diet with lower DII may be healthier diet for cardiovascular health.
A Bayesian natural cubic B-spline varying coefficient method for non-ignorable dropout
Authors: Moore Camille M. , MaWhinney Samantha , Carlson Nichole E. , Kreidler Sarah 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundDropout is a common problem in longitudinal clinical trials and cohort studies, and is of particular concern when dropout occurs for reasons that may be related to the outcome of interest. This paper reviews common parametric models to account for dropout and introduces a Bayesian semi-parametric varying coefficient model for exponential family longitudinal data with non-ignorable dropout.MethodsTo demonstrate these methods, we present results from a simulation study and estimate the impact of drug use on longitudinal CD4+T cell count and viral load suppression in the Women’s Interagency HIV Study. Sensitivity analyses are performed to consider the impact of model assumptions on inference. We compare results between our semi-parametric method and parametric models to account for dropout, including the conditional linear model and a parametric frailty model. We also compare results to analyses that fail to account for dropout.ResultsIn simulation studies, we show that semi-parametric methods reduce bias and mean squared error when parametric model assumptions are violated. In analyses of the Women’s Interagency HIV Study data, we find important differences in estimates of changes in CD4+T cell count over time in untreated subjects that report drug use between different models used to account for dropout. We find steeper declines over time using our semi-parametric model, which makes fewer assumptions, compared to parametric models. Failing to account for dropout or to meet parametric assumptions of models to account for dropout could lead to underestimation of the impact of hard drug use on CD4+cell count decline in untreated subjects. In analyses of subjects that initiated highly active anti-retroviral treatment, we find that the estimated probability of viral load suppression is lower in models that account for dropout.ConclusionsNon-ignorable dropout is an important consideration when analyzing data from longitudinal clinical trials and cohort studies. While methods that account for non-ignorable dropout must make some unavoidable assumptions that cannot be verified from the observed data, many methods make additional parametric assumptions. If these assumptions are not met, inferences can be biased, making more flexible methods with minimal assumptions important.
Paroxysmal hemicrania masquerading as a stroke in an elderly gentleman: case report
Authors: Tan Boon Hian , Suantio Astrid Melani , Koh Yeow Hoay 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Paroxysmal hemicrania has not been associated with ipsilateral weakness, loss of sensation and Horner’s syndrome. This report is the first of its kind documented in literature.

Case presentation
This was an elderly, sixty-five-year-old Chinese male who presented with a headache fulfilling criteria of paroxysmal hemicrania and was found to have signs of ipsilateral conjunctival injection, Horner’s syndrome, weakness and loss of sensation; with resolution of the patient’s physical signs after relief of the headache. Brain magnetic resonance imaging did not show any strokes or other headache mimics. The patient had a marked response to indomethacin and a decrease of headache intensity and frequency with indomethacin prophylaxis.

Conclusions
Paroxysmal hemicrania has joined the list of stroke chameleons and that it would be one of the differentials in a patient with hemiplegia, hemisensory loss, autonomic signs and severe headache. It suggests that paroxysmal hemicrania in the elderly present atypically.
Estimating the burden of HIV late presentation and its attributable morbidity and mortality across Europe 2010–2016
Authors:   The Late Presentation Working Groups in EuroSIDA and COHERE
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Late presentation (LP), defined as a CD4 count < 350/mm3 or an AIDS-event at HIV-diagnosis, remains a significant problem across Europe. Linking cohort and surveillance data, we assessed the country-specific burden of LP during 2010–2016 and the occurrence of new AIDS events or deaths within 12 months of HIV-diagnosis believed to be attributable to LP.

Methods
Country-specific percentages of LP and AIDS-events/death rates (assessed with Poisson regression) observed in The Collaboration of Observational HIV Epidemiological Research Europe (COHERE) and EuroSIDA cohorts, were applied to new HIV-diagnoses reported to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. The estimated number of LP in the whole population was then calculated, as was the number of excess AIDS-events/deaths in the first 12 months following HIV-diagnosis assumed to be attributable to LP (difference in estimated events between LP and non-LP).

Results
Thirty-nine thousand two hundred four persons were included from the COHERE and EuroSIDA cohorts, of whom 18,967 (48.4%; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 47.9–48.9) were classified as LP, ranging from 36.9% in Estonia (95%CI 25.2–48.7) and Ukraine (95%CI 30.0–43.8) to 64.2% in Poland (95%CI 57.2–71.3). We estimated a total of > 320,000 LP and 12,050 new AIDS-events/deaths attributable to LP during 2010–2016, with the highest estimated numbers of LP and excess AIDS-events/deaths in Eastern Europe. Country-level estimates of excess events ranged from 17 AIDS-events/deaths (95%CI 0–533) in Denmark to 10,357 (95%CI 7768-147,448) in Russia.

Conclusions
Across countries in Europe, the burden of LP was high, with the highest estimated number of LP and excess AIDS-events/deaths being in Eastern Europe. Effective strategies are needed to reduce LP and the attributable morbidity and mortality that could be potentially avoided.
Adolescent and non-consensual anal sexual debut among Chinese men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Tang Weiming , Wang Yehua , Huang Wenting , Wu Dan , Yang Fan , Xu Yongshi , Ong Jason J. , Fu Hongyun , Yang Bin , Wang Cheng , Ma Wei , Wei Chongyi , Tucker Joseph D. 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Adolescent sexual debut and non-consensual sex have been linked to higher sexual risk and STI infection in adulthood among men who have sex with men (MSM) in high-income countries. This study aimed to examine adolescent and non-consensual anal sexual debut among Chinese MSM and to evaluate factors associated with adolescent sexual debut and non-consensual anal sex.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted recently among Chinese men assigned male sex at birth, ≥18 years old, and who had ever engaged in anal sex with a man. Participants answered questions regarding socio-demographics, condomless sex, age at anal sexual debut with a man, and whether the first anal sex was consensual. Factors associated with an adolescent sexual debut (< 18 years old) and non-consensual sex at sexual debut were evaluated. We defined adolescent sexual debut as having anal sex with another man at 17 years old or younger, and the participants were asked whether their first male-to-male anal sex was non-consensual.

Results
Overall, 2031 eligible men completed the survey. The mean age of sexual debut was 20.7 (SD = 4.3) years old. 17.6% (358/2031) of men reported adolescent sexual debut, and 5.0% (101/2031) reported a non-consensual sexual debut. The adolescent sexual debut was associated with having more male sexual partners (adjusted OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06–1.15) and condomless anal sex in the last three months (AOR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.34–2.18). MSM whose sexual debut was non-consensual were more likely to have condomless anal sex (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.17–2.66), and to have reported an adolescent sexual debut (AOR = 2.72, 95% CI 1.75–4.21).

Conclusions
Many Chinese MSM reported adolescent sexual debut and non-consensual sex, both of which are associated with sexual risk behaviors and drive STI transmission. These findings highlight the need for designing tailored interventions for MSM who experienced adolescent sexual debut and non-consensual sex at debut.
The rise in the number of long-term survivors from different diseases can slow the increase in life expectancy of the total population
Authors: Ebeling Marcus , Meyer Anna C. , Modig Karin 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundRecent improvements in life expectancy in many countries stem from reduced mortality from cardiovascular disease and cancer above the age of 60. This is the combined result of decreased incidence and improved survival among those with disease. The latter has led to a higher proportion in the population of people with a past history of disease. This is a group with higher mortality than the general population. How growing shares of persons with past history of disease and improved survival with disease have affected changes in life expectancy of the total population is the objective of this paper.MethodsUsing register data for the total Swedish population, we stratified the population based on whether individuals have been diagnosed with myocardial infarction, stroke, hip fracture, colon cancer, or breast cancer. Using a novel decomposition approach, we decomposed the changes in life expectancy at age 60 between 1994 and 2016 into contributions from improved survival with disease and from changes in proportion of people with past history of disease.ResultsImprovements in survival from disease resulted in gains of life expectancy for the total population. However, while the contributions to life expectancy improvements from myocardial infarction, stroke and breast cancer were substantial, the contributions from the other diseases were minor. These gains were counteracted, to various degrees, by the increasing proportion of people with raised mortality due to a past history of disease. For instance, the impact on life expectancy by improved survival from breast cancer was almost halved by the increasing share of females with a past history of breast cancer.ConclusionRising numbers of survivors of different diseases can slow the increase in life expectancy. This dynamic may represent the costs associated with successful treatment of diseases, and thus, a potential “failure of success.” This dynamic should be considered when assessing mortality and life expectancy trends. As populations are aging and disease survival continues to improve, this issue is likely to become even more important in the future.
Impact of reducing the duration of antibiotic treatment on the long-term prognosis of community acquired pneumonia
Authors: Uranga Ane , Artaraz Amaia , Bilbao Amaia , Quintana Jose María , Arriaga Ignacio , Intxausti Maider , Lobo Jose Luis , García Julia Amaranta , Camino Jesus , España Pedro Pablo 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
The optimal duration of antibiotic treatment for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is not well established. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of reducing the duration of antibiotic treatment on long-term prognosis in patients hospitalized with CAP.

Methods
This was a multicenter study assessing complications developed during 1 year of patients previously hospitalized with CAP who had been included in a randomized clinical trial concerning the duration of antibiotic treatment. Mortality at 90 days, at 180 days and at 1 year was analyzed, as well as new admissions and cardiovascular complications. A subanalysis was carried out in one of the hospitals by measuring C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) and proadrenomedullin (proADM) at admission, at day 5 and at day 30.

Results
A total of 312 patients were included, 150 in the control group and 162 in the intervention group. Ninety day, 180 day and 1-year mortality in the per-protocol analysis were 8 (2.57%), 10 (3.22%) and 14 (4.50%), respectively. There were no significant differences between both groups in terms of 1-year mortality (p = 0.94), new admissions (p = 0.84) or cardiovascular events (p = 0.33). No differences were observed between biomarker level differences from day 5 to day 30 (CRP p = 0.29; PCT p = 0.44; proADM p = 0.52).

Conclusions
Reducing antibiotic treatment in hospitalized patients with CAP based on clinical stability criteria is safe, without leading to a greater number of long-term complications.
Would patients undergo postoperative follow-up by using a smartphone application?
Authors: Scherer Julian , Keller Frank , Pape Hans-Christoph , Osterhoff Georg 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
eHealth applications have been proposed as an alternative to monitor patients in frequent intervals or over long distances. The aim of this study was to assess whether patients would accept an application on their smartphone to be monitored by their physicians.

Methods
During September 2017 and December 2017 a survey amongst smartphone users was conducted via paper and web-based questionnaires.

Results
More than half of the 962 participants (54%) were older than 55 years of age. The majority of the participants (68.7%) would accept a follow-up by a smartphone application obtaining personal healthcare data. 72.6% of all patients older than 55 years of age would use the application. The most prevalent reason against installing the application was data protection. Patients being currently treated in an orthopaedic practice and pedestrians were more eager to accept a follow-up by a mobile app than participants from social media.

Conclusion
The majority of participants would accept a mobile application, collecting personal health-related data for postoperative follow-up, and saw a direct benefit for the patient in such an application.
Automated cephalometric landmark detection with confidence regions using Bayesian convolutional neural networks
Authors: Lee Jeong-Hoon , Yu Hee-Jin , Kim Min-ji , Kim Jin-Woo , Choi Jongeun 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background
Despite the integral role of cephalometric analysis in orthodontics, there have been limitations regarding the reliability, accuracy, etc. of cephalometric landmarks tracing. Attempts on developing automatic plotting systems have continuously been made but they are insufficient for clinical applications due to low reliability of specific landmarks. In this study, we aimed to develop a novel framework for locating cephalometric landmarks with confidence regions using Bayesian Convolutional Neural Networks (BCNN).

Methods
We have trained our model with the dataset from the ISBI 2015 grand challenge in dental X-ray image analysis. The overall algorithm consisted of a region of interest (ROI) extraction of landmarks and landmarks estimation considering uncertainty. Prediction data produced from the Bayesian model has been dealt with post-processing methods with respect to pixel probabilities and uncertainties.

Results
Our framework showed a mean landmark error (LE) of 1.53 ± 1.74 mm and achieved a successful detection rate (SDR) of 82.11, 92.28 and 95.95%, respectively, in the 2, 3, and 4 mm range. Especially, the most erroneous point in preceding studies, Gonion, reduced nearly halves of its error compared to the others. Additionally, our results demonstrated significantly higher performance in identifying anatomical abnormalities. By providing confidence regions (95%) that consider uncertainty, our framework can provide clinical convenience and contribute to making better decisions.

Conclusion
Our framework provides cephalometric landmarks and their confidence regions, which could be used as a computer-aided diagnosis tool and education.