bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
GST null polymorphisms may affect the risk of coronary artery disease: evidence from a meta-analysis
Authors: Su Hongling , Cao Yunshan , Li Jing , Zhu Yan , Ma Xuming 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Whether glutathione S-transferase (GST) null polymorphisms, namely GSTM1 null, GSTP1 null and GSTT1 null polymorphisms, influence the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) or not remains unclear. Thus, the authors performed a meta-analysis to more robustly estimate associations between GST null polymorphisms and the risk of CAD by integrating the results of previous publications.

Methods
Medline, Embase, Wanfang, VIP and CNKI were searched comprehensively for eligible studies, and 45 genetic association studies were finally selected to be included in this meta-analysis.

Results
We found that GSTM1 null polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of CAD in overall population (OR = 1.37, p = 0.003) and mixed population (OR = 1.61, p = 0.004), GSTP1 null polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of CAD in overall population (OR = 1.23, p = 0.03), whereas GSTT1 null polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of CAD in overall population (OR = 1.23, p = 0.02), Caucasians (OR = 1.23, p = 0.02) and East Asians (OR = 1.38, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions
This meta-analysis demonstrated that GSTM1 null, GSTP1 null and GSTT1 null polymorphisms were all significantly associated with an increased risk of CAD.
Implementation and evaluation of a Project ECHO telementoring program for the Namibian HIV workforce
Authors: Bikinesi Leonard , O’Bryan Gillian , Roscoe Clay , Mekonen Tadesse , Shoopala Naemi , Mengistu Assegid T. , Sawadogo Souleymane , Agolory Simon , Mutandi Gram , Garises Valerie , Pati Rituparna , Tison Laura , Igboh Ledor , Johnson Carla , Rodriguez Evelyn M. , Ellerbrock Tedd , Menzies Heather , Baughman Andrew L. , Brandt Laura , Forster Norbert , Scott John , Wood Brian , Unruh Kenton T. , Arora Sanjeev , Iandiorio Michelle , Kalishman Summers , Zalud-Cerrato Sarah , Lehmer Jutta , Lee Stephen , Mahdi Mohammed A. , Spedoske Samantha , Zuber Alexandra , Reilley Brigg , Ramers Christian B. , Hamunime Ndapewa , O’Malley Gabrielle , Struminger Bruce 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
The Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) piloted the first HIV Project ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) in Africa at 10 clinical sites between 2015 and 2016. Goals of Project ECHO implementation included strengthening clinical capacity, improving professional satisfaction, and reducing isolation while addressing HIV service challenges during decentralization of antiretroviral therapy.

Methods
MoHSS conducted a mixed-methods evaluation to assess the pilot. Methods included pre/post program assessments of healthcare worker knowledge, self-efficacy, and professional satisfaction; assessment of continuing professional development (CPD) credit acquisition; and focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. Analysis compared the differences between pre/post scores descriptively. Qualitative transcripts were analyzed to extract themes and representative quotes.

Results
Knowledge of clinical HIV improved 17.8% overall (95% confidence interval 12.2–23.5%) and 22.3% (95% confidence interval 13.2–31.5%) for nurses. Professional satisfaction increased 30 percentage points. Most participants experienced reduced professional isolation (66%) and improved CPD credit access (57%). Qualitative findings reinforced quantitative results. Following the pilot, the Namibia MoHSS Project ECHO expanded to over 40 clinical sites by May 2019 serving more than 140 000 people living with HIV.

Conclusions
Similar to other Project ECHO evaluation results in the United States of America, Namibia’s Project ECHO led to the development of ongoing virtual communities of practice. The evaluation demonstrated the ability of the Namibia HIV Project ECHO to improve healthcare worker knowledge and satisfaction and decrease professional isolation.
MiR-199a-3p/5p participated in TGF-β and EGF induced EMT by targeting DUSP5/MAP3K11 in pterygium
Authors: He Siying , Huang Yifang , Dong Shiqi , Qiao Chen , Yang Guohua , Zhang Shuai , Wang Chen , Xu Yuting , Zheng Fang , Yan Ming 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Recently, it has been reported that miRNA is involved in pterygium, however the exact underlying mechanism in pterygium is unrevealed and require further investigation.

Methods
The differential expression of miRNA in pterygium was profiled using microarray and validated with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Human conjunctival epithelial cells (HCEs) were cultured and treated with transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transfected with miR-199a-3p/5p mimic and inhibitor. Markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HCEs were detected using western blot and immunohistochemistry. Cell migration ability was determined using wound healing and transwell assay, while apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. The target genes of miR-199a were confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results
TGF-β and EGF could induced EMT in HCEs and increase miR-199a-3p/5p but suppress target genes, DUSP5 and MAP3K11. With the occurrence of EMT, cell migration ability was enhanced, and apoptosis was impeded. Promoting miR-199a-3p/5p expression could induce EMT in HCEs without TGF-β and EGF, while suppressing miR-199a-3p/5p could inhibit EMT in TGF-β and EGF induced HCEs. In a word, TGF-β and EGF induced EMT could be regulated with miR-199a-3p/5p-DUSP5/MAP3K11 axes. The validated results in tissues showed that, compared with control conjunctival tissues, miR-199a-3p/5p were more overexpressed in pterygium, while DUSP5/MAP3K11 were lower expressed. In addition, bioinformatics analysis indicated the miR-199a-3p/5p-DUSP5/MAP3K11 was belong to MAPK signalling pathway.

Conclusions
TGF-β and EGF induce EMT of HCEs through miR-199a-3p/5p-DUSP5/MAP3K11 axes, which explains the pathogenesis of EMT in pterygium and may provide new targets for pterygium prevention and therapy.
High expression of MKK3 is associated with worse clinical outcomes in African American breast cancer patients
Authors: Yang Xuan , Amgad Mohamed , Cooper Lee A. D. , Du Yuhong , Fu Haian , Ivanov Andrey A. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundAfrican American women experience a twofold higher incidence of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than women of other ethnicities. However, the molecular bases for the survival disparity in breast cancer remain unclear, and no race-specific therapeutic targets have been proposed. To address this knowledge gap, we performed a systematic analysis of the relationship between gene mRNA expression and clinical outcomes determined for The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer patient cohort.MethodsThe systematic differential analysis of mRNA expression integrated with the analysis of clinical outcomes was performed for 1055 samples from the breast invasive carcinoma TCGA PanCancer cohorts. A deep learning fully-convolutional model was used to determine the association between gene expression and tumor features based on breast cancer patient histopathological images.ResultsWe found that more than 30% of all protein-coding genes are differentially expressed in White and African American breast cancer patients. We have determined a set of 32 genes whose overexpression in African American patients strongly correlates with decreased survival of African American but not White breast cancer patients. Among those genes, the overexpression of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3 (MKK3) has one of the most dramatic and race-specific negative impacts on the survival of African American patients, specifically with triple-negative breast cancer. We found that MKK3 can promote the TNBC tumorigenesis in African American patients in part by activating of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition induced by master regulator MYC.ConclusionsThe poor clinical outcomes in African American women with breast cancer can be associated with the abnormal elevation of individual gene expression. Such genes, including those identified and prioritized in this study, could represent new targets for therapeutic intervention. A strong correlation between MKK3 overexpression, activation of its binding partner and major oncogene MYC, and worsened clinical outcomes suggests the MKK3-MYC protein–protein interaction as a new promising target to reduce racial disparity in breast cancer survival.
Bat population recoveries give insight into clustering strategies during hibernation
Authors: Martínková Natália , Baird Stuart J. E. , Káňa Vlastislav , Zima Jan 
Published: September 2020

AbstractBackgroundBehaviour during hibernation contributes to energy conservation in winter. Hibernating bats select roosts with respect to physiological and environmental stressors, available local microclimate and species-specific requirements.ResultsWe found that, in the period between 1977 and 2018, hibernatingMyotis myotisandRhinolophus hipposiderosbats showed exponential population growth. The growth rates, corrected for local winter seasonal severity and winter duration, were equal to 10 and 13%, respectively. WhileR. hipposiderosonly utilised the thermally stable and, at survey time, warmer corridors in the hibernaculum, an increasing proportion ofM. myotisroosted in the thermally stable corridors as their abundance increased. About 14% of all hibernatingM. myotisdisplayed solitary roosting, irrespective of other covariates. Those bats that clustered together formed progressively larger clusters with increasing abundance, particularly in cold corridors. We found no statistically significant relationship for clustering behaviour or cluster size with winter severity or winter duration.ConclusionsAbundance of hibernating bats is increasing in Central Europe. As the number ofM. myotisbats increases, thermally unstable corridors become saturated with large clusters and the animals begin to roost deeper underground.
CRISPR-Cas9 enrichment and long read sequencing for fine mapping in plants
Authors: López-Girona Elena , Davy Marcus W. , Albert Nick W. , Hilario Elena , Smart Maia E. M. , Kirk Chris , Thomson Susan J. , Chagné David 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Genomic methods for identifying causative variants for trait loci applicable to a wide range of germplasm are required for plant biologists and breeders to understand the genetic control of trait variation.

Results
We implemented Cas9-targeted sequencing for fine-mapping in apple, a method combining CRISPR-Cas9 targeted cleavage of a region of interest, followed by enrichment and long-read sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). We demonstrated the capability of this methodology to specifically cleave and enrich a plant genomic locus spanning 8 kb. The repeated mini-satellite motif located upstream of the Malus × domestica (apple) MYB10 transcription factor gene, causing red fruit colouration when present in a heterozygous state, was our exemplar to demonstrate the efficiency of this method: it contains a genomic region with a long structural variant normally ignored by short-read sequencing technologies
Cleavage specificity of the guide RNAs was demonstrated using polymerase chain reaction products, before using them to specify cleavage of high molecular weight apple DNA. An enriched library was subsequently prepared and sequenced using an ONT MinION flow cell (R.9.4.1). Of the 7,056 ONT reads base-called using both Albacore2 (v2.3.4) and Guppy (v3.2.4), with a median length of 9.78 and 9.89 kb, respectively, 85.35 and 91.38%, aligned to the reference apple genome. Of the aligned reads, 2.98 and 3.04% were on-target with read depths of 180 × and 196 × for Albacore2 and Guppy, respectively, and only five genomic loci were off-target with read depth greater than 25 × , which demonstrated the efficiency of the enrichment method and specificity of the CRISPR-Cas9 cleavage.

Conclusions
We demonstrated that this method can isolate and resolve single-nucleotide and structural variants at the haplotype level in plant genomic regions. The combination of CRISPR-Cas9 target enrichment and ONT sequencing provides a more efficient technology for fine-mapping loci than genome-walking approaches.
Tagging and catching: rapid isolation and efficient labeling of organelles using the covalent Spy-System in planta
Authors: Lang Martina , Pröschel Marlene , Brüggen Nico , Sonnewald Uwe 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Up-to-now, several biochemical methods have been developed to allow specific organelle isolation from plant tissues. These procedures are often time consuming, require substantial amounts of plant material, have low yield or do not result in pure organelle fractions. Moreover, barely a protocol allows rapid and flexible isolation of different subcellular compartments. The recently published SpySystem enables the in vitro and in vivo covalent linkage between proteins and protein complexes. Here we describe the use of this system to tag and purify plant organelles.

Results
We developed a simple and specific method to in vivo tag and visualize, as well as isolate organelles of interest from crude plant extracts. This was achieved by expressing the covalent split-isopeptide interaction system, consisting of SpyTag and SpyCatcher, in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The functionality of the SpySystem in planta, combined with downstream applications, was proven. Using organelle-specific membrane anchor sequences to program the sub-cellular localization of the SpyTag peptide, we could tag the outer envelope of chloroplasts and mitochondria. By co-expression of a cytosolic, soluble eGFP-SpyCatcher fusion protein, we could demonstrate intermolecular isopeptide formation in planta and proper organelle targeting of the SpyTag peptides to the respective organelles. For one-step organelle purification, recombinantly expressed SpyCatcher protein was immobilized on magnetic microbeads via covalent thiol-etherification. To isolate tagged organelles, crude plant filtrates were mixed with SpyCatcher-coated beads which allowed isolation of SpyTag-labelled chloroplasts and mitochondria. The isolated organelles were intact, showed high yield and hardly contaminants and can be subsequently used for further molecular or biochemical analysis.

Conclusion
The SpySystem can be used to in planta label subcellular structures, which enables the one-step purification of organelles from crude plant extracts. The beauty of the system is that it works as a covalent toolbox. Labeling of different organelles with individual tags under control of cell-specific and/or inducible promoter sequences will allow the rapid organelle and cell-type specific purification. Simultaneous labeling of different organelles with specific Tag/Catcher combinations will enable simultaneous isolation of different organelles from one plant extract in future experiments.
The intergenerational impact of war on mental health and psychosocial wellbeing: lessons from the longitudinal study of war-affected youth in Sierra Leone
Authors: Betancourt Theresa S. , Keegan Katrina , Farrar Jordan , Brennan Robert T. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Globally, one in four children lives in a country affected by armed conflict or disaster often accompanied by exposure to a range of adversities including violent trauma and loss. Children involved with armed groups (often referred to as “child soldiers”) typically exhibit high levels of mental health needs linked to their experiences. The Longitudinal Study of War-Affected Youth (LSWAY) in Sierra Leone is a seventeen-year prospective longitudinal study of the long-term effects of children’s experiences in the country’s eleven-year (1991–2002) civil war on their adult mental health and functioning in addition to exploring the potential mechanisms by which intergenerational transmission of emotional and behavioral disruptions due to war trauma may operate. LSWAY illuminates how war-related and post-conflict experiences shape long-term adult functioning, family dynamics, and developmental outcomes in offspring.

Discussion
The LSWAY study utilizes mixed methodologies that incorporate qualitative and quantitative data to unpack risk and protective factors involved in social reintegration, psychosocial adjustment, parenting, and interpersonal relationships. To date, study findings demonstrate striking levels of persistent mental health problems among former child soldiers as adults with consequences for their families, but also risk and protective patterns that involve family- and community-level factors. This case study examines the course of LSWAY from inception through implementation and dissemination, including building on the study results to design and evaluate several intervention models.

Conclusion
The case study offers a unique perspective on challenges and field realities of health research in a fragile, post-conflict setting common in the context of humanitarian emergencies. LSWAY findings along with lessons learned from the field can inform future research as well as intervention research and implementation science to address the mental health and development of war-affected young people. With four waves of data collection and a planned fifth wave, LSWAY also provides rare insights into the intergenerational effects of humanitarian crises on children, youth, and families across generations.
RNA G-quadruplex structures exist and function in vivo in plants
Authors: Yang Xiaofei , Cheema Jitender , Zhang Yueying , Deng Hongjing , Duncan Susan , Umar Mubarak Ishaq , Zhao Jieyu , Liu Qi , Cao Xiaofeng , Kwok Chun Kit , Ding Yiliang 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Guanine-rich sequences are able to form complex RNA structures termed RNA G-quadruplexes in vitro. Because of their high stability, RNA G-quadruplexes are proposed to exist in vivo and are suggested to be associated with important biological relevance. However, there is a lack of direct evidence for RNA G-quadruplex formation in living eukaryotic cells. Therefore, it is unclear whether any purported functions are associated with the specific sequence content or the formation of an RNA G-quadruplex structure.

Results
Using rG4-seq, we profile the landscape of those guanine-rich regions with the in vitro folding potential in the Arabidopsis transcriptome. We find a global enrichment of RNA G-quadruplexes with two G-quartets whereby the folding potential is strongly influenced by RNA secondary structures. Using in vitro and in vivo RNA chemical structure profiling, we determine that hundreds of RNA G-quadruplex structures are strongly folded in both Arabidopsis and rice, providing direct evidence of RNA G-quadruplex formation in living eukaryotic cells. Subsequent genetic and biochemical analyses show that RNA G-quadruplex folding is able to regulate translation and modulate plant growth.

Conclusions
Our study reveals the existence of RNA G-quadruplex in vivo and indicates that RNA G-quadruplex structures act as important regulators of plant development and growth.
Feasibility and acceptability of a brief routine weight management intervention for postnatal women embedded within the national child immunisation programme in primary care: randomised controlled cluster feasibility trial
Authors: Daley A. J. , Jolly K. , Bensoussane H. , Ives N. , Jebb S. A. , Tearne S. , Greenfield S. M. , Yardley L. , Little P. , Tyldesley-Marshall N. , Pritchett R. V. , Frew E. , Parretti H. M. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
The prevalence of obesity in women continues to rise and pregnancy is a high-risk time for excessive weight gain. The period after childbirth represents an opportunity to offer women support to manage their weight. The primary aim here was to investigate the acceptability and feasibility of delivering a self-management intervention to postnatal women to support weight loss, embedded within the national child immunisation programme.

Methods
The research involved a randomised controlled cluster feasibility trial. Data were collected at baseline and 3 months later. Twenty-eight postnatal women living with overweight or obesity were recruited via Birmingham Women Hospital or general practices. Babies are routinely immunised at 2, 3 and 4 months of age; the intervention was embedded within these appointments. The intervention involved brief motivation/support by practice nurses to encourage participants to make healthier lifestyle choices through self-monitoring of weight and signposting to an online weight management programme, when they attended their practice to have their child immunised. The role of the nurse was to provide external accountability for weight loss. Participants were asked to weigh themselves weekly and record this on a record card or using the online programme. The weight goal was for participants to lose 0.5 to 1 kg per week. Usual care received a healthy lifestyle leaflet. The primary outcome was the feasibility of a phase III trial to test the subsequent effectiveness of the intervention, as assessed against three stop-go traffic light criteria (recruitment, adherence to regular self-weighing and registration with an online weight management programme).

Results
The traffic light stop-go criteria results were red for recruitment (28/80, 35% of target), amber for registration with the online weight loss programme (9/16, 56%) and green for adherence to weekly self-weighing (10/16, 63%). Nurses delivered the intervention with high fidelity.

Discussion
Whilst participants and nurses followed the trial protocol well and adherence to self-weighing was acceptable, recruitment was challenging and there is scope to improve engagement with the online weight management programme component of the intervention.

Trial registration
ISRCTN 12209332. Registration date is 04/12/18.
A novel timing and frequency offset estimation algorithm for filtered OFDM system
Authors: Feng Xing-le , Wang Meng-jie , Chen Li , Zhu Wen-xia , Hua Kun 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAs a critical technology of 5G air interface waveform, filtered orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (F-OFDM) not only inherits the technical advantages of OFDM, but also has outstanding advantages in system flexibility and spectrum efficiency. However, as a multi-carrier technology, it is still extremely sensitive to sample timing offset (STO) and carrier frequency offset (CFO). In this letter, an improved Park frequency domain training sequence (FS-Park) is proposed to complete STO and CFO estimation of F-OFDM system. Firstly, a real-value pseudorandom number (PN) sequence is sent to each subcarrier as training sequence in frequency domain, the corresponding time domain training symbol has a conjugate symmetry structure. Secondly, the training symbol is utilized for timing synchronization, then the fractional frequency offset is estimated based on the cyclic prefix in time domain. Finally, the integer frequency offset is estimated in frequency domain based on the auto-correlation of PN sequence. The simulation results illustrate that the FS-Park algorithm not only has a single pulse timing metric curve and great STO estimation accuracy, but also has better performance of CFO estimation than classical Park algorithm and Liang Xiao’s method.
Concentrated solutions for a critical nonlocal problem
Authors: Wang Qingfang 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we deal with a class of fractional critical problems. Under some suitable assumptions, we derive the existence of a positive solution concentrating at the critical point of the Robin function by using the Lyapunov–Schmidt reduction method. Comparing with previous work, we encounter some new challenges because of a nonlocal term. By making some delicate estimates for the nonlocal term we overcome the difficulty and find a bubbling solution.