bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity Analyses for the Retrievals of Ice Cloud Properties From Radiometric and Polarimetric Measurements in Sub‐mm/mm and Infrared Bands
Authors: Coy James J. , Bell Adam , Yang Ping , Wu Dong L. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSimulations of the radiometric and polarimetric properties of ice clouds based on the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Collection 6 ice cloud model (aggregates in conjunction with the gamma distribution) are performed at wavelengths in the Infrared (IR) and Submillimeter/Millimeter (sub‐mm/mm) regimes. The scattering/absorption/polarization properties from the precalculated database are incorporated into a radiative transfer model, the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer Model (ARTS). A number of sub‐mm/mm bands have been considered from radiometric and polarimetric studies for potential applications to retrieving ice cloud properties at shorter sub‐mm/mm wavelengths (higher frequencies). The IR atmospheric window has also been thoroughly investigated for its feasibility to observe ice clouds. However, in the literature there is a lack of studies utilizing these high frequency bands or polarimetric IR observations to infer ice cloud properties. This study focuses on performing simulations of ice clouds between 680 and 183 GHz (sub‐mm/mm regime) and between 8.6 and 12 μm wavelengths (IR‐window regime) toward determining potential applications to simultaneous retrievals of ice water path (IWP) and effective diameter (Deff) with a primary focus on optically thin cirrus clouds. IWP and Deff isoline plots (lookup tables) are created to conduct sensitivity analyses and to perform preliminary retrievals. Results reveal that the utilization of both sub‐mm/mm and IR wavelengths combined with linearly polarized and unpolarized measurements leads to the most accurate IWP and Deff retrievals with errors lower than 10%.
Long-read DNA sequencing fully characterized chromothripsis in a patient with Langer–Giedion syndrome and Cornelia de Lange syndrome-4
Authors: Lei Ming , Liang Desheng , Yang Yifeng , Mitsuhashi Satomi , Katoh Kazutaka , Miyake Noriko , Frith Martin C. , Wu Lingqian , Matsumoto Naomichi 
Published: April 2020

AbstractChromothripsis is a type of chaotic complex genomic rearrangement caused by a single event of chromosomal shattering and repair processes. Chromothripsis is known to cause rare congenital diseases when it occurs in germline cells, however, current genome analysis technologies have difficulty in detecting and deciphering chromothripsis. It is possible that this type of complex rearrangement may be overlooked in rare-disease patients whose genetic diagnosis is unsolved. We applied long read nanopore sequencing and our recently developed analysis pipeline dnarrange to a patient who has a reciprocal chromosomal translocation t(8;18)(q22;q21) as a result of chromothripsis between the two chromosomes, and fully characterize the complex rearrangements at the translocation site. The patient genome was evidently shattered into 19 fragments, and rejoined into derivative chromosomes in a random order and orientation. The reconstructed patient genome indicates loss of five genomic regions, which all overlap with microarray-detected copy number losses. We found that two disease-related genes RAD21 and EXT1 were lost by chromothripsis. These two genes could fully explain the disease phenotype with facial dysmorphisms and bone abnormality, which is likely a contiguous gene syndrome, Cornelia de Lange syndrome type IV (CdLs-4) and atypical Langer–Giedion syndrome (LGS), also known as trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type II (TRPSII). This provides evidence that our approach based on long read sequencing can fully characterize chromothripsis in a patient’s genome, which is important for understanding the phenotype of disease caused by complex genomic rearrangement.
s-HBEGF/SIRT1 circuit-dictated crosstalk between vascular endothelial cells and keratinocytes mediates sorafenib-induced hand–foot skin reaction that can be reversed by nicotinamide
Authors: Luo Peihua , Yan Hao , Chen Xueqin , Zhang Ying , Zhao Ziying , Cao Ji , Zhu Yi , Du Jiangxia , Xu Zhifei , Zhang Xiaochen , Zeng Su , Yang Bo , Ma Shenglin , He Qiaojun 
Published: April 2020

AbstractHand–foot skin reaction (HFSR), among the most significant adverse effects of sorafenib, has been limiting the clinical benefits of this frontline drug in treating various malignant tumors. The mechanism underlying such toxicity remains poorly understood, hence the absence of effective intervention strategies. In the present study, we show that vascular endothelial cells are the primary cellular target of sorafenib-induced HFSR wherein soluble heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (s-HBEGF) mediates the crosstalk between vascular endothelial cells and keratinocytes. Mechanistically, s-HBEGF released from vascular endothelial cells activates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on keratinocytes and promotes the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 2 (JNK2), which stabilizes sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), an essential keratinization inducer, and ultimately gives rise to HFSR. The administration of s-HBEGF in vivo could sufficiently induce hyper-keratinization without sorafenib treatment. Furthermore, we report that HBEGF neutralization antibody, Sirt1 knockdown, and a classic SIRT1 inhibitor nicotinamide could all significantly reduce the sorafenib-induced HFSR in the mouse model. It is noteworthy that nicotinic acid, a prodrug of nicotinamide, could substantially reverse the sorafenib-induced HFSR in ten patients in a preliminary clinical study. Collectively, our findings reveal the mechanism of vascular endothelial cell-promoted keratinization in keratinocytes and provide a potentially promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of sorafenib-induced HFSR.
Genome-wide scan highlights the role of candidate genes on phenotypic plasticity for age at first calving in Nellore heifers
Authors: Mota Lucio F. M. , Lopes Fernando B. , Fernandes Júnior Gerardo A. , Rosa Guilherme J. M. , Magalhães Ana F. B. , Carvalheiro Roberto , Albuquerque Lucia G. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAge at first calving (AFC) plays an important role in the economic efficiency of beef cattle production. This trait can be affected by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, leading to physiological changes in response to heifers’ adaptation to a wide range of environments. Genome-wide association studies through the reaction norm model were carried out to identify genomic regions associated with AFC in Nellore heifers, raised under different environmental conditions (EC). The SNP effects for AFC were estimated in three EC levels (Low, Medium, and High, corresponding to average contemporary group effects on yearling body weight equal to 159.40, 228.6 and 297.6 kg, respectively), which unraveled shared and unique genomic regions for AFC in Low, Medium, and High EC levels, that varied according to the genetic correlation between AFC in different EC levels. The significant genomic regions harbored key genes that might play an important biological role in controlling hormone signaling and metabolism. Shared genomic regions among EC levels were identified on BTA 2 and 14, harboring candidate genes associated with energy metabolism (IGFBP2, IGFBP5, SHOX, SMARCAL1, LYN, RPS20, MOS, PLAG1, CHCD7, and SDR16C6). Gene set enrichment analyses identified important biological functions related to growth, hormone levels affecting female fertility, physiological processes involved in female pregnancy, gamete generation, ovulation cycle, and age at puberty. The genomic regions highlighted differences in the physiological processes linked to AFC in different EC levels and metabolic processes that support complex interactions between the gonadotropic axes and sexual precocity in Nellore heifers.
Clinical Study on the Effectiveness of Three Products in the Treatment of Herpes Simplex Labialis
Authors: Boes Hanna , Goulioumis Vlasios , Wechsler Anna , Zimmer Stefan , Bizhang Mozhgan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractHerpes simplex labialis (HSL) is a viral disease that affects the perioral region. No guidelines recommending an effective treatment exist. The treatment of HSL with three different products was examined. Herpatch Serum, a film-forming patch, was compared to Compeed Patches, a set of semiocclusive hydrocolloid patches, and Zovirax Cream (ingredient: 5% acyclovir). In this prospective, randomized, examiner-blind study, 180 patients with recurrent HSL were split into three groups (Compeed: n = 60, Herpatch: n = 60, Zovirax: n = 60) and examined within 24 hours of HSL outbreak (DRKS Registration No.: DRKS00007786). The primary endpoint was healing time. The secondary endpoints were the reaction rate and quality of therapy evaluated by the Clinician’s Global Assessment of Therapy (CGAT) and the Subject’s Global Assessment of Therapy (SGAT) (0 = no response; 10 = excellent response), respectively. There was no significant difference among the healing times for the different products. The mean (95% confidence interval) was 9.67 days (9.11–10.22) for Compeed, 9.30 days (8.75–9.85) for Herpatch, and 9.80 days (9.30–10.30) for Zovirax. The reaction rate and quality of therapy (CGAT and SGAT) of Herpatch were significantly higher than those of Compeed and Zovirax. Within the study limitations, Herpatch proved to be an effective, non-antiviral alternative in the treatment of HSL.
Southward shift of precipitation extremes over south Asia: Evidences from CORDEX data
Authors: Suman Mayank , Maity Rajib 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAnalysis of observed Indian Summer Monsoon precipitation reveals more increase in extreme precipitation (in terms of its magnitude) over south India compared to north and central India during 1971–2017 (base period: 1930–1970). In the future, analysis of precipitation from the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment indicates a southward shift of precipitation extremes over South Asia. For instance, the Arabian Sea, south India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia are expected to have the maximum increase (~18.5 mm/day for RCP8.5 scenario) in mean extreme precipitation (average precipitation for the days with more than 99th percentile of daily precipitation). However, north and central India and Tibetan Plateau show relatively less increase (~2.7 mm/day for RCP8.5 scenario). Analysis of air temperature at 850 mb and precipitable water (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) indicates an intensification of Indian Ocean Dipole in future, which will enhance the monsoon throughout India. Moisture flux and convergence analysis (at 850 mb) show a future change of the direction of south-west monsoon winds towards the east over the Indian Ocean. These changes will intensify the observed contrast in extreme precipitation between south and north India, and cause more extreme precipitation events in the countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, etc.
Influence of corneal spherical aberration on prediction error of the Haigis-L formula
Authors: Whang Woong-Joo , Yoo Young-Sik , Kim Hyun-Seung , Yoon Geunyoung 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between corneal asphericity and Haigis-L formula prediction errors in routine cataract surgery after refractive surgery for myopic correction. This retrospective study included 102 patients (102 eyes) with a history of previous PRK or LASIK and cataract surgery. Axial length, anterior chamber depth, and central corneal power were measured using the optical biometer. On the anterior corneal surface, Q-value, spherical aberration, and ecentricity at 6.0 and 8.0 mm were measured using a rotating Scheimpflug camera. The postoperative refractive outcome at 6 months, mean error, and mean absolute error were determined. Correlation tests were performed to determine the associations between pre-cataract surgery data and the prediction error. The Q-values for 6.0 and 8.0 mm corneal diameter were 1.57 ± 0.70 (range: 0.03~3.44), and 0.82 ± 0.5 (range: −0.10~−2.66). The spherical aberration for 6.0 and 8.0 mm diameter was 1.16 ± 0.39 µm (range: 0.24~2.08 µm), and 3.69 ± 0.87 µm (range: 0.91~5.91 µm). eccentricity for 6.0 and 8.0 mm diameter was −1.22 ± 0.31 (range: −1.85 to −0.17), and −0.82 ± 0.39 (range: −1.63 to 0.32). The spherical aberration for 8.0 mm cornea diameter showed the highest correlations with the predicion error (r = 0.750; p < 0.001). When the modified Haigis-L formula considering spherical aberration for 8.0 mm produced smaller values in standard deviation of mean error (0.45D versus 0.68D), mean absolute error (0.35D versus 0.55D), and median absolute error (0.31D versus 0.51D) than the Haigis formula. Corneal asphericity influences the predictive accuracy of the Haigis-L formula. The accuracy was enhanced by taking into consideration the corneal spherical aberration for the 8.0 mm zone at pre-cataract surgery state.
Increased incidence of bladder cancer with metabolically unhealthy status: analysis from the National Health Checkup database in Korea
Authors: Kim Jong Wook , Ahn Sun Tae , Oh Mi Mi , Moon Du Geon , Cheon Jun , Han Kyungdo , Kim Seon Mee , Park Hong Seok 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe assessed the association between metabolic health status and the incidence of bladder cancer using nationally representative data from the National Health Insurance System and National Health Checkups (NHC) databases in South Korea. Data for 11,781,768 men who participated in the NHC between 2009 and 2012 were analysed. The normal-weight and physically obese categories were defined as body mass indexes (BMI) < 25 and ≥25 kg/m2, respectively. Metabolically obese was defined as the presence of ≥3 components of metabolic syndrome. The participants were stratified into metabolically healthy, normal-weight (MHNW); metabolically obese, normal-weight (MONW); metabolically healthy, obese (MHO); metabolically obese, obese (MOO). Multivariate-adjusted Cox regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between metabolic health status and the incidence of bladder cancer. The study participants included 17,777 men newly registered with bladder cancer. Analysis according to metabolic health status classification revealed a higher multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio in the MOO, MONW group than in the MHO group (1.307 [95% CI: 1.258–1.358], 1.183 [95% CI: 1.137–1.231] and 1.066 [95% CI: 1.017–1.119], respectively; hazard ratios given relative to MHNW group) We found an association between metabolic health status and the incidence of bladder cancer, with an increasing risk according to the number of metabolic health status components.
An outcome-wide analysis of bidirectional associations between changes in meaningfulness of life and health, emotional, behavioural, and social factors
Authors: Steptoe Andrew , Fancourt Daisy 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe sense that one is living a meaningful life is associated with positive health outcomes, but less is known about the role of changes in sense of meaning. This outcome-wide analysis investigated bidirectional associations between changes in ratings of doing worthwhile things in life and 32 factors in 6 domains of human function in 5,694 men and women (M = 66.65 years) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Participants rated the extent they felt that the things they did in life were worthwhile in 2012 and 2014. Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, education and social class, and were weighted for non-response. We found that health (e.g. few chronic diseases, no chronic pain), emotional wellbeing (e.g. few depressive symptoms, good sleep), greater physical activity, social factors (e.g. close relationships, friends, organizational membership, volunteering, cultural engagement), and economic factors (wealth, income), at baseline were associated with 2 year increases in worthwhile ratings. Conversely, increases in worthwhile ratings over 2 years were related to more favourable health, emotional, behavioural, and social changes between 2012 and 2016 independently of baseline levels. These bidirectional relationships highlight the importance of maintaining worthwhile activities at older ages.
Intestinal microbial metabolite stercobilin involvement in the chronic inflammation of ob/ob mice
Authors: Sanada Shunsuke , Suzuki Takuji , Nagata Akika , Hashidume Tsutomu , Yoshikawa Yuko , Miyoshi Noriyuki 
Published: April 2020

AbstractIt is crucial that the host and intestinal microflora interact and influence each other to maintain homeostasis and trigger pathological processes. Recent studies have shown that transplantation of the murine intestinal content to recipient germ-free mice enables transmission of the donor’s phenotypes, such as low level chronic inflammation associated with lifestyle-related diseases. These findings indicate that intestinal bacteria produce some molecules to trigger pathological signals. However, fecal microbial metabolites that induce obesity and the type II diabetic phenotype have not been fully clarified. Here, we showed that the intestinal bacterial metabolite stercobilin, a pigment of feces, induced proinflammatory activities including TNF-α and IL-1β induction in mouse macrophage RAW264 cells. Proinflammatory stercobilin levels were significantly higher in ob/ob mice feces than in the feces of control C57BL/6 J mice. Moreover, in this study, we detected stercobilin in mice plasma for the first time, and the levels were higher in ob/ob mice than that of C57BL/6 J mice. Therefore, stercobilin is potentially reabsorbed, circulated through the blood system, and contributes to low level chronic inflammation in ob/ob mice. Since, stercobilin is a bioactive metabolite, it could be a potentially promising biomarker for diagnosis. Further analyses to elucidate the metabolic rate and the reabsorption mechanism of stercobilin may provide possible therapeutic and preventive targets.
Vowel and Sibilant Production in Noise: Effects of Noise Frequency and Phonological Similarity
Authors: Reilly Kevin J. 
Published: April 2020

PurposeThis study investigated vowel and sibilant productions in noise to determine whether responses to noise (a) are sensitive to the spectral characteristics of the noise signal and (b) are modulated by the contribution of vowel or sibilant contrasts to word discrimination.MethodVowel and sibilant productions were elicited during serial recall of three-word sequences that were produced in quiet or during exposure to speaker-specific noise signals. These signals either masked a speaker's productions of the sibilants /s/ and /ʃ/ or their productions of the vowels /a/ and /æ/. The contribution of the vowel and sibilant contrasts to word discrimination in a sequence was manipulated by varying the number of times that the target sibilant and vowel pairs occurred in the same word position in each sequence.ResultsSpectral noise effects were observed for both sibilants and vowels: Responses to noise were larger and/or involved to more acoustic features when the noise signal masked the acoustic characteristics of that phoneme class. Word discrimination effects were limited and consisted of only small increases in vowel duration. Interaction effects between noise and similarity indicated that the phonological similarity of sequences containing both sibilants and/or both vowels influenced articulation in ways not related to speech clarity.ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate that sensorimotor control of speech exhibits some sensitivity to noise spectral characteristics. However, productions of sibilants and vowels were not sensitive to their importance in discriminating the words in a sequence. In addition, phonological similarity effects were observed that likely reflected processing demands related to the recall and sequencing of high-similarity words.
QT-Zeit – Was fange ich eigentlich damit an?
Authors: Castiglione Alessandro , Odening Katja 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe assessment of the QT interval has been an integral part of ECG interpretation since the first descriptions of long QT syndrome by Wolff in 1950 and by Jervell and Lange-Nielsen in 1957. The correct measurement of the QT interval as well as a correct interpretation of the causes and of the clinical consequences of a QT prolongation, however, may be difficult even for trained internists and cardiologists. In this review, we give an overview on physiological determinants of cardiac repolarization, its marker in the surface ECG – the QT interval –, methods to correctly assess QT interval duration, causes for pathologically prolonged QT intervals, and resulting clinical consequences. A correct measurement of the QT interval should be performed by using the „tangent method“, excluding possible U waves. A heart rate correction formula should be employed to determine the heart rate corrected QT interval (QTc).Many factors, which may prolong the QT interval, should be checked whenever a QTc prolongation is observed. These include drugs, electrolyte imbalances, hormonal influence, and comorbidities. The correct management of a patient with (genetically determined) LQTS starts with a risk stratification based on genotype, ECG phenotype, clinical history, age, sex, concomitant diseases, drug therapies, and family history for syncope or sudden cardiac death. The therapeutic approaches for LQTS are multimodal. Prevention is the basis of the therapy and includes avoiding known risk factors / and potentially QT-prolonging drugs, and a pharmacological treatment with non-selective beta blockers. According to the risk profile and to the patient’s lifestyle the implantation of an ICD or a pacemaker should be considered.
Tara Tannin Regulates Pigmentation by Modulating Melanogenesis
Enzymes and Melanosome Transport Proteins Expression
Authors: Villareal Myra O. , Chaochaiphat Thanyanan , Bejaoui Meriem , Sato Kozo , Isoda Hiroko 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe skin color is imparted by the pigment melanin produced in the melanosomes of
melanocytes, through the catalytic action of melanogenesis enzymes tyrosinase,
tyrosinase-related protein 1, and dopachrome tautomerase. Disruptions in the
melanogenesis process may result to hypopigmentation, as observed in cutaneous
postinflammatory conditions. Here, the bioactivity of tara tannin, specifically
on melanogenesis, was evaluated in vitro using human epidermal
melanocytes (HEM) and B16F10 murine melanoma cells in order to determine the
possibility that it may be used as a treatment against hypopigmentation. The
melanin content of tara tannin-treated B16F10 cells and the expression level of
melanogenesis enzymes and melanosome transport proteins were determined. To
elucidate the underlying mechanism of tara tannin’s effect on
melanogenesis, DNA microarray analysis was performed. Tara tannin significantly
increased melanogenesis in both murine and human pigment cell models by
upregulating melanogenesis-associated enzymes’ (tyrosinase,
tyrosinase-related protein 1, and dopachrome tautomerase) protein and mRNA
expression levels, as well as the melanosome transport proteins (myosin Va and
RAB27A) expression, both attributed to increased microphthalmia-associated
transcription factor (MITF) expression. Global gene expression analysis results
revealed the modulation of genes (p≤0.05; fold-change ≥2.0 and
≤−2.0) that are under the transcriptional regulation of MITF and
genes relevant for MAPK signaling, metabolic pathways, and cell cycle. Tara
tannin has a significant effective melanogenesis-promoting effect, making it a
potential therapeutic agent against hypopigmentation disorders. This is the
first report on the melanogenesis regulatory effect of tara tannin in
vitro.