bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) in splice sites and prediction for the doublesex (dsx) gene alternative splicing in the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae.
Authors: Djihinto Oswald , Saizonou Helga , Djogbenou Luc 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Malaria burden continues to be significant in tropical regions, and conventional vector control methods are faced with challenges such as insecticide resistance. To overcome these challenges, additional vector control interventions are vital and include modern genetic approaches as well as classical methods like the sterile insect technique (SIT). In the major human malaria vector Anopheles gambiae, a candidate gene favourable for sterility induction is the doublesex (dsx) gene, encoding somatic sexually dimorphic traits in mosquitoes. However, the mechanism that regulates the expression of this gene in anopheline mosquitoes is poorly understood. This study aims to screen the An. gambiae dsx gene for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that could be critical to its alternative splicing.Result: Variant annotation data from Ag1000G project phase 2 was analysed, in order to identify splice-relevant SNPs within acceptor and donor splice sites of the An. gambiae dsx gene (Agdsx). SNPs were found in both donor and acceptor site of the Agdsx. No splice-relevant SNPs were identified in female-specific intron 4 acceptor site and the corresponding region in males. Two SNPs (rs48712947, rs48712962) were found in female-specific donor site of exon 5. They were not specific to either males or females. as the rs48712947 was found in female mosquitoes from Cameroon, and in both males and females from Burkina Faso. In the other splice sites, the intron 3 acceptor site carried the greatest abundance of SNPs.Conclusion: There were no gender association between the identified SNPs and the random distribution of these SNPs in mosquito populations. The SNPs in Agdsx splice sites are not critical for the alternative splicing. Other molecular mechanisms should be considered and investigated.
COL6A2/3 can serve as potential therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Yiu Wingkeung , Li Can-Xuan , Chen Jie 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Growing evidence has shown that the type VI collagen alpha chain (COL6A) family involved in the tumorigenesis and progression of diverse malignancies; however, its biological roles and potential mechanisms in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remain unknown. The study was designed to explore the potential mechanisms and functions of COL6As in ccRCC.Methods: ONCOMINE and GEPIA databases were used to compare the transcriptional expression data of COL6As in ccRCC samples and normal renal samples. UALCAN database was utilized to determine the association between clinicopathological features and COL6As expression. Kaplan–Meier method was employed to determine the prognostic value of COL6As mRNA expression in ccRCC. CBioPortal database was used to investigate the genetic alterations of COL6As in ccRCC. Co-expression analyses, functional enrichment analyses, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were utilized to explore the potential action mechanisms of COL6As in ccRCC. Finally, we estimated the relationship between COL6As expression with immune cell infiltrates.Results: Upregulated transcriptional COL6A2/COL6A3 expression was observed in ccRCC specimens by comparison with noncancerous renal specimens. Patients with increased COL6A2/COL6A3 mRNA expression have a poor clinical outcome and unfavorable prognosis. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and GSEA analyses showed that COL6A2/COL6A3 might promote the tumorigenesis and progression of ccRCC by involving in several cancer-related pathways, such as axon guidance, focal adhesion, ECM receptor interaction. Besides, we found that COL6A2/COL6A3 expression was significantly associated with immune infiltration levels in ccRCC.Conclusions: COL6A2 and COL6A3 could act as candidate prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in ccRCC. However, further experimental work was required to validate the conclusions.
The Application of Pulsed Radiofrequency to Dorsal Root Ganglion Ameliorates Neuropathic Pain by Reducing CCL2 Expression in the Early Stage After Sciatic Nerve Injury in Rats
Authors: wan Cheng-Fu , zhang Bo-Han , Dong Dao-Song , Song Tao 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) can be treated effectively using pulsed radiofrequency (PRF). NP development and maintenance involves the essential neurotransmitter chemokine c-c motif ligand 2 (CCL2). The present study aimed to determine whether PRF regulated CCL2 expression in sciatic nerve injury (SNI) model rats.Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into a sham group, an SNI group, and a PRF group. In the PRF group, L5 dorsal root ganglia received PRF treatment. After paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) was examined, the expression levels of CCL2 and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in spinal dorsal horn were determined.Results: The PWMT in PRF group increased significantly compared with that of the SNI group (P < 0.05). The CCL2 and NF-κB expression levels in the PRF group were significant lower than those in the SNI group (P < 0.05).Conclusion: NP was effectively alleviated by PRF-mediated reductions in CCL2 expression via inhibition of NF-κB activation in the spinal cord of SNI model rats.
Rapid and reliable distinguish of Morinda officinalis How by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay
Authors: Wang Shuhan , Sui Aihua , Han Yafei , Zhou Quan , Xu Hang , Yao Ruyong 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The medicinal plant Morinda officinalis How (MO), especially the root, has been frequently used in traditional medicines around the world as an herbal drug for treating variable human disorders and diseases. Various adulterations of MO were found for economic or production limitations. However, authentication of MO from its adulterants by LAMP has not yet been established. The present study introduces a commercially available nucleic acid amplification method, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the distinguish of MO from its adulterants. In this method, we combined DNA barcodes technology to design 2 pairs independent LAMP primers, which based on the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequence of MO’s nuclear ribosomal DNA. Our results showed that the LAMP could amplify the samples as expected and successfully identify target MO, and the limit for DNA template preciseness was verified as 1 × 10− 1 pg/µl. All the visual or real-time turbidity detection was performed within 60 min at approximately 63 °C. The result showed that the LAMP assay and primers we designed have high accuracy and efficiency for the differentiation of MO and its adulterants. Our results illustrated that the proposed low-cost, fast and reliable LAMP assay without the need for expensive equipment or specialized techniques could be a good way for MO rapid authentication.
Is Body Fat Mass Associated with Worse Gross Motor Skills in Preschoolers?
Authors: Nobre Juliana , Morais Rosane , Fernandes Amanda , Viegas Ângela , Figueiredo Pedro , Costa Henrique , Camargos Ana Cristina , Mendonça Vanessa , Lacerda Ana Cristina 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Objectives: To compare the motor competence of overweight/obese preschoolers with eutrophic peers with a similar level of physical activity, sex, age, socioeconomic status, maternal education, quality of the home environment and quality of the school environment, and to verify the association of body fat mass with gross motor skills in preschoolers.Design: Quantitative, exploratory, cross-sectional study design.Methods: Forty-nine children, aged 3 to 5 years old, from public schools in a Brazilian city were classified into eutrophic and overweight/obese groups.Results: Overweight/obese preschoolers had worse Locomotor subtest standard scores than their eutrophic peers (p = 0.01), but similar skills, Object Control subtest scores and Gross Motor Quotient (p > 0.05). Excess body fat mass explained 13% of the low Locomotor subtest standard scores in preschoolers (R2 = 0.13; p = 0.007).Conclusion: Excess body fat mass is associated with worse locomotor performance when the model is adjusted for contextual factors such as level of physical activity, sex, age, socioeconomic status, maternal education, quality of the home environment and quality of the school environment. Thus, excess body fat mass partly explains lower locomotor skills in preschoolers. These findings may assist with the development of public guidelines aimed at child health in order to outline strategies that enable the stimulation of locomotor skills in preschoolers with excess body fat mass.
FBXO3&nbsp;Downregulation Attenuates Noise-induced Hearing Loss by Suppressing ATG10&nbsp;Degradation and Activating Autophagy
Authors: Ye Fan , Lin Bi , Fang Lian 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a kind of hearing impairment, which is next to the age-related hearing loss. More and more evidences have verified that overproduction of reactive oxygen species is a common pathologic phenomenon of different inner ear injury including NIHL, and autophagy contributes to attenuate NIHL by reducing oxidative stress. However, the underlying mechanism by which noise exposure causes autophagy activation remains unclear. In this study, we found that NIHL was accompanied by autophagy in the rat cochlea. Furthermore, twelve common genes were found at the GEO datasets GSE85290 and GSE8342, and E3 ubiquitination ligase FBXO3 was confirmed significantly reduced in NIHL rat cochlea. Next, we demonstrated that FBXO3 can directly binding with autophagy-related protein 10 (ATG10), which is necessary for the initiation of autophagy, and mediate its degradation. In vivo animal model treatment with rapamycin, an autophagy activator, significantly reduced the NIHL. Based on these data, we confirmed that FBXO3 played an important role in autophagy caused by NIHL, may be a potential target of NIHL treatment.
The Giant Resectable Carcinoma of Gall Bladder
Authors: Bains Lovenish , Maranna Haraesh , Lal Pawan , Kori Ronal , Kaur Daljit , Mallaya Varuna , Singh Veerpal 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Gall bladder cancer (GBC) is the fifth most common malignancy in the gastrointestinal system and the most common malignancy of the biliary system. GBC is a very aggressive malignancy having a 5 year survival rate of 19%. Giant Gall Bladder (GGB) is an uncommon condition that can result from cholelithiasis or chronic cholecystitis and rarely with malignancy.Case report: A 65 year old lady presented with vague abdominal pain for 12 years and right abdominal lump of size 20x8 cms was found on examination. CT scan showed a circumferentially irregularly thickened wall (2.5cm) of gall bladder indicative of malignancy. Per-operatively a GB of size 24 x 9 cms was noted and patient underwent radical cholecystectomy. It was surprise to find such a giant malignant GB with preserved planes. Histopathology, it was well differentiated adenocarcinoma of gall bladder of Stage II (T2a N0 M0). Discussion: It is known that mucocoele of GB can attain large size, however chronic cholecystitis will lead to a shrunken gall bladder rather than an enlarged one. A malignant GB of such size and resectable is rare without any lymph node involvement or liver infiltration. Few cases of giant benign gall bladder have been reported in literature, however this appears to be the largest resectable gall bladder carcinoma reported till date as per indexed literature.Conclusion: Giant GB is an uncommon finding. They are mostly benign, however malignant cases can occur. Radiological findings may suggest features of malignancy and define extent of disease. Prognosis depends on stage of disease and resectability, irrespective of size.
Mast Cells-derived Exosomes Promote the Development of Experimental Cerebral Malaria
Authors: Huang Kunhua , Zhang Xin , Huang Li , Lin Hang , Yu Ziyi , Li Xiaobo , Liu Xiao Bo , Wu Qiang , Wang Yongfei , Wang Jie , Jin Xiaobao , Han Xiaoying , Gao Hongzhi , Lin Rongtuan , Cen Shan , Liu Zhenlong , Huang Bo 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe neurological manifestation caused by Plasmodium infection, with high morbidity and mortality rate, and long-term cognitive impairments in survivors. Exosomes are cell-derived nano-vesicles secreted by virtually all types of cells and serve as mediators of intercellular communication. Studies have demonstrated that mast cells (MCs) play a critical role in mediating malaria severity, however, the potential functions and pathological mechanisms of MCs-derived exosome (MCs-Exo) impacting on CM pathogenesis remain largely unknown. Methods: Herein, we utilized an experimental CM (ECM) murine model (C57BL/6 mice infected with P. berghei ANKA), and then intravenously (i.v.) injected MCs-Exo into ECM mice to investigate the effect of MCs-Exo on ECM pathogenies. We also used an in vitro model by investigating the pathogenesis development of brain microvascular endothelial cells line (bEnd.3 cells) upon MCs-Exo treatment after P. berghei ANKA blood-stage soluble antigen (PbAg) stimulation. Results: MCs-Exo were successfully isolated from culture supernatants of mouse MCs line (P815 cells) stimulated with PbAg, characterized by spherical vesicles with the diameter of 30–150 nm, expressing of typical exosomal markers, including CD9, CD81, and CD63. In vivo and ex vivo tracking showed that DiR-labeled MCs-Exo were taken up by liver and brain tissues after 6 h of i.v. injection. Compared with naive mice, ECM mice exhibited higher numbers of MCs and higher levels of MCs degranulation in various tissues (e.g., brain, cervical lymph node, and skin). The present of MCs-Exo dramatically shortened survival time, elevated incident of ECM, exacerbated liver and brain histopathological damage, promoted Th1 cytokine response, and aggravated brain vascular endothelial activation and blood brain barrier breakdown in ECM mice. Interestingly, compared with bEnd.3 cells stimulated with PbAg, the treatment of MCs-Exo led to decrease of cells viability, increase the mRNA levels of Ang-2, CCL2, CXCL1, and CXCL9, and decrease the mRNA levels of Ang-1, ZO-1, and Claudin-5. Conclusions: Thus, our data suggest that MCs-Exo could promote pathogenesis of ECM in mice.
Lung Disease Network Reveals the Impact of Comorbidity on SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Opportunities of Drug Repurposing
Authors: DAS ASIM BIKAS 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Higher mortality of COVID-19 patients with comorbidity is the formidable challenge faced by the health care system. In response to the present crisis, understanding the molecular basis of comorbidity is essential to accelerate the development of drugs. To address this, the genetic association between COVID-19 and various lung disorders was measured and notable molecular resemblance was observed. 141 lung diseases were linked to a neighborhood network of SARS-CoV-2 targets, and 59 lung diseases topologically overlapped with COVID-19 module. This demonstrates the clustering of lung diseases with COVID-19 in the same network vicinity, indicating the potential threat for lung patients upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pathobiological similarities between lung diseases and COVID-19, and clinical evidences suggest that shared molecular features probably the reason for comorbidity. Additionally, topological overlap with various lung disorders provides an opportunity to repurpose the drugs used for lung disease to hit the closely associated COVID-19 module. Further analysis showed that the functional protein-protein interaction modules in the lungs, substantially hijacked by SARS-CoV-2, were connected to several lung disorders. The network-based proximity measure identified the FDA approved targets in hijacked protein modules which can be hit by existing drugs to rescue these modules from viral possessions, and can lead to the improvement of clinical conditions.
Roles and Responsibilities of Expert Clients in Adolescent HIV&nbsp;Service Delivery in Eswatini: A Conventional Content Analysis
Authors: Ahmed Charisse , Weissinger Guy , Teitelman Anne , Dlamini Ndumiso Sabelo , Dlamini Nontsikelelo Patience , Dlamini Thuthukile Cebsile , Nkambule Angel , Nkambule Siphesihle , Brawner Bridgette M. , Calnan Marianne 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
BackgroundLike in other countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa, Eswatini employs a cadre of HIV-positive lay health workers known as expert clients (ECs) for the purpose of mitigating human resource gaps in HIV care. However, there are no insights in the literature describing the scope of their contribution to adolescent-specific HIV service delivery. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the specific roles and responsibilities of ECs with regard to service delivery among adolescents living with HIV in Eswatini, and to provide recommendations for enhancing adolescent service provision among ECs and similar lay health workers throughout low- and middle-income countries. MethodsAn exploratory qualitative descriptive methodology using conventional content analysis was employed to meet our study aims. We recruited 20 expert clients and 12 key informants (i.e., program managers, program coordinators, and nurses) to participate in semi-structured interviews, and we arranged four focus group discussions among adolescents living with HIV with 7 to 10 participants per focus group. ResultsAdherence counseling in clinical and community settings was considered paramount to the roles and responsibilities of ECs with regard to adolescent-specific HIV service delivery. The following recommendations were made to enhance EC service delivery practices among adolescents: a) training in adolescent developmental, sexual, and reproductive needs, b) training to enhance clinical knowledge and skills, c) additional work equipment and compensation, and d) more parent and guardian engagement in their work. ConclusionsWhile expert clients meet the needs of HIV-positive adolescents in several capacities, ECs require additional resources, skills, and training to improve their work, especially within the realm of sexual and reproductive health. Future research is needed to evaluate the impact of EC service delivery on adolescent health outcomes.
Landscape Connectivity Analysis and Optimization of Qianjiangyuan National Park, Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: Peng Yangjing , Meng Minghao , Huang Zhihao , Wang Ruifeng , Cui Guofa 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

BackgroundThe main purpose of building national parks in China is to protect nationally representative natural ecosystems and maintain the integrity of their structures, processes, and functions. Landscape connectivity, as an important indicator to measure ecological processes, is of great significance to the migration and dispersal of species within a region. Based on the habitat characteristics of the target species, the study of landscape connectivity in Qianjiangyuan National Park, which aims to protect forest ecosystems, can provide a scientific basis for the optimization of its functional areas and the construction of biological corridors.ResultsThe disturbed landscape of the study area is dominated by tea plantations and drylands, with central roads being an important factor affecting the overall landscape connectivity. In terms of the distribution of key habitat patches, the mountains have a high value. In terms of area, their size is not directly proportional to their importance for maintaining landscape connectivity in the region, but large area patches are generally of higher importance. In terms of distance, key habitats that are closer to each other have a stronger correlation and a greater possibility for species migration. Combined with the functional zoning of Qianjiangyuan National Park, the setting of strictly protected areas and recreational areas is reasonable, and traditional use areas and ecological conservation areas could be appropriately adjusted according to the distribution of key habitats. The important corridor in the middle of the ecological conservation area is crucial for the overall connectivity of the national park, and the connectivity between strict protected area will depend on successful protection of the ecological conservation area.ConclusionBased on the analysis of landscape connectivity in Qianjiangyuan National Park, we discussed the main factors that currently affect the landscape connectivity of this area, as well as the rationality of the current setting of its functional zoning, and put forward some targeted suggestions for improving its connectivity.
The Deep Space Atomic Clock: the first demonstration of a trapped ion atomic clock in space
Authors: Burt Eric , Prestage John , Tjoelker Robert , Enzer Daphna , Kuang Da , Murphy David , Robison David , Siubert Jill , Wang Rabi , Ely Todd 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Atomic clocks, which lock the frequency of an oscillator to the extremely stable quantized energy levels of atoms, are essential for navigation applications such as deep space exploration1 and the Global Positioning System (GPS)2 and as scientific tools for addressing questions in fundamental physics3,4,5,6. Atomic clocks that can be launched into space are an enabling technology for GPS, but to date have not been applied to deep space navigation and have seen only limited application to scientific questions due to performance constraints imposed by the rigors of space launch and operation7. The invention of methods to electromagnetically trap and cool ions has revolutionized atomic clock performance8,9,10,11,12,13. Terrestrial trapped ion clocks have achieved orders of magnitude improvements in performance over their predecessors and have become a key component in national metrology laboratories13. However, transporting this new technology into space has remained elusive. Here we show the results from the first-ever trapped ion atomic clock to operate in space. Launched in 2019, NASA’s Deep Space Atomic Clock (DSAC) has operated for more than 12 months, demonstrating a short-term fractional frequency stability of between 1 and 2 x 10-13 at 1 second of averaging time (measured on the ground), a long-term stability of 3 x 10-15 at 23 days, and an estimated drift of 3.0(0.7) x 10-16 per day. Each of these exceeds current space clock performance by as much as an order of magnitude14,15,16. We found the DSAC clock to be particularly amenable to the space environment, having low sensitivities to variations in radiation, temperature, and magnetic fields, and we were able to characterize these in detail. This level of space clock performance will enable new types of space navigation. In particular, the DSAC mission has demonstrated a process called one-way navigation whereby signal delay times are measured in-situ making near-real-time deep space probe navigation possible17.