bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detecting Land Use Modification And Its Influence on Resident Communities
Authors: Endalew Tesfahun Admas 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background

The study intended to detecting the land use land cover changes, trends and their magnitude between 1986 and 2019 years by using GIS and remote sensing in Fagita Lekoma District, Amhara region, Ethiopia. Three satellite data set of Landsat Thematic Mapper for 1986, Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus for 2002 and Operational Land Imager for 2019 were used generate land use and land cover maps of the study area. Post classification comparison changed detection method was employed to identify gains and losses between Land Use Land Cover classes. Socioeconomic survey, key informant interview and field observation were also used conclude the encouragement of land use /land cover change in the study area.
Results

The result shows that cultivated land and wetland similarly decline in the entire study periods. In the 33 years, forest lands expanded by upon 200% of the original forest cover what was existed on the base year. Whereas, a result of the socioeconomic analysis the expansion of Acacia decurrens tree plantations and agricultural land are main causes of land use land cover change in the study area. The impact of this land use land cover change is more significant on the livelihood condition and status of the study area.
Conclusion

The land use system of the study area highly converted cultivation land into forest/tree plantation. Mainly, the expansion of Acacia decurrens tree plantation on farmland is increasing the income of local residence when compare with the previous living condition in the study area.
Broad Spectrum Epidemiological Contribution of Cannabis and Other Substances to the Teratological Profile of Northern New South Wales: Geospatial and Causal Inference Analysis
Authors: Reece Albert Stuart , Hulse Gary Kenneth 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Whilst cannabis commercialization is occurring rapidly guided by highly individualistic public narratives, evidence that all congenital anomalies (CA) increase alongside cannabis use in Canada, a link with 21 CA’s in Hawaii, and rising CA’s in Colorado indicate that transgenerational effects can be significant and impact public health. It was therefore important to study Northern New South Wales (NNSW) where cannabis use is high. Methods: Design: Cohort. 2008-2015. Setting: NNSW and Queensland (QLD), Australia. Participants. Whole populations. Exposures. Tobacco, alcohol, cannabis. Source: National Drug Strategy Household Surveys 2010, 2013. Main Outcomes. CA Rates. NNSW-QLD comparisons. Geospatial and causal regression. Results: Cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal anomalies rose with falling tobacco and alcohol but rising cannabis use rates across Queensland. Maternal age NNSW-QLD was not different (2008-2015: 4265/22084 v. 96473/490514 >35 years/total, Chi.Sq.=1.687, P=0.194). A higher rate of NNSW cannabis-related than cannabis-unrelated defects occurred (prevalence ratio (PR)=2.13, 95%C.I. 1.80-2.52, P=3.24x10-19). CA’s rose more potently with rising cannabis than with rising tobacco or alcohol use. Exomphalos and gastroschisis had the highest NNSW:QLD PR (6.29(2.94-13.48) and 5.85(3.54-9.67)) and attributable fraction in the exposed (84.11%(65.95-92.58%) and 82.91%(71.75-89.66%), P=2.83x10-8 and P=5.62x10-15). In multivariable geospatial models cannabis was significantly linked with cardiovascular (atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, patent ductus arteriosus), genetic (chromosomal defects, Downs syndrome), gastrointestinal (small intestinal atresia), body wall (gastroschisis, diaphragmatic hernia) and other (hypospadias) (AVTPCDSGDH) CA’s. In linear modelling cannabis use was significantly linked with anal stenosis, congenital hydrocephalus and Turner syndrome (ACT) and was significantly linked in borderline significant models (model P<0.1) with microtia, microphthalmia, and transposition of the great vessels. At robust and mixed effects inverse probability weighted multivariable regression cannabis was related to 18 defects. 16/17 E-Values in spatial models were >1.25 ranging up to 5.2x1013 making uncontrolled confounding unlikely. Conclusions: These results suggest that population level CA’s react more strongly to small rises in cannabis use than tobacco or alcohol; cardiovascular, chromosomal, body wall and gastrointestinal CA’s rise significantly with small increases in cannabis use; that cannabis is a bivariate correlate of AVTPCDSGDH and ACT anomalies, is robust to adjustment for other substances; and is causal.
Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients treated with Convalescent Plasma in a Mid-size City in the Midwest
Authors: Hartman William R , Hess Aaron S , Connor Joseph P 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 and its associated disease, COVID-19, has infected over seven million people world-wide, including two million people in the United States. While many people recover from the virus uneventfully, a subset of patients will require hospital admission, some with intensive care needs including intubation, and mechanical ventilation. To date there is no cure and no vaccine is available. Passive immunotherapy by the transfusion of convalescent plasma donated by COVID-19 recovered patients might be an effective option to combat the virus, especially if used early in the course of disease. Here we report our experience of using convalescent plasma at a tertiary care center in a mid-size, midwestern city that did not experience an overwhelming patient surge. Methods Hospitalized COVID-19 patients categorized as having Severe or Life-Threatening disease according to the Mayo Clinic Emergency Access Protocol were screened, consented, and treated with convalescent plasma collected from local donors recovered from COVID-19 infection. Clinical data and outcomes were collected retrospectively. Results 31 patients were treated, 16 severe patients and 15 life-threatened patients. Overall mortality was 27% (4/31) but only patients with life-threatening disease died. 94% of transfused patients with severe disease avoided escalation to ICU care and mechanical ventilation. 67% of patients with life-threatening disease were able to be extubated. Most transfused patients had a rapid decrease in their respiratory support requirements on or about day 7 following convalescent plasma transfusion. ConclusionOur results demonstrate that convalescent plasma is associated with reducing ventilatory requirements in patients with both severe and life-threatening disease, but appears to be most beneficial when administered early in the course of disease when patients meet the criteria for severe illness.
Noise2Atom: Unsupervised Denoising for Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy Images
Authors: Wang Feng , Henninen Trond R , Keller Debora , Erni Rolf 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
We propose an effective deep learning model to denoise scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) image series, named Noise2Atom, to map images from a source domain S to a target domain C, where S is for our noisy experimental dataset, and C is for the desired clear atomic images. Noise2Atom uses two external networks to apply additional constraints from the domain knowledge. This model requires no signal prior, no noise model estimation, and no paired training images. The only assumption is that the inputs are acquired with identical experimental configurations. To evaluate the restoration performance of our model, as it is impossible to obtain ground truth for our experimental dataset, we propose consecutive structural similarity (CSS) for image quality assessment, based on the fact that the structures remain much the same as the previous frame(s) within small scan intervals. We demonstrate the superiority of our model by providing evaluation in terms of CSS and visual quality on different experimental datasets.
Cigarette Smoking Reduces BDNF in Heavy Smokers
Authors: Miladpour Behnoosh , Mohammadian Farideh , Kavousipour Soudabeh , Alimardani Parvaneh , Tavassoli Alireza 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Cigarette smoke is a powerful environmental modifier of DNA methylation. BDNF is a neurotrophin family of growth factors and is important in growth, progression, regeneration, survival, maintenance, and function of neurons. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the epigenetic changes, serum level, and gene expression of BDNF, in cigarette smokers. Methods: To assess the BDNF DNA methylation, peripheral blood samples were obtained from 237 cigarette smokers and 90 healthy nonsmokers as controls. DNA methylation was evaluated with MS-PCR. Gene expression and serum level were carried out with qRT-PCR and ELISA assay respectively. Results: The results from MS-PCR showed that DNA methylation of BDNF gene is more significant in heavy smokers than healthy nonsmokers as control (p-value <0.05). Serum level of BDNF and gene expression is significantly lower in heavy smokers than in healthy nonsmokers (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, heavy smoking can modify BDNF gene epigenetics. The serum levels of BDNF and the gene expression decreases in heavy smokers compared to healthy nonsmokers.
Super-enhancer Associated Long Non-coding RNA AC005592.2 Promotes Tumor Progression by Regulating OLFM4 in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Yan Linping , Chen Huanhuan , Tang Li , Jiang Pan , Yan Feng 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Super-enhancer-associated long non-coding RNAs (SE-lncRNAs) have been reported to play essential roles in tumorigenesis, but the fundamental mechanism of SE-lncRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains largely unknown. Methods: A microarray was performed to identify the differentially expressed SE-lncRNAs between CRC tissues and peritumoral tissues. A novel SE-lncRNA AC005592.2 was selected from these differentially expressed SE-lncRNAs to explore its effects in the CRC development. Fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to assay the expression of AC005592.2 in CRC tissues and cell lines. Functional assays were applied to identify the biological effects of AC005592.2 in CRC cells. Furthermore, RNA-seq was employed to predict potential targets of AC005592.2. Results: AC005592.2 was significantly increased in CRC tissues and cells. And the high expression of AC005592.2 was significantly associated with TNM stage and tumor differentiation of CRC patients. Knockdown of AC005592.2 suppressed CRC cell proliferation, invasion and migration, but promoted apoptosis, while AC005592.2 overexpression exerted precisely the opposite effects on CRC cells. Besides, AC005592.2 positively regulated the expression of olfactomedin 4 (OLFM4), which was also up-regulation in CRC tissues. Conclusion: The findings suggested that AC005592.2 is a crucial promoter of CRC progression, and may serve as an attractive therapeutic target for CRC.
Machine Learning based Tissue Analysis Reveals Brachyury has a Diagnosis Value in Breast Cancer
Authors: Li Kaichun , Wang Qiaoyun , Lu Yanyan , Pan Xiaorong , Liu Long , Cheng Shiyu , Wu Bingxiang , Song Zongchang , Gao Wei 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to confirm the role of Brachyury in breast cells and to establish and verify whether four types of machine learning models can use Brachyury expression to predict the survival of patients.Methods We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records to obtain patient information, and made the patient's paraffin tissue into tissue chips for staining analysis. We selected a total of 303 patients for research and implemented four machine learning prediction algorithms, including multivariate logistic regression model, decision tree, artificial neural network and random forest, and compared the results of these models with each other. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was used to compare the results.Results The chi-square test results of relevant data suggested that the expression of Brachyury protein in cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in paracancerous tissues (p=0.0335); breast cancer patients with high Brachyury expression had a worse overall survival (OS) compared with patients with low Brachyury expression. We also found that Brachyury expression was associated with ER expression (p=0.0489). Subsequently, we used four machine learning models to verify the relationship between Brachyury expression and the survival of breast cancer patients. The results showed that the decision tree model had the best performance (AUC=0.781).Conclusions Brachyury is highly expressed in breast cancer and indicates that the patient had a poor chance of survival. Compared with conventional statistical methods, decision tree model shows superior performance in predicting the survival status of breast cancer patients. This indicates that machine learning can thus be applied in a wide range of clinical studies.
A novel thermostable alkaline histamine oxidase from Glutamicibacter sp. N1A310, induced by histamine and its analogue betahistine
Authors: Sadeghi Hossein , Arjmand Sareh , Siadat Seyed Omid Ranaei , Fooladi Jamshid , Ebrahimipour Gholamhossein 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Biogenic amines (BAs) are low molecular weight organic bases formed by natural amino acids decarboxylation and trigger an array of toxicological effects in humans and animals. Bacterial amine oxidases enzymes are determined as practical tools to implement the rapid quantification of BAs in foods. Our study set out to obtain a new efficient, amine oxidase enzyme for developing new enzyme-based quantification of histamine. The soils from different sources were screened using histamine as sole carbon and nitrogen sources, and histamine oxidase producing bacteria were selected and identified using specific primers for histamine oxidase (HOD) gene. The HOD gene of six strains, out of 26 isolated histamine-utilizing bacteria, were amplified using our designed primers. The HOD enzyme from Glutamicibacter sp. N1A3101, isolated from nettle soil, was found to be thermostable and showed the highest substrate specificity toward the histamine and with no detected activity in the presence of putrescine, cadaverine, spermine, and spermidine. Its oxidation activity toward tyramine was lower than other HOD reported so far. The isolated enzyme was stable at 60 °C for 30 min and showed pH stability ranging from 6-9. Furthermore, we indicated the induction of identified HOD activity in the presence of betahistine as well, with nearly equal efficiency and without the consumption of the substrate.
The Efficacy and Safety of Apatinib Treatment for Patients with Advanced or Recurrent Biliary Tract Cancer: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Nie Caiyun , Lv Huifang , Xing Yishu , Chen Beibei , Xu Weifeng , Wang Jianzheng , chen bing 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib monotherapy or combination therapy for patients with advanced or recurrent biliary tract cancer(BTC).
Methods
Twenty-eight patients with advanced or recurrent BTC who progressed after prior systemic therapies and treated with apatinib from January 2017 to June 2019 were enrolled in this retrospective and observational study. The primary end point was progression free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and toxicity.
Results
A total of 28 patients with advanced or recurrent BTC who progressed after prior systemic therapies received apatinib monotherapy or combination therapy, including 9 cases of gallbladder cancer and 19 cases of cholangiocarcinoma. 6 patients achieved PR, 15 patients had SD and 7 patients had PD. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was 4.3 months(95%CI = 1.8–6.8) and 6.2 months(95% CI = 4.6–7.8) respectively. The ORR and DCR were 21.4% (6/28) and 75.0% (21/28), respectively. Most of the adverse events were grade 1–2 in severity, apatinib treatment was well tolerated.
Conclusions
Apatinib monotherapy or combination therapy can improve PFS in patients with advanced or recurrent BTC who progressed after prior systemic therapies, and adverse reactions can be well tolerated. Our study support apatinib therapy as a feasible therapeutic strategy in advanced or recurrent BTC.
Outcomes of Afatinib in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Harboring Uncommon Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations
Authors: Zhao Kewei , Hu Shanliang , Dong Wei , Chen Wei , Song Yipeng , wang chunsheng 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background: Uncommon epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are a heterogeneous population of molecular alterations, and clinical data on the outcomes of afatinib in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring uncommon EGFR mutations are limited. The purpose of this pooled analysis was to investigate the clinicopathological features of uncommon EGFR mutations in patients and the treatment response and survival associated with afatinib treatment.Methods: We performed a literature search in the NCBI PubMed database to identify relevant articles and completed a pooled analysis based on 37 related published studies.The relationship between clinical characteristics, EGFR mutation type and treatment response were analyzed using univariate chi-square analysis, and survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method.Results: A total of 57 patients were included in this pooled analysis. The objective response rate to treatment with afatinib was 46.4%, with a median PFS of 7.0 months.Patients with a single uncommon EGFR mutation are more likely than patients with multiple mutations to show a good tumor response after receiving afatinib (ORR: 57.9% vs 26.3%, HR: 0.260, 95% CI: 0.078-0.869, p=0.029). Similarly, patients with a single uncommon EGFR mutation had a longer PFS than patients with multiple mutations (mPFS: 10.0 months vs 3.6 months, HR: 2.906, 95% CI: 1.496-5.646, p=0.002). In addition, for patients with a good treatment response, the PFS was also longer (HR: 2.902, 95% CI: 1.522-5.533, p=0.001).Conclusions: For patients with uncommon mutations, the outcomes of afatinib is worse than that of patients with classic sensitive mutations but higher than that of EGFR wild-type patients. Uncommon EGFR mutations contain various subtypes, and different subtypes have different sensitivities to afatinib. Patients with a single rare mutation show better treatment responses to afatinib and better prognoses than patients with multiple mutations.
Phenolic wastewater remediation employing nano zerovalent iron as a granular third electrode in an electrochemical reactor
Authors: Kadhum Shaimaa T , Alkindi Ghayda Y , Albayati Talib M 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
The rise in toxic industrial and domestic wastewater due to urbanization makes it necessary to pursue new, alternative routes for the removal of refractory pollutants. In this study, both unsupported nano zerovalent iron (NZVI) and silty clay-supported nano zerovalent iron (SC-NZVI) were employed as a granular third electrode (3-D) in an electrochemical reactor. The electrochemical system with two aluminum electrodes as anode and cathode was performed as a granular third electrode treatment process to degrade aqueous phenol. The maximum removal rate of phenol using the tow electrodes electrochemical process (2-D) was 82%. The optimum conditions in a 2-D electrode were as follows: pH = 4, electrolysis time = 30 min, current density = 50 mA/cm2, electrode distance = 4 cm, and phenol concentration = 0.5 g/L. It was concluded that the 3-D electrode system exhibited high efficiency in removing phenolic wastewater in a third electrode system. The optimum conditions were as follows: pH = 2, electrolysis time = 30 min, current density = 50 mA/cm2, electrode distance = 4 cm, and phenol concentration = 0.5 g/L. The maximum removal efficiencies of phenol in the presence of a 3-D electrode with doses of NZVI = 1 g/L or SC-NZVI = 1.25 g/L were 96.1 and 97.8%, respectively.
Changes in foliage’s biomass of two-needled pine subgenus (Pinus spp.) and genus Betula spp. along the gradients of winter temperature and precipitation: inter-genera paradox in the forests of Eurasia
Authors: Usoltsev Vladimir Andreevich , Chen Baozhang , Shobairi Seyed Omid Reza , Tsepordey Ivan Stepanovich , Anees Shoaib Ahmad 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background

The main pool of publications on this topic is related to the assessment of possible changes in vegetation growth under the influence of climate, but few of them actually took account the impacts of global change on species composition and morphological (taxational) structure, so led to an unanswered question, how the biological productivity of the forests will change if air temperature and/or precipitation change up to a certain extent. This is a subject of the study.
Methods

In this study, our database is used in a number of 2,110 sample plots for pine and 510 for birch. In each sample plot, the biomass of the forest stands was positioned in maps of January mean temperature isolines and to mean annual precipitation ones, and the input data matrix was compiled in which the values of biomass components and of stand taxation characteristics are mated with corresponding values of climate indices. The matrix was then subjected to regression analysis.
Results

It is stated, in cold and insufficiently moisture–rich climate zones, temperature increase causes a decrease in biomass of Pinus foliage, and in other regions its increase, but the Betula pattern is the opposite. With an increase in precipitation, the Pinus foliage biomass in warm zones increase, and in cold ones it decreases, but the Betula pattern is the opposite.
Conclusion

The biomass of pine and birch stands change in gradients of winter temperature and precipitation as propeller-formed but opposite patterns, which can be explained by the different winter physiology of evergreen and deciduous species.
Effect of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation on the Health-Related Quality of Life in Indian Patients with End-Stage Liver Disease: A Prospective Study
Authors: Nikam Vinayak , Ramaswamy Vasudevan , Chaudhary Abhideep , Singhvi Suresh 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
BACKGROUND

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important measure of the effects of end stage liver disease in affected patients that helps to improve well-being after Liver transplantation (LT). One study has been performed to access HRQoL pre and post liver transplant (LT) patients in India. Our study was aimed to determine HRQoL in pre and post orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) with correlation between severity of liver disease by Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD)/Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) status with HRQoL post OLT.
METHODS

Study was designed as a single center, observational, prospective and longitudinal study. HRQoL was evaluated by SF-36 questionnaire in sixty (50 male and 10 female with average age of 45 years) patients with end stage liver disease; having HCV related cirrhosis with alcoholic and cryptogenic liver disease forming the second and third largest groups respectively. HRQoL was evaluated pre and post OLT also correlation of MELD/CTP scores and diabetes status with post-OLT HRQoL was determined. Patients were followed up for a period of 3 months after OLT.
RESULTS

Post OLT patients had higher scores in comparison to pre OLT. There was a significant difference in all eight domains of the SF-36 scores (p < 0.001) post OLT. Negative correlation was observed between MELD/CTP scores and HRQoL post OLT with significance in the domain of vitality and mental component summary in MELD and physical functioning in CTP (p < 0.05). Diabetes did not exert any significant effect on HRQoL.
CONCLUSIONS

OLT have an improved HRQoL when compared to their pre transplant status. MELD/CTP scores were not predictive of HRQoL post OLT, while DM status did not exhibit any effect on HRQoL after OLT.