bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Induced Neural Stem Cell Grafts Exert Neuroprotection Through an Interaction Between Crry and Akt in A Mouse Model of Closed Head Injury
Authors: Gao Mou , Dong Qin , Wang Wenjia , Yang Zhijun , Lu Yingzhou , Ding Boyun , Chen Lihua , Zhang Jianning , Xu Ruxiang 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: Recently, growing evidence has indicated an important role of the complement system, a crucial component of immunity, in mediating neuroinflammation and promoting neuronal apoptosis following closed head injury (CHI). We previously reported that transplanted induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) pre-treated with CHI mouse serum could enhance complement receptor type 1-related protein y (Crry) expression and ameliorate complement-mediated damage in mouse CHI models. However, the mechanism underlying the elevated levels of Crry expression remains elusive.Methods: CHI models were established using a standardized weight-drop device and CHI mouse serum was collected at 12 h post-trauma. Complement deposition assay, Akt inhibition assay, cell viability assay, functional assay, cell transplantation, morphological and molecular biological analyses were performed.Results: In the present study, we observed dramatic increases in the levels of Crry expression and Akt activation in iNSCs receiving CHI mouse serum treatment. Remarkably, Akt inhibition led to the reduction of Crry expression in iNSCs. Intriguingly, the treatment of iNSC-derived neurons with recombinant complement receptor 2-conjugated Crry (CR2-Crry), which inhibits all complement pathways, substantially enhanced Crry expression and Akt activation in neurons after CHI mouse serum treatment. In subsequent in vitro experiments of pre-treatment of iNSCs with CR2-Crry, we observed significant increases in the levels of Crry expression and Akt activation in iNSCs, iNSC-derived astrocytes and neurons post-treatment with CHI mouse serum. Additionally, an in vivo study showed that intracerebral-transplanted iNSCs pre-treated with CR2-Crry markedly enhanced Crry expression in neurons and protected neurons from complement-dependent damage in the brains of CHI mice.Conclusions: In summary, iNSCs receiving CR2-Crry pre-treatment increased the levels of Crry expression in iNSCs, iNSC-derived astrocytes and neurons and attenuated complement-mediated injury following CHI.
Explanation and Prediction of Clinical Data with Imbalanced Class Distribution based on Pattern Discovery and Disentanglement
Authors: Zhou Peiyuan , Wong Andrew K.C. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background Statistical data analysis, especially the advanced machine learning (ML) methods, have attracted considerable interest and application in clinical practices. First, the interpretability of the diagnostic/prognostic results will bring confidence to doctors, patients and their relatives in therapeutics and clinical practice. Furthermore, from the clinical aspect, when the datasets are imbalanced in diagnostic categories, the ordinary ML methods might produce results overwhelmed by the majority classes diminishing prediction accuracy. Hence, it is desirable to have a method that could produce explicit transparent and interpretable results in decision-making, even for data with imbalanced groups.Methods In order to interpret the clinical patterns and conduct diagnostic prediction of patients, we present our new method, Pattern Discovery and Disentanglement for Clinical Data Analysis (cPDD), which is able to discover patterns (correlated traits/indicants) and use them to classify clinical data even if the class distribution is imbalanced. In the most general setting, a relational dataset is a large table such that each column represents an attribute (trait/indicant), each row contains a set of attribute values (AVs) of an entity (patient). Compared to the existing pattern discovery approaches, cPDD can discover a small and succinct set of statistically significant high-order patterns from clinical data for interpreting and predicting the disease class of the patients even for small and rare groups.Results Experiments on synthetic and thoracic clinical dataset showed that cPDD can 1) discover fewer patterns compared to other existing pattern discovery methods; 2) allow the users to interpret succinct sets of patterns coming from uncorrelated sources, even the groups are rare/small; and 3) obtain better performance in prediction compared to other interpretable classification approaches.Conclusions In conclusion, cPDD discovers fewer patterns with greater comprehensive coverage to improve the interpretability of patterns discovered. Experimental results on synthetic data validated that cPDD discover all patterns implanted in the data, display them precisely and succinctly with statistical support for interpretation and prediction, a capability which the traditional ML methods lack. The success of cPDD as a novel explainable method in solving the imbalanced class problem shows its great potential to clinical data analysis for years to come.
The relationship between famine exposure in early life and ascending aorta dilatation in adulthood
Authors: HUANG Yu-qing , LIU Lin , Lo Kenneth , YU Yu-ling , CHEN Chao-lei , HUANG Jia-yi , LI Jie , FENG Ying-qing 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
BackgroundThe relationship between malnutrition and ascending aorta dilatation (AAD) is still unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association of exposure to the Chinese famine during early life with AAD in adulthood.MethodsWe investigated data of 2598 adults born between 1952 and 1964 from Guangdong, China. All enrolled subjects were divided into five groups: no exposed, fetal exposed, early, mid and late childhood exposed. AAD was assessed by cardiac ultrasound. Multivariate logistic regression and interaction tests were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI) between famine exposure and AAD.ResultsThere were 2598 (943 male, mean age 59.1 ± 3.65 years) participants were enrolled, among them consist of 270 (10.4%) subjects with AAD. Compared with no exposed group, the adjusted ORs for AAD widening from fetal-exposed, early, mid to late childhood exposed were 1.374 (95% CI: 0.794, 2.364, P = 0.251), 1.976 (95% CI: 1.243, 3.181, P = 0.004), 1.929 (95% CI: 1.237, 3.058, P = 0.004) and 2.227 (95% CI: 1.433, 3.524, P < 0.001), respectively. Stratified analysis showed that the effect of famine exposure on AAD was more pronounced in female, smokers, BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2 and hypertensive patients.ConclusionsWe observed that exposure to famine during early life was an independent risk factor for AAD in adulthood; this effect was not modified by gender, BMI, smoking, hypertension and diabetes.Yu-qing HUANG and Lin LIU are equally to this paper.
Efficacy and safety of pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B receiving nucleos(t)ide analogs therapy: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Zhu Bo , Chen Xiuli , Feng Fumin , Dai Erhei 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Objective

Reducing mother-to-child transmission(MTCT)of hepatitis B virus(HBV) is one of the key ways to eliminate hepatitis B. Although studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of oral nucleos(t)ide analogs(NAs),drug’s comparisons are lacking. The network meta-analysis aims to comprehensively compare and summarize the efficacy and safety of the three drugs (Lamivudine(LAM), Telbivudine(TBV) and Tenofovir(TDF)), providing a basis for drug selection.
Methods

A comprehensive retrieval of data was conducted from PubMed (Medline), Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CNKI and SinoMed through to December 2019. We performed pair-wise meta-analysis and Bayesian network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of NAs.
Results

A total of 35 studies whith involving a total of 6,109 pregnant women with HBV infenction were selected. All three drugs can effectively block MTCT and improve HBV DNA suppression (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the occurrence of adverse events in mothers and infants.The results of the network meta analysis showed that the possibility of TBV and TDF being the best drug was 50% and 46%, the possibility of TBV and TDF being the second is the same-45%, the possibility of LAM being the worst drug is 85%.
Conclusion

LAM, TBV and TDF are effective in preventing MTCT of HBV in women with chronic HBV infection with high viral load. Using them does not seem to increase the probability of adverse events in pregnant women and infants. It cannot be ignored that TDF and TBV appear to show better blocking effects in clinical practice.
Identification and Allele Mining of New Candidate Genes Underlying Rice Grain Weight and Grain Shape by Genome-Wide Association Study
Authors: Niu Yanan , Chen Tianxiao , Chen Kai , Shen Congcong , Chen Huizhen , Wu Zhichao , Wang Chunchao , Zheng Tianqing , Xu Jianlong 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: Grain weight and grain shape are crucial agronomic traitsthat affect grain yield potential and grain quality of rice. Both Grain weight and grain shape are controlled by multiple genes known as quantitative trait locus/loci (QTL).The 3,000 Rice Genomes Project enables the discovery of valuable genetic variants and resources for grain weight and grain shape.Results:2445 rice accessions were classified into 12 sub-populations which showeddiversevariations in grain weight and grain shape.Genome-wide association study (GWAS) revealedthreenovel QTL (qTGW3.1,qTGW9and qTGW11) forgrain weight and four novel QTL(qGL4/qRLW4,qGL10, qGL11andqRLW1) forgrain shape. We finally predicted eightcandidate genes (Os03g0186600, Os09g0544400,Os11g0163600,Os04g0580700, Os10g0399700, Os10g0400100, Os11g0143700 and Os01g0171000) for the seven novel QTL by gene-based association, haplotype and bioinformatics analyses.The accessions with excellent haplotypes at the eight candidate genes and five previously cloned genes were also identified.Conclusion: The identified candidate genes and accessions provided valuable sources for future functional characterization and genetic improvement of rice grain yield and grain quality.
Statistical Curvature Change Analysis of Random-Shape Polyethylene Microplastics and their Toxicity from a Physical Perspective
Authors: Choi Daheui , Hwang Jangsun , Bang Junah , Han Seora , Kim Taeho , Oh Yoogyeong , Hwang Youngdeok , Choi Jonghoon , Hong Jinkee 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
BackgroundMicroplastics,plastics thathave gradually and randomly decomposed into small fragmentsafter exposure to physical and biological external stress,are emerging as a significant environmental threat. They are normally categorized into the following three types: particles, fibers, and random-shape fragments brokendown from bulk plastics. Here, we have demonstrated the in vitro toxicity of microplastics of two different shapes. To minimize the chemical effect, polyethylene (PE),which has abasic chemical polymer structure,was used. PE microplastics withtwo different shapes were prepared,high-density PE (HDPE) microbeads and randomly ground low-density PE (LDPE) from bulk pellets.ResultsTo quantify the randomness of the microplastic shape, the edge patterns of the generated PE microplasticswere converted into numerical values and analyzed using a statistical method. A10-fold difference in curvature value was observed between PE particles and ground PE microfragments. We found that the higher concentration and rough structure were associated with the toxicity of plastics toward immune- or non-immune cells, pro-inflammatory cytokinerelease, and hemolysis, even though PE is buoyant onto medium. The smooth PE particles did not exhibit severe cytotoxicity at any of the tested concentrations, but induced immune and hemolysis responses at high concentrations. ConclusionWhen comparing the toxicity of two different shapes of PE microplastics, we confirmed by statistical analysis that random-shape plastics with sharp edges and higher curvature differences may adversely affect human cells.
Perceptions about Quality of Interpersonal Processes and Practice Activities in Youth Sport are Interdependent
Authors: Bengoechea Enrique Garcia , Wilson Philip M. , Dunn Steven 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Despite calls in the literature, little is known about how dimensions of a social and task nature relate to each other in school and out-of-school learning environments. This study explored whether interpersonal and task dimensions of the youth sport environment, as perceived by young people, are related, and, if so, how they are related. We used data from 310 adolescent sport participants from eastern Canada (Mage = 14.69 ± 1.60 years; 54.8 % girls). Participants completed comprehensive assessments of interpersonal dimensions of the sport environment and the characteristics of learning activities they do in practices. We used canonical correlation analysis to examine the multivariate shared relationship between the variable sets. The relationship was largely captured by the first three functions in the canonical model. The first two functions revealed areas of intersection between perceptions of interpersonal and activity factors in the form of supports and challenges for the learning and development process in sport. Accounting for the participants’ age, the third function displayed characteristics consistent with recent descriptions of complex environments in youth sport. The findings suggest that adolescents’ perceptions of interpersonal- and task-related features of sport are interdependent, and highlight the pertinence of including variables assessing both factors in studies that attempt to characterize and understand learning environments in sport and other achievement domains. Findings also afford new insights into whether dimensions of an interpersonal and task nature are complementary, and inadequacies in one dimension can be attenuated by strengths in another or not.
The (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) ameliorates hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia - mediated oxidative stress in liver and kidney of alloxan induced diabetic mice
Authors: SOUSSI Ahlem , GARGOURI Manel , AOUEDI Sirine , AKROUTI Amel , MAGNE Christian , FEKI Abdelfattah EL 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: Diabetes mellitus has become a serious problem associated with health complications, such as metabolism disorders and liver-kidney dysfunctions. The inadequacies associated with conventional medicines have led to a determined search for alternative natural therapeutic agents. The present study is conducted to evaluate the hypoglycemic, antilipidemic and antioxidant effects of EGCG in surviving diabetic mice.Methods: Alloxan diabetic mice were injected with EGCG. Their bloods were collected and submitted to various biochemical measurements, including blood glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine and transaminases. Their livers and kidneys were isolated to perform histological analysis.Results: Both EGCG and insulin treatments of diabetic mice resulted in a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose level. EGCG supplementation also ameliorated hepatic as well as renal toxicity indices. Moreover, diabetic mice injected by EGCG exhibited significant changes in antioxidant enzyme activities in the liver and kidney. Histological analyses also showed that it exerted an ameliorative action on these organs and efficiently protected the liver-kidney functions of diabetic mice.Conclusion: The findings revealed that EGCG administration induced attractive curative effects on diabetic mice, particularly in terms of liver-kidney functions. EGCG can, therefore, be considered as a potential strong candidate for future application to treat and prevent diabetes.
Missing during COVID-19 lockdown: children with new-onset type 1 diabetes
Authors: Dayal Devi , Gupta Saniya , Raithatha Dhvani , Jayashree Muralidharan 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
The redistribution of healthcare resources for coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in unintentional neglect of essential non-COVID-19 care (1). In low- and lower-middle income countries (LMIC), the already overstretched healthcare systems have crumbled under the COVID-19 pressure (2). Additionally, hardline lockdown restrictions, and fear of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in healthcare settings have forced patients with non-COVID-19 illnesses to stay home and suffer until their illness deteriorates substantially, and sometimes irreversibly. The impact of COVID-19 on the pediatric population has so far been mild, except in children with comorbidities (3). However, children who develop new time-sensitive non-COVID-19 illnesses during the pandemic are at risk of worsening or death due to compromised access to hospital care. In particular, children with new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) may progress rapidly to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) if treatment with insulin is delayed, and are therefore at risk of increased morbidity and mortality.
The modified Boey score (mBoey) for outcome prediction in patients with perforated peptic ulcer complicated by diffuse peritonitis: a retrospective study
Authors: Sazhin Aleksandr , Ivakhov Georgii , Stradymov Egor , Petukhov Vitalii , Titkova Svetlana 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background

several scoring systems are developed to stratify the patients with perforated peptic ulcer (PPU), complicated by peritonitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of different scoring systems in outcome prediction in patients following surgical treatment for PPU complicated by diffuse peritonitis and to determine the possibility of enhancing the Boey score prognostic performance based on the addition of an age factor.
Methods

this is a retrospective multicenter study of 153 patients surgically treated for PPU with diffuse peritonitis in Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University's surgical clinics during 2014–2016 years. The outcome prediction accuracy of the modified Boey score (mBoey), Boey score, peptic ulcer perforation (PULP) score, the American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score, Mannheim peritonitis index (MPI) and WSES sepsis severity score (WSES SSS) was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) analysis, and the corresponding areas under the curve (AUC) were compared.
Results

all scores demonstrated the high quality of the model according to the AUC values, both in relation to mortality and postoperative complications - from good (WSES SSS) to perfect (mBoey, Boey, PULP, ASA).The modified mBoey predicted morbidity (AUC – 0.932) and mortality (AUC – 0.943) better than other prognostic scoring systems.
Conclusions

the use of prognostic scores allows identifying the high-risk patients with perforated peptic ulcers complicated by diffuse peritonitis. The modified prognostic score developed by adding an age factor to Boey score was found to be superior in prediction of morbidity and mortality after repair of PPU.
Risk factors for perineal and vaginal tears in primiparous women – a prospective cohort study
Authors: Jansson Markus Harry , Franzén Karin , Hiyoshi Ayako , Tegerstedt Gunilla , Dahlgren Hedda , Nilsson Kerstin 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of second-degree perineal tears, obstetric anal sphincter injuries, and high vaginal tears in primiparous women, and to examine how sociodemographic and pregnancy characteristics, hereditary factors, obstetric management and the delivery process are associated with the incidence of these tears.MethodsAll nulliparous women registering at the maternity health care in Region Örebro County, Sweden, in early pregnancy between 1 October 2014 and 1 October 2017 were invited to participate in a prospective cohort study. Data on maternal and obstetric characteristics were extracted from questionnaires completed in early and late pregnancy, from a study-specific delivery protocol, and from the obstetric record system. These data were analyzed using unadjusted and adjusted multinomial and logistic regression models.ResultsA total of 644 women were included in the study sample. Fetal weight exceeding 4000 g and vacuum extraction were found to be independent risk factors for both second-degree perineal tears (adjusted odds ratio 2.26 (95% CI: 1.22, 4.19) and 3.28 (95% CI: 1.73, 6.21) respectively) and OASI (adjusted odds ratio 5.93 (95% CI: 2.29, 15.33) and 4.31 (95% CI: 1.49, 12.5) respectively), whereas age above 25 years only increased the risk of second-degree perineal tears (adjusted odds ratio 1.94 (95% CI: 1.10, 3.43)). Heredity of pelvic floor dysfunction and/or connective tissue deficiency, induced labor, and fetal head circumference exceeding 35 cm were independent risk factors for high vaginal tears (adjusted odds ratio 2.33 (95% CI: 1.09, 5.00), 3.64 (95% CI: 1.54, 8.59) and 2.86 (95% CI: 1.43, 5.75) respectively).ConclusionsThis prospective study showed that fetal weight exceeding 4000 g and vacuum extraction are independent risk factors for both second-degree perineal tears and OASI in primiparous women. Risk factors for high vaginal tears were heredity of pelvic floor dysfunction and/or connective tissue deficiency, induced labor, and fetal head circumference > 35 cm. These tears have been found to be common among primiparous women, and merit more attention.Brief summary: This prospective cohort study showed that fetal birthweight exceeding 4000 g and vacuum extraction increased the risk of second-degree tear and anal sphincter injury.
Exploring the possibilities of remote yield estimation using crop water requirements for area yield index insurance in a data-scarce dryland
Authors: Eze Emmanuel , Girma Atkilt , Zenebe Amanuel , Kourouma Jean Moussa , Zenebe Gebreyohannes 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
The need for accurate and meaningful agricultural data as the means of making vibrant policies and informed decisions, is an increasing concern for policymakers in developing countries such as Ethiopia, where such information is usually scarce. In Ethiopia, the impacts of climate change on crops yields is rarely available at the lowest administrative levels such as wards/villages, for the benefits of the grassroots’ populace. Thus, this research sought to evaluate the use of crop water requirements in the estimation of crops’ yield. FAO’s CROPWAT 8.0 application was used to pre-determine the possibility, preceding the use of CROWRAYEM. Both CROPWAT and CROWRAYEM had high coefficients of determination, when tested with a survey data of barley and sorghum farmers’ yield for the 2015 to 2018 cropping season in semi-arid southern Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Furthermore, the infusion of the crop yield into a recently published area yield index insurance payout structure, increases the functionality of the proposed yield estimated model (CROWRAYEM).
Structural Plasticity of the SARS-CoV-2 3CL Mpro Active Site Cavity Revealed by Room Temperature X-ray Crystallography
Authors: Kneller Daniel W. , Phillips Gwyndalyn , O'Neill Hugh M. , Jedrzejczak Robert , Stols Lucy , Langan Paul , Joachimiak Andrzej , Coates Leighton , Kovalevsky Andrey 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
The COVID-19 disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus has become a pandemic health crisis. An attractive target for antiviral inhibitors is the main protease 3CL Mpro due to its essential role in processing the polyproteins translated from viral RNA. Here we report the room temperature X-ray structure of unliganded SARS-CoV-2 3CL Mpro, revealing the resting structure of the active site and the conformation of the catalytic site cavity. Comparison with previously reported low-temperature ligand-free and inhibitor-bound structures suggest that the room temperature structure may provide more relevant information at physiological temperatures for aiding in molecular docking studies.