bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vascular Risk Factors Decrease the Risk of Cognitive Impairment in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Yang Tianmi , Wei Qianqian , Li Chunyu , Cao Bei , Ou Ruwei , Hou Yanbing , Zhang Lingyu , Chen Yongping , Shang huifang 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background

The disease-modifying effects of diabetes mellitus (DM), hyperlipidemia, and overweight on risk and prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have gained significant attention in recent years. However, whether these well-known vascular risk factors increase the cognitive burden in patients with ALS remains unclear. We aim to evaluate the association between vascular risk factors (including hypertension, DM, hyperlipidemia, overweight and smoking) and cognitive function in patients with ALS.
Methods

Patients with ALS were consecutively recruited between June 2012 and November 2019 from a tertiary referral center for ALS at the West China Hospital. Vascular risk factors were confirmed based on clinical data, while cognitive function was evaluated by the Chinese version of the Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-revised. Case-control design to investigate the association between vascular risk factors and cognitive impairment in ALS. With careful confounder adjustment, multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed separately (for each factor) and accumulatively (based on the sum of factors) to determine the association between cognitive impairment and vascular risk factors in ALS.
Results

Of 870 patients, 561 (64.5%) were men, the mean age at registeration was 54.1 (11.3) years and 266 had cognitive impairment. No cognitive burden from vascular risk factors was found in patients with ALS. On the contrary, we first observed that DM (odds ratio [OR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25–0.98; P = 0.04) and hyperlipidemia (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.26–0.97; P = 0.04) showed protective effects against cognitive decline in ALS, adjusted for age, sex, educational level, site of onset, Revised-ALS Functional Rating Scale score, predominant upper motor neuron phenotype, family history of ALS, and the remaining vascular risk factors. Furthermore, patients with > 2 vascular risk factors showed a significantly lower risk of cognitive impairment (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.07–0.48; P = 0.001). Sensitivity analyses of sex did not substantially reverse the risk estimates.
Conclusions

DM and hyperlipidemia decrease the risk of cognitive impairment in patients with ALS. The fitness hypothesis in ALS has been tested and expanded in our work.
New prognostic models in glioblastoma: based ferroptosis-related genes and immune scores
Authors: Li Xin-yu , Yang Xi-tao 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has a high degree of malignancy and the clinical outcomes is dismal. Ferroptosis is critical to the development and progression of many diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases and aging. This study was designed to establish a sensitive prognostic model based on ferroptosis-related genes and immune scores to predict overall survival (OS) in patients with GBM. Methods: The expression of genes and associated clinical parameters was obtained from the publicly available TCGA , CGGA and GEO database. According to the immune scores, patient samples were assigned into two groups. Their biological function analyses were performed through differently expressed genes. By means of LASSO, unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression analyses, this predictive signature was constructed and validated by external databases.Results: A total of 4 ferroptosis-related genes (HMOX1,HSPB1,STEAP3,ZEB1)were ultimately screened as associated hub genes and utilized to construct a prognosis model. Then our constructed riskScore model significantly passed the validation in the external datasets of OS (all p < 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted. Finding the area under the ROC curves (AUCs) were 0.82 at 1 years, 0.75 at 3 years, 0.67 at 5 years. Functional analysis revealed that immune related processes were different between two risk groups.We also explored its association with immune infiltration.Conclusion: Our study successfully constructed a prognostic model containing 4 hub ferroptosis-related genes for GBM, helping clinicians predict patients’ OS and making the prognostic assessment more standardized. Future prospective studies are required to validate our findings.
Optimization of 3d-Printer Enclosure Environment
Authors: May Thomas J. , Eslami Babak , Fouladi Kamran 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Additive manufacturing has become a widely utilized process in industrial, academic, and household applications. Previous studies have demonstrated that non-optimum humidity conditions can adversely impact the print quality of parts printed from plastic filaments by changing their mechanical properties, such as elastic modulus and ultimate strength. This study utilized a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach and experimental testing to design a system that yields a more uniform humidity distribution in a 3-dimensional (3D) printer printing region. The study resulted in an optimized enclosure with significantly higher relative humidity (RH) uniformity in the print volume. The simulations predicted that the optimized enclosure would improve the uniformity by about 65%, while experimental testing pointed to even more significant improvement at about 75%. As a case study, tensile testing of 3D printed specimens made from NinjaFlex© filamenets under the optimum environmental conditions showed 11% higher ultimate strength and more elastic behavior than specimens printed using the baseline model.
Analysis of pupillometer results according to motor symptom severity in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: You Sooyeoun , Hong Jeong-Ho , Yoo Joonsang 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
We performed pupillometer testing on 132 patients with Parkinson’s disease, stratified into two groups according to the disease severity. Neurological examinations and pupillometry were performed in the ON state. Patients in the Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 and 2 comprised the early group, and patients in stages 3-5 formed the late group. We performed age- and sex-matched (2:1) propensity score matching to compensate for the effect of age on pupil light reflex. Eight pupillometer parameters were measured and compared between the two groups. After the propensity score matching, the early group had 64 patients and the late group had 32 patients. The late group had a longer disease duration and took a higher levodopa equivalent dose than the early group. The constriction velocity (P=0.006) and maximum constriction velocity (P=0.005) were significantly faster in the early group than in the late group. Pupil size, minimum diameter, and dilation velocity were similar in both groups. The pupillary contraction velocity decreased with the disease progression, suggesting that the progression of Parkinson’s disease could be identified by the pupil constriction velocity.
Association between ultrasonography echogenicity and heterogeneity and thyroid function in autoimmune diffuse thyroid diseases in children and adolescents
Authors: Park Ji Eun , Hwang Sook Min , Hwang Ji-Young , Moon Jin Hee , Yang Ik , Woo Ji Young , Lee Hye Jin 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Purpose: To evaluate the association between thyroid echogenicity and heterogeneity seen on ultrasonography (US) and thyroid function in pediatric and adolescent populations with autoimmune diffuse thyroid diseases (AITD).Methods: From 2000 to 2020, we reviewed thyroid ultrasound (US) images and thyroid function statuses in 133 children and adolescent AITD patients. Our review of the images focused on decreased echogenicity and heterogeneity, which were classified into four grades.Results: Among patients with overt hypothyroidism or overt hyperthyroidism, 94.2% (65/69) showed a US grade of 3 or 4. In patients with subclinical hyper/hypothyroidism or euthyroidism, 45.3% (29/64) showed grades 1 or 2. There were no overt hyper/hypothyroidism patients with US grade 1. When we compared US grades according to thyroid status, more severe thyroid dysfunction was significantly associated with higher US grade (p=0.047). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level differed significantly according to US grades when we evaluated hyperthyroid (p=0.035) and hypothyroid (p=0.027) states independently. 11 patients showed both US grade and thyroid function status changes on follow-up US.Conclusions: In children and adolescent AITD patients, there was an association between decreased echogenicity and heterogeneity on US and thyroid dysfunction.
Sublethal Effects of Bifenazate on Biological Traits and Enzymatic properties in the Panonychus citri (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Wang Hongyan , Xin Tianrong , Wang Jing , Zou Zhiwen , Zhong Ling , Xia Bin 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Panonychus citri, is a major citrus pest with a global distribution. But in Pest Management, the extensive use of insecticides has resulted in insecticide tolerance. Bifenazate, a novel acaricides with high biological activity against red mites, such as the T.urticae, P. citri. However, its sublethal effects on P. citri have not been reported. Therefore, in present study, P. citri exposed to sublethal concentration of bifenazate shows high biological activity, and causes great changes of population parameters and enzymatic activity. Life table technology was used to demonstrate sublethal effects on the growth and reproduction of P. citri. The results showed that the developmental duration of immature stage used sublethal concentration of bifenazate (LC10, LC30) were no difference than control. Nevertheless, compared with control group, the female adult duration, the fecundity and longevity were significantly decrease, but the pre-oviposition period was longer; In addition, the net reproductive rate (R0), the mean generation(T) were significantly decreased compared to those of the control, but the intrinsic rate of increase(r), the finite rate(λ) were decreased in LC30 group, however, the doubling time was increased with the increasing concentrations of bifenazate. Furthermore, Enzymatic tests showed that CAT, POD, and CarE activities were higher in LC10 and LC30 treatments than control. The SOD and GST activities were lower in LC30 treatment than control and LC10 treatment. Moreover, the CYP450 activity was decreased with the increasing concentrations of bifenazate. Based on these results, the sublethal concentration of bifenazate may have adverse effects on population growth of P. citri. This result provides certain significant guidance for the Pest Management. As well as that, further studies should be done to explore resistance mechanisms of P. citri exposure to a sublethal concentrations of bifenazate.
Real-Time Polarization Microscopy of Fibrillar Collagen in Histopathology
Authors: Keikhosravi Adib , Shribak Michael , Conklin Matthew , Liu Yuming , Li Bin , Loeffler Agnes , Levenson Richard , Eliceiri Kevin 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Over the past two decades, fibrillar collagen reorganization parameters such as the amount of collagen deposition, fiber angle and alignment have been widely explored in numerous studies. These parameters are now widely accepted as stromal biomarkers and linked to disease progression and survival time in several cancer types. Despite all these advances, there has not been a significant effort to make it possible for clinicians to explore these biomarkers without adding steps to the clinical workflow or by requiring high-cost imaging systems. In this paper, we evaluate previously described polychromatic polarization microscope (PPM) to visualize collagen fibers with an optically generated color representation of fiber orientation and alignment when inspecting the sample by a regular microscope with minor modifications. This system does not require stained slides, but is compatible with histological stains such as H&E. Consequently, it can be easily accommodated as part of regular pathology review of tissue slides, while providing clinically useful insight into stromal composition.
Closeup exploration of the seafloor with an autonomous underwater helicopter
Authors: Zhou Jing , He Jiazhong , Huang Haocai , Wang Yingqiang , Si Yulin , Huang Shanhe , Xu Bo , Chen Ying 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Closeup exploration of the seafloor requires new forms of underwater vehicles that are capable of taking off and landing on the seafloor and hovering at any attitude and that are equipped with cameras and sensors. Existing underwater vehicles do not provide an adequate platform for closeup in situ observations. This work presents the design, fabrication, control and testing of an autonomous underwater helicopter (AUH) that can perform spin turns, vertical rotation, free landing and take-off, making it the most agile underwater vehicle to date. Acoustic-optical navigation and gyroscopic stabilization systems were implemented to complete missions on a fixed route. With an underwater base station(helipad), the AUH can perform wireless power charging and data transmission. This work builds on previous generations of AUHs that were restricted to horizontal postures and lacked vectoring propulsion. Experimental results gathered from tests show that the AUH can successfully navigate along a preset route at depths ranging from 0 to 100 metres. Furthermore, with multidimensional attitude adjustment and vectoring propulsion, AUH is capable of diving into a rugged seafloor environment. This study advances what is currently achievable using traditional AUVs and ROVs, demonstrating methods that can be used in the future for studying marine science and seafloor exploration.
Upregulation of chloroplastic pyruvate dehydrogenase genes in rice leaf would potentially drive the in planta photorespiratory bypass for higher biomass
Authors: Rangan Parimalan , Wankhede Dhammaprakash , Subramani Rajkumar , Chinnusamy Viswanathan , Pathania Pooja , Bartwal Arti , Malik Surendra , Baig Mirza , Rai Anil , Singh Kuldeep 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
At ambient temperature (25–30 oC) and the prevailing atmospheric CO2 levels (380 ppm), installing the C4 photosynthetic machinery in a C3 plant would potentially drive away the photorespiratory process through a carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM), thereby preventing oxygenation reaction of Rubisco. Development of C4 rice is a global research priority, for enhanced water use efficiency (WUE) and yield. At optimal environment, the difference in the solar energy to biomass conversion between C3 and C4 plants is mainly due to photorespiration. So, photorespiratory bypasses are the potential alternatives than conversion to C4. Genetically transformed C3 model plants with photorespiratory bypass had demonstrated higher biomass (under same environmental conditions) than its wild type. Using a transcriptome approach, we report here the differential expression pattern for photorespiratory genes and chloroplastic pyruvate dehydrogenase (plPdc) gene between the leaves, peduncle, and the developing grain tissues in three rice genotypes. In addition to pyruvate, glycolate and glyoxylate also are the substrates for the plPdc gene product and hence a suitable candidate for photorespiratory bypass.
Preparation, morphology, crystal structure, energy gap and photoluminescence studies of Mn2+/Cr3+ doped ZnS quantum dots
Authors: Binu P.J. , Muthukumaran S. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Mn added ZnS (Zn0.97Mn0.03S) and Mn-Cr doped ZnS (Zn0.95Mn0.03Cr0.02S) nanostructures were synthesized by co-precipitation process. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the cubic phase with highest intensity along (111) orientation. The shrinkage of crystallite size from 36 Å (Zn0.97Mn0.03S) to 26 Å (Zn0.95Mn0.03Cr0.02S) and the influence of Cr and Mn on morphology, optical and photoluminescence characters in ZnS were investigated. The substitution of Cr in Zn-Mn-S lattice not only diminished the crystallite size and also produced more defect associated luminescent activation centres. The presence of Zn2+, Mn2+ and Cr3+ ions in Zn-Mn-Cr-S lattice was confirmed by XPS spectra. The elevation in energy gap by Cr addition was explained by Burstein–Moss effect and reduced crystallite size. The tuning of energy gap as well crystallite size of basic ZnS nanostructure by Mn/Cr substitution encourages these materials for modern electronic applications. FTIR spectra established the occurrence of Mn/Cr in Zn-S lattice by their characteristic bondings. The inclusion of Mn /Cr provides an efficient control over modification of various emissions which suggests their applications in organic light emitting diode materials.
Toxoplasmosis: An important risk factor for acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection and a severe course of Covid-19 disease, a cross-sectional study
Authors: Flegr Jaroslav 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background

Latent toxoplasmosis, i.e. a lifelong infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, affects about a third of human population worldwide. In the past ten years, numerous studies had shown that infected subjects have a significantly higher incidence of mental and physical health problems and are more prone to exhibiting the adverse effects of various diseases.

Methods

A cross-sectional internet study was performed on a population of 4,499 Toxoplasma-free and 786 Toxoplasma-infected subjects and looked for factors which positively or negatively affect the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and likelihood of a severe course of Covid-19.

Results

Logistic regression and partial Kendall correlation controlled for sex, age, and size of the place of residence showed that latent toxoplasmosis had the strongest effect on the risk of infection (OR = 1·50) before sport (OR = 1·30), and borreliosis (1·27). It also had the strongest effect on the risk of severe course of infection (Tau = 0·146), before autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, male sex, keeping a cat, being overweight, borreliosis, higher age, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Toxoplasmosis augmented the adverse effects of other risk factors but was not the proximal cause of the effect of cat keeping (in the form of higher likelihood of Covid infection and higher severity of the course of infection), which was observed especially in a subset of Toxoplasma-infected subjects (Tau = 0·153). Effects of keeping a cat were detected only in subjects from multi-member families, suggesting that a cat could a vector for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within a family.

Conclussions

Toxoplasmosis is currently not considered a risk factor for Covid-19 and Toxoplasma-infected subjects are neither informed about their higher risks nor prioritised in vaccination programs. Because toxoplasmosis affects a large segment of the human population, its impact on Covid-19-associated effects on public health could be considerable.
Effect of temperature changes on antioxidant enzymes, and oxidative stress in Nerita oryzarum collected along Atomic Power Plant sites
Authors: Ambekar Ajit , Sivaperumal Pitchiah , Kubal Priti , Kamala Kannan 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Effect of heated effluent released from the Tarapur Atomic Power Station, India were investigated by analyzing the level of antioxidant enzyme activities on Nerita oryzarum. Seasonal variation of antioxidant enzyme (LPO, CAT, SOD, GPx and GST) were determined at six location. CAT increases in the pre-monsoon season (range of 0.12 to 2.1 mM of H2O2 consume/min/mg of protein) and LPO activities also increasing trend (range of 0.4 to 2.3 nM of MDA/min/mg) during same pre-monsoon at NIII and SII respectively. Enzyme values encountered high during pre-monsoon, which indicating that increased in temperature is resulting in increased activities. In experimental condition also (300C, 350C, 400C and 250C as control), antioxidant enzyme activities were in increasing trend due to raises of water temperatures. Present study was prima facie work related to physiological response of N. oryzarum related to heated effluent released from atomic power station and useful as baseline information for future research work.
Translation of a circulating microRNA signature of melanoma into a solid tissue assay with the potential to improve diagnostic precision and reproducibility
Authors: Laar Ryan Van , King Samuel , McCoy Richard , Saad Mirette , Fereday Sian , Winship Ingrid , Uzzell Catherine , Landgren Anthony 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background: Successful treatment of cutaneous melanoma depends on early and accurate diagnosis of clinically suspicious melanocytic skin lesions. Multiple international studies have described the challenge of providing accurate and reproducible histopathological assessments of melanocytic lesions, highlighting the need for new diagnostic tools including disease-specific biomarkers. Previously, a 38-microRNA signature (“MEL38”) was identified in melanoma patient plasma and validated as a novel biomarker. In this study, MEL38 expression in solid tissue biopsies representing the benign naevi to metastatic melanoma spectrum is examined. Methods: Nanostring digital gene expression assessment of the MEL38 signature was performed on 308 formalin fixed paraffin embedded biopsies of naevi, melanoma in-situ and invasive melanoma. Genomic data were interrogated using hierarchical clustering, univariate, and multivariate statistical approaches. Classification scores computed from the MEL38 signature were analysed for their association with demographic data and histopathology results, including MPATH-DX class, AJCC disease stage and tissue subtype. Results: The MEL38 score can stratify higher-risk melanomas (MPATH-Dx Class V or more advanced) from lower-risk skin lesions (Class I-IV) with an area-under-the curve of 0.97 (P<0.001). The genomic score ranges from 0 to 10 and is positively correlated with melanoma progression, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.85 with stage 0 to IV disease. Using an optimised classification threshold of ≥2.7 accurately identifies higher-risk melanomas, associated with poorer outcomes and more intensive suggested clinical actions with 89% sensitivity and 94% specificity. Multivariate analysis showed the score to be a significant predictor of malignancy, independent of technical and clinical covariates. Application of the MEL38 signature to spitz naevi reveal an intra-subtype profile, with elements of the profile in common to both naevi and melanoma. Conclusion: Melanoma-specific circulating microRNAs maintain their association with malignancy when measured in the hypothesized tissue of origin. The MEL38 signature is an accurate and reproducible metric of melanoma status, based on changes in microRNA expression that occur as the disease develops and spreads. Inclusion of the MEL38 score into routine practice would provide physicians with previously unavailable, personalised genomic information about their patient’s skin lesions. Combining molecular biomarker data with conventional histopathology data may improve diagnostic accuracy, healthcare resource utilisation, and patient outcomes.