bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19 and subcortical variability in the human adult brain
Authors: Stingl Julia C. , Scholl Catharina , Bosch Julia E. , Viviani Roberto 
Published: September 2021

AbstractPharmacogenetic studies have shown involvement of cytochrome P450 enzymes in the metabolism of psychotropic drugs. However, expression and activity on endogenous substrates in the brain may underlie a constitutive role of these enzymes beyond drug metabolism. CYP2C19, which is expressed in the human fetal brain during neurodevelopment, shows affinity for endogenous compounds including monoaminergic neurotransmitters, steroid hormones, and endocannabinoids. In this study (N = 608), we looked at the genetic polymorphism of CYP2C19 and its potential associations with structural phenotypes of subcortical brain volume with structural imaging. Using two independent volume estimation techniques, we found converging evidence for a positive association betweenCYP2C19activity scores, as inferred from the genotype, and basal ganglia and hippocampal volume. This association was present only in female individuals, raising the possibility that effects on brain morphology may arise through a mechanism involving the metabolism of estrogen steroids.
A five-year retrospective study on the epidemiology of hand, foot and mouth disease in Sabah, Malaysia
Authors: Fong Siat Yee , Mori Daisuke , Rundi Christina , Yap Jun Fai , Jikal Muhammad , Latip A. L. Liza Binti Abd , Johnny Victor , Ahmed Kamruddin 
Published: September 2021

AbstractHand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is endemic in Malaysia, with the number of cases increasing. Sabah has experienced several HFMD outbreaks, but information on the epidemiology and molecular characteristics of responsible viruses is scarce. In this study, data of 17,574 reports of HFMD cases in Sabah from 2015 to 2019 were extracted from a public health disease surveillance system and analyzed. Twenty-one swab samples from 13 children were collected from Beaufort, Sabah, during an outbreak in August 2018 for detection and serotyping of causative viruses by semi-nested reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (snRT-PCR) of the VP4–VP2 region and consensus degenerate hybrid oligonucleotide primer PCR of the VP1 region, respectively. Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were conducted by the neighbor-joining method. The average annual incidence of HFMD was 94.3 per 100,000 people, with the greatest yearly increase between 2017 and 2018. Swabs from six children were tested positive for enterovirus, of which five were positive for CVA16 and one for EV71. All CVA16 strains belonged to sub-genotype B1a, and the EV71 strain belonged to sub-genotype B5. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that enterovirus genotype shift might be responsible for the increasing trend of HFMD in Sabah, however, further study is needed.
Monocyte-derived and M1 macrophages from ankylosing spondylitis patients released higher TNF-α and expressed more IL1B in response to BzATP than macrophages from healthy subjects
Authors: Akhtari Maryam , Zargar Seyed Jalal , Vojdanian Mahdi , Jamshidi Ahmadreza , Mahmoudi Mahdi 
Published: September 2021

AbstractMacrophages participate in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by producing inflammatory cytokines. Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (eATP), released during cell stress, acts through purinergic receptors (P2XR and P2YR) and induces inflammatory responses. We investigated the effect of 2ʹ(3ʹ)-O-(4-benzoyl benzoyl) ATP (BzATP) (a prototypic agonist of P2X7R) on the production of inflammatory cytokines in both monocyte-generated (M2-like) and M1 macrophages from patients and controls. Macrophages were differentiated from isolated periphery-monocytes (n = 14 in each group) by macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Using LPS and IFN-γ, macrophages were skewed toward M1 type and were treated with BzATP. Gene expression and protein release of IL-1β, IL-23, and TNF-α were evaluated by real-time PCR and ELISA methods respectively before and after treatment. BzATP significantly increased the protein release of TNF-α and the expression of TNFA and IL1B in monocyte-generated macrophages. Besides, BzATP treatment significantly upregulated IL1B expression, reduced TNFA and IL23A expression, and TNF-α release in M1 macrophages from both groups. Monocyte-generated and M1 macrophages from AS patients released higher TNF-α and expressed more IL1B in response to the same concentration of BzATP treatment respectively. Based on our results, AS macrophages were more sensitive to BzATP treatment and responded more intensively. Besides, the diverse effects of BzATP on monocyte-derived and M1 macrophages in our study may represent the differed inflammatory properties of these two groups of macrophages in response to eATP in the body.
Optimal responsiveness and information flow in networks of heterogeneous neurons
Authors: Di Volo Matteo , Destexhe Alain 
Published: September 2021

AbstractCerebral cortex is characterized by a strong neuron-to-neuron heterogeneity, but it is unclear what consequences this may have for cortical computations, while most computational models consider networks of identical units. Here, we study network models of spiking neurons endowed with heterogeneity, that we treat independently for excitatory and inhibitory neurons. We find that heterogeneous networks are generally more responsive, with an optimal responsiveness occurring for levels of heterogeneity found experimentally in different published datasets, for both excitatory and inhibitory neurons. To investigate the underlying mechanisms, we introduce a mean-field model of heterogeneous networks. This mean-field model captures optimal responsiveness and suggests that it is related to the stability of the spontaneous asynchronous state. The mean-field model also predicts that new dynamical states can emerge from heterogeneity, a prediction which is confirmed by network simulations. Finally we show that heterogeneous networks maximise the information flow in large-scale networks, through recurrent connections. We conclude that neuronal heterogeneity confers different responsiveness to neural networks, which should be taken into account to investigate their information processing capabilities.
Leaf surface characteristics affect the deposition and distribution of droplets in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Authors: Ji Guangmei , Chen Huizhe , Zhang Yuping , Xiang Jing , Wang Yaliang , Wang Zhigang , Zhu Defeng , Zhang Yikai 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWe studied the effects of leaf surface characteristics on canopy droplet behaviour using two rice cultivars with similar leaf shapes but significantly different leaf surface characteristics: Jia58 (glabrous rice; smooth leaf surface and no burrs) and Yongyou12 (hairy-leaved rice; rough leaf surface covered with burrs). The plants were subjected to spray tests with different spray pressures and nozzle apertures. The results showed that the deposition amount per unit leaf area was significantly higher in the Yongyou12 canopy than in the Jia58 canopy. The diameter, volume median diameter, number median diameter, and coverage of droplets were significantly higher in Yongyou12 than in Jia58, while the coverage density of droplets was significantly lower. The proportion of small droplets of Jia58 is higher than that of Yongyou12. Thus, a larger amount of large-sized droplets could retain on the leaf surface of hairy-leaved rice, and a larger number of small-sized droplets were retained on the leaf surface of glabrous rice. Smaller pressure and larger flow nozzle were conducive to the retention of the Jia58, while Yongyou12 required larger pressure and larger flow nozzles. Ultrastructural analyses revealed that the leaf surface of glabrous rice had no trichomes and more wax than hairy-leaved rice, and the critical surface tension was lower, resulting in the retention of mainly small droplets on its leaf surface and a lower deposition amount. Therefore, in order to increase the deposition of pesticide droplets on the leaf surface in production, glabrous rice should choose nozzles with smaller spray pressure and large flow rate.
Regular intake of energy drinks and multivitamin supplements is associated with elevated plasma vitamin B6 levels in post-bariatric patients
Authors: Tynes Martina , Hepprich Matthias , Timper Katharina 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe aim of the present survey was to analyze plasma vitamin B6 levels in post-bariatric patients and to elucidate the causal factors associated with elevated plasma vitamin B6 levels. This is a retrospective analysis of electronic patient data of all post-bariatric patients evaluated at the endocrine outpatient clinic of the University Hospital Basel in 2017, for which plasma vitamin B6 values were assessed during regular follow-up visits. In total, 205 patients were included in the study, whereof a minority of 43% had vitamin B6 levels in the normal range. 50% of the patients had vitamin B6 levels up to fourfold higher than the upper normal limit and 7% had levels more than fourfold above the upper normal limit. Vitamin B6 deficiency was not observed in any patient. While multivitamin supplementation in general was associated with elevated plasma vitamin B6 levels, the highest vitamin B6 levels were found after biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) and in patients who reported daily energy drink intake. Elevated plasma vitamin B6 levels up to fourfold above the upper normal limit are common in postbariatric patients and are associated with regular multivitamin supplementation, while highly elevated plasma vitamin B6 levels were seen primarily upon regular energy drink intake. Thus, a regular follow-up of vitamin B6 plasma levels and critical evaluation of vitamin B6 supplementation, either as part of the multivitamin preparation or related to regular energy drink intake, is highly warranted and should be an integral part of the routine post-bariatric follow-up.
Effect of ultrasonic surface deep rolling combined with oxygen boost diffusion treatment on fatigue properties of pure titanium
Authors: Teng Xue-Fei , Jia Yun-Fei , Gong Cong-Yang , Zhang Cheng-Cheng , Zhang Xian-Cheng , Tu Shan-Tung 
Published: September 2021

AbstractUltrasonic surface deep rolling (USDR), oxygen boost diffusion (OBD), and their combination (USDR-OBD) were all used to improve the surface hardening of pure titanium. The microstructure, microhardness, and fatigue life of pure titanium treated by USDR, OBD, and USDR-OBD methods were analyzed. USDR treatment induced a severe deformation area, while OBD treatment produced a brittle oxygen diffusion zone. The USDR-OBD treated samples approached the highest hardness in comparison with other treated samples. The fatigue lives of USDR treated samples were improved, which was due to the high compressive residual stress and refined grains. However, the fatigue lives of both OBD treated samples and USDR-OBD treated samples were decreased due to premature crack initiation and rapid propagation in the oxygen diffusion zone. Finally, the fatigue fracture mechanisms of different samples were proposed.
Sex related differences in nonmotor symptoms of patients with idiopathic blepharospasm
Authors: Yang Jing , Zhang Lingyu , Hou Yanbing , Wei Qianqian , Ou Ruwei , Lin Junyu , Song Wei , Cao Bei , Shang Huifang 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIdiopathic blepharospasm shows a female predominance in prevalence, whether there are sex-related differences in distributions of nonmotor symptoms (NMSs) and predictors of quality of life are unknown. Four hundred and twenty-five patients with idiopathic blepharospasm were consecutively recruited, and underwent assessments including dystonia severity, mood disturbances, sleep disturbances, cognition, ocular symptoms, and quality of life. Frequencies and distributions of NMSs, and predictors of quality of life in female and male patients were investigated. NMSs existed in majority of male (94.0%) and female (95.8%) patients. The frequencies of depression, cognition dysfunction, and poor sleep quality were higher in female patients, while the frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness was higher in male patients. More female (79.5%) patients had multiple NMS domains affected than male (70.1%) patients (p = 0.040). Quality of life was associated with depression, anxiety and motor severity for female patients (adjusted R2 = 0.367, p < 0.001), while associated with depression, excessive daytime sleepiness and motor severity for male patients (adjusted R2 = 0.430, p < 0.001). The highly prevalent coexistence of multiple NMSs found in patients with blepharospasm support that blepharospasm is a network disorder. The sex-related differences in the pattern of NMSs and predictors of quality of life may aid the development of tailored management of blepharospasm.
Prediction of trabecular meshwork-targeted micro-invasive glaucoma surgery outcomes using anterior segment OCT angiography
Authors: Okamoto Yoko , Akagi Tadamichi , Kameda Takanori , Suda Kenji , Miyake Masahiro , Ikeda Hanako Ohashi , Numa Shogo , Kadomoto Shin , Uji Akihito , Tsujikawa Akitaka 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWe performed a prospective, longitudinal study to investigate the association between the preoperative intrascleral vasculature assessed using anterior segment (AS)-optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and surgical outcomes of trabecular meshwork-targeted micro- or minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS). We included 37 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Preoperative AS-OCTA images of the sclero-conjunctiva of the nasal corneal limbus were acquired in the superficial (conjunctival) and deep (intrascleral) layers. The vessel densities (VDs) of each layer were measured separately in the entire area, limbal side, and fornix area. Surgical success was determined by postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and IOP reduction. Twenty-three and 14 eyes were classified as having successful and unsuccessful outcomes, respectively. The deep VDs of the entire area and fornix area were significantly lower in the successful group (P = 0.031 and P = 0.009). The success rate was significantly higher for eyes with a lower deep VD than for eyes with a higher deep VD. A greater IOP reduction was significantly associated with lower deep VD in the fornix area (P = 0.022) and higher preoperative IOP (P < 0.001). These results indicate that intrascleral vasculature assessed using preoperative AS-OCTA was negatively correlated with surgical success and IOP reduction resulting from trabecular meshwork-targeted MIGS. AS-OCTA images might help predict MIGS outcomes.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Neutrosophic statistical test for counts in climatology
Authors: Aslam Muhammad 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe existing F-test for two counts data from the Poisson distribution under classical statistics can be applied only when the counts in the data are exact or not intervals. The existing test cannot be applied when the count data is indeterminate, in the interval, and uncertain. In this paper, the F-test for two counts data from the Poisson distribution under classical statistics is designed. The test for two counts recording at the same time or different times is presented. The daily and the monthly number of records broken data in the U.S from the weather department is selected for the application of the proposed test. The application and comparison studies show the efficiency of the proposed test. The proposed test was found to be informative, flexible, and appropriate to be applied in an uncertain environment.
Origin of the enhanced Nb3Sn performance by combined Hf and Ta doping
Authors: Tarantini Chiara , Kametani Fumitake , Balachandran Shreyas , Heald Steve M. , Wheatley Laura , Grovenor Chris R. M. , Moody Michael P. , Su Yi-Feng , Lee Peter J. , Larbalestier David C. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn recent years there has been an increasing effort in improving the performance of Nb3Sn for high-field applications, in particular for the fabrication of conductors suitable for the realization of the Future Circular Collider (FCC) at CERN. This challenging task has led to the investigation of new routes to advance the high-field pinning properties, the irreversibility and the upper critical fields (HIrr and Hc2, respectively). The effect of hafnium addition to the standard Nb-4Ta alloy has been recently demonstrated to be particularly promising and, in this paper, we investigate the origins of the observed improvements of the superconducting properties. Electron microscopy, Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy (EXAFS) and Atom Probe Tomography (APT) characterization clearly show that, in presence of oxygen, both fine Nb3Sn grains and HfO2 nanoparticles form. Although EXAFS is unable to detect significant amounts of Hf in the A15 structure, APT does indeed reveal some residual intragrain metallic Hf. To investigate the layer properties in more detail, we created a microbridge from a thin lamella extracted by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) and measured the transport properties of Ta-Hf-doped Nb3Sn. Hc2(0) is enhanced to 30.8 T by the introduction of Hf, ~ 1 T higher than those of only Ta-doped Nb3Sn, and, even more importantly the position of the pinning force maximum exceeds 6 T, against the typical ~ 4.5–4.7 T of the only Ta-doped material. These results show that the improvements generated by Hf addition can significantly enhance the high-field performance, bringing Nb3Sn closer to the requirements necessary for FCC realization.
Sitagliptin attenuates arterial calcification by downregulating oxidative stress-induced receptor for advanced glycation end products in LDLR knockout mice
Authors: Lin Chih-Pei , Huang Po-Hsun , Chen Chi-Yu , Wu Meng-Yu , Chen Jia-Shiong , Chen Jaw-Wen , Lin Shing-Jong 
Published: September 2021

AbstractDiabetes is a complex disease characterized by hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Plasma advanced glycation end products (AGEs) activated the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and the activation of RAGE is implicated to be the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patient vascular complications. Sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor, is a new oral hypoglycemic agent for the treatment of T2DM. However, the beneficial effects on vascular calcification remain unclear. In this study, we used a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed low-density lipoprotein receptor deficiency (LDLR−/−) mice model to investigate the potential effects of sitagliptin on HFD-induced arterial calcification. Mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) normal diet group, (2) HFD group and (3) HFD + sitagliptin group. After 24 weeks treatment, we collected the blood for chemistry parameters and DPP4 activity measurement, and harvested the aorta to evaluate calcification using immunohistochemistry and calcium content. To determine the effects of sitagliptin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α combined with S100A12 was used to induce oxidative stress, activation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), up-regulation of bone markers and RAGE expression, and cell calcium deposition on human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). We found that sitagliptin effectively blunted the HFD-induced artery calcification and significantly lowered the levels of fasting serum glucose, triglyceride (TG), nitrotyrosine and TNF-α, decreased the calcium deposits, and reduced arterial calcification. In an in-vitro study, both S100A12 and TNF-α stimulated RAGE expression and cellular calcium deposits in HASMCs. The potency of S100A12 on HASMCs was amplified by the presence of TNF-α. Sitagliptin and Apocynin (APO), an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, inhibited the TNF-α + S100A12-induced NADPH oxidase and nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation, cellular oxidative stress, RAGE expression, osteo transcription factors expression and calcium deposition. In addition, treatment with sitagliptin, knockdown of RAGE or TNF-α receptor blunted the TNF-α + S100A12-induced RAGE expression. Our findings suggest that sitagliptin may suppress the initiation and progression of arterial calcification by inhibiting the activation of NADPH oxidase and NF-κB, followed by decreasing the expression of RAGE.
Novel moisturized and antimicrobial hand gel based on zinc-aminoclay and Opuntia humifusa extract
Authors: Hoang Hien Thi , Van Tran Vinh , Bui Vu Khac Hoang , Kwon Oh-Hyeok , Moon Ju-Young , Lee Young-Chul 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe high antimicrobial ability and low toxicity of zinc-aminoclay (ZnAC) are claimed in our previous reports. In this study, we formulate a novel hand gel based on ZnAC and Opuntia humifusa (O. humifusa) extract, which is a high moisturizing agent. The antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, moisturizing effect, and clinical skin irritation of the hand gel are evaluated. The hand gel with 0.5 wt.% ZnAC and 1.0 v/v% O. humifusa extract can kill more than 99% Escherichia coli (gram-negative bacteria) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive bacteria) after 24 h. Toxicity evaluation shows that, the hand gel does not affect the viability of mammalian HaCaT cells. Additionally, skin moisture is increased by applying the hand gel while its viscosity is at the standard level of commercial products. The hand gel has a skin irritation index of 0.0 and is classified as a non-irritating product. We successfully formulated hand gel from ZnAC, glucomannan, glycerol, and O. humifusa extract. Owing to the high antimicrobial activity and skin protection of hand gels, they are suitable to be used as hand sanitizers in restaurants, hospitals, and homes effectively.
The prognosis and clinicopathological features of different distant metastases patterns in renal cell carcinoma: analysis based on the SEER database
Authors: Wei Haibin , Miao Jia , Cui Jianxin , Zheng Wei , Chen Xinpeng , Zhang Qi , Liu Feng , Mao Zujie , Qiu Songlin , Zhang Dahong 
Published: September 2021

AbstractExisting data on the prognosis and clinicopathological features of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) are limited. This study aims to investigate the prognostic value and clinicopathological features of different metastatic sites in patients with mRCC. A dataset from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database consisting of 18 registries (1973–2015) was selected for a retrospective mRCC cohort study. Information was included on the metastatic sites in lung, bone, liver, and brain. Kaplan–Meier analysis was applied to compare the survival distribution. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to analyze survival outcomes. From the SEER database, a total of 10,410 patients with primary mRCC from 2010 to 2015 were enrolled in this cohort study. Analysis indicated that 54.9%, 37.7%, 19.5%, and 10.4% of patients were found to have lung, bone, liver, and brain metastasis, respectively. There was a significantly higher risk for sarcomatoid RCC patients to develop liver metastasis as compared to patients with clear cell RCC. The median survival for patients with lung, bone, liver, or brain metastasis was 7 months, 7 months, 4 months, and 5 months, respectively. Various clinicopathological features and prognostic values are associated with different metastatic sites. Understanding these differences may enable targeted pre-treatment assessment of primary mRCC and personalized curative intervention for patients.