bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Renalase—A new understanding of its enzymatic and non‐enzymatic activity and its implications for future research
Authors: Czerwińska Karolina , Poręba Rafał , Gać Paweł 
Published: September 2021

AbstractRenalase was first described in 2005 and since then it became an object of scientific interest because of its proposed ability to catalyse circulating neurotransmitters and its promising antihypertensive effects. However, further research on the enzymatic activity of renalase did not confirm these initial findings and yielded that renalase serves to oxidize isomeric forms of β‐NAD(P)H and recycle them by forming β‐NAD(P)+. Moreover, in contrast to initial assumptions, it is indicated that renalase's enzymatic activity is confined to the cell and that extracellular renalase loses its enzymatic properties. These new reports led scientists to question as to whether renalase, as an enzyme, still has the potential to influence various systemic physiological responses (e.g. blood pressure). It was also put into question whether many physiological discoveries published based on the notion that renalase is secreted into the blood and acts by oxidation of catecholamines can still be considered valid. In this article, we attempt to review the literature to confront these doubts and find further possible directions of research on the importance of renalase. Our aim was to evaluate recent reports of non‐enzymatic activity for renalase.
Symbiotic germination and development of fully mycoheterotrophic plants convergently targeting similar Glomeraceae taxa
Authors: Suetsugu Kenji , Okada Hidehito 
Published: September 2021

SummaryPlants producing dust seeds often meet their carbon demands by exploiting fungi at the seedling stage. This germination strategy (i.e. mycoheterotrophic germination) has been investigated among orchidaceous and ericaceous plants exploiting Ascomycota or Basidiomycota. Although several other angiosperm lineages have evolved fully mycoheterotrophic relationships with Glomeromycota, the fungal identities involved in mycoheterotrophic germination remain largely unknown. Here, we conducted in situ seed baiting and high‐throughput DNA barcoding to identify mycobionts associated with seedlings of Burmannia championii (Burmanniaceae: Dioscoreales) and Sciaphila megastyla (Triuridaceae: Pandanales), which have independently evolved full mycoheterotrophy. Subsequently, we revealed that both seedlings and adults in B. championii and S. megastyla predominantly associate with Glomeraceae. However, mycorrhizal communities are somewhat distinct between seedling and adult stages, particularly in S. megastyla. Notably, the dissimilarity of mycorrhizal communities between S. megastyla adult samples and S. megastyla seedling samples is significantly higher than that between B. championi adult samples and S. megastyla adult samples, based on some indices. This pattern is possibly due to both mycorrhizal shifts during ontogenetic development and convergent recruitment of cheating‐susceptible fungi. The extensive fungal overlap in two unrelated mycoheterotrophic plants indicates that both species convergently exploit specific AM fungal phylotypes.
Technology, poverty and income distribution nexus: The case of fertilizer adoption in Ethiopia
Authors: Shita Aynalem , Kumar Nand , Singh Seema 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAdoption of agricultural technology is believed to be the pertinent strategy for poverty alleviation through productivity increment. However, it may simultaneously affect the distribution of income among rural households. This paper, therefore, investigated the poverty and income distribution effect of fertilizer adoption in Northern Western Ethiopia based on the propensity score matching technique and dose–response function. The study indicates that the adoption of fertilizer significantly increases household per adult consumption expenditure by US$53.98–57.89 and reduce incidence of poverty by 17.4%–18.2%. Even though adoption improves the income of households by about US$292.92–374.85, it simultaneously worsens income inequality as measured by both the Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient. Moreover, estimates of the dose–response functions indicate that annual income and consumption expenditure of farm households increase with the intensity of fertilizer adoption. On the other hand, the incidence of poverty was found to be reduced when intensity of fertilizer utilization increases. The results imply that technology adoption worsens income distribution by increasing the income of large and medium farmers more proportionately compared to small farmers. Hence, further efforts should be exerted to achieve balanced adoption of fertilizer for the betterment of the welfare of the society.
Brothers, Comrades or Competitors? The Communist Party and Youth League in Shanghai, 1925–1927
Authors: Yi Shensi 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe ‘Party and Youth League’ model in the Chinese communist movement was copied from Soviet Russia, but its practice by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Youth League has been little studied, especially at the local level. This article draws on a variety of sources to analyse the model's operation in Shanghai. My findings reveal a lasting rivalry between the Communist Party and the Youth League in Shanghai, which both experienced a rise and fall from 1925 to 1927. Despite efforts from leaders on both sides, this conflict went unresolved. The Youth League's transformation from a ‘younger brother’ to a ‘powerful competitor’ within the revolutionary communist community vividly reflects the fact that the Chinese communists were far removed from the iron rule of Bolshevism at that time, and highlights the complexities and difficulties of localizing the international communist movement.
Effect of antithrombin III among patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation in obstetrics: a nationwide observational study in Japan
Authors: Iwasaki Y , Ohbe H , Shigemi D , Fushimi K , Yasunaga H 
Published: September 2021

ObjectivePregnant women may develop disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), possibly resulting in massive maternal haemorrhage and perinatal death. The Japan guideline recommends use of antithrombin III (ATIII) for DIC in obstetrics; however, its effect remains uncertain. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of ATIII for DIC in obstetrics, using a national inpatient database in Japan.DesignNationwide observational study.SettingJapan.PopulationWe used the Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database to identify patients who delivered at hospital and were diagnosed with DIC from July 2010 to March 2018.MethodsPropensity score matching analyses were performed to compare in‐hospital maternal mortality and hysterectomy during hospitalisation between users and non‐users of ATIII on the day of delivery.Main outcome measuresIn‐hospital mortality, hysterectomy.ResultsA total of 9920 patients were enrolled, including 4329 patients (44%) who used ATIII and 5511 patients (56%) who did not use ATIII. One‐to‐one propensity score matching created 3290 pairs. In‐hospital maternal mortality did not differ significantly between the propensity‐matched groups (0.3% in the ATIII group versus 0.5% in the control group; odds ratio 0.73; 95% CI 0.35–1.54). A significantly lower proportion of patients in the ATIII group, compared with those in the control group, underwent hysterectomy during hospitalisation (5.3% versus 8.7%; absolute risk difference −2.9%; 95% CI −4.2 to −1.6%).ConclusionsAlthough the present study did not show a mortality‐reducing effect of ATIII for patients with DIC in obstetrics, it may have clinical benefit in terms of reducing the number of patients undergoing hysterectomy.Tweetable abstractThis study did not show mortality‐reducing effect of antithrombin III for patients with DIC in obstetrics.
APC gene promoter methylation as a potential biomarker for lung cancer diagnosis: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu Fang , Lu Xiaoling , Zhou Xiaoxi , Huang He 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to quantitatively analysis the diagnostic performance of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene promoter methylation in serum or sputum/bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BLAF) as a biomarker for lung cancer identification through pooling of open published data.MethodsThe relevant electronic MEDLINE, EMBASE, Ovid, web of science and CNKI databases were systematically searched to identify the studies related to APC gene promoter methylation for lung cancer diagnosis. Data of true positive (tp), false positive (fp), false negative (fn) and true negative (tn) were extracted from the publications included in the study. The pooled diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and area under summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve (AUC‐SROC) of APC gene promoter methylation were calculated. Publication bias was evaluated by Begg's funnel plot and Egger's line regression test.ResultsFourteen studies associated with APC gene promoter methylation and lung cancer were identified in the databases and finally included in the meta‐analysis. The data was pooled using a random effect model due to significant statistical heterogeneity across the 14 studies (p < 0.05). Using the APC gene promoter methylation as a reference for lung cancer identification, the pooled diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 0.43 (95% CI: 0.40–0.45), and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90–0.95), respectively with combined diagnostic positive likelihood ratio (+LR) and negative likelihood ratio (−LR) of 7.15 (95% CI: 3.62–14.12) and 0.63 (95% CI: 0.57–0.71). The pooled diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and AUC‐SROC of APC gene promoter methylation for lung cancer diagnosis were 9.84 (95% CI: 5.77–16.79) and 0.7, respectively. The Begg's funnel plot and Egger's line regression test both indicated statistical publication bias (t = 5.40, p < 0.05).ConclusionsAPC gene promoter methylation in serum or sputum/BLAF is a potential biomarker for lung cancer diagnosis with high specificity. However, due to its low sensitivity, it may not be suitable for lung cancer screening in the general population.
Type I Interferon signaling controls the accumulation and transcriptomes of monocytes in the aged lung
Authors: D’Souza Shanti S. , Zhang Yuanyue , Bailey Jacob T. , Fung Ivan T. H. , Kuentzel Marcy L. , Chittur Sridar V. , Yang Qi 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAging is paradoxically associated with a deteriorated immune defense (immunosenescence) and increased basal levels of tissue inflammation (inflammaging). The lung is particularly sensitive to the effects of aging. The immune cell mechanisms underlying physiological lung aging remain poorly understood. Here we reveal that aging leads to increased interferon signaling and elevated concentrations of chemokines in the lung, which is associated with infiltration of monocytes into the lung parenchyma. scRNA‐seq identified a novel Type‐1 interferon signaling dependent monocyte subset (MO‐ifn) that upregulated IFNAR1 expression and exhibited greater transcriptomal changes with aging than the other monocytes. Blockade of type‐1 interferon signaling by treatment with anti‐IFNAR1 neutralizing antibodies rapidly ablated MO‐ifn cells. Treatment with anti‐IFNAR1 antibodies also reduced airway chemokine concentrations and repressed the accumulation of the overall monocyte population in the parenchyma of the aged lung. Together, our work suggests that physiological aging is associated with increased basal level of airway monocyte infiltration and inflammation in part due to elevated type‐1 interferon signaling.
Can artificial ponds retain dragonfly (Insecta: Odonata) biodiversity? A preliminary study in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Santos Francisco , Nicasio Karoline , Silva Kaires , Martins Jesuíno , Périco Eduardo , Dalzochio Marina , Veras Daniel , Cajaiba Reinaldo Lucas 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAlthough ponds are rich ecosystems for the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity, in many regions of the world, they have been adversely affected by anthropogenic changes in surrounding landscapes. Dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) are characterized by larval phases that are closely associated with aquatic ecosystems and can accordingly serve as useful indicators of the quality of these environments. In this study, we evaluated the patterns of abundance, richness, and taxonomic composition of adult Odonata in artificial and natural ponds located in the Legal Amazon of Maranhão, which have been exposed to different levels of disturbance. We analysed how the composition of the Odonata assemblages varies between natural and artificial ponds and also assessed to what extent artificial ponds and degraded natural ponds are able to maintain Odonata biodiversity. Our results indicate that the abundance, richness, and composition of Odonata among the monitored ponds were adversely impacted by more disturbed landscapes, with greater abundance and richness being recorded in preserved natural ponds. Although the degraded artificial and natural ponds have Odonata diversities comparable to those of the preserved natural ponds, the latter tend to be characterized by unique and exclusive species, thereby indicating the urgent need for measures designed to protect these natural ecosystems.
Phenotypic variability in the Old World bollworm,Helicoverpa armigera(Hübner) populations in India
Authors: Chakravarty Snehel , Mahalle Rashmi M. , Srivastava Chandra P. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractHelicoverpa armigera(Hübner) is one of the most prominent polyphagous species of the Heliothinae pest complex that inflicts severe damage to a wide range of crops in India. Knowledge regarding the population structure of the pest species, whether morphological or genetic, is considered as an essential tool in making effective management decisions. Thus here, we performed the phenotypic characterization ofH. armigerapopulations collected from varied geographic locations across India. Studied populations differed significantly for several external morphometric traits studied at larval, pupal and adult stages. Significant differences were also observed with respect to the intensity of black pigmentation on larval body as well as adult eye and forewing colour patterns. Besides external phenotypic traits, the length of genital organs like aedeagus and valva in males, and bursa copulatrix and bursa seminalis in females also differed significantly amongst populations. The dendrogram based on selected traits showed clear cut differentiation of studied populations into two major groups, one including all the South Zone populations and the other having populations from North and Central Zones. Differences based on phenotyping in the present study indicate the possibility of the existence of different subspecies within the Indian populations ofH. armigera.
Clinical and genetic factors are associated with kidney complications in African children with sickle cell anaemia
Authors: Adebayo Oyindamola Christiana , Betukumesu DieuMerci Kabasele , Nkoy Agathe Bikupe , Adesoji Oluyomi Modupe , Ekulu Pepe Mfutu , Van den Heuvel Lambertus P. , Levtchenko Elena N. , Labarque Veerle 
Published: September 2021

SummaryClinical and genetic factors have been reported as influencing the development of sickle cell nephropathy (SCN). However, such data remain limited in the paediatric population. In this cross‐sectional study, we enrolled 361 sickle cell disease children from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Participants were genotyped for the beta (β)‐globin gene, apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) risk variants, and haem oxygenase‐1 (HMOX1) GT‐dinucleotide repeats. As markers of kidney damage, albuminuria, hyperfiltration and decreased estimated glomerular filtration with creatinine (eGFRcr) were measured. An association of independent clinical and genetic factors with these markers of kidney damage were assessed via regression analysis. Genetic sequencing confirmed sickle cell anaemia in 326 participants. Albuminuria, hyperfiltration and decreased eGFRcr were present in 65 (20%), 52 (16%) and 18 (5·5%) patients, respectively. Regression analysis revealed frequent blood transfusions, indirect bilirubin and male gender as clinical predictors of SCN. APOL1 high‐risk genotype (G1/G1, G2/G2 and G1/G2) was significantly associated with albuminuria (P = 0·04) and hyperfiltration (P = 0·001). HMOX1 GT‐dinucleotide long repeats were significantly associated with lower eGFRcr. The study revealed a high burden of kidney damage among Congolese children and provided evidence of the possible role of APOL1 and HMOX1 in making children more susceptible to kidney complications.
RETRACTED: Double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled pilot study of the phosphodiesterase‐3 inhibitor cilostazol as an adjunctive to antidepressants in patients with major depressive disorder
Authors: Abdallah Mahmoud S. , Ramadan Ahmed N. , Omara‐Reda Hend , Mansour Noha O. , Elsokary Mohamed A. , Elsawah Hozaifa K. , Zaki Shimaa Abdelsattar , Abo Mansour Hend E. , Mosalam Esraa M. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAimsCilostazol (CLS) has shown antidepressant effect in cardiovascular patients, post‐stroke depression, and animal models through its neurotrophic and antiinflammatory activities. Consequently, we aimed to investigate its safety and efficacy in patients with MDD by conducting double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled pilot study.Methods80 participants with MDD (DSM‐IV criteria) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score >20 were treated with CLS 50 mg or placebo twice daily plus escitalopram (ESC) 20 mg once daily for six weeks. Patients were evaluated by HDRS scores (weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6). Serum levels of CREB1, BDNF, 5‐HT, TNF–α, NF‐ κB, and FAM19A5 were assessed pre‐ and post‐treatment.ResultsCo‐administration of CLS had markedly decreased HDRS score at all‐time points compared to the placebo group (p < 0.001). Early improvement, response, and remission rates after 6 weeks were significantly higher in the CLS group (90%, 90%, 80%, respectively) than in the placebo group (25%, 65%, 50% respectively) (p < 0.001). Moreover, the CLS group was superior to the placebo group in modulation of the measured neurotrophic and inflammatory biomarkers.ConclusionCLS is safe and effective short‐term adjunctive therapy in patients with MDD with no other comorbid conditions.Trial registration ID:NCT04069819.
Ideological homophily in board composition and interlock networks: Do liberal directors inhibit viewpoint diversity?
Authors: Hudson Kerry , Morgan Robert E. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractResearch issueA consistent feature of social networks is homophily: the tendency for people to interact with similar others. Psychological and sociological research suggests that homophily is most pronounced along ideological lines, with conflicting evidence as to whether this tendency is higher among individuals who hold liberal or conservative beliefs. Based on this literature, we conduct the first study of ideological homophily in two key organizational networks: the intrafirm connections among directors on the board and the interfirm connections created by board interlocks.Research insightsIn a panel of 408 U.S. firms between 2000 and 2020, we find that liberalism increases homophily both within and between boards. Furthermore, we find that homophily has decreased over time but that this has been driven by conservative boards while the effect of liberalism has strengthened in recent years. These findings provide the first evidence for an ideological component in the composition of intra‐ and interorganizational networks.Academic implicationsMost research on director selection and interlock formation has focused on situational or demographic antecedents. Our findings contribute to the development of a broader theoretical framework that accounts for individual dispositional factors in these processes.Practitioner implicationsOur findings bring attention to the issue of ideological homogeneity in firms. Given the growth of homophilic tendencies among liberal directors in recent years, we suggest that it may be increasingly important for directors to become aware, and mitigate the effects, of their ideological biases in order to maintain cognitive diversity in information networks and decision making.
Leukocytoclastic vasculitis as a cutaneous manifestation of ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 corona virus vaccine (recombinant)
Authors: Sandhu Sunmeet , Bhatnagar Anuj , Kumar Harish , Dixit Prashant Kumar , Paliwal Gourang , Suhag Devinder Kumar , Patil Chetan , Mitra Debdeep 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWith the present COVID‐19 vaccination drive across the world, adverse skin reactions post COVID‐19 vaccine is expected. Majority of these reactions seen were transient or local injection site reactions. However, as the larger population is being vaccinated, certain uncommon dermatological presentations including leukocytoclastic vasculitis, pityriasis rosea, and exacerbation of pre‐existing autoimmune diseases are now being reported. Among all the COVID‐19 vaccines, most of these reactions are seen with messenger ribonucleic acid‐based Pfizer/BioNTech (BNT162b2) and Moderna (mRNA‐1273) vaccine. We report two cases of leukocytoclastic vasculitis following ChAdOx1 nCoV‐19 corona virus vaccine (recombinant) that bring out potential new dermatological manifestations of recombinant corona virus vaccine being administered across the European, South American, and Asian countries. It is important for all health care workers and patients to be aware of the corona virus vaccine associated adverse cutaneous reactions.
Correlation analysis between regional homogeneity and executive dysfunction in anti‐N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor encephalitis patients
Authors: Wu Peirong , Pang Xiaomin , Liang Xiulin , Wei Wutong , Li Xinrong , Zhao Jingyuan , Zheng Jinou 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackground and purposeAnti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is characterized by a range of cognitive impairments, especially in executive function. Our study aims to identify the abnormal regional homogeneity (ReHo) in anti‐NMDAR encephalitis patients and its relationship with the executive function.MethodsForty patients and 42 healthy volunteers undertook an Attention Network Test and a resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. ReHo analysis was performed to investigate the neuronal activity synchronization in all subjects. Based on ReHo analysis, a multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) was carried out to identify the brain regions that differed the most between the two groups.ResultsCompared to controls, the patients had higher executive control scores (p < 0.05). The patients presented reduced ReHo values in the bilateral posterior cerebellar lobe, anterior cerebellar lobe, midbrain, bilateral caudate nucleus, right superior frontal gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, bilateral inferior parietal lobule and the left middle frontal gyrus. The ReHo values of the bilateral inferior parietal lobule in patients were found to be negatively associated with executive control scores. The classification of patients and controls using MVPA had an accuracy of 76.83%, a sensitivity of 82.50%, a specificity of 71.43% and the area under the curve was 0.83.ConclusionsOur study provides evidence of abnormal cerebral function in anti‐NMDAR encephalitis patients, which may contribute to unveiling the neuropathological mechanisms of anti‐NMDAR encephalitis and their influences on executive dysfunction. The MVPA classifier, based on ReHo, is helpful in identifying anti‐NMDAR encephalitis patients from healthy controls.