bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spray-assisted formation of micrometer-sized emulsions
Authors: Steinacher Mathias , Amstad Esther 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Emulsion drops with defined sizes are frequently used to conduct chemical reactions on picoliter scales or as templates to form microparticles. Despite tremendous progress that has been achieved in the production of emulsions, the controlled formation of drops with sizes of a few µm at high throughputs remains challenging. Drops of this size, however, are in high demand for example for many pharmaceutical, food, and material science applications. Here we introduce a scalable method to produce water-in-oil emulsion drops possessing controlled diameters of just a few microns: We fabricate calibrated aerosol drops and transfer them into an oil bath to form stable emulsions at rates up to 480 µl min-1 of the dispersed phase. We demonstrate that the emulsification is thermodynamically driven such that design principles to successfully form emulsions can easily be deduced. We employ these emulsion drops as templates to form well-defined µm-sized hydrogel spheres and capsules.
PD-L1 and TP-53 mRNA and microRNAs Expression in Liquid Biopsy of NSCLC Patients.
Authors: Grenda Anna , Kuźnar-Kamińska Barbara , Krzyżanowska Natalia , Krawczyk Paweł , Janiszewska Mariola , Batura-Gabryel Halina , Milanowski Janusz 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Introduction

The expression of PD-L1 (programed cell death ligand 1) protein on neoplastic cells is a factor qualifying cancer patients for immunotherapy. However, the status of PD-L1 mRNA expression in plasma or serum has not been well studied in cancer patients. TP-53 (Tumor Protein p53) as tumor suppressor affects the expression of many genes, including microRNAs that regulate PD-L1 expression. The purpose of our study was to evaluate usefulness of analysis of PD-L1 mRNA, microRNAs and TP-53 mRNA expression in liquid biopsy in non-invasive diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC).
Material and methods

We examined the expression the expression of TP-53 and PD-L1 mRNA as well as seven microRNAs (miR-17, miR-93, miR-142, miR-519, miR-526, miR-34a-5p and miR-34a-3p) in plasma obtained from 80 NSCLC patients and 39 healthy volunteers. We used quantitative PCR preceded by reverse transcription method.
Results

We observed PD-L1 mRNA expression only in 6 (7.5%) NSCLC patients. We showed that expression of TP-53 mRNA and each tested microRNA were significantly higher in healthy individuals than in NSCLC patients. Based on the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis, we found that TP-53 mRNA and each of the examined microRNAs expression were good diagnostic markers for non-invasive diagnosis of NSCLC. We found a significant, negative correlation between TP-53 mRNA and miR-17 (R=-045, p = 0.0005) as well as miR-34a-5p (R=-0.32, p = 0.04) expression in patients with advanced NSCLC.
Conclusion

The decreased expression of TP-53 mRNA may influence the disruption of microRNAs which could be involved in the regulation of PD-L1 expression in NSCLC patients
Is Age of Self-Harm Onset Associated With Increased Frequency of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Suicide Attempts in Adolescent Outpatients?
Authors: Brager-Larsen Anne , Zeiner Pål , Klungsøyr Ole , Mehlum Lars 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Self-harm in adolescents is an increasing public health concern and an important risk factor for suicide. We aimed to examine how age of self-harm onset in adolescents was associated with frequency of subsequent suicidal and non-suicidal self-harm (NSSI) episodes, and how age of onset and duration of self-harm may influence the frequency of self-harm.
Methods
Data from 103 adolescents with recurrent self-harm recruited from child and adolescent psychiatric outpatient clinics were collected through clinical interviews and self-reports, and analysed with negative binomial and hurdle models.
Results
A lower age of self-harm onset and a longer duration of self-harm were both significantly associated with increased frequency of subsequent episodes of NSSI and risk of a first suicide attempt. There was an increase in repeated suicide attempts when the age of onset of self-harm decreased and the duration increased, and dramatically more for long duration of NSSI before first suicide attempt.
Conclusion
Initiating self-harm behaviour at the youngest age had the highest risk of increased frequency of NSSI and suicide attempts. Longer duration of self-harm behaviour increased this risk. This underlines the importance of early identification of self-harm behaviour in adolescents, and the use of effective interventions.
Changes in Atlantic Major Hurricane Frequency Since the Late-19th Century
Authors: Vecchi Gabriel , Landsea Chris , Zhang Wei , Villarini Gabriele , Knutson Thomas 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Atlantic hurricanes are a major hazard to life and property1,2,3, and a topic of intense scientific interest4,5,6. Historical changes in observing practices limit the utility of century-scale records of Atlantic major hurricane frequency7-13. To evaluate past changes in frequency, we have here developed a homogenization method for Atlantic hurricane and major hurricane frequency over 1851-2019. We find that recorded century-scale increases in Atlantic hurricane and major hurricane frequency, and associated decrease in USA hurricanes strike fraction, are consistent with changes in observing practices and not likely a true climate trend. After homogenization, increases in basin-wide hurricane and major hurricane activity since the 1970s14-15 are not part of a century-scale increase, but a recovery from a deep minimum in the 1960s-1980s. These results support the notion that internal climate variability and aerosol-induced mid-to-late-20th century major hurricane frequency reductions16-24 have probably masked century-scale greenhouse-gas warming contributions to North Atlantic major hurricane frequency.
A Novel Glycolysis-related Gene Signature for Survival Prediction in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Qin Haimei , Wang Junli , Liao Biyun , Liu Zhonglin , Wang Rong 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is most diagnosed at an advanced stage with poor prognosis. Single gene biomarkers cannot have enough predictive ability in HNSCC. Glycolysis participating in cancers was verified. Thus, this study aimed to identify glycolysis-related gene signature predict the outcome of HNSCC. Methods: The mRNA expression data of HNSCC downloaded The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project was analyzed by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). We use the Cox proportional regression model to construct a prognostic model. Kaplan–Meier and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to estimate the signature. We also analyzed the relationship of the signature and cancer subtypes. Results: We identified nine glycolysis-related genes including G6PD, EGFR, ALDH2, GPR87, STC2, PDK3, ELF3, STC1 and GNPDA1 as prognosis-related genes signature in HNSCC. HNSCC patients were divided into high and low risk group according to the signature. High risk group showed more poor prognosis and the risk score can precisely predict the prognosis of HNSCC. Additionally, the signature also can be used in cancer subtypes. Conclusion: This study established the 9-mRNA glycolysis signature which may serve as a prospective biomarker for prognosis and novel treatment target in HNSCC.
Study on the Transmission of COVID-19 in Hubei Province Based on SEIR Model with&nbsp;Intervention Measures
Authors: HE Zhengsiyu , XIE Ling , LIU Suhong 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background At the end of 2019, an unidentified coronavirus, named as “COVID-19” by WHO, has broken out in Wuhan, Hubei Province. We aimed to simulate the development trend of COVID-19 in Wuhan and Hubei as well as estimate the number of COVID-19 cases with the government control policies and traffic control.Methods We collected the COVID-19 data in Wuhan and Hubei (January 1, 2020 to April 8, 2020) and simulated three situations about COVID-19 epidemic trend: non-interference, government controlling behavior and traffic control by the SEIR model to analyzed the development and influence of the epidemic.Results We adopted the SEIR model to estimate the number of COVID-19 cases in Hubei peaked on the 107th day without human control, and the number in Wuhan peaked on the 51st day after the lockdown of Wuhan. The number of new cases in Hubei and Wuhan presented a skewed normal distribution in the time series. Government intervention and traffic control had a certain inhibitory effect on the daily increase of COVID-19 cases. During the period from January 23 to April 8, 2020, there was a difference of 1,253,433 cases between the daily number of confirmed cases and the actual number of confirmed cases in Hubei under the simulated state of without human control. Also, there was a difference of 953,202 cases between thedaily number of confirmed cases and the actual number of confirmed cases in Wuhan under the simulated state of without human control.Conclusion The actual COVID-19 outbreak quantity conforms to the simulation results, secondly the government control behavior and the traffic control can effectively inhibit COVID-19 to spread and the efficient can reach 52%. In other countries or regions, an effective intervention measures can control the spread of the epidemic. The earlier the control started and the stronger the control intensity was, the more effective the intervention for the COVID-19 epidemic was, so appropriate to cut off the route of transmission as soon as possible.
Trans-genetic effects of circular RNA expression quantitative trait loci and potential causal mechanisms in autism
Authors: Mai Te-Lun , Chen Chia-Ying , Chiang Tai-Wei , Chuang Trees-Juen 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Genetic risk variants and transcriptional expression changes in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been widely identified, but their causal relationship is largely unknown. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are abundant in brain and often serve as upstream regulators of mRNAs. By integrating RNA-sequencing with genotyping data from autistic brains, we accessed expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) of circRNAs (circQTLs) that influenced expression of distant genes (trans-eGenes) and constructed 43,372 circQTL-trans-eGene pairs. Mediation test suggested that 19,393 pairs were significantly cis-mediated by expression of circRNAs near the circQTLs; meanwhile, causal inference test (CIT) suggested 1,000 pairs influencing 708 trans-eGenes, wherein trans-eGene expression mediated trans-eQTL effects on ASD diagnosis. The 708 trans-eGenes were enriched for ASD risk genes and overrepresented in neurons in the upper neocortical layer. Integration of mediation test- and CIT-passing pairs further constructed 257 circQTL-circRNA-trans-eGene-ASD propagation paths. These findings increase our understanding of causative biology and cryptic regulatory mechanisms underlying ASD.
Health Facility-based Counselling and Community Outreach are Associated with Maternal Dietary Practices in a Cross-sectional Study from Tanzania
Authors: Dearden Kirk A. , Bishwakarma Ramu , Crookston Benjamin T. , Masau Benesta T. , Mulokozi Generose I. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Anemia and underweight among women are major public health challenges. Access to health services can improve dietary behaviors and women’s nutritional status. We examined whether exposure to health services is associated with women’s dietary practices in Tanzania.Methods: Data come from a two-stage, randomized baseline survey among 5,000 female primary caregivers prior to implementing a maternal and child nutrition program. We ran frequencies on women’s exposure to existing health facility-based counselling, community health worker visits, and attendance at women’s support groups. We examined associations between exposure to these interventions and maternal diets and adjusted for sociodemographic covariates using ordinary least squares regression and ordered logistic regression.Results: A third of the sample (34.1 percent) had received any antenatal care (ANC) during their most recent pregnancy or had been advised by anyone about nutrition (37.0 percent). 68.0 percent had never had a community health worker (CHW) speak to them about their children’s health and 9.4 percent had participated in a women’s group. Only 8.0 percent of mothers ate more than usual during pregnancy and 7.1 percent ate more types of foods. After adjusting for mother’s age, education and household assets, women who received nutrition advice were 1.3 times (95 percent CI: 1.1, 1.7) more likely than mothers who did not to eat more during pregnancy. Receiving ANC and advice on nutrition before, during, and after pregnancy and delivery were highly associated with the mother eating more types of foods. Hearing from a CHW about children’s health but not support group attendance was often associated with various dietary practices. Almost all measures of access to health services were significantly associated with mothers’ frequency of eating in the previous 24 hours. Receiving advice on nutrition during pregnancy and after giving birth and CHW contact were associated with mothers’ dietary diversity in the previous 24 hours. Conclusions: Several program exposure variables—especially being counselled about nutrition—were associated with improved dietary practices. Improving service delivery at scale may contribute to improved dietary behaviors in larger populations, given the associations we describe, along with findings from the existing literature.
Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Induced Differential Antimicrobial Potential in Calli Cultures of Prunella Vulgaris
Authors: Ahmad Nisar , Muhammad Jan , Khan Khalil , Ali Wajid , Fazal Hina , Ali Mohammad , Rahman Latif-ur , Khan Hayat , Abbasi Bilal Haider , Hano Christophe 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Prunella vulgaris is medicinally important plant containing high-valued chemical metabolites like Prunellin which belong to family Lamiaceae and it is also known as self-heal. In this research, calli culture exposed to differential ratios of gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (1:2, 1:3, 2:1 and 3:1) along with naphthalene acetic acid (2.0 mg NAA) were investigated for antimicrobial potential. A well diffusion method was used for antimicrobial properties. Results: Here, two concentrations (1 and 2 mg/6 µl) of all treated calli cultures and wild plants were used against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. typhi, B. atrophaeus, B. subtilis, A. tumefaciens, E. caratovora and C. albicans. DMSO and antibiotics were used as negative and positive controls. Here, the calli exposed to gold (Au) NPs + 2.0 mg NAA displayed the highest activity (25.7 mm) against S. typhi than other extracts, which was considered the most susceptible species, while A. tumefaciens and C. albicans was the most resistance species. A possible mechanism of calli induced nanoparticles was also investigated for cytoplasmic leakage. Conclusion: From the above data it is concluded that the medicinal Prunella vulgaris is important plant for the development of anti-microbial drugs and applicable in various pharmaceutical research.
Latent Class Trajectories of Biochemical Parameters and Their Relationship With Risk of Mortality Among Acute Organophosphorus Poisoning Patients
Authors: Farooqui Waqas Ahmed , Uddin Mudassir , Qadeer Rashid , Shafique Kashif 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Objectives: To determine varying biochemical parameters and their relationship with mortality among organophosphorus poisoning patients through a latent class trajectory analysis.Methods: It was a retrospective cohort study. Patients with organophosphorus poisoning (OP) were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi from August 2010 to September 2016. A total of 299 OP poisoning patients’ data along with demographic and biochemical parameters were retrieved from medical records. The key outcome measure was in-hospital mortality among acute poisoning patients accounting for gender, age, elapse time since poison ingestion, ICU stay, and biochemical parameters including random blood sugar, creatinine, urea, and electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium). The trajectories of parameters were formed using longitudinal latent profile analysis. These trajectories and repeated measures were used as independent variables to determine and compare the risk of mortality by Cox-Proportional-Hazards models. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: A total of 299 patients’ data were included with a mean age of 25.4±9.7 years and in-hospital mortality was 13.7%(n=41). In trajectory analysis, patients with high-declining and normal-increasing creatinine, high-remitting, and normal-increasing urea, high-remitting sodium, trajectories observed the highest mortality i.e. 67%(2/3), 75%(6/8), 67%(2/3), 75%(6/8), and 80% (4/5) respectively compared with other trajectories. On multivariable analysis, patients in high-declining creatinine class were sixteen times [HR:15.7,95%CI:3.4-71.6], normal-increasing was fifteen times [HR:15.2,95%CI:4.2-54.6] more likely to die compared with those who had normal consistent creatinine levels. Patients in extremely high-remitting urea trajectory were fifteen times [HR:15.4,95%CI:3.4-69.7], normal-increasing urea trajectory was four times [HR:3.9,95%CI:1.4-11.5] and in high-remitting sodium, the trajectory was six times [HR:5.6,95%C.I:2.0-15.8] more likely to die compared with those who were in normal-consistent trajectories of urea and sodium respectively.Conclusion: Using the latent profile approach, biochemical parameters (creatinine, urea, and sodium levels) were significantly associated with increased risk of mortality among OP poisoning patients.
Myocardial Remodeling in Ischemic Heart Disease – Imaging from Cell to Organ Level by Synchrotron Propagation Based X-Ray Phase-Contrast Imaging
Authors: Planinc Ivo , Garcia-Canadilla Patricia , Dejea Hector , Ilic Ivana , Guasch Eduard , Zamora Monica , Crispi Fatima , Stampanoni Marco , Milicic Davor , Bijnens Bart , Bonnin Anne , Cikes Maja 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular research is in an ongoing quest for a superior imaging method to integrate gross-anatomical information with microanatomy, combined with quantifiable parameters of cardiac structure. In recent years, synchrotron radiation-based X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging (X-PCI) has been extensively used to characterize soft tissue in detail.The objective was to use X-PCI to comprehensively quantify ischemic remodeling of different myocardial structures, from cell to organ level, in a rat model of myocardial infarction.Methods and Results: Myocardial infarction-induced remodeling was recreated in a well-established rodent model. Ex vivo rodent hearts were imaged by propagation based X-PCI using two configurations resulting in 5.8µm and 0.65µm effective pixel size images. The acquired datasets were used for a comprehensive assessment of macrostructural changes including the whole heart and vascular tree morphology, and quantification of left ventricular myocardial thickness, mass, volume, and organization. On the meso-scale, tissue characteristics were explored and compared with histopathological methods, while microstructural changes were quantified by segmentation of cardiomyocytes and calculation of cross-sectional areas.Conclusions: Propagation based X-PCI provides detailed visualization and quantification of morphological changes on whole organ, tissue, vascular as well as individual cellular level of the ex vivo heart, with a single, non-destructive 3D imaging modality.
hRUV: Hierarchical approach to removal of unwanted variation for large-scale metabolomics data
Authors: Kim Taiyun , Tang Owen , Vernon Stephen , Kott Katharine , Koay Yen Chin , Park John , James David , Speed Terence , Yang Pengyi , O´Sullivan John , Figtree Gemma , Yang Jean 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics studies are increasingly applied to large population cohorts, which run for several weeks or even years in data acquisition. This inevitably introduces unwanted intra- and inter-batch variations over time that can overshadow true biological signals and thus hinder potential biological discoveries. To date, normalisation approaches have struggled to mitigate the variability introduced by technical factors whilst preserving biological variance, especially for protracted acquisitions. Here, we propose a study design framework with an arrangement for embedding biological sample replicates to quantify variance within and between batches and a novel workflow that uses these replicates to remove unwanted variation in a hierarchical (hRUV) manner. We use this design to produce a dataset of more than 1,000 human plasma samples run over an extended period of time. We demonstrate significant improvement of hRUV over existing methods in preserving biological signals whilst removing unwanted variation for large scale metabolomics studies. Our novel tools not only provide a strategy for large scale data normalization, but also provides guidance on the design strategy for large omics studies.
The Association Between Intraoperative Objective Neuromuscular Monitoring and Rocuronium Consumption During Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Takahoko Kenichi , Iwasaki Hajime , Luthe Sarah Kyuragi , Matsuno Takashi , Matsuno Risako , Kanda Hirotsugu 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Rocuronium consumption with or without intraoperative objective neuromuscular monitoring in clinical settings of unrestricted use of sugammadex and neuromuscular monitoring has not been reported. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the use of intraoperative objective neuromuscular monitoring and rocuronium consumption in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery.Methods: Data were collected by reviewing electronic medical records of patients who received laparoscopic abdominal surgery under general anesthesia with rocuronium and reversal with sugammadex at Asahikawa Medical University Hospital between May 2017 and April 2018. Multiple linear regression model was developed to compare the amount of rocuronium consumption per weight per hour (mg/kg/h) between the group in which intraoperative objective neuromuscular monitoring was used (NM+ group) and the group in which intraoperative neuromuscular monitoring was not used (NM- group). Additionally, we performed an interaction test with reference to the results of the subgroup analysis.Results: A total of 429 patients were evaluated, with 371 patients (86%) included in NM+ group and 58 patients (14%) in NM- group. In the NM+ group, 94% of the patients received additional rocuronium after reappearance of TOF response while 6% of the patients received additional rocuronium before reappearance of TOF in order to maintain post-tetanic count. Log-transformed rocuronium consumption between NM+ group and NM- group was not significantly different (back-transformed β-coefficients [95%CI]: 1.054 [0.946–1.174]; P=0.34). Male sex and body mass index (BMI) were independent factors associated with 15% (0.854 [0.789–0.925]; P<0.001) and 3% (for every 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI) (0.970 [0.962­–0.979]; P<0.001) decrease in intraoperative rocuronium consumption, respectively. A significant interaction was detected between the use of neuromuscular monitoring and age≥65 (β: 0.843 [0.759–0.936]; P=0.001).Conclusions: This single center retrospective study demonstrated that although the use of intraoperative objective neuromuscular monitoring was not an individual factor influencing intraoperative rocuronium consumption, the use of intraoperative neuromuscular monitoring reduced rocuronium consumption by approximately 15% during laparoscopic abdominal surgery in elderly patients.