bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
18F-Alfatide II for the evaluation of axillary lymph nodes in breast cancer patients: comparison with 18F-FDG
Authors: Wu Jiang , Tian Jihong , Zhang Yiyan , Ji Hengshan , Sun Jingjing , Wang Xingang , Sun Chuanjin , Teng Zhaogang , Zhu Hong , Chen Xiaoyuan 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
18F-Alfatide II has been translated into clinical use and been proven to have good performance in identifying breast cancer. In this study, we investigated 18F-Alfatide II for evaluation of axillary lymph nodes (ALN) in breast cancer patients and compared the performances with 18F-FDG. Methods: A total of 44 female patients with clinically suspected breast cancer were enrolled and underwent 18F-Alfatide II and 18F-FDG PET/CT within a week. Tracer uptakes in ALN were evaluated by visual analysis, semiquantitative analysis with maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) and SUVmax ratio of target/non-target (T/NT). Results: Among 44 patients, 37 patients were pathologically diagnosed with breast cancer with metastatic (17 cases) or non-metastatic (20 cases) ALN. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of visual analysis were 70.59%, 90.00%, 81.08%, 85.71% and 78.26% for 18F-Alfatide II, 64.71%, 90.00%, 78.38%, 84.62% and 75.00% for 18F-FDG, respectively. By combining 18F-Alfatide II and 18F-FDG, the sensitivity significantly increased to 82.35%, the specificity was 85.00%, the accuracy increased to 83.78%, the PPV was 82.35% and the NPV significantly increased to 85.00%. Three cases of luminal B subtype were false negative for both 18F-Alfatide II and 18F-FDG. The other 2 false negative cases of 18F-Alfatide II were triple-negative subtype and 3 false negative cases of 18F-FDG were luminal B subtype too. The AUCs of three semi-quantitative parameters (SUVmax, SUVmean, T/NT) for 18F-Alfatide II were between 0.8 and 0.9, whereas those for 18F-FDG were more than 0.9. 18F-Alfatide II T/NT had the highest Youden index (76.5%), specificity (100%), accuracy (89.19%) and PPV (100%) among these semi-quantitative parameters. 18F-Alfatide II uptake as well as 18F-FDG uptake in metastatic axillary lymph nodes (MALN) was significantly higher than that in benign axillary lymph nodes (BALN). Both 18F-Alfatide II and 18F-FDG did not show difference in primary tumor uptake irrespective of ALN status. Conclusion: 18F-Alfatide II can be used in breast cancer patients to detect metastatic ALN, however, like 18F-FDG, with high specificity but relatively low sensitivity. The combination of 18F-Alfatide II and 18F-FDG can significantly improve sensitivity and NPV. 18F-Alfatide II T/NT may serve as the most important semi-quantitative parameter to evaluate ALN.
Development of an ISSR based SCAR marker to identify small cardamom Malabar (prostrate panicle) variety (Elettaria cardamomum Maton.)
Authors: Jose Sherin , Mathew Mary K , CS Anisha , Sasidharan Swapna , YS Rao 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Small cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum Maton) a perennial monocot, exhibits an array of variation in nature, mainly due to cross pollination. Based on the nature of the panicle orientation, cardamom is broadly grouped into three main ‘cultivated types’ – Malabar, Mysore and Vazhuka having prostrate, erect and semi-erect panicles respectively. These morphologically discriminative markers manifest itself during panicle emergence as is only possible. Among the three varieties Malabar variety is relatively superior with respect to different qualitative and quantitative characteristics. The objective of the present study was to develop and characterize molecular markers for enabling differentiation of Malabar variety at juvenile stage. One accession specific ISSR marker generated by UBC 866 was selected which consistently amplified an intact, distinct, ̴1500bp band specifically in individuals of Malabar variety, which was therefore cloned, sequenced and characterized. Ten primers were designed from the sequences for converting them to SCAR markers. The developed SCAR markers were tested for variety specificity and one primer pair (SBBT4F/SBBT3R) was validated using small cardamom accessions belonging to Malabar variety from different geographic locations and varieties with erect panicles as well as hybrids. The findings suggest that the SCAR marker is promising in identifying cardamom varieties having prostrate panicle (Malabar) and therefore is expected to make significant contributions in selection of F1 hybrids during breeding programmes.
Analysis of pigment cell composition, pigment content, tyrosinase content and activity of three kinds of loaches, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus from Poyang Lake
Authors: Sheng Junqing , Guan Le , Sheng Bin , Geng Shiyu , Wu Di , Hu Beijuan , Li Zhixiong , Le Shunlong , Hong Yijiang 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Loaches, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, from Poyang Lake are a small economic fish, falling into three categories with typical blackspot characteristics, namely, big blackspot loaches (BBL), small blackspot loaches (SBL), and non-blackspot loaches (NBL), respectively. Pigment cell composition, pigment content, tyrosinase content and activity of three kinds of loaches were investigated. Our results showed that there were three types of skin pigment cells, namely, melanophores, xanthophores and iridophores. Melanophores in dorsum were more than in abdomen. Melanophore cytosomes in BBL were larger than those in SBL and NBL, and melanosomes were the largest in stage four. The melanophores in dorsal skin of SBL or NBL were small cell bodies, spindle-like, and in chain distribution. There was an extremely significant difference in melanin content in BBL between the dorsum and abdomen (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in melanin abdominal content, lutein and carotenoid contents among three kinds of loaches (P > 0.05). In dorsal skin, tyrosinase content was the highest in BBL, and it was significantly lower in NBL than in BBL and SBL (P < 0.01). This study reveals differences in pigment and tyrosinase content in three kinds of loaches and provides a theoretical basis for further study of the mechanism of black spot formation.
The effects of machining residual stresses on springback in deformation machining bending mode
Authors: Sedeh Mohammad Reza Naghdi , Ghaei Abbas 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Hybrid machining-forming technology is a combination of two thin-structural machining and incremental forming manufacturing processes. A group of complex geometry parts in which a thick region is connected to a thin wall region can be manufactured through this technology with certain advantages. The parts made by this technology require less raw material compared to the ones created by means of machining. The major problem with this technology is the dimensional and geometric inaccuracy of its products which is mainly due to springback. The main purpose of this research was to study the effects of machining parameters and residual stresses induced by the machining primary stage on the subsequent springback after the forming stage. It was found by experiments that the parameters of cutting speed, axial depth of cut, mode of milling and milling path had a minor effect on springback. However, the workpiece fracture during the forming stage was observed to be sensitive to the prior machining feed rate. Both finite element simulations and experimental results confirmed that the compressive machining residual stresses increased with an increase in the machining feed rate. The compressive residual stresses postponed the onset of fracture at the workpiece lower end during the forming stage. Therefore, we could approach the forming tool closer to the bottom of the wall during forming and, as a result, springback decreased considerably.
Age is not just a number – senescence affects how fish populations respond to different fishing regimes
Authors: Ahti Pauliina Anna , Uusi-Heikkilä Silva , Marjomäki Timo J , Kuparinen Anna 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The presence of senescence in natural populations remains an unsolved problem in biology. Described as an age-dependent increase in natural mortality (known as actuarial senescence) and an age-dependent decrease in fecundity (known as reproductive senescence), the role of senescence in nature is still poorly understood. Based on empirical estimates of reproductive and actuarial senescence, we explored how senescence affects the population dynamics of Coregonus albula, a small, schooling salmonid fish. Using an empirically-based eco-evolutionary model, we investigated how the presence or absence of senescence affects how the fish population responds to pristine, intensive harvest, and recovery phases. Our results showed that at an individual level, the presence of senescence was accompanied by life-history trade-offs, i.e. lower asymptotic length and smaller size and younger age at maturity, both in the presence and absence of fishing. At the population level, the response to different fisheries selection patterns depended on the presence or absence of senescence. Importantly, the results indicate that through the lifehistory trade-offs between early reproduction and late life survival, the young and small individuals can have an important role in population recovery, especially when senescence is present. Since most life-history and fisheries models ignore senescence, they may be over-estimating reproductive capacity and under-estimating natural mortality. Our results highlight the need for increasing biological realism in these models to ensure the successful management of our natural resources.
Ecological Environment Changes of Mining Areas Around Nansi Lake With Remote Sensing Monitoring
Authors: Liu Hu , Jiang Yan , Misa Rafal , Gao Junhai , Xia Mingyu , Preusse Axel , Sr Anton , Jiang Yue 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Underground mining activity has existed for more than 100 years in Nansi lake. Coal mining not only plays a supporting role in local social and economic development but also has a significant impact on the ecological environment in the region. Landsat series remote sensing data (1988~2019) are used to research the impact of coal mining on the ecological environment in Nansi lake. Then Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier is applied to extract the water area of the upstream lake from 1988 to 2019, and ecological environment and spatiotemporal variation characteristics are analyzed by Remote Sensing Ecology Index (RSEI). The results illustrate that the water area change is associated with annual precipitation. Compared with 2009, the ecological quality of the lake is worse in 2019, and then the reason for this change is due to large-scale underground mining. Therefore, the coal mines from the natural reserve may be closed or limited to the mining boundary for protecting the lake's ecological environment.
miR-429 Suppresses Proliferation and Migration in Glioblastoma Cells and Induces Cell-cycle Arrest via Modulating Several Target Genes of ERBB Signaling Pathway
Authors: Gheidari Fatemeh , Arefian Ehsan , Kabiri Mahboubeh , Seyedjafari Ehsan , Teimoori-Toolabi Ladan , Soleimani Masoud 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Glioblastoma is aggressive and lethal brain cancer, which is incurable by cancer standard treatments. miRNAs have great potential to be used for gene therapy due to their ability to modulate several target genes simultaneously. We found miR-429 is downregulated in glioblastoma and has several predicted target genes from the ERBB signaling pathway using bioinformatics tools. ERBB is the most over-activated genetic pathway in glioblastoma patients, which is responsible for augmented cell proliferation and migration in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Here we overexpressed miR-429 using lentiviral vectors in GBM U-251 cells and observed that the expression level of several oncogenes of the ERBB pathway, EGFR, PIK3CA, PIK3CB, KRAS, and MYC significantly decreased; as shown by real-time PCR and western blotting. Using the luciferase assay, we showed that miR-429 directly targets MYC, BCL2, and EGFR. In comparison to scrambled control, miR-429 had a significant inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and migration as deduced from MTT and scratch wound assays and induced cell-cycle arrest in flow cytometry. Altogether miR-429 seems to be an efficient suppressor of the ERBB genetic signaling pathway and a potential therapeutic for glioblastoma.
H2O2 Enhances the Anticancer Activity&nbsp;of TMPyP4&nbsp;by ROS-mediated Mitochondrial Dysfunction and DNA Damage
Authors: Chen Jianqiang , Jin Xiangxiang , Shen Zhe , Mei Yanan , Zhu Jufang , Zhang Xiaodan , Liang Guang , Zheng Xiaohui 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Cancer is one of the diseases that threatens human health and is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been observed in cancer tissues compared with normal tissues in vivo, and it is not yet known how this influences chemotherapeutic drug action. Cationic porphyrin 5,10,15,20-tetra-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin (TMPyP4) is a photosensitizer used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and a telomerase inhibitor used in the treatment of telomerase-positive cancer. Here, we investigated the anticancer activity of TMPyP4 in A549 and PANC cells cultured in H2O2. The results showed that compared to TMPyP4 alone, the combination of TMPyP4 and H2O2 exhibited sensitization effects on cell viability and colony formation inhibition and apoptosis in A549 and PANC cells but had no effect in human normal MIHA cells. Mechanistically, the combination of TMPyP4 and H2O2 activates high ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential in A549 and PANC cells, resulting in intense DNA damage and DNA damage responses. Consequently, compared to TMPyP4 alone, TMPyP4 and H2O2 combined treatment upregulates the expression of BAX, cleaved caspase 3, and p-JNK, and downregulates the expression of Bcl-2 in A549 and PANC cells. Taken together, these data suggested that H2O2 enhanced the anticancer activity of TMPyP4-mediated ROS-dependent DNA damage and related apoptotic protein regulation, revealing that the high ROS tumor microenvironment plays an important role in chemotherapeutic drug action.
Association of Serum Vitamin D Status with gestational diabetes mellitus and other laboratory parameters in early pregnant women
Authors: Luo Caihong , Li Zhiju , Lu Yunya , Wei Fang , Suo Dongmei , Lan Shiyan , Ren Zhengyuan , Jiang Runchang , Huang Fang , Chen Aiyue , Jiang Liejun , Huang Huayi , Guo Xiaoling 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Pregnant women develop certain metabolic alterations and substantial nutrient insufficiency, which may impact fetus development. Reports on the association of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D, VD) status with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is still controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association of serum VD status with GDM and other laboratory parameters in early pregnant women.Methods: A total of 1516 pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Maternal serum VD and other laboratory parameters—including hematology, coagulation, chemistry, and bone density—were measured utilizing various analytical methods in clinical laboratory at gestational weeks 11 to 14. Serum VD level was subsequently correlated with blood glucose and other laboratory parameters.Results: The average VD concentration was 59.12 ± 12.5 nmol/L. None of the study subjects had VD <25 nmol/L; 434 (28.6%) women had VD <50 nmol/L, and 200 women (13.2%) had VD ≥75 nmol/L. There were 264 (17.4%) women diagnosed with GDM. There was not, however, a correlation between serum VD and GDM in early pregnancy. Interestingly, women with more parity and high serum alkaline phosphatase levels had higher serum VD levels. There was a positive correlation between serum VD and pre-albumin, activated partial thromboplastin time, and a negative correlation between serum VD, creatinine, and thrombin time.Conclusions: There was no correlation between maternal serum VD and GDM in early pregnant women. There were, however, associations between serum VD and parity, serum alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, pre-albumin, and coagulation factors, which need further study to explain their pathophysiology and clinical significance.
Acupuncture Promoted the Recovery of the Neural Plasticity Functions and the Repair of Neural Plasticity-Related Proteins in the Prefrontal Cortex of CUMS-induced Depressed Rats
Authors: Huang Wenya , Li Peng , Cheng Wen-jing , Huang Yang , Chen Wenjie , Chen Yiping , Wu Xinnan , Huang Yanxun , Yan Yining , Meng Xianjun 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Acupuncture therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine has been widely believed as a complementary treatment for depression with numerous clinic and research reports. However, mechanisms of neural plasticity about the positive effects of acupuncture still rarely reported. The purpose of our paper aim to investigate the efficiency of acupuncture in curing depressive-like behaviors and discuss the mechanism underling neural plasticity and its related proteins BDNF/PSD95/SYN/PKMZ in prefrontal cortex.Methods: 32 rats with the same baseline were divided into 4 groups at random: control group(8rats), model group(8rats), acupuncture group(8rats) and flouxetine group(8rats). Depression rat models were induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress combined with single cage isolation for 6 weeks. Acupuncture group and fluoxetine group then give 3-weeks treatment during the later 3weeks of modeling procedure. The open field test (OFT), elevated-plus-maze (EPM) and sucrose preference test (SPT) were executed to estimate the depressive behaviors. The number of nerve cells, the length of dendrites, and the spines density in prefrontal cortex were observed by Golgi staining. The expression of prefrontal cortex BDNF, PSD95, SYN and PKMZ protein were detected by western blot and their related mRNA were detected by RT-PCR.Results: Acupuncture could alleviate depressive-like behaviors and promote the recovery of the neural plasticity functions in prefrontal cortex, which exerted similar antidepressant effect as fluoxetine, increasing cells number, prolonging the dendrites length, enhancing the spine density. Conclusion: Acupuncture therapy could alleviate depressive-like behaviors which may contribute to the recovery of the neural plasticity functions and the repair of neural plasticity-related proteins BDNF/PSD95/SYN/PKMZ in the prefrontal cortex of CUMS-induced depressed rats.
Novel Core-Shell Structured Ironbark-Like TiO2 as Fillers for Excellent Discharged Energy Density of Nanocomposites
Authors: Wu Zhijie , Hou Yafei , Chen Hui , Du Peng , Luo Laihui , Li Weiping 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The perpendicular orientation of nanowires to electric fields would greatly improve the breakdown strengths (Eb) of polymer-based nanocomposites, however, the relatively small polarization at small filler fraction, and thus the unsatisfactory discharged energy density (Ud), greatly restrict their further application. In this study, x vol.% TO@TO/PVDF nanocomposites with superior energy storage performances have been fabricated, where the ironbark-like TiO2 fillers (TO@TO) with core-shell structures lead to greatly enhanced polarization and Eb simultaneously. The former is due to the coupling effects of the increased interfacial polarization, the latter is due to the enhanced path tortuosity of electric tree growing at small TO@TO fraction. Strikingly, an excellent Ud of 13.1 J/cm3 was achieved in the 1.5 vol % TO@TO/PVDF nanocomposite at 383 MV/m, which is greatly increased by 220% compared with that of pure PVDF (5.98 J/cm3). The primary results might provide a strategy to design and fabricate nanocomposites with satisfactory energy storage performances as well as the flexible and easy-processing ability at small filler fraction.
The Prevalence and Severity of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Among Medical Undergraduate Students of Arsi University and Their Association With Substance Use, Southeast Ethiopia.
Authors: Melaku Leta , Bulcha Guta , Worku Deresa 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Mental health problems can negatively impact physical and psychological well-being of junior medical students and predisposes them to many unhealthy behaviors.Objective: We aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety and stress among medical undergraduate students of Arsi University and their association with substance use. Materials and Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted on 265 medical students that were selected by systematic random sampling. Data were collected by pre-tested self-administrative questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS-21 software. Logistic regression analysis were employed and statistical significance was accepted at p<0.05.Result: In the present study, 5 questionnaires were rejected for incompleteness giving response rate of 98.1%. The current prevalence rate of depression, anxiety, stress, khat chewing, cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking was found to be 52.3%, 60.8%, 40.4%, 21.5%, 15.4% and 33.8% respectively. Depression was significantly associated with monthly income, residency and alcohol drinking. Anxiety was associated with gender, marital status, educational year, residency and cigarette smoking. Stress was significantly associated with monthly income, educational year, residency, khat chewing, and drinking alcohol. Conclusion: To sum up, depression, anxiety and stress are common problems among medical students of Arsi University. Monthly income, residency and alcohol drinking were identified as risk factors of both depression and stress. Furthermore, educational year and khat chewing were also risk factors for stress. Finally, identified risk factors of anxiety were gender, marital status, educational year, residency and cigarette smoking. Therefore, counseling and awareness creation are recommended.
Evaluation of Molecular and Morphological Diversity of Capparis Spinosa
Authors: Mahmodi Noshin , Sharifi-Sirchi Gholam-Reza , Cheghamirza Kianoosh 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The objective of this study was the evaluation of molecular and morphological diversity among 80 caper (Capparis spinosa L.) genotypes from the 12 regions of the central Zagros Mountains located in the west of Iran. The results showed a high level of morphological genetic variation among the caper samples. According to the morphological cluster analysis, 80 genotypes were clustered into five main groups. The 15 factors justiﬁed 78.7 % of the total variation based on factor analysis. ISSR primers produced a total of 108 polymorphic bands (85.04%) from 127 bands and the PIC for primers ranged from 0.01 to 0.52. SCoT primers produced a total of 165 polymorphic bands (86.84%) from 190 bands and the PIC for primers ranged from 0.06 to 0.55. Ordination and cluster analysis by ISSR markers showed that the genetic relationships among all accessions could be separated into three major groups and by SCoT markers separated into six groups. The results did not show a perfect match between the molecular diversity groupings and geographical regions, because many natural factors and human activities shape the amount and pattern of genetic diversity in a plant population. SCoT markers were more informative than ISSR markers for the assessment of genetic diversity of caper germplasm. The combined (ISSR+SCoT) markers haven't shown more information of genetic diversity than single analysis of ISSR and SCoT. The results indicated the existence of dispersion and different levels of morphological variation and molecular genetic diversity in the genotypes collected from west of Iran.