bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of Parameters for Standardization of Duckweed (Lemna Minor L.) Raw Material
Authors: Nikiforov L. N. , Krivoshchekov S. V. , Kolomiets N. E. , Kadyrova T. V. , Isaikina N. V. , Abramets N. Y. , Bezverkhniaia E. A. , Belousov M. V. 
Published: February 2021

Introduction.Lemna minor L. (duckweed) refers to the duckweed subfamily (Lemnaceae S. F. Gray) and widely distributed in ponds of Russia. Literature data confirm the possibility of harvesting significant volumes of this raw material in natural habitat and grown in aquaculture. The process of biosynthetic accumulation in duckweed fronds provides a variety of compounds with a wide spectrum of biological activity. Therefore, the use of raw materials Lemna minor L. is promising for the development of drugs and parapharmaceutical products. Thus, it is an urgent task to quantify active components of duckweed and standardize (determination of criteria for identification, quality and safety) plant material.Aim.Establish macro- and microscopic characteristics of raw materials and develop methods for the quantitative determination of the main groups of biologically active substances (BAS) for standardization of raw duckweed.Materials and methods.Samples of duckweed was collected in natural habitats of Western Siberia. Macro- and microscopic assay, HPLC, UV-spectrometry were used in research process.Results and discussion.Were established the criteria for identification of duckweed fronds by studying external (macroscopic) and microscopic features of raw material Lemna minor L. Was developed and validated the procedure of the quantitative determination of phenolcarboxylic acids in raw material Lemna minor L.Conclusion.The study of external (macroscopic) and microscopic features provided the criteria for identification of the raw material Lemna minor L. The technique for the quantitative analysis of polysaccharides using gravimetry does not need validation, because is a direct method of substance measurement. Was validated quantification method of phenolcarboxylic acids (in terms of chlorogenic acid) by criteria of linearity, repeatability, in-laboratory precision and accuracy. Was established quality criteria for identification and quantitative assay, which can be used in the draft for normative documents for medicinal plant raw material of Lemna minor L. «Duckweed fronds».
Capacitação de agentes de ATER em processos de formação em agroecologia na Região Sudeste do Brasil
Authors: Gollo Alexandre Magno Lopes , Oliveira Marcelo Leles Romarco de 
Published: February 2021

Este artigo tem por objetivo trazer reflexões sobre a formação de profissionais no campo da agroecologia para trabalhar nos serviços de Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural (ATER) com base em uma nova perspectiva sociotécnica. Para isso, foi realizada uma pesquisa de campo entre os anos de 2016 a 2018 junto a profissionais vinculados a instituições públicas e organizações sociais com atuação na prestação de serviços de ATER nos estados da Região Sudestes do Brasil (Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais e São Paulo). Os autores recorrem a um debate sobre Extensão Rural e suas conexões com a transição para a agroecologia, como um de seus princípios fundamentais, incorporado à Política Nacional de Assistência Técnica e Extensão Rural (PNATER), ainda que relativizado pela Lei 12.188/2010, que adotou o termo agricultura de base ecológica em substituição ao viés agroecológico. Os resultados alcançados através das diferentes estratégias de formação implementadas na região estudada são apresentados e discutidos em detalhe. No que tange à formação de agentes de Ater no âmbito da Agroecologia, observou-se que este referencial é tratado como uma abordagem científica, viva, interativa e interpelada, que busca reconhecer em seus protagonistas, sobretudo em agricultores familiares e suas organizações, um papel importante para o desenvolvimento rural do campo brasileiro.
Detection of DENV-2 and Insect-Specific Flaviviruses in Mosquitoes Collected From Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Fang Yuan , Tambo Ernest , Xue Jing-Bo , Zhang Yi , Zhou Xiao-Nong , Khater Emad I. M. 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundMosquito-borne diseases are rapidly spreading due to increasing international travel and trade. Routine mosquito surveillance and screening for mosquito-borne pathogens can be early indicators for local disease transmission and outbreaks. However, arbovirus detection in mosquito vectors has rarely been reported in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA total of 769,541 Aedes and Culex mosquitoes were collected by Black Hole traps during routine mosquito surveillance in the first half of 2016. Culex. quinquefasciatus and Ae. aegypti were the most prevalent species observed. Twenty-five and 24 randomly selected pools of Ae. aegypti and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively, were screened for arboviruses by RT-PCR.ResultsDengue 2 (DENV-2) and four strains of insect-specific flaviviruses, including one of cell-fusing agent virus (CFAV) and three of Phlebotomus-associated flavivirus (PAFV) were detected in pools of Ae. aegypti. We also detected 10 strains of Culex flavivirus (CxFV) in pools of Cx. quinquefasciatus. Phylogenetic analysis using whole genome sequences placed the DENV strain into the cosmopolitan 1 sub-DENV-2 genotype, and the CxFVs into the African/Caribbean/Latin American genotype. These analyses also showed that the DENV-2 strain detected in the present study was closely related to strains detected in China in 2014 and in Japan in 2018, which suggests frequent movement of DENV-2 strains among these countries. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis suggested at least five introductions of DENV-2 into Saudi Arabia from 2014 through 2018, most probably from India.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this study reports the first detection of four arboviruses DENV, CFAV, PAFV, and CxFV in mosquitoes in Saudi Arabia, which shows that they are co-circulating in Jeddah. Our findings show a need for widespread mosquito-based arbovirus surveillance programs in Saudi Arabia, which will improve our understanding of the transmission dynamics of the mosquito-borne arboviruses within the country and help early predict and mitigate the risk of human infections and outbreaks.
Sex-Specific Patterns of Mortality Predictors Among Patients Undergoing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Tokodi Márton , Behon Anett , Merkel Eperke Dóra , Kovács Attila , Tősér Zoltán , Sárkány András , Csákvári Máté , Lakatos Bálint Károly , Schwertner Walter Richard , Kosztin Annamária , Merkely Béla 
Published: February 2021

Background: The relative importance of variables explaining sex-related differences in outcomes is scarcely explored in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We sought to implement and evaluate machine learning (ML) algorithms for the prediction of 1- and 3-year all-cause mortality in CRT patients. We also aimed to assess the sex-specific differences in predictors of mortality utilizing ML.Methods: Using a retrospective registry of 2,191 CRT patients, ML models were implemented in 6 partially overlapping patient subsets (all patients, females, or males with 1- or 3-year follow-up). Each cohort was randomly split into training (80%) and test sets (20%). After hyperparameter tuning in the training sets, the best performing algorithm was evaluated in the test sets. Model discrimination was quantified using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUC). The most important predictors were identified using the permutation feature importances method.Results: Conditional inference random forest exhibited the best performance with AUCs of 0.728 (0.645–0.802) and 0.732 (0.681–0.784) for the prediction of 1- and 3-year mortality, respectively. Etiology of heart failure, NYHA class, left ventricular ejection fraction, and QRS morphology had higher predictive power, whereas hemoglobin was less important in females compared to males. The importance of atrial fibrillation and age increased, while the importance of serum creatinine decreased from 1- to 3-year follow-up in both sexes.Conclusions: Using ML techniques in combination with easily obtainable clinical features, our models effectively predicted 1- and 3-year all-cause mortality in CRT patients. Sex-specific patterns of predictors were identified, showing a dynamic variation over time.
Atmospheric and Oceanographic Forcing Impact Particle Flux Composition and Carbon Sequestration in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: A Three-Year Time-Series Study in the Deep Ierapetra Basin
Authors: Pedrosa-Pamies Rut , Parinos Constantine , Sanchez-Vidal Anna , Calafat Antoni , Canals Miquel , Velaoras Dimitris , Mihalopoulos Nikolaos , Kanakidou Maria , Lampadariou Nikolaos , Gogou Alexandra 
Published: February 2021

Sinking particles are a critical conduit for the export of organic material from surface waters to the deep ocean. Despite their importance in oceanic carbon cycling, little is known about the biotic composition and seasonal variability of sinking particles reaching abyssal depths. Herein, sinking particle flux data, collected in the deep Ierapetra Basin for a three-year period (June 2010 to June 2013), have been examined at the light of atmospheric and oceanographic parameters and main mass components (lithogenic, opal, carbonates, nitrogen, and organic carbon), stable isotopes of particulate organic carbon (POC) and source-specific lipid biomarkers. Our aim is to improve the current understanding of the dynamics of particle fluxes and the linkages between atmospheric dynamics and ocean biogeochemistry shaping the export of organic matter in the deep Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Overall, particle fluxes showed seasonality and interannual variability over the studied period. POC fluxes peaked in spring April–May 2012 (12.2 mg m−2 d−1) related with extreme atmospheric forcing. Summer export was approximately fourfold higher than mean wintertime, fall and springtime (except for the episodic event of spring 2012), fueling efficient organic carbon sequestration. Lipid biomarkers indicate a high relative contribution of natural and anthropogenic, marine- and land-derived POC during both spring (April–May) and summer (June–July) reaching the deep-sea floor. Moreover, our results highlight that both seasonal and episodic pulses are crucial for POC export, while the coupling of extreme weather events and atmospheric deposition can trigger the influx of both marine labile carbon and anthropogenic compounds to the deep Levantine Sea. Finally, the comparison of time series data of sinking particulate flux with the corresponding biogeochemical parameters data previously reported for surface sediment samples from the deep-sea shed light on the benthic–pelagic coupling in the study area. Thus, this study underscores that accounting the seasonal and episodic pulses of organic carbon into the deep sea is critical in modeling the depth and intensity of natural and anthropogenic POC sequestration, and for a better understanding of the global carbon cycle.
Prolactin Is Associated With Insulin Resistance and Beta-Cell Dysfunction in Infertile Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Yang Haiyan , Lin Jie , Li He , Liu Zhangwei , Chen Xia , Chen Qianqian 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundOur study aimed to investigate if serum prolactin (PRL) levels associated with insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in infertile patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).MethodsThis was a retrospective cross-sectional study performed in the reproductive medicine center of the first affiliated hospital of Wenzhou Medical University. From January 2007 to August 2018, a total of 792 PCOS and 700 non-PCOS infertile women were included. All patients’ prolactin levels were in the normal range. PCOS was diagnosed according to the Rotterdam Criteria. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, serum prolactin levels, sex hormones, fasting lipids, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin (FINS) and hepatic biological parameters were measured in all subjects.ResultsSerum prolactin levels in PCOS women were significantly decreased compared with levels in non-PCOS women after adjusting for age and BMI (P &lt; 0.05). Moreover, we found that prolactin levels were positively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and negatively associated with age, BMI, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), luteinizing hormone/follicle stimulating hormone (LH/FSH), estradiol (E2), FINS, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), homeostasis model assessment of β (HOMA-β), triglyceride (TG) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (P &lt; 0.05). After adjusting for age and BMI, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that LH, LH/FSH, E2, FINS, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-β were negatively associated with serum PRL (P &lt; 0.05).ConclusionsLow serum PRL levels within the normal range associates with a higher incidence of insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in infertile women with PCOS.
Prevalence of Obesity and Its Impact on Outcome in Patients With COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Helvaci Nafiye , Eyupoglu Nesrin Damla , Karabulut Erdem , Yildiz Bulent Okan 
Published: February 2021

Background and ObjectiveObesity has been reported as a risk factor for adverse outcomes in COVID-19. However, available studies presenting data on obesity prevalence in patients with COVID-19 have conflicting results. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the prevalence of obesity in these patients and to stratify the estimates by illness severity.MethodsWe performed a literature search with the use of Medline/PubMed and Google Scholar database from December 1, 2019 to June 27, 2020 and systematically reviewed studies reporting the number of obese patients with real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.ResultsNineteen studies were identified. The pooled obesity prevalence rates were 0.32 (95% CI: 0.24–0.41) in hospitalized patients, 0.41 (95% CI: 0.36–0.45) in patients admitted to intensive care unit, 0.43 (95% CI: 0.36–0.51) in patients needing invasive mechanic ventilation (IMV), and 0.33 (95% CI: 0.26–0.41) in those who died. Obesity was associated with a higher risk for hospitalization [Odds ratio (OR): 1.3, 95% CI: 1.00–1.69; I2 52%, p = 0.05], ICU admission (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.16–1.97; I2 72%, p = 0.002), and IMV requirement (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.34–2.35; I2 0%, p &lt; 0.001). The increase in risk of death did not reach statistical significance (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.76–2.16, p = 0.35) which might be due to obesity survival paradox and/or unidentified factors.ConclusionsOur data indicate that obese subjects may be at higher risk for serious illness if infected and obesity may play a role in the progression of COVID-19.
A Duty Cycle Controlled ZVS Buck Converter With Voltage Doubler Type Auxiliary Circuit
Authors: Basharat Sana , Awan Saeed Ehsan , Akhtar Rizwan , Hussain Alamdar , Iqbal Shahid , Shah Sayyar Ali , Yuan Aihua 
Published: February 2021

DC–DC converters have wide applications in industries, motor drive circuits, electric vehicles, and power supplies. In traditional converters hard switching occurs due to switching losses. This imposes constraints on the converter’s efficiency which results in heat dissipation and reduction in the converter’s life. The proposed converter aims to encounter the hard switching problem with the provision of soft switching features. The presented topology is efficient with respect to the features of cost, compact size and durable lifetime of converter topology with the provision of low switching stresses. This research work proposes a novel stepdown converter with zero voltage switching characteristics. With the use of half bridge inverter switches and series resonant components in the auxiliary circuit, the target of zero voltage switching and reduction in switching stresses has been achieved. The proposed 500 W converter is designed to operate at frequency of 100 KHz with 300 V source input voltage. Output voltage of the converter is 150 V.
Two Novel Compound Heterozygous Mutations in the TRAPPC9 Gene Reveal a Connection of Non-syndromic Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Krämer Johannes , Beer Meinrad , Bode Harald , Winter Benedikt 
Published: February 2021

IntroductionAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in communication, social interaction, and repetitive behavior. Up to 70% of ASD cases are linked with intellectual disability (ID). The major genetic causes for ASD and ID are largely unknown, however, a shared genetic etiology between ASD and ID must be assumed. The trafficking protein particle complex subunit 9 (TRAPPC9) is highly expressed in postmitotic neurons of the cerebral cortex, playing a key role in development. Among 43 reported cases with mutations in TRAPPC9, all (100%) showed ID and developmental delay. Among the cases including information about ASD, 26% were affected (19 cases with information, among them 5 with ASD). Nevertheless, in some cases not classified as ASD, descriptions of autistic features like hand-flapping movements were present.Clinical FindingsThe affected individual presented with delay of speech development. Physical development was normal. Besides lateral slope of the eye-lid axis no facial abnormalities were evident. The individual was diagnosed with ID and ASD by structured testing. Cerebral MRI revealed associated abnormalities.Genetical FindingsThe chromosome set was 46,XY without structural changes. Array-CGH showed a normal molecular karyotype (arr(1-22)x2,(X,Y)x1). PCR for the FMR1 gene showed 41 ± 1 CGG repeats, and therefore no evidence of fragile X syndrome. A panel diagnostic for syndromal ID (CASK, EP300, HIVEP2, KIF1A, TRAPPC9) revealed two structural changes in TRAPPC9 in the compound heterozygosity. The mutations c.1678C &gt; T (p.Arg560Cys) and c.3370C &gt; T (p.Pro1124Ser) are classified as missense mutations and are both not described in the literature.ConclusionWe report two new missense mutations in the TRAPPC9 gene in one individual with ID and ASD. The TRAPPC9 gene should be part of the diagnostic assessment in ID. ASD must be considered as a feature of TRAPPC9-associated ID. It might have been neglected in the literature and should result in specific testing for ASD in affected individuals.
Renal Involvement and HBV Infection Are Common in Chinese Patients With Cryoglobulinemia
Authors: Bai Wei , Zhang Lixia , Zhao Jiuliang , Zhang Shangzhu , Zhou Jiaxin , Leng Xiaomei , Liu Zhengyin , Ye Wenling , Han Bing , Tian Xinping , Li Mengtao , Zhao Yan , Zeng Xiaofeng 
Published: February 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the main characteristics of Chinese patients with cryoglobulinemia, especially the characteristics of patients with different causes of cryoglobulinemia.Methods: Eighty inpatients diagnosed with cryoglobulinemia from different wards in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, biological, and renal pathological data were collected. We analyzed the characteristics of 61 patients with different causes of cryoglobulinemia.Results: Most patients (36/80, 45%) were diagnosed between 40 and 60 years of age. The male: female ratio was 1:1.5. Mixed (II + III) cryoglobulinemia accounted for the majority (43.8%) of cases. Renal involvement (87.5%), cutaneous involvement (57.5%), and fever (27.5%) were the most common clinical manifestations, while other manifestations included serositis and pulmonary and gastrointestinal involvement. The most common renal histopathological pattern was membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (25/42, 59.5%). The secondary causes of cryoglobulinemia included infectious diseases (26/61, 32.5%), such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, and connective tissue diseases (22/61, 27.5%), such as lupus and hematologic tumors (13/61, 16.3%). Patients with hematologic tumors were diagnosed at an older age (P = 0.044) and mostly had type I cryoglobulinemia (P &lt; 0.001). No significant difference in clinical or biological manifestations was found among patients with different causes of cryoglobulinemia.Conclusions: This is the largest cohort of Chinese patients with cryoglobulinemia. We found that renal involvement and HBV infection might be more common in Chinese patients with cryoglobulinemia.
Bortezomib Sustains T Cell Function by Inducing miR-155-Mediated Downregulation of SOCS1 and SHIP1
Authors: Renrick Ariana N. , Thounaojam Menaka C. , de Aquino Maria Teresa P. , Chaudhuri Evan , Pandhare Jui , Dash Chandravanu , Shanker Anil 
Published: February 2021

Suppressive mechanisms operating within T cells are linked to immune dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment. We have previously reported using adoptive T cell immunotherapy models that tumor–bearing mice treated with a regimen of proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib - a dipeptidyl boronate, show increased antitumor lymphocyte effector function and survival. Here, we identify a mechanism for the improved antitumor CD8+T cell function following bortezomib treatment. Intravenous administration of bortezomib at a low dose (1 mg/kg body weight) in wild-type or tumor-bearing mice altered the expression of a number of miRNAs in CD8+T cells. Specifically, the effect of bortezomib was prominent on miR-155 - a key cellular miRNA involved in T cell function. Importantly, bortezomib–induced upregulation of miR-155 was associated with the downregulation of its targets, the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase (SHIP1). Genetic and biochemical analysis confirmed a functional link between miR-155 and these targets. Moreover, activated CD8+T cells treated with bortezomib exhibited a significant reduction in programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) expressing SHIP1+phenotype. These data underscore a mechanism of action by which bortezomib induces miR-155–dependent downregulation of SOCS1 and SHIP1 negative regulatory proteins, leading to a suppressed PD-1–mediated T cell exhaustion. Collectively, data provide novel molecular insights into bortezomib–mediated lymphocyte–stimulatory effects that could overcome immunosuppressive actions of tumor on antitumor T cell functions. The findings support the approach that bortezomib combined with other immunotherapies would lead to improved therapeutic outcomes by overcoming T cell exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment.