bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidemiological Survey and Screening Strategy for Dengue Virus in Blood Donors from Yunnan Province
Authors: LI LING , LI YING , Lu Shaofang , Dong Jing , Xu Haixia , Zhang Qian , Weng Rong , Yin Yundi , He Rui , Fang Peng , Shi Hua , Yu Yinghan , Wu Ji , Liu Zhong , Hess John R. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
BACKGROUND Dengue virus (DENV) infection is increasingly common in southern China and can be transmitted through blood transfusion but is not currently part of donor screening throughout the region. We assessed DENV prevalence among donors at the Xishuangbanna Blood Center, Yunnan, to support development of DENV screening strategies.METHODS Blood samples were collected randomly between June 2019 and August 2019. These were screened for anti-DENV IgG and IgM using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then, all reactive samples and some randomly-chosen non-reactive samples were used to detect DENV RNAs using real-time polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assays. After RT-PCR, samples were further tested for soluble nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) using the colloidal gold method. Donors demographics were also collected and assessed.RESULTS Over the study period, 2,254 donor samples were collected and tested for anti-DENV IgG and IgM by ELISA. This revealed 598 anti-DENV IgG and/or IgM reactive samples, a serological prevalence of 26.53%. Of these, 26 were RT-PCR positive and/or NS1 positive. Significant differences in DENV prevalence were noted by occupation (P=0.001), education (P<0.001), and ethnicity (P=0.026).CONCLUSION The prevalence of DENV in Xishuangbanna Blood Center was higher than most other blood centers that have implemented DENV donor screening. Our study provides first-hand data about the prevalence of DENV and allows the development of a screening strategy for clinical use.
Conditioned medium from primary cytotrophoblasts, primary placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells, or sub-cultured placental tissue promoted HUVECs angiogenesis in vitro
Authors: ma haiying , Jiang Shenglu , Du Lili , Liu Jinfang , Xu Xiaoyan , Lu Xiaomei , Ma Ling , Zhu Hua , Wei Jun , YU Yanqiu 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background As a large capillary network, the human placenta plays an important role throughout pregnancy. Placental vascular development is complex and delicate and involves many types of placental cells, such as trophoblasts, and mesenchymal stem cells. There has been no systematic, comparative study on the roles of these two groups of placental cells and the whole placental tissue in the placental angiogenesis. In this study, primary cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) from early-pregnancy and primary human placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPDMSCs) from different stages of pregnancy were selected as the cell research objects, and full-term placental tissue was selected as the tissue research object to detect the effects of their conditioned medium (CM) on HUVECs angiogenesis. Methods We successfully isolated primary hPDMSCs and CTBs, collected CM from these placental cells and sub-cultured placental tissue, and then evaluated the effects of the CM on a series of angiogenic processes in HUVECs in vitro. Furthermore, we measured the levels of angiogenic factors in the CM of placental cells or tissue by an angiogenesis antibody array. Results The results showed that not only placental cells but also sub-cultured placental tissue, to some extent, promoted HUVECs angiogenesis in vitro by promoting proliferation, adhesion, migration, invasion, and tube formation. We also found that primary placental cells in early pregnancy, whether CTBs or hPDMSCs, played more significant roles than those in full-term pregnancy. Placental cells-derived CM collected at 24 hours or 48 hours had the best effect and sub-cultured placental tissue-derived CM collected at 7 days had the best effect among all the different time points. The semiquantitative angiogenesis antibody array showed that 18 of the 43 angiogenic factors had obvious spots in placental cells-derived CM or sub-cultured placental tissue-derived CM, and the levels of 5 factors (including CXCL-5, GRO, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1) were the highest in sub-cultured placental tissue-derived CM. Conclusions CM obtained from placental cells (primary CTBs or hPDMSCs) or sub-cultured placental tissue contained proangiogenic factors and promoted HUVECs angiogenesis in vitro. Therefore, our research is helpful to better understand placental angiogenesis regulation and provides theoretical support for the clinical application of placental components, especially sub-cultured placental tissue-derived CM, in vascular tissue engineering and clinical treatments.
NOX1 inhibition attenuates the development of a pro-tumorigenic environment in experimental hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Vandierendonck Astrid , Degroote Helena , Vanderborght Bart , Verhelst Xavier , Geerts Anja , Devisscher Lindsey , Vlierberghe Hans Van 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background The poor prognosis of advanced HCC and limited efficacy of current systemic treatments emphasize the need for new or combined targeted therapies. The development of HCC is a multistage process in which liver injury appears in a complex microenvironment associated with oxidative stress. NOX enzymes are the main source of ROS during hepatocarcinogenesis and NOX1 in particular has shown correlation with poor prognosis of HCC patients. This study evaluates the effect of pharmacological NOX1 inhibition on the development and progression of HCC and its effect on the tumor microenvironment.Methods The in vitro cytotoxic effects of the NOX1 inhibitor GKT771 (Genkyotex) on human Huh7 and Hep3B and murine Hepa1-6 HCC cell lines, the human THP1 monocyte cell line and mouse macrophages were evaluated via MTT, LDH activity and CaspGlo® assays. In order to induce in vivo HCC, male SV129 wild-type mice received weekly IP injections of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) (35 mg/kg) for 20-25 weeks. Mice were treated with vehicle or GKT771 (30 mg/kg) via oral gavage, daily or twice daily, in preventive and therapeutic studies. The liver damage was evaluated for inflammation, angiogenesis, fibrosis and HCC development via histology, RT-qPCR, multiplex analyses and ROS levels. Results A concentration-dependent reduction in cellular activity of the human HCC cell lines without cytotoxicity was observed. GKT771 treatment reduced LPS-induced pro-inflammatory bone-marrow derived macrophage polarization. DEN injections resulted in 100% tumor formation and the induction of HCC markers which could be reduced by twice daily dosing of GKT771 at early onset of advanced HCC. DEN-induced HCC resulted in an upregulation of pro-inflammatory, angiogenic and fibrotic markers which was less pronounced in GKT771 treated mice in all treatment regimens. In line, liver fibrosis was induced in HCC mice and this to a lesser extend upon GKT771 treatment.Conclusion NOX1 inhibition showed to be safe and well tolerated and was able to attenuate the induction of a pro-inflammatory, angiogenic and pro-fibrotic microenvironment suggesting that this might be a promising adjuvant therapeutic strategy in the treatment of advanced HCC.
Analysis of IL-1β, CXCL8, and TNF-α levels in the crevicular fluid of patients with periodontitis or healthy implants
Authors: Aleksandrowicz Paweł , Brzezińska-Błaszczyk Ewa , Kozłowska Elżbieta , Żelechowska Paulina , Borgonovo Andrea Enrico , AGIER JUSTYNA 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Our study aimed to assess the level of IL-1β, CXCL8, and TNF-α in peri-implant sulcular fluid (PISF) collected from patients with no clinical symptoms of mucositis or peri-implantitis and compare them with cytokine concentration in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) acquired from patients with healthy periodontium and those with varying severity of periodontitis. Methods: A total of 189 subjects were included in the study, and GCF/PISF samples were checked for IL-1β, CXCL8, and TNF-α levels using an ELISA test.Results: The IL-1β level in PISF in patients with implants was significantly lower than in GCF in patients with mild, moderate, or severe periodontitis. The CXCL8 level in PISF was considerably lower than in patients with moderate periodontitis. The TNF-α level in PISF in patients with implants was markedly higher compared to subjects with healthy periodontium or patients with mild periodontitis. Conclusion: Analysis of cytokine levels may help describe the pathogenesis and early diagnosis of peri-implantitis and prevision in high-risk patients.
Evaluation of the MGIT 960/EpiCenter TB eXiST system for drug susceptibility testing for Mycobacterium abscessus complex
Authors: CARVALHO Natalia de , LEÃO Sylvia , Bombarda Sidney , Arbeit Robert D , CHIMARA Erica 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Drug susceptibility testing (DST) of the Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) and other rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria by conventional broth microdilution (BMD) is complicated due to inducible resistance to clarithromycin and other technical factors. The goals of this study were to develop a protocol for performing DST of MABSC clinical isolates on the BACTEC MGIT 960/Epicenter TB eXiST and provide an initial assessment of its reliability and utility.Methods: M. abscessus ATCC19977 was used as the reference strain for developing the protocol and as the internal control for DST done by BMD method per CLSI guidelines plus resazurin. Both methods were applied to 31 MABSC clinical isolates submitted to our reference center. Genotyping was performed for the rrl and erm(41) genes known to impact clarithromycin resistance phenotype.Results: The 31 MABSC isolates included 14 M. abscessus subsp. abscessus, 8 M. abscessus subsp. massiliense, and 9 M. abscessus subsp. bolletii. By standard BMD method, a high percentage of the isolates were resistant to cefoxitin (93.5%) and imipenem (100%), and sensitive to amikacin (96.7%). Comparing microplate and MGIT 960 results across those 93 pairs of results (31 isolates x 3 antibiotics), 75 (80.6%) were concordant and the remaining 18 (19.4%) represented minor errors; there were no major or very major errors. Concordance was 100% for amikacin, 84% for imipenem, and 58% for cefoxitin. Clarithromycin DST by microplate and MGIT 960 both identified 14 (45.2%) isolates as susceptible. Microplate identified 3 (9.6%) isolates as resistant after 3 days incubation, with 14 (45.2%) demonstrating inducible resistance from Day 5 to 14. Among those 17 isolates, the MGIT 960 protocol, without modifications, reported 9 (29.0%) as resistant and 8 (25.8%) as intermediate. For all isolates, the observed clarithromycin susceptibility phenotypes were consistent with the genotypes. Conclusion: This study details the development of a DST protocol for MABSC isolates using the MGIT 960/Epicenter TB eXiST system. Based on direct comparison with the standard BMD, the protocol provided highly reliable results, including, without further modification, detection of isolates with inducible-resistance to clarithromycin. These findings support proceeding to the multi-laboratory collaborative study required for validation of the protocol.
Effect of different thermal stimuli on improving microcirculation in the contralateral foot
Authors: Ren Weiyan , Xu Liqiang , Zheng Xuan , Pu Fang , Li Deyu , Fan Yubo 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Backgroud: The lower extremities of the body often suffer from impaired microcirculation, particularly in the elderly or people with underlying conditions such as diabetes. Especially for people suffering from peripheral vascular diseases, skin lesions or wearing an external fixator in one side of limbs, direct contact treatments are not suitable for them to improve microcirculation. Heating the contralateral limb has been reported to improve blood flow in the impaired limb. However, its effect on plantar microvascular responses has not been previously investigated. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore how heating by warm bath and infrared radiation affects the circulations in the contralateral foot. Twelve healthy adults participated in this study and were randomly assigned to either placing the left foot in a warm bath or exposing it to infrared radiation for 10 minutes intervention every other day. The skin temperature (Temp) and skin blood flow (SBF) in the second metatarsal head of the contralateral foot were measured before and after the intervention.Results: The results showed that both Temp (Bath: from 29.05±3.56 °С to 31.03±4.14 °С; Infrared: from 29.98±3.86 °С to 31.07±3.92 °С) and SBF (Bath: from 62.26±48.12 PU to 97.76±63.90 PU; Infrared: from 63.37±39.88 PU to 85.27±47.62 PU) in the contralateral foot were significantly increased after heating in both tests (P<0.05). However, the contralateral SBF increased for 5 minutes after heating in warm bath test, but only for 1 minute in infrared radiation test.Conclusions: The results of this study show that both heating methods are the effective at increasing contralateral Temp and SBF, but the warm bath has a stronger residual thermal effect.
Mice with a cleavage-resistant N-cadherin exhibit synapse anomaly in the hippocampus and outperformance in spatial learning tasks
Authors: Asada-Utsugi Megumi , Uemura Kengo , Kubota Masakazu , Noda Yasuha , Tashiro Yasutaka , Uemura Maiko T , Yamakado Hodaka , Urushitani Makoto , Takahashi Ryosuke , Hattori Satoko , Miyakawa Tsuyoshi , Ageta-Ishihara Natsumi , Kobayashi Katsunori , Kinoshita Makoto , Kinoshita Ayae 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
N-cadherin is a homophilic cell adhesion molecule that stabilizes excitatory synapses, by connecting pre- and post-synaptic termini. Upon NMDA receptor (NMDAR) activation by glutamate, membrane-proximal domains of N-cadherin are cleaved serially by a-disintegrin-and-metalloprotease 10 (ADAM10) and then presenilin 1(PS1, catalytic subunit of the γ-secretase complex). To assess the physiological significance of the initial N-cadherin cleavage, we engineer the mouse genome to create a knock-in allele with tandem missense mutations in the mouse N-cadherin/Cadherin-2 gene (Cdh2 R714G, I715D, or GD) that confers resistance on proteolysis by ADAM10 (GD mice). GD mice showed a better performance in the radial maze test, with significantly less revisiting errors after intervals of 30 and 300 sec than WT, and a tendency for enhanced freezing in fear conditioning. Interestingly, GD mice reveal higher complexity in the tufts of thorny excrescence in the CA3 region of the hippocampus. Fine morphometry with serial section transmission electron microscopy (ssTEM) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction reveals significantly higher synaptic density, significantly smaller PSD area, and normal dendritic spine volume in GD mice. This knock-in mouse has provided in vivo evidence that ADAM10-mediated cleavage is a critical step in N-cadherin shedding and degradation and involved in the structure and function of glutamatergic synapses, which affect the memory function.
Parasite genetic diversity reflects continued residual malaria transmission in Vhembe District, a hotspot in the Limpopo Province of South Africa
Authors: Gwarinda Hazel B. , Tessema Sofonias K. , Raman Jaishree , Greenhouse Bryan , Birkholtz Lyn-Marie 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: South Africa aims to eliminate malaria transmission by 2023. However, despite sustained vector control efforts and case management interventions, the Vhembe District remains a malaria transmission hotspot. To better understand Plasmodium falciparum transmission dynamics in the area, this study characterised the genetic diversity of parasites circulating within the Vhembe District.Methods: A total of 1153 falciparum-positive rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) were randomly collected from seven clinics within the district, over three consecutive years (2016, 2017 and 2018) during the wet and dry malaria transmission seasons. Using 26 neutral microsatellite markers, differences in genetic diversity were described using a multiparameter scale of multiplicity of infection (MOI), inbreeding metric (Fws), number of unique alleles (A), expected heterozygosity (He), multilocus linkage disequilibrium (LD) and genetic differentiation, and were associated with temporal and geospatial variances. Results: A total of 747 (65%) samples were successfully genotyped. Moderate to high genetic diversity (mean He = 0.74 ± 0.03) was observed in the parasite population. This was ascribed to high allelic richness (mean A = 12.2 ± 1.2). The majority of samples (99%) had unique multi-locus genotypes, indicating high genetic diversity in the sample set. Complex infections were observed in 66% of samples (mean MOI = 2.13 ± 0.04), with 33% of infections showing high within-host diversity as described by the Fws metric. Low, but significant LD (standardised index of association, ISA = 0.08, P < 0.001) was observed that indicates recombination of distinct clones. Limited impact of temporal (FST range -0.00005 to 0.0003) and spatial (FST = –0.028 to 0.023) variation on genetic diversity existed during the sampling timeframe and study sites respectively. Conclusion: Consistent with the Vhembe District’s classification as a 'high' transmission setting within South Africa, P. falciparum diversity in the area was moderate to high and complex. This study showed that genetic diversity within the parasite population reflects the continued residual transmission observed in the Vhembe District. This data can be used as a reference point for the assessment of the effectiveness of on-going interventions over time, the identification of imported cases and/or outbreaks, as well as monitoring for the potential spread of antimalarial drug resistance.
Oxygen isotope evidence for input of magmatic fluids and precipitation of Au-Ag-tellurides in an otherwise ordinary adularia-sericite epithermal system in NE China
Authors: Gao Shen , Hofstra Albert H. , Zou Xinyu , Valley John W. , Kitajima Kouki , Marsh Erin E. , Lowers Heather A. , Adams David T. , Qin Kezhang , Xu Hong 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Tellurium-rich (Te) adularia-sericite epithermal Au-Ag deposits are an important current and future source of precious and critical metals. However, the source and evolution of ore-forming fluids in these deposits are masked by traditional bulk analysis of quartz oxygen isotope ratios that homogenize fine-scale textures and growth zones. To advance understanding of the source of Te and precious metals, herein, we use petrographic and cathodoluminescence (CL) images of such textures and growth zones to guide high spatial resolution secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) oxygen isotope analyses (10 µm spot) and spatially correlated fluid inclusion microthermometric measurements on successive quartz bands in contemporary Te-rich and Te-poor adularia-sericite (-quartz) epithermal Au-Ag vein deposits in northeastern China. The results show that large positive oxygen isotope shifts from –7.1 to +7.7‰ in quartz rims are followed by precipitation of Au-Ag telluride minerals in the Te-rich deposit, whereas small oxygen isotope shifts of only 4‰ (–2.2 to +1.6‰) were detected in quartz associated with Au-Ag minerals in the Te-poor deposits. Moreover, fluid-inclusion homogenization temperatures are higher in comb quartz rims (avg. 266.4 to 277.5 °C) followed by Au-Ag telluride minerals than in previous stages (~250 °C) in the Te-rich deposit. The Te-poor deposit has a consistent temperature (~245 °C) in quartz that pre- and postdates Au-Ag minerals. Together, the coupled increase in oxygen isotope ratios and homogenization temperatures followed by precipitation of Au-Ag tellurides strongly supports that inputs of magmatic fluid containing Au, Ag, and Te into barren meteoric water-dominated flow systems are critical to the formation of Te-rich adularia-sericite epithermal Au-Ag deposits. In contrast, Te-poor adularia-sericite epithermal Au-Ag deposits show little or no oxygen isotope or fluid-inclusion evidence for inputs of magmatic fluid.
Toward a Working Definition of eCohort Studies in Health Research: Narrative Literature Review
Authors: Nittas Vasileios , Puhan Milo Alan , von Wyl Viktor 
Published: January 2021

Background
The wide availability of internet-connected devices and new sensor technologies increasingly infuse longitudinal observational study designs and cohort studies. Simultaneously, the costly and time-consuming nature of traditional cohorts has given rise to alternative, technology-driven designs such as eCohorts, which remain inadequately described in the scientific literature.

Objective
The aim of this study was to outline and discuss what may constitute an eCohort, as well as to formulate a first working definition for health researchers based on a review of the relevant literature.

Methods
A two-staged review and synthesis process was performed comparing 10 traditional cohorts and 10 eCohorts across the six core steps in the life cycle of cohort designs.

Results
eCohorts are a novel type of technology-driven cohort study that are not physically linked to a clinical setting, follow more relaxed and not necessarily random sampling procedures, are primarily based on self-reported and digitally collected data, and systematically aim to leverage the internet and digitalization to achieve flexibility, interactivity, patient-centeredness, and scalability. This approach comes with some hurdles such as data quality, generalizability, and privacy concerns.

Conclusions
eCohorts have similarities to their traditional counterparts; however, they are sufficiently distinct to be treated as a separate type of cohort design. The novelty of eCohorts is associated with a range of strengths and weaknesses that require further exploration.
Kinerja Pendidikan Dasar Setelah Sembilan Tahun Otonomi Asimetris di Provinsi Papua Barat
Authors: Uswanas Mohammad , Keban Yeremias T. , Hadna Agus Heruanto , Kutanegara Pande Made 
Published: January 2021

Special Autonomy (Otsus) for Papua and West Papua is expected to improve people’s welfare comprehensively. The implementation of Otsus for Papua and West Papua has emphasized on the development or improvement of education, particularly basic education, particularly the basic education. The granting of Otsus status is accompanied by a sufficient financial supports to conduct development programs in both provinces. However, a question has araised which needed to be answered. Did the large financial support could significantly increase the coverage as well as improve the quality of basic education services in West Papua Province? The purpose of this study is to determine the driving and hindering factors of education performance in West Papua Province by utilizing descriptive-evaluative methods and ex-post facto. Secondary data is obtained from relevant institutions and pimary data is obtained from in-depth interviews, participatory observations, document reviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The study reveals that the policy of asymmetric decentralization education in West Papua Province is far from expectations. Factors that hindered the improvement basic education in West Papua Province are policy implementations, standardization of achievements, regional sovereignity in preparing program plans and action plans. Asides from that were specific factors, such as accessibilty, school proximity, geographical constraints and low dedication of teachers.