bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RETRACTED ARTICLE: GAS5 knockdown alleviates spinal cord injury by reducing VAV1 expression via RNA binding protein CELF2
Authors: Wang Dan , Xu Xiaoxiao , Pan Junwei , Zhao Shixin , Li Yu , Wang Zhen , Yang Jiahao , Zhang Xi , Wang Yisheng , Liu Ming 
Published: February 2021

AbstractLong non-coding RNA growth arrest specific transcript 5 (GAS5) has been found to be implicated in the pathogenesis of central nervous diseases and to be a contributor to hypoxic brain injury. However, the roles and molecular mechanisms of GAS5 in spinal cord injury (SCI) have not thoroughly investigated. Here, we reported that GAS5 knockdown improved rat locomotor function and alleviated pathological damage of spinal cord tissues by reducing oxidative stress, caspase-3 activity and vav guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (VAV1) expression in SCI rat models. GAS5 knockdown inhibited the increase of malondialdehyde (MDA) level and cell apoptotic rate induced by oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) and weakened the inhibitory effects of OGD on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and cell viability in RN-Sc cells, suggesting that GAS5 loss mitigated OGD-triggered oxidative stress and cell injury in RN-Sc cells. Molecular mechanism explorations revealed that GAS5 recruited CUGBP, Elav-like family member 2 (CELF2) to the coding region of VAV1 mRNA, resulting in the increase of VAV1 mRNA stability and expression levels. VAV1 knockdown weakened OGD-induced oxidative stress and cell injury in RN-Sc cells. VAV1 loss alleviated GAS5-induced oxidative stress and cell injury in OGD-treated RN-Sc cells. As a conclusion, our findings suggested that GAS5 aggravated SCI by increasing VAV1 expression via binding with CELF2, deepening our understanding on function and molecular basis of GAS5 in SCI.
X-ray diffraction analysis of matter taking into account the second harmonic in the scattering of powerful ultrashort pulses of an electromagnetic field
Authors: Eseev M. K. , Goshev A. A. , Makarova K. A. , Makarov D. N. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIt is well known that the scattering of ultrashort pulses (USPs) of an electromagnetic field in the X-ray frequency range can be used in diffraction analysis. When such USPs are scattered by various polyatomic objects, a diffraction pattern appears from which the structure of the object can be determined. Today, there is a technical possibility of creating powerful USP sources and the analysis of the scattering spectra of such pulses is a high-precision instrument for studying the structure of matter. As a rule, such scattering occurs at a frequency close to the carrier frequency of the incident USP. In this work, it is shown that for high-power USPs, where the magnetic component of USPs cannot be neglected, scattering at the second harmonic appears. The scattering of USPs by the second harmonic has a characteristic diffraction pattern which can be used to judge the structure of the scattering object; combining the scattering spectra at the first and second harmonics therefore greatly enhances the diffraction analysis of matter. Scattering spectra at the first and second harmonics are shown for various polyatomic objects: examples considered are 2D and 3D materials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and hybrid structures consisting of nanotubes. The theory developed in this work can be applied to various multivolume objects and is quite simple for X-ray structural analysis, because it is based on analytical expressions.
A machine learning approach to identify the universality of solitary perturbations accompanying boundary bursts in magnetized toroidal plasmas
Authors: Lee J. E. , Seo P. H. , Bak J. G. , Yun G. S. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractExperimental observations assisted by 2-D imaging diagnostics on the KSTAR tokamak show that a solitary perturbation (SP) emerges prior to a boundary burst of magnetized toroidal plasmas, which puts forward SP as a potential candidate for the burst trigger. We have constructed a machine learning (ML) model based on a convolutional deep neural network architecture for a statistical study to identify the SP as a boundary burst trigger. The ML model takes sequential signals detected from 19 toroidal Mirnov coils as input and predicts whether each temporal frame corresponds to an SP. We trained the network in a supervised manner on a training set consisting of real signals with manually annotated SP locations and synthetic burst signals. The trained model achieves high performances in various metrics on a test data set. We also demonstrated the reliability of the model by visualizing the discriminative parts of the input signals that the model recognizes. Finally, we applied the trained model to new data from KSTAR experiments, which were never seen during training, and confirmed that the large burst at the plasma boundary that can fatally damage the fusion device always involves the emergence of SP. This result suggests that the SP is a key to understanding and controlling of the boundary burst in magnetized toroidal plasmas.
A novel biosensor for the ultrasensitive detection of the lncRNA biomarker MALAT1 in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Chen Mei , Wu Dongming , Tu Shihua , Yang Chaoyin , Chen DeJie , Xu Ying 
Published: February 2021

AbstractLong non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been proposed as diagnostic biomarkers for the screening of non-small cell lung cancer and monitoring disease progression. Accordingly, new, rapid, and cost-effective lncRNA biosensors that can be used clinically are urgently needed. Herein, a novel effective and ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor was developed based on a gold nanocage coupled with an amidated multi-walled carbon nanotube (Au NCs/MWCNT-NH2)-decorated screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE). Because of its large surface area, superior conductivity, and excellent biocompatibility, this SPCE Au NCs/MWCNT-NH2 lncRNA biosensor showed a wide linear range (10–7–10–14 M) and low limit of detection limit (42.8 fM) coupled with satisfactory selectivity and stability. Compared to traditional RT-PCR, the proposed method exhibits acceptable stability, good selectivity, is simpler to operate, has faster detection, and uses less costly raw materials. In summary, this biosensor may be a powerful tool for detecting lncRNAs for efficient clinical prognosis and cancer diagnosis.
Oxidation state and metasomatism of the lithospheric mantle beneath the Rae Craton, Canada: strong gradients reflect craton formation and evolution
Authors: Woodland Alan B. , Gräf Carolin , Sandner Theresa , Höfer Heidi E. , Seitz Hans-Michael , Pearson D. Graham , Kjarsgaard Bruce A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe present the first oxidation state measurements for the subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) beneath the Rae craton, northern Canada, one of the largest components of the Canadian shield. In combination with major and trace element compositions for garnet and clinopyroxene, we assess the relationship between oxidation state and metasomatic overprinting. The sample suite comprises peridotite xenoliths from the central part (Pelly Bay) and the craton margin (Somerset Island) providing insights into lateral and vertical variations in lithospheric character. Our suite contains spinel, garnet-spinel and garnet peridotites, with most samples originating from 100 to 140 km depth. Within this narrow depth range we observe strong chemical gradients, including variations in oxygen fugacity (ƒO2) of over 4 log units. Both Pelly Bay and Somerset Island peridotites reveal a change in metasomatic type with depth. Observed geochemical systematics and textural evidence support the notion that Rae SCLM developed through amalgamation of different local domains, establishing chemical gradients from the start. These gradients were subsequently modified by migrating melts that drove further development of different types of metasomatic overprinting and variable oxidation at a range of length scales. This oxidation already apparent at ~ 100 km depth could have locally destabilised any pre-existing diamond or graphite.
Determination of the composition of heterogeneous binder solutions by surface plasmon resonance biosensing
Authors: Gaudreault Jimmy , Liberelle Benoît , Durocher Yves , Henry Olivier , De Crescenzo Gregory 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSurface plasmon resonance-based biosensors have been extensively applied to the characterization of the binding kinetics between purified (bio)molecules, thanks to robust data analysis techniques. However, data analysis for solutions containing multiple interactants is still at its infancy. We here present two algorithms for (1) the reliable and accurate determination of the kinetic parameters of N interactants present at different ratios in N mixtures and (2) the estimation of the ratios of each interactant in a given mixture, assuming that their kinetic parameters are known. Both algorithms assume that the interactants compete to bind to an immobilized ligand in a 1:1 fashion and necessitate prior knowledge of the total concentration of all interactants combined. The effectiveness of these two algorithms was experimentally validated with a model system corresponding to mixtures of four small molecular weight drugs binding to an immobilized protein. This approach enables the in-depth characterization of mixtures using SPR, which may be of considerable interest for many drug discovery or development applications, notably for protein glycovariant analysis.
Defensive proclivity of bacoside A and bromelain against oxidative stress and AChE gene expression induced by dichlorvos in the brain of Mus musculus
Authors: Bist Renu , Chaudhary Bharti , Bhatt D. K. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe objective of current study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of bacoside A and bromelain against dichlorvos induced toxicity. The healthy, 6–8 weeks old male Swiss mice were administered in separate groups subacute doses of dichlorvos (40 mg/kg bw), bacoside A (5 mg/kg bw) and bromelain (70 mg/kg bw). In order to determination of oxidative stress in different groups, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyl content (PCC) were studied in the present investigation. Moreover, for toxic manifestation at molecular level the site-specific gene amplification of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) gene was studied in the brain. Nonetheless, the protective effects of bacoside A and bromelain were also evaluated on the TBARS, PCC and AChE gene. The exposure of dichlorvos leads to significant increase in TBARS level (p < 0.01, p < 0.001) and PCC. Besides, the decline in DNA yield, expression of amplified products of AChE gene was observed in the brain of dichlorvos treated group. The bacoside A and bromelain treatments significantly decreased the level of TBARS (p < 0.05, (p < 0.01) and PCC whereas, increase in the DNA yield and expression of amplified AChE gene products were observed in the brain compared to only dichlorvos treated mice. The overall picture which emerged after critical evaluation of results indicated that the dichlorvos induced oxidative stress and alteration in AChE gene expression showed significant improvement owing to the treatments of bacoside A and bromelain. Thus, bacoside A and bromelain are very effective in alleviating neurotoxicity induced by dichlorvos.
Reproducibility of 3D scanning in the periorbital region
Authors: Hollander Maria H. J. , Kraeima Joep , Meesters Anne M. L. , Delli Konstantina , Vissink Arjan , Jansma Johan , Schepers Rutger H. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe reproducibility of scanning in the periorbital region with 3D technology to enable objective evaluations of surgical treatment in the periorbital region was assessed. Facial 3D-scans of 15 volunteers were captured at different time points with a handheld Artec Space Spider structured light scanner. Two scans were made with a one minute interval and repeated after 1 year; for both a natural head position and with the head in a fixation-device. On assessing the area between the eyelashes and eyebrows, the medians of the average deviations between the various cross-sections of the one minute interval 3D-scans ranged from 0.17 to 0.21 mm at baseline, and from 0.10 to 0.11 mm when the minute-interval scanning was repeated one year later. The systematic differences when scanning in a natural head position and fixated position were comparable. The reproducibility of the 3D processing was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.9). The repeated scanning deviations (baseline versus one year data) were well within the accepted clinical threshold of 1 mm. Scanning with a hand-held 3D-scanning device (Artec Space Spider) is a promising tool to assess changes in the periorbital region following surgical treatment since the median deviations are well below the clinically accepted 1 mm measuring error, for both the natural head and fixated positions.
Upper body estimation of muscle forces, muscle states, and joint motion using an extended Kalman filter
Authors: Mohammadi Hanieh , Khademi Gholamreza , Simon Dan , van den Bogert Antonie J. , Richter Hanz 
Published: February 2021

This study synthesises modelling techniques and dynamic state estimation techniques for the simultaneous estimation of the muscle states, muscle forces, and joint motion states of a dynamic human arm model. The estimator considers both muscle dynamics and motion dynamics. The arm model has two joints and six muscles and contains dynamics both of the muscles and of the motion. We develop an optimally tuned extended Kalman filter using noisy measurements of joint angles with standard deviation 2.87, of joint velocities with standard deviation 6.9/s, and of muscle activations with standard deviation 10% of their peak values, and then simultaneously estimate joint angles, joint velocities, muscle forces, joint moments, and muscle states. The standard deviations of estimation errors (SDEE) are no more than 0.07° for joint angles, 1/s for joint velocities, 0.6 mm for muscle–tendon lengths, and 0.1 Nm for joint torques. The results are compared with a previously developed static optimisation method, and verify the effectiveness of the proposed estimator in providing lower SDEE for both muscle and motion dynamics of the human arm model compared to the static optimisation method.
In‐situ seeding synthesis of walnut kernel‐like Ag nanostructures with highly efficient SERS performance
Authors: Dong Lihong 
Published: February 2021

By an in‐situ seeding synthetic route, with biocompatible reagents being used, walnut kernel‐like Ag nanostructures (Ag nanowalnuts) composed of nanoplates were fabricated. The in‐situ formation of seeds and introduction of complex [Ag3(C6H5O7)n+1]3n−were indispensable steps for this kind of self‐assembled nanostructure. The size of Ag nanowalnuts was in the range of 200–400 nm and the thickness of a single nanoplate was about 30 nm. The morphology of nanoplates was of variety, and their surface was bumpy. Such Ag nanostructures with rough surface and high curvature provided plenty of ‘hot spots’ on a single particle for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) enhancement. Experimental results indicated that the Ag nanowalnuts offered great surface enhancement for 4‐mercaptobenzoic acid and malachite green molecules. The limit of detection was low to 10−10 and 10−8 M, respectively.
Effects of anisotropy on absorption cross-section spectra of medium-sized spheroidal corundum particles
Authors: Höfer S. , Mutschke H. , Mayerhöfer Th. G. 
Published: February 2021

Context. It has been widely accepted that corundum particles condense in the atmospheres of oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch stars and effectively produce an infrared emission feature at 13 μm. Laboratory experiments have predicted that these particles have the shape of oblate spheroids.
Aims. We investigate the influence of the material anisotropy of uniaxial corundum on absorption cross section spectra of medium sized spheroidal particles in the infrared spectral region.
Methods. We compared absorption cross-section spectra of the anisotropic corundum particles gained by finite-difference time-domain simulations to spectra calculated by a weighted sum approximation of the according fictive isotropic materials, with one material having the dielectric function of the a–b-plane and the other having the dielectric function of the c-axis of corundum. We carried out investigations for different axes ratios of the spheroids, particles volumes, and different geometries of the dielectric axes to the particle axes as well as to the polarization and propagation direction of the incident light.
Results. We observed several effects attributed to anisotropy that are non-additive, so that they cannot be reproduced with the combined spectra of the isotropic materials.
Conclusions. Care should be taken when calculating the corundum infrared spectrum with simpler approaches. When particle sizes above 1 μm are to be considered, the T-matrix formalism delivers correct band shifts and bulk modes for many, but not all bands. This remains true in orientation-averaged spectra and for particles in the 0.1 μm size range.
Analyse von Muskelverletzungen und „Return-to-Training“ im Elite-Taekwondo – Ergebnisse einer prospektiven Kohortenstudie über einen Zeitraum von 5 Jahren
Authors: Rüther Johannes , Willauschus Maximilian , Hammer Alexander , Schröder Jörg , Bail Hermann Josef , Geßlein Markus 
Published: February 2021

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund Muskelverletzungen finden sich häufig in Sprint- und Kontaktsportarten mit explosiven Bewegungsmustern. Bisher liegen keine detaillierten Daten zu Muskelverletzungen im olympischen Taekwondo vor, obwohl in dieser Sportart die Muskulatur der unteren Extremitäten physiologisch extrem stark beansprucht wird.
Methoden Alle im Training und Wettkampf erlittenen Verletzungen von 76 Athleten eines nationalen olympischen Trainingszentrums wurden über einen Zeitraum von 5 Jahren prospektiv erfasst. Die Daten zur Lokalisation der Muskelverletzungen und dem Zeitraum bis zum „Return-to-Training“ wurden retrospektiv ausgewertet. Die Klassifikation der Verletzungen erfolgte mittels British Athletes Muscle Injury Classification System im MRT. Der Zusammenhang zwischen den Untergruppen der MRT-Klassifikation und dem Zeitraum bis zum „Return-to-Training“ wurde untersucht.
Ergebnisse Das Durchschnittsalter der Athleten betrug 22,5 ± 3,2 (16–27) Jahre mit einer mittleren Taekwondo-Praxis von 12,1 ± 4,0 (7–20) Jahren. Am häufigsten betroffen war die ischiocrurale Muskelgruppe (48,4 %), gefolgt vom M. quadriceps femoris (32,3 %) und der Wadenmuskulatur (9,6 %). Die Auswertung der MRT-Klassifikation ergab am häufigsten leichtgrade Muskelverletzungen Grad 1 (3,3 %) und 2 (41,9 %). Es zeigte sich eine positive Korrelation (r = 0,56) zwischen den Subgruppen der MRT-Klassifikation und den Ausfallzeiten der Athleten. Der Vergleich der Ausfallzeiten zwischen den Subgruppen war ebenfalls signifikant unterschiedlich (p < 0,0001).
Zusammenfassung Die ischiocrurale Muskelgruppe ist neben dem M. quadriceps im Taekwondo am häufigsten von Muskelverletzungen betroffen. Am häufigsten wurden indirekte, leichtgradige Muskelverletzungen gefunden (Grad 1–2). Die Ausfallzeit nimmt mit zunehmendem Schweregrad der Verletzung im MRT signifikant zu.
When the ship comes in – COVID-19-Ausbrüche an Bord von Frachtschiffen im Hamburger Hafen
Authors: von Münster Thomas , Kleine-Kampmann Scarlett , Hewelt Elisabeth , Boldt Matthias , Schlaich Clara , Strölin Petra , Oldenburg Marcus , Dirksen-Fischer Martin , Harth Volker 
Published: February 2021

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGSeit Dezember 2019 hält das SARS-CoV-2-Virus die Welt in Atem. Die maritime Welt wird von der Pandemie vielfältig getroffen. Reiserestriktionen schränken den Nachschub von z. B. Ersatzteilen ein und behindern den Crewwechsel massiv. Reguläre und irreguläre Kontakte zur Bevölkerung der jeweiligen Häfen ermöglichen einen Eintrag des Virus in das Schiff. Beengte Lebensverhältnisse an Bord tragen zu einer Ausbreitung des Virus bei. Wir berichten über 2 Ausbruchsgeschehen an Bord von Frachtschiffen, die in ihrer Komplexität die infektionsepidemiologischen Herausforderungen schlaglichtartig beleuchten.
Sulfation of Quercitrin, Epicatechin and Rutin by Human Cytosolic Sulfotransferases (SULTs): Differential Effects of SULT Genetic Polymorphisms
Authors: Mei Xue , Gohal Saud A. , Alatwi Eid S. , Hui Ying , Yang Chunyan , Song Yongyan , Zhou Chunyang , Liu Ming-Cheh 
Published: February 2021

AbstractRadix Bupleuri is one of the most widely used herbal medicines in China for the treatment of fever, pain, and/or chronic inflammation. Quercitrin, epicatechin, and rutin, the flavonoids present in Radix Bupleuri, have been reported to display anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidant biological activities among others. Sulfation has been reported to play an important role in the metabolism of flavonoids. In this study, we aimed to systematically identify the human cytosolic sulfotransferase enzymes that are capable of catalyzing the sulfation of quercitrin, epicatechin, and rutin. Of the thirteen known human cytosolic sulfotransferases, three (cytosolic sulfotransferase 1A1, cytosolic sulfotransferase 1C2, and cytosolic sulfotransferase 1C4) displayed sulfating activity toward quercitrin, three (cytosolic sulfotransferase 1A1, cytosolic sulfotransferase 1A3, and cytosolic sulfotransferase 1C4) displayed sulfating activity toward epicatechin, and six (cytosolic sulfotransferase 1A1, cytosolic sulfotransferase 1A2, cytosolic sulfotransferase 1A3, cytosolic sulfotransferase 1B1, cytosolic sulfotransferase 1C4, and cytosolic sulfotransferase 1E1) displayed sulfating activity toward rutin. The kinetic parameters of the cytosolic sulfotransferases that showed the strongest sulfating activities were determined. To investigate the effects of genetic polymorphisms on the sulfation of quercitrin, epicatechin, and rutin, individual panels of cytosolic sulfotransferase allozymes previously prepared were analyzed and shown to display differential sulfating activities toward each of the three flavonoids. Taken together, these results provided a biochemical basis underlying the metabolism of quercitrin, epicatechin, and rutin through sulfation in humans.