bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plasma hemoglobin: A method comparison of six assays for hemoglobin and hemolysis index measurement
Authors: Calvaresi Emilia C. , La’ulu Sonia L. , Snow Taylor M. , Allison Tiffany R. , Genzen Jonathan R. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIntroductionPlasma hemoglobin (Hb) is measured for assessment of in vivo and in vitro hemolysis. The objective of the present investigation was to conduct a method comparison of five quantitative and one semi‐quantitative Hb and H‐index (hemolysis index) assays to evaluate their performance measuring plasma Hb in clinical specimens.MethodsOne hundred and fourteen clinical specimens previously tested for plasma Hb using a laboratory‐developed spectrophotometric assay were also tested for Hb using a HemoCue Plasma/Low Hb assay (azide methemoglobin), a laboratory‐modified Pointe Scientific Hb assay (cyanmethemoglobin), tested for H‐index measurements using a Roche cobas c501, an Abbott Architect c8000, and a semi‐quantitative (binned) H‐index measurement on a Beckman AU5800. The reference result was defined as the median Hb score (median of all Hb or H‐index results).ResultsThe laboratory‐developed spectrophotometric Hb assay and Roche H‐index methods mostly closely matched the median Hb score across all data, as well as for lower range median Hb score results ≤2.0 g/L. Two‐way frequency table analysis using an Hb (or H‐index) cutoff of 0.5 g/L (or 0.5 H‐index units) was then performed to compare methods to the median Hb score cutoff. The Beckman method had the highest accuracy at this cutoff, the Roche and Abbott methods had the highest positive predictive value (PPV), and the Beckman, HemoCue, and Pointe methods had the highest negative predictive value (NPV).ConclusionsPlasma Hb and H‐index results vary by method. Laboratories should evaluate the performance characteristics of their respective assays when considering adoption of spectrophotometric or chemical methods for plasma Hb assessment.
Insight into different host range of three planthoppers by transcriptomic and microbiomic analysis
Authors: Yan X.‐T. , Ye Z.‐X. , Wang X. , Zhang C.‐X. , Chen J.‐P. , Li J.‐M. , Huang H.‐J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBrown planthopper (BPH), white‐backed planthopper (WBPH) and small brown planthopper (SBPH), are the closely related rice pests that perform differentially on wheat plants. Using fecundity as a fitness measure, we found that SBPH well‐adapted on wheat plants, followed by WBPH, while BPH had the worst performance. The transcriptomic responses of SBPH and BPH to wheat plants have been compared previously. To understand the different fitness mechanisms of three planthoppers, this study first investigated the transcriptomic responses of WBPH to rice and wheat plants. Genes involved in detoxification, transportation and proteasome were significantly enriched in WBPH in response to different diets. Moreover, comparative analysis demonstrated that most co‐regulated genes in BPH and SBPH showed different expression changes; whereas most co‐regulated genes in BPH and WBPH exhibited similar expression changes. Subsequently, this study also investigated the influences of host plants on the bacterial community of three planthoppers. The three planthoppers harboured distant diversity of bacterial communities. However, there was no dramatic change in bacterial diversity or relative abundance in planthoppers colonized on different hosts. This study illustrates generic and species‐specific changes of three rice planthoppers in response to different plants, which deepen our understanding towards the host fitness for planthopper species.
Beyond Economics: the Family, Belonging and Remittances among the Bangladeshi Migrants in Los Angeles
Authors: Mahmud Hasan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis paper presents a study exploring how migrants’ belonging shapes their remittances among Bangladeshi migrants in Los Angeles. Based on migrants’ perception, the paper recognizes the centrality of the family and origin community in migrants’ remittances both in the NELM and in the transnational perspectives. It empirically investigates migrants’ belonging and recognizes their membership in their parents’ family, their own nuclear family, joint family including siblings with their respective families, extended family including multiple generations and a community of origin. It finds migrants’ belonging simultaneously to the destination and origin countries, and also confirms the presence of ‘friction’ in such belonging, indicative of both cooperation and conflict in migrants’ remittances allowing for explaining changes in their remittances such as remittances decay and resurgence. This study offers guideline for further empirical research on migrants’ transnationalism and remittances with policy implications regarding the developmental consequences of remittances.
What do immigrants make of immigration policies? Insights from interviews with Venezuelans in Chile
Authors: Doña‐Reveco Cristián , Gouveia Lourdes 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn this article, we build on qualitative data from 37 in‐depth interviews with Venezuelan immigrants in Chile, collected in 2017 and 2018, to explore how they make sense of sudden immigration policy changes made by the Sebastián Piñera government in mid‐2018. Linked to these perceptions, we explore our interviewees’ attitudes towards other immigrant groups. We contend that, while immigrant participation in policymaking often is a normatively desired form of inclusion, immigrant perceptions of other immigrants and of immigration policy are not uniform. We find that immigrants can have very negative perceptions of other immigrants, favouring restrictive policies. Immigrants influence the contexts of reception for newcomers, and—in the case of Chile—they have voting and political rights that places them in a position of casting some influence over immigration policies. Studying the Venezuelan case is particularly illuminating, as this immigration was considered a desirable or acceptable immigration.
Effectiveness of mindfulness‐based intervention on psychotic symptoms for patients with schizophrenia: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Liu Yu‐Chen , Li I‐Ling , Hsiao Fei‐Hsiu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAimsTo evaluate the effects of mindfulness‐based intervention on psychotic symptoms, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and rehospitalization.DesignA meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials.Data SourcesMedline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PsycINFO, CINAHL, National Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations in Taiwan, and Airiti Library were searched from their earliest available date up to April 2019.Review MethodsThe guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration were followed to report this systematic review. Two authors conducted this meta‐analysis independently.ResultsNine randomized controlled trials were included. Meta‐analysis showed that mindfulness‐based intervention significantly decreased psychotic symptoms, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, depressive symptoms, and duration of rehospitalization among patients with schizophrenia, and that the reduction in negative symptoms lasted through short‐term follow‐up. The moderation analysis showed that significantly decreased positive symptoms occurred in the nurse‐led intervention group, while no significant impact was found in the psychologist‐led intervention group.ConclusionThe psychotic symptoms of the patients with schizophrenia are improved after mindfulness‐based intervention and the effects on the negative symptoms can be maintained for at least 3 to 6 months. Mindfulness‐based intervention provided by nurses produces more improvements in positive symptoms than intervention provided by psychologists.ImpactA growing number of mindfulness‐based interventions have been implemented for patients with schizophrenia, although the effectiveness had not previously been established by meta‐analysis. Mindfulness‐based interventions appear to reduce the symptom severity of schizophrenia patients. Further suggestions for healthcare providers and researchers are provided and discussed.
A selection signatures study among Middle Eastern and European sheep breeds
Authors: Eydivandi Sirous , Roudbar Mahmoud Amiri , Ardestani Siavash Salek , Momen Mehdi , Sahana Goutam 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSelection, both natural and artificial, leaves patterns on the genome during domestication of animals and leads to changes in allele frequencies among populations. Detecting genomic regions influenced by selection in livestock may assist in understanding the processes involved in genome evolution and discovering genomic regions related to traits of economic and ecological interests. In the current study, genetic diversity analyses were conducted on 34,206 quality‐filtered SNP positions from 450 individuals in 15 sheep breeds, including six indigenous breeds from the Middle East, namely Iranian Balouchi, Afshari, Moghani, Qezel, Karakas and Norduz, and nine breeds from Europe, namely East Friesian Sheep, Ile de France, Mourerous, Romane, Swiss Mirror, Spaelsau, Suffolk, Comisana and Engadine Red Sheep. The SNP genotype data generated by the Illumina OvineSNP50 Genotyping BeadChip array were used in this analysis. We applied two complementary statistical analyses, FST(fixation index) and xp‐EHH (cross‐population extended haplotype homozygosity), to detect selection signatures in Middle Eastern and European sheep populations. FSTand xp‐EHH detected 629 and 256 genes indicating signatures of selection, respectively. Genomic regions identified using FSTand xp‐EHH contained the CIDEA, HHATL, MGST1, FADS1, RTL1 and DGKG genes, which were reported earlier to influence a number of economic traits. Both FSTand xp‐EHH approaches identified 60 shared genes as the signatures of selection, including four candidate genes (NT5E, ADA2, C8A and C8B) that were enriched for two significant Gene Ontology (GO) terms associated with the adenosine metabolic procedure. Knowledge about the candidate genomic regions under selective pressure in sheep breeds may facilitate identification of the underlying genes and enhance our understanding on these genes role in local adaptation.
Construction of co‐expression modules related to survival by WGCNA and identification of potential prognostic biomarkers in glioblastoma
Authors: Zhou Jing , Guo Hao , Liu Likun , Hao Shulan , Guo Zhi , Zhang Fupeng , Gao Yu , Wang Zhi , Zhang Weiwei 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant brain tumour with poor prognosis. The potential pathogenesis and therapeutic target are still need to be explored. Herein, TCGA expression profile data and clinical information were downloaded, and the WGCNA was conducted. Hub genes which closely related to poor prognosis of GBM were obtained. Further, the relationship between the genes of interest and prognosis of GBM, and immune microenvironment were analysed. Patients from TCGA were divided into high‐ and low‐risk group. WGCNA was applied to the high‐ and low‐risk group and the black module with the lowest preservation was identified which could distinguish the prognosis level of these two groups. The top 10 hub genes which were closely related to poor prognosis of patients were obtained. GO analysis showed the biological process of these genes mainly enriched in: Cell cycle, Progesterone‐mediated oocyte maturation and Oocyte meiosis. CDCA5 and CDCA8 were screened out as the genes of interest. We found that their expression levels were closely related to overall survival. The difference analysis resulted from the TCGA database proved both CDCA5 and CDCA8 were highly expressed in GBM. After transfection of U87‐MG cells with small interfering RNA, it revealed that knockdown of the CDCA5 and CDCA8 could influence the biological behaviours of proliferation, clonogenicity and apoptosis of GBM cells. Then, single‐gene analysis was performed. CDCA5 and CDCA8 both had good correlations with genes that regulate cell cycle in the p53 signalling pathway. Moreover, it revealed that high amplification of CDCA5 was correlated with CD8+ T cells while CDCA8 with CD4+ T cells in GBM. These results might provide new molecular targets and intervention strategy for GBM.
Knockout of MYOM1 in human cardiomyocytes leads to myocardial atrophy via impairing calcium homeostasis
Authors: Hang Chengwen , Song Yuanxiu , Li Ya’nan , Zhang Siyao , Chang Yun , Bai Rui , Saleem Amina , Jiang Mengqi , Lu Wenjing , Lan Feng , Cui Ming 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMyomesin‐1 (encoded by MYOM1 gene) is expressed in almost all cross‐striated muscles, whose family (together with myomesin‐2 and myomesin‐3) helps to cross‐link adjacent myosin to form the M‐line in myofibrils. However, little is known about its biological function, causal relationship and mechanisms underlying the MYOM1‐related myopathies (especially in the heart). Regrettably, there is no MYMO1 knockout model for its study so far. A better and further understanding of MYOM1 biology is urgently needed. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 gene‐editing technology to establish an MYOM1 knockout human embryonic stem cell line (MYOM1−/− hESC), which was then differentiated into myomesin‐1 deficient cardiomyocytes (MYOM1−/− hESC‐CMs) in vitro. We found that myomesin‐1 plays an important role in sarcomere assembly, contractility regulation and cardiomyocytes development. Moreover, myomesin‐1‐deficient hESC‐CMs can recapitulate myocardial atrophy phenotype in vitro. Based on this model, not only the biological function of MYOM1, but also the aetiology, pathogenesis, and potential treatments of myocardial atrophy caused by myomesin‐1 deficiency can be studied.
Comparative genomic analysis of head and body/tail of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma at early and late stages
Authors: Zhang Xueyou , Feng Shi , Wang Qian , Huang Haitao , Chen Ruihan , Xie Qinfen , Zhang Wu , Wang Aodi , Zhang Shuirong , Wang Lingjian , Yao Ming , Ling Qi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the most lethal human cancers, can be divided into head and body/tail cancers anatomically. We previously reported a prognostic relevance of tumour location in resectable PDAC. This study aimed to further explore the mechanism underlying the molecular diversity between the head and body/tail of PDACs. We detected tumour genomes in 154 resectable (surgery) and non‐resectable (biopsy) PDACs using a next‐generation sequencing panel. Wilcoxon's rank test or Fisher's exact test was used for evaluating associations between clinical characteristics, mutation frequency and survival probability between the two cohorts. Compared with pancreatic head cancers, pancreatic body/tail cancers showed significantly more enriched genomic alterations in KRAS (97.1% vs 82.4%, P = 0.004) and SMAD4 (42.0% vs 21.2%, P = 0.008). At early stages (I‐II), the SMAD4 mutation rate was significantly higher in pancreatic body/tail cancers than pancreatic head cancers (56.0% vs 26.5%, P = 0.021). At late stages (III‐IV), pancreatic body/tail cancers presented significantly higher KRAS mutation rate (100.0% vs 75.8%, P = 0.001), higher frequency of MAPK pathway mutation (100% vs 87.8%, P = 0.040) and lower rates of druggable genomic alterations (30.8% vs 57.6%, P = 0.030) than pancreatic head cancers. Our work points out that pancreatic body/tail cancer seems to be more malignant than pancreatic head cancer at late stages.
Exploring the five different genes associated with PKCα in bladder cancer based on gene expression microarray
Authors: Zhang Xiaotong , Zhang Jiarun , Zhang Hao , Liu Yang , Yin Lei , Liu Xi , Li Xuejie , Yu Xiuyue , Yao Jinlong , Zhang Zhe , Kong Chuize 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMuch progress has been made in understanding the mechanism of bladder cancer (BC) progression. Protein kinase C‐α (PKCα) is overexpressed in many kinds of cancers. Additionally, PKCα is considered an oncogene that regulates proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis and cell cycle in multiple cancers. However, the mechanism underlying how these cellular processes are regulated by PKCα remains unknown. In the present study, we used PKCα siRNA to knock down PKCα gene expression and found that down‐regulation of PKCα could significantly inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion and induce apoptosis and G1/S cell cycle arrest in vitro. Overexpression of PKCα promotes tumour growth in vivo. We applied cDNA microarray technology to detect the differential gene expression in J82 cells with PKCα knockdown and found that five key genes (BIRC2, BIRC3, CDK4, TRAF1 and BMP4) were involved in proliferation and apoptosis according to GO analysis and pathway analyses. Correlation analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation between PKCα expression and the expression of five downstream genes. BIRC2 and BIRC3 inhibit apoptosis, whereas CDK4, TRAF1 and BMP4 promote proliferation. Essentially, all five of these target genes participated in proliferation, and apoptosis was regulated by PKCα via the NF‐kB signalling pathway.
Freshening effect on the osmotic response of the Antarctic spiny plunderfish Harpagifer antarcticus
Authors: Vargas‐Chacoff Luis , Dann Francisco , Paschke Kurt , Oyarzún‐Salazar Ricardo , Nualart Daniela , Martínez Danixa , Wilson Jonathan M. , Guerreiro Pedro M. , Navarro Jorge M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractGlobal warming is having a significant impact around the world, modifying environmental conditions in many areas, including in zones that have been thermally stable for thousands of years, such as Antarctica. Stenothermal sedentary intertidal fish species may suffer due to warming, notably if this causes water freshening from increased freshwater inputs. Acute decreases in salinity, from 33 down to 5, were used to assess osmotic responses to environmental salinity fluctuations in Antarctic spiny plunderfish Harpagifer antarcticus, in particular to evaluate if H. antarcticus is able to cope with freshening and to describe osmoregulatory responses at different levels (haematological variables, muscle water content, gene expression, NKA activity). H. antarcticus were acclimated to a range of salinities (33 as control, 20, 15, 10 and 5) for 1 week. At 5, plasma osmolality and calcium concentration were both at their lowest, while plasma cortisol and percentage muscle water content were at their highest. At the same salinity, gill and intestine Na+‐K+‐ATPase (NKA) activities were at their lowest and highest, respectively. In kidney, NKA activity was highest at intermediate salinities (15 and 10). The salinity‐dependent NKA mRNA expression patterns differed depending on the tissue. Marked changes were also observed in the expression of genes coding membrane proteins associated with ion and water transport, such as NKCC2, CFTR and AQP8, and in the expression of mRNA for the regulatory hormone prolactin (PRL) and its receptor (PRLr). Our results demonstrate that freshening causes osmotic imbalances in H. antarcticus, apparently due to reduced capacity of both transport and regulatory mechanisms of key organs to maintain homeostasis. This has implications for fish species that have evolved in stable environmental conditions in the Antarctic, now threatened by climate change.
Concomitant use of an immunomodulator with ustekinumab as an induction therapy for Crohn's disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yoshihara Takeo , Shinzaki Shinichiro , Amano Takahiro , Iijima Hideki , Takehara Tetsuo , Inoue Nagamu , Uchino Motoi , Esaki Motohiro , Kobayashi Taku , Saruta Masayuki , Sugimoto Ken , Nakamura Shiro , Hata Keisuke , Hirai Fumihito , Hiraoka Sakiko , Fujii Toshimitsu , Matsuura Minoru , Matsuoka Katsuyoshi , Watanabe Kenji , Nakase Hiroshi , Watanabe Mamoru 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackground and aimUstekinumab (UST), a fully humanized monoclonal antibody against the p40 subunit of interleukin‐12/23, is effective for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). The benefit of concomitant use of an immunomodulator (IM) with UST, however, is unclear. This study aimed to provide a systematic review and meta‐analysis comparing the efficacy and safety of concomitant use of an IM with UST as an induction therapy for CD patients.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed using PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, and the Japana Centra Revuo Medicina from inception to October 31, 2019. The main outcome measure was achievement of clinical efficacy (remission, response, and clinical benefit) at 6–12 weeks. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the risk of bias in non‐randomized studies of interventions (ROBINS‐I) tools. The fixed‐effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratios.ResultsFrom 189 yielded articles, six including a total of 1507 patients were considered in this meta‐analysis. Concomitant use of an IM with UST was significantly effective than UST monotherapy as an induction therapy (pooled odds ratio in the fixed‐effects model: 1.35, 95% confidence interval [1.06–1.71], P = 0.015). The heterogeneity among studies was low (I2 = 2.6%). No statistical comparisons of the occurrence of adverse events between UST monotherapy and concomitant use of an IM with UST were performed.ConclusionThe efficacy of concomitant use of an IM with UST as an induction therapy for CD was significantly superior to that of monotherapy with UST.
Older Adults without Desired Surrogates in a Nationally Representative Sample
Authors: Cohen Andrew B. , Costello Darcé M. , OʼLeary John R. , Fried Terri R. 
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESLittle is known about older adults who have intact capacity but do not have a desired surrogate to make decisions if their capacity becomes impaired.DESIGNCross‐sectional study of a nationally representative sample.SETTINGNational Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP), 2005–2006.PARTICIPANTSCommunity‐dwelling older adults without known cognitive impairment, aged 57 to 85, interviewed as part of NSHAP (n = 2,767).MEASUREMENTSWe examined demographic, medical, and social connectedness characteristics associated with answering “no” to this question: “Do you have someone who you would like to make medical decisions for you if you were unable, as for example if you were seriously injured or very sick?” Because many states permit nuclear family to make decisions for persons with no legally appointed health care agent, we used logistic regression to identify factors associated with individuals who were ill suited to this paradigm in the sense that they had nuclear family but did not have a desired surrogate.RESULTSAmong NSHAP respondents, 7.5% (95% confidence interval = 6.4–8.7) did not have a desired surrogate. Nearly 90% of respondents without desired surrogates had nuclear family. Compared with respondents with desired surrogates, those without desired surrogates had lower indicators of social connectedness. On average, however, they had four confidants, approximately 70% socialized at least monthly, and more than 90% could discuss their health with a confidant. Among respondents who had nuclear family, few characteristics distinguished those with and without desired surrogates.CONCLUSIONNearly 8% of older adults did not have a desired surrogate. Most had nuclear family and were not socially disconnected. Older adults should be asked explicitly about a desired surrogate, and strategies are needed to identify surrogates for those who do not have family or would not choose family to make decisions for them.