bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Executive function as measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function‐2: children and adolescents with Williams syndrome
Authors: Greiner de Magalhães C. , Pitts C. H. , Mervis C. B. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundDifficulties with executive functions (EF) are very common among individuals with Williams syndrome (WS). To characterise the pattern of relative strengths and weaknesses in EF for children and adolescents with WS, we considered the performance of a large sample on the parent version of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function‐2 (BRIEF‐2). Associations between distinct components of EF and adaptive behaviour, behaviour problems and intellectual ability were investigated. The concurrent effects of components of behaviour regulation and emotion regulation on attention problems and anxiety problems also were evaluated.MethodsParticipants were 308 6–17‐year‐olds with genetically confirmed classic WS deletions. Parent report of EF was measured by the BRIEF‐2 questionnaire. Most participants (223/308) completed the Differential Ability Scales‐II as a measure of intellectual ability. The parents of these individuals also completed the Child Behavior Checklist and the interview form of the Scales of Independent Behavior‐Revised.ResultsAs a group, the participants evidenced considerable parent‐reported EF difficulty. A profile of relative strength and weakness was found at the index level, with performance on both the Behavior Regulation Index and the Emotion Regulation Index significantly better than performance on the Cognitive Regulation Index. Within each index, a statistically significant pattern of relative strength and weakness also was identified. Difficulties with behaviour regulation and emotion regulation were related to both behaviour problems and adaptive behaviour limitations. Higher inflexibility and more difficulty with self‐monitoring were associated with lower overall intellectual ability. Difficulty with inhibition was uniquely associated with attention problems, and inflexibility was uniquely associated with anxiety problems.ConclusionsExecutive function difficulties are highly prevalent among children and adolescents with WS and are associated with adaptive behaviour limitations, both internalising and externalising behaviour problems and more limited intellectual ability. These results highlight the importance of designing and delivering research‐based interventions to improve the EF of children and adolescents with WS.
Phase III long‐term study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ulipristal acetate in Japanese patients with uterine fibroids
Authors: Osuga Yutaka , Nakano Yasuaki , Yamauchi Yuji , Murakawa Hitoshi 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimTo assess the efficacy and safety of long‐term intermittent administration of 10‐mg ulipristal acetate (UPA) for symptomatic uterine fibroids in Japanese women.MethodsOpen‐label, noncomparative study (Japan Primary Registries Network identifier: JapicCTI‐173737) conducted at 32 gynecological centers (November 2017–December 2019). Premenopausal women diagnosed with uterine fibroids associated with heavy menstrual bleeding received three 12‐week courses of 10‐mg UPA once daily. Amenorrhea, fibroid volume, endometrial histology, and safety were assessed.ResultsOf 155 patients enrolled, 140 received ≥1 dose of UPA and were analyzed. Across all courses, the rates of patients with amenorrhea for 35 days were >90%, and >99% of patients achieved uterine bleeding normalization. Median time to amenorrhea after each course started was 4–5 days; menstruation returned after treatment within a median of 25–27 days. Mean changes in fibroid volume from baseline were −21.5%, −31.4%, and −35.0% for Courses 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Patients experienced sustained improvements in anemia, pain, and quality of life during treatment. Most adverse events were mild/moderate in severity and decreased in frequency with each course. Seven serious adverse events (six patients) were reported; anemia, embolic cerebral infarction, and pituitary apoplexy (one patient each) were considered UPA‐related. Nonphysiological changes in endometrial histology were transient and benign. No safety concerns were detected in hormone concentrations or liver function tests.ConclusionsLong‐term administration of 10‐mg UPA is effective for reducing symptoms associated with uterine fibroids in Japanese women. UPA was well tolerated and few safety concerns were reported.
Estimating in vitro ruminal ammonia‐N using multiple linear models and artificial neural networks based on the CNCPS nitrogenous fractions of cattle rations with low concentrate/roughage ratios
Authors: Dong Ruilan , Sun Guoqiang , Yu Guanghui 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between the in vitro ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH3‐N) concentration and the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) N‐fractions of feeds for cattle and further compare the performance of developing multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models in estimating the NH3‐N concentration in rumen fermentation. Two data sets were established, of which the training data set containing forty‐five rations for cattle with concentrate/roughage ratios of 50:50, 40:60, 30:70, 20:80 and 10:90 used for developing models and the test data set containing ten other rations with the same concentrate/roughage ratios with the training data set were used for validating of models. The NH3‐N concentrations of feed samples were measured using an in vitro incubation technique. The CNCPS N‐fractions (g), for example PB1 (rapidly degraded true protein), PB2 (neutral detergent soluble nitrogen), PB3 (acid detergent soluble nitrogen) of rations, were calculated based on chemical analysis. Statistical analysis indicated that the NH3‐N concentration (mg) was significantly correlated with the CNCPS N‐fractions (g) PB1, PB2 and PB3 in a multiple linear pattern: NH3‐N = (130.70±33.80) PB1 + (155.83±17.89) PB2 ‐ (85.44±37.69) PB3 + (42.43±1.05), R2 = 0.77, p < 0.0001, n = 45. The results indicated that both MLR and ANN models were suitable for predicting in vitro NH3‐N concentration of rations using CNCPS N‐fractions PB1, PB2, and PB3 as independent variables while the neural network model showed better performance in terms of greater r2, CCC and lower RMSPE between the observed and predicted values.
Aquinas on the Role of Another in Perfect Self‐Knowledge
Authors: Higgins Michael Joseph 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAquinas is clear that human intellect can only know itself through knowing others. Yet he seems to treat this need for others as a mark of imperfection: both angels and God can know themselves through themselves, and their intellects seem therefore to be more perfect than ours. In this article, however, I focus first on Thomas’s teaching on angels’ morning and evening knowledge, where he suggests that angels only know themselves perfectly if they know themselves in Another. Second, I turn to his theology of the Word, where he suggests that the Father only ever knows Himself in knowing another Person. By exploring these areas of Thomas’s thought, I argue that to know oneself perfectly is to know oneself in another.
Young's Modulus of Bilateral Infraspinatus Tendon Measured in Different Postures by Shear Wave Elastography Before and After Exercise
Authors: Yu Menglei , Wu Jiayi , Hou Jingyi , Tang Yiyong , Li Fangqi , Zhou Chuanhai , Li Qingyue , Long Yi , Zhang Congda , Zhang Yuanhao , Alike Yamuhanmode , Ou Bing , Yang Rui 
Published: June 2021

ObjectiveTo investigate the Young's modulus value of infraspinatus tendons using shear wave elastography (SWE) technique in normal adults, and to analyze the influence of gender, postures, exercise, and dominant side on Young's modulus of infraspinatus tendons.MethodsThis is a prospective cross‐sectional study. From January 2019 to July 2020, 14 healthy subjects were identified, including seven males and seven females aged between 24 to 34, with a mean age of 27.67 ± 3.08 years. The Young's modulus of their infraspinatus tendons was measured by two operators using SWE in neutral and maximum external rotation positions of both sides before exercise and the dominant side after exercise. The Young's modulus values in different sexes, different postures, before vs after exercise, and dominant vs non‐dominant side were statistically analyzed.ResultsAll 14 subjects completed the data collection process. The mean Young's modulus values of infraspinatus tendon for dominant sides in neutral position were 33.04 ± 3.01 kPa for males and 28.76 ± 3.09 kPa for females. And for non‐dominant sides in the neutral position, the values were 33.02 ± 2.38 kPa for males and 28.86 ± 2.47 kPa for females. In the maximum external rotation position, the values for dominant sides were 50.19 ± 4.86 kPa for males and 42.79 ± 4.44 kPa for females, and for non‐dominant sides were 50.95 ± 3.24 kPa for males and 42.42 ± 3.66 kPa for females. After exercise, the mean Young's modulus values of infraspinatus tendon for dominant sides in neutral position were 54.56 ± 3.76 kPa for males and 46.66 ± 5.99 kPa for females. And for the maximum external rotation position, the values were 59.13 ± 3.78 kPa for males and 54.49 ± 5.67 kPa for females. The Young's modulus of infraspinatus tendon in the neutral and maximum external rotation positions showed statistically significant differences in males and females, as well as before and after exercise (P < 0.05). However, the difference in Young's modulus between the dominant and non‐dominant sides was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Intergroup reliability between both operators was excellent (ICC > 0.85).ConclusionThere are gender‐related differences and post‐exercise increase in Young's modulus, yet such a difference cannot be witnessed between the dominant and non‐dominant sides.
Expansion of Spinal Canal with Lift‐Open Laminoplasty: A New Method for Compression Cervical Myelopathy
Authors: Wang Huan , Zhang Lei 
Published: June 2021

ObjectiveThis study is to introduce lift‐open laminoplasty and verify the increase of the spinal canal area following this surgical technique according to the preoperative anatomical measurement.MethodsThere are 82 patients (43 male and 39 female) analyzed in our study from January 2019 to December 2020. The average age was 63.2 ± 3.21 years (from 41 to 84 years). All of them were treated with open‐door laminoplasty, with a decompression segment range from C3 to C6. The increase of the spinal canal area after open‐door laminoplasty was measured on postoperative CT images of the patients, and the distances between both lamina‐facet junctions and lamina length was measured on preoperative CT images. Using the Pythagorean theorem for the equation of calculation area after the expansile open‐door laminoplasty. Based on previous measurement parameters, spinous process length, lateral mass width, distance between osteotomy line and lamina‐facet junctions line were additionally measured on preoperative CT images. Pythagorean theorem was used for calculating the area after the expansile lift‐open laminoplasty. The results were recorded and a statistical analysis was undertaken. Then, there were six patients (five male and one female) treated with lift‐open laminoplasty on C6, open‐door on C3–C5, who suffer from cervical spondylotic myelopathy from December 2020 to January 2021. The average age was 60.3 ± 1.7 years (from 56 to 71 years). Operation time, blood loss, and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score recovery rate were recorded. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were observed.ResultsThe increase of the spinal canal area after open‐door laminoplasty measured on postoperative CT images was 123.01 ± 17.06 mm2 and the calculation of the increase of the spinal canal areausing the Pythagorean theorem after open‐door laminoplasty was 122.86 ± 15.86 mm2. A comparison of the actual value with calculative value showed no significant difference (T value = 0.057, P value = 0.955). The calculation of the increase of the spinal canal area after lift‐open laminoplasty was 183.57 ± 62.99 mm2, which was larger than that after open‐door laminoplasty (T value = 8.462, P value < 0.001). Mean operation time was 153.3 min and operative blood loss was 600 mL of the six patients treated with lift‐open laminoplasty. At 1 month follow‐up, all patients had recovered well. JOA score recovery rate was 37.6% and no intraoperative and postoperative complications occurred.ConclusionLift‐open laminoplasty could preserve nearly 100% of extensor muscle, avoid damaging C7 paraspinal muscles and C6‐7 posterior muscle‐ligament complex, reconstruct the spinous process firmly in the midline, and expand adequate spinal canal area after operation. These advantages could reduce the incidence rate of complications and bring better clinical results than traditional laminoplasty.
Modulation of polyamine metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana by salicylic acid
Authors: Rossi Franco R. , Gárriz Andrés , Marina María , Pieckenstain Fernando L. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPolyamines (PAs) play important roles in plant defense against pathogens, but the regulation of PA metabolism by hormone‐mediated defense signaling pathways has not been studied in depth. In this study, the modulation of PA metabolism by salicylic acid (SA) was analyzed in Arabidopsis by combining the exogenous application of this hormone with PA biosynthesis and SA synthesis/signaling mutants. SA induced notable modifications of PA metabolism, mainly consisting in putrescine (Put) accumulation both in whole‐plant extracts and apoplastic fluids. Put was accumulated at the expense of increased biosynthesis by ARGININE DECARBOXYLASE 2 and decreased oxidation by copper amine oxidase. Enhancement of Put levels by SA was independent of the regulatory protein NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS‐RELATED GENES 1 (NPR1) and the signaling kinases MKK4 and MPK3, but depended on MPK6. However, plant infection by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 elicited Put accumulation in an SA‐dependent way. The present study demonstrates a clear connection between SA signaling and plant PA metabolism in Arabidopsis and contributes to understanding the mechanisms by which SA modulates PA levels during plant‐pathogen interactions.
Anti‐IgE therapy inhibits chemotaxis, proliferation and transformation of circulating fibrocytes in patients with severe allergic asthma
Authors: Wang Chun‐Hua , Weng Chih‐Ming , Huang Tzu‐Ting , Lee Meng‐Jung , Lo Chun‐Yu , Chen Mei‐Chuan , Chou Chun‐Liang , Kuo Han‐Pin 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackground and objectiveCirculating fibrocytes act as precursors of myofibroblasts, contribute to airway remodelling in chronic asthma and migrate to injured tissues by expressing CXCR4 and CCR7. Anti‐IgE therapy improves severe allergic asthma (SAA) control and airway remodelling in T2‐high SAA. The effects of anti‐IgE therapy on fibrocyte activities were investigated in this study.MethodsThe expression of CCR7, CXCR4, ST2 and α‐SMA (α‐smooth muscle actin) in both circulating and cultured fibrocytes from all patients with asthma was measured, and was repeated after omalizumab treatment in SAA. Fibrocytes recruitment, proliferation and transformation were also measured in response to anti‐IgE therapy.ResultsOmalizumab effectively improved asthma control and pulmonary function in T2‐high SAA, associated with a decline in serum levels of IL‐33 and IL‐13. Omalizumab down‐regulates CXCR4 and CCR7 expression of fibrocytes, which could suppress fibrocyte recruitment into the lungs. Omalizumab also suppressed the increased number of fibrocytes and α‐SMA+ fibrocytes within the cultured non‐adherent non‐T (NANT) cells after 3–7 days of culture. The decrease in serum levels of IL‐33 by omalizumab contributed to the effectiveness in inhibiting fibrocyte recruitment, proliferation and myofibroblast transformation through IL‐33/ST2 axis. The elevated IL‐13 expression in SAA patients potentiated the effects of IL‐33 by increasing ST2 expression.ConclusionOmalizumab reduced the number of circulating fibrocytes, cell and number of fibrocytes as well as α‐SMA+ fibrocytes after 3–7 days of culture in SAA patients. IL‐33 and IL‐13 may be implicated in the effectiveness of omalizumab in inhibiting fibrocyte activation contributing partly to the clinical benefits in reducing lamina propria and basement membrane thickening.
Anti‐pollution effects of two antioxidants and a chelator—Ex vivo electron spin resonance and in vivo cigarette smoke model assessments in human skin
Authors: Bielfeldt Stephan , Jung Katinka , Laing Sabrina , Moga Alain , Wilhelm Klaus‐Peter 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundSkin damage arising from pollutants in gaseous and particulate matter forms is mainly mediated by oxidative stress. The pollutants directly or indirectly generate free radicals on and in the skin, leading, for example, to MMP up‐regulation and damage of collagen fibers. Antioxidants and chelators are used in anti‐pollution cosmetics to reduce the harmful effects of free radical generation.Materials and MethodsWe investigated the efficacy of two antioxidants and one chelator in an anti‐pollution cigarette smoke model. Free radical generation was measured directly after UV and cigarette smoke exposure ex vivo on pig skin (slaughterhouse waste), by use of Electron Spin Resonance (ESR). Effects of cigarette smoke were compared to those of Urban Dust (NIST‐standard). ESR was also used to measure the copper chelation activity of the test products. Following cigarette smoke application in vivo, two markers of lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA), and squalene monohydroperoxide (SQOOH), were measured from swab solutions taken from the smoke‐exposed skin sites.ResultsEDTA generated no effect and the non‐chelator antioxidant Tocopherol only small antioxidant effects after exposed to cigarette smoke ex vivo as well as in vivo. Only the hydrophilic phenylethanoid H1 showed significant effects. A clear reduction of free radicals ex vivo and further a significant reduction of in vivo lipid peroxide formation was measured.ConclusionThe cigarette smoke model is an ideal method for in vivo assessment of anti‐pollution efficacy of topical products with close relation to the real situation of subjects exposed to urban pollution. Further research is required to better understand the role of chelators in anti‐pollution cosmetics.
Automatic recognition method of primary path for an anastomosing river based on its typical features
Authors: Wu Wei , Li Chengming , Wu Zheng , Yin Yong 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPrimary path recognition is a prerequisite for effective river network generalization. In a river network with a large spatial region, anastomosing rivers refer to those with intertwined river channels. Dense reaches with similar semantic information usually form complex spatial structures, which creates special challenges for accurately delineating the primary path. The recognition of the primary path for anastomosing rivers has not received much attention in the literature. Traditional methods rely on empirical thresholds to determine the basin including the primary path, and do not consider the overall spatial structure features of rivers, which lower the flexibility and accuracy of the primary path recognition. Therefore, this article proposes an automatic recognition method for the primary path of an anastomosing river based on its typical features. First, a directed topology of the river network is constructed to detect the key nodes in forming the anastomosing rivers in the river network, which are the nodes with multiple outflow reaches and are defined as redundant nodes. Second, by considering the flow direction, the effective topological boundary of each redundant node is identified to determine the basin of the anastomosing rivers automatically. Finally, a hierarchical tree is constructed to describe the spatial relationships among redundant nodes and based on the hierarchical tree and other typical features of anastomosing rivers, the optimal connection path between each redundant node and downstream node is calculated to identify the primary path. 1:10,000 topographic river data of the experimental region in Hubei Province, China, were used for validation. The experiment reveals that compared with the state‐of‐the‐art Buttenfield method, the primary path identified by the proposed method is more similar to that obtained manually. The inclination angle difference between the result obtained using the Buttenfield method and the artificial identification result is four times larger than that obtained by the proposed method; moreover, the shape of the primary path detected by the proposed method is more natural and smoother.
Missense RHD single nucleotide variants induce weakened D antigen expression by altering splicing and/or protein expression
Authors: Raud Loann , Le Tertre Marlène , Vigneron Léonie , Ka Chandran , Richard Gaëlle , Callebaut Isabelle , Chen Jian‐Min , Férec Claude , Le Gac Gérald , Fichou Yann 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundAlthough D variant phenotype is known to be due to genetic defects, including rare missense single nucleotide variants (SNVs), within the RHD gene, few studies have addressed the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving this altered expression. We and others showed previously that splicing is commonly disrupted by SNVs in constitutive splice sites and their vicinity. We thus sought to investigate whether rare missense SNVs located in “deep” exonic regions could also impair this mechanism.Study design and methodsForty‐six missense SNVs reported within exons 6 and 7 were first selected from the Human RhesusBase. Their respective effect on splicing was assessed by using an in vitro assay. An RhD‐negative cell model was further generated by using the CRISPR‐Cas9 approach. RhD‐mutated proteins were overexpressed in the newly created model, and cell membrane expression of the D antigen was measured by flow cytometry.ResultsMinigene splicing assay showed that 14 of 46 (30.4%) missense SNVs alter splicing. Very interestingly, further investigation of two missense SNVs, which both affect codon 338 and confer a weak D phenotype, showed various mechanisms: c.1012C>G (p.Leu338Val) disrupts splicing only, while c.1013T>C (p.Leu338Pro) alters only the protein structure, in agreement with in silico prediction tools and 3D protein structure visualization.ConclusionOur functional data set suggests that missense SNVs damage quantitatively D antigen expression by, at least, two different mechanisms (splicing alteration and protein destabilization) that may act independently. These data thereby contribute to extend the current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms governing weakened D expression.