bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamic interaction of BRCA2 with telomeric G-quadruplexes underlies telomere replication homeostasis
Authors: Lee Junyeop , Sung Keewon , Joo So Young , Jeong Jun-Hyeon , Kim Seong Keun , Lee Hyunsook 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
BRCA2-deficient cells undergo telomere shortening upon collapse of stalled replication forks, particularly during lagging-strand telomere synthesis. The molecular mechanism underlying fork collapse remains unclear. Here we find that the BRCA2 C-terminus, which includes an OB-fold, specifically interacts with G-quadruplex (G4) structures generated during lagging-strand telomere replication. We demonstrate that BRCA2 associates with G-triplex (G3)-derived intermediates using electrophoretic mobility shift assay and single-molecule FRET. These G3 intermediates form during direct interconversion between parallel and non-parallel G4 structures. Intriguingly, MRE11 nuclease can resect G4-forming telomere sequences, a function that is inhibited by BRCA2. BRCA2 depletion consistently resulted in increased telomeric damage, which was relieved by MRE11 knockdown. These data suggest that BRCA2 interaction with telomeric G4 prevents MRE11-mediated resection. The specific interaction between BRCA2 and G4 therefore contributes to telomere stability and genome integrity.
Identification of factors regulating the gene expression of alcohol dehydrogenases in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Xie Jinghe , Qiu Yaqi , Zhang Shuai , Ma Keqing , Ou Yimeng , Wang Bailin , Gu Weili , Chen Honglin , Duan Yuyou 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background

Excessive alcohol consumption has been documented to increase the risk of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Accordingly, a broad interest pointed to alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs), which display essential roles in alcohol metabolism. Despite the relevance of ADHs expression and the prognosis of HCC has been estimated, so far, limited research concerning the factors that are responsible for the regulation of ADHs expression has been reported.
Methods

In this study, using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and RegNetwork database, we predicted potential factors consisting of DNA methylation, gene copy number variations, transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) that might impact ADHs gene expression in HCC.
Results

We found that DNA methylation induced the down-regulated expression of ADH1B. Of note, our results implicated that gene copy number variation might not have effects on ADHs expression. Regarding TFs, we speculated that NFYA modulated ADH1C, E2F1 and TFAP2A regulated ADH6 expression based on their expression and prognostic value. Moreover, miR-185 and miR-561 might elicit the repression of ADH4, and miR-105 might impair ADH6 expression.
Conclusion

This study revealed that multiple factors, including DNA methylation, TFs and microRNAs, affect the expression of ADH family members, which provided new insights into discovering promising HCC-suppressive targets.
Three-Stage Wind Turbine Assessment Method: Condition Monitoring, Failure Prediction, And Health Assessment
Authors: Qi Yongsheng , Jing Tongmei , Ren Chao , Gao Xuejin 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
To improve the wind turbine shutdown early warning ability, we present a generalized model for wind turbine (WT) prognosis and health management (PHM) based on the data collected from the SCADA system. First, a new condition monitoring method based on kernel entropy component analysis (KECA) was developed for nonlinear data. Then, an aggregate statistic T was designed to express the state change of the monitoring parameters. As the features were submerged because of the diversity and nonlinearity of SCADA data, an enhanced generalized regression neural network (GRNN) method—KECA-GRNN—for failure prediction was developed by adding KECA for feature extraction to improve the predictive performance. Finally, the results of the KECA-GRNN model were visualized by a bubble chart, which made the health assessment results of the WT more intuitive. Similarly, the fusion residual was defined to analyze the health trend of the WT, and the health status of the WT was represented by two visualization methods—bubble chart and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation. Furthermore, they were evaluated using SCADA data that were collected from a wind farm. Observations from the results of the model indicated the ability of the approach to trend and assess turbine degradation before known downtime occurrences.
Treatment Regimens and Survival Outcomes of Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of Breast Compared with Infiltrating Ductal Carcinoma: A Large Propensity Score Matching Study
Authors: Li Qingfang , Zhou Yuwen , Zhao Yunuo , Ma Xuelei 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Purpose The role of treatment regimens in Neuroendocrine carcinoma of breast (NECB) is not well defined. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics, treatment regimens and prognosis of NECB compared to infiltrating ductal breast carcinomas(IDCB).Method NECB and IDCB patients diagnosed between January 1,2004 and December 12,2016 were enrolled in the researches from the SEER registries. A propensity score matching (PSM) with ratio of 1:5 was performed to correct the selection bias. The Kaplan-Meier curves was used in the analysis of variables. The Cox model was adopted to calculate univariate and multivariate analysis.Results Compared to IDCB, NECB patients were elder white females. The NECB group demonstrated a significantly poorer survival compared to IDCB group in both disease-specific survival (DSS) (p<0.0001) and overall survival (OS) (P<0.0001). In univariate survival analysis, NECB patients were associated with poorer survival compared with IDCB patients. In multivariate survival analysis, earlier T stage, age <60, black race and absence of distant metastasis were independently associated with better DSS and OS after adjusting all variables. In both univariate and multivariate analysis, chemotherapy and surgery were independently associated with better survival. Conclusion NECB were a kind of rare and aggressive breast neoplasm with advanced disease stage and pooper prognosis compared to IDCB. Our outcomes supplied sufficient evidence that surgery and chemotherapy contribute to better survival of NECB patients.
Operationalising Community Resilience to Climate Change in Developing Countries: A Grounded Delphi Method (GDM) Approach
Authors: Ogah Alima , Crosbie Tracey , Ralebitso-Senior Theresia Komang 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background

Climate change and its impact have taken centre stage in contemporary political economic discourse. Climate change is posing complex problems that far outweighs the solutions suggested by the conventional analytical tools used for guiding responses to major environmental challenges. This is particularly the case in developing countries like Nigeria. Unsurprisingly the concept of community resilience towards climate change has received a great deal of attention from researchers and policy makers. However, community resilience is a contested concept, which leads to disagreement about the methods of achieving it. The nature of community resilience makes the measurement of the efficiency of the policies designed to increase community resilience problematic, particularly in developing countries where limited funds must be prioritised.
Methods

The research presented uses a Grounded Delphi Method (GDM) to identify how experts in Nigeria define community resilience and reach a consensus on its measurement in Nigeria’s context and other developing nations. The data collection involved three rounds of Delphi with a panel of 21 experts, the first round employed semi-structured interviews, following the exploratory Delphi approach, and subsequent rounds employed online surveys.
Findings:

The findings indicate that there is a process of stages that communities need to go through to become resilient to climate change. These begin with coping with climate change, followed by adaptation to climate change with the final stage being transformation in the face of climate change. Twenty indicators are identified categorised under eight elements that are suitable for measuring community resilience at the different stages of this process. It is interesting to note that the experts in Nigeria who participated in the study excluded notions of transformation in their conceptualisation of community resilience illustrating a potential gap in their perceptions of the requirements for how communities can become fully resilient.
Conclusion

This research provides a method of prioritising specific, measurable indicators to inform policies designed to reduce the impacts of climate change by supporting community resilience in the context of developing countries with limited funding.
Could Screw/Hook Insertion at the Apical with Rib Head Dislocation Effectively Retract the Corresponding Rib Head from Spinal Canal in Dystrophic Scoliosis Secondary to Type 1 Neurofibromatosis?
Authors: Li Song , Mao Saihu , Ma Yanyu , Shi Ben-long , Liu Zhen , Zhu Ze-zhang , Qiao Jun , Qiu Yong 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background. Rib head dislocation (RHD) in dystrophic scoliosis of type 1 neurofibromatosis (DS-NF1) is a unique disorder caused by skeletal dystrophy and scoliotic instability. No particular surgical manipulation is mentioned in the literature to instruct the spine surgeons to effectively obtain more migration of the dislocated rib head without resection. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of screw/hook insertion at vertebrae with RHDs on the retraction of penetrated rib head from spinal canal.Methods. 37 neurologically intact patients with DS-NF1 and concomitant 53 RHDs undergoing scoliosis surgery without rib head excision were retrospectively reviewed. We used pre and postoperative whole-spine radiographs to determine the Cobb angle and the vertebral translation (VT), and the CT scans to evaluate the intraspinal rib length (IRL) and rib-vertebral angle (RVA). The dislocated ribs were stratified into two groups according to the presence of screw/hook insertion at vertebrae with RHD: screw/hook group and non-screw/hook group. Results. 37 dislocated ribs with screws/hooks insertion at corresponding vertebrae were assigned into the screw/hook group and the remaining 16 dislocated ribs consisted of the non-screw/hook group. In the screw/hook group, the correction rates of Cobb angle and VT were significantly higher than the non-screw/hook group after surgery (58.7±16.0% vs. 30.9±12.4%, p=0.003; 61.8±18.8% vs. 35.1±16.6%, p=0.001; respectively). Similarly, more correction rates of IRL and RVA were found in the screw/hook group than the non-screw/hook group (63.1±31.3% vs. 30.1±20.7%, p=0.008; 17.6±9.7% vs. 7.2±3.6%, p=0.006; respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the correction rates of Cobb angle, VT and RVA contributed significantly to correction of IRL (β=0.389, 0.939 and 1.869, respectively; p=0.019, 0.001 and 0.002, respectively).Conclusion. Screw/hook insertion at dystrophic vertebrae with RHDs contributed significantly to the degree of retraction of penetrated rib head from spinal canal. This effectiveness is mediated by more corrections of VT and RVA.
A novel CRISPR activation mouse enables modelling of aggressive lymphoma and interrogation of venetoclax resistance.
Authors: Herold Marco , Deng Yexuan , Diepstraten Sarah , Potts Margaret , Heidersbach Amy , Kueh Andrew , Pal Martin , Giner Göknur , Wilcox Stephen , Tai Lin , Strasser Andreas , Haley Benjamin , Zhao Quan , Kelly Gemma 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
CRISPR technologies have advanced cancer modelling in mice, but CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) methods have not been thoroughly exploited in this context. Here we establish a CRISPRa mouse (dCas9a-SAMKI/+) for inducing gene expression in vivo and in vitro. Using dCas9a-SAMKI/KI primary lymphocytes, we induced B cell restricted genes in the T cell lineage and vice versa, demonstrating the power of this system. Next, to model double hit lymphoma (DHL), we transactivated pro-survival BCL-2 in Eµ-MycT/+;dCas9a-SAMKI/+ haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Lethally-irradiated mice transplanted with these cells rapidly developed lymphomas expressing high BCL-2. Unlike standard Eµ-Myc lymphomas, BCL-2-expressing lymphomas were highly sensitive to the BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax. Finally, we performed genome-wide activation screens in these lymphoma cells and found a dominant role for the BCL-2 family protein A1 in venetoclax resistance. This demonstrates the power of our CRISPRa model for mimicking disease and provides insights into potential resistance mechanisms towards targeted therapies.
An Assessment of Small Wetland Ecohydrological Dynamics Using Sentinel-2 MSI Derived Spectral Indices in Semi-Arid Environments of South Africa
Authors: Thamaga Kgabo Humphrey , Dube Timothy , Shoko Cletah 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Water presence within small wetlands serve as a determining factor influencing biodiversity productivity and wetland functionality. Small wetlands remain largely unprotected hence, they are more sensitive to frequent exposure to environmental modifications, and are less resilient to changing rainfall patterns, climate change and variability, droughts and changing land use practices. Accurate and up to date spatial and temporal information on changes in surface water and inundation extent becomes imperative for the proper management of these wetlands. Therefore, this study sought to extract and monitor wetland ecohydrological dynamics (surface water and inundation extent) using monthly Sentinel-2 MSI remotely sensed datasets. These dynamics were assessed for the period between July 2020 and June 2021 using the modified normalised difference water index (MNDWI), normalised difference moisture index (NDMI) and normalised difference phenology index (NDPI) derived from Sentinel-2 MSI data. The results showed that the rainy season (Dec 2020 – Feb 2021) had a larger-water coverage extent (10948 m2 (0.05%) to 31594 m2 (0.13%)) when compared to the dry season (July 2020: 19157 m2 (0.04%) and June 2021:14429 m2 (0.03%)). The extent of surface area declined during the dry period due to less rainfall (0.20 mm) and decreased actual evapotranspiration (9.90 mm – 10.43 mm). Further, the NDPI showed a high concentration of wetland vegetation between the months of October 2020 and April 2021. In contrary, higher moisture content was observed between December 2020 to April 2021. The increase in vegetation concentration and moisture content reflects the spatial extent of inundation extent. Wetland water extent, soil moisture, and vegetation condition were assessed with high overall accuracies, ranging between 70.83% and 97.36%. Overall, the results indicate that small wetlands are characterised with significant variations in levels of inundation and productivity throughout the year.
1, 3-Thiazolidine-4-Ones: Copper Nickel Oxide Bimetallic Nanoparticle Catalyzed Synthesis, Anticancer Potential and Molecular Modeling Studies
Authors: Sawant Ramesh L. , Sawant Manisha R. , Wadekar Jyoti B. , Ukirde Rushikesh D. , Barkade Ganesh D. , Rajbhoj Anjali S. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Olfactory responses of Trissolcus mitsukurii to plants attacked by target and non-target stink bugs suggest low risk for biological control
Authors: Rondoni Gabriele , Chierici Elena , Giovannini Lucrezia , Sabbatini-Peverieri Giuseppino , Roversi Pio Federico , Conti Eric 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Field release of classical biocontrol agents requires prior risk assessment to ensure that non-target effects are averted. No-choice and choice bioassays can provide basic information on the physiological host range of the candidate agent. However, other experimental methods, like olfactometer bioassays of host-plant complexes, can depict more realistically the likelihood that the released biocontrol agent localizes non-targets in the field. Halyomorpha halys Stål (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is native to Asia and invasive in North America and Europe, where it represents a major threat for crops. The Asiatic egg parasitoid Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead) is adventive in Italy and exhibits high parasitization ability on H. halys. In the light of evaluating T. mitsukurii for H. halys biocontrol, its physiological host range has been already partially explored. Here, we investigated the ability of the parasitoid to exploit odours associated with H. halys or with the following non-targets: Arma custos F., Dolycoris baccarum L., Eurydema ventralis Kolenati, and Nezara viridula L. (all Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Specifically, using a Y-tube olfactometer, we tested the response of parasitoid females to plants bearing naturally laid eggs, to physogastric females or eggs of the different species. We observed that T. mitsukurii is only attracted by plants challenged by eggs of H. halys or N. viridula, while it is not attracted by physogastric females or eggs alone. Remarkably, T. mitsukurii was almost repelled by plants bearing eggs of the beneficial A. custos. Our results usefully contribute to a more valuable assessment of the potential non-target risks in case of parasitoid release.
Meteorological drought analysis using copula theory for the case of upper Tekeze river basin, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Yisehak Biniyam , Shiferaw Henok , Girma Atkilt , Girmay Zenebe , Kidane Rahwa 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Meteorological drought is a climate-related natural disaster. It indicates a shortage of precipitation over a long period, usually for a season or a year. This study was initiated to analyze meteorological drought using copula theory. Long-year (1982–2020) rainfall and soil moisture data were used to analyze standardized precipitation index (SPI) and standardized soil moisture index (SSI), respectively. The best-fit copula family was selected to construct the joint probability distribution (JPD) of SPI and SSI. Multivariate standardized drought index (MSDI) at 3-, 6-, and 12-month timescales were analyzed using the MSDI toolbox. The non-parametric Mann-Kendall (M-K) statistical test was used for trend detection. The result shows the newly developed MSDI captured all extreme drought events with the highest severity (-3.21) that occurred during the observation period compared to SPI and SSI. MSDI shows the famine caused by the drought of 1984 and 1985 remains well known to the world, with the drought duration and severity of 10 months and 18.7 years, respectively and its joint return period was 33.0 years. The result of the M-K and Sen’s Slope estimator statistical tests shows a positive trend for all drought timescales in the basin. The extreme drought captured by the MSDI most frequently occurred in the basin. This implicated that meteorological drought analysis using multiple indices is better than a single index. The results of this study will help devise drought adaptation and mitigation strategies in the basin and beyond.
Stellate Ganglion Block Successfully Treats Long COVID/PASC: A Case Series
Authors: Liu Luke D , Duricka Deborah L 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in a secondary pandemic of individuals suffering from pernicious symptoms termed “Long COVID” or PASC. In spite of significant societal impact, the condition remains mysterious and effective treatment remains elusive. Individuals experience debilitating symptoms including fatigue, “brain fog,” loss or altered smell and/or taste, anxiety and depression. Most of these symptoms are included in the “sickness behavior response” initiated from the brainstem when levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines are high. Ordinarily a feedback loop prevents excessive production of these cytokines, however the SARS-CoV-2 virus has demonstrated the ability to induce the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), likely due to imbalance between ACE1 and ACE2 activity. Persistent sympathetic drive causes increased cytokine release, which interferes with the feedback loop that ends “sickness behaviors.” The stellate ganglion is a paravertebral collection of sympathetic nerves located in the cervical region that provides a convenient entry point to reduce activity of the SNS using local anesthetic blockade. The stellate ganglion block (SGB) has a well-established safety and efficacy profile for a variety of conditions involving the SNS. In this case report series, we treated three consecutive “Long COVID” patients with SGB. All three patients reported significant and durable improvement in symptoms including fatigue, “brain fog,” and smell and taste derangements. Our findings provide evidence implicating dysautonomia as the main etiology of Long COVID/PASC symptoms and suggest that SGB is an effective intervention for this condition with the potential to change the course of the second COVID pandemic, “Long COVID”/PASC.
Step-by-step mechanism insights into TiO2/Ce2S3 S-scheme photocatalyst for enhanced aniline production with water as proton source
Authors: Xu Feiyan , Meng Kai , Cao Shuang , Jiang Chen-Hui , Chen Tao , Xu Jingsan , Yu Jiaguo 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Exploring new heterostructured photocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogenation reaction with water as proton source and investigating the corresponding intrinsic step-by-step mechanism are of great interests. Here we develop a novel S-scheme heterojunction through theoretical design and implemented by solvothermal growth of Ce2S3 nanoparticles onto electrospun TiO2 nanofibers. The low-dimensional (0D/1D) heterostructure unveils enhanced photocatalytic activity for aniline production by nitrobenzene hydrogenation with water as proton source. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate the electrons transfer from Ce2S3 to TiO2 upon hybridization due to their Fermi level difference and creates an internal electric field at the interface, driving the efficient separation of the photoexcited charge carriers, which is authenticated by in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy along with femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The step-by-step reaction mechanism of the photocatalytic nitrobenzene hydrogenation to yield aniline is revealed by in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, associated with DFT computational prediction.
3D microstructure and critical current properties of ultra-fine-grain Ba(Fe,Co)2As2 bulk superconductors
Authors: Shimada Yusuke , Tokuta Shinnosuke , Yamanaka Akinori , Yamamoto Akiyasu , Konno Toyohiko. J 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
In iron-based superconductors, randomly oriented grain boundaries have a strong influence on the transport properties via intrinsic weak-link and flux pinning mechanisms. Herein we report the critical current density (Jc) and the three-dimensional microstructure of polycrystalline bulk Co-doped Ba122 superconductors, with highly dense grain boundaries (grain size smaller than 50 nm), produced by high-energy milling. Three-dimensional electron microscopy revealed that the anomalous growth of secondary particles (aggregation) and the inter-aggregation structures were significantly different in the samples with finer grains, which may have extrinsically limited Jc. These important microstructural features were quantified as two parameters—local thickness and total pore length—by reconstructing the three-dimensional structure of the superconducting phase using the adaptive thresholding method. The results obtained in this study suggest that understanding and controlling the microstructural formation process by sintering are instrumental for improving the Jc properties of 122 polycrystalline materials consisting of ultrafine grains.