bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of KCNQ1 rs2237892 polymorphism on the predisposition to type 2 diabetes mellitus: An updated meta-analysis
Authors: Jiang Hong-Liang , Du Han , Deng Ying-Jun , Liang Xue 
Published: July 2021

AbstractObjectivesPrevious studies have analyzed the potential effect ofKCNQ1rs2237892 polymorphism on the predisposition to type 2 diabetes mellitus, but the findings are inconclusive and the subject of debate. The purpose of our study was to provide further insight into the potential association betweenKCNQ1rs2237892 polymorphism and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.MethodsIn total, 50 articles (60 studies) with 77,276 cases and 76,054 controls were utilized in our analysis. The pooled odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (95% CI), andpvalue were used to evaluate the significance of our findings. Funnel plots and Beggar’s regression tests were utilized to determine the presence of publication bias.ResultsOur meta-analysis results indicated thatKCNQ1rs2237892 polymorphism could be correlated with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus under the C allelic, recessive, and dominant genetic models (OR = 1.25, 95% 1.19–1.32,p < 0.001; OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.34–1.68,p < 0.001; OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.14–1.40,p < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, ethnicity analysis revealed that the source of control, case size, and Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium status were correlated to the polymorphism in the three genetic models.ConclusionsOur meta-analysis demonstrated significant evidence to support the association betweenKCNQ1rs2237892 polymorphism and predisposition to type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Fixed point results for weak contractions in partially ordered b-metric space
Authors: Seshagiri Rao N. , Kalyani K. , Prasad K. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Objectives
We explore the existence of a fixed point as well as the uniqueness of a mapping in an ordered b-metric space using a generalized $$({\check{\psi }}, \hat{\eta })$$

(

ψ
ˇ

,

η
^

)

-weak contraction. In addition, some results are posed on a coincidence point and a coupled coincidence point of two mappings under the same contraction condition. These findings generalize and build on a few recent studies in the literature. At the end, we provided some examples to back up our findings.

Result
In partially ordered b-metric spaces, it is discussed how to obtain a fixed point and its uniqueness of a mapping, and also investigated the existence of a coincidence point and a coupled coincidence point for two mappings that satisfying generalized weak contraction conditions.
Sublingual immunotherapy tablet: a cost-minimizing alternative in the treatment of tree pollen-induced seasonal allergic rhinitis in Canada
Authors: Ellis Anne K. , Gagnon Rémi , Hammerby Eva , Shen Julia , Gosain Sheena 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundA cost-minimization analysis (CMA) was performed to evaluate the economic implications of introducing the SQ Tree sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)-tablets marketed as ITULATEK® (Health Canada regulatory approval in April 2020) for the treatment of pollen-induced (birch, alder and/or hazel) seasonal allergic rhinitis in Canada (Ontario and Quebec), where Tree Pollen subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) is already an available treatment option.MethodsA CMA was deemed appropriate and was based on the assumption that the SQ Tree SLIT-tablets have comparable efficacy to Tree Pollen SCIT. A societal perspective was adopted in the model, including relevant costs of medications, costs of health care services, and productivity losses. The time horizon in the model was three years, which corresponds to a minimal treatment course of allergy immunotherapy. Resource use and costs were based on published sources, where available, and validated by Canadian specialist clinicians (allergists) in active practice in Ontario and in Quebec, where applicable. A discount rate of 1.5% was applied in accordance with the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) guidelines. To assess the robustness of the results, scenario analyses were performed by testing alternative assumptions for selected parameters (e.g., Tree Pollen SCIT resource use, discount rates, number of injections, annual SCIT dosing with maintenance injections, and nurse time support), to evaluate their impact on the results of the analysis.ResultsThe direct costs, including the drug costs, and physician services costs, for three years of treatment, were similar for both SQ Tree SLIT-tablets vs. Tree Pollen SCIT in both Ontario and Quebec ($2799.01 and $2838.70 vs. $2233.76 and $2266.05 respectively). However, when the indirect costs (including patient’s travel expenses and lost working hours) are included in the model, total savings for the treatment with SQ Tree SLIT-tablets of $1111.79 for Ontario and $1199.87 for Quebec were observed. Scenario analyses were conducted and showed that changes in assumptions continue to result in the savings of SQ Tree SLIT- tablets over Tree Pollen SCIT.ConclusionsThe CMA indicates that SQ Tree SLIT-tablets are a cost-minimizing alternative to Tree Pollen SCIT when considered from a societal perspective in Ontario and Quebec.
Autism-associated biomarkers: test–retest reliability and relationship to quantitative social trait variation in rhesus monkeys
Authors: Oztan Ozge , Talbot Catherine F. , Argilli Emanuela , Maness Alyssa C. , Simmons Sierra M. , Mohsin Noreen , Del Rosso Laura A. , Garner Joseph P. , Sherr Elliott H. , Capitanio John P. , Parker Karen J. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) exhibit pronounced individual differences in social traits as measured by the macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised. The macaque Social Responsiveness Scale was previously adapted from the Social Responsiveness Scale, an instrument designed to assess social and autistic trait variation in humans. To better understand potential biological underpinnings of this behavioral variation, we evaluated the trait-like consistency of several biological measures previously implicated in autism (e.g., arginine vasopressin, oxytocin, and their receptors, as well as ERK1/2, PTEN, and AKT(1–3) from the RAS-MAPK and PI3K-AKT pathways). We also tested which biological measures predicted macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised scores.

Methods
Cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples were collected from N = 76 male monkeys, which, as a sample, showed a continuous distribution on the macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised. In a subset of these subjects (n = 43), samples were collected thrice over a 10-month period. The following statistical tests were used: “Case 2A” intra-class correlation coefficients of consistency, principal component analysis, and general linear modeling.

Results
All biological measures (except AKT) showed significant test–retest reliability within individuals across time points. We next performed principal component analysis on data from monkeys with complete biological measurement sets at the first time point (n = 57), to explore potential correlations between the reliable biological measures and their relationship to macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised score; a three-component solution was found. Follow-up analyses revealed that cerebrospinal fluid arginine vasopressin concentration, but no other biological measure, robustly predicted individual differences in macaque Social Responsiveness Scale-Revised scores, such that monkeys with the lowest cerebrospinal fluid arginine vasopressin concentration exhibited the greatest social impairment. Finally, we confirmed that this result held in the larger study sample (in which cerebrospinal fluid arginine vasopressin values were available from n = 75 of the subjects).

Conclusions
These findings indicate that cerebrospinal fluid arginine vasopressin concentration is a stable trait-like measure and that it is linked to quantitative social trait variation in male rhesus monkeys.
Tumor and tumorlike conditions of the pleura and juxtapleural region: review of imaging findings
Authors: Desimpel Julie , Vanhoenacker Filip M. , Carp Laurens , Snoeckx Annemiek 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPleural lesions form a diagnostic challenge for the radiologist. Whereas lesions can be initially detected on chest radiographs, CT and MRI imaging are the imaging modalities of choice for further characterization. In a number of cases, imaging findings can be relatively specific. In general unfortunately, imaging findings are rather aspecific. Evolution and extrathoracic imaging findings are important clues toward the diagnosis.
PIAS1 potentiates the anti-EBV activity of SAMHD1 through SUMOylation
Authors: Saiada Farjana , Zhang Kun , Li Renfeng 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Sterile alpha motif and HD domain 1 (SAMHD1) is a deoxynucleotide triphosphohydrolase (dNTPase) that restricts the infection of a variety of RNA and DNA viruses, including herpesviruses. The anti-viral function of SAMHD1 is associated with its dNTPase activity, which is regulated by several post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, acetylation and ubiquitination. Our recent studies also demonstrated that the E3 SUMO ligase PIAS1 functions as an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) restriction factor. However, whether SAMHD1 is regulated by PIAS1 to restrict EBV replication remains unknown.

Results
In this study, we showed that PIAS1 interacts with SAMHD1 and promotes its SUMOylation. We identified three lysine residues (K469, K595 and K622) located on the surface of SAMHD1 as the major SUMOylation sites. We demonstrated that phosphorylated SAMHD1 can be SUMOylated by PIAS1 and SUMOylated SAMHD1 can also be phosphorylated by viral protein kinases. We showed that SUMOylation-deficient SAMHD1 loses its anti-EBV activity. Furthermore, we demonstrated that SAMHD1 is associated with EBV genome in a PIAS1-dependent manner.

Conclusion
Our study reveals that PIAS1 synergizes with SAMHD1 to inhibit EBV lytic replication through protein–protein interaction and SUMOylation.
On partial fractional Sturm–Liouville equation and inclusion
Authors: Charandabi Zohreh Zeinalabedini , Mohammadi Hakimeh , Rezapour Shahram , Masiha Hashem Parvaneh 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe Sturm–Liouville differential equation is one of interesting problems which has been studied by researchers during recent decades. We study the existence of a solution for partial fractional Sturm–Liouville equation by using the α-ψ-contractive mappings. Also, we give an illustrative example. By using the α-ψ-multifunctions, we prove the existence of solutions for inclusion version of the partial fractional Sturm–Liouville problem. Finally by providing another example and some figures, we try to illustrate the related inclusion result.
Distribution of organic carbon fractions in soil aggregates in Chinese fir plantations with different stand ages
Authors: He Xinxin , Huang Yongzhen , Zhang Qianchun , Ye Shaoming , Wang Shengqiang 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Revealing the variations in soil aggregate-related organic carbon (OC) and labile organic carbon (LOC) fractions in a chronosequence of Chinese fir plantations plays an important role in better understanding the impact of soil carbon sink or source on the Chinese fir plantation ecosystem. In this study, soil samples in a depth of 0–20 cm were collected from Chinese fir plantations at different stand ages (0, 9, 17, and 26 years old) in Guangxi, China. With the optimal moisture sieving method adopted, the soil aggregates of 4 different sizes were obtained, including > 2-mm, 2–1-mm, 1–0.25-mm, and < 0.25-mm aggregates. Soil OC and LOC fractions were measured in the aggregates of different sizes. The LOC fractions included readily oxidizable carbon (ROC), particulate organic carbon (POC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), water-soluble organic carbon (WOC), and mineralized organic carbon (MOC).

Results
Soil aggregate stability, as indicated by the mean weight diameter (MWD), was the highest in the 17-year-old Chinese fir plantations and was significantly positively related (p < 0.05) to the concentrations of OC and LOC fractions (except for the ROC and MOC), with the POC in particular. As for all stand ages of Chinese fir plantations, the concentrations of soil OC and LOC fractions were significantly increased as the aggregate size decreased. Consequently, there were more OC and LOC fractions distributed in the < 0.25-mm aggregates. During the stand development, the concentrations of soil OC and LOC fractions first increased and then decreased, with the highest levels detected in the 17-year-old Chinese fir plantations, indicating that the 17-year-old Chinese fir plantations were conducive to the accumulation of soil OC and LOC fractions.

Conclusion
After 17 years of planting, promoted soil carbon (especially for the POC) accumulation contributes significantly to enhancing soil aggregate stability for the Chinese fir plantations in Guangxi, China.
Creating a startup at a University by using Shane’s theory and the entrepreneural learning model: a narrative method
Authors: Santoso R. Tri Priyono Budi , Junaedi I. Wayan Ruspendi , Priyanto Sony Heru , Santoso Donald Samuel Slamet 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe novelty of this research is in applying the construction of the Shane Theory and Entrepeneurial Learning Model in applying Entrepreneurship Education at a higher education institution. This study used action research by utilizing a narrative method. The business field which matched with the academic discipline as well as business interest and hobby was more successful than that which had a different prospect as a startup. Leadership, entrepreneurship, and managerial ability are the determining factors in the success of a startup company. It can delve more into the entrepreneurship process of startups to recognize opportunities to create ideas, start businesses, and develop businesses.
The microbial metabolite p-Cresol induces autistic-like behaviors in mice by remodeling the gut microbiota
Authors: Bermudez-Martin Patricia , Becker Jérôme A. J. , Caramello Nicolas , Fernandez Sebastian P. , Costa-Campos Renan , Canaguier Juliette , Barbosa Susana , Martinez-Gili Laura , Myridakis Antonis , Dumas Marc-Emmanuel , Bruneau Aurélia , Cherbuy Claire , Langella Philippe , Callebert Jacques , Launay Jean-Marie , Chabry Joëlle , Barik Jacques , Le Merrer Julie , Glaichenhaus Nicolas , Davidovic Laetitia 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with dysregulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, changes in microbiota composition as well as in the fecal, serum, and urine levels of microbial metabolites. Yet a causal relationship between dysregulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and ASD remains to be demonstrated. Here, we hypothesized that the microbial metabolite p-Cresol, which is more abundant in ASD patients compared to neurotypical individuals, could induce ASD-like behavior in mice.

Results
Mice exposed to p-Cresol for 4 weeks in drinking water presented social behavior deficits, stereotypies, and perseverative behaviors, but no changes in anxiety, locomotion, or cognition. Abnormal social behavior induced by p-Cresol was associated with decreased activity of central dopamine neurons involved in the social reward circuit. Further, p-Cresol induced changes in microbiota composition and social behavior deficits could be transferred from p-Cresol-treated mice to control mice by fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). We also showed that mice transplanted with the microbiota of p-Cresol-treated mice exhibited increased fecal p-Cresol excretion, compared to mice transplanted with the microbiota of control mice. In addition, we identified possible p-Cresol bacterial producers. Lastly, the microbiota of control mice rescued social interactions, dopamine neurons excitability, and fecal p-Cresol levels when transplanted to p-Cresol-treated mice.

Conclusions
The microbial metabolite p-Cresol induces selectively ASD core behavioral symptoms in mice. Social behavior deficits induced by p-Cresol are dependant on changes in microbiota composition. Our study paves the way for therapeutic interventions targeting the microbiota and p-Cresol production to treat patients with ASD.
OUTBREAK: a user-friendly georeferencing online tool for disease surveillance
Authors: Arias-Carrasco Raúl , Giddaluru Jeevan , Cardozo Lucas E. , Martins Felipe , Maracaja-Coutinho Vinicius , Nakaya Helder I. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe current COVID-19 pandemic has already claimed more than 3.7 million victims and it will cause more deaths in the coming months. Tools that track the number and locations of cases are critical for surveillance and help in making policy decisions for controlling the outbreak. However, the current surveillance web-based dashboards run on proprietary platforms, which are often expensive and require specific computational knowledge. We developed a user-friendly web tool, named OUTBREAK, that facilitates epidemic surveillance by showing in an animated graph the timeline and geolocations of cases of an outbreak. It permits even non-specialist users to input data most conveniently and track outbreaks in real-time. We applied our tool to visualize the SARS 2003, MERS, and COVID19 epidemics, and provided them as examples on the website. Through the zoom feature, it is also possible to visualize cases at city and even neighborhood levels. We made the tool freely available at https://outbreak.sysbio.tools/. OUTBREAK has the potential to guide and help health authorities to intervene and minimize the effects of outbreaks.
Immunoinformatics approach for multi-epitope vaccine design against structural proteins and ORF1a polyprotein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Authors: Adam Khalid Mohamed 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
The lack of effective treatment against the highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 has aggravated the already catastrophic global health issue. Here, in an attempt to design an efficient vaccine, a thorough immunoinformatics approach was followed to predict the most suitable viral proteins epitopes for building that vaccine.

Methods
The amino acid sequences of four structural proteins (S, M, N, E) along with one potentially antigenic accessory protein (ORF1a) of SARS-CoV-2 were inspected for the most appropriate epitopes to be used for building the vaccine construct. Several immunoinformatics tools were used to assess the antigenicity (VaxiJen server), immunogenicity (IEDB immunogenicity tool), allergenicity (AlgPred), toxigenicity (ToxinPred server), interferon-gamma inducing capacity (IFNepitope server), and the physicochemical properties of the construct (ProtParam tool).

Results
The final candidate vaccine construct consisted of 468 amino acids, encompassing 29 epitopes. The CTL epitopes that passed the antigenicity, allergenicity, toxigenicity and immunogenicity assessment were four epitopes from S protein, one from M protein, two from N protein, 12 from the ORF1a polyprotein and none from E protein. While the HTL epitopes that passed the antigenicity, allergenicity, toxigenicity and INF-$$\gamma$$
γ
were one from S protein, three from M protein, six from the ORF1a polyprotein and none from N and E proteins.
All the vaccine properties and its ability to trigger the humoral and cell-mediated immune response were validated computationally. Molecular modeling, docking to TLR3, simulation, and molecular dynamics were also carried out. Finally, a molecular clone using pET28::mAID expression plasmid vector was prepared.

Conclusion
The overall results of the study suggest that the final multi-epitope chimeric construct is a potential candidate for an efficient protective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.
Endocan serum levels in patients with low- and high-grade meningiomas: does this biomarker have an indicative role?
Authors: Fattahi Mohammad Javad , Sedaghat Fatemeh , Malekzadeh Mahyar , Nejat Amir Ali , Poostkar Maryam , Saberi Yousef , Taghipour Mousa , Ghaderi Abbas 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundMeningiomas are one of the most common tumors of the brain and central nervous system. The key role of endocan in predicting tumor growth and prognosis has been shown for several types of cancers; however, this role in meningiomas has not been evaluated. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between endocan serum levels with low- and high-grade meningiomas.ResultsThe serum level of endocan in the group with meningiomas was 283.34 (242.09-358.70) pg/ml and in the control group was 250.29 (207.56-329.71) pg/ml respectively (P = 0.172). Afterwards, patients were divided into three different groups (grades I, II, and III) and compared to the control. The level of endocan in the group with grade I of meningioma showed no significant difference compared to control individuals (P = 0.86). When patients with grade II and grade III compared with the control group, endocan serum levels were statistically significant (P = 0.002, P < 0.001 respectively). Moreover, our findings showed that the different grades of meningiomas were statistically significant compared to each other (P < 0.001) regarding endocan serum levels, meaning that the higher the grade, the higher the endocan serum levels.ConclusionOur findings revealed that higher grades of meningioma had higher endocan serum levels, however, the role of endocan in pathogenesis or progression of this type of tumor requiring further exclusively assessment.
Predictors of surgical intervention in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (two-center study)
Authors: El Megeed Khaled Hamdy Abd , Saleh Shereen Abou Bakr , Mohamed Ahmed Elkattary , Alphonse Anwar Christina 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Sixty percent of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients require intestinal resection, and 20% of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients undergo proctocolectomy for medically refractory disease. Scarcity of literature about predictors for surgical intervention in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encouraged the conduction of this study to assess risk factors for surgical intervention in IBD patients.

Results
This cohort study included 80 Egyptian inflammatory bowel disease patients recruited from two medical centers. Patients were classified into two groups, 40 patients each, according to their need for surgical intervention to control inflammatory bowel disease. The two groups were compared regarding age of onset, type and location of disease, smoking, extraintestinal manifestations, perianal disease, granuloma, severity scores, stool calprotectin, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and serum albumin at diagnosis for Crohn’s disease patients.
Twelve ulcerative colitis and 28 Crohn’s disease patients required surgical intervention in the form of total colectomy (30%), fistulectomy (32.5%), resection anastomosis (17.5%) or abscess drainage (20%). Perianal disease, smoking, and disease severity scores showed high significant differences (P value < 0.001); disease type and presence of granuloma showed statistically significant difference (P value < 0.05) between both groups. But, patient age at onset, location of the disease or extraintestinal manifestation had no statistical significance (P value > 0.5). Surgical interventions were more likely to be needed in patients with higher stool calprotectin level, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and lower serum albumin for Crohn’s disease patients (P value < 0.001 for each).

Conclusion
Smoking, perianal disease, higher severity scores, stool calprotectin, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate levels are predictors of surgical treatment.