bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
miR-133a silencing rescues glucocorticoid-induced bone loss by regulating the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway
Authors: Wang Gang , Wang Fengbin , Zhang Lecheng , Yan Chao , Zhang Yuelei 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Dysfunction of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is recognized as critical to the pathogenesis of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO), suggesting the potential of MSC-targeting interventions for this disorder. As the miR-133a has been shown to play an important role in bone metabolism, we hypothesized that miR-133a may also be involved in GIO.

Methods
In the in vitro study, we examined the effect of miR-133a antagomir on DEX-treated MSCs, including proliferation, apoptosis, osteoblast, and adipocyte differentiation, then, we explored the mechanism of these effects of miR-133a silencing through measuring the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and its regulator FGFR1 via western blot and qRT-PCR. In the in vivo study, we developed a GIO rat model by injecting methylprednisolone and modulated the miR-133a expression in the femur by intramedullary injection of the miR-133a antagomir, and then micro-CT analyses and histological staining of the femurs were used to investigate the effect of miR-133a silencing on bone loss of the GIO rats.

Results
qRT-PCR analysis indicated that glucocorticoid induced high miR-133a expression in MSCs and animal models. The in vitro study showed that miR-133a antagomir significantly promoted cell proliferation, viability, and osteoblast differentiation and inhibited adipocyte differentiation in DEX-treated MSCs. Furthermore, the expression of p-ERK1/2 and FGFR1 in DEX-treated MSCs was also upregulated by miR-133a antagomir. Then we investigated the effect of miR-133a silencing on the bone architecture of GIO models, micro-CT analysis showed that miR-133a antagomir attenuated the loss of bone mass and improved the trabecular and cortical parameters induced by methylprednisolone. Histological study showed that miR-133a silencing simultaneously increased bone formation and decreased marrow fat accumulation in GIO rats.

Conclusions
Our findings suggested that miR-133a is strongly associated with GIO and similar disorders induced by glucocorticoids in MSCs. Silencing miR-133a resulted in positive effects on GC-treated MSCs and on bone loss in GIO animal models. Moreover, the FGFR1-MAPK/ERK signaling may be involved in the protective effect of miR-133a silencing.
Clinical performance of lung ultrasound in predicting ARDS morphology
Authors: Costamagna Andrea , Pivetta Emanuele , Goffi Alberto , Steinberg Irene , Arina Pietro , Mazzeo Anna Teresa , Del Sorbo Lorenzo , Veglia Simona , Davini Ottavio , Brazzi Luca , Ranieri V. Marco , Fanelli Vito 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
To assess diagnostic performance of lung ultrasound (LUS) in identifying ARDS morphology (focal vs non-focal), compared with the gold standard computed tomography.

Methods
Mechanically ventilated ARDS patients undergoing lung computed tomography and ultrasound were enrolled. Twelve fields, were evaluated. LUS score was graded from 0 (normal) to 3 (consolidation) according to B-lines extent. Total and regional LUS score as the sum of the four ventral (LUSV), intermediate (LUSI) or dorsal (LUSD) fields, were calculated. Based on lung CT, ARDS morphology was defined as (1) focal (loss of aeration with lobar distribution); (2) non-focal (widespread loss of aeration or segmental loss of aeration distribution associated with uneven lung attenuation areas), and diagnostic accuracy of LUS in discriminating ARDS morphology was determined by AU-ROC in training and validation set of patients.

Results
Forty-seven patients with ARDS (25 training set and 22 validation set) were enrolled. LUSTOT, LUSV and LUSI but not LUSD score were significantly lower in focal than in non-focal ARDS morphologies (p < .01). The AU-ROC curve of LUSTOT, LUSV, LUSI and LUSD for identification of non-focal ARDS morphology were 0.890, 0.958, 0.884 and 0.421, respectively. LUSV value ≥ 3 had the best predictive value (sensitivity = 0.95, specificity = 1.00) in identifying non-focal ARDS morphology. In the validation set, an LUSV score ≥ 3 confirmed to be highly predictive of non-focal ARDS morphology, with a sensitivity and a specificity of 94% and 100%.

Conclusions
LUS had a valuable performance in distinguishing ARDS morphology.
Lightweight authentication protocol in edge-based smart grid environment
Authors: Chen Chien-Ming , Chen Lili , Huang Yanyu , Kumar Sachin , Wu Jimmy Ming-Tai 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA smart grid (SG) is an advanced power grid system deployed in a cloud center and smart meters (at the consumer end) that provides higher reliability, better data protection, improved power efficiency, automatic monitoring, and effective management of power consumption. However, an SG also poses certain challenges that need to be addressed. For example, data provided by a smart meter are time-sensitive and cannot handle high latency in an SG. Moreover, a smart meter depends on memory, energy, and other factors. Besides, the security between a cloud center and a smart meter is a critical issue that needs to be resolved. Edge computing, an extension of cloud computing deployed in an edge network between a cloud center and the end devices, is an efficient solution to the aforementioned issues. Therefore, in this study, we propose a secure mutual authentication protocol based on edge computing for use in an SG.
Stacked generative adversarial networks for image compositing
Authors: Yu Bing , Ding Youdong , Xie Zhifeng , Huang Dongjin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPerfect image compositing can harmonize the appearance between the foreground and background effectively so that the composite result looks seamless and natural. However, the traditional convolutional neural network (CNN)-based methods often fail to yield highly realistic composite results due to overdependence on scene parsing while ignoring the coherence of semantic and structural between foreground and background. In this paper, we propose a framework to solve this problem by training a stacked generative adversarial network with attention guidance, which can efficiently create a high-resolution, realistic-looking composite. To this end, we develop a diverse adversarial loss in addition to perceptual and guidance loss to train the proposed generative network. Moreover, we construct a multi-scenario dataset for high-resolution image compositing, which contains high-quality images with different styles and object masks. Experiments on the synthesized and real images demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of our network in producing seamless, natural, and realistic results. Ablation studies show that our proposed network can improve the visual performance of composite results compared with the application of existing methods.
Thousands of previously unknown phages discovered in whole-community human gut metagenomes
Authors: Benler Sean , Yutin Natalya , Antipov Dmitry , Rayko Mikhail , Shmakov Sergey , Gussow Ayal B. , Pevzner Pavel , Koonin Eugene V. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Double-stranded DNA bacteriophages (dsDNA phages) play pivotal roles in structuring human gut microbiomes; yet, the gut virome is far from being fully characterized, and additional groups of phages, including highly abundant ones, continue to be discovered by metagenome mining. A multilevel framework for taxonomic classification of viruses was recently adopted, facilitating the classification of phages into evolutionary informative taxonomic units based on hallmark genes. Together with advanced approaches for sequence assembly and powerful methods of sequence analysis, this revised framework offers the opportunity to discover and classify unknown phage taxa in the human gut.

Results
A search of human gut metagenomes for circular contigs encoding phage hallmark genes resulted in the identification of 3738 apparently complete phage genomes that represent 451 putative genera. Several of these phage genera are only distantly related to previously identified phages and are likely to found new families. Two of the candidate families, “Flandersviridae” and “Quimbyviridae”, include some of the most common and abundant members of the human gut virome that infect Bacteroides, Parabacteroides, and Prevotella. The third proposed family, “Gratiaviridae,” consists of less abundant phages that are distantly related to the families Autographiviridae, Drexlerviridae, and Chaseviridae. Analysis of CRISPR spacers indicates that phages of all three putative families infect bacteria of the phylum Bacteroidetes. Comparative genomic analysis of the three candidate phage families revealed features without precedent in phage genomes. Some “Quimbyviridae” phages possess Diversity-Generating Retroelements (DGRs) that generate hypervariable target genes nested within defense-related genes, whereas the previously known targets of phage-encoded DGRs are structural genes. Several “Flandersviridae” phages encode enzymes of the isoprenoid pathway, a lipid biosynthesis pathway that so far has not been known to be manipulated by phages. The “Gratiaviridae” phages encode a HipA-family protein kinase and glycosyltransferase, suggesting these phages modify the host cell wall, preventing superinfection by other phages. Hundreds of phages in these three and other families are shown to encode catalases and iron-sequestering enzymes that can be predicted to enhance cellular tolerance to reactive oxygen species.

Conclusions
Analysis of phage genomes identified in whole-community human gut metagenomes resulted in the delineation of at least three new candidate families of Caudovirales and revealed diverse putative mechanisms underlying phage-host interactions in the human gut. Addition of these phylogenetically classified, diverse, and distinct phages to public databases will facilitate taxonomic decomposition and functional characterization of human gut viromes.
Machine learning approach to drivers of bank lending: evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Ozgur Onder , Karagol Erdal Tanas , Ozbugday Fatih Cemil 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe study analyzes the performance of bank-specific characteristics, macroeconomic indicators, and global factors to predict the bank lending in Turkey for the period 2002Q4–2019Q2. The objective of this study is first, to clarify the possible nonlinear and nonparametric relationships between outstanding bank loans and bank-specific, macroeconomic, and global factors. Second, it aims to propose various machine learning algorithms that determine drivers of bank lending and benefits from the advantages of these techniques. The empirical findings indicate favorable evidence that the drivers of bank lending exhibit some nonlinearities. Additionally, partial dependence plots depict that numerous bank-specific characteristics and macroeconomic indicators tend to be important variables that influence bank lending behavior. The study’s findings have some policy implications for bank managers, regulatory authorities, and policymakers.
Anesthetic management of a patient with situs inversus totalis undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a case report
Authors: Nakasone Chigusa , Kanamoto Masafumi , Tatsuishi Wataru , Abe Tomonobu , Saito Shigeru 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Anesthetic management of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) in a dextrocardia patient with situs inversus totalis is rarely encountered and seldom reported in the literature.

Case presentation
A 76-year-old Japanese female patient had been diagnosed with situs inversus totalis and coronary artery disease of 3 vessels, and she subsequently underwent elective CABG. A preoperative examination showed almost normal results. ECG showed right deviation with the normal lead position. In the operating room, ECG leads were applied in reverse. Pulmonary artery catheterization was performed via the left internal jugular vein. A transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe was introduced without difficulty. A different angle was needed to acquire the desired views because of her atypical anatomy.

Conclusion
Careful perioperative evaluation, intraoperative management, and inspection of multiplane angle and probe adjustments in TEE are needed for anatomically abnormal patients.
Slip-free multiplication and complexity of dislocation networks in FCC metals
Authors: Akhondzadeh Sh. , Bertin Nicolas , Sills Ryan B. , Cai Wei 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDuring plastic deformation of crystalline solids, intricate networks of dislocation lines form and evolve. To capture dislocation density evolution, prominent theories of crystal plasticity assume that 1) multiplication is driven by slip in active slip systems and 2) pair-wise slip system interactions dominate network evolution. In this work, we analyze a massive database of over 100 discrete dislocation dynamics simulations (with cross-slip suppressed), and our findings bring both of these assumptions into question. We demonstrate that dislocation multiplication is commonly observed on slip systems with no applied stress and no plastic strain rate, a phenomenon we refer to as slip-free multiplication. We show that while the formation of glissile junctions provides one mechanism for slip-free multiplication, additional mechanisms which account for the influence of coplanar interactions are needed to fully explain the observations. Unlike glissile junction formation which results from a binary reaction between a pair of slip systems, these new multiplication mechanisms require higher order reactions that lead to complex network configurations. While these complex configurations have not been given much attention previously, they account for about 50% of the line intersections in our database.
The role of picornavirus infection in epileptogenesis
Authors: Zhang Runxuan , Mu Jie , Chi Jing , Jiang Weijia , Chi Xiaosa 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPicornaviridae are a family of small positive-strand RNA viruses, and transmitted via the respiratory or fecal-oral route. The neurotropic picornaviruses can induce acute or late recurrent seizures following central nervous system infection, by infecting the peripheral nerve, crossing the blood-brain barrier and migrating in the Trojan-horse method. Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), as a member of Picornaviridae family, can cause encephalitis, leading to chronic spontaneous seizures. TMEV-infected C57BL/6 mice have been used as an animal model for exploring the mechanism of epileptogenesis and assessing new antiepileptic drugs. Astrogliosis, neuronal death and microglial recruitment have been detected in the hippocampus following the picornaviruse-induced encephalitis. The macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils, as well as IL-6 and TNF-α released by them, play an important role in the epileptogenesis. In this review, we summarize the clinical characteristics of picornavirus infection, and the immunopathology involved in the TMEV-induced epilepsy.
Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of multidrug-resistant bacteria among intensive care units patients at Ain Shams University Hospitals in Egypt—a retrospective study
Authors: Fahim Noha Alaa Eldin 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
The nightmare of the rising numbers of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) requires the implementation of effective stewardship programs. However, this should be preceeded by making available evidence-based knowledge regarding the local antimicrobial resistance pattern, which is fundamental. The aim of the current study is to determine the prevalence of MDRO among different Ain Shams University Hospitals (ASUHs) intensive care units (ICUs) and detect the resistance profile of the common pathogens.

Results
The 1-year records of a total of 1280 pathogens were studied. The highest number of pathogens were isolated from blood cultures (44.84%), followed by urine (41.41%) then wound swabs (13.75%). Gram-negative isolates (57.5%) were more prevalent than gram-positive ones (31.1%). The most frequently isolated pathogens were Klebsiella spp. (22.5%), Escherichia coli (13.4%), and Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (12.5%). The highest percentage of resistance among gram-positive organisms was exhibited by penicillin (89.5%) followed by erythromycin (83.98%) and then cefoxitin (76.52%). None of the isolates showed resistance to linezolid and resistance to vancomycin was minimal (2.62%). Gram-negative isolates exhibited high overall resistance to all used antibiotic classes. The least frequency of resistance was recorded against nitrofurantoin (52.5%), amikacin (58.01%), followed by imipenem (59.78%) and meropenem (61.82%). All isolates of Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter showed 100% susceptibility to colistin.

Conclusions
The prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Ain Shams University Hospitals (ASUHs) was high among both gram-negative and gram-positive organisms. This high resistance pattern foreshadows an inevitable catastrophe that requires continuous monitoring and implementation of effective antibiotic stewardship.
Childhood trauma and cardiometabolic risk in severe mental disorders: The mediating role of cognitive control
Authors: Lunding Synve Hoffart , Simonsen Carmen , Aas Monica , Rødevand Linn , Werner Maren Caroline Frogner , Laskemoen Jannicke Fjæra , Hjell Gabriela , Ringen Petter Andreas , Lagerberg Trine Vik , Melle Ingrid , Andreassen Ole A. , Ueland Torill , Steen Nils Eiel 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundCardiometabolic risk is increased in severe mental disorders (SMDs), and there appears to be a relationship between childhood trauma and cardiometabolic risk, possibly related to adverse health behavior. The current study examined the association between childhood trauma and serum lipids and adiposity in SMDs and the potential mediating role of cognitive and personality characteristics.MethodsParticipants with schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum disorders (N = 819) were included, cardiometabolic risk factors (serum lipids,body mass index, andwaist circumference)were measured, and history ofchildhood traumawas assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Cognitive and personality characteristics were available in subsamples, with assessments of cognitive control, impulsiveness, self-esteem, and affective lability. Linear regressions and mediation analyses with Hayes’ PROCESS were performed, adjusting for age, sex, antipsychotic agent propensity of metabolic side-effect, and diagnostic group.ResultsExperience of three or more subtypes of childhood trauma was positively associated with waist circumference in patients with SMDs (p = 0.014). There were no other significant associations between trauma variables and lipid or adiposity measures in the total sample. Cognitive control was a significant mediator between experience of one or two subtypes of childhood trauma and waist circumference.ConclusionsThe results indicate childhood trauma as a predisposing factor for increased waist circumference in individuals with SMDs. Poorer cognitive control, suggestive of adverse health behavior, might be a mediating factor of the association, and the findings indicate the potential importance of increased focus on these factors in prevention and treatment regimens targeting cardiometabolic health.
Dynamic interaction induced explosive death
Authors: Dixit Shiva , Nag Chowdhury Sayantan , Ghosh Dibakar , Dev Shrimali Manish 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Most previous studies on coupled dynamical systems assume that all interactions between oscillators take place uniformly in time, but, in reality, this does not necessarily reflect the usual scenario. The heterogeneity in the timings of such interactions strongly influences the dynamical processes. Here, we introduce a time-evolving state-space-dependent coupling among an ensemble of identical coupled oscillators, where individual units are interacting only when the mean state of the system lies within a certain proximity of the phase space. They interact globally with mean-field diffusive coupling in a certain vicinity and behave like uncoupled oscillators with self-feedback in the remaining complementary subspace. Interestingly due to this occasional interaction, we find that the system shows an abrupt explosive transition from oscillatory to death state. Further, in the explosive death transitions, the oscillatory state and the death state coexist over a range of coupling strengths near the transition point. We explore our claim using Van der Pol, FitzHugh-Nagumo and Lorenz oscillators with dynamic mean field interaction. The dynamic interaction mechanism can explain sudden suppression of oscillations and concurrence of oscillatory and steady state in biological as well as technical systems.
Random walks on the generalized Vicsek fractal
Authors: Ma Fei , Wang Xiaomin , Wang Ping , Luo Xudong 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Fractal phenomena may be widely observed in a great number of complex systems. In this paper, motivated by the well-known Vicsek fractal, we propose the generalized Vicsek fractal whose seed is not necessarily a single edge but an arbitrary tree, and study random walks on it for the purpose of understanding how the underlying topology influences dynamic behaviors. Meanwhile, we determine the exact solution to the mean first-passage time for random walks on the generalized version in a more convenient mapping-based manner, while other methods suitable for the typical Vicsek fractal will become prohibitively complicated and even fail in this kind of situation. The analytic results suggest that the scaling relation between mean first-passage time and vertex number in generalized versions of Vicsek fractal keeps unchanged in the large graph size limit. Lastly, we conduct extensive computer simulations, and observe that experimental results are well consistent with the theoretical analysis.