bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Services for homeless people in Germany during the COVID‐19‐pandemic: A descriptive study
Authors: Gräske Johannes , Koppe Louise , Neumann Fränze , Forbrig Theresa A. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractDesignA cross‐sectional study was conducted in December 2020/January 2021 in the five significant cities of Germany.Sample135 of 244 identified service institutions took part in the evaluation.MeasurementsThis evaluation included changes in institutions’ operating hours as well as capacity for homeless people. Service institutions described changes in guests’ characteristics, moods, and mental burden. Finally, equipment including face masks, coveralls, and gloves was investigated. In addition, the study examined how the cooperation with the health authorities works.ResultsInstitutions reduced their operating hours and capacity for guests (62.4%). Increased costs, which they had to cover themselves, were reported by 70.9% of institutions. Institutions reported, that guests showed more symptoms of aggression (15%), anxiety (25%), and desperation (32%) and fewer signs of being relaxed (75%). The institutions reported room for improvement in PPE supplies and collaboration with health authorities.ConclusionsServices are limited for a vulnerable population, which shows changes in moods and mental health. Health authorities are not sufficiently engaged to take over the role of institutions in caring for homeless people. In the future, in‐depth investigation to improve this is necessary.
Cytokine production and the effects of oclacitinib in three canine mast cell tumour cell lines
Authors: de Mello Souza Carlos H. , Shiomitsu Keijiro , Hwang Benjamin 
Published: December 2021

BackgroundCytokines are capable of manipulating the tumour microenvironment supporting tumour growth. Interleukin (IL)‐8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)‐1, shown to be produced by various tumours, can negatively affect prognosis. The production of cytokines by canine mast cell tumours (MCT) has not been reported.Hypothesis/objectivesWe hypothesise that MCT cell lines produce IL‐8 and/or MCP‐1 in addition to other cytokines, and that their production can be modulated by the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor oclacitinib. This pilot study aims to investigate the production of IL‐8, MCP‐1 and nine additional cytokines in three canine MCT cell lines, and determine the effects of oclacitinib on their production.Methods and materialsReverse transcriptase‐PCR was used to detect the expression of IL‐8 and MCP‐1 mRNA in three MCT cell lines (CoMS, CM‐MC1 and VI‐MC1). The supernatant of the cell lines was evaluated for the presence of 11 cytokines [IL‐2, ‐6, ‐7, ‐8, ‐10, ‐15 and ‐18, and MCP‐1, granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF), interferon (IFN)γ and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α] by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The IC50 of oclacitinib was identified for each cell line. ELISA was performed again to compare changes in IL‐8 and MCP‐1 in treated cell lines versus untreated controls.ResultsInterleukin‐8 and MCP‐1 were produced by all MCT cell lines tested. Oclacitinib significantly decreased the release of IL‐8 in the CoMS cell line and of MCP‐1 in CoMS and VI‐MC1 in clinically relevant concentrations. Furthermore, oclacitinib significantly decreased the proliferation of all three cell lines.ConclusionsInterleukin‐8 and MCP‐1 are produced by canine MCT cell lines. Modulation of their production is possible with oclacitinib.
Simultaneous Calculation of Chemical and Isotope Equilibria Using the GEOCHEQ_Isotope Software: Oxygen Isotopes
Authors: Polyakov V. B. , Mironenko M. V. , Alenina M. V. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract—
The GEOCHEQ_Isotope software package, elaborated previously for modeling chemical and carbon isotope equilibria in hydrothermal and hydrogeochemical systems by minimizing the Gibbs energy, is extended to the simultaneous calculation of carbon and oxygen isotopic effects. Similar to what was done for carbon, the β-factor formalism was used to develop algorithms and a database for calculating the isotopic effects of oxygen. According to the developed algorithm, the Gibbs energy of formation of a rare isotopologue, G*(P, T), is calculated through the Gibbs energy of formation of the main isotopologue, the value of the β18O factor of this substance, and the mass ratio of the rare (18O) and main (16O) isotopes. The isotope mixture is assumed to be ideal. The temperature dependence of the β-factor is unified as a polynomial in reciprocal absolute temperature. Necessary information on oxygen isotope equilibria involving important geochemical compounds was critically analyzed, and the available data were reconciled and modified. The temperature dependences of the β18O-factors were correspondingly optimized. The thermodynamic database was updated by adding information on the temperature dependence of β18O-factors specified by polynomial coefficients for each substance. The usage of the GEOCHEQ_Isotope software package and the corresponding database is demonstrated by modeling the dependence of oxygen and carbon isotope fractionation factors on the acidity of the solution (pH) in a carbonate hydrothermal system. The simulation results are in a good agreement with experimental data available from the literature. The enrichment of dissolved carbonates in the 18O heavy oxygen isotope relative to water decreases with increasing pH of the system. At the same time, a pH increase results in a decrease in the negative carbon isotope shift between calcite and dissolved carbonates. At high pH values (~11), the isotope shift inversion and the enrichment of the dissolved carbonate in the heavy carbon isotope relative to calcite are predicted.
Economic inequality in malnutrition: a global systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Alao Rotimi , Nur Hayaan , Fivian Emily , Shankar Bhavani , Kadiyala Suneetha , Harris-Fry Helen 
Published: December 2021

ObjectiveTo describe the evidence on global and regional economic inequality in malnutrition, and the associations between economic inequality and malnutrition.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Between 1 November 2020 and 22 January 2021, we searched Medline, Embase, Global Health, Eldis, Web of Science and EBSCO Discovery Service. We contacted 39 experts and tracked citations. We included any study reporting a concentration index (CIX) relating economic status and nutritional status and any multilevel study reporting an association between economic inequality and nutritional status. Nutritional status was measured as stunting, wasting, anaemia, or overweight in children (<5 years), or underweight, overweight or obesity, or anaemia in adults (15–49 years). We had no study date or language restriction. Quality was assessed using the Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS tool). We mapped estimates and pooled them using multilevel random-effects meta-analyses.ResultsFrom 6185 results, 91 studies provided 426 CIX (>2.9 million people) and 47 associations (~3.9 million people). Stunting (CIX −0.15 (95% CI −0.19 to −0.11)) and wasting (−0.03 (95% CI −0.05 to −0.02)) are concentrated among poor households. Adult overweight and obesity is concentrated in wealthier households (0.08 (95% CI −0.00 to 0.17)), particularly in South Asia (0.26 (95% CI 0.19 to 0.34)), but not in Europe and Central Asia (−0.02 (95% CI −0.08 to 0.05)) or North America (−0.04 (95% CI −0.10 to 0.03)). We found no association between 0.1 increase in Gini coefficient and adult underweight (OR 1.03 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.12)) or overweight and obesity (0.92 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.05)).ConclusionsThere is good evidence that the prevalence of malnutrition varies by levels of absolute economic status. Undernutrition is concentrated in poor households, whereas concentration of overweight and obesity by economic status depends on region, and we lack information on economic inequalities in anaemia and child overweight. In contrast, links between malnutrition and relative economic status are less clear and should not be assumed; robust evidence on causal pathways is needed.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020201572.
Sensitizing tumors to anti-PD-1 therapy by promoting NK and CD8+ T cells via pharmacological activation of FOXO3
Authors: Chung Young Min , Khan Pragya P , Wang Hong , Tsai Wen-Bin , Qiao Yanli , Yu Bo , Larrick James W , Hu Mickey C-T 
Published: December 2021

BackgroundStimulating antitumor immunity by blocking programmed death-1 (PD-1) or its ligand (programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a promising antitumor therapy. However, numerous patients respond poorly to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Unresponsiveness to immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) can cast significant challenges to the therapeutic options for patients with hard-to-treat tumors. There is an unmet clinical need to establish new therapeutic approaches for mitigating ICB unresponsiveness in patients. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and role of low-dose antineoplastic agent SN-38 or metformin in sensitizing unresponsive tumors to respond to ICB therapy.MethodsWe assessed the significant pathological relationships between PD-L1 and FOXO3 expression and between PD-L1 and c-Myc or STAT3 expression in patients with various tumors. We determined the efficacy of low-dose SN-38 or metformin in sensitizing unresponsive tumors to respond to anti-PD-1 therapy in a syngeneic tumor system. We deciphered novel therapeutic mechanisms underlying the SN-38 and anti-PD-1 therapy-mediated engagement of natural killer (NK) or CD8+ T cells to infiltrate tumors and boost antitumor immunity.ResultsWe showed that PD-L1 protein level was inversely associated with FOXO3 protein level in patients with ovarian, breast, and hepatocellular tumors. Low-dose SN-38 or metformin abrogated PD-L1 protein expression, promoted FOXO3 protein level, and significantly increased the animal survival rate in syngeneic mouse tumor models. SN-38 or metformin sensitized unresponsive tumors responding to anti-PD-1 therapy by engaging NK or CD8+ T cells to infiltrate the tumor microenvironment (TME) and secret interferon-γ and granzyme B to kill tumors. SN-38 suppressed the levels of c-Myc and STAT3 proteins, which controlled PD-L1 expression. FOXO3 was essential for SN38-mediated PD-L1 suppression. The expression of PD-L1 was compellingly linked to that of c-Myc or STAT3 in patients with the indicated tumors.ConclusionWe show that SN-38 or metformin can boost antitumor immunity in the TME by inhibiting c-Myc and STAT3 through FOXO3 activation. These results may provide novel insight into ameliorating patient response to overarching immunotherapy for tumors.
Changes in ankylosing spondylitis incidence, prevalence and time to diagnosis over two decades
Authors: Crossfield Samantha S R , Marzo-Ortega Helena , Kingsbury Sarah R , Pujades-Rodriguez Mar , Conaghan Philip G 
Published: December 2021

ObjectivesTo assess changes in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) incidence, prevalence and time to diagnosis, between 1998 and 2017.MethodsUsing UK GP data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we identified patients diagnosed with AS between 1998 and 2017. We estimated the annual AS incidence, prevalence and length of time from first recorded symptom of back pain to rheumatology referral and diagnosis.ResultsWe identified 12 333 patients with AS. The incidence declined from 0.72 (±0.14) per 10 000 patient-years in 1998 to 0.39 (±0.06) in 2007, with this decline significant only in men, then incidence rose to 0.57 (±0.11) in 2017. By contrast, prevalence increased between 1998 and 2017 (from 0.13%±0.006 to 0.18%±0.006), rising steeply among women (from 0.06%±0.05 to 0.10%±0.06) and patients aged ≥60 (from 0.14%±0.01 to 0.26%±0.01). The overall median time from first symptom to rheumatology referral was 4.87 years (IQR=1.42–10.23). The median time from first symptom to diagnosis rose between 1998 and 2017 (from 3.62 years (IQR=1.14–7.07) to 8.31 (IQR=3.77–15.89)) and was longer in women (6.71 (IQR=2.30–12.36)) than men (5.65 (IQR=1.66–11.20)).ConclusionAS incidence declined significantly between 1998 and 2007, with an increase between 2007 and 2017 that may be explained by an improvement in the recognition of AS or confidence in diagnosing AS over time, stemming from increased awareness of inflammatory back pain and the importance of early treatment. The rising AS prevalence may indicate improved patient survival. The persisting delay in rheumatology referral and diagnosis remains of concern, particularly in women.
Achyranthes Japonica Nakai root extract supplementation improves apparent nutrient digestibility, caecum microbiota, and excreta gas emission in broiler chicks
Authors: Dang De Xin , Yun Kwan Sik , Kim In Ho 
Published: December 2021

This study investigated the effects of supplementing Achyranthes Japonica Nakai (AJN) root extract to the diet of broiler chicks on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, caecum microbiota, excreta gas emission, and relative weight of organs. A total of 270 one-day-old Ross 308 broiler chicks (42.11 ± 0.18 g) were randomly allotted into three dietary treatments according to the initial body weight. Each treatment had five replicate cages with 18 birds per cage. The experimental period was 35 d (starter, days 1–7; grower, days 8–21; finisher, days 22–35). Dietary treatments were a corn–soybean meal-based basal diet supplemented with 0.000%, 0.015%, or 0.030% AJN root extract. The apparent total tract digestibility of nitrogen (P = 0.025) increased linearly with the increase of the dosage of AJN root extract, while the counts of Escherichia coli in the caecum (P = 0.038) and excreta ammonia emission (P = 0.003) decreased linearly. However, the growth performance (P > 0.05) and the relative weight of organs (P > 0.05) did not differ among the dietary groups. In conclusion, AJN root extract could increase the nutrient digestibility and reduce the noxious gas emission by reducing the caecum harmful microbiota in a dose-dependent manner.
Effect of dietary organic acids supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut morphology in weaned pigs
Authors: Lee Jinyoung , Kim Jong Woong , Hall Heidi , Nyachoti Charles Martin 
Published: December 2021

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with different organic acid (OA) mixtures on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut morphology in weaned pigs. A total of 56 weaned pigs (7.93 ± 1.04 kg body weight) were assigned to four dietary treatments with seven replicates per treatment for a 35-day study conducted over two phases: phase 1 (day 1 to 14) and phase 2 (day 14 to 35). Diets consisted of (1) a corn–soybean meal basal diet without any additive (negative control, NC); (2) NC + formic and propionic acids (TRT1); (3) NC + butyric, formic, and propionic acids (TRT2); and (4) NC + antibiotic (positive control, PC). During the overall period, the gain to feed ratio of pigs fed the PC and TRT1 diets tended to be higher (P = 0.059) than that of those fed the NC diet. However, OA supplementation had no effects on nutrient digestibility. Jejunal villus height to crypt depth ratio was higher (P < 0.05) in pigs fed the TRT1 diet than those fed the NC diet. In conclusion, dietary OA supplementation tended to increase overall feed efficiency and improved gut morphology in weaned pigs.
Identification of novel potential anti-diabetic candidates targeting human pancreatic α-amylase and human α-glycosidase: an exhaustive structure-based screening
Authors: Maliwal Deepika , Pissurlenkar Raghuvir R.S. , Telvekar Vikas 
Published: December 2021

Diabetes is a major health issue that has reached alarming levels, affecting nearly half a billion people worldwide. It is a serious and long-term medical condition that has a major impact on the lives and well-being of individuals, families, and societies. Diabetes is among the top 10 diseases responsible for death among adults, with an expected increase to 10.2% (578 million) by 2030 and 10.9% (700 million) by 2045. Carbohydrates are absorbed into the body upon hydrolysis by human pancreatic α-amylase and other intestinal enzymes, such as human α-glucosidase. α-Amylase and α-glucosidase are well-validated therapeutic targets in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and play a vital role in modulating blood glucose levels after a meal. Herein, we report novel and diverse molecules identified as potential candidates that are predicted to have affinities for α-amylase and α-glucosidase. These molecules were identified via hierarchical multistep docking of small-molecule databases with estimated binding free energies. A Glide XP score cutoff of –8.0 kcal/mol was implemented to filter out non-potential molecules from the database. Four molecules, amb22034702, amb18105639, amb17153304, and amb9760832, were identified after an exhaustive computational study involving the evaluation of binding interactions and assessment of the pharmacokinetics and toxicity profiles. In-depth analysis of protein–ligand interactions was performed using a 100 ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to establish dynamic stability. Furthermore, MM-GBSA based binding free energies were computed for 1000 trajectory snapshots to ascertain the strong binding affinities of these molecules for α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The identified molecules can be considered as promising candidates for further drug development through necessary experimental assessments.
A functional framework based on big data analytics for smart farming
Authors: Rabhi Loubna , Falih Noureddine , Afraites Lekbir , Bouikhalene Belaid 
Published: December 2021

Big <span>data in agriculture is defined as massive volumes of data with a wide variety of sources and types which can be captured using internet of things sensors (soil and crops sensors, drones, and meteorological stations), analyzed and used for decision-making. In the era of internet of things (IoT) tools, connected agriculture has appeared. Big data outputs can be exploited by the future connected agriculture in order to reduce cost and time production, improve yield, develop new products, offer optimization and smart decision-making. In this article, we propose a functional framework to model the decision-making process in digital and connected agriculture</span>.
Trend of the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia using the machine learning prophet algorithm
Authors: Hayati Nur , Fauziah Fauziah , Poetra Dendi Rizka , Wandi Dede 
Published: December 2021

Based on information on the <span>BNPB website on 2 September 2020, the positive rate for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Indonesia reached 25.25% on 30 August 2020. This is a big challenge for the Indonesian government to reduce the positivity rate to meet the standards safe accepted by World Health Organization (WHO) is 5%. To ensure the accuracy of government policies, accurate data predictions are needed. Therefore, the prophet's machine learning algorithm can be used to see trends in the spread of COVID-19 in the next one year. This algorithm has a fairly high level of accuracy because the data contains time variables which are adjusted to the dataset. In several previous research, the dataset was vast uncertain and small. Meanwhile in this research, data was taken from 2 March 2020 to 12 February 2021 on the KawalCOVID19 website. This data is used to predict from 13 February 2021 to 12 February 2022. There are 3 data used; namely data confirmed, recovered and died. Based on the analysis, the confirmed patient was 22.60-42.11%, died amounted to 21.67%-39.00%, and recovered by 22.53-41.82%. The prediction percentage that the average cases died was 2.43% every day. The accuracy of data confirmed was 43.97%, died was 72.50% and recovered was 84.24%.</span>
Load frequency control of thermal system under deregulated environment using slime mould algorithm
Authors: Kumar Sambugari Anil , Narayana M. Siva Sathya , Gowd K. Jithendra 
Published: December 2021

This paper emphasizes the significance of PID controller parameters using a slime mould algorithm (SMA) to reduce load frequency control (LFC) issues in a thermal system in an open market scenario. The SMA is used to solve the parameterization of the PID controller, which was formulated as an optimization problem.The performance of the PID controller parameters improves the dynamic characteristics of the system as frequency in each area, and also deviations in tie line power after sudden load violation. In order to study the efficiency of the proposed method, the system was tested with different power transactions for a small load disturbance and the comparative results were presented. The optimal value of the controller parameters derived from SMA based PID controller is estimated using a finite nonlinear optimization using a performance index based method.
Endothelial k-RasV12 Expression Induces Capillary Deficiency Attributable to Marked Tube Network Expansion Coupled to Reduced Pericytes and Basement Membranes
Authors: Sun Zheying , Kemp Scott S. , Lin Prisca K. , Aguera Kalia N. , Davis George E. 
Published: December 2021

Objective:
We sought to determine how endothelial cell (EC) expression of the activating k-Ras (kirsten rat sarcoma 2 viral oncogene homolog) mutation, k-RasV12, affects their ability to form lumens and tubes and interact with pericytes during capillary assembly

Approach and Results:
Using defined bioassays where human ECs undergo observable tubulogenesis, sprouting behavior, pericyte recruitment to EC-lined tubes, and pericyte-induced EC basement membrane deposition, we assessed the impact of EC k-RasV12 expression on these critical processes that are necessary for proper capillary network formation. This mutation, which is frequently seen in human ECs within brain arteriovenous malformations, was found to markedly accentuate EC lumen formation mechanisms, with strongly accelerated intracellular vacuole formation, vacuole fusion, and lumen expansion and with reduced sprouting behavior, leading to excessively widened tube networks compared with control ECs. These abnormal tubes demonstrate strong reductions in pericyte recruitment and pericyte-induced EC basement membranes compared with controls, with deficiencies in fibronectin, collagen type IV, and perlecan deposition. Analyses of signaling during tube formation from these k-RasV12 ECs reveals strong enhancement of Src (Src proto-oncogene, non-receptor tyrosine kinase), Pak2 (P21 [RAC1 (Rac family small GTPase 1)] activated kinase 2), b-Raf (v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1), Erk (extracellular signal–related kinase), and Akt (AK strain transforming) activation and increased expression of PKCε (protein kinase C epsilon), MT1-MMP (membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase), acetylated tubulin and CDCP1 (CUB domain-containing protein 1; most are known EC lumen regulators). Pharmacological blockade of MT1-MMP, Src, Pak, Raf, Mek (mitogen-activated protein kinase) kinases, Cdc42 (cell division cycle 42)/Rac1, and Notch markedly interferes with lumen and tube formation from these ECs.

Conclusions:
Overall, this novel work demonstrates that EC expression of k-RasV12 disrupts capillary assembly due to markedly excessive lumen formation coupled with strongly reduced pericyte recruitment and basement membrane deposition, which are critical pathogenic features predisposing the vasculature to develop arteriovenous malformations.