bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mathematical modeling of palatal suture pattern formation: morphological differences between sagittal and palatal sutures
Authors: Shibusawa Nobuhide , Endo Yoshie , Morimoto Naoki , Takahashi Ichiro , Miura Takashi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe median palatal suture serves as a growth center for the maxilla; inadequate growth at this site causes malocclusion and dental crowding. However, the pattern formation mechanism of palatal sutures is poorly understood compared with that of calvarial sutures such as the sagittal suture. In the present study, therefore, we compared the morphological characteristics of sagittal and palatal sutures in human bone specimens. We found that palatal suture width was narrower than sagittal suture width, and the interdigitation amplitude of the palatal suture was lower than that of the sagittal suture. These tendencies were also observed in the neonatal stage. However, such differences were not observed in other animals such as chimpanzees and mice. We also used a mathematical model to reproduce the differences between palatal and sagittal sutures. After an extensive parameter search, we found two conditions that could generate the difference in interdigitation amplitude and suture width: bone differentiation threshold $$v_c$$

v
c

and growth speed c. We discuss possible biological interpretations of the observed pattern difference and its cause.
SCD5 expression correlates with prognosis and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer
Authors: Zhao Weipeng , Sun Linlin , Li Xichuan , Wang Jun , Zhu Ye , Jia Yan , Tong Zhongsheng 
Published: April 2021

AbstractNeoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) represents a standard option for breast cancer. Unfortunately, about 55–80% of breast cancer patients do not have a favorable response to chemotherapy. Highly specific tumor biomarker that can predict the pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is lacking. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 5 (SCD5) is an integral membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum that participates in lipid metabolism. Previous studies on the role of SCD5 in human cancers drew different conclusions. Therefore, the role of SCD5 in breast cancer remains unclear. Our study aims to understand its expression signature, prognosis value and correlation with pathological response to NACT in breast cancer using bioinformatics from public databases. Analysis of samples from public databases showed that SCD5 expression was down-regulated in some human cancers including breast cancer, and low expression of SCD5 was associated with more aggressive breast cancer phenotypes. Survival analysis revealed that SCD5 expression was related to prognosis in breast cancer. Integrated analysis of multiple public datasets indicated that SCD5 expression signature was associated with pathological response to NACT, particularly in TNBC. Based on functional enrichment analysis, the most affected biological functions in high SCD5-expressing breast cancer tissues were involved in negative regulation of cell cycle. Moreover, a significantly negative correlation between SCD5 expression and several cell cycle regulators was noted. Taken together, SCD5 was involved in the development and progression of breast cancer and might be a predictive biomarker for response to NACT. In conclusion, SCD5 could serve as a predictive biomarker of pathological response to NACT and play a carcinostatic role in breast cancer. These results provided us with clues to better understand SCD5 from the perspective of bioinformatics and highlighted the clinical importance of SCD5 in breast cancer, especially triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Assessing the use of a drought-tolerant variety as adaptation strategy for maize production under climate change in the savannas of Nigeria
Authors: Tofa Abdullahi I. , Kamara Alpha Y. , Babaji Bashir A. , Akinseye Folorunso M. , Bebeley Jenneh F. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe Decision Support System for Agricultural Technology Transfer (DSSAT) was used to quantify the impact of climate change on maize yield and the potential benefits of the use of drought-tolerant maize variety over non-drought tolerant variety in savanna ecological zones of Nigeria. Projections of maize yields were estimated for three locations representing different agro-climatic zones and soil conditions, in the mid-century (2040–2069) and end-century (2070–2099) under representative concentration pathways scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5) against the baseline period (1980–2009). Relative to the baseline period, the ensemble Global Circulation Models (GCMs) predicted significant increase in minimum and maximum temperatures and seasonal rainfall across the sites. In the mid-century, ensemble GCMs predicted temperatures increase between 1.7–2.4 °C for RCP4.5 and 2.2–2.9 °C for RCP8.5. By end-century, the temperature increases between 2.2–3.0 °C under RCP4.5 and 3.9–5.0 °C under RCP8.5. Predicted seasonal rainfall increase between 1.2–7% for RCP4.5 and 0.03–10.6% for RCP8.5 in the mid-century. By end of century, rainfall is expected to increase between 2–6.7% for RCP4.5 and 3.3–20.1% for RCP8.5. The DSSAT model predictions indicated a negative impact on maize yield in all the selected sites, but the degree of the impact varies with variety and location. In the mid-century, the results showed that the yield of the non–drought tolerant maize variety, SAMMAZ-16 will decline by 13–19% under RCP4.5 and 19–28% under RCP8.5. The projection by end-century indicates a decline in yield by 18–26% under RCP4.5 and 38–47% under RCP8.5. The yield of the drought-tolerant variety is projected to decline by 9–18% for RCP4.5 and 14–25% for RCP8.5 in the mid-century and 13–23% under RCP4.5 and 32–43% under RCP8.5 by the end-century. The higher temperatures by both emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 and 8.5) were primarily shown to cause more yield losses for non-drought-tolerant variety than that of the drought-tolerant variety. There will be 1–6% less reduction in yield when drought-tolerant variety is used. However, the higher yield reductions in the range of − 13 to − 43% predicted for the drought-tolerant variety by the end of the century across the study areas highlighted the need to modify the maize breeding scheme to combine both tolerances to drought and heat stresses in the agro-ecological zones of northern Nigeria.
Testicular steroidogenesis is suppressed during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in rats
Authors: Milosevic Ana , Bjelobaba Ivana , Bozic Iva D. , Lavrnja Irena , Savic Danijela , Tesovic Katarina , Jakovljevic Marija , Stojilkovic Stanko S. , Janjic Marija M. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that usually occurs during the reproductive years in both sexes. Many male patients with MS show lower blood testosterone levels, which was also observed in male rats during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. To better understand the causes of decreased testosterone production during EAE, we investigated the expression status of genes and proteins associated with steroidogenesis in the testes. No changes in the number of interstitial cells were observed in EAE animals, but the expression of the insulin-like 3 gene was reduced at the peak of the disease, implying that the Leydig cell functional capacity was affected. Consistent with this finding, the expression of most steroidogenic enzyme genes and proteins was reduced during EAE, including StAR, CYP11A1, CYP17A1 and HSD3B. No signs of testicular inflammation were observed. Recovery of steroidogenesis was observed after injection of hCG, the placental gonadotropin, or buserelin acetate, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue, at the peak of EAE. Together, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that impaired testicular steroidogenesis originates upstream of the testes and that low serum LH is the main cause of decreased testosterone levels during EAE.
Comparison of bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance genes in oxidation ditches and membrane bioreactors
Authors: Luo Lifang , Yao Junqin , Liu Weiguo , Yang Lixin , Li Hailong , Liang Ming , Ma Hui , Liu Ziteng , Chen Yinguang 
Published: April 2021

AbstractOxidation ditches (ODs) and membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are widely used in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) running through the whole system. In this study, metagenomic sequencing was used to compare the bacterial communities and ARGs in the OD and MBR systems, which received the same influent in a WWTP located in Xinjiang, China. The results showed that the removal efficiency of pollutants by the MBR process was better than that by the OD process. The composition and the relative abundance of bacteria in activated sludge were similar at the phylum and genus levels and were not affected by process type. Multidrug, fluoroquinolones and peptides were the main ARG types for the two processes, with macB being the main ARG subtype, and the relative abundance of ARG subtypes in MBR effluent was much higher than that in the OD effluent. The mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in the activated sludge were mainly transposons (tnpA) and insertion sequences (ISs; IS91). These results provide a theoretical basis for process selection and controlling the spread of ARGs.
A novel cystathionine γ-lyase inhibitor, I194496, inhibits the growth and metastasis of human TNBC via downregulating multiple signaling pathways
Authors: Liu Ya , Wang Lupeng , Zhang Xiuli , Deng Yuying , Pan Limin , Li Hui , Shi Xiaoyan , Wang Tianxiao 
Published: April 2021

AbstractTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a high-risk subtype of breast cancer with high capacity for metastasis and lacking of therapeutic targets. Our previous studies indicated that cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) may be a new target related to the recurrence or metastasis of TNBC. Downregulation of CSE could inhibit the growth and metastasis of TNBC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of the novel CSE inhibitor I194496 against TNBC in vivo and in vitro. The anticancer activity of I194496 in vitro were detected by MTS, EdU, and transwell assays. Methylene blue assay was used to determine the H2S level. Western blot was performed to analyze the expression of related pathway proteins. Xenograft tumors in nude mice were used to analyze the anticancer activity of I194496 in vivo. I194496 exerted potent inhibitory effects than l-propargylglycine (PAG, an existing CSE inhibitor) on human TNBC cells and possessed lower toxicity in normal breast epithelial Hs578Bst cells. I194496 reduced the activity and expression of CSE protein and the release of H2S in human TNBC cells. Meanwhile, the protein levels of PI3K, Akt, phospho (p)-Akt, Ras, Raf, p-ERK, p-Anxa2, STAT3, p-STAT3, VEGF, FAK, and Paxillin were decreased in human TNBC cells administrated with I194496. Furthermore, I194496 showed more stronger inhibitory effects on human TNBC xenograft tumors in nude mice. I194496 could inhibit the growth of human TNBC cells via the dual targeting PI3K/Akt and Ras/Raf/ERK pathway and suppress the metastasis of human TNBC cells via down-regulating Anxa2/STAT3 and VEGF/FAK/Paxillin signaling pathways. CSE inhibitor I194496 might become a novel and potential agent in the treatment of TNBC.
Safety and efficacy of microinvasive glaucoma surgery with cataract extraction in patients with normal-tension glaucoma
Authors: Chang Enchi Kristina , Gupta Sanchay , Chachanidze Marika , Hall Nathan , Chang Ta Chen , Solá-Del Valle David 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis study assesses the safety and efficacy of microinvasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS) with cataract extraction in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). In our sample of 45 NTG patients, mean intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased from 13.7 to 12.3 mmHg at 2.5 years, and mean medication burden decreased from 2.0 to 1.1 at 1.5 years. For success defined as IOP reduction ≥ 30% from baseline IOP with medication burden reduction from preoperative levels, success probability was 5.4% at 1.5 years. For success defined as medication burden reduction with an IOP reaching goal IOP as determined by the glaucoma specialist, success probabilities were 67.2% at 1.5 years and 29.4% at 2.5 years. At the last follow-up visit, eyes with two MIGS procedures with different mechanisms of action achieved successful medication reduction 68.8% of the time versus 35.7% achieved by a single MIGS procedure (p = 0.052). At their last visit, visual acuity was unchanged or improved in all eyes (100%). MIGS with cataract surgery results in modest reductions in IOP and medication burden in NTG patients, which may lead to lower costs and better therapeutic compliance. A combination of two MIGS procedures with different mechanisms of action may potentially be more effective in reducing medication burden than a single MIGS procedure in NTG patients. Further research is necessary to ascertain whether MIGS for NTG patients may help decrease medication burden while helping achieve goal IOP.
The effects of in-hospital deprescribing on potential prescribing omission in hospitalized elderly patients with polypharmacy
Authors: Kaminaga Miho , Komagamine Junpei , Tatsumi Shinpei 
Published: April 2021

AbstractNo studies to investigate the effect of a deprescribing intervention on the occurrence of potential prescribing omissions (PPOs) among elderly patients with polypharmacy have been conducted. Therefore, the effect of deprescribing on PPOs among elderly patients with polypharmacy was investigated. All 121 consecutive elderly patients who received in-hospital deprescribing interventions were evaluated. The primary outcome was any occurrence of PPOs based on the 2015 STOPP/START criteria. The proportion of patients who had any PPOs significantly increased after the deprescribing interventions (52.9% vs 77.7%, p < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, older age was the only independent risk factor associated with an increased risk of any PPOs after the deprescribing interventions (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.16). In-hospital deprescribing interventions for elderly patients with polypharmacy may increase the occurrence of PPOs. Further study is warranted to investigate the effects on clinical outcomes of the increased occurrence of PPOs due to the deprescribing intervention.
Accuracy and reliability of measurements obtained with a noncontact tono-pachymeter for clinical use in mass screening
Authors: Lee Jinho , Choi Hyuk Jin 
Published: April 2021

AbstractWe evaluated the reliability and accuracy of the noncontact CT-1P tonopachymeter (Topcon, Japan) in terms of intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT). One hundred sixty-three healthy participants and 33 patients with open angle glaucoma were enrolled. IOPs were measured by CT-1P (T-IOP) and Goldmann applanation tonometer (G-IOP), and CCTs were measured by the CT-1P (T-CCT) and an ultrasound pachymeter (US-CCT). Both CCT instrument-adjusted (T-IOP-C) and unadjusted T-IOPs (T-IOP-NC) were included. Pearson correlation coefficients and biases assessed with Bland–Altman analysis with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for reliability evaluation. Intrasession repeatability was excellent for both T-IOP (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] 0.91) and T-CCT (ICC 0.98). Intersession reproducibility was also excellent for T-CCT (ICC 0.94). T-IOP-NC and T-IOP-C both showed significant correlations with G-IOP (r = 0.801, P  <  0.001 and r = 0.658, P  < 0.001, respectively). T-CCT was also strongly correlated with US-CCT (r = 0.958; P  < 0.001). T-IOP-NC and T-IOP-C both showed a positive bias (1.37 mmHg, 95% CI [1.14, 1.61] and 2.77 mmHg, 95% CI [2.49, 3.05], respectively). T-CCT showed a negative bias of − 17.3 µm (95% CI [−18.8, − 15.8]). With cautious interpretation, the CT-1P may offer good feasibility for IOP and CCT measurement in screening centers.
Effect of four ABCB1 genetic polymorphisms on the accumulation of darunavir in HEK293 recombinant cell lines
Authors: Stillemans Gabriel , Djokoto Happy Phanio , Delongie Kévin-Alexandre , El-Hamdaoui Halima , Panin Nadtha , Haufroid Vincent , Elens Laure 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe intracellular penetration of darunavir, a second-generation HIV protease inhibitor, is limited by the activity of the efflux P-glycoprotein (ABCB1). ABCB1 expression and/or activity levels can vary between individuals due to genetic polymorphisms including the c.1199G>A, c.1236C>T, c.2677G>T and c.3435C>T variants, which could in part explain why the pharmacokinetics of darunavir are so variable from one individual to another. While a few clinical studies have failed to demonstrate an influence of these polymorphisms on darunavir pharmacokinetics, drug-drug interactions and methodological limitations may have prevented them from revealing the true influence of ABCB1 variants. In this work, we report on the intracellular accumulation of darunavir in recombinant HEK293 cell lines expressing wild-type ABCB1 or one of several variants: ABCB1 1199A, ABCB1 3435T, and ABCB1 1236T/2677T/3435T. We demonstrate that while ABCB1 expression limits intracellular accumulation of darunavir, there is no significant difference in efflux activity between cells expressing wild-type ABCB1 and those that express any of the studied variants.
Dislocations in ceramic electrolytes for solid-state Li batteries
Authors: Porz L. , Knez D. , Scherer M. , Ganschow S. , Kothleitner G. , Rettenwander D. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHigh power solid-state Li batteries (SSLB) are hindered by the formation of dendrite-like structures at high current rates. Hence, new design principles are needed to overcome this limitation. By introducing dislocations, we aim to tailor mechanical properties in order to withstand the mechanical stress leading to Li penetration and resulting in a short circuit by a crack-opening mechanism. Such defect engineering, furthermore, appears to enable whisker-like Li metal electrodes for high-rate Li plating. To reach these goals, the challenge of introducing dislocations into ceramic electrolytes needs to be addressed which requires to establish fundamental understanding of the mechanics of dislocations in the particular ceramics. Here we evaluate uniaxial deformation at elevated temperatures as one possible approach to introduce dislocations. By using hot-pressed pellets and single crystals grown by Czochralski method of Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 garnets as a model system the plastic deformation by more than 10% is demonstrated. While conclusions on the predominating deformation mechanism remain challenging, analysis of activation energy, activation volume, diffusion creep, and the defect structure potentially point to a deformation mechanism involving dislocations. These parameters allow identification of a process window and are a key step on the road of making dislocations available as a design element for SSLB.
Experimental and theoretical studies on induced ferromagnetism of new (1 − x)Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 + xBaFeO3−δ solid solution
Authors: Dung Dang Duc , Lam Nguyen Huu , Nguyen Anh Duc , Trung Nguyen Ngoc , Van Duc Nguyen , Hung Nguyen The , Kim Yong Soo , Odkhuu Dorj 
Published: April 2021

AbstractNew solid solution of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 with BaFeO3−δ materials were fabricated by sol–gel method. Analysis of X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that BaFeO3−δ materials existed as a well solid solution and resulted in distortion the structure of host Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 materials. The randomly incorporated Fe and Ba cations in the host Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 crystal decreased the optical band gap from 3.11 to 2.48 eV, and induced the room-temperature ferromagnetism. Our density-functional theory calculations further suggested that both Ba for Bi/Na-site and Fe dopant, regardless of the substitutional sites, in Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 lead to the induced magnetism, which is illustrated in terms of the exchange splitting between spin subbands through the crystal field theory and Jahn–Teller distortion effects. Our work proposes a simple method for fabricating lead-free ferroelectric materials with ferromagnetism property for multifunctional applications in smart electronic devices.
Effect of respiratory inhibitors and quinone analogues on the aerobic electron transport system of Eikenella corrodens
Authors: Jaramillo-Lanchero Rubén D. , Suarez-Alvarez Paola , Teheran-Sierra Luis 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe effects of respiratory inhibitors, quinone analogues and artificial substrates on the membrane-bound electron transport system of the fastidious β-proteobacteriumEikenella corrodensgrown under O2-limited conditions were studied. NADH respiration in isolated membrane particles were partially inhibited by rotenone, dicoumarol, quinacrine, flavone, and capsaicin. A similar response was obtained when succinate oxidation was performed in the presence of thenoyltrifluoroacetone and N,N’-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. NADH respiration was resistant to site II inhibitors and cyanide, indicating that a percentage of the electrons transported can reach O2without thebc1complex. Succinate respiration was sensitive to myxothiazol, antimycin A and 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide (HQNO). Juglone, plumbagin and menadione had higher reactivity with NADH dehydrogenase. The membrane particles showed the highest oxidase activities with ascorbate-TCHQ (tetrachlorohydroquinone), TCHQ alone, and NADH-TMPD (N,N,N’,N’-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine), and minor activity levels with ascorbate-DCPIP (2,6-dichloro-phenolindophenol) and NADH-DCPIP. The substrates NADH-DCPIP, NADH-TMPD and TCHQ were electron donors to cyanide-sensitivecbb'cytochromecoxidase. The presence of dissimilatory nitrate reductase in the aerobic respiratory system ofE.corrodensATCC 23834 was demonstrated by first time. Our results indicate that complexes I and II have resistance to their classic inhibitors, that the oxidation of NADH is stimulated by juglone, plumbagin and menadione, and that sensitivity to KCN is stimulated by the substrates TCHQ, NADH-DCPIP and NADH-TMPD.
Patch selection by bumble bees navigating discontinuous landscapes
Authors: Fragoso Fabiana P. , Jiang Qi , Clayton Murray K. , Brunet Johanne 
Published: April 2021

AbstractPollen and nectar resources are unevenly distributed over space and bees must make routing decisions when navigating patchy resources. Determining the patch selection process used by bees is crucial to understanding bee foraging over discontinuous landscapes. To elucidate this process, we developed four distinct probability models of bee movement where the size and the distance to the patch determined the attractiveness of a patch. A field experiment with a center patch and four peripheral patches of two distinct sizes and distances from the center was set up in two configurations. Empirical transition probabilities from the center to each peripheral patch were obtained at two sites and two years. The best model was identified by comparing observed and predicted transition probabilities, where predicted values were obtained by incorporating the spatial dimensions of the field experiment into each model’s mathematical expression. Bumble bees used both patch size and isolation distance when selecting a patch and could assess the total amount of resources available in a patch. Bumble bees prefer large, nearby patches. This information will facilitate the development of a predictive framework to the study of bee movement and of models that predict the movement of genetically engineered pollen in bee-pollinated crops.