bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multi-breed Genetic Parameters and Genome-wide Association Studies for Mortality Rate at Birth in Pigs
Authors: An Meijing , Zhou Guangliang , Li Yang , Xiang Tao , Ma Yunlong , Liu Xiaolei , Li Xinyun , Zhao Shuhong , Zhu Mengjin 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background

Piglet mortality is an economically important complex trait that impacts sow prolificacy in the pig industry. The genetic parameters estimations and genome-wide association studies will help us to better understand the genetic fundamentals of piglet mortality. However, compared with other economically important traits, a little breakthrough in the genetic analyses of the trait has been achieved.
Results

In this study, we used multi-breed data sets from Yorkshire, Landrace, and Duroc sows and characterized the genetic and genomic properties of mortality rate at birth by treating each parity as a different trait. The heritability of mortality rate from parity I to III were estimated to be 0.0630, 0.1031, and 0.1140, respectively. The phenotypic and genetic correlations with its component traits were all positive with ranges from 0.0897 to 0.9054, and 0.2388 to 0.9999, respectively. Integrating the results, we identified 21 loci that were detected at least by two tools from standard MLM, FarmCPU, BLINK and mrMLM, and these loci were annotated to 22 genes. The annotations revealed that the gene expressions were associated with the reproductive system, nervous system, digestive system, and embryonic development, which are reasonably related to the piglet mortality.
Conclusions

In brief, the genetic properties of piglet mortality at birth were reported. These findings are expected to provide much information for understanding the genetic and genomic fundamentals of farrowing mortality and also identify candidate molecular markers for breeding practice.
SMAD4 Feedback Activates The Canonical TGF-β Family Signaling Pathways
Authors: Du Xing , Li Qiqi , Yang Liu , Li Qifa 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: TGF-β family signaling pathways, including TGF-β and BMP signaling pathways, are widely involved in the regulation of health and disease, which are also regulated by multiple validated mechanisms, such as genetic regulation, epigenetic regulation, and feedback regulation. The objective of this research is to investigate the molecular mechanism and function mode of SMAD4 directly feedback regulation of TGF-β family signaling pathways in porcine granulosa cells (GC).Results: The transcriptomic alteration of porcine GCs induced by SMAD4 silencing was re-analyzed with the background of Sus scrofa RefSeq 11.1 (Sscrofa 11.1). A total of 986 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) were identified, including 467 down-regulated and 519 up-regulated genes. Functional assessment showed the impacts of DEmRNAs on the regulation of states and function of GCs, and the oocyte development. As the upstream receptors of SMAD4, ACVR1B, BMPR2, and TGFBR2 were selected from down-regulated DEmRNAs for further research. In vitro, qRT-PCR and western blotting were performed and confirmed that SMAD4 significantly induced the expression of ACVR1B, BMPR2, and TGFBR2 in porcine GCs. Besides, RACE and luciferase activity assays were carried out to identified the core promoter of porcine ACVR1B, BMPR2, and TGFBR2. Results from ChIP assays showed that SMAD4 directly binds to the SMAD4 binding elements (SBEs) within the core promoter of its upstream receptors by acting as a transcription factor. Furthermore, c-JUN, CREB1, and SP1 were identified as SMAD4-interacted co-activators by IP assays and inhibition of which could dramatically suppress the expression of porcine ACVR1B, BMPR2, and TGFBR2 that induced by SMAD4 over-expression. Furthermore, three different interaction modes between SMAD4 and co-activators were identified by reciprocal ChIP assays.Conclusions: Take together, our findings revealed a novel feedback regulatory mechanism of TGF-β family signaling pathways in porcine GCs, and demonstrated for the first time that SMAD4, the only Co-SMAD, directly feedback activates the transcription of canonical TGF-β family signaling pathway receptors by interacting with three co-activators in different modes, which improves and expands the regulatory network, especially the feedback regulation modes of TGF-β family signaling pathways in the ovary.
Identification of metabolites and Evaluation of the seeds of Abrus precatorius (L.) by high resolution mass spectrometry&nbsp;
Authors: Raithak Pranita V. , Atkore Sandeep T. , Bondle Giribala M. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Natural products from medicinal plants, either as pure compounds or as standardized extracts, provide unlimited opportunities for new drug leads because of unmatched availability of chemical diversity. The present study is performed to investigate the presence of phytochemicals for using selected medicinal plant such as Abrus precatorius (L.) Soxhlet apparatus was used for the organic solvent extraction. Abrus precatorius (L.) an important medicinal plant is enriched with remarkable highly potent anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifertility, antispermatogenic activity. Metabolites are identified by high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-LCMS). These metabolites are found in various drug compounds used for drug industry as well as in Ayurveda, folk, Homeopathy, Sidha and Unani.
Arthroplasty Is Not Superior Than Internal Fixation for Intertrochanteric Fractures in the Elderly: a Meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Kexiao , Lu Weizhong , Xiao Qiuke , Wan Ruijie , Dong Lujue , Dai Zhenyu 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Surgical treatment is the first choice for intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly as it allows early rehabilitation and functional recovery. Recently, more and more surgeons prefer arthroplasty instead of internal fixation in the treatment of senile intertrochanteric fractures. However, there is conflicting evidence as to which is the best surgical treatment for them. In this article, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the clinical effectiveness of internal fixation (IF) and arthroplasty (AR) for intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly. Methods: The online databases of PubMed, Cochrane Database, and Web of Science were searched to include studies conducted from 01/01/2000 to 11/30/2018 in English using keywords to identify articles relevant to this study. All studies had to have evaluated the treatment of patients with intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly(≥60 years of age). The quality of the trials was assessed and meta-analyses were conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 5.3 version. Results: A total of 14 studies involving a total of 1588 patients were suitable for inclusion in this meta-analysis. There was no significant difference between the IF and AR groups for postoperative complications-related general condition (OR=1.24; 95% CI= 0.90, 1.70; P=0.19), hospital stay (SMD=0.16; 95% CI= -0.5, 0.82; P =0.64), and Harris hip score (SMD= -0.12; 95% CI= -0.79, 0.54; P =0.71). AR group had a significantly lower rate of complications-related operation (OR= 2.21; 95% CI= 1.41, 3.45; P=0.0005) and reoperation (OR=2.74; 95% CI= 1.57, 4.76; P=0.0004). However, compared with AR group, IF group could reduce the blood loss (OR=-4.08; 95% CI=-4.58, -3.59; P<0.00001), transfusion requirement (SMD= -0.67; 95% CI= -1.08, -0.26; P=0.001), operation time (SMD= -0.80; 95% CI= -1.47, -0.12; P < 0.00001), and have a lower rate of mortality within 1-year (OR= 0.67; 95% CI= 0.52, 0.86; P=0.002).Conclusion: AR is associated with less rates of complications-related operation and reoperation but has an increased risk of blood loss, transfusion, operation time and mortality within 1-year. Our findings demonstrated that AR does not have significant advantages over IF for intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly.
Establishment and Clinical Application of One-stage Posterior Limited Lesion Clearanceand Internal Fixation Combined With Personalized Drug Therapy System for Brucellosis Spondylitis
Authors: Yang Xinmin , Tian Ye , Yao Yao 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility and clinical effect of one-stage posterior limited lesion clearance and internal fixation combined with individualized drugs in the treatment of brucidosis spondylitis.Methods44 patients who conform to inclusion criteria, including 2 cases thoracolumbar segment, 32 cases lumbar segment and 10 cases lumbosacral segment. Preoperative VAS(Visua Analogue Scales) 5~8,ODI(Oswestry disability index) 51.15~84.36%, Body Mass Index （BMI） 16.2~17.5, American Spinal Injury Association（ASIA）classification C grade 6 and D grade 10. Magnetic Resonance Imaging（MRI） showed compression of dural sac in 16 cases. Preoperative medication regimen was developed according to the patient's medication allergy history, weight, liver and kidney function, and T-lymphocyte spot test（T-SOPT）.ResultsPostoperative individualized medication was used according to the drug sensitivity test and T-SOPT to select 3 kinds of sensitive drugs for 2 courses of treatment, and the patients were clinically cured 3 to 9 months. The evaluation indexes of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate （ESR）, C-reactive protein （CRP）, Rose Bengal Plate agglutination Test （RBPT）, VAS,BMI,ASIA,ODI and MRI at each time point were significantly improved compared with those before surgery (P<0.05). Follow-up showed that the lesions were completely cleared, inflammation was absorbed, pedicle screw fixation was good, spine stable, intervertebral bone grafting was fused, and the spinal cord were well aligned without compression.ConclusionPersonalized medication is highly targeted, conforms to pharmacokinetics, has low toxic and side effects, no drug allergy or drug resistance, so as to reduce medical expenses and obtain the maximum clinical efficacy with the minimum cost. One-stage posterior limited lesion clearance and internal fixation surgery has little trauma, and the lesions are completely removed. The correct choice of screw placement and short segment internal fixation of diseased vertebra is safe and reliable.
Multivariate Multiscale Entropy: An Approach to Estimating Vigilance of Driver
Authors: Ahammed Kawser , Ahmed Mosabber Uddin 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Various driver’s vigilance estimation techniques currently exist in literature. But none of them detects the vigilance of driver in complexity domain. As a result, we have proposed the recently introduced multivariate multiscale entropy (MMSE) method to ﬁll this research gap. In this research, we have applied the MMSE technique to diﬀerential entropy features of electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrooculogram (EOG) signals for detecting vigilance of driver in complexity domain. The MMSE has also been employed to PERCLOS (Percentage of Eye Closure) values to analyse cognitive states (awake, tired and drowsy) in complexity domain. The contribution of this research is to show how a new feature called MMSE can eﬃciently classify the awake, tired and drowsy state of the driver in complexity domain. Another contribution is to demonstrate the distinguishing ability of the MMSE by validating it with applying multivariate sample entropy feature of cognitive states to support vector machine (SVM). The experimental MMSE analysis curves show statistically signiﬁcant diﬀerences (p < 0.01) in terms of complexity among brain EEG signals, forehead EEG signals and EOG signals. Moreover, the diﬀerence in the multivariate sample entropy across all scales in awake (1.0828 ± 0.4664), tired (0.7841 ± 0.3183) and drowsy (0.2938 ± 0.1664) states are statistically signiﬁcant (p <0.01). Also, the SVM, a machine learning technique, has discriminated the cognitive states with the promising classiﬁcation accuracy of 76.2%. As a result, the MMSE analysis of cognitive states can be implemented practically for vigilance detection by building a programmable vigilance detection system.
Evaluation of successfulness of a capacity building workshop on smokeless tobacco and areca nut cessation conducted among Dental Surgeons of Sri Lanka: A cross sectional study
Authors: Jayasinghe Ruwan Duminda , Jayasooriya PR , Amarasinghe H , Hettiarachchi PVKS , Siriwardena BSMS. , Wijerathne UKYGDM , Kithalawarachchi SK. , Tilakaratne WM 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background- Prevalence of smoking in Sri Lanka shows a gradual reduction whilst the use of smokeless tobacco and areca nut shows an increasing trend. At present, to the best of our knowledge only a few well-structured smokeless tobacco (SLT)/areca nut (AN) cessation programmes are conducted in Sri Lanka, which is a gross underachievement considering that betel chewing related oral squamous cell carcinoma being the commonest cancer in Sri Lankan males. As General Dental Practitioners (GDP) do not contribute significantly to SLT/AN cessation activities at present, capacity building programmes on SLT/AN control were carried out. The study evaluated the knowledge, attitude and practices related to SLT/AN control among dental surgeonsMethods: Following an one day capacity building programme/workshop on smokeless tobacco / areca nut control, two self-administered questionnaires were used to assess the improvement of knowledge and change of attitudes among 663 GDPs. Results - 27.1% of the participants had received formal tobacco cessation training in the past. Majority had a good knowledge on harmful effects of SLT but not on areca nut. Their knowledge on the current legislation on SLT control in Sri Lanka and carcinogenicity of areca nut was not satisfactory. Almost all agreed that proper counseling leads to patient quitting the habit, a formal training is necessary to conduct tobacco control activities and it should be the part of the regular treatment modalities. More than 80% of the participants believed that they should support strict legislation. Almost 50% agreed on tobacco and areca nut free environment in their dental clinics. Most important factors leading to poor involvement in tobacco cessation activities were lack of expertise and inadequate educational material, not breach of patient privacy and lack of financial incentives. Surprisingly, 20.1% of the dental surgeons had consumed smokeless tobacco / areca nut products in the past and only a few were current users of tobacco and/or areca nut. Conclusions - Well planned workshops are efficient in improving knowledge, practices and attitudes of dental surgeons towards SLT/AN cessation.
Long-term Condition Management for Prisoners: improving the processes between community and prison
Authors: Wright Nat , Hankins F , Hearty P 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Prisoner populations have a disproportionately high prevalence of risk factors for long-term conditions (LTCs), and movement between community and prisons is a period of potential disruption in the ongoing monitoring and management of LTCs.Method: 19 qualitative interviews with staff, recruited by purposive sampling for professional background, were conducted to explore facilitators and barriers to screening, monitoring and medicines management for LTCs.Results: There is variability in prisoner behaviours regarding bringing community GP-prescribed medication to prison following arrest and detention in police custody, which affects service ability regarding seamless continuation of community prescribing actions. Systems for actively inputting clinical data into existing, nationally agreed, electronic record templates for QOF monitoring are under-developed in prisons and such activity is dependent upon individual “enthusiast(s)”.Conclusion: There is a pressing need to embed standardised QOF monitoring systems within an integrated community/prison commissioning framework, supported by connectivity between prison and community primary care records, including all activity related to QOF compliance.
The social support, mental health, psychiatric symptoms, and functioning of persons with schizophrenia participating in peer co-delivered vocational rehabilitation: a pilot study in Taiwan
Authors: Cheng Kan-Yuan , Yen Chia-Feng 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Vocational peer support (VPS) services are recovery-oriented interventions in modern psychiatric care for persons with schizophrenia. However, few VPS services are found in currently psychiatric care in Taiwan. Hence, a pilot program of peer co-delivered vocational rehabilitation to support persons with schizophrenia in Taiwan was proposed and evaluated.Methods: Six peers were trained and were willing to co-lead and assist workplace problem-solving groups and care skills training in an extended vocational rehabilitation program from August 2017 to December 2018. The social support, mental health, psychiatric symptoms, and functioning of service users were assessed before and after peer co-delivered services, and the assessments were based on the following: Social Support Scale (SSS), Chinese Health Questionnaire-12 (CHQ-12), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Global Assessment of Function (GAF), and the Chinese version of the Social Functioning Scale (C-SFS). Results: The recruited 46 service users were mostly middle-aged (49.1 ± 9.8), with 27 being male (58.7%). After interventions, forty-two service users who completed the program had a significantly increased SSS score (149.1 ± 31.8 vs. 161.2 ± 35.0, df = 41, t = 2.70, p = 0.01) and subscale of friend-peer dimension (44.4 ± 12.0 vs. 53.2 ± 13.2, df= 41, t = 4.72, p < 0.001). The objective (GAF: 69.8 ± 9.8 vs. 72.6 ± 8.8, df = 41, t = 3.50, p = 0.001) and subjective social functional scores (C-SFS: 75.2 ± 8.8 vs. 78.1 ± 9.5, df = 41, t = 2.59, p = 0.01) both significantly increased. The weekly wage elevated significantly (37.5 ± 35.5 vs. 43.6 ± 38.0, df = 41, t = 2.57, p = 0.01) and the BPRS-18 score decreased significantly, too (31.2 ± 6.7 vs. 29.3 ± 5.0, df = 41, t = -2.83, p = 0.007).Conclusions: Peer co-delivered vocational rehabilitation services can enhance the social support received by persons with schizophrenia and improve their occupational function (as evidenced in wage increases). The pilot program proposed can thus be a model for non-Western countries with limited resources allocated from the government to support persons with schizophrenia.
Liver transplantation in recipients with class III obesity: post-transplant outcomes and weight gain
Authors: Soma Daiki , Park Yujin , Mihaylov Plamen , Ekser Burcin , Ghabril Marwan , Lacerda Marco , Charasani Naga , Mangus Richard Shane , Kubal Chandrashekhar Avinash 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Introduction Over the past decades, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. Several studies have reported conflicting results for the impact of obesity on outcomes of liver transplantation (LT). This study aims to assess severe obesity's impact on LT outcomes and changes in body mass index (BMI) after transplantation.Methods All adult LT performed at Indiana University Health University Hospital between July 2001 and December 2018 were reviewed. A retrospective analysis for identified 2024 patients was conducted. BMI of recipients is subdivided into underweight, normal, overweight, class Ⅰ obesity, class Ⅱ obesity, and class Ⅲ obesity (<18.5; 18.5-24.9; 25‐29.9; 30‐34.9; 35‐39.9; ≥40 kg/m2, respectively). Survival outcomes were compared across the sub-group. Post-transplant BMI was followed up in a smaller cohort of patients receiving LT from January 2008 to December 2018 (n = 1004).Results Among 2024 patients in the analytic cohort, 1.9% were underweight, 24.5% were normal, 32.6% were overweight, 25% were in class Ⅰ obesity, 9.3% were in class Ⅱ obesity, and 1.1% were in class Ⅲ obesity. There was no significant difference in patient and graft survival at 10-year follow-up with respect to recipient obesity. The 1, 3, 5, and 10-year graft and patient survivals in class Ⅲ obesity group were 97.0%, 92.1%, 87.0%, and 79.8% for patient survival and 94.4%, 85.1%, 79.8%, and 72.5% for graft survival. Among 1004 patients identified in the sub-group, BMI of all groups except the underweight group declined in the first three months postoperatively. After the three months, the BMI of all groups except the class Ⅲ obesity group returned to the pre-LT level by two years and reached a plateau by five years. In patients with class Ⅲ obesity, there was a significant increase in body weight at long-term follow-up.Conclusion In this study, class Ⅲ obesity is not associated with higher post-transplant mortality. Obesity, including class Ⅲ obesity, should not be considered a contraindication to LT in the absence of other contraindications. Post-LT interventions are required to prevent significant weight gain in recipients with class Ⅲ obesity.
The influence of haematuria on the utility of the BTA stat test in the diagnosis of bladder cancer: a prospective study
Authors: Xiong Xiong , He Wei , Xiong Bin , Yao Feng 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background The urinary bladder tumour antigen (BTA) stat test has already been used for the diagnosis and monitoring of bladder cancer (BC). However, more evidence is needed regarding its efficacy and utility in the clinic. In this study, we investigated the influence of haematuria on the performance of the BTA stat test in a clinical cohort.Methods Urine samples from 836 subjects, including 50 healthy volunteers, 553 patients with benign urologic disorders, 124 patients with histologically proven BC, and 109 patients with other histologically proven urologic cancers, were analysed by the BTA stat test and urinalysis. We detected the sensitivity and specificity of the BTA stat test in each group and analysed the effect of haematuria on the specificity.Results Our data show that 58.06% of patients in the BC group had haematuria. Haematuria with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), renal hamartoma (RH) and urolithiasis were identified in 39.01%, 42.86% and 66.49% of patients with benign urologic disorders, respectively. Haematuria was identified in 48.72% of prostatic cancer patients and 67.74% of renal cancer patients. The overall sensitivity of the BTA stat test was 90.32%. The sensitivity was 97.22% in BC patients with haematuria and 80.77% in BC patients without haematuria. The overall specificity in healthy individuals, patients with benign urologic disorders and patients with other urologic cancers was 50.84%. In all patients with haematuria, the specificity of the BTA stat test was 15.82%, while the specificity was 72.6% in patients without haematuria.Conclusions Haematuria has a significant influence on the BTA stat test. The performance of the BTA stat test can be increased if patients with known or obvious haematuria conditions are excluded from the test.
Hierarchical Modelling of COVID-19 Death Risk in India in the Early Phase of the Pandemic
Authors: Olsen Wendy , Bera Manasi , Dubey Amaresh , Kim Jihye , Wisniowski Arkadiusz , Yadav Purva 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
We improve upon the modelling of India’s pandemic vulnerability. Our model is multi-disciplinary and recognises the nested levels of the epidemic. We create a model of the risk of severe COVID-19 and death, instead of a model of transmission. Our model allows for socio-demographic-group differentials in risk, obesity and underweight people, morbidity status and other conditioning regional and lifestyle factors. We build a hierarchical multilevel model of severe COVID-19 cases, using three different data sources: the National Family Health Survey for 2015/6, Census data for 2011, and data for COVID-19 deaths obtained cumulatively until June 2020. We provide results for 11 states of India, enabling best-yet targeting of policy actions. COVID-19 deaths in north and central India were higher in areas with older and overweight populations, and were more common among people with pre-existing health conditions, or who smoke, or who live in urban areas. Policy experts may both want to ‘follow World Health Organisation advice’ and yet also use disaggregated and spatially-specific data to improve wellbeing outcomes during the pandemic. The future uses of our innovative data-combining model are numerous.