bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic history of Calabrian Greeks reveals ancient events and long term isolation in the Aspromonte area of Southern Italy
Authors: Sarno Stefania , Petrilli Rosalba , Abondio Paolo , De Giovanni Andrea , Boattini Alessio , Sazzini Marco , De Fanti Sara , Cilli Elisabetta , Ciani Graziella , Gentilini Davide , Pettener Davide , Romeo Giovanni , Giuliani Cristina , Luiselli Donata 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCalabrian Greeks are an enigmatic population that have preserved and evolved a unique variety of language, Greco, survived in the isolated Aspromonte mountain area of Southern Italy. To understand their genetic ancestry and explore possible effects of geographic and cultural isolation, we genome-wide genotyped a large set of South Italian samples including both communities that still speak Greco nowadays and those that lost the use of this language earlier in time. Comparisons with modern and ancient populations highlighted ancient, long-lasting genetic links with Eastern Mediterranean and Caucasian/Near-Eastern groups as ancestral sources of Southern Italians. Our results suggest that the Aspromonte communities might be interpreted as genetically drifted remnants that departed from such ancient genetic background as a consequence of long-term isolation. Specific patterns of population structuring and higher levels of genetic drift were indeed observed in these populations, reflecting geographic isolation amplified by cultural differences in the groups that still conserve the Greco language. Isolation and drift also affected the current genetic differentiation at specific gene pathways, prompting for future genome-wide association studies aimed at exploring trait-related loci that have drifted up in frequency in these isolated groups.
Treatment of cytomegalovirus anterior segment infection with intravitreal injection of ganciclovir in adjunction with or without oral valganciclovir: a long-term results
Authors: Cheng Yu-Chun , Kang Eugene Yu-Chuan , Hwang Yih-Shiou , Hsiao Ching-Hsi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe evaluated the therapeutic outcome of intravitreal injection (IVI) of ganciclovir with/without oral valganciclovir for cytomegalovirus (CMV) anterior segment infection. We enrolled 61 patients (61 eyes) with PCR-proven CMV anterior segment infection. IVI of ganciclovir (2 mg/0.05 mL) was given as a loading dose; subsequent use of oral valganciclovir (900 mg twice daily) was determined according to the severity of anterior chamber inflammation after injection. All eyes had IVI of ganciclovir, and 53 patients received oral valganciclovir as adjunctive therapy with a mean duration of 1.9 months to achieve disease remission. Repeated diagnostic aqueous taps were performed in 37 eyes with suspected recurrence, and CMV DNA was positive in 24 eyes. This therapeutic strategy afforded a median 50% recurrence-free survival time of 47.0 ± 8.12 months. The patients’ mean best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure and corneal endothelial cell counts stabilized or improved. Corneal transplantation before CMV infection diagnosis was identified as an independent risk factor for recurrence (hazard ratio 6.81, 95% confidence interval 1.21–38.23, P = 0.029). In patients with CMV anterior segment infection, the relative short-term therapeutic strategy, IVI of ganciclovir in adjunction with/without oral valganciclovir, effectively achieved a median recurrence-free survival time of nearly 4 years.
One-stage posterior debridement, autogenous spinous process bone graft and instrumentation for single segment lumbar pyogenic spondylitis
Authors: Su Bao , Tang Ke , Liu Wei , Luo Xiaoji , Quan Zhengxue , Jiang Dianming , Peng Xiaohua 
Published: February 2021

AbstractTo compare the ﻿surgical outcomes of autogenous spinous process with iliac bone graft in managing single segment lumbar pyogenic spondylitis (PS) after posterior debridement and instrumentation. We performed a retrospective study for adult patients with single level lumbar PS. 60 patients with single segment lumbar PS underwent one-stage posterior debridement, autogenous bone graft and instrumentations. The patients were divided into Group A (autogenous iliac bone) and Group B (autogenous spinous process). Preoperative Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was analyzed to assess﻿ the comorbidity. Low back pain was ﻿evaluated using the visual analog scale (VAS). Neurological status was ﻿assessed with the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale. Clinical infection index including the C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was also reviewed. Moreover, fusion and changes of sagittal alignment were investigated radiologically. There was a significantly longer operative time, hospital stay and greater blood loss in group A. The VAS scores improved significantly at each follow-up interval and post-operative VAS score was significantly lower in group B. At the last follow-up, ESR and CRP returned to normal for all patients. There was at least one grade level improvement in ASIA score. No statistical difference in corrected rate, loss of sagittal angle and lumbar lordosis was found between the two groups. There was no significant difference in fusion rate, mean fusion time and complications between the two groups. Compared with iliac bone graft, the autogenous spinous process bone graft can be less invasive and painful for the single segment lumbar PS. One-stage posterior debridement, autogenous spinous process bone graft and instrumentation can provide satisfactory results for appropriate cases.
Ancient CO2 levels favor nitrogen fixing plants over a broader range of soil N compared to present
Authors: Chen Haoran , Markham John 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSmall inreases in CO2 stimulate nitrogen fixation and plant growth. Increasing soil N can inhibit nitrogen fixation. However, no studies to date have tested how nitrogen fixing plants perform under ancient CO2 levels (100 MYA), when nitrogen fixing plants evolved, with different levels of N additions. The aim of this study was to assess if ancient CO2, compared to present, favors nitrogen fixers over a range of soil nitrogen concentrations. Nitrogen fixers (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa, Alnus viridis ssp. crispa, and Alnus rubra) and their close non-nitrogen fixing relatives (Betula pumila, Betula papyrifera, Betula glandulosa) were grown at ancient (1600 ppm) or present (400 ppm) CO2 over a range of soil N levels, equivalent to 0, 10, 50, and 200 kg N ha−1 year−1. The growth of non-N fixing plants increased more than N fixing plants in response to the increasing N levels. When grown at an ancient CO2 level, the N level at which non-nitrogen fixing plant biomass exceeded nitrogen fixing plant biomass was twice as high (61 kg N ha−1 year−1) as the N level when plants were grown at the ambient CO2 level. Specific nodule activity was also reduced with an increasing level of soil N. Our results show there was a greater advantage in being a nitrogen fixer under ancient levels of CO2 compared with the present CO2 level.
Comparison between 16S rRNA and shotgun sequencing data for the taxonomic characterization of the gut microbiota
Authors: Durazzi Francesco , Sala Claudia , Castellani Gastone , Manfreda Gerardo , Remondini Daniel , De Cesare Alessandra 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn this paper we compared taxonomic results obtained by metataxonomics (16S rRNA gene sequencing) and metagenomics (whole shotgun metagenomic sequencing) to investigate their reliability for bacteria profiling, studying the chicken gut as a model system. The experimental conditions included two compartments of gastrointestinal tracts and two sampling times. We compared the relative abundance distributions obtained with the two sequencing strategies and then tested their capability to distinguish the experimental conditions. The results showed that 16S rRNA gene sequencing detects only part of the gut microbiota community revealed by shotgun sequencing. Specifically, when a sufficient number of reads is available, Shotgun sequencing has more power to identify less abundant taxa than 16S sequencing. Finally, we showed that the less abundant genera detected only by shotgun sequencing are biologically meaningful, being able to discriminate between the experimental conditions as much as the more abundant genera detected by both sequencing strategies.
A mutant α1antitrypsin in complex with heat shock proteins as the primary antigen in type 1 diabetes in silico investigation
Authors: Finotti Paola , Pagetta Andrea 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBased on previous results demonstrating that complexes of a mutant α1-antitrypsin with the heat shock proteins (HSP)70 and glucose-regulated protein94 (Grp94) circulate in the blood of patients with type 1 diabetes, we raised the hypothesis that these complexes could represent the primary antigen capable of triggering the autoimmune reactions leading to overt diabetes. As a first approach to this issue, we searched whether A1AT and HSPs had a sequence similarity to major islet antigen proteins so as to identify among the similar sequences those with potential relevance for the pathogenesis of diabetes. A thorough in silico analysis was performed to establish the score of similarity of the human proteins: A1AT, pro-insulin (INS), GAD65, IAPP, IA-2, ICA69, Grp94, HSP70 and HSP60. The sequences of A1AT and HSPs with the highest score of similarity to the islet peptides reported in the literature as the main autoantigens in human diabetes were recorded. At variance with other HSPs, also including HSP90 and Grp78, Grp94 contained the highest number and the longest sequences with structural similarity to A1AT and to well-known immunogenic peptides/epitopes of INS, GAD65, and IA-2. The similarity of A1AT with Grp94 and that of Grp94 with INS also suggested a functional relationship among the proteins. Specific sequences were identified in A1AT, Grp94 and HSP70, with the highest score of cross-similarity to a pattern of eight different islet protein epitopes. The similarity also involved recently discovered autoantigens in type 1 diabetes such as a hybrid peptides of insulin and the defective ribosomal insulin gene product. The significant similarity displayed by specific sequences of Grp94 and A1AT to the islet peptides considered main antigens in human diabetes, is a strong indication for testing these sequences as new peptides of immunogenic relevance in diabetes.
Prognostic significance of pathologic nodal positivity in non-metastatic patients with renal cell carcinoma who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy
Authors: Kim Sung Han , Park Boram , Hwang Eu Chang , Hong Sung-Hoo , Jeong Chang Wook , Kwak Cheol , Byun Seok Soo , Chung Jinsoo 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis retrospective, five-multicenter study was aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of pathologic nodal positivity on recurrence-free (RFS), metastasis-free (MFS), overall (OS), and cancer-specific (CSS) survivals in patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (nmRCC) who underwent either radical or partial nephrectomy with/without LN dissection. A total of 4236 nmRCC patients was enrolled between 2000 and 2012, and followed up through the end of 2017. Survival measures were compared between 52 (1.2%) stage pT1-4N1 (LN+) patients and 4184 (98.8%) stage pT1-4N0 (LN−) patients using Kaplan–Meier analysis with the log-rank test and Cox regression analysis to determine the prognostic risk factors for each survival measure. During the median 43.8-month follow-up, 410 (9.7%) recurrences, 141 (3.3%) metastases, and 351 (8.3%) deaths, including 212 (5.0%) cancer-specific deaths, were reported. The risk factor analyses showed that predictive factors for RFS, CSS, and OS were similar, whereas those of MFS were not. After adjusting for significant clinical factors affecting survival outcomes considering the hazard ratios (HR) of each group, the LN+ group, even those with low pT stage, had similar to or worse survival outcomes than the pT3N0 (LN−) group in multivariable analysis and had significantly more relationship with RFS than MFS. All survival measures were significantly worse in pT1-2N1 patients (MFS/RFS/OS/CSS; HR 4.12/HR 3.19/HR 4.41/HR 7.22) than in pT3-4N0 patients (HR 3.08/HR 2.92/HR 2.09/HR 3.73). Therefore, LN+ had an impact on survival outcomes worse than pT3-4N0 and significantly affected local recurrence rather than distant metastasis compared to LN− in nmRCC after radical or partial nephrectomy.
Albumin inhibits the nuclear translocation of Smad3 via interleukin-1beta signaling in hepatic stellate cells
Authors: Park Ji Hoon , Kim Janghyun , Choi So-Young , Lee Boram , Lee Jung-Eun , Park Heekyung , Moon Ji Wook , Park Sun-Hwa , Lee Jae Min , Lee Hong Sik , Oh Junseo 
Published: February 2021

AbstractActivation of quiescent hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to myofibroblasts plays a key role in liver fibrosis. We had previously shown that albumin and its derivative, R-III (a retinol-binding protein—albumin domain III fusion protein), inhibited HSC activation by sequestering retinoic acid (RA) and that R-III administration reduced carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism of action of albumin downstream of RA sequestration. Nuclear factor-κB p65 was evenly distributed in the cytoplasm in activated mouse HSCs, whereas albumin expression or R-III treatment (albumin/R-III) caused the nuclear translocation of p65, probably via RA sequestration, resulting in a dramatic increase in interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) expression. Albumin/R-III in turn induced the phosphorylation of Smad3 at the linker region, inhibiting its nuclear import in an IL-1β-dependent manner. Consistent with the in vitro results, the level of IL-1β mRNA expression was higher in CCl4/R-III-treated livers than in CCl4-treated livers. These findings reveal that albumin/R-III inhibits the transforming growth factor-β-Smad3 signaling as well as the retinoic acid receptor-mediated pathway, which probably contributes to the inhibition of HSC activation, and suggest that R-III may be an anti-fibrotic drug candidate.
Critical importance of pH and collector type on the flotation of sphalerite and galena from a low-grade lead–zinc ore
Authors: Foroutan Abdolrahim , Abbas Zadeh Haji Abadi Majid , Kianinia Yaser , Ghadiri Mahdi 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCollector type and pulp pH play an important role in the lead–zinc ore flotation process. In the current study, the effect of pulp pH and the collector type parameters on the galena and sphalerite flotation from a complex lead–zinc–iron ore was investigated. The ethyl xanthate and Aero 3418 collectors were used for lead flotation and Aero 3477 and amyl xanthate for zinc flotation. It was found that maximum lead grade could be achieved by using Aero 3418 as collector at pH 8. Also, iron and zinc recoveries and grades were increased in the lead concentrate at lower pH which caused zinc recovery reduction in the zinc concentrate and decrease the lead grade concentrate. Furthermore, the results showed that the maximum zinc grade and recovery of 42.9% and 76.7% were achieved at pH 6 in the presence of Aero 3477 as collector. For both collectors at pH 5, Zinc recovery was increased around 2–3%; however, the iron recovery was also increased at this pH which reduced the zinc concentrate quality. Finally, pH 8 and pH 6 were selected as optimum pH values for lead and zinc flotation circuits, respectively.
Endogenous social distancing and its underappreciated impact on the epidemic curve
Authors: Gosak Marko , Kraemer Moritz U. G. , Nax Heinrich H. , Perc Matjaž , Pradelski Bary S. R. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSocial distancing is an effective strategy to mitigate the impact of infectious diseases. If sick or healthy, or both, predominantly socially distance, the epidemic curve flattens. Contact reductions may occur for different reasons during a pandemic including health-related mobility loss (severity of symptoms), duty of care for a member of a high-risk group, and forced quarantine. Other decisions to reduce contacts are of a more voluntary nature. In particular, sick people reduce contacts consciously to avoid infecting others, and healthy individuals reduce contacts in order to stay healthy. We use game theory to formalize the interaction of voluntary social distancing in a partially infected population. This improves the behavioral micro-foundations of epidemiological models, and predicts differential social distancing rates dependent on health status. The model’s key predictions in terms of comparative statics are derived, which concern changes and interactions between social distancing behaviors of sick and healthy. We fit the relevant parameters for endogenous social distancing to an epidemiological model with evidence from influenza waves to provide a benchmark for an epidemic curve with endogenous social distancing. Our results suggest that spreading similar in peak and case numbers to what partial immobilization of the population produces, yet quicker to pass, could occur endogenously. Going forward, eventual social distancing orders and lockdown policies should be benchmarked against more realistic epidemic models that take endogenous social distancing into account, rather than be driven by static, and therefore unrealistic, estimates for social mixing that intrinsically overestimate spreading.
Association of aryl hydrocarbon receptor transactivating activity, a potential biomarker for persistent organic pollutants, with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Park Sunmin , Chon Suk , Park So Young , Yun Soojin , Baik Sei Hyun , Woo Jeong Taek , Rhee Sang Youl , Pak Youngmi Kim , Kim Sung-Hoon 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPersistent organic pollutants(POPs) are suggested to be potential risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM). We examined the hypothesis that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor trans-activating(AhRT) activity, a potential biomarker for the presence of POPs, could be a GDM risk factor in pregnant women. A total of 390 GDM and 100 normal pregnant(non-GDM) subjects in the Korea National Diabetes Program cohort voluntarily participated. We measured AhRT activity and concentrations of ATP and reactive oxygen in the serum collected at the screening of the participants for GDM using recombinant Hepa1c1c7 cells. Odds ratios(ORs) and 95% confidence intervals(CIs) were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models. The sensitivity and specificity of AhRT activity for GDM diagnostics were measured by receiver operating characteristic(ROC) analysis. Body mass index at pre-pregnancy and delivery and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher in the GDM group. AhRT activity was higher, and ATP concentrations were lower in the GDM group than the non-GDM group(P < 0.0001). AhRT activity was significantly higher in the GDM group(OR 29.3, 95% CI 10.9–79.1) compared with non-GDM(P < 0.0001). Serum glucose concentration at 1 h after a 50 g glucose challenge(glucose-50) was moderately correlated with AhRT activity(r2 = 0.387) and negatively correlated with ATP production(r2 =  −0.650). In the ROC curve, AhRT activity had 70.9% sensitivity and 90.0% specificity for glucose-50, a GDM screening method. In conclusion, this study suggests that serum AhRT activity is positively associated with the risk of GDM.
Intraarticular triamcinolone hexacetonide, stanozolol, Hylan G-F 20 and platelet concentrate in a naturally occurring canine osteoarthritis model
Authors: Alves J. C. , Santos A. , Jorge P. , Lavrador C. , Carreira L. Miguel 
Published: February 2021

AbstractOsteoarthritis (OA) is a disease transversal to all mammals, a source of chronic pain and disability, a huge burden to societies, with a significant toll in healthcare cost, while reducing productivity and quality of life. The dog is considered a useful model for the translational study of the disease, closely matching human OA, with the advantage of a faster disease progression while maintaining the same life stages. In a prospective, longitudinal, double-blinded, negative controlled study, one hundred (N = 100) hip joints were selected and randomly assigned to five groups: control group (CG, n = 20, receiving a saline injection), triamcinolone hexacetonide group (THG, n = 20), platelet concentrate group (PCG, n = 20), stanozolol group (SG, n = 20) and hylan G-F 20 group (HG). Evaluations were conducted on days 0 (T0, treatment day), 8, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days post-treatment, consisting of weight distribution analysis and data from four Clinical Metrology Instruments (CMI). Kaplan–Meier estimators were generated and compared with the Breslow test. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to investigate the influence of variables of interest on treatment survival. All results were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 20 and a significance level of p < 0.05 was set. Sample included joints of 100 pelvic limbs (of patients with a mean age of 6.5 ± 2.4 years and body weight of 26.7 ± 5.2 kg. Joints were graded as mild (n = 70), moderate (n = 20) and severe (n = 10) OA. No differences were found between groups at T0. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that all treatments produced longer periods with better results in the various evaluations compared to CG. Patients in HG and PCG took longer to return to baseline values and scores. A higher impact on pain interference was observed in THG, with a 95% improvement over CG. PCG and HG experienced 57–81% improvements in functional evaluation and impairments due to OA, and may be a better options for these cases. This study documented the efficacy of several approaches to relieve OA clinical signs. These approaches varied in intensity and duration. HG and PCG where the groups were more significant improvements were observed throughout the follow-up periods, with lower variation in results.
Device simulation of highly efficient eco-friendly CH3NH3SnI3 perovskite solar cell
Authors: Patel Piyush K. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPhotoexcited lead-free perovskite CH3NH3SnI3 based solar cell device was simulated using a solar cell capacitance simulator. It was modeled to investigate its output characteristics under AM 1.5G illumination. Simulation efforts are focused on the thickness, acceptor concentration and defect density of absorber layer on photovoltaic properties of solar cell device. In addition, the impact of various metal contact work function was also investigated. The simulation results indicate that an absorber thickness of 500 nm is appropriate for a good photovoltaic cell. Oxidation of Sn2+ into Sn4+ was considered and it is found that the reduction of acceptor concentration of absorber layer significantly improves the device performance. Further, optimizing the defect density (1014 cm−3) of the perovskite absorber layer, encouraging results of the Jsc of 40.14 mA/cm2, Voc of 0.93 V, FF of 75.78% and PCE of 28.39% were achieved. Finally, an anode material with a high work function is necessary to get the device's better performance. The high-power conversion efficiency opens a new avenue for attaining clean energy.