bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human CCR6+ Memory T-helpers Cells form a Heterogenous Population Including Th17/Th22 and Th17.1 Cells, which Differ in Transcription Factor and Cytokine Expression but all Activate Synovial Fibroblast in an IFNγ-independent Manner
Authors: Dankers Wendy , Braanker Hannah den , Paulissen Sandra M.J. , Hamburg Jan Piet van , Davelaar Nadine , Colin Edgar M , Lubberts Erik 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
BackgroundChronic synovial inflammation is an important hallmark of inflammatory arthritis, but the cells and mechanisms involved are incompletely understood. Previously, we have shown that CCR6+ memory T-helper (memTh) cells and synovial fibroblasts (SF) activate each other in a pro-inflammatory feedforward loop, which potentially drives persistent synovial inflammation in inflammatory arthritis. However, the CCR6+ memTh cells are a heterogeneous population, containing Th17/Th22 and Th17.1 cells. Currently it is unclear which of these subpopulations drive SF activation and how they should be targeted. In this study, we examined the individual contribution of these CCR6+ memTh subpopulations to SF activation and examined ways to regulate their function.MethodsTh17/Th22 (CXCR3-CCR4+), Th17.1 (CXCR3+CCR4-), DP (CXCR3+CCR4+) and DN (CXCR3-CCR4-) CCR6+ memTh, cells sorted from PBMC of healthy donors or treatment-naïve early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, were cocultured with SF from RA patients with or without anti-IL17A, anti-IFNγ or 1,25(OH)2D3. Cultures were analyzed by RT-PCR, ELISA or flow cytometry.ResultsTh17/Th22, Th17.1, DP and DN cells equally express RORC, but differ in production of T-bet and cytokines like IL-17A and IFNγ. Despite these differences, all the individual CCR6+ memTh subpopulations, both from healthy individuals and RA patients, were more potent in activating SF than the classical Th1 cells. SF activation was partially inhibited by blocking IL-17A, but not by inhibiting IFNγ or T-bet. However, active vitamin D inhibited the pathogenicity of all subpopulations leading to suppression of SF activation.ConclusionsHuman CCR6+ memTh cells contain several subpopulations that equally express RORC but differ in T-bet, IFNγ and IL-17A expression. All individual Th17 subpopulations are more potent in activating SF than classical Th1 cells in an IFNγ-independent manner. Furthermore, our data suggest that IL-17A is not dominant in this T cell-SF activation loop but that a multiple T cell cytokine inhibitor, such as 1,25(OH)2D3, is able to suppress CCR6+ memTh subpopulation-driven SF activation.
Graphene Oxide (GO)-based Nanosheets With Combined Chemo/photothermal/Photodynamic Therapy to Overcome Gastric Cancer (GC) Paclitaxel Resistance by Reducing Mitochondria-Derived Adenosine-Triphosphate (ATP)
Authors: Guo Weihong , Chen Zhian , Feng Xiaoli , Shen Guodong , Huang Huilin , Liang Yanrui , Zhao Bingxia , Li Guoxin , Hu Yanfeng 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
BackgroundPaclitaxel (PTX) has been suggested to be a promising front-line drug for gastric cancer (GC), while P-glycoprotein (P-gp) could lead to drug resistance by pumping PTX out of GC cells. Consequently, it might be a hopeful way to combat drug resistance by inhibiting the out-pumping function of P-gp. ResultsIn this study, we developed a drug delivery system incorporating PTX onto polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified and oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) -functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets (NSs), called PTX@GO-PEG-OSA. Owing to pH/thermal-sensitive drug release properties, PTX@GO-PEG-OSA could induced more obvious antitumor effects on GC, compared to free PTX. With near infrared (NIR)-irradiation, PTX@GO-PEG-OSA could generate excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), attack mitochondrial respiratory chain complex enzyme, reduce adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) supplement for P-gp, and effectively inhibit P-gp’s efflux pump function. Since that, PTX@GO-PEG-OSA achieved better therapeutic effect on PTX-resistant GC without evident toxicity (Scheme 1). Conclusions﻿In conclusion, PTX@GO-PEG-OSA could serve as a desirable strategy to reverse PTX’s resistance, combined with chemo/photothermal/photodynamic therapy.
Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacter cloacae Complex in a Tertiary Hospital in Northeast China, 2010-2019
Authors: Chen Jingjing , Tian Sufei , Nian Hua , Wang Ruixuan , Li Fushun , Jiang Ning , Guan Yifu , Chu Yunzhuo , Shang Hong 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae complex (CREC) is a new emerging threat to global public health. The objective of the study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and molecular epidemiology of CREC infections in the medical center of northeast China.Methods: Twenty-nine patients were infected/colonized with CREC during a ten-year period (2010-2019) by WHONET analysis. Antibiotic susceptibilities were tested with VITEK 2 and micro broth dilution method (for polymyxin B and tigecycline). Carbapenemase encoding genes, β-lactamase genes, and seven housekeeping genes for MLST genes were amplified and sequenced for 18 cryopreserved CREC isolates. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was built with the concentrated sequences to show the relatedness between the 18 isolates.Results: There was a rapid increase in CREC detection rate during the ten-year period, reaching 8.11% in 2018 and 6.48% in 2019. The resistance rate of CREC isolates to imipenem and meropenem were 100.0% and 72.2%, however, they showed high sensitivity to tigecycline, polymyxin B and amikacin. The 30-day crude mortality of CREC infection/colonization was 13.8%, indicating that it may be a low-virulence bacterium. Furthermore, molecular epidemiology revealed that ST93 was the predominant sequence type followed by ST171 and ST145, with NDM-1 and NDM-5 as the main carbapenemase-encoding genes. E. hormaechei subsp. steigerwaltii and E. hormaechei subsp. oharae were the main species, which showed different resistance patterns.Conclusions: Rising detection rate of CREC was observed in a tertiary hospital, which showed heterogeneity in drug resistance patterns, resistance genes, and MLST types. Effective infection prevention and control measures should be taken to reduce the spread of CREC.
Use patterns of cigarettes and alternative tobacco products and socioeconomic correlates in Hong Kong adolescents
Authors: Wang Lijun , Chen Jianjiu , Leung Lok Tung , Ho Sai Yin , Lam Tai Hing , Wang Man Ping 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Smoking is a major cause of health inequities. However, sociodemographic differences in adolescent tobacco use are unclear, especially for new tobacco products. We investigated tobacco use patterns and sociodemographic correlates in Hong Kong adolescents. In a territory-wide school-based survey, 33 991 students (US grade 7–12) completed an anonymous questionnaire. Tobacco use prevalences and current-ever use ratios by sociodemographic factors were calculated. Generalised linear mixed models were used in association analyses. Current use was highest for cigarettes (3.19%), closely followed by alternative tobacco products (2.96%). Current-ever use ratios were highest for heated tobacco products (HTPs, 0.60), followed by nicotine-containing e-cigarettes (0.52), waterpipe (0.51) and cigarettes (0.35). Student use prevalences and current-ever use ratios of all products showed J-shaped relations with family affluence, being highest in the richest families. Tobacco use was also associated with higher grades, the lowest parental education and boys, but current-ever use ratios of HTP and waterpipe were higher in girls. The results suggested that adolescent ever users of nicotine-containing alternative products were more likely to keep using them than cigarettes, and the richest adolescents were at the highest risks of tobacco use. Diverse tobacco control measures are needed to improve health equity, especially on alternative products.
Lysinibacillus Agricola sp. nov.Isolated from Soil
Authors: Lu Jia-Rui , Liu Guohong 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
A Gram-staining-positive, rod-shaped cells, designed strain FJAT-51161T, was isolated from farmland soil collected from Fujian Province, China. Growth was observed at 25 - 40 °C (optimum 30 °C), pH 7.0-9.0 (optimum 7.0), and NaCl tolerance in the range of 0-7 % (w/v), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain FJAT-51161T belonged to the genus Lysinibacillus, and had the closest relationship with Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus XDB9T (with 99.0 % 16S rRNA sequence similarity). The digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values based on the genome sequence analysis between strain FJAT-51161T and the closest reference strain were 38.0 % for dDDH and 88.7 % for ANI, respectively, lower than the prokaryotic species defined values. Further analysis showed that strain FJAT-51161T shared the fatty acid profiles such as iso-C15:0 (46.7%), iso-C16:0 (15.8%), C16:1 ω7c alcohol (14.0%), anteiso-C15:0 (6.9%) with other members of the genus Lysinibacillus. The peptidoglycan was L-Lys–D-Asp (type A4α). The main quinone was MK-7 and MK-6. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The DNA G+C content is 36.6 mol%. Based on the phenotypic characters and taxono-genomics study, strain FJAT-51161T is considered to represent a novel Lysinibacillus species, for which the name Lysinibacillus agricola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FJAT-51161T (= GDMCC1.2350T = KCTC XXXXXXT).
Application of Ultrasound in Diagnosis of Prosthesis Loosening and Infection After Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Wei Weili , Huang Xiaohua , Huang Liyan , Xie Lijun , Li Wenbo , Gong Yiran , Chen Shuqiang 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Objective: To explore the diagnostic efficiency of ultrasound for the identification of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and aspetic loosening.Methods: 50 patients with joint pain after total hip arthroplasty, who were all clinically diagnosed as aseptic prosthesis loosening or PJI, were examined by ultrasonography combined with C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, bacterial culture and pathology.Results: Thirty-eight of the 50 cases were PJI (group A) , and twelve cases were aseptic loosening (group B) . Fourteen patients with extra-capsular effusion were diagnosed as PJI, while none appeared extra-capsular effusion effusion in group B. 34 cases PJI obtained joint fluid, which was more than group B (7/11) (P < 0.05). The average depth of joint effusion of group B (19.83 ± 8.9mm), was significantly less than group A (25.97±15.25mm) (P < 0.05). In group A , 21 cases (55.26%) had grade 2-3 synovial blood flow signal,which was higher than group B (8.3%) (P < 0.05). Under the circumstance that PJI was diagnosed: (1) There was a sinus tract or extra-capsular effusion; or (2) Joint fluid depth was ≥ 17.0 mm; or (3) Grade 2-3 synovial blood flow signal was detected,the positive predictive value of ultrasound diagnosis of PJI was 92.1% (35/38)，and the accuracy of aseptic loosening was 83.3% (10/12) (P < 0.05).Conclusions: Ultrasound has significant value in the differential diagnosis of PJI and aspetic loosening.
Spatial variation of life-history traits in the freshwater snail Bulinus truncatus, the intermediate host of human and cattle schistosomiasis, in relation to field application of niclosamide in northern and central Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Konan Cyrille K. , Tian-Bi Yves-Nathan T. , Diakité Nana R. , Ouattara Mamadou , Coulibaly Jean T. , Salia Diabaté , Koné Amani , Kakou Adolphe Kpla , Assaré Ruffin K. , Ehouman Mocket A. , Glitho Sonya C. , N'Goran Eliézer K. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Control of intermediate host snails using molluscicides for the control and/or elimination of schistosomiasis is strategy in the line with WHO recommendations. Niclosamide is the main chemical molluscicide recognized by WHO. However, the extent of the application of molluscicide outside the immediate killing of the snail such as the impact on the evolution of life-history traits; in relation to recolonization of treated sites is less or not known. This study aimed to characterize the spatial variation of life-history traits in Bulinus truncatus populations in north and central Côte d’Ivoire, in relation to niclosamide spraying in the field.From 2016 to 2018, we conducted a trial to control the intermediate host snails for interrupting seasonal transmission urinary schistosomiasis in northern and central Côte d’Ivoire, using niclosamide. The molluscicide was sprayed three times per year in habitats harboring the freshwater snail B. truncatus. Snails were collected before niclosamide application and 2-3 months after the sites were treated, and also from some untreated sites. Families from six natural populations of snails were monitored for several life-history traits, including growth, fecundity and survival, under laboratory conditions, over one generation (G1).Results: Survival rate varied among populations with the highest rates observed in northern populations. No significant difference was detected between populations before and after treatment, for this trait. Numbers of eggs and eggs per capsule at first reproduction, fecundity and growth were significantly lower in treated than untreated groups. Similar finding was observed for populations of before and after treatment. Egg production also varied across populations with the highest values found in northern populations. Within treated group, a significant difference for survival rate was detected between northern and central populations. Almost all parameters of reproduction and growth varied significantly, except for the number of egg capsules.Conclusions: Our study shows a spatial variation of life-history traits in B. truncatus snails. Lower values of these traits were observed in populations from recolonized sites after treatment with niclosamide. This trend was much more perceptible in populations from central Côte d’Ivoire. Investigations should be carried out over several generations of snails in order to clarify the impact of niclosamide on their life-history traits.
Investigating the Influence of Non-linear Effects in the Bidirectional Fiber System
Authors: Chella Kavitha , Manimegalai C T , Krishnan Kalimuthu , Gauni Sabitha 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
To investigate the influence of non-linearity in the bidirectional optical link which enables simultaneous uplink and downlink transmission of 16-QAM data signal. We analyze non-linear effects like self-phase modulation (SPM) and stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). The performance limitation due to the non-linear effects in the system is analyzed. The analysis shows that the SBS threshold for launch power is 16 dBm for unmodulated carrier signal and 6 dBm for modulated signal. At 6 dBm launch power, the system has an average Q of 44.
Investigating and modelling risk factors for primary postpartum haemorrhage among childbearing Women in the Northern Province of Rwanda: A Case Control Study
Authors: Bazirete Oliva , Nzayirambaho Manassé , Umubyeyi Aline , Karangwa Innocent , Evans Marilyn 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: The vast majority of maternal deaths occur in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remains a major global burden contributing to high maternal mortality and morbidity rates. Assessment of PPH risk factors should be undertaken during antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum periods for timely prevention of maternal morbidity and mortality associated with PPH. The aim of this study is to investigate and model risk factors for primary PPH in Rwanda. Methods: We conducted an observational case-control study of 430 (108 cases: 322 controls) pregnant women with gestational age of 32 weeks and above who gave birth in five selected health facilities of Rwanda between January and June 2020. Poisson regression, a generalized linear model with a log link and a Poisson distribution was used to estimate the risk ratio of factors associated with PPH. The research protocol was approved by the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences Institutional Ethics Review Board. Results: The overall prevalence of primary PPH was 25.2%. The following risk factors were identified: antepartum haemorrhage (RR=3.36; 95% CI 1.80- 6.26, P<0.001); intrauterine fetal death (RR=1.93; 95% CI 0.93- 4.03, P<0.077); multiple pregnancy (RR=1.83; 95% CI 1.11- 3.01, P=0.016); haemoglobin level <11 gr/dL (RR=1.51; 95% CI 1.00- 2.30, P=0.050), and premature rupture of membranes (RR=0.58; 95% CI 0.32- 1.05, P<0.077). During the intrapartum and immediate postpartum period, the main causes of primary PPH were: uterine atony (RR=6.70; 95% CI 4.78- 9.38, P<0.001), retained tissues (RR= 4.32; 95% CI 2.87- 6.51, P<0.001); and lacerations of genital organs after birth (RR= 2.14; 95% CI 1.49- 3.09, P<0.001). Coagulopathy was not prevalent in primary PPH. Conclusion: Based on our findings, uterine atony remain the foremost cause of primary PPH. As well as other established risk factors for PPH, antepartum haemorrhage and intra uterine fetal death should be included as risk factors in the development and validation of prediction models for PPH. Large scale studies are needed to investigate further potential PPH risk factors.
Analysis of bimetal pipe bends with a bend of 0.7D with a cladding layer of Inconel 625
Authors: Slany Martin , Sedlak Josef , Zouhar Jan , Zemcik Oskar , Kouřil Karel , Polzer Aleš , Pokorny Zdenek , Joska Zdenek , Dobrocky David , Studeny Zbynek 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Bimetal pipes are highly stressed composite components that must resist corrosion in a chemically aggressive environment. The production of pipe bends with a supercritical bend of 0.7D, which form the part of serpentine systems, is very complex and technologically demanding, because very often undesired cracks occur. To increase the service life of these serpentine systems, the use of a 16Mo3 base steel pipe with a cladding layer of Inconel 625 material was proposed for their production in order to significantly increase their corrosion resistance. For this reason, an extensive analysis of the production of pipe bends with a supercritical bend of 0.7D from bimetal pipes with Inconel 625 cladding was performed, which addressed not only the bend but also the mechanical properties of the pipe with Inconel 625 cladding. It was found out that the production of the pipe bend with a bend of 0.7D of a bimetal pipe is feasible completely without defects with perfectly satisfactory mechanical properties.
Accurate Determination of Junction Temperature in a GaN-Based Blue Light-Emitting Diode using Nonlinear Voltage-Temperature Relation
Authors: Onwukaeme Chibuzo , Choi Won-Jin , Ryu Han-Youl 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
We investigate the junction temperature measurements for GaN-based blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) using nonlinear dependence of the forward voltage ( V f ) on temperature. Unlike the conventional linear model of the dependence of V f on temperature, the modeling of the temperature dependent V f with a quadratic function showed good agreements with measured data in the temperature range between 20 and 100 o C. Using the proposed quadratic model, the junction temperature and thermal resistance of the measured LED could be accurately determined as the ambient temperature varied. It was observed that the junction temperature increment remained almost unchanged as the ambient temperature increased from 20 to 80 o C, which could be attributed to the interplay between the decrease in series resistance and the increase in non-radiative recombination with increasing temperature. The presented method for accurate determination of the junction temperature is expected to be advantageously employed for the thermal management of high-power LEDs.
LncRNA HOXA-AS2 promotes tumor progression via suppressing miR- 567 expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Chen Rui , Wang Xi , Zhou Shixian , Zeng Zongyue 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Growing evidence shows that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), such as lncRNA HOXA-AS2, have emerged as critical regulators in human cancer. However, the biological function and detail regulating mechanisms that how lncRNA HOXA-AS2 played in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unexplored. In this study, high expression of lncRNA HOXA-AS2 was determined in OSCC cell lines and clinical tissues, which positively correlated with advanced TNM stage and poor survival of OSCC patients. In mechanism, we found that lncRNA HOXA-AS2 negatively regulated miR-567 expression by direct interaction. Additionally, we also found that the expression of miR-567 inversely decreased in OSCC tissues along with the up-regulation of lncRNA HOXA-AS2. Functionally, overexpression of lncRNA HOXA-AS2 significantly promoted OSCC cell proliferation, while knockdown of lncRNA HOXA-AS2 significantly inhibited it. Additionally, we determined that miR-567 targeted to CDK8 directly at the 3’ UTR. In conclusion, lncRNA HOXA-AS2 was up-rugulated in OSCC, correlated with poor clinical outcomes, and promoted OSCC cell proliferation via sponging miR-567 to promote CDK8 expression. Therefore, the potential prognostic value of lncRNA HOXA-AS2 could be explored further.
Title: Modeling Study: Characterizing the Spatial Heterogeneity of the COVID-19 Pandemic through Shape Analysis of Epidemic Curves
Authors: Srivast Anuj , Chowell Gerardo 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 incidence rates across different geographical regions (e.g., counties in a state, states in a nation, countries in a continent) follow different shapes and patterns. The overall summaries at coarser spatial scales, that are obtained by simply averaging individual curves (across regions), hide nuanced variability and blur the spatial heterogeneity at finer spatial scales. For instance, a decreasing incidence rate curve in one region is obscured by an increasing rate curve for another region, when the analysis relies on coarse averages of locally heterogeneous transmission dynamics. Objective: To highlight regional differences in COVID-19 incidence rates and to discover prominent patterns in shapes of incidence rate curves in multiple regions (USA and Europe). Methods: We employ statistical methods to analyze shapes of local COVID-19 incidence rate curves and statistically group them into distinct clusters, according to their shapes. Using this information, we derive the so-called shape averages of curves within these clusters, which represent the dominant incidence patterns of these clusters. We apply this methodology to the analysis of the daily incidence trajectory of the COVID-pandemic for two geographic areas: A state-level analysis within the USA and a country-level analysis within Europe during late-February to October 1 st , 2020. Results: Our analyses reveal that pandemic curves often differ substantially across regions. However, there are only a handful of shapes that dominate transmission dynamics for all states in the USA and countries in Europe. This approach yields a broad classification of spatial areas into different characteristic epidemic trajectories. In particular, spatial areas within the same cluster have followed similar transmission and control dynamics.Conclusion: The shape-based analysis of pandemic curves presented here helps divide country or continental data into multiple regional clusters, each cluster containing areas with similar trend patterns. This clustering helps highlight differences in pandemic curves across regions and provides summaries that better reflect dynamical patterns within the clusters. This approach adds to the methodological toolkit for public health practitioners to facilitate decision making at different spatial scales.