bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of neural tube defects with congenital abnormalities of the urogenital system in a Chinese cohort
Authors: Hong Zhi-Hua , Jin Dong-Hui , Yuan Xiao-Jian , Zhao Yang , Lin Hou-Wei , Chen Jie 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the correlation between congenital abnormality of the urogenital system and various factors in children with neural tube defects (NTDs).

Methods
A total of 190 children with congenital NTDs, who were admitted to a hospital from May 2013 to May 2018, were included into the present study. All admitted children with congenital NTDs were carried out routine abdominal B-ultrasound examinations to determine the malformations of the abdominal organs, including the urinary system. Children with a B-ultrasound result of suspected and unsure malformation underwent intravenous pyelography (IVP) and voiding cysto-urethrography (VCU), and this was further confirmed by the CT results.

Results
The incidence of urogenital malformation was 12.1% (23/190) in children with congenital NTDs. For the 23 children with urogenital malformations, most of these children had no definite urinary system symptoms, while some of these children had multiple incidences of urinary system infections.

Conclusions
Congenital NTDs are often combined with urogenital malformations, if not specifically searched these may be overlooked. The early detection of these malformations is beneficial to reduce the risk of operation and improve the prognosis.
Analysis of clinical characteristics of severe pertussis in infants and children: a retrospective study
Authors: Wang Caiying , Zhang Huimin , Zhang Yanlan , Xu Lin , Miao Min , Yang Hongling , Liu Yuhuan , He Shuxin , Pang Lin 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
The incidence of pertussis shows an increasing trend in recent years, but some clinicians often lack sufficient understanding of the clinical characteristics and risk factors for severe pertussis, and more effective measures should be taken to reduce the incidence and mortality of pertussis in young infants

Methods
A retrospective study was conducted, and 184 infants and children with pertussis who had been hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics of Beijing Ditan Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University from January 2016 to December 2017 were included. Clinical data of the patients were collected and the clinical characteristics were statistically analyzed

Results
Among the 184 patients, 41.85% were infants < 3 months of age, and 65.22% of the total patients were not vaccinated against pertussis. There were 22 critically ill children, among whom 4 died, and compared with mild cases, they had a higher proportion of children younger than 3 months of age and infants not vaccinated against pertussis (63.64% vs. 38.89% and 100% vs. 60.49%, respectively); a higher proportion of children with severe pneumonia (100% vs. 0%); higher leukocyte count(× 109/L , 35.80 ± 20.53 vs 19.41 ± 8.59); and a higher proportion of children with severe hyperleukocytosis (18.18% vs. 0%, respectively) (P<0.05)

Conclusions
1. Infants aged <3 months not vaccinated for pertussis appear more likely to become infected and have more severe disease. 2. Severe pneumonia and hyperleukocytosis are the main mechanisms underlying severe pertussis.
Self-directed learning by video as a means to improve technical skills in surgery residents: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chartrand Geneviève , Soucisse Mikael , Dubé Pierre , Trépanier Jean-Sébastien , Drolet Pierre , Sideris Lucas 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
With their demanding schedules, surgical residents have limited time to practice techniques. The aim is to evaluate the pedagogic model of self-directed learning using video in surgery residents.

Methods
Informed consent was obtained from all the participants. A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2018 at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont (University of Montreal). Participants were general surgery residents. There were 27 eligible residents; 22 completed the study. They were filmed performing an intestinal anastomosis on cadaveric pig bowel. The self-directed learning by video (SDL-V) group was given an expert video, which demonstrated the technique performed by an experienced surgeon. The control group continued with their regular duties. Three weeks later, participants performed a second filmed anastomosis. Two attending surgeons evaluated the residents’ filmed anastomosis using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills scale. After their second anastomosis, all participants had access to the expert video and completed a survey.

Results
Score did not differ significantly between groups during the first (control: 23.6 (4.5) vs. SDL-V: 23.9 (4.5), p = 0.99, presented as mean (SD)) or second filmed anastomosis procedure (control: 27.1 (3.9) vs. SDL-V: 29.6 (3.4) p = 0.28). Both groups improved significantly from pre- to post-intervention (mean difference between the two anastomosis procedure with 95% CI for control: 3.5, [1.1; 5.9] and for SDL-V: 5.8, [3.4: 8.2]). Correlation between the evaluators for score was moderate (r = 0.6, 95% CI: [0.3: 0.8]). The pass/fail global evaluation exhibited poor inter-rater reliability (Kappa: 0.105, 95% CI: [− 0.2:0.4]). On the survey, all participants wanted more expert-made videos of specific surgical techniques.

Conclusions
Despite a higher final OSATS score for the intervention group, self-directed learning by video failed to produce a statistically significant difference on the overall OSATS scores between the two groups in this small cohort.
A prospective seroepidemiological study of toxocariasis during early childhood in coastal Ecuador: potential for congenital transmission and risk factors for infection
Authors: Oviedo-Vera Aida Y. , Chis Ster Irina , Chico Martha E. , Silva Marcia B. , Salazar-Garcés Luis F. , Alcantara-Neves Neuza M. , Cooper Philip J. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Although Toxocara spp. infection has a worldwide distribution, to our knowledge, no data from birth cohorts have been reported in published studies on the potential for congenital transmission and determinants of infection in early childhood.

Methods
We followed 290 mother-infant pairs from birth to 5 years of age through periodic collection of data and samples at birth, 7 and 13 months and 2, 3 and 5 years of age. Data on potential risk factors and confounders were collected by maternal questionnaire. Blood for plasma was collected from the mother at time of birth and periodically from the child for detection of anti-Toxocara spp. immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies using a Toxocara canis larval excretory-secretory antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Stool samples were collected from the mother around the time of birth and periodically from the child for microscopic detection of soil-transmitted helminths (STH). Associations between potential risk factors and Toxocara spp. seroprevalence and seroconversion were estimated using multivariable logistic regression and generalized estimating equations.

Results
Toxocara spp. seroprevalence was 80.7% in mothers and in children was 0%, 9.3%, 48.4%, 64.9%, and 80.9% at 7 months, 13 months, 2, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Risk factors significantly associated with increases in seroprevalence over the first 5 years of life in multivariable analyses were age [Odds ratio (OR) 2.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39–2.27, P < 0001], male sex (female vs. male: OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.48–0.89, P = 0.006), maternal ethnicity (non-Afro vs. Afro-Ecuadorian: OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.47–0.91, P = 0.011), lower maternal educational and socioeconomic level, and childhood STH (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.51–3.47, P < 0.001). Seroconversion rates for infection were greatest at 2 years of age (3.8%/month). Factors associated significantly with seroconversion at 2, 3 or 5 years were childhood STH infection, male sex, and more frequent domestic cat exposure.

Conclusions
Our data, from an area of high Toxocara spp. endemicity, indicate no congenital transmission but high rates of seroconversion after 13 months of age reaching maternal levels of seroprevalence by 5 years of age. Factors associated with seroprevalence and seroconversion included STH infections, domestic cats, maternal ethnicity, male sex, STH infections, and markers of greater poverty.

Graphical Abstract
Power transformer fault diagnosis system based on Internet of Things
Authors: Wang Guoshi , Liu Ying , Chen Xiaowen , Yan Qing , Sui Haibin , Ma Chao , Zhang Junfei 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Transformer is the most important equipment in the power system. The research and development of fault diagnosis technology for Internet of Things equipment can effectively detect the operation status of equipment and eliminate hidden faults in time, which is conducive to reducing the incidence of accidents and improving people's life safety index.

Objective
To explore the utility of Internet of Things in power transformer fault diagnosis system.

Methods
A total of 30 groups of transformer fault samples were selected, and 10 groups were randomly selected for network training, and the rest samples were used for testing. The matter-element extension mathematical model of power transformer fault diagnosis was established, and the correlation function was improved according to the characteristics of three ratio method. Each group of power transformer was diagnosed for four months continuously, and the monitoring data and diagnosis were recorded and analyzed result. GPRS communication network is used to complete the communication between data acquisition terminal and monitoring terminal. According to the parameters of the database, the working state of the equipment is set, and various sensors are controlled by the instrument driver module to complete the diagnosis of transformer fault system.

Results
The detection success rate of the power transformer fault diagnosis system model established in this paper is as high as 95.6%, the training error is less than 0.0001, and it can correctly identify the fault types of the non training samples. It can be seen that the technical support of the Internet of Things is helpful to the upgrading and maintenance of the power transformer fault diagnosis system.
Biosynthesis of resveratrol using metabolically engineered Escherichia coli
Authors: Park Jin Yeong , Lim Jeong-Hyeon , Ahn Joong-Hoon , Kim Bong-Gyu 
Published: February 2021

AbstractResveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a phenolic compound widely used in pharmaceutics and nutraceutics. Although resveratrol is produced by some plant species, including grapes, peanuts, and berries, the content of resveratrol and its derivatives are very low. Therefore, an alternative biosynthetic method using microorganisms, such asEscherichia coli, has been developed over the past two decades. In the present study, a resveratrol-over-producingE. colistrain was developed using three strategies. First, we increased the synthesis ofp-coumaric acid, a precursor of resveratrol, by manipulating genes in the shikimate pathway ofE. coli. Second, three genes involved in resveratrol biosynthesis, such as tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL), 4-coumaroyl CoA ligase (4CL), and stilbene synthase (STS), were cloned from diverse sources, such as plants and microorganisms, and the best combination was selected to maximize resveratrol production inE. coli. Finally, culture conditions, such as cell concentration, culture temperature, and carbon sources, were established for optimal resveratrol production. Through these strategies, approximately 80.4 mg/L of resveratrol was biosynthesized after 48 h of culture using glycerol as a carbon source.
High expression of BCL6 inhibits the differentiation and development of hematopoietic stem cells and affects the growth and development of chickens
Authors: Li Hongmei , Hu Bowen , Hu Shang , Luo Wen , Sun Donglei , Yang Minmin , Liao Zhiying , Wei Haohui , Zhao Changbin , Li Dajian , Shi Meiqing , Luo Qingbin , Zhang Dexiang , Nie Qinghua , Zhang Xiquan 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
B-cell CLL/lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a transcriptional master regulator that represses more than 1200 potential target genes. Our previous study showed that a decline in blood production in runting and stunting syndrome (RSS) affected sex-linked dwarf (SLD) chickens compared to SLD chickens. However, the association between BCL6 gene and hematopoietic function remains unknown in chickens.

Methods
In this study, we used RSS affected SLD (RSS-SLD) chickens, SLD chickens and normal chickens as research object and overexpression of BCL6 in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), to investigate the effect of the BCL6 on differentiation and development of HSCs.

Results
The results showed that comparison of RSS-SLD chickens with SLD chickens, the BCL6 was highly expressed in RSS-SLD chickens bone marrow. The bone marrow of RSS-SLD chickens was exhausted and red bone marrow was largely replaced by yellow bone marrow, bone density was reduced, and the levels of immature erythrocytes in peripheral blood were increased. At the same time, the hematopoietic function of HSCs decreased in RSS-SLD chickens, which was manifested by a decrease in the hematopoietic growth factors (HGFs) EPO, SCF, TPO, and IL-3, as well as hemoglobin α1 and hemoglobin β expression. Moreover, mitochondrial function in the HSCs of RSS-SLD chickens was damaged, including an increase in ROS production, decrease in ATP concentration, and decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). The same results were also observed in SLD chickens compared with normal chickens; however, the symptoms were more serious in RSS-SLD chickens. Additionally, after overexpression of the BCL6 in primary HSCs, the secretion of HGFs (EPO, SCF, TPO and IL-3) was inhibited and the expression of hemoglobin α1 and hemoglobin β was decreased. However, cell proliferation was accelerated, apoptosis was inhibited, and the HSCs entered a cancerous state. The function of mitochondria was also abnormal, ROS production was decreased, and ATP concentration and ΔΨm were increased, which was related to the inhibition of apoptosis of stem cells.

Conclusions
Taken together, we conclude that the high expression of BCL6 inhibits the differentiation and development of HSCs by affecting mitochondrial function, resulting in impaired growth and development of chickens. Moreover, the abnormal expression of BCL6 might be a cause of the clinical manifestations of chicken comb, pale skin, stunted growth and development, and the tendency to appear RSS in SLD chickens.
Evaluation of curcumin and copper acetate against Salmonella Typhimurium infection, intestinal permeability, and cecal microbiota composition in broiler chickens
Authors: Leyva-Diaz Anaisa A. , Hernandez-Patlan Daniel , Solis-Cruz Bruno , Adhikari Bishnu , Kwon Young Min , Latorre Juan D. , Hernandez-Velasco Xochitl , Fuente-Martinez Benjamin , Hargis Billy M. , Lopez-Arellano Raquel , Tellez-Isaias Guillermo 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Interest in the use of natural feed additives as an alternative to antimicrobials in the poultry industry has increased in recent years because of the risk of bacterial resistance. One of the most studied groups are polyphenolic compounds, given their advantages over other types of additives and their easy potentiation of effects when complexes are formed with metal ions. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of dietary supplementation of copper acetate (CA), curcumin (CR), and their combination (CA-CR) against Salmonella Typhimurium colonization, intestinal permeability, and cecal microbiota composition in broiler chickens through a laboratory Salmonella infection model. S. Typhimurium recovery was determined on day 10 post-challenge by isolating Salmonella in homogenates of the right cecal tonsil (12 chickens per group) on Xylose Lysine Tergitol-4 (XLT-4) with novobiocin and nalidixic acid. Intestinal integrity was indirectly determined by the fluorometric measurement of fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d) in serum samples from blood obtained on d 10 post-S. Typhimurium challenge. Finally, microbiota analysis was performed using the content of the left caecal tonsil of 5 chickens per group by sequencing V4 region of 16S rRNA gene.

Results
The results showed that in two independent studies, all experimental treatments were able to significantly reduce the S. Typhimurium colonization in cecal tonsils (CT, P < 0.0001) compared to the positive control (PC) group. However, only CA-CR was the most effective treatment in reducing S. Typhimurium counts in both independent studies. Furthermore, the serum fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d) concentration in chickens treated with CR was significantly lower when compared to PC (P = 0.0084), which is related to a decrease in intestinal permeability and therefore intestinal integrity. The effect of dietary treatments in reducing Salmonella was further supported by the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences using Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) since Salmonella was significantly enriched in PC group (LDA score > 2.0 and P < 0.05) compared to other groups. In addition, Coprobacillus, Eubacterium, and Clostridium were significantly higher in the PC group compared to other treatment groups. On the contrary, Fecalibacterium and Enterococcus in CR, unknown genus of Erysipelotrichaceae at CA-CR, and unknown genus of Lachnospiraceae at CA were significantly more abundant respectively.

Conclusions
CR treatment was the most effective treatment to reduce S. Typhimurium intestinal colonization and maintain better intestinal homeostasis which might be achieved through modulation of cecal microbiota.
A new method for the conservation of ancient colored paintings on ramie textiles
Authors: Liu Jiaojiao , Li Yuhu , Hu Daodao , Xing Huiping , Chao Xiaolian , Cao Jing , Jia Zhihui 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Textiles are valuable cultural heritage items that are susceptible to several degradation processes due to their sensitive nature, such as the case of ancient ma colored-paintings. Therefore, it is important to take measures to protect the precious ma artifacts. Generally, ″ma″ includes ramie, hemp, flax, oil flax, kenaf, jute, and so on. In this paper, an examination and analysis of a painted ma textile were the first step in proposing an appropriate conservation treatment. Standard fiber and light microscopy were used to identify the fiber type of the painted ma textile. Moreover, custom-made reinforcement materials and technology were introduced with the principles of compatibility, durability and reversibility. The properties of tensile strength, aging resistance and color alteration of the new material to be added were studied before and after dry heat aging, wet heat aging and UV light aging. After systematic examination and evaluation of the painted ma textile and reinforcement materials, the optimal conservation treatment was established, and exhibition method was established. Our work presents a new method for the conservation of ancient Chinese painted ramie textiles that would promote the protection of these valuable artifacts.
Assessing above-ground biomass-functional diversity relationships in temperate forests in northern Mexico
Authors: Vargas-Larreta Benedicto , López-Martínez Jorge Omar , González Edgar J. , Corral-Rivas José Javier , Hernández Francisco Javier 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundStudies on the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem productivity have suggested that species richness and functional diversity are the main drivers of ecosystem processes. Several patterns on this relationship have been found, including positive, unimodal, negative, and neutral trends, keeping the issue controversial. In this study, taxonomic diversity and functional diversity as drivers of above-ground biomass (AGB) were compared, and the mechanisms that influence biomass production were investigated by testing the complementarity and the mass-ratio hypotheses.MethodsUsing data from 414 permanent sample plots, covering 23% of temperate forest in the Sierra Madre Oriental (México), we estimated the above-gound biomass (AGB), taxonomic and functional diversity indices, as well as community weighted mean values (CWM) for three functional traits (maximum height, leaf size and wood density) for trees ≥7.5 cm DBH, in managed and unmanaged stands. To compare taxonomic diversity differences between managed and unmanaged stands we carried out a rarefaction analysis. Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between AGB and taxonomic and functional diversity metrics, as well as CWM traits throught spatial autoregressive models.ResultsWe found a hump-shaped relationship between AGB and species richness in managed and unmanaged forests. CMW of maximum height was the most important predictor of AGB in both stands, which suggested that the mechanism underlaying the AGB-diversity relationship is the dominance of some highly productive species, supporting the mass-ratio hypothesis. Above-ground biomass was significantly correlated with three of the five functional diversity metrics, CWM maximum height and species richness. Our results show the importance of taking into account spatial autocorrelation in the construction of predictive models to avoid spurious patterns in the AGB-diversity relationship.ConclusionSpecies richness, maximum height, functional richness, functional dispersion and RaoQ indices relate with above-ground biomass production in temperate mixed-species and uneven-aged forests of northern Mexico. These forests show a hump-shaped AGB-species richness relationship. Functional diversity explains better AGB production than classical taxonomic diversity. Community weighted mean traits provide key information to explain stand biomass in these forests, where maximum tree height seems to be a more suitable trait for understanding the biomass accumulation process in these ecosystems. Although the impact of forest management on biodiversity is still debated, it has not changed the AGB-diversity relationships in the forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico.