bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shear strength properties of hybrid (hinoki cypress and Japanese cedar) cross-laminated timber
Authors: Ukyo Seiichiro , Miyatake Atsushi , Shindo Kenta , Hiramatsu Yasushi 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn this study, the out-of-plane shear strength of hybrid cross-laminated timber (CLT) with outer layers of hinoki (hinoki cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa) and inner layers of sugi (Japanese cedar, Cryptomeria japonica) is investigated for four different layer configurations. To investigate the influence from rolling shear properties of cross layers on the shear strength of CLT, stress analysis was conducted using the shear analogy method. The nominal shear strength, the maximum shear force divided by the cross-section of CLT, was in the 1.0–2.1 MPa range. Using the shear analogy method, the rolling shear modulus in the cross layer was determined as 72.9 MPa, which was comparable with the value obtained for laminae in previous study as well as the value confirmed by strain measurements in the present study. The magnitude of rolling shear stress in the cross layer was 0.9–1.1 times the average shear stress, which was negatively correlated with the nominal shear strength. From the regression line between the nominal shear strength and the magnitude of the shear stress in the cross layer, the mean shear strength of the cross layer was estimated to be 1.33 MPa.
Rice FLOURY SHRUNKEN ENDOSPERM 5 Encodes a Putative Plant Organelle RNA Recognition Protein that Is Required for cis-Splicing of Mitochondrial nad4 Intron 1
Authors: Wang Liang , Zhang Wenwei , Liu Shijia , Tian Yunlu , Liu Xi , Yan Haigang , Cai Yue , Teng Xuan , Dong Hui , Chen Rongbo , Jiang Xiaokang , Wang Yihua , Wan Jianmin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe sequences of several important mitochondrion-encoded genes involved in respiration in higher plants are interrupted by introns. Many nuclear-encoded factors are involved in splicing these introns, but the mechanisms underlying this splicing remain unknown.ResultsWe isolated and characterized a rice mutant namedfloury shrunken endosperm 5(fse5). In addition to having floury shrunken endosperm, thefse5seeds either failed to germinate or produced seedlings which grew slowly and died ultimately.Fse5encodes a putative plant organelle RNA recognition (PORR) protein targeted to mitochondria. Mutation ofFse5hindered the splicing of the first intron ofnad4, which encodes an essential subunit of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase complex I. The assembly and NADH dehydrogenase activity of complex I were subsequently disrupted by this mutation, and the structure of the mitochondria was abnormal in thefse5mutant. The FSE5 protein was shown to interact with mitochondrial intron splicing factor 68 (MISF68), which is also a splicing factor fornad4intron 1 identified previously via yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assays.ConclusionFse5which encodes a PORR domain-containing protein, is essential for the splicing ofnad4intron 1, and loss ofFse5function affects seed development and seedling growth.
Inferring the number and position of changes in selective regime in a non-equilibrium mutation-selection framework
Authors: Ritchie Andrew M. , Stark Tristan L. , Liberles David A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundRecovering the historical patterns of selection acting on a protein coding sequence is a major goal of evolutionary biology. Mutation-selection models address this problem by explicitly modelling fixation rates as a function of site-specific amino acid fitness values.However, they are restricted in their utility for investigating directional evolution because they require prior knowledge of the locations of fitness changes in the lineages of a phylogeny.ResultsWe apply a modified mutation-selection methodology that relaxes assumptions of equlibrium and time-reversibility. Our implementation allows us to identify branches where adaptive or compensatory shifts in the fitness landscape have taken place, signalled by a change in amino acid fitness profiles. Through simulation and analysis of an empirical data set of$$\beta $$β-lactamase genes, we test our ability to recover the position of adaptive events within the tree and successfully reconstruct initial codon frequencies and fitness profile parameters generated under the non-stationary model.ConclusionWe demonstrate successful detection of selective shifts and identification of the affected branch on partitions of 300 codons or more. We successfully reconstruct fitness parameters and initial codon frequencies in simulated data and demonstrate that failing to account for non-equilibrium evolution can increase the error in fitness profile estimation. We also demonstrate reconstruction of plausible shifts in amino acid fitnesses in the bacterial$$\beta $$β-lactamase family and discuss some caveats for interpretation.
Natural hybridization between two butterfly bushes in Tibet: dominance of F1 hybrids promotes strong reproductive isolation
Authors: Liao Rongli , Sun Weibang , Ma Yongpeng 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundIt has been recognized that a certain amount of habitat disturbance is a facilitating factor for the occurrence of natural hybridization, yet to date we are unaware of any studies exploring hybridization and reproductive barriers in those plants preferentially occupying disturbed habitats.Buddlejaplants (also called butterfly bush) generally do grow in disturbed habitats, and several species with hybrid origin have been proposed, based solely on morphological evidence.ResultsIn the present study, we test the hypothesis thatB. × wardiiis of natural hybridization origin in two sympatric populations of three taxa includingB. × wardiiand its parents (B. alternifoliaandB. crispa) plus 4 referenced parental populations, using four nuclear genes and three chloroplast intergenic spacers, as well as with 10 morphological characters. Our results suggest that at both sitesB. × wardiiis likely to be a hybrid betweenB. alternifoliaandB. crispa, and moreover, we confirm that most of the hybrids examined are F1s. That these plants are F1s is further supported by morphology, as no transgressive characters were detected.B. crispawas found to be the maternal parent in the Bahe (BH) population, from cpDNA evidence. However, in the Taji (TJ) population, the direction of hybridization was difficult to establish due to the shared cpDNA haplotypes betweenB. alternifoliaandB. crispa, however we still predicted a similar unidirectional hybridization pattern due to results from cross-specific pollination treatments which supported the “SI × SC rule”.ConclusionsThe presence of mainly F1hybrids can successfully impede gene flow and thus maintain species boundaries in parental species in a typical distribution ofBuddleja, i.e. in disturbed habitats.
Improvement of analgesic efficacy for total hip arthroplasty by a modified ultrasound‐guided supra‐inguinal fascia iliaca compartment block
Authors: Zheng Ting , Hu Bin , Zheng Chun-ying , Huang Feng-yi , Gao Fei , Zheng Xiao-chun 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Fascia iliaca compartment block (FICB) is an anterior approach to the lumbar plexus block and provides the effective adjunctive analgesia for total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods
As a case series study, 28 patients (≥ 65 years old) with THA were received a modified in-plane ultrasound-guided supra-inguinal (S-FICB) as an analgesic adjunct to evaluate the analgesic effectiveness and the local anesthetic diffusion with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A combination of propofol and sufentanil was administered to conduct target-controlled infusion.

Results
The pain scores were 1 (0–4), 2 (1–5), 3 (1–6) and 3 (1–6) at 4, 8, 12, and 24 h. The cumulative opioids were 8 (8–12), 18 (16–32), 28 (24–54) and 66 (48–104) mg of i.v. morphine equivalents at 4, 8, 12, and 24 h. The patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) times were 0 (0–1), 1 (0–2), 2 (0–5) and 5 (3–8) at 4, 8, 12, and 24 h. In lateral, anterior and medial part of thigh, the sensory blockade in 28 patients was 23 (82 %), 21 (75 %) and 19 (68 %) at 5 min; 28 (100 %) at 10 and 20 min. Motor blockade of femoral nerve (FN) and obturator nerve (ON) was present in 13 (46 %) and 3 (11 %) patients at 5 min, 24 (86 %) and 9 (32 %) at 10 min, 26 (93 %) and 11 (39 %) at 20 min. Injectate permeated to the FN and extended superiorly over the surface of iliac muscle (IM) and pectineus muscle (PM) in all patients.

Conclusions
The modified S-FICB has provided an effective postoperative analgesic adjunct after THA with the satisfactory blockade of femoral (FN), obturator (ON) and sciatic (SN) nerves, especially for ON, when compared with the existing techniques.
Refractory pharyngeal ulceration due to cytomegalovirus in a patient with HIV infection: a case report and literature review
Authors: Osa Morichika , Sato Akihiro , Sakagami Maki , Machida Masaki , Sato Takao , Tsukimori Ayaka , Fukushima Shinji , Nakamura Itaru , Akai Ryo , Tsukahara Kiyoaki , Watanabe Hidehiro 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an important pathogen among immunocompromised hosts. Typically, CMV in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection causes diseases of the retina, digestive tract, lungs and liver, but there are few cases of CMV infection of the pharynx and larynx.

Case presentation
A 57-year-old man with HIV infection was admitted because of pharyngeal pain. Before and after admission, pharyngeal biopsies guided by laryngeal endoscopy were performed four times, but pathological examination showed nonspecific inflammation, and the cause of pharyngeal ulceration was unclear. Additionally, the ulceration deteriorated after initiation of retroviral therapy. Laryngomicrosurgery was conducted under general anesthesia to remove tissue, and pathological diagnosis confirmed CMV infection. Pathological features included enlargement of the cytoplasm and nucleus in infected cells, and intranuclear bodies called owl’s eye inclusions. Ganciclovir dramatically improved the symptoms and laryngoscopic findings.

Conclusions
This case was diagnosed as pharyngitis and pharyngeal ulceration caused by CMV infection, related to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. In previous reports of CMV-induced pharyngeal or laryngeal ulceration in HIV infection, we found six cases similar to our present case. All cases were diagnosed by biopsy. The present case indicates the importance of biopsy for definitive diagnosis. CMV infection should be considered as a differential diagnosis of pharyngeal ulceration in patients with HIV infection.
A novel nonsense variant of the AGXT identified in a Chinese family: special variant research in the Chinese reference genome
Authors: Xu Chang Bao , Zhou Xu Dong , Xu Hong En , Zhao Yong Li , Zhao Xing Hua , Liu Dan Hua , Tian Yong An , Hu Xin Xin , Guan Jing Yuan , Guo Jian Cheng , Tang Wen Xue , Xue Xia 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Primary hyperoxaluria(PH)is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease that contains three subtypes (PH1, PH2 and PH3). Approximately 80% of PH patients has been reported as subtype PH1, this subtype of PH has been related to a higher risk of renal failure at any age. Several genetic studies indicate that the variants in gene AGXT are responsible for the occurrence of PH1. However, the population heterogeneity of the variants in AGXT makes the genetic diagnosis of PH1 more challenging as it is hard to locate each specific variant. It is valuable to have a complete spectrum of AGXT variants from different population for early diagnosis and clinical treatments of PH1.

Case presentation
In this study, We performed high-throughput sequencing and genetic analysis of a 6-year-old male PH1 patient from a Chinese family. Two variants (c.346G > A: p.Gly116Arg; c.864G > A: p.Trp288X) of the gene AGXT were identified. We found a nonsense variant (c.864G > A: p.Trp288X) that comes from the proband’s mother and has never been reported previously. The other missense variant (c.346G > A: p.Gly116Arg) was inherited from his father and has been found previously in a domain of aminotransferase, which plays an important role in the function of AGT protein. Furthermore, we searched 110 pathogenic variants of AGXT that have been reported worldwide in healthy local Chinese population, none of these pathogenic variants was detected in the local genomes.

Conclusions
Our research provides an important diagnosis basis for PH1 on the genetic level by updating the genotype of PH1 and also develops a better understanding of the variants in AGXT by broadening the variation database of AGXT according to the Chinese reference genome.
Association between physical performance and incidence of end-stage renal disease in older adults: a national wide cohort study
Authors: Jung Hee-won , Choi In Young , Shin Dong Wook , Han Kyungdo , Yoo Jung Eun , Chun Sohyun , Yi Yongjin 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Physical frailty has previously been associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study aimed to determine whether impaired physical performance at baseline is associated with the incidence of ESRD, using a nationwide database.

Methods
The timed up-and-go (TUG) test was used to assess physical frailty in 1,552,781 66-year-old individuals, using health examination database records from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. As a primary endpoint, incident ESRD was defined operationally using healthcare claims data from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.

Results
Our results showed that baseline kidney function was significantly worse in individuals with TUG results of > 10 s compared to individuals with an intact TUG performance (≤10 s). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a stepwise dose-response relationship between baseline physical performance and the incidence rate of ESRD (log-rank test P-value of < 0.001). An increasing ESRD incidence rate trend with poor physical performance remained significant after adjusting for characteristics such as baseline glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria.

Conclusion
Poor baseline physical performance was associated with an increased risk of ESRD, suggesting possible interactions between systemic frailty and vascular aging processes.
Beam complexity and monitor unit efficiency comparison in two different volumetric modulated arc therapy delivery systems using automated planning
Authors: Li Chengqiang , Tao Cheng , Bai Tong , Li Zhenjiang , Tong Ying , Zhu Jian , Yin Yong , Lu Jie 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundTo investigate the beam complexity and monitor unit (MU) efficiency issues for two different volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) delivery technologies for patients with left-sided breast cancer (BC) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).MethodsTwelve left-sided BC and seven NPC cases were enrolled in this study. Each delivered treatment plan was optimized in the Pinnacle3treatment planning system with the Auto-Planning module for the Trilogy and Synergy systems. Similar planning dose objectives and beam configurations were used for each site in the two different delivery systems to produce clinically acceptable plans. The beam complexity was evaluated in terms of the segment area (SA), segment width (SW), leaf sequence variability (LSV), aperture area variability (AAV), and modulation complexity score (MCS) based on the multileaf collimator sequence and MU. Plan delivery and a gamma evaluation were performed using a helical diode array.ResultsWith similar plan quality, the average SAs for the Trilogy plans were smaller than those for the Synergy plans: 55.5 ± 21.3 cm2vs. 66.3 ± 17.9 cm2(p < 0.05) for the NPC cases and 100.7 ± 49.2 cm2vs. 108.5 ± 42.7 cm2(p < 0.05) for the BC cases, respectively. The SW was statistically significant for the two delivery systems (NPC: 6.87 ± 1.95 cm vs. 6.72 ± 2.71 cm,p < 0.05; BC: 8.84 ± 2.56 cm vs. 8.09 ± 2.63 cm,p < 0.05). The LSV was significantly smaller for Trilogy (NPC: 0.84 ± 0.033 vs. 0.86 ± 0.033,p < 0.05; BC: 0.89 ± 0.026 vs. 0.90 ± 0.26,p < 0.05). The mean AAV was significantly larger for Trilogy than for Synergy (NPC: 0.18 ± 0.064 vs. 0.14 ± 0.037,p < 0.05; BC: 0.46 ± 0.15 vs. 0.33 ± 0.13,p < 0.05). The MCS values for Trilogy were higher than those for Synergy: 0.14 ± 0.016 vs. 0.12 ± 0.017 (p < 0.05) for the NPC cases and 0.42 ± 0.106 vs. 0.30 ± 0.087 (p < 0.05) for the BC cases. Compared with the Synergy plans, the average MUs for the Trilogy plans were larger: 828.6 ± 74.1 MU and 782.9 ± 85.2 MU (p > 0.05) for the NPC cases and 444.8 ± 61.3 MU and 393.8 ± 75.3 MU (p > 0.05) for the BC cases. The gamma index agreement scores were never below 91% using 3 mm/3% (global) distance to agreement and dose difference criteria and a 10% lower dose exclusion threshold.ConclusionsThe Pinnacle3Auto-Planning system can optimize BC and NPC plans to achieve the same plan quality using both the Trilogy and Synergy systems. We found that these two systems resulted in different SAs, SWs, LSVs, AAVs and MCSs. As a result, we suggested that the beam complexity should be considered in the development of further methodologies while optimizing VMAT autoplanning.
A new rapid diagnostic system with ambient mass spectrometry and machine learning for colorectal liver metastasis
Authors: Kiritani Sho , Yoshimura Kentaro , Arita Junichi , Kokudo Takashi , Hakoda Hiroyuki , Tanimoto Meguri , Ishizawa Takeaki , Akamatsu Nobuhisa , Kaneko Junichi , Takeda Sen , Hasegawa Kiyoshi 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundProbe electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (PESI-MS) can rapidly visualize mass spectra of small, surgically obtained tissue samples, and is a promising novel diagnostic tool when combined with machine learning which discriminates malignant spectrum patterns from others. The present study was performed to evaluate the utility of this device for rapid diagnosis of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM).MethodsA prospectively planned study using retrospectively obtained tissues was performed. In total, 103 CRLM samples and 80 non-cancer liver tissues cut from surgically extracted specimens were analyzed using PESI-MS. Mass spectra obtained by PESI-MS were classified into cancer or non-cancer groups by using logistic regression, a kind of machine learning. Next, to identify the exact molecules responsible for the difference between CRLM and non-cancerous tissues, we performed liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-MS (LC-ESI-MS), which visualizes sample molecular composition in more detail.ResultsThis diagnostic system distinguished CRLM from non-cancer liver parenchyma with an accuracy rate of 99.5%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve reached 0.9999. LC-ESI-MS analysis showed higher ion intensities of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in CRLM than in non-cancer liver parenchyma (P < 0.01, respectively). The proportion of phospholipids categorized as monounsaturated fatty acids was higher in CRLM (37.2%) than in non-cancer liver parenchyma (10.7%;P < 0.01).ConclusionThe combination of PESI-MS and machine learning distinguished CRLM from non-cancer tissue with high accuracy. Phospholipids categorized as monounsaturated fatty acids contributed to the difference between CRLM and normal parenchyma and might also be a useful diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for CRLM.
A prediction model based on DNA methylation biomarkers and radiological characteristics for identifying malignant from benign pulmonary nodules
Authors: Xing Wenqun , Sun Haibo , Yan Chi , Zhao Chengzhi , Wang Dongqing , Li Mingming , Ma Jie 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths across the world. Early detection of lung cancer by low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) can reduce the mortality rate. However, making a definitive preoperative diagnosis of malignant pulmonary nodules (PNs) found by LDCT is a clinical challenge. This study aimed to develop a prediction model based on DNA methylation biomarkers and radiological characteristics for identifying malignant pulmonary nodules from benign PNs.

Methods
We assessed three DNA methylation biomarkers (PTGER4, RASSF1A, and SHOX2) and clinically-relevant variables in a training cohort of 110 individuals with PNs. Four machine-learning-based prediction models were established and compared, including the K-nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and logistic regression (LR) algorithms. Variables of the best-performing algorithm (LR) were selected through stepwise use of Akaike’s information criterion (AIC). The constructed prediction model was compared with the methylation biomarkers and the Mayo Clinic model using the non-parametric approach of DeLong et al. with the area under a receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) analysis.

Results
A prediction model was finally constructed based on three DNA methylation biomarkers and one radiological characteristic for identifying malignant from benign PNs. The developed prediction model achieved an AUC value of 0.951 in malignant PNs diagnosis, significantly higher than the three DNA methylation biomarkers (0.912, 95% CI:0.843–0.958, p = 0.013) or Mayo Clinic model (0.823, 95% CI:0.739–0.890, p = 0.001). Validation of the prediction model in the testing cohort of 100 subjects with PNs confirmed the diagnostic value.

Conclusion
We have shown that integrating DNA methylation biomarkers and radiological characteristics could more accurately identify lung cancer in subjects with CT-found PNs. The prediction model developed in our study may provide clinical utility in combination with LDCT to improve the over-all diagnosis of lung cancer.
Increasing trends in the prevalence of prior cancer in newly diagnosed lung, stomach, colorectal, breast, cervical, and corpus uterine cancer patients: a population-based study
Authors: Sato Akira , Matsubayashi Keisuke , Morishima Toshitaka , Nakata Kayo , Kawakami Koji , Miyashiro Isao 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Cancer survivors are frequently excluded from clinical research, resulting in their omission from the development of many cancer treatment strategies. Quantifying the prevalence of prior cancer in newly diagnosed cancer patients can inform research and clinical practice. This study aimed to describe the prevalence, characteristics, and trends of prior cancer in newly diagnosed cancer patients in Japan.

Methods
Using Osaka Cancer Registry data, we examined the prevalence, characteristics, and temporal trends of prior cancer in patients who received new diagnoses of lung, stomach, colorectal, female breast, cervical, and corpus uterine cancer between 2004 and 2015. Site-specific prior cancers were examined for a maximum of 15 years before the new cancer was diagnosed. Temporal trends were evaluated using the Cochran-Armitage trend test.

Results
Among 275,720 newly diagnosed cancer patients, 21,784 (7.9%) had prior cancer. The prevalence of prior cancer ranged from 3.3% (breast cancer) to 11.1% (lung cancer). In both sexes, the age-adjusted prevalence of prior cancer had increased in recent years (P values for trend < 0.001), especially in newly diagnosed lung cancer patients. The proportion of smoking-related prior cancers exceeded 50% in patients with newly diagnosed lung, stomach, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancer.

Conclusions
The prevalence of prior cancer in newly diagnosed cancer patients is relatively high, and has increased in recent years. Our findings suggest that a deeper understanding of the prevalence and characteristics of prior cancer in cancer patients is needed to promote more inclusive clinical research and support the expansion of treatment options.