bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modeling of atmospheric primary radioclimatic variables in Nigeria for microwave radio propagation applications
Authors: Falodun S. E. , Ojo J. S. , Aboyeji S. T. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAs modern technology advances, more of the radio communication systems are adopting microwave and millimeter waves’ spectral. However, the effects of meteorological parameters over the radio communication signal operating at microwave and millimeter waves have been the concern of radio engineers. Determination of radio refractivity requires as input meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. To assess the level of degradation due to atmospheric parameters, the ability to easily measure these meteorological parameters is important in planning a good quality radio communication networks. In this study, five (5) years (2013–2017) satellite-based meteorological parameters comprising air temperature, relative humidity, and pressure were obtained from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) at four synopsis hours of the day (00:00 LT, 00:06 LT, 12 noon LT, and 18:00 LT) on daily basis to model the required radio climatic variables in Nigeria. The data were obtained for 26 locations based on the four climatic regions in Nigeria. Multiple regression analysis of the data was performed and coefficients (bo, b1, …, b6) were obtained to effectively predict the monthly temperature, pressure, and relative humidity at the surface level. Eight stations were used for validation; two each from the four climatic regions of Nigeria based on the coefficient of determination (R2), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE). The meteorological parameters were compared based on the multiple regression analysis (MRA) and the modified interpolation techniques (Kriging and Inverse Distance-IDW). The three methods show nearly good accuracy in the prediction, however, the MRA was found to have a better prediction for the meteorological parameter in Nigeria. Hence, in predicting the refractive index parameters using MRA, the allowed RMSEs for temperature, pressure, and relative humidity are 0.559, 4.693, and 0.267, respectively. Likewise, the allowed MAEs for temperature pressure and relative humidity are 0.492, 0.229, and 3.837, respectively.
Mahua flowers (Madhuca sp.) utilization as a carbon-rich natural substrate for the cost-effective bench-scale production of fumaric acid
Authors: Singh Kavita , Sharma Deepankar , Mishra Abha 
Published: January 2021

AbstractFumaric acid is a multi-functional bio-based organic acid that is extensively used as a building block compound in chemical synthesis, food preservative and as therapeutics. The substrates required for the production are the sugars that account for 50–60% of the total process economics. The present work explores the utilization of Mahua flowers as a cheaper carbon source and low cost production medium for cost-effective fumaric acid production using Rhizopus oryzae. Various process parameters for fumaric acid production and desired fungal morphology were investigated, including Mahua flower extract concentration, fermentation temperature, fermentation pH and agitation speed. The highest concentration of the product, fumaric acid obtained in shake flask was 23.5 ± 0.9 g/L at optimized conditions of 100 g/L of Mahua flower extract medium, pH 6, 30 ℃ temperature and shaking speed of 200 rpm in 72 h. The pellet morphology resulted in higher production than mycelial clumps. Bench-scale production in stirred tank reactor resulted in 24.1 ± 1.0 g/L of fumaric acid production at an aeration rate of 1 vvm, agitation at 200 rpm and temperature of 30 ℃. The results obtained were comparable to fermentation with pure glucose. The present study evidently reveals the feasibility of carbon-rich, low cost, abundantly available natural substrate for cost-effective fumaric acid production.
MicroPhenoDB Associates Metagenomic Data with Pathogenic Microbes, Microbial Core Genes, and Human Disease Phenotypes
Authors: Yao Guocai , Zhang Wenliang , Yang Minglei , Yang Huan , Wang Jianbo , Zhang Haiyue , Wei Lai , Xie Zhi , Li Weizhong 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Microbes play important roles in human health and disease. The interaction between microbes and hosts is a reciprocal relationship, which remains largely under-explored. Current computational resources lack manually and consistently curated data to connect metagenomic data to pathogenic microbes, microbial core genes, and disease phenotypes. We developed the MicroPhenoDB database by manually curating and consistently integrating microbe-disease association data. MicroPhenoDB provides 5677 non-redundant associations between 1781 microbes and 542 human disease phenotypes across more than 22 human body sites. MicroPhenoDB also provides 696,934 relationships between 27,277 unique clade-specific core genes and 685 microbes. Disease phenotypes are classified and described using the Experimental Factor Ontology (EFO). A refined score model was developed to prioritize the associations based on evidential metrics. The sequence search option in MicroPhenoDB enables rapid identification of existing pathogenic microbes in samples without running the usual metagenomic data processing and assembly. MicroPhenoDB offers data browsing, searching, and visualization through user-friendly web interfaces and web service application programming interfaces. MicroPhenoDB is the first database platform to detail the relationships between pathogenic microbes, core genes, and disease phenotypes. It will accelerate metagenomic data analysis and assist studies in decoding microbes related to human diseases. MicroPhenoDB is available through http://www.liwzlab.cn/microphenodb and http://lilab2.sysu.edu.cn/microphenodb.
Sialendoscopy for sialodocholithiasis following submandibular gland excision: six variations on a theme
Authors: Douglas Jennifer E. , Thomas W. Walsh , Wen Christopher Z. , Loevner Laurie A. , Thaler Erica R. , Chalian Ara A. , Rassekh Christopher H. 
Published: January 2021

Sialendoscopy is a minimally invasive technique that facilitates the diagnosis and treatment of sialolithiasis. This case series presents the novel use of sialendoscopy to treat sialodocholithiasis in six patients with a non‐functional or surgically absent submandibular gland by a single surgeon at the University of Pennsylvania Health System between March 2013 and December 2019. The four female and two male patients had a median age of 56 years and mean follow‐up of 16.2 months (range 1–44.5). All stones were successfully removed using sialendoscopy, and in 5 patients a combined approach was utilized. All patients remain asymptomatic at last clinical follow‐up. We conclude that sialendoscopy is a viable, minimally invasive method for managing sialodocholithiasis in patients with prior submandibular gland excision or atretic gland. It is also useful as an assistive tool when approaching complex transcervical or transoral procedures in previously instrumented patients.
The development and evaluation of a “HeartBEAT” Adolescent Transition Psychoeducational Program for adolescents with congenital heart defects: a preliminary study
Authors: Tye Sue Kiat , Wan Ahmadul Badwi Syarifah Azizah , Alwi Azlin , Kandavello Geetha 
Published: January 2021

AbstractObjectives:The present study aims to develop and test the effectiveness of a “HeartBEAT” Adolescent Transition Psychoeducation Program (ATPP) in facilitating the well-being of adolescents who have been diagnosed with congenital heart defects (CHD).Methods:The HeartBEAT ATPP was developed after reviewing existing transition interventions and determining adolescents’ needs. It was based upon two theories, namely the Shared Management Model and Antonovsky’s Salutogenic Model and included five aspects: (i) knowledge on illness and treatments, (ii) self-management and transition skills, (iii) purpose of life, (iv) social support, and (v) emotional regulation skills. Mixed-methods pilot testing was then conducted. Paired t-test was used to explore the effectiveness and qualitative interviews were also conducted.Results/Conclusions:Fourteen patients aged 16–19 enrolled in this study, but only eight patients successfully complete the programme. Results showed that a paired t-test was conducted to determine its effectiveness. Results showed that the programme had significantly increased self-management knowledge (t (7) = −6.328, p < 0.05) and affectionate support (t (7) = −1.029, p < 0.05). Qualitative findings also showed that all patients were able to share emotional regulation and identify their purpose of life after the programme. However, there was no significant increase in their self-management skills. In summary, the “HeartBEAT” ATPP has demonstrated efficacy in enhancing self-management knowledge, affectionate support, identifying the patients’ life plan, and enhancing the emotional regulation skills of the adolescents with CHD.
MEF2C regulates osteoclastogenesis and pathologic bone resorption via c-FOS
Authors: Fujii Takayuki , Murata Koichi , Mun Se-Hwan , Bae Seyeon , Lee Ye Ji , Pannellini Tannia , Kang Kyuho , Oliver David , Park-Min Kyung-Hyun , Ivashkiv Lionel B. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractOsteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease with dysregulated coupling between bone resorption and bone formation, which results in decreased bone mineral density. The MEF2C locus, which encodes the transcription factor MADS box transcription enhancer factor 2, polypeptide C (MEF2C), is strongly associated with adult osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. Although the role of MEF2C in bone and cartilage formation by osteoblasts, osteocytes, and chondrocytes has been studied, the role of MEF2C in osteoclasts, which mediate bone resorption, remains unclear. In this study, we identified MEF2C as a positive regulator of human and mouse osteoclast differentiation. While decreased MEF2C expression resulted in diminished osteoclastogenesis, ectopic expression of MEF2C enhanced osteoclast generation. Using transcriptomic and bioinformatic approaches, we found that MEF2C promotes the RANKL-mediated induction of the transcription factors c-FOS and NFATc1, which play a key role in osteoclastogenesis. Mechanistically, MEF2C binds to FOS regulatory regions to induce c-FOS expression, leading to the activation of NFATC1 and downstream osteoclastogenesis. Inducible deletion of Mef2c in mice resulted in increased bone mass under physiological conditions and protected mice from bone erosion by diminishing osteoclast formation in K/BxN serum induced arthritis, a murine model of inflammatory arthritis. Our findings reveal direct regulation of osteoclasts by MEF2C, thus adding osteoclasts as a cell type in which altered MEF2C expression or function can contribute to pathological bone remodeling.
Ubiquitination in the regulation of inflammatory cell death and cancer
Authors: Cockram Peter E. , Kist Matthias , Prakash Sumit , Chen Si-Han , Wertz Ingrid E. , Vucic Domagoj 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe ubiquitin system is complex, multifaceted, and is crucial for the modulation of a vast number of cellular processes. Ubiquitination is tightly regulated at different levels by a range of enzymes including E1s, E2s, and E3s, and an array of DUBs. The UPS directs protein degradation through the proteasome, and regulates a wide array of cellular processes including transcription and epigenetic factors as well as key oncoproteins. Ubiquitination is key to the dynamic regulation of programmed cell death. Notably, the TNF signaling pathway is controlled by competing ubiquitin conjugation and deubiquitination, which governs both proteasomal degradation and signaling complex formation. In the inflammatory response, ubiquitination is capable of both activating and dampening inflammasome activation through the control of either protein stability, complex formation, or, in some cases, directly affecting receptor activity. In this review, we discuss the enzymes and targets in the ubiquitin system that regulate fundamental cellular processes regulating cell death, and inflammation, as well as disease consequences resulting from their dysregulation. Finally, we highlight several pre-clinical and clinical compounds that regulate ubiquitin system enzymes, with the aim of restoring homeostasis and ameliorating diseases.
A longitudinal study defined circulating microRNAs as reliable biomarkers for disease prognosis and progression in ALS human patients
Authors: Dobrowolny Gabriella , Martone Julie , Lepore Elisa , Casola Irene , Petrucci Antonio , Inghilleri Maurizio , Morlando Mariangela , Colantoni Alessio , Scicchitano Bianca Maria , Calvo Andrea , Bisogni Giulia , Chiò Adriano , Sabatelli Mario , Bozzoni Irene , Musarò Antonio 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease associated with motor neuron degeneration, muscle atrophy and paralysis. To date, multiple panels of biomarkers have been described in ALS patients and murine models. Nevertheless, none of them has sufficient specificity and thus the molecular signature for ALS prognosis and progression remains to be elucidated. Here we overcome this limitation through a longitudinal study, analyzing serum levels of circulating miRNAs, stable molecules that are recently used as promising biomarkers for many types of human disorders, in ALS patients during the progression of the pathology. We performed next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis and absolute RT quantification of serum samples of ALS patients and healthy controls. The expression levels of five selected miRNAs were quantitatively analyzed during disease progression in each patient and we demonstrated that high levels of miR-206, miR-133a and miR-151a-5p can predict a slower clinical decline of patient functionality. In particular, we found that miR-206 and miR-151a-5p serum levels were significantly up-regulated at the mild stage of ALS pathology, to decrease in the following moderate and severe stages, whereas the expression levels of miR-133a and miR-199a-5p remained low throughout the course of the disease, showing a diagnostic significance in moderate and severe stages for miR-133a and in mild and terminal ones for miR-199a-5p. Moreover, we found that miR-423–3p and 151a-5p were significantly downregulated respectively in mild and terminal stages of the disease. These data suggest that these miRNAs represent potential prognostic markers for ALS disease.
A comprehensive analysis of somatic alterations in Chinese ovarian cancer patients
Authors: Zhang Yingli , Shi Xiaoliang , Zhang Jiejie , Chen Xi , Zhang Peng , Liu Angen , Zhu Tao 
Published: January 2021

AbstractOvarian cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and is often diagnosed as advanced stage because of the subtle symptoms of early ovarian cancer. To identify the somatic alterations and new biomarkers for the diagnosis and targeted therapy of Chinese ovarian cancer patients, a total of 65 Chinese ovarian cancer patients were enrolled for detection of genomic alterations. The most commonly mutated genes in ovarian cancers were TP53 (86.15%, 56/65), NF1 (13.85%, 9/65), NOTCH3 (10.77%, 7/65), and TERT (10.77%, 7/65). Statistical analysis showed that TP53 and LRP1B mutations were associated with the age of patients, KRAS, TP53, and PTEN mutations were significantly associated with tumor differentiation, and MED12, LRP2, PIK3R2, CCNE1, and LRP1B mutations were significantly associated with high tumor mutational burden. The mutation frequencies of LRP2 and NTRK3 in metastatic ovarian cancers were higher than those in primary tumors, but the difference was not significant (P = 0.072, for both). Molecular characteristics of three patients responding to olapanib supported that BRCA mutation and HRD related mutations is the target of olaparib in platinum sensitive patients. In conclusion we identified the somatic alterations and suggested a group of potential biomarkers for Chinese ovarian cancer patients. Our study provided a basis for further exploration of diagnosis and molecular targeted therapy for Chinese ovarian cancer patients.
LncRNA H19 regulates smooth muscle cell functions and participates in the development of aortic dissection through sponging miR-193b-3p
Authors: Ren Mingming , Wang Tao , Wei Xiaolong , Wang Yizeng , Ouyang Chun , Xie Yilian , Ye Xiaoqiang , Han Zhen 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Multiple studies showed that long-chain noncoding RNA H19 (LncRNA H19) is high-expressed in human and mouse abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). We speculated that it plays an important role in arterial disease, and therefore studied the role and mechanism of H19 in aortic dissection (AD).
Methods: The expressions of related genes in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) induced by platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) or in the aortic tissue of AD patients/mice were identified by Western blot and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The targeting relationship between H19 and miR-193b-3p was predicted and verified by bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase assay, RNA pull-down assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and Pearson correlation coefficient. The H19 and miR-193b-3p effects on the biological functions of tissues and cells were examined by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide, thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide) assay, wound-healing assay, and Hematoxylin–Eosin (HE) staining.
Results: LncRNA H19 was abnormally high-expressed in thoracic aorta tissues of AD patients, and it could competitively bind to and inhibit miR-193b-3p. In the PDGF-BB group, the expressions of H19, matrix metallopeptidase (MMP) 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 were up-regulated and the expressions of miR-193b-3p, α-SMA, and SM22α were down-regulated; moreover, the proliferation and migration rate of HASMCs were increased. However, H19 silencing reversed the regulation of PDGF-BB on HASMCs. More interestingly, miR-193b-3p inhibitor could partially reverse the effect of H19 silencing. In addition, the above results were verified by animal experiments, showing that shH19 and up-regulated miR-193b-3p could significantly reduce the thoracic aorta pathological damage in AD mice.
Conclusion: LncRNA H19 regulated smooth muscle cell function by sponging miR-193b-3p and it participated in the development of AD.
Insights into the mechanism of vascular endothelial cells on bone biology
Authors: Yin Ying , Tang Qingming , Xie Mengru , Hu Li , Chen Lili 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
In the skeletal system, blood vessels not only function as a conduit system for transporting gases, nutrients, metabolic waste, or cells but also provide multifunctional signal molecules regulating bone development, regeneration, and remodeling. Endothelial cells (ECs) in bone tissues, unlike in other organ tissues, are in direct contact with the pericytes of blood vessels, resulting in a closer connection with peripheral connective tissues. Close-contact ECs contribute to osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis by secreting various cytokines in the paracrine or juxtacrine pathways. An increasing number of studies have revealed that extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from ECs can directly regulate maturation process of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. The different pathways focus on targets at different distances, forming the basis of the intimate spatial and temporal link between bone tissue and blood vessels. Here, we provide a systematic review to elaborate on the function of ECs in bone biology and its underlying mechanisms based on three aspects: paracrine, EVs, and juxtacrine. This review proposes the possibility of a therapeutic strategy targeting blood vessels, as an adjuvant treatment for bone disorders.
Development of next-generation antimicrobial hydrogel dressing to combat burn wound infection
Authors: Kopecki Zlatko 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Infection of burn wounds often leads to poor healing, sepsis, disability, or even death. Traditional care focuses on early debridement, fluid resuscitation, and intravenous antibiotics but these are often inadequate due to compromised vasculature limiting systemic antibiotics effectiveness. Biofilms in burn wounds are barriers to treatment and are associated with the transition of wounds from acute to chronic non-healing state. Current topical treatments for burn wounds include skin substitutes impregnated with skin or stem cells that promote healing; or hydrogels delivering an antibiotic, silver, or synthetic antimicrobial peptides. The success of currently available products is varied and, in some cases, very limited due to associated cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, the ability to only fight extracellular biofilm infections, and the ever-increasing development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). There is, therefore, a high clinical need for the development of next-generation hydrogel wound dressings, to combat bacterial burn wound infection. A recent paper by Khan et al. (Bioscience Reports (2020) 39, https://doi.org/10.1042/BSR20190504) highlights the development of a catechol cross-linked antimicrobial peptide hydrogel, adding to the body of literature describing innovative solutions with better delivery systems for antimicrobial peptides, and identifying a promising future biomaterial for development of novel hydrogel dressing to combat multi-drug resistant bacterial infections in burn wounds.
The CAT-1 is out of the bag: endothelial Cationic Amino Acid Transporter-1 is a critical player in cardiorenal syndrome type 2
Authors: Hutchens Michael P. , De Miguel Carmen 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Although the numbers of patients affected by cardiorenal syndrome keeps increasing, we lack a complete understanding of the molecular pathways involved in its development and progression. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) may play a role in cardiorenal syndrome, particularly cardiorenal syndrome type 2 (CRS2). However, complexities and paradoxical clinical findings have limited translation. In the current Clinical Science, Giam et al. (Clinical Science (2020) 134, 2755–2769) highlight the role of a key NOS substrate transporter, the cationic amino acid transporter-1, in preserving renal function in CRS2. In this commentary, we introduce the cardiorenal syndrome and the putative role that nitric oxide (NO) may play in the development of this disease and discuss the exciting findings of Giam et al. (Clinical Science (2020) 134, 2755–2769) and their tantalizing translational implications.
Modulated Gabor filter based deep convolutional network for electrical motor bearing fault classification and diagnosis
Authors: Afrasiabi Shahabodin , Mohammadi Mohammad , Afrasiabi Mousa , Parang Benyamin 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe high applicability of the electrical motor has led to gain attention in condition monitoring to diagnosis the most common type of fault in this machine, bearing element. The emergence of deep neural networks (DNN) provides the opportunity to design a network for early bearing fault diagnosis with high speed and without any additional feature extraction technique. However, robustness against the noise and some deficiencies in fully capturing features are still challenging issues. To resolve this problem, this paper proposes a one module Gabor filter based convolutional neural networks (CNN), namely Gabor convolutional neural network (GCNN), for bearing fault detection and classification. GCNN is a modulated Gabor filter to enhance the ability in capturing temporal features as well as enhance understanding spatial features with fewer parameters and higher robustness against noises and can be considered as a computational efficient deep structure. The simulation results of the bearing fault detection/classification are studied on two different experimental prototypes, including case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and Paderborn University (Paderborn) datasets. The superiority of this method is shown by comparison with accelerated CNN (ACNN), adaptive CNN, standard CNN, support vector machine (SVM), learning vector quantisation (LVQ), and feedforward neural network (FFNN).