bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gamma-Glutamyl Transpeptidase to Platelet Ratio: A New Inflammatory Marker Associated with Outcomes after Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Zhao Yipin , Lin Zebin , Ji Yingying , Wang Huawei , Xiao Li , Chen Qingwei , Wu Zhiqin 
Published: August 2021

Introduction. In recent years, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio (GPR) has been proposed as a new inflammatory marker. We aimed to evaluate the association between GPR and outcomes after cardiac arrest (CA). Methods. A total of 354 consecutive patients with CA were included in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into three groups according to tertiles of GPR (low,

n
=
119

; middle,

n
=
117

; and high,

n
=
118

). To determine the relationship between GPR and prognosis, a logistic regression analysis was performed. The ability of GPR to predict the outcomes was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Two prediction models were established, and the likelihood ratio test (LRT) and the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) were utilized for model comparison. Results. Among the 354 patients (age 62 [52, 74], 254/354 male) who were finally included in the analysis, those in the high GPR group had poor outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that GPR was independently associated with the three outcomes, for ICU mortality (

odds

ratios

OR

=
1.738

, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.221-2.474,

P
=
0.002

), hospital mortality (

OR
=
1.676

1.164
−
2.413

,

P
=
0.005

), and unfavorable neurologic outcomes (

OR
=
1.623

1.121
−
2.351

,

P
=
0.010

). The area under the ROC curve was 0.611 (95% Cl: 0.558-0.662) for ICU mortality, 0.600 (95% CI: 0.547-0.651) for hospital mortality, and 0.602 (95% CI: 0.549-0.653) for unfavorable neurologic outcomes. Further, the LRT analysis showed that compared with the model without GPR, the GPR-combined model had a higher likelihood ratio

χ

2

score and smaller AIC. Conclusion. GPR, as an inflammatory indicator, was independently associated with outcomes after CA. GPR is helpful in estimating the clinical outcomes of patients with CA.
Slit2 Inhibits Breast Cancer Metastasis by Activating M1-Like Phagocytic and Antifibrotic Macrophages
Authors: Ahirwar Dinesh K. , Charan Manish , Mishra Sanjay , Verma Ajeet K. , Shilo Konstantin , Ramaswamy Bhuvaneswari , Ganju Ramesh K. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are heterogeneous in nature and comprise antitumor M1-like (M1-TAM) or pro-tumor M2-like (M2-TAM) TAMs. M2-TAMs are a major component of stroma in breast tumors and enhance metastasis by reducing their phagocytic ability and increasing tumor fibrosis. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate phenotypic plasticity of TAMs are not well known. Here we report a novel tumor suppressor Slit2 in breast cancer by regulating TAMs in the tumor microenvironment. Slit2 reduced the in vivo growth and metastasis of spontaneous and syngeneic mammary tumor and xenograft breast tumor models. Slit2 increased recruitment of M1-TAMs to the tumor and enhanced the ability of M1-TAMs to phagocytose tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. This Slit2-mediated increase in M1-TAM phagocytosis occurred via suppression of IL6. Slit2 was also shown to diminish fibrosis in breast cancer mouse models by increasing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 in M1-TAMs. Analysis of patient samples showed high Slit2 expression strongly associated with better patient survival and inversely correlated with the abundance of CD163+ TAMs. Overall, these studies define the role of Slit2 in inhibiting metastasis by activating M1-TAMs and depleting tumor fibrosis. Furthermore, these findings suggest that Slit2 can be a promising immunotherapeutic agent to redirect TAMs to serve as tumor killers for aggressive and metastatic breast cancers. In addition, Slit2 expression along with CD163+ TAMs could be used as an improved prognostic biomarker in patients with breast cancer.

Significance:
This study provides evidence that the antitumor effect of Slit2 in breast cancer occurs by activating the phagocytic activity of M1-like tumor-associated macrophages against tumor cells and diminishing fibrosis.
Circulating Protein Disulfide Isomerase Is Associated with Increased Risk of Thrombosis in JAK2-Mutated Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Authors: Sharda Anish V. , Bogue Thomas , Barr Alexandra , Mendez Lourdes M. , Flaumenhaft Robert , Zwicker Jeffrey I. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract

Purpose:
Thromboembolic events (TE) are the most common complications of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Clinical parameters, including patient age and mutation status, are used to risk-stratify patients with MPN, but a true biomarker of TE risk is lacking. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), an endoplasmic reticulum protein vital for protein folding, also possesses essential extracellular functions, including regulation of thrombus formation. Pharmacologic PDI inhibition prevents thrombus formation, but whether pathologic increases in PDI increase TE risk remains unknown.

Experimental Design:
We evaluated the association of plasma PDI levels and risk of TE in a cohort of patients with MPN with established diagnosis of polycythemia vera (PV) or essential thrombocythemia (ET), compared with healthy controls. Plasma PDI was measured at enrollment and subjects followed prospectively for development of TE.

Results:
A subset of patients, primarily those with JAK2-mutated MPN, had significantly elevated plasma PDI levels as compared with controls. Plasma PDI was functionally active. There was no association between PDI levels and clinical parameters typically used to risk-stratify patients with MPN. The risk of TE was 8-fold greater in those with PDI levels above 2.5 ng/mL. Circulating endothelial cells from JAK2-mutated MPN patients, but not platelets, demonstrated augmented PDI release, suggesting endothelial activation as a source of increased plasma PDI in MPN.

Conclusions:
The observed association between plasma PDI levels and increased risk of TE in patients with JAK2-mutated MPN has both prognostic and therapeutic implications.
The students attitudes' toward the flipped classroom strategy and relationship to self-learning skills
Authors: Aburayash Hussain 
Published: August 2021

The study aimed to identify the attitudes of students of open education towards the flipped class strategy of the opposite grade and its relation to self-learning skills. To achieve the goals of the study, the measure of the direction towards education was constructed in the opposite grade and the self-learning skills scale. The sample of the study consisted of 60 male and female students of higher diploma in education studying the decisions of the educational administration and Educational Psychology in the Arab Open University/Jordan. The results of the study showed a positive trend for university students towards education in the opposite grade, with the percentage of the trends as a whole 90%. The results also showed a positive correlation between each of the students' attitudes toward education in the opposite grade and each of the variables (academic motivation, self-monitoring, self-learning skills, self-learning writing skills), and no correlation between students' and skills in dealing with information technology.
Design and analysis of multiple read port techniques using bank division with XOR method for multi-ported-memory on FPGA platform
Authors: Kumar S. Druva , M. Roopa 
Published: August 2021

<span lang="EN-US">The multiple read and write operations are performed simultaneously by multi-ported memories and are used in advanced digital design applications on reprogrammable field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to achieve higher bandwidth. The Memory modules are configured by block RAM (BRAMs), which utilizes more area and power on FPGA. In this manuscript, the techniques to increase the read ports for multi-ported memory modules are designed using the bank division with XOR (BDX) approach. The read port techniques like two read-one write (2R1W) memory, hybrid mode approach either 2R1W or 4R memory, and hierarchical BDX (HBDX) Approach using 2R1W/4R memory are designed on FPGA platform. The Proposed work utilizes only slices and look-up table (LUT's) rather than BRAMs while designing the memory modules on FPGA, which reduces the computational complexity and improves the system performance. The experimental results are analyzed on Artix-7 FPGA. The performance parameters like slices, LUT utilization, maximum frequency (Fmax), and hardware efficiency are analyzed by concerning different memory depths. The 4R1W memory design using the HBDX approach utilizes 4% slices and works at 449.697 MHz operating frequency on Artix-7 FPGA. The proposed work provides a better platform to choose the proper read port technique to design an efficient modular multiport memory architecture.</span>
Diplomats, Activists, and the Hauntology of American Empire in Martial Law Taiwan
Authors: Sheridan Derek 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Despite open US support for the Kuomintang (kmt) during the martial law period, opposition and pro-independence politics to this day have been haunted by the spectre of the American empire. Imaginings of US power and intentions, however, have often exceeded the actual institutional traces of US presence, both extending and subverting US power. In this article, I explore how imperial conditions during martial law were imagined through the relationships Taiwan dissidents had with two kinds of US expatriates: foreign service officers and civilian anti-kmt activists. While the former were formally bound to the principle of ‘non-interference’ despite local appeals, the latter justified ‘intervention’ as resistance against existing US support of the kmt. Based on a close reading of memoirs and historical surveys by former diplomats and activists, I examine how the micro-politics of the Cold War US presence contributed to spectres of American empire beyond the intentions of its putative planners.
Apoptosis-promoting properties of miR-3074-5p in MC3T3-E1 cells under iron overload conditions
Authors: Feng Yi , He Pei-Yan , Kong Wei-Dong , Cen Wan-Jing , Wang Peng-Lin , Liu Chang , Zhang Wu , Li Shu-Shu , Jiang Jian-Wei 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundIron overload can promote the development of osteoporosis by inducing apoptosis in osteoblasts. However, the mechanism by which miRNAs regulate apoptosis in osteoblasts under iron overload has not been elucidated.MethodThe miRNA expression profile in MC3T3-E1 cells under iron overload was detected by next generation sequencing. qRT-PCR was used to determine the expression of miR-3074-5p in MC3T3-E1 cells under iron overload. The proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells was tested using CCK-8 assays, and apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry. The miRanda and TargetScan databases were used to predict the target genes of miR-3074-5p. Interaction between miR-3074-5p and the potential target gene was validated by qRT-PCR, luciferase reporter assay and western blotting.ResultsWe found that iron overload decreased the cell viability and induced apoptosis of MC3T3-E1 cells. The results of next generation sequencing analysis showed that miR-3074-5p expression was significantly increased in MC3T3-E1 cells under iron overload conditions, which was confirmed by further experiments. The inhibition of miR-3074-5p attenuated the apoptosis of iron-overloaded MC3T3-E1 cells. Furthermore, the expression of Smad4 was decreased and was inversely correlated with miR-3074-5p expression, and overexpression of Smad4 partially reversed the viability inhibition of iron-overloaded MC3T3-E1 cells by relieving the suppression of ERK, AKT, and Stat3 phosphorylation, suggesting its regulatory role in the viability inhibition of iron-overloaded MC3T3-E1 cells. The luciferase reporter assay results showed that Smad4 was the target gene of miR-3074-5p.ConclusionmiR-3074-5p functions as an apoptosis promoter in iron-overloaded MC3T3-E1 cells by directly targeting Smad4.
Utilizing inquiry-driven science outreach to curate Natural Trap Cave fossils and inspire the pursuit of STEM careers
Authors: Redman Cory M. , Tomiya Susumu , Bitterman Kathleen , Cain Kacia , Meachen Julie A. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractDespite the rising emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in the last two decades, the United States has seen little change in student performance, based on international assessments. Transforming science education from the more traditional, lecture-format classes to inquiry-driven exercises is central for improving student’s STEM literacy and competency at all grade levels. This paper describes an outreach program that was developed for upper-level U.S. high school students (10th–12th grade) and centers around hands-on, inquiry-driven exercises using the large-bodied (> 3 kg) mammalian fossils from Natural Trap Cave (NTC). The objectives of this program were for the students to develop an understanding of the morphological adaptations of the vertebrate skeleton, preservational biases in the fossil record, and to participate in each of the curatorial steps used for the long-term preservation of fossils. Students from Des Moines Public School Central Campus came to Des Moines University 2 hours a week for a semester, receiving high school and community college credit for participating. The NTC outreach program has been offered for 11 semesters since the fall of 2014. Thirty-four high school students have participated, consisting of 24 women and 10 men, with 19 of the students belonging to African American, Middle Eastern, Asian, and Hispanic ethnicities. The students helped to identify and curate 3,700 NTC fossil specimens. Several of the students presented posters on the work they did during this outreach program at the multiple district and state science fairs in Iowa and received accolades. Only the 2017–2019 students were surveyed, but all the students reported gaining a deeper understanding of the scientific process and the utility of paleontology. One student even reported changing their career goal from undecided to a STEM field. The framework developed for the NTC outreach program can be easily modified to fit the needs or structure of another research project, community partnership, science laboratory, or museum facility, with the target audience being students from middle school to undergraduate. This type of STEM outreach program can also help improve scientific literacy and generate much-needed excitement and interest in science, at a time when many students are exploring potential career paths.
Genome-wide survey of the phosphofructokinase family in cassava and functional characterization in response to oxygen-deficient stress
Authors: Wang Haiyan , Zhao Pingjuan , Shen Xu , Xia Zhiqiang , Zhou Xincheng , Chen Xin , Lu Cheng , WenquanWang  
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundGlycolytic pathway is common in all plant organs, especially in oxygen-deficient tissues. Phosphofructokinase (PFK) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the glycolytic pathway and catalyses the phosphorylation of fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. Cassava (M. esculenta) root is a huge storage organ with low amount of oxygen. However, less is known about the functions of PFK fromM. esculenta(MePFK). We conducted a systematic analysis ofMePFKgenes to explore the function of theMePFKgene family under hypoxic stress.ResultsWe identified 13MePFKgenes and characterised their sequence structure. The phylogenetic tree divided the 13 genes into two groups: nine wereMePFKs and four were pyrophosphate-fructose-6-phosphate phosphotransferase (MePFPs). We confirmed by green fluorescent protein fusion protein expression that MePFK03 and MePFPA1 were localised in the chloroplast and cytoplasm, respectively. The expression profiles of the 13MePFKs detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction revealed thatMePFK02,MePFK03,MePFPA1,MePFPB1displayed higher expression in leaves, root and flower. The expression ofMePFK03,MePFPA1andMePFPB1in tuber root increased gradually with plant growth. We confirmed that hypoxia occurred in the cassava root, and the concentration of oxygen was sharply decreasing from the outside to the inside root. The expression ofMePFK03,MePFPA1andMePFPB1decreased with the decrease in the oxygen concentration in cassava root. Waterlogging stress treatment showed that the transcript level of PPi-dependentMePFPandMeSuSywere up-regulated remarkably and PPi-dependent glycolysis bypass was promoted.ConclusionA systematic survey of phylogenetic relation, molecular characterisation, chromosomal and subcellular localisation and cis-element prediction of MePFKs were performed in cassava. The expression profiles of MePFKs in different development stages, organs and under waterlogging stress showed that MePFPA1 plays an important role during the growth and development of cassava. Combined with the transcriptional level ofMeSuSy, we found that pyrophosphate (PPi)-dependent glycolysis bypass was promoted when cassava was under waterlogging stress. The results would provide insights for further studying the function of MePFKs under hypoxic stress.
Differences in lipid homeostasis and membrane lipid unsaturation confer differential tolerance to low temperatures in two Cycas species
Authors: Zheng Yanling , Yang Yongqiong , Wang Meng , Hu Shijun , Wu Jianrong , Yu Zhixiang 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
C. panzhihuaensis is more tolerant to freezing than C. bifida but the mechanisms underlying the different freezing tolerance are unclear. Photosynthesis is one of the most temperature-sensitive processes. Lipids play important roles in membrane structure, signal transduction and energy storage, which are closely related to the stress responses of plants. In this study, the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and lipid profiles of the two species were characterized to explore the changes in photosynthetic activity and lipid metabolism following low-temperature exposure and subsequent recovery.

Results
Photosynthetic activity significantly decreased in C. bifida with the decrease of temperatures and reached zero after recovery. Photosynthetic activity, however, was little affected in C. panzhihuaensis. The lipid composition of C. bifida was more affected by cold and freezing treatments than C. panzhihuaensis. Compared with the control, the proportions of all the lipid categories recovered to the original level in C. panzhihuaensis, but the proportions of most lipid categories changed significantly in C. bifida after 3 d of recovery. In particular, the glycerophospholipids and prenol lipids degraded severely during the recovery period of C. bifida. Changes in acyl chain length and double bond index (DBI) occurred in more lipid classes immediately after low-temperature exposure in C. panzhihuaensis compare with those in C. bifida. DBI of the total main membrane lipids of C. panzhihuaensis was significantly higher than that of C. bifida following all temperature treatments.

Conclusions
The results of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters confirmed that the freezing tolerance of C. panzhihuaensis was greater than that of C. bifida. The lipid metabolism of the two species had differential responses to low temperatures. The homeostasis and plastic adjustment of lipid metabolism and the higher level of DBI of the main membrane lipids may contribute to the greater tolerance of C. panzhihuaensis to low temperatures.
Perioperative temperature management: a survey of 6 Asia–Pacific countries
Authors: Koh Wenjun , Chakravarthy Murali , Simon Edgard , Rasiah Raveenthiran , Charuluxananan Somrat , Kim Tae-Yop , Chew Sophia T. H. , Bräuer Anselm , Ti Lian Kah 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundAnesthesia leads to impairments in central and peripheral thermoregulatory responses. Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia is hence a common perioperative complication, and is associated with coagulopathy, increased surgical site infection, delayed drug metabolism, prolonged recovery, and shivering. However, surveys across the world have shown poor compliance to perioperative temperature management guidelines. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalent practices and attitudes to perioperative temperature management in the Asia–Pacific region, and determined the individual and institutional factors that lead to noncompliance.MethodsA 40-question anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to anesthesiologists and anesthesia trainees in six countries in the Asia–Pacific (Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, India and South Korea). Participants were polled about their current practices in patient warming and temperature measurement across the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative periods. Questions were also asked regarding various individual and environmental barriers to compliance.ResultsIn total, 1154 valid survey responses were obtained and analyzed. 279 (24.2%) of respondents prewarm, 508 (44.0%) perform intraoperative active warming, and 486 (42.1%) perform postoperative active warming in the majority of patients. Additionally, 531 (46.0%) measure temperature preoperatively, 767 (67.5%) measure temperature intraoperatively during general anesthesia, and 953 (82.6%) measure temperature postoperatively in the majority of patients. The availability of active warming devices in the operating room (p < 0.001, OR 10.040), absence of financial restriction (p < 0.001, OR 2.817), presence of hospital training courses (p = 0.011, OR 1.428), and presence of a hospital SOP (p < 0.001, OR 1.926) were significantly associated with compliance to intraoperative active warming.ConclusionsCompliance to international perioperative temperature management guidelines in Asia–Pacific remains poor, especially in small hospitals. Barriers to compliance were limited temperature management equipment, lack of locally-relevant standard operating procedures and training. This may inform international guideline committees on the needs of developing countries, or spur local anesthesiology societies to publish their own national guidelines.
Protective effects of dexmedetomidine on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury via the microRNA-214/ROCK1/NF-κB axis
Authors: Liu Wenyi , Shao Cuihua , Zang Chuanshan , Sun Jian , Xu Min , Wang Yuna 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a complication of surgical procedure associated with high mortality. The protective effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on CIRI has been explored in previous works, yet the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Our study explored the protective effect of DEX and its regulatory mechanism on CIRI.

Methods
A CIRI rat model was established using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Neurological deficit scores for rats received MCAO modeling or DEX treatment were measured. Cerebral infarction area of rats was detected by TTC staining, while damage of neurons in hippocampal regions of rats was determined by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Apoptosis rate of neurons in hippocampal regions was examined by TUNEL staining. The dual-luciferase assay was performed to detect the binding of microRNA-214 (miR-214) to Rho-associated kinase 1 (ROCK1).

Results
DEX treatment significantly reduced infarction area of MCAO rats and elevated miR-214 expression. Injection of miR-214 inhibitor attenuated the effect of DEX in MCAO rats by increasing the area of cerebral infarction in rats and apoptosis rate of hippocampal neurons. ROCK1 was targeted and negatively regulated by miR-214. The overexpression of ROCK1 led to activation of NF-κB to aggravate CIRI.

Conclusion
Therapeutic effects of DEX on CIRI was elicited by overexpressing miR-214 and impairing ROCK1 expression and NF-κB activation. Our finding might provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism of DEX in rats with CIRI.