bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Degradation of polymers by fungi isolated from dumpsites
Authors: Bashir Iqra , Shams Zafar Iqbal , Ehteshamul-Haque Syed , Urooj Faizah , Farhat Hafiza 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The present study aims at identifying the ability of nine fungal species, which were isolated from garbage of different sites to degrade commonly used polymers, viz. polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyurethane when treated with four methods separately, viz., sterilized and unsterilized drench methods, sterilized and unsterilized mulching methods for four months. All the species considerably degraded the polymers by the above-mentioned methods. However, polystyrene demonstrated the greatest degradation compared to the other two polymers, particularly by sterilized and unsterilized drench methods. Seven fungal species caused greater than 50% weight loss of polystyrene when treated with the above-mentioned methods. Aspergillus flavus instigated the greatest weight loss (74.78 ± 2.85%) by the unsterilized drench method. Of nine, three species caused more than 50% weight loss of polyurethane by the unsterilized drench method. A. niger divulged greater than 50% weight loss of the polymer by sterilized drench method. In this study, polyethylene was found least degraded compared to polystyrene and polyurethane by the selected fungal species. Of nine, only two species, viz. Aspergillus flavus and A. niger caused a higher than 50% weight loss of polyethylene only by sterilized drench method. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of six elevated degraded polymer samples were taken to reveal the formation of spores and hyphae on the surface of the plastic. The images demonstrated the formation of cracks and crevices on the surface of different polymers by spores and the fungal hyphae.
Integrating Geoheritage into the Management of Protected Areas: Proposal for the Itatiaia National Park, Brazil
Authors: Mucivuna Vanessa Costa , Garcia Maria da Glória Motta , Reynard Emmanuel , Rosa Pedro Augusto da Silva 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has created many initiatives to integrate geodiversity and geoheritage into the management of protected areas through a broader concept of nature. Many protected areas, however, do not have an inventory of geoheritage sites. In view of this fact, this study aims to discuss the geoheritage inventory and to analyse, through a case study, how geodiversity is described in an existing management plan, prepared before IUCN included geoheritage in the Manual for the Management of Protected Areas. This study was conducted in the Itatiaia National Park, which has outstanding geological and geomorphological features. To ensure appropriate assessment of geological sites (including geomorphological, hydrological, petrological, sedimentary, structural sites, etc.), we took inventory of geoheritage and then analysed how the management plan addresses geodiversity. The geoheritage inventory includes 17 geosites distributed in six geological frameworks, seven geodiversity sites and three viewpoints. We concluded that although geodiversity is mentioned in the plan, the geoheritage inventory would facilitate and support the exploration of management possibilities that range from protection to education. Therefore, we recommend the inclusion of geoheritage inventory in the management plans of protected areas because it is a valuable tool for the proper conservation and management of geoheritage.
Longitudinal high-dimensional analysis identifies biomarkers of response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy
Authors: Li Run-Ze , Fan Xing-Xing , Jiang Ze-Bo , Huang Jumin , Pan Hu-Dan , Wang Lily Yan , Fan Yue , Xu Hongmei , Rui Haopeng , Zhou Longen , Gavine Paul , Wang Yan , Wong Piu , Sumatoh Hermi , Fehlings Michael , Nardin Alessandra , Liu Liang , Cao Yabing , Leung Elaine 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The response to immunotherapy could be better predicted by using a wide set of biomarkers, including serum tumor markers; however, robust immune markers associated with efficacy have yet to be validated. In this study, changes in immune cell subsets from NSCLC patients treated with anti-PD1 therapy were longitudinally monitored by high-dimensional cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) and Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) multi-cytokines kits. The frequencies of circulating CD8+ and CD8+CD101hiTIM3+ (CCT T) subsets were significantly correlated with clinical response and survival. Enrichment of these populations in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) indicated a poor clinical response to ICB therapy. Cell function assays revealed that these subsets were remarkably impaired, which supported the poor outcomes observed. Additionally, longitudinal analysis showed that KLRG1 expression and cytokines were associated with the response to therapy. Overall, our results provide novel potential biomarkers for guiding the management of NSCLC patients eligible to anti-PD-1 therapy, and contribute insights for new therapeutic strategies.
Redefining Serum PSA Cut-off in Indian Population to Avoid Unnecessary Biopsies - A Descriptive Study
Authors: Prakash Javangula Venkata Surya , PV Thiruvarul , Sattanathan Vetrichandar , Arasi Krishnan Vembu , Paranjothi ArunKumar , Paranjothi ArunKumar , Sharma Somanatha 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men with an estimated 1.2 million diagnoses worldwide. The incidence of Prostate cancer is higher in western countries and low in Asian countries. The need for prostate biopsy is based on PSA levels. The general cut off PSA value for the Indian population is 4.0 ng/mL. The reported cancer detection rate of TRUS-guided biopsies is around 30 percent in western countries and lesser in Asian countries, including India, particularly for serum PSA values less than 20 ng/mL indicating that many of the Indian patients are subjected to unnecessary biopsy which adds up to distress to these patients.PURPOSE: To determine the cancer detection rate of TRUS-guided prostate biopsy in the Indian population at different serum Prostate-Specific Antigen levels and determine a PSA cut-off level to avoid unnecessary biopsies.MATERIALS AND METHODS:All symptomatic patients who underwent TRUS guided biopsy for raised serum PSA levels between 4 - 20 ng/mL were included. The patients were categorized into four groups corresponding to the PSA levels ranging between 4-6 ng/mL, 6- 8 ng/mL, 8-10 ng/mL, and 10-20 ng/mL respectively, and cancer detection rate in each group were statistically analyzed.RESULTS:The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of TRUS guided biopsy are 75%, 95%, and 98% respectively in our study. The overall cancer detection rate of TRUS biopsy in our series was 18.4%. The PSA cut-off to do biopsy was derived by ROC curve as 8.9 ng/ml for all the men. CONCLUSION: The PSA cut-off of 4.0 ng/mL is currently used as an indication for biopsy among men of all ages in the Indian population. We recommend a raise in cut-off to 8.9 ng/mL to avoid unnecessary TRUS-guided biopsies in the Indian population.
MicroRNA-322-5p Protects Against Myocardial Infarction through Targeting BTG2
Authors: Ruan Yang , Meng Shuai , Jia Ruofei , Cao Xiaojing , Jin zening 
Published: September 2021

Abstract

Objective: A large cohort of studies have addressed the therapeutic importance of microRNA (miR) in the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI). The current paper gives prominence to the role of miR-322-5p in MI by regulating B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2).Methods: In a rat model of MI miR-322-5p and BTG2 expression was estimated. Adenovirus that altered miR-322-5p or BTG2 expression was injected into MI rats. After that, cardiac function, inflammation, myocardial injury, pathological condition, apoptosis, and the NF-κB pathway-related genes in the myocardial tissue of MI rats after targeted treatment were evaluated. The targeting relationship between miR-322-5p and BTG2 was assessed.Results: miR-322-5p was lowly expressed and BTG2 was highly expressed in the myocardial tissue of MI rats. Restored miR-322-5p improved cardiac function, relived inflammation and myocardial injury, suppressed pathological condition and apoptosis and inactivated NF-κB pathway in MI rats. BTG2 expression was negatively mediated by miR-322-5p. Overexpressed BTG2 rescued miR-322-5p-induced cardioprotection on MI rats.Conclusion: It is evident that miR-322-5p protects against MI through suppressing BTG2 expression.
Analytical Performance of the Point-of-care BIOSYNEX COVID-19 Ag BSS for the Detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 Nucleocapsid Protein in Nasopharyngeal Swabs: A Prospective Field Evaluation During the COVID-19 Third Wave in France
Authors: Fitoussi Frédéric , Tonen-Wolyec Serge , Awaida Natalio , Dupont Raphaël , Belec Laurent 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background: The accuracy and reliability of rapid diagnostic tests are critical for monitoring and diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection in the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the analytical performance of the BIOSYNEX COVID-19 Ag BSS (Biosynex Swiss SA, Fribourg, Switzerland) antigen rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT), which targets the SARS-CoV-2 N-nucleocapsid protein for the diagnosis of COVID-19. The Ag-RDT was compared with a real-time RT-PCR (rtRT-PCR) gold standard for performance measurement.Methods: Two nasopharyngeal flocked swabs were prospectively collected simultaneously in March and April 2021 from 967 individuals aged ≥18 years tested for SARS-CoV-2 in two private laboratories, Paris, France.Results: Overall, the Ag-RDT demonstrated high sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 81.8%, 99.6%, 96.6%, and 97.5%, respectively, as well as high or near-perfect agreement (97.0%), reliability was assessed using Cohen’s κ-coefficient (0.87), and accuracy was evaluated using Youden index (J) (81.6%) in detecting SARS-CoV-2. The analytical performance of the Ag-RDT remained high when there was significant viral shedding (i.e., N gene Ct values ≤ 33 on reference RT-PCR). The sensitivity was only 55.2% in case of low or very low viral excretion (Ct> 33).Conclusions: The BIOSYNEX COVID-19 Ag BSS Ag-RDT is a promising, potentially simple diagnostic tool, especially in symptomatic COVID -19 or proven infectiousness.
Effect of Yb Concentration on the Structural, Magnetic and Optoelectronic Properties of Yb Doped ZnO: First Principles Calculation
Authors: Achehboune Mohamed , Khenfouch Mohammed , Boukhoubza Issam , Derkaoui Issam , Mothudi Bakang Moses , Zorkani Izeddine , Jorio Anouar 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Density functional theory-based investigation of the electronic, magnetic, and optical characteristics in pure and ytterbium (Yb) doped ZnO has been carried out by the plane-wave pseudopotential technique with generalized gradient approximation. The calculated lattice parameters and band gap of pure ZnO are in good agreement with the experimental results. The energy band-gap increases with the increase of Yb concentration. The Fermi level moves upward into the conduction band after doping with Yb, which shows the properties of an n-type se miconductor. New defects were created in the band-gap near the conduction band attributed to the Yb-4f states. The magnetic properties of ZnO were found to be affected by Yb doping; ferromagnetic property was observed for 4.17% Yb due to spin polarization of Yb-4f electrons. The calculated optical properties imply that Yb doped causes a blue shift of the absorption peaks, significantly enhances the absorption of the visible light, and the blue shift of the reflectivity spectrum was observed. Besides, a better transmittance of approximately 88% was observed for 4.17% Yb doped ZnO system. The refractive index and the extinction coefficient were observed to decrease as the Yb dopant concentration increased. As a result, we believe that our findings will be useful in understanding the doping impact in ZnO and will motivate further theoretical research.
Impact of Screen Exposure on Pediatric Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis: a Survey During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy
Authors: Masini Marzio , Brindisi Giulia , Giovannini Mattia , Pignataro Elia , Grande Laura Di , De Libero Cinzia , Mori Francesca , Caputo Roberto , Zicari Annamaria 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background
SARS-CoV-2 outbreak pushed the Italian government to start a strict lockdown, replacing school attendance with long-distance learning. This caused reduced exposure to sunlight but increased exposure to screens. Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic inflammatory ocular condition in which exposure to light plays a cardinal role. We conducted an online survey to evaluate the impact of screen exposure in children with VKC during the lockdown.
Methods
We performed a survey-based observational study, asking patients followed at the Allergology of Meyer Children’s University Hospital in Florence and of Policlinico Umberto I in Rome to provide grading on 6 subjective ocular clinical manifestations presented during the lockdown and to give an estimate of the hours/day of screen exposure.
Results
Mean scores of signs and symptoms increased homogeneously when studying patients exposed to longer screen time. When comparing scores collected in 2019 versus 2020, there was not a significant reduction in clinical manifestations, although the situation differed between the two centres due to geographical differences in sunlight exposure.
Conclusion
During the lockdown, there was a reduction of sunlight exposure but conversely an increase in the time spent in front of screens that correlated with the worsening of VKC signs symptoms in direct proportion to the hours/day of screen exposure. Our results also showed a statistically significant difference in the relative impact of long-distance learning on VKC clinical manifestations in the different Italian regions.
Evaluation of a novel dichoptic training method using polarising film for treatment of amblyopia
Authors: Iwata Yo , Handa Tomoya , Ishikawa Hitoshi 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
We have developed a new, low-cost, easily administered method that uses a polarising film to enable dichoptic training for amblyopia. In this study, we compared its effects with occlusion therapy using an eye patch. Fifty-eight patients (4.7 ± 0.1 years old) diagnosed with anisometric amblyopia were included and instructed to wear complete refractive correction glasses with either occlusion therapy using an eye patch (eye patch group) or dichoptic training using polarising film (polarising film group) for two hours per day. We examined the improvement in the visual acuity and adherence rate of the patients two months after treatment initiation. After training, the polarising film group showed significant improvement in visual acuity compared with the eye patch group. The adherence rate was also significantly better in the polarising film group than in the eye patch group. In both groups, there was a significant correlation between the improvement in visual acuity and adherence rate. This new dichoptic training using a polarising film was shown to be effective for anisometropic amblyopia.
Profile of Gene Expression Changes During Estrodiol-17β-Induced Feminization in the Takifugu Rubripes Brain
Authors: Shen Xufang , Yan Hongwei , Jiang Jieming , Li Weiyuan , Xiong Yuyu , Liu Qi , Liu Ying 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background: As the critical tissue of the central nervous system, the brain has been found to be involved in gonad development. Previous studies have suggested that gonadal fate may be affected by the brain. Identifying brain-specific molecular changes that occur during estrodiol-17β (E2) ‑induced feminization is crucial to our understanding of the molecular control of sex differentiation by the brains of fish. Results: In this study, the differential transcriptomic responses of the Takifugu rubripes larvae brain were compared after E2 treatment for 55 days. Our results showed that 514 genes were differentially expressed between E2-treated-XX (E-XX) and Control-XX (C-XX) T. rubripes, while 362 genes were differentially expressed between E2-treated-XY (E-XY) and Control-XY (C-XY). For example, the expression of cyp19a1b, gnrh1 and pgr was significantly up-regulated, while st, sl, tshβ, prl and pit-1, which belong to the growth hormone/prolactin family, were significantly down-regulated after E2 treatment, in both sexes. The arntl1, bhlbe, nr1d2, per1b, per3, cry1, cipc and ciart genes, which are involved in the circadian rhythm, were also found to be altered. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were identified between E-XX and C-XX, were significantly enriched in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, arachidonic acid metabolism, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and the calcium signaling pathway. The DEGs that were identified between E‑XY and C-XY were significantly enriched in tyrosine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism. Conclusion: By using transcriptome sequencing of XX and XY brains of torafugu larvae showed that many genes and pathways were altered by E2 exposure. They provide the opportunity to further study the possible involvement of networks in the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis in sex differentiation in T. rubripes.
Ringwoodite rim around olivine core in shock-induced melt-vein of GRV 022321 chondrite: Transformation kinetics of olivine to ringwoodite
Authors: Xie Zhidong , Sharp Thomas G. , Zuo Shuhao , Li Xiaochun 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Here we report the natural occurrence of the ringwoodite rims around olivine cores in shock-induced melt veins of the Antarctic chondrite GRV 022321. Electron microprobe analysis (EMPA), Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to examine the sample to better elucidate the mechanisms of transformation of the olivine to ringwoodite and Fe-Mg partitioning in olivine under the shock. The GRV 022321 is an L6 chondrite with a network of black veins enclosing abundant olivine host-rock fragments. Some of the enclosed fragments ranging from 5 µm to 100 µm in size have bright rims up to 20 µm wide, and a dark core under reflected light and backscatter electron imaging. Raman spectroscopy reveals that rims are made of ringwoodite, and cores are predominantly olivine. EMPA data show the ringwoodites in rims are richer in Fe (Fa46) than the olivine cores (Fa10-Fa23). The olivine cores have variable contrast in BSE images with the heterogeneities in fayalite content (Fa10 to Fa23) and a branching network of low-Fa olivine. FIB-TEM observations reveal that the ringwoodite rims are polycrystalline with crystallite sizes from 200 nm to 800 nm, while the olivine cores are also polycrystalline, but with smaller crystallites from 100 nm to 200 nm. Based on observation, we conclude that the original Fa23 olivine transformed to Fa10 olivine and Fa46 ringwoodite by a solid-state diffusion-controlled growth mechanism during shock, and the branching network of low-Fa olivine acted as long-range(up to 10µm)high-diffusion pathways for grain-boundary Fe-Mg interdiffusion through highly deformed nano-crystalline olivine to accommodate the diffusion-controlled growth of ringwoodite.
Whole-exome sequencing reveals migraine associated novel functional variants
Authors: Asoom Lubna Ibrahim Al , Khan Johra , Sunni Ahmad Al , Rafique Nazish , Latif Rabia , Alabdali Majed M. , Alhariri Azhar , Aloqaily Majed , AbdulAzeez Sayed , Borgio J. Francis 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background

Migraine, as the 7th most disabling neurological multi-symptomatic disease condition and 26.9% prevalence in Saudi females lacks studies on SNPs for their relation with migraine aura.
Methods

This study was conducted on 40 Arab ancestry young female subjects, among whom 50% cases with migraine and remaining controls were used to identify the migraine associated novels genes and risk variants. After quality controls, 3365343 missense, frameshift, missense splice region variants and insertion-deletion (indels) polymorphisms were tested for association to migraine.
Results

Seventeen significant (p value 9.091×10− 05) functional variants in 12 genes (RETNLB, SCAI, ADH4, ESPL1, CPT2, FLG, PPP4R1, SERPINB5, ZNF66, ETAA1, EXO1 and CPA6) were migraine risk associated including a stop gained frameshift (-13-14*SX) variant in the gene RETNLB (rs5851607; p value 3.446×10− 06). Gene analysis revealed that half of the significant novel migraine risk genes expressed in temporal lobe (p-value 0.0058) of the cerebral cortex.
Conclusions

This first study in female (22.10 ± 3.63 years) migrainers is the first one exploring migraine risk variants in Arab ancestry.
Acupuncture methods for insomnia in the elderly: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Dong Weitao , Zhang Feng , Wu Rong , He Ximeng , Chen Xingliang , Zhou Hongchi , Gong Tingting , Wang Chao 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background: Insomnia remains one of the most common sleep disorders in the elderly, with high prevalence and substantial consequences for patients’ general health. Despite that increasing clinical trials have indicated that acupuncture seems to be effective for insomnia in the elderly, comparative efficacy and safety of different acupuncture methods for elderly individuals with insomnia has been unclear. Therefore, this protocol outlined a plan to evaluate and rank the efficacy and safety ofvarious acupuncture approaches for insomnia in the elderly.Methods: A systematic search of 8 bibliographic databases will be conducted from their inception to 31 October 2021, including Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM). Randomized controlled trials investigating acupuncture methods for insomnia in the elderly, published in English or Chinese will be included. The primary outcome is sleep quality measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Two reviewers will independently perform study selection, data extraction and risk assessment of bias. The quality of included literatures will be appraised using Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (ROB 2.0). ADDIS (Aggregate Data Drug Information System) V.1.16.8 will be used to conduct Bayesian network meta-analysis. The quality of evidence will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation System (GRADE).Discussion: In this study, the results will provide credible evidence to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture therapies for elderly patients with insomnia, assisting patients, physicians and clinical research investigators to select the most appropriate acupuncture method.Trial registration: The protocol has been registered at OSF (https://osf.io/3kjpq/) with a registration number DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/3KJPQ.
Morphologic and anatomic response, catalase gene expression in drought varieties of tomato and bioinformatics analyses of microarray studies of the catalase gene
Authors: Shoja Hanieh Mohajjel , Khezriani Taha , Kolahi Maryam , Kazemi Elham Elham Mohajel , Yazdi Milad 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.