bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Regulation of gene expression in chickens by heat stress
Authors: Goel Akshat , Ncho Chris Major , Choi Yang-Ho 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHigh ambient temperatures are a critical challenge in the poultry industry which is a key producer of the animal-based food. To evaluate heat stress levels, various parameters have been used, including growth rates, blood metabolites, and hormones. The most recent advances have explored expression profiling of genes that may play vital roles under stress. A high ambient temperature adversely affects nutrient uptake and is known to modulate the expression of genes encoding for sodium-dependent glucose transporters, glucose transporters, excitatory amino acid transporters, and fatty acid-binding proteins which are responsible for the absorption of macronutrients in the intestine. Various defensive activities are stimulated to protect the cell of different tissues from the heat-generated stress, including expression of early stress response genes coding for heat shock protein (HSP), c-FOS like protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS); antioxidant enzyme genes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX4); and immune-related genes such as cytokines and toll-like receptors (TLRs). The potential role of HSPs in protecting the cell from stress and their presence in several tissues make them suitable markers to be evaluated under heat stress. BDNF and c-FOS genes expressed in the hypothalamus help cells to adapt to an adverse environment. Heat causes damage to the cell by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). The NOX4 gene is the inducer of ROS under heat stress, which is in turns controlled by antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and CAT. TLRs are responsible for protecting against pathogenic attacks arising from enhanced membrane permeability, and cytokines help in controlling the pathogen and maintaining homeostasis. Thus, the evaluation of nutrient transporters and defense mechanisms using the latest molecular biology tools has made it possible to shed light on the complex cellular mechanism of heat-stressed chickens. As the impacts of heat stress on the above-mentioned aspects are beyond the extent to which the reduced growth performance could be explained, heat stress has more specific effects on the regulation of these genes than previously thought.Graphical abstractEffect of heat exposure on the nutrient transporters, antioxidants, and immune inflammation in chickens. Most of the nutrient transporters were suppressed under heat stress. Increase in the production of reactive oxygen species resulted in enhanced production of antioxidant enzymes. Expression of various proinflammatory cytokines and toll-like receptors were enhanced due to heat stress in chicken.
Upper ocean response to tropical cyclones: a review
Authors: Zhang Han , He Hailun , Zhang Wen-Zhou , Tian Di 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTropical cyclones (TCs) are strong natural hazards that are important for local and global air–sea interactions. This manuscript briefly reviews the knowledge about the upper ocean responses to TCs, including the current, surface wave, temperature, salinity and biological responses. TCs usually cause upper ocean near-inertial currents, increase strong surface waves, cool the surface ocean, warm subsurface ocean, increase sea surface salinity and decrease subsurface salinity, causing plankton blooms. The upper ocean response to TCs is controlled by TC-induced mixing, advection and surface flux, which usually bias to the right (left) side of the TC track in the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere. The upper ocean response usually recovers in several days to several weeks. The characteristics of the upper ocean response mainly depend on the TC parameters (e.g. TC intensity, translation speed and size) and environmental parameters (e.g. ocean stratification and eddies). In recent decades, our knowledge of the upper ocean response to TCs has improved because of the development of observation methods and numerical models. More processes of the upper ocean response to TCs can be studied by researchers in the future.
Effects of infusing the engineering design process into STEM project-based learning to develop preservice technology teachers’ engineering design thinking
Authors: Lin Kuen-Yi , Wu Ying-Tien , Hsu Yi-Ting , Williams P. John 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
This study focuses on probing preservice technology teachers’ cognitive structures and how they construct engineering design in technology-learning activities and explores the effects of infusing an engineering design process into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) project-based learning to develop preservice technology teachers’ cognitive structures for engineering design thinking.

Results
The study employed a quasi-experimental design, and twenty-eight preservice technology teachers participated in the teaching experiment. The flow-map method and metalistening technique were utilized to enable preservice technology teachers to create flow maps of engineering design, and a chi-square test was employed to analyze the data. The results suggest that (1) applying the engineering design process to STEM project-based learning is beneficial for developing preservice technology teachers’ schema of design thinking, especially with respect to clarifying the problem, generating ideas, modeling, and feasibility analysis, and (2) it is important to encourage teachers to further explore the systematic concepts of engineering design thinking and expand their abilities by merging the engineering design process into STEM project-based learning.

Conclusions
The findings of this study provide initial evidence on the effects of infusing the engineering design process into STEM project-based learning to develop preservice technology teachers’ engineering design thinking. However, further work should focus on exploring how to overcome the weaknesses of preservice technology teachers’ engineering design thinking by adding a few elements of engineering design thinking pedagogy, e.g., designing learning activities that are relevant to real life.
Technology intervention to support caregiving for Alzheimer’s disease (I-CARE): study protocol for a randomized controlled pilot trial
Authors: Braly Tyler , Muriathiri Doris , Brown Janetta C. , Taylor Britain M. , Boustani Malaz A. , Holden Richard J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundInformal caregivers of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) manage a complex spectrum of patient behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Mobile health information technologies have quickly become sources for modern social support and chronic disease management. These technologies can improve our understanding of how to care for patients with ADRD and their informal caregivers. A mobile telehealth intervention could help reduce caregiver burden and BPSD.MethodsThis is a pilot randomized controlled trial of 60 dyads of patients living with ADRD and their caregivers, to test the feasibility and estimate the potential effect of the Brain CareNotes (BCN) mobile telehealth system. Participants will be recruited from two health systems. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the BCN intervention arm or usual care comparator. Data will be collected at baseline, 3- and 6-month follow-up. The primary objectives of this trial are to assess feasibility outcomes: (a) recruitment rate, (b) data completion, (c) BCN usability, (d) BCN acceptance, and (e) BCN use and assessed either on an ongoing basis or at 3- and 6-month post-intervention. A secondary objective was to estimate the intervention’s effects on caregiver burden and patient BPSD outcomes at 3 and 6 months, assessed by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory.DiscussionThe study will assess the intervention feasibility and potential effect size of the BCN telehealth system as a potentially scalable and lower-cost solution for addressing the ADRD public health crisis.Trial registrationClinical Trials.NCT03119259. Registered on April 18, 2017.
Examining the key influencing factors on college students’ higher-order thinking skills in the smart classroom environment
Authors: Lu Kaili , Yang Harrison H. , Shi Yinghui , Wang Xuan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractTo understand the development of students’ higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) in the smart classroom environment, a structural equation modeling analysis was used to examine the relationships between key factors that influence students’ learning and their HOTS within a smart classroom environment. A sample of 217 first-year Chinese college students, who studied in a smart classroom environment for one semester, completed a survey that measures their smart classroom preferences, learning motivation, learning strategy, peer interaction, and HOTS. The results indicated that peer interaction and learning motivation had a direct impact on students’ HOTS. Furthermore, indirect effects were found between students’ learning strategy and HOTS through the mediator peer interaction, and between smart classroom preferences and HOTS through the following: learning motivation, the combination of learning strategy and peer interaction, and the combination of learning motivation, learning strategy and peer interaction. Based on these findings, this study recommends that instructors teaching in a smart learning environment should focus on improving peer interaction and learning motivation, as well as smart classroom preferences and learning strategy, to hone students’ HOTS.
High-speed high-resolution laser diode-based photoacoustic microscopy for in vivo microvasculature imaging
Authors: Li Xiufeng , Tsang Victor T C , Kang Lei , Zhang Yan , Wong Terence T W 
Published: January 2021

AbstractLaser diodes (LDs) have been considered as cost-effective and compact excitation sources to overcome the requirement of costly and bulky pulsed laser sources that are commonly used in photoacoustic microscopy (PAM). However, the spatial resolution and/or imaging speed of previously reported LD-based PAM systems have not been optimized simultaneously. In this paper, we developed a high-speed and high-resolution LD-based PAM system using a continuous wave LD, operating at a pulsed mode, with a repetition rate of 30 kHz, as an excitation source. A hybrid scanning mechanism that synchronizes a one-dimensional galvanometer mirror and a two-dimensional motorized stage is applied to achieve a fast imaging capability without signal averaging due to the high signal-to-noise ratio. By optimizing the optical system, a high lateral resolution of 4.8 μm has been achieved. In vivo microvasculature imaging of a mouse ear has been demonstrated to show the high performance of our LD-based PAM system.
Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial of eRAPID: eHealth Intervention During Chemotherapy
Authors: Absolom Kate , Warrington Lorraine , Hudson Eleanor , Hewison Jenny , Morris Carolyn , Holch Patricia , Carter Robert , Gibson Andrea , Holmes Marie , Clayton Beverly , Rogers Zoe , McParland Lucy , Conner Mark , Glidewell Liz , Woroncow Barbara , Dawkins Bryony , Dickinson Sarah , Hulme Claire , Brown Julia , Velikova Galina 
Published: January 2021

PURPOSE Electronic patient self-Reporting of Adverse-events: Patient Information and aDvice (eRAPID) is an online eHealth system for patients to self-report symptoms during cancer treatment. It provides automated severity-dependent patient advice guiding self-management or medical contact and displays the reports in electronic patient records. This trial evaluated the impact of eRAPID on symptom control, healthcare use, patient self-efficacy, and quality of life (QOL) in a patient population treated predominantly with curative intent. METHODS Patients with colorectal, breast, or gynecological cancers commencing chemotherapy were randomly assigned to usual care (UC) or the addition of eRAPID (weekly online symptom reporting for 18 weeks). Primary outcome was symptom control (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, Physical Well-Being subscale [FACT-PWB]) assessed at 6, 12, and 18 weeks. Secondary outcomes were processes of care (admissions or chemotherapy delivery), patient self-efficacy, and global quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General, EQ5D-VAS, and EORTC QLQ-C30 summary score). Multivariable mixed-effects repeated-measures models were used for analyses. Trial registration: ISRCTN88520246. RESULTS Participants were 508 consenting patients (73.6% of 690 eligible) and 55 health professionals. eRAPID compared to UC showed improved physical well-being at 6 ( P = .028) and 12 ( P = .039) weeks and no difference at 18 weeks (primary end point) ( P = .69). Fewer eRAPID patients (47%) had clinically meaningful physical well-being deterioration than UC (56%) at 12 weeks. Subgroup analysis found benefit in the nonmetastatic group at 6 weeks ( P = .0426), but not in metastatic disease. There were no differences for admissions or chemotherapy delivery. At 18 weeks, patients using eRAPID reported better self-efficacy ( P = .007) and better health on EQ5D-VAS ( P = .009). Average patient compliance with weekly symptom reporting was 64.7%. Patient adherence was associated with clinician's data use and improved FACT-PWB at 12 weeks. CONCLUSION Real-time monitoring with electronic patient-reported outcomes improved physical well-being (6 and 12 weeks) and self-efficacy (18 weeks) in a patient population predominantly treated with curative intent, without increasing hospital workload.
Patterns and Results of Triage Advice Before Emergency Department Visits Made by Patients With Cancer
Authors: Hong Arthur S. , Chang Hannah , Courtney D. Mark , Fullington Hannah , Lee Simon J. Craddock , Sweetenham John W. , Halm Ethan A. 
Published: January 2021

PURPOSE: Patients with cancer undergoing treatment frequently visit the emergency department (ED) for commonly anticipated complaints (eg, pain, nausea, and vomiting). Nearly all Medicare Oncology Care Model (OCM) participants prioritized ED use reduction, and the OCM requires that patients have 24-hour telephone access to a clinician, but actual reductions in ED visits have been mixed. Little is known about the use of telephone triage for acute care. METHODS: We identified adults aged 18+ years newly diagnosed with cancer, linked to ED visits from a single institution within 6 months after diagnosis, and then analyzed the telephone and secure electronic messages in the preceding 24 hours. We coded interactions to classify the reason for the call, the main ED referrer, and other attempted management. We compared the acuity of patient self-referred versus clinician-referred ED visits by modeling hospitalization and ED visit severity. RESULTS: From 2011 to 2018, 3,247 adults made 5,371 ED visits to the university hospital and self-referred to the ED 58.5% of the time. Clinicians referred to outpatient or oncology urgent care for 10.3% of calls but referred to the ED for 61.3%. Patient self-referred ED visits were likely to be hospitalized (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR], 0.89, 95% CI, 0.64 to 1.22) and were not more severe (aOR, 0.75, 95% CI, 0.55 to 1.02) than clinician referred. CONCLUSION: Although patients self-referred for six of every 10 ED visits, self-referred visits were not more severe. When patients called for advice, clinicians regularly recommended the ED. More should be done to understand barriers that patients and clinicians experience when trying to access non-ED acute care.
Identification of Targetable Gene Fusions and Structural Rearrangements to Foster Precision Medicine inKRASWild-Type Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Fusco Michael J. , Saeed-Vafa Daryoush , Carballido Estrella M. , Boyle Theresa A. , Malafa Mokenge , Blue Kirsten L. , Teer Jamie K. , Walko Christine M. , McLeod Howard L. , Hicks J. Kevin , Extermann Martine , Fleming Jason B. , Knepper Todd C. , Kim Dae Won 
Published: January 2021

PURPOSEIt has recently been described that alternative oncogenic drivers may be found in KRAS wild-type ( KRASWT) pancreatic cancers. This study aimed to determine the incidence of targetable gene fusions present in KRASWTpancreatic adenocarcinoma and response to targeted therapy.METHODSOne hundred consecutive patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who underwent targeted next-generation sequencing using DNA sequencing with RNA sequencing (n = 47) or without RNA sequencing (n = 53) at a single institution were included in the study. The frequency and landscape of targetable fusions in KRASWTpancreatic adenocarcinoma was characterized and compared with the frequency of fusions in KRAS-mutated ( KRASMUT) pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Results were validated in two independent cohorts using data from AACR GENIE (n = 1,252) and TCGA (n = 150). The clinical history of fusion-positive patients who received targeted treatment is described.RESULTSPancreatic cancers from 13 of 100 patients (13%) were found to be KRASWT. Targetable fusions were identified in 4/13 (31%) KRASWTtumors compared with 0/87 (0%) KRASMUTpancreatic adenocarcinomas ( P = .0002). One patient with a novel MET fusion had a complete response to targeted therapy with crizotinib that is ongoing at 12+ months of treatment. In the validation cohorts, gene fusions were identified in 18/97 (19%) and 2/10 (20%) KRASWTtumors reported in the AACR GENIE and TCGA cohorts, respectively.CONCLUSIONOncogene fusions are present in KRASWTpancreatic adenocarcinomas at an increased frequency when compared with KRASMUTpancreatic adenocarcinomas. As these fusions may be susceptible to targeted therapy, molecular analyses for the detection of fusions in KRASWTpancreatic adenocarcinomas may warrant increased consideration.
Brachyury controls Ciona notochord fate as part of a feed-forward network
Authors: Reeves Wendy M. , Shimai Kotaro , Winkley Konner M. , Veeman Michael T. 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACT
The notochord is a defining feature of the chordates. The transcription factor Brachyury (Bra) is a key regulator of notochord fate but here we show that it is not a unitary master regulator in the model chordate Ciona. Ectopic Bra expression only partially reprograms other cell types to a notochord-like transcriptional profile and a subset of notochord-enriched genes is unaffected by CRISPR Bra disruption. We identify Foxa.a and Mnx as potential co-regulators, and find that combinatorial cocktails are more effective at reprogramming other cell types than Bra alone. We reassess the network relationships between Bra, Foxa.a and other components of the notochord gene regulatory network, and find that Foxa.a expression in the notochord is regulated by vegetal FGF signaling. It is a direct activator of Bra expression and has a binding motif that is significantly enriched in the regulatory regions of notochord-enriched genes. These and other results indicate that Bra and Foxa.a act together in a regulatory network dominated by positive feed-forward interactions, with neither being a classically defined master regulator.
Hit the brakes – a new perspective on the loop extrusion mechanism of cohesin and other SMC complexes
Authors: Matityahu Avi , Onn Itay 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACT
The three-dimensional structure of chromatin is determined by the action of protein complexes of the structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) family. Eukaryotic cells contain three SMC complexes, cohesin, condensin, and a complex of Smc5 and Smc6. Initially, cohesin was linked to sister chromatid cohesion, the process that ensures the fidelity of chromosome segregation in mitosis. In recent years, a second function in the organization of interphase chromatin into topologically associated domains has been determined, and loop extrusion has emerged as the leading mechanism of this process. Interestingly, fundamental mechanistic differences exist between mitotic tethering and loop extrusion. As distinct molecular switches that aim to suppress loop extrusion in different biological contexts have been identified, we hypothesize here that loop extrusion is the default biochemical activity of cohesin and that its suppression shifts cohesin into a tethering mode. With this model, we aim to provide an explanation for how loop extrusion and tethering can coexist in a single cohesin complex and also apply it to the other eukaryotic SMC complexes, describing both similarities and differences between them. Finally, we present model-derived molecular predictions that can be tested experimentally, thus offering a new perspective on the mechanisms by which SMC complexes shape the higher-order structure of chromatin.
Concurrent depletion of Vps37 proteins evokes ESCRT-I destabilization and profound cellular stress responses
Authors: Kolmus Krzysztof , Erdenebat Purevsuren , Szymańska Ewelina , Stewig Blair , Goryca Krzysztof , Derezińska-Wołek Edyta , Szumera-Ciećkiewicz Anna , Brewińska-Olchowik Marta , Piwocka Katarzyna , Prochorec-Sobieszek Monika , Mikula Michał , Miączyńska Marta 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACT
Molecular details of how endocytosis contributes to oncogenesis remain elusive. Our in silico analysis of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients revealed stage-dependent alterations in the expression of 112 endocytosis-related genes. Among them, transcription of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT)-I component VPS37B was decreased in the advanced stages of CRC. Expression of other ESCRT-I core subunits remained unchanged in the investigated dataset. We analyzed an independent cohort of CRC patients, which also showed reduced VPS37A mRNA and protein abundance. Transcriptomic profiling of CRC cells revealed non-redundant functions of Vps37 proteins. Knockdown of VPS37A and VPS37B triggered p21 (CDKN1A)-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation and sterile inflammatory response driven by the nuclear factor (NF)-κB transcription factor and associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. Co-silencing of VPS37C further potentiated activation of these independently induced processes. The type and magnitude of transcriptional alterations correlated with the differential ESCRT-I stability upon individual and concurrent Vps37 depletion. Our study provides novel insights into cancer cell biology by describing cellular stress responses that are associated with ESCRT-I destabilization.
Synthesis, Structure, and Electrochemical Properties of Extended Tetrathiafulvalene Dimers Linked by Flexible Butylene Chain
Authors: Kawasaki Yuji , Sakakibara Ryo , Fujisaki Masahiro , Yamashita Masaki , Yoshimura Aya , Shirahata Takashi , Yao Masaru , Misaki Yohji 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Tetrathiafulvalene derivatives bridged by butylene units were successfully synthesized. X-ray structure analysis of the dimeric EBDT 1 revealed that C–C bonds have staggered arrangement and all substituents are arranged anti to each other in the butylene bridge. Cyclic voltammograms of the molecules 1 and the fused TTF analog 2 consisted of two-pairs of two-electron and four pairs of two-electron redox waves, respectively. X-ray structure analysis and calculation of overlap integrals of a dicationic salt of unsubstituted-1 (1Aa) indicated that the EBDT units are stacked with strong dimerization. Coin-type cells using the molecule 2 (2Ce) as a positive electrode material showed initial discharge capacity of 179 mAh g−1, initial energy density of 600 mWh g−1, and an average voltage of 3.35 V.