bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the Peritumoral Atrophic Band and Nonneoplastic Renal Parenchyma in Radical Nephrectomy Specimens
Authors: Dernell Carl , Bhasin Bhavna , Iczkowski Kenneth A , Gallan Alexander J 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Objectives
Pathologic evaluation of nonneoplastic renal parenchyma in nephrectomy specimens is important for identifying chronic kidney disease and diabetic nephropathy, but increasing utilization of partial nephrectomies has led to less-sampled nonneoplastic parenchyma. The sampled tissue is often composed predominantly of the peritumoral atrophic band (PAB) directly adjacent to the tumor. We sought to determine the characteristics of the PAB and whether it could be used to reliably assess kidney pathology, including diabetic nephropathy.

Methods
We investigated 59 radical nephrectomies to determine the PAB characteristics, whether the PAB is representative of distant nonneoplastic parenchyma, and if diabetic nephropathy could be reliably detected in the PAB.

Results
Mesangial sclerosis was detected within the PAB in 100% of cases with mesangial sclerosis in the distant parenchyma. Eighty percent had a history of diabetes. The PAB exhibited increased glomerular sclerosis (51% vs 13%, P &lt; .001) and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (83% vs 13%, P &lt; .001) compared with distant parenchyma.

Conclusions
Diabetic nephropathy can be reliably detected in the PAB, which is important in partial nephrectomies or renal mass biopsies without ample distant renal parenchyma. The degree of glomerular and tubulointerstitial scarring within the PAB does not reflect the overall degree of chronic kidney disease.
Rhinoplasty: Aesthetic Augmentation With Improvement of Dorsal Aesthetic Lines
Authors: Zholtikov Vitaly , Golovatinskii Vladimir , Ouerghi Riadh , Daniel Rollin K 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
Camouflage of nasal dorsum, aesthetic augmentation, and highlighting the dorsal aesthetic lines are essential elements in modern rhinoplasty. Numerous techniques have been utilized, including deep temporal fascia, rectus abdominis fascia, and diced cartilage in fascia (DC-F). Despite their widespread adoption, technical challenges remain, especially when utilized for aesthetic purposes.

Objectives
This paper details the utilization of fascia and DC-F for aesthetic dorsal refinement in primary and secondary cases. One of the main goals was to achieve ideal dorsal aesthetic dorsal lines rather than just volume augmentation.

Methods
The authors employed grafts from the deep temporalis fascia and rectus abdominis fascia in 4 configurations: (1) single layer, (2) double layer, (3) full-length DC-F, and (4) partially filled segmental DC-F grafts. Technical refinements included careful determination of dimensions and meticulously suturing to the dorsum at appropriately 10 points to prevent graft displacement.

Results
The authors report their experience with 146 clinical cases over 35 months from January 2017 to December 2019. The patients were divided for 4 groups depending on which type of graft was utilized.

Conclusions
Autogenous deep temporal fascia, rectus abdominis fascia, and DC-F were utilized to camouflage dorsal irregularities, highlight dorsal aesthetic lines, and aesthetically augment either the entire nasal dorsum or its individual parts. Optimization of cutting, stitching, filling the graft, and careful fixation of these grafts on the nasal dorsum significantly increases the predictability of these techniques and minimizes problems.
Revisional Medial Epicanthoplasty Using Reverse Z-Plasty Technique
Authors: Ha Jeong Hyun , Park Young Oh , Jin Ung Sik 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
Medial epicanthoplasty is a common method for correcting epicanthal folds in Asians but sometimes cause unsatisfactory results. Although several procedural variations have been devised, revision techniques have earned little attention. The revision technique the authors have developed employs reverse Z-plasty to restore an overcorrected epicanthal fold.

Objectives
The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the authors’ reverse Z-plasty technique in restoring natural medial canthal region harmonizing with Asian face.

Methods
From January 2010 to December 2016, reverse Z-plasty was performed in patients seeking revisions after previous medial epicanthoplasties. Patients were surveyed to assess their satisfaction with surgical outcomes. Interepicanthal distance-lengthening ratios and symmetry of palpebral widths were evaluated digitally (ImageJ software) in patients who received revisional epicanthoplasty only.

Results
The reverse Z-plasty technique for revisional epicanthoplasty was performed in 548 Asian patients (83 males, 460 females). Most patients were pleased with the final outcomes. Only 6% submitted to later revisions of scars, which were otherwise scarcely visible after 3 months. Among 60 patients who underwent only revisional epicanthoplasty, interepicanthal distance-lengthening ratios ranged from 2.9% to 31.1% (average, 8.6%), and palpebral width symmetries improved.

Conclusions
This particular technique helps restore the 3-dimensional appearance of medial canthal angle through horizontal skin and soft tissue (including muscle and ligament) restructuring, thus compensating for tissue deficiency. It is simple in design, easy to perform, and satisfactory results were achieved, conferring natural aesthetics to the medial canthal region.

Level of Evidence: 4
Improved RNA secondary structure and tertiary base-pairing prediction using evolutionary profile, mutational coupling and two-dimensional transfer learning
Authors: Singh Jaswinder , Paliwal Kuldip , Zhang Tongchuan , Singh Jaspreet , Litfin Thomas , Zhou Yaoqi 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Motivation
The recent discovery of numerous non-coding RNAs (long non-coding RNAs, in particular) has transformed our perception about the roles of RNAs in living organisms. Our ability to understand them, however, is hampered by our inability to solve their secondary and tertiary structures in high resolution efficiently by existing experimental techniques. Computational prediction of RNA secondary structure, on the other hand, has received much-needed improvement, recently, through deep learning of a large approximate data, followed by transfer learning with gold-standard base-pairing structures from high-resolution 3-D structures. Here, we expand this single-sequence-based learning to the use of evolutionary profiles and mutational coupling.

Results
The new method allows large improvement not only in canonical base-pairs (RNA secondary structures) but more so in base-pairing associated with tertiary interactions such as pseudoknots, non-canonical and lone base-pairs. In particular, it is highly accurate for those RNAs of more than 1000 homologous sequences by achieving &gt;0.8 F1-score (harmonic mean of sensitivity and precision) for 14/16 RNAs tested. The method can also significantly improve base-pairing prediction by incorporating artificial but functional homologous sequences generated from deep mutational scanning without any modification. The fully automatic method (publicly available as server and standalone software) should provide the scientific community a new powerful tool to capture not only the secondary structure but also tertiary base-pairing information for building three-dimensional models. It also highlights the future of accurately solving the base-pairing structure by using a large number of natural and/or artificial homologous sequences.

Availability and implementation
Standalone-version of SPOT-RNA2 is available at https://github.com/jaswindersingh2/SPOT-RNA2. Direct prediction can also be made at https://sparks-lab.org/server/spot-rna2/. The datasets used in this research can also be downloaded from the GITHUB and the webserver mentioned above.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
HDL mediates reverse cholesterol transport from ram spermatozoa and induces hyperactivated motility
Authors: Bernecic Naomi C , de Graaf Simon P , Leahy Tamara , Gadella Bart M 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Reverse cholesterol transport or cholesterol efflux is part of an extensive plasma membrane remodeling process in spermatozoa that is imperative for fertilization. For ram spermatozoa, sheep serum is well known to support in vitro fertilization (IVF), but knowledge of its explicit role is limited. Though, it is postulated to elicit cholesterol efflux owing to the presence of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) that interact with transmembrane cholesterol transporters, such as adenosinetriphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI). In this study, we report that both sheep serum and HDLs were able to elicit cholesterol efflux alone by up to 20–40% (as measured by the boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-cholesterol assay). Furthermore, when the antagonists glibenclamide and valspodar were used to inhibit the function of ABCA1 and SR-BI or ABCA1 alone, respectively, cholesterol efflux was only marginally reduced (8–15%). Nevertheless, it is likely that in ram spermatozoa, a specific facilitated pathway of cholesterol efflux is involved in the interaction between cholesterol acceptors and transporters. Interestingly, exposure to HDLs also induced hyperactivated motility, another critical event required for successful fertilization. Taken together, this study details the first report of the dual action of HDLs on ram spermatozoa, providing both an insight into the intricacy of events leading up to fertilization in vivo as well as demonstrating the possible application of HDL supplementation in media for IVF.
Cybercrime is (often) boring: Infrastructure and alienation in a deviant subculture
Authors: Collier Ben , Clayton Richard , Hutchings Alice , Thomas Daniel 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe boredom and alienation produced by capitalist societies and countervailing forces of attraction and excitement are at the heart of the subcultural account of crime. The underground hacker subculture is no exception, commonly represented as based around exciting, technically skilled practices and high-profile deviance. However, the illicit economy associated with these practices has become industrialized, developing shared infrastructures that facilitate the sale of illicit services rather than skilled technical work. We explore how this shift in the nature of work has shaped the culture and experiences of this subculture. Developing a novel concept—the ‘illicit infrastructure’—and drawing on an extensive analysis of empirical data from interviews and novel data sources such as forums and chat channels, we argue that as they industrialize, deviant subcultures can begin to replicate the division of labour, cultural tensions and conditions of alienation present in mainstream capitalist economies.
Features of MOG required for recognition by patients with MOG antibody-associated disorders
Authors: Macrini Caterina , Gerhards Ramona , Winklmeier Stephan , Bergmann Lena , Mader Simone , Spadaro Melania , Vural Atay , Smolle Michaela , Hohlfeld Reinhard , Kümpfel Tania , Lichtenthaler Stefan F , Franquelim Henri G , Jenne Dieter , Meinl Edgar 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Antibodies to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-Abs) define a distinct disease entity. Here we aimed to understand essential structural features of MOG required for recognition by autoantibodies from patients. We produced the N-terminal part of MOG in a conformationally correct form; this domain was insufficient to identify patients with MOG-Abs by ELISA even after site-directed binding. This was neither due to a lack of lipid embedding nor to a missing putative epitope at the C-terminus, which we confirmed to be an intracellular domain. When MOG was displayed on transfected cells, patients with MOG-Abs recognized full-length MOG much better than its N-terminal part with the first hydrophobic domain (P &lt; 0.0001). Even antibodies affinity-purified with the extracellular part of MOG recognized full-length MOG better than the extracellular part of MOG after transfection. The second hydrophobic domain of MOG enhanced the recognition of the extracellular part of MOG by antibodies from patients as seen with truncated variants of MOG. We confirmed the pivotal role of the second hydrophobic domain by fusing the intracellular part of MOG from the evolutionary distant opossum to the human extracellular part; the chimeric construct restored the antibody binding completely. Further, we found that in contrast to 8-18C5, MOG-Abs from patients bound preferentially as F(ab′)2 rather than Fab. It was previously found that bivalent binding of human IgG1, the prominent isotype of MOG-Abs, requires that its target antigen is displayed at a distance of 13–16 nm. We found that, upon transfection, molecules of MOG did not interact so closely to induce a Förster resonance energy transfer signal, indicating that they are more than 6 nm apart. We propose that the intracellular part of MOG holds the monomers apart at a suitable distance for bivalent binding; this could explain why a cell-based assay is needed to identify MOG-Abs. Our finding that MOG-Abs from most patients require bivalent binding has implications for understanding the pathogenesis of MOG-Ab associated disorders. Since bivalently bound antibodies have been reported to only poorly bind C1q, we speculate that the pathogenicity of MOG-Abs is mostly mediated by other mechanisms than complement activation. Therefore, therapeutic inhibition of complement activation should be less efficient in MOG-Ab associated disorders than in patients with antibodies to aquaporin-4 .
Dravet syndrome-associated mutations inGABRA1,GABRB2andGABRG2define the genetic landscape of defects of GABAA receptors
Authors: Hernandez Ciria C , Tian XiaoJuan , Hu Ningning , Shen Wangzhen , Catron Mackenzie A , Yang Ying , Chen Jiaoyang , Jiang Yuwu , Zhang Yuehua , Macdonald Robert L 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDravet syndrome is a rare, catastrophic epileptic encephalopathy that begins in the first year of life, usually with febrile or afebrile hemiclonic or generalized tonic–clonic seizures followed by status epilepticus. De novo variants in genes that mediate synaptic transmission such as SCN1A and PCDH19 are often associated with Dravet syndrome. Recently, GABAA receptor subunit genes (GABRs) encoding α1 (GABRA1), β3 (GABRB3) and γ2 (GABRG2), but not β2 (GABRB2) or β1 (GABRB1), subunits are frequently associated with Dravet syndrome or Dravet syndrome-like phenotype. We performed next generation sequencing on 870 patients with Dravet syndrome and identified nine variants in three different GABRs. Interestingly, the variants were all in genes encoding the most common GABAA receptor, the α1β2γ2 receptor. Mutations in GABRA1 (c.644T&gt;C, p. L215P; c.640C&gt;T, p. R214C; c.859G&gt;A; V287I; c.641G&gt;A, p. R214H) and GABRG2 (c.269C&gt;G, p. T90R; c.1025C&gt;T, p. P342L) presented as de novo cases, while in GABRB2 two variants were de novo (c.992T&gt;C, p. F331S; c.542A&gt;T, p. Y181F) and one was autosomal dominant and inherited from the maternal side (c.990_992del, p.330_331del). We characterized the effects of these GABR variants on GABAA receptor biogenesis and channel function. We found that defects in receptor gating were the common deficiency of GABRA1 and GABRB2 Dravet syndrome variants, while mainly trafficking defects were found with the GABRG2 (c.269C&gt;G, p. T90R) variant. It seems that variants in α1 and β2 subunits are less tolerated than in γ2 subunits, since variant α1 and β2 subunits express well but were functionally deficient. This suggests that all of these GABR variants are all targeting GABR genes that encode the assembled α1β2γ2 receptor, and regardless of which of the three subunits are mutated, variants in genes coding for α1, β2 and γ2 receptor subunits make them candidate causative genes in the pathogenesis of Dravet syndrome.
Design and simulation of a 1-GWp solar photovoltaic power station in Sudan
Authors: Abdalla Sohaib Nasr Mohamed , Özcan Hakan 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Developing nations have a critical need to increase electricity supply. Sudan has much unrealized potential for generating solar energy, particularly in the northern region. This research study focuses on designing a 1-GW solar power station in northern Sudan using the PVsyst7.0 software program. To determine the appropriate location for the solar-energy station, 14 criteria were evaluated. This process is generic and suitable for use in any other country. The method for conducting cash-flow estimates and return on investment is illustrated in the economic evaluation. The city of Dongola, the capital of the northern state, was selected because of its high annual irradiance on a horizontal surface at ~2333.2 kWh/m2. The simulation results show that the annual optimum tilt angle of inclination for photovoltaic (PV) modules is 30°, the energy production is 1 979 259 MWh/yr and the average annual performance rate is 0.810. In addition, the electric power consumption per capita in Sudan is 269 kWh/yr, so the proposed solar power plant with 1 979 259 MWh/yr can provide energy to 7.4 million people per year annually and reduce carbon emissions by ~18 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. Economic calculations show that the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is $0.06/kWh, the discounted payback period is ~11 years and the net present value is $635 291 000. As a result, the proposed grid-connected PV solar plant is considered economically, technically and environmentally feasible in Sudan.
A case of Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome in which two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography was useful for identifying the location of the accessory atrioventricular pathway
Authors: Tanabe Junya , Watanabe Nobuhide , Yamaguchi Kazuto , Tanabe Kazuaki 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
In Wolff–Parkinson–White (WPW) syndrome, accessory atrioventricular pathways (AP) result in abnormal pre-excitation around the atrioventricular annuli and produce a dyssynchronous contraction of cardiac chambers. Identification of the AP affects the outcome of catheter ablation.

Case summary
We report a case of WPW syndrome and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in a 65-year-old man. Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome Type B was suspected from lead V1, but when two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) was performed, a decrease in regional strain was observed in the anterior basal wall of the left ventricle. We identified the earliest site of atrioventricular conduction, and improvement in the regional strain at the site of ablation was observed after successful AP ablation.

Discussion
Various echocardiographic techniques have been investigated as non-invasive alternatives for AP localization. Longitudinal 2D-STE accurately identified contractile abnormalities associated with the AP, allowing us to non-invasively estimate the localization of the AP in WPW syndrome.
The African Union’s Struggle Against ‘Unconstitutional Change of Government’: From a Moral Prescription to a Requirement under International Law?
Authors: de Wet Erika 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In 1992 Thomas Franck proclaimed an emerging right to democratic governance in international law. With reference to developments in the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, he identified free and fair elections as the core benchmark of this right, possessing significant legitimacy in terms of its pedigree, determinacy, coherence and adherence. The current contribution examines Franck’s understanding of the right to democratic governance within the African context, notably in relation to those institutional developments that have occurred since the adoption of the Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU) in 2000. Specifically, the article assesses the benchmarks of the notion of ‘unconstitutional changes of government’ in Article 4(p) of the AU Constitutive Act and their inter-linkage with free and fair elections. In so doing, it critically questions the response of the AU to unconstitutional changes of government and its implications for the normative maturity of the benchmark in question. It places the analysis in a broader context by drawing some parallels with the current back-sliding in democratic governance that is occurring also within the Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Union.
Impact of diabetes on coronary severity and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia
Authors: Liu Ming-Ming , Peng Jia , Guo Yuan-Lin , Wu Na-Qiong , Zhu Cheng-Gang , Gao Ying , Dong Qian , Li Jian-Jun 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Aims
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, the association between T2DM and coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) has not been thoroughly evaluated. Our study aimed to assess the effect of T2DM on CAD severity and hard cardiovascular endpoints in a HeFH cohort.

Methods and results
A total of 432 patients with HeFH with a molecular and/or clinical Dutch Lipid Clinic Network score ≥6 (definite and probable) were enrolled. Patients were divided into a T2DM group (n = 99) and a non-T2DM group (n = 333). The severity of coronary stenosis was assessed by the number of diseased vessels and Gensini, SYNTAX, and Jeopardy scores. Hard endpoints included a composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and cardiac death. Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analyses were used to evaluate the effect of T2DM on hard cardiovascular endpoints. The prevalence of CAD was higher in patients with T2DM compared with those without (96.0% vs. 77.5%, respectively; P &lt; 0.001). Patients with T2DM demonstrated a greater number of diseased vessels (P = 0.029) and more severe coronary lesions with high Gensini, SYNTAX, and Jeopardy score tertiles (P = 0.031, P = 0.001, and P = 0.024, respectively). During a median of 3.75 years up to a maximum of 9 years of follow-up, hard endpoints occurred in 13 of 99 patients with T2DM and 16 of 333 without T2DM at baseline. Compared with patients without T2DM, patients with T2DM were at a significantly greater risk of hard endpoints [multivariate adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 2.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–4.84; P = 0.025]. Additionally, patients with T2DM and good glucose control (HbA1c &lt; 7.0%) were at a lower risk of hard endpoints compared with those with poor glucose control (HbA1c ≥ 7.0%, HR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01–0.56; P = 0.011).

Conclusion
We conclude that T2DM is an independent predictor of CAD severity when assessed by number of diseased vessels, Gensini, SYNTAX, Jeopardy scores, and hard cardiovascular endpoints, suggesting that T2DM could be further used for risk stratification of patients with HeFH.