bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Possible Relationship between Korean Heat Wave and Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Genesis Frequency
Authors: Cha Yumi , Choi JaeWon , Ahn Joong-Bae 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
This study conducted a correlation analysis between tropical cyclone genesis frequency (TCGF) in the western North Pacific (WNP) and heat wave days (HWD) in Korea during July and August for 46 years (1973–2018) and we found a strong positive correlation between them. This implied that the higher the TCGF in the WNP during July and August, the higher the HWD in Korea becomes. To examine the cause of the statistically significant positive correlation between the TCGF during July and August in the WNP and the HWD in Korea, 15 years with the highest frequency and the lowest frequency out of the 46 years in the TCGF time series were selected and defined as high TCGF years and low TCGF years, respectively. An analysis of the difference in 2m air temperature (Air2m) between the two groups showed that in the mid-latitude region of Asia, the Air2m was higher during the high TCGF years. Thus, it could be seen from this analysis that the increase of HWD during the high TCGF years is likely to occur in the entire mid-latitude region of East Asia as well as in Korea. According to the difference in atmospheric circulations between the two groups, in all layers of the troposphere, anomalous anticyclonic and cyclonic circulations were strengthened in the mid-latitude region of East Asia and in the WNP, respectively, which was similar to the Pacific-Japan (PJ) teleconnection pattern. Furthermore, the anomalous anticyclone strengthened in the mid-latitude region of East Asia was associated with the weakening of the East Asian summer monsoon, and the anomalous cyclone strengthened in the WNP was associated with the WNP summer monsoon. The difference in the vertical meridional circulation averaged over the longitude range where Korea is located showed that anomalous upward and downward flows were strengthened in the WNP and in the latitude where Korea is located, respectively. This implied that the local Hadley circulation was strengthened during the high TCGF years. An analysis of the difference in the mean sea surface temperature during July and August showed that the eastern Pacific (EP) La Niña was strengthened during the high TCGF years. To determine the cause of the formations of anomalous anticyclones in the mid-latitude region of East Asia and in the WNP during the high TCGF years, the 500 hPa wave activity flux was analyzed. The wave activity flux originated from the North Atlantic, passed through the Scandinavian Peninsula, the North coast of Russia, and East Siberia before reaching Korea and the WNP. This spatial distribution was similar to the Scandinavia teleconnection pattern. Therefore, we conclude that the anomalous anticyclone formed in the mid-latitude region of East Asia and the anomalous cyclone formed in the WNP during the high TCGF years are associated with the Scandinavia teleconnection pattern.
Curli-producing E. coli enhances the disease phenotype in an hSOD1 G93A mouse model of ALS
Authors: Kurlawala Zimple 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rapid and fatal neuromuscular degenerative disease which has no known genetic cause in ~ 90% of cases. We explored the microbiome as a potential non-genetic contributing factor for the disease. Microbial dysbiosis in the gut can occur due to diet, lifestyle and environmental factors and differences in gut microbial communities have been detected between ALS subjects and healthy controls, including an increase in E. coli in ALS subjects. E. coli and other physiological gram-negative bacteria produce curli proteins which are functional bacterial amyloid fibrils. Curli fibrils form biomatrices and interact with several proteins in the extracellular matrix, such as CD14, Toll-like receptors and MHC1 molecules expressed on the surfaces of all nucleated cells. Over-exposure to curli in the gut enhanced neuroinflammation and alpha synuclein misfolding in the brain in a rodent model of Parkinson’s disease. In this study, we examined whether curli exposure can exacerbate the development and progression of ALS. We utilized the hSOD1 G93A mouse model of slow developing ALS, with their inherent microbiome on a normal chow diet. These mice were fed curli-producing or curli-nonproducing (mutant) E. coli in applesauce 3 times/week from 4 weeks of age to 6 months. Chronic consumption of E. coli was well-tolerated by all mice, measured regularly by signatures of general wellness. Male hSOD1 mice demonstrated faster ALS progression compared to female hSOD1 mice. Chronic exposure to E. coli significantly shifted bacterial and viral alpha and beta diversities in the gut of all mice. Curli-fed mice showed significant decrease in relative abundance of Proteobacteria phyla. Within the male hSOD1 cohort, curli-fed mice exhibited locomotive signs of faster ALS progression, increased markers of skeletal muscle atrophy, increased inflammation in the muscle and spinal cord, and suppressed peripheral immune responses compared to mutant-fed and vehicle mice. Within the female cohort, exposure to both curli-producing and mutant E. coli suppressed peripheral immune responses. In conclusion, over-exposure to curli-producing E. coli in the gut worsened the pathological, immunological and motor features of ALS, in the absence of overt signs of illness. These results suggest that opportunities for manipulation of the gut microbiome in ALS need to be explored.
Entirely Passive Remote Node Design And System Architecture For Bus Topology Based 80Gbps Symmetrical NG-PON2
Authors: Kaur Ramandeep , Tiwana Simranjit Singh , Singh Rajandeep , Singh Simranjit 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The next generation passive optical network stage 2 (NG-PON2) is a broadcast network in which a large number of optical network units (ONUs) can be served using various network topologies. In this paper, a purely passive remote node (RN) design based on fiber bragg grating (FBG) is presented for the bus topology of a high split NG-PON2 system. The performance of the proposed node has been analysed for a symmetric 80 Gbps NG-PON2 system serving 1024 ONUs in terms of bit error rate (BER) and optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR). The working of the proposed node has been explained with the optical frequency spectrums for downstream and upstream signals. The observed OSNR levels for the ONUs operating at the 1st RN is 84.8743dB which decreases to 75.7973dB for the ONUs connected to the 8th RN. The BER level < 10-9 for both upstream and downstream confirms the correct working of the proposed node in the NG-PON2 system.
Prevalence and Determinants of Nutritional Status Among Women and Children in Pakistan
Authors: Waghmare Hanumant , Chauhan Shekhar , Sharma Santosh Kumar 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background: Nutrition has been a low-priority area in Pakistan, with low visibility from the political leadership. Despite various efforts, Pakistan has been reported to have one of the highest prevalence of child and women malnutrition compared to other developing counties. Therefore, this study intends to examine the prevalence and determinants of nutritional status of women and children in Pakistan.Methods: The present study uses the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) data from Pakistan 2012-13 (PDHS-3). The nutritional status of women was examined through Body-Mass Index (Underweight, normal, overweight, & obese), and that of children was examined through stunting (severe and moderate), wasting (severe, moderate, overweight), and underweight (severe, moderate, overweight). Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis have been used along with multinomial logistic regression.Results: A higher proportion of children in rural areas were severely stunted (19.57% vs. 12.49%), severe wasted (2.36% vs. 2.23%), and severe underweight (9.37% vs. 6%) than their urban counterparts. A higher proportion of rural women (9.5% vs. 5.45%) were underweight than urban women, whereas a higher proportion of urban women were obese (24.32% vs. 19.01%) than rural women. The odds of severe stunting (OR= 0.24; C.I.=0.15-0.37), severe underweight (OR= 0.11; C.I.=0.05-0.22) were lower among children from the richest wealth quintile than their poorest counterparts. The Relative Risk Ratio (RRR) of being overweight (RRR= 3.7; C.I.=2.47-5.54) and Obese (RRR= 4.35; C.I.=2.67-7.07) than normal BMI were higher among women from richest wealth quintile than women belonged to poorest wealth quintile.Conclusion: This study has highlighted determinants associated with maternal and child nutritional status, whereby child’s nutritional status was measured by stunting, wasting, and underweight, and the mother’s nutritional status was measured by BMI. The main risk factors for child’s poor nutritional status include low household wealth, urban residence, and mother’s educational status. Similarly, the main risk factors for women’s poor nutritional status include increasing the women's age, educational status, rural residence, and household wealth. Emphasis should be placed on educating mothers as it would improve their nutritional status and improve their child’s nutritional status simultaneously.
Self-Regeneration Hybrid Hydrogel for Bisphenol A Adsorption in Water
Authors: Piao Mingyue , Du Hongxue , Sun Yuwei , Teng Honghui 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Hybrid hydrogel was synthesized by immobilizing TiO2 in polyethylene glycol diacrylate (TiO2@PEGDA) as an efficient adsorbent with photocatalysis property for bisphenol A (BPA) elimination. TiO2@PEGDA exhibited spherical and rough structure with limited crystallinity and abundant functional groups. The contact angle was 61.96°, indicating that TiO2@PEGDA is hydrophilic. The swelling capacity of TiO2@PEGDA (9.0%) was decreased compared with pristine PEGDA (15.6%). Adsorption results demonstrated that the maximum adsorption capacity of TiO2@PEGDA (101.4 mg/g) for BPA was slightly higher than pristine PEGDA (97.68 mg/g). The adsorption capacity was independent with pH at pH ＜ 8.0, and decreased obviously when the value of pH was higher than 8.0. The adsorption behavior was fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic and the Freundlich isotherm model. Both ΔG0 and ΔH0 were negative, indicating that BPA adsorbed on TiO2@PEGDA was an exothermic and spontaneous process. Regeneration study was performed by photocatalysis, and the adsorption capacity was 85.6% compared with the initial capacity after four cycles of illumination, indicating that TiO2@PEGDA could be recycled without significant loss of adsorption capacity. Consequently, TiO2@PEGDA can serve as an eco-friendly and promising material for efficiently adsorbing BPA with self-clean property.
Feasibility and Efficacy of Prehospital Esmolol for Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation
Authors: Patrick Casey , Crowe Remle , Ward Brad , Mohammed Ali , Keene Kelly Rogers , Dickson Robert 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background: We aimed to assess the feasibility of prehospital bolus dose esmolol for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and refractory ventricular fibrillation (RVF) treated by a single, high-volume, ground-based emergency medical services (EMS) agency. Methods: This retrospective observational study evaluated EMS patients with RVF treated from June 10, 2017 to June 10, 2020. Esmolol (0.5mg/kg bolus) was added to the RVF protocol at the mid-point of the study period on December 10, 2018. Results: We analyzed 61 patients treated with prehospital esmolol and 63 patients treated without esmolol. Median time from EMS arrival to esmolol administration was 17 minutes (interquartile range: 13-22 minutes). Prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was higher in the esmolol group compared to the control group, though statistical significance was not reached (38% versus 24%, p=0.09). Overall, few patients survived to 24 hours (esmolol n=15, pre-esmolol n=16) and fewer survived to hospital discharge (esmolol n=5, pre-esmolol n=5), precluding stable statistical comparisons. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that esmolol is feasible in the prehospital setting and may lead to increased ROSC. Further large-scale studies are needed to determine the effect of prehospital esmolol for RVF as it relates to survival to hospital discharge.Trial Registration: This study was approved by the institutional review board at The Baylor College of Medicine and a waiver of informed consent was granted - protocol number H-48383.
Identification of Candidate Genes that Specifically Regulate Subcutaneous and Intramuscular Fat Deposition Using Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiles in Dingyuan Pigs
Authors: Zhang Pan , Li Qinggang , Wu Yijing , Zhang Yawen , Zhang Bo , Zhang Hao 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background: Subcutaneous fat and intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition are closely related to meat production and pork quality. The Dingyuan pig is a local pig breed in Anhui Province, China, that has great potential for fat deposition. Individuals with extreme subcutaneous fat and intramuscular fat content can be found in this breed, which provides a good study system for investigating the molecular mechanisms regulating these two types of fat deposit.Results: In this study, we used RNA-Seq and tandem mass tags-based proteomics to analyze the key pathways and genes that specifically regulate subcutaneous fat and intramuscular fat deposition in Dingyuan pigs. We identified 191 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 61 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in the high backfat thickness (HBF) and low backfat thickness (LBF) groups. In the high intramuscular fat and low intramuscular fat groups, we found 85 DEGs and 12 DAPs. The gene ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs and DAPs in the backfat groups were mainly involved in various metabolic pathways, such as those related to carbohydrates, amino acids, esters, and fatty acids, whereas the DEGs and DAPs of the IMF groups were involved in a wide range of signaling pathways, including metabolic pathways, the insulin pathway, ketone body synthesis and degradation, longevity, and some disease-related pathways. Among the genes related to the metabolic pathways of carbohydrates, amino acids, esters, and fatty acids, we found 26 candidate genes that specifically regulate subcutaneous fat deposition and 7 genes that specifically regulate IMF deposition in Dingyuan pigs.Conclusion: Our data show that subcutaneous fat deposition and IMF deposition are regulated by the same genes, but there are also genes that specifically regulate these two fat depositions. Our data provide insights into the mechanisms of pig fat deposition.
Steroid-Sparing Effect, Effectiveness, and Tolerability of Mepolizumab with EGPA in Real World Clinical Practice
Authors: Hatakeyama Yukihisa , Tsukamoto Rei , Masuta Kazumi , Fujimoto Shodai , Takamiya Rei , Ikeda Miho , Okamura Kayoko , Ohnishi Hisashi 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
BackgroundEosinophilic polyangiitisgranulomatosa (EGPA) is a vasculitis syndrome that affects small and medium-sized blood vessels throughout the body. The mainstay of treatment is steroids, but there are no standardized doses or durations for steroids in combination with mepolizumab. MethodsWe investigated the efficacy, steroid administration, and course of steroid reduction in five patients who were diagnosed with EGPA and treated with mepolizumab for 1 year. Five patients who were diagnosed with EGPA using the American College of Rheumatology criteria and treated with mepolizumab for 1 year were included in our study from 2018–2020.ResultsEosinophil levels as well as the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), remission rate, annual relapse rate, and steroid dosage were observed at 1 year after mepolizumab treatment. Fifty-two weeks after mepolizumab treatment, eosinophils, BVAS, and the steroid dosage showed a trend toward improvement in four out of five patients. In the one patient who received no dose reduction, there was no exacerbation of bronchial asthma that had previously occurred during the follow-up period. Although neurological symptoms often remain even in remission, all patients with neurological symptoms at diagnosis improved. There were no cases of relapse in this study, including two anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive cases. ConclusionsManagement that includes early administration of mepolizumab may improve patients’ quality of life by alleviating lingering neurological symptoms that are caused by EGPA.
Occupancy of Semi-Aquatic Mammals in an Urban Landscape
Authors: Hoffer Devin , Nielsen Clayton , Rutter Andrew , Anile Stefano 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Throughout midwestern North American ecosystems, semi-aquatic mammals including beaver (Castor canadensis), mink (Neovision vision), muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), and river otter (Lontra canadensis) co-exist in wetlands. These species are ecologically important through their manipulation of habitats and interactions with other species present. Although natural resource managers in urban ecosystems are interested in semi-aquatic mammals and factors affecting their ecology, few such studies exist in the literature. We studied impacts of restoration practices and other environmental covariates on detection and occupancy of the 4 aforementioned focal species on forest preserves managed by the Lake County Forest Preserve District (Lake County, Illinois, USA). Sign surveys were conducted during December-April in 2018-19 and 2019-20. We quantified 12 variables representing bank measurements, temperature, precipitation, soil type, and survey replicate to inform the detection process and quantified 12 variables representing forest cover measurements, aquatic plant measurements, dominant landcover, restoration practices, and anthropogenic disturbances for the occupancy process. Single species, multi-season occupancy models were run in RStudio using the package unmarked. Detection probabilities ranged from 0.10 ± 0.07 for river otters to 0.60 ± 0.03 for muskrats; occupancy probabilities ranged from 0.28 ± 0.18 for river otters to 0.90 ± 0.05 for muskrats. Detection and occupancy were influenced by similar environmental factors (bank measurements, precipitation, and survey replicate for detection; and stream measurements and food availability for occupancy) compared to more rural locations. We provide further evidence that muskrats are urban adapters and document the initial stages of river otter recolonization in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.
Conceptual Design, and Fluid-Structural Interaction Based Investigations on Highly Maneuverable Unmanned Amphibious Vehicle for Ravage Removal Applications at Various Oceanic Working Environments
Authors: Madasamy Senthil Kumar , Raja Vijayanandh , Ganesan Sangeetha , Murugan Dharshini , Raji Arul Prakash , Jayaram Darshan Kumar 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Nowadays Unmanned Amphibious Vehicles [UAVs] are employed in many applications such as oceanic research, deep sea exploration, mapping, naval surveillance, and disaster monitoring and fisheries protection. The use of UAVs in military and other applications has steadily increased over the few years. On the other hand, there has been a tremendous increase in ocean exploitation. Though technologies are increasing incrementally, nature is exploited adversely. Advancement in ocean transportation, shipping, sewage wastes filled the ocean with tonnes and tonnes of debris and oil wastes. This ravage fills affect the complete marine ecosystem. This in turn makes the ocean toxic. Advancements have been made in recent years to clean up the oil spills. The noted projects such as Sea bin, super high-tech sponges etc. All these innovations are the static one which cannot move along the waves of the ocean. The static form of these inventions could not be used to clean to the larger extent. Therefore, this study aims to build an UAV which is a movable one, can detect the debris and clean those by incorporating existing cleaning techniques. Since the UAV has to sub merge under the water to some extent, it should be designed in such a way by considering both the hydro-dynamical and hydro structural aspects of it. The unique point in the paper covers the flexible cum efficient design of the UAV. The design of the tropical bird is chosen for the efficient model of the UAV. With the few known parameters of this species, the UAV has been designed to achieve the maximum efficiency. The tropical bird chosen has the higher rate of climb, which is the desired requirement for this study. The propeller is uniquely designed based on aerodynamic cum hydrodynamic data so as to balance both the effects. With the design data estimated using analytical formulae, the UAV has been constructed. Following the design, the complete analyses on aerodynamic, aero-structural, hydrodynamic and hydro structural computations are completed. Finally, the employment techniques such as ravage removal mechanism, integrated rotor for the selected application will be integrated. CATIA and ANSYS Workbench are the major tools involved in these comparative investigations, in which modelling of UAV is computed in CATIA and fluid pressure, structural deformations, stresses on UAV are computed through ANSYS Workbench.
MST1 Regulates Hepatocellular Lipophagy in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Li Wang , Jia Li , Li Yuhan , Li Jianning , Song Hui , Li Yan , Yang Yanhui , Sun Bo , Zhang Peng , Yang Yi 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background and Aims: Mammalia sterile 20-like kinase 1 (MST1) has recently been identified as an important regulator for the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the molecular mechanism of MST1 functions remains elusive. The current study is aiming to elucidate the impact and potential mechanism of MST1 in the disease progression of NAFLD. MethodsThe correlation of MST1 expression with NAFLD was determined in liver biopsy samples obtained from NAFLD patients by western blotting and IHC. The gain and loss of function analysis of MST1 was evaluated by the utilization of adenovirus or lentivirus mediated gene transfer. The impact of MST1 in lipophagy was examined by tracking the target protein markers through confocal microscopy and electron microscopy. Interaction of MST1 with the signaling molecule AMPKα/mTOR/ULK1 was evaluated by immune-blotting, in vitro kinase analysis and phosphorylation assays.Results: MST1 expression was inversely correlated with the hepatocellular lipid accumulation in both NAFLD patients and a mouse model. Impaired lipophagy was observed in the liver of Mst1-/- mice on a high fat diet. Restoration of MST1 promoted lipophagy and lipolysis in hepatocytes and the NAFLD mouse model. Further mechanistic approaches revealed that MST1 functioned to re-establish the dysfunctional autophagy/lipophagy pathway through targeting the AMPKα/mTOR/ULK1 interplay network. MST1 directly or indirectly activated ULK1 through coordination of AMPKα and mTOR/Raptor signaling pathways. Conclusions: MST1 may modulate hepatic lipid metabolism through restoration of dysfunctional autophagy and lipophagy, and thus might serve as an important therapeutic target for NAFLD.