bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Value of Neutrophil To Lymphocyte Ratio In Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated With Intravenous Thrombolysis: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Chengbing , Zhang Qian , Ji Mingwei , Mang Jing , Xu Zhongxin 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been shown to be an important independent inflammatory indicator in stroke. The relationship between NLR and poor prognostics in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who received intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) still unclear. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between NLR and poor prognosis after IVT. Furthermore, we aim to concluded whether admission NLR or post-IVT NLR play a role in AIS.Methods: Pubmed, Embase, Wed of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for relevant articles until October 7, 2020. Cohort and case-control studies were included if related to NLR in AIS patients treated with IVT. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were pooled to estimate the relationship between NLR and poor prognosis after IVT. A random effects model was used to calculate the pooled data.Results: Twelve studies, including 3641 patients met the predefined inclusion criteria. Higher NLR levels were associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) (OR=1.33,95%CI=1.14-1.56, P<0.001) and 3-month poor functional outcome (OR=1.64,95%CI=1.38-1.94, P<0.001) in AIS patients receiving IVT. Subgroup analysis of HT suggested that admission NLR levels rather than post-IVT NLR levels was associated with higher risk of HT (OR=1.33,95%CI=1.01-1.75, P=0.039). But There had no statistically significant difference between higher NLR levels and 3-month mortality (OR=1.14, 95%CI=0.97-1.35, P=0.120).Conclusions: High NLR can predict HT and 3-month poor functional outcome in AIS patients received IVT. Admission NLR rather than post-IVT NLR was independent risk factor of increased risk of HT.
The Comparison Between Certainty Factor Method and Index of Entropy Method For Landslide Hazard Assessment: South Western Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh, India
Authors: Pandey Desh Deepak , Banshtu Rajeshwar Singh , Mahajan Ambrish Kumar , Versain Laxmi Devi 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The present study reflects the contributions of geo-environmental factors that were analyzed for the development of landslide hazard zonation map using certainty factor method and index of entropy method. Heavy rainfall, unscientific excavation of slopes during road construction, expansion of infrastructure, and unplanned growth in urban population were the major factors for unstable slopes in the Lesser Himalayan region. Historical database, interpretation of satellite and Google earth images were used to identification of 248 landslides. The data collected using remote sensing images have been verified by conducting ground truth surveys undertaken from January 2018 to October 2020 in preparing the landslide inventory of the study area. Inventory thus generated was divided into 70% training and 30% validation datasets. Relationships between slope failure and its causative factors (relief, slope, aspect, curvature, lithology, soil, weathering, land use, lineament density, rainfall, and density of drainage networks) were analyzed by using certainty factor (CF) and index of entropy (IOE) methods. The analysis of all causative factors and assigning relative weightage values by using the index of entropy and certainty factor models leads to the generation of Landslide hazard zonation maps of the region. Finally, the landslide prediction accuracy of hazard zonation maps was calculated by drawing Successive Rate Curve (SRC) curves for both training and validation datasets. The outcomes of this study will be useful to government agencies, planners, decision-makers, researchers, and general land-use planners for sustainable development of the study area.
Litter-Fall Production, Decomposition and Elemental (Ca, K, Mn, Fe, Zn and Co) Cycling in Deciduous Sal (Shorea Robusta) Forest in Bangladesh
Authors: Sultana Razia , Saifullah ASM , Khan Rahat Khan , Diganta Mir Talas Mahammad 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The litters in the forest floor are the principal contributor for regulating the cycling of necessary elements, primary productivity and maintain soil fertility within the forest ecosystems. Therefore, this study was conducted in a deciduous forest of Bangladesh to ascertain the leaf-litter production and decomposition along with elemental dynamics (K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co and Zn). Leaf-litter samples from five deciduous plant species and soil samples were collected from the Madhupur Sal Forest for about six months (July-December) in 2018. Production of leaf-litter during the dry season (December) was found in an order of Shorea robusta>Dipterocarpus indicus>Terminalia bellirica>Tectona grandis>Grewia microcos. The decomposition rates were higher for the long sampling period (90 days) followed by the intermediate (60 days)> short(30 days) sampling period. The nutrient release pattern from the leaf-litter was similar (Ca>K>Mn>Fe>Zn>Co) for all plant species except for Terminalia bellirica and Tectona grandis. The Pearson correlation coefficients showed a significant relationship between K and Fe (r=0.54; p<0.05), Ca and Co (r=0.59; p<0.01), Fe and Co (r=0.97; p<0.05) in leaf-litters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant variation in the litter production, decomposition and nutrient content (except Zn; p>0.05) among the different plant species (p<0.05). There revealed a significant dynamic of necessary elements from soil to trees and vice-versa.
Molecular Investigation of Brain Tumors Progressing During Pregnancy or Postpartum Period: The Association Between Tumor Type, Their Receptors, and the Timing of Presentation
Authors: Ichimura Saeko , Ohara Kentaro , Kono Maya , Mizutani Katsuhiro , Kitamura Yohei , Saga Isako , Kanai Ryuichi , Akiyama Takenori , Toda Masahiro , Kohno Michihiro , Yoshida Kazunari , Sasaki Hikaru 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Brain tumors are frequently present during pregnancy; however, the mechanism has not been well elucidated. Purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of molecular genetic factors on the progression of brain tumors during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Twelve cases of brain tumors that presented during pregnancy or postpartum period were included: five gliomas, three meningiomas, two vestibular schwannomas, and two chordomas. Tumor samples were investigated by metaphase comparative genomic hybridization and immunohistochemistry, for chromosomal copy number aberration (CNA) and receptor expression of sex hormones and growth factors. The results were correlated with the timing of tumor presentation in relation to the stage of pregnancy. EGFR, VEGFR-1/2, AR, and c-Myc were expressed in gliomas, PgR, ER, HER-2, VEGFR-1, EGF and VEGFR2 in meningiomas, VEGFR-1 in vestibular schwannomas, and EGFR, VEGFR-1/2, and c-Myc in chordomas. The CNAs of the tumors varied. Four of the five gliomas presented in the 2nd trimester, all three meningiomas in the 3rd trimester or postpartum period, and both of the two schwannomas in the late 2nd trimester. Expression of VEGFR-1/2 and EGFR was observed regardless of the timing of tumor presentation, whereas female hormone receptors and HER-2 were exclusively found in meningiomas. Interestingly, one anaplastic astrocytoma (IDH mut, non-codeleted) that progressed from precedent grade 2 tumor harbored amplification of the MYC locus. Progression of brain tumors during pregnancy is associated with various growth factors as well as sex hormones. The timing of presentation is likely dependent on molecular　receptors specific to each tumor type.
Long-Term Effects of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) on Soil Microbial Community
Authors: Tao Wan , Xu Rui , Lin Hanzhi , Huang Duanyi , Su Pingzhou , Gao Pin , Sun Xiaoxu , Yang Zhaohui , Sun Weimin 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The extensive application of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) causes their frequent detection in various environments. Nevertheless, the effects of PFASs exposure on environmental microorganisms still remain unknown. In current work, two typical PFASs, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), are selected to investigate their long-term effects on soil microbes. Microbial community structure and diversity were investigated by high-throughput sequencing and multiple statistical methods. Under 90-days of exposure, PFAS treatments increased the alpha-diversity of soil microbial communities with PFOS treatment, followed by PFOA treatment. The long-term exposure of PFASs substantially changed the compositions of soil microbial communities. The most abundant phylum Proteobacteria decreased from 82.9% (without amended PFASs) to 62.1% (with PFOA treatment) and 77.8% (with PFOS treatment). As a comparison, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria, and Ignavibacteriae increased in the PFOA or PFOS groups. Comparative co-occurrence networks were constructed to investigate the biotic interactions in the two treatments. It was found that most taxonomy nodes in the PFOA and PFOS networks were associated with the genus Hydrogenophaga and Pseudoxanthomonas, respectively. The LEfSe analysis identified a set of core taxonomies (e.g., Azospirillum, Methyloversatilis, Ancylobacter, Hydrogenophaga, and Methylomonas) in the soil microbial communities and suggested their different preferences to PFAS exposures. Functional gene prediction suggested that the microbial metabolism processes, such as nucleotide transport and metabolism, cell motility, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, energy production and conversion, and secondary metabolites biosynthesis transport and catabolism, might be significantly inhibited under PFAS exposure, which may further affect soil ecological services.
Treatment Patterns of Newly Diagnosed Asthma Patients in an Urban Setting in China:&nbsp;A Retrospective Longitudinal Real World Evidence Study
Authors: Hu Zhizhen , Xuan Jianwei , Zhao Haijin , Dong Hangming , Yu Changhui , Gao Yue , Li Liran , Hu Xiaohan , xi Cai Shao 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Asthma is prevalent but largely undiagnosed and undertreated in China. Despite readily available effective therapies, the outcomes still leave much to be desired. There is a scarcity of data describing the treatment patterns of patients with newly diagnosed asthma in real world settings. The main goal of this study was to investigate treatment patterns of newly diagnosed asthma patients with up to 1 year follow-up to gain a better understanding of gaps of optimal asthma management in China.Methods: We conducted a large-scale of retrospective cohort analysis of asthma treatment for newly diagnosed patients using an electronic medical record database (SuValue). Eligible patients were at least 14 years old at the diagnosis from 2001 to March 2019. We categorized anti-asthmatic medication use by its classes and documented their use by the underlying disease severity. To examine the use of controlled medications over follow-ups, we summarized their utilization over consecutive 3-month time windows from the initial diagnosis to the end of follow-up. Results: A total of 26,301 patients from tertiary (25.24%), secondary (71.83%) and primary (2.92%) hospitals were included in the study; 54.01% received one or more controller medications during the study period and 30.4% had 12 months of follow-up visits. Initial prescriptions were inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-containing controller treatment (13.9%), other controller treatment (31.59%), anti-asthmatic relivers (23.76%), symptomatic medications (14.54%) and no medication (16.2%). Patients mostly discontinued their controller prescriptions within 6 months after the initial diagnosis. Of the 45.98% patients not receiving any controller medication, 70.16% used relivers or symptomatic medications during follow-up visits. In patients who had 12-month follow-up visits, 76.86%, 17.25%, 5.88% were deemed to have mild, moderate, and severe asthma, respectively, during the 1st 3 months. Percentages of severe and moderate asthma patients were halved by the 2nd 3-month landmark and remained stable over the remaining follow-up visits. There were significant differences in asthma treatment between tertiary and secondary hospitals.Conclusion: In newly diagnosed asthma patients, controller medications were significantly underused while symptom-relief drugs, on the other hand, appeared to be overused. Poor adherence to current guidelines were common and more noticeable in lower tiered hospitals. These findings call for needs of more aggressive asthma management and more educational efforts in China.
Extracellular CIRP&nbsp;Activates the IL-6Rα/STAT3/Cdk5 Pathway&nbsp;in Neurons
Authors: Sharma Archna , Brenner Max , Jacob Asha , Marambaud Philippe , Wang Ping 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP) stimulates microglial inflammation causing neuronal damage during ischemic stroke and is a critical mediator of alcohol-induced cognitive impairment. However, the precise role of eCIRP in mediating neuroinflammation remains unknown. In this study, we report that eCIRP activates neurotoxic cyclin-dependent kinase-5 (Cdk5)/p25 through the induction of IL-6Rα/STAT3 pathway in neurons. Amyloid b (Aβ)-mediated neuronal stress, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, increased levels of eCIRP released from BV2 microglial cells. The released eCIRP levels from BV2 cells increased 3.2-fold upon stimulation with conditioned medium from Neuro-2a (N2a) cells containing Aβ compared to control N2a supernatant in a time-dependent manner. Stimulation of N2a cells and primary neurons with eCIRP upregulated the neuronal Cdk5 activator p25 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. eCIRP directly induced neuronal STAT3 phosphorylation and p25 increase via its novel receptor IL-6Rα. Next, we showed using surface plasmon resonance that eCIRP-derived peptide C23 inhibited the binding of eCIRP to IL-6Rα at 25 mM, with a 40-fold increase in equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) value (from 8.08 x 10-8 M to 3.43 x 10-6 M), and completely abrogated the binding at 50 mM. Finally, C23 reversed the eCIRP-induced increase in neuronal STAT3 phosphorylation and p25 levels. In conclusion, the current study demonstrates that upregulation of neuronal IL-6Rα/STAT3/Cdk5 pathway is a key mechanism of eCIRP’s role in neuroinflammation and that C23 as a potent inhibitor of this pathway, has translational potential in neurodegenerative pathologies controlled by eCIRP.
The Protective Effects of Endogenous PACAP in Oxygen-induced Retinopathy&nbsp;
Authors: Kvarik Timea , Werling Dora , Vaczy Alexandra , Kovari Petra , Szabo Edina , Kovacs Krisztina , Reglodi Dora , Hashimoto Hitoshi , Ertl Tibor , Gyarmati Judit , Atlasz Tamas 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose: Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide having trophic and protective functions in neural tissues including the retina. Previously we have shown that intravitreal PACAP administration can maintain retinal structure in the animal model of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). The purpose of this study is to examine the development of ROP in PACAP-deficient and wild-type mice to reveal the function of endogenous PACAP. Methods: Wild-type and PACAP-KO mouse pups at postnatal day (PD) 7 were maintained at 80% oxygen for 5 consecutive days then returned to room air on PD12 to develop oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). On PD15 animals underwent electroretinography (ERG) to assess visual function. On PD16 eyes were harvested for either immunohistochemistry to determine the percentage of central avascular retinal area and neovascular tuft formation or molecular analysis to assess angiogenesis proteins by array kit and antiapoptotic protein kinase B (Akt) change by western blot. Results: The retina of PACAP deficient OIR mice showed greater central avascular area than that of the wild types. ERG revealed significantly decreased b-wave amplitude in PACAP KO compared to their controls. Several angiogenic proteins were upregulated as a results of OIR and 11 further proteins markedly increased in PACAP deficient mice. Conclusion: This is the first study to examine the endogenous effect of PACAP in OIR model. Previously we have shown the beneficial effect of exogenous local PACAP treatment in the rat OIR model. Together with the present findings we suppose that PACAP could be a novel retinoprotective agent in ROP.
Myocardial Area at Risk and Salvage in reperfused acute MI Measured by Texture Analysis of Cardiac T2 Mapping and Its Prediction Value of Functional Recovery in the Convalescent Stage
Authors: Fan Zi-yang , Wu Chong-wen , An Dong-Aolei , Chen Bing-hua , Wesemann Luke , Yue Ting , He Jie , Hu Jia-ni , Bu Jun , Xu Jian-rong , Wu Lian-Ming 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
To assess the ability of distinguishing the area at risk (AAR) and evaluating the prognostic abilities of T2-mapping texture analysis (TA) in reperfused acute MI, 106 patients who were diagnosed with AMI and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) underwent acute (less than five days) enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Of these patients, 45 of them had a subsequent CMR scan following recovery (after at least three months). Cine imaging, T2-Mapping, T2-weighted STIR imaging, and LGE imaging were performed. In the TA, regions of interest (infarcted, salvageable, and remote) were drawn by two blinded, independent readers based on LGE and T2-weighted imaging. Seven independent texture features on T2-Mapping were selected: Perc.50%, S(2,2)InvDfMom, S(2.-2)AngScMom, S(4,0)Entropy, 45dgrLngREmph, 45dgr_Fraction and 135dr_GLevNonU. Among them, 45dgr_LngREmph, 45dgr_Fraction and 135dr_GLevNonU showed more promise. The average value of 135dr_GLevNonU in the infarct zone, AAR zone, and the remote zone was: 61.96 ± 26.03, 31.811 ± 18.933 and 99.839 ± 26.231, respectively. Additionally, 135dr_GLevNonU provided the highest 0.855(± 0.083) area under the curve (AUC) from the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) for distinguishing AAR from the infarct zone. The AUC for differentiating AAR from the remote zone is 0.942 ± 0.041. Texture features are not associated with convalescent decreased strain or ejection fraction (EF) (p > 0.05) in the standard regression analysis; and cannot predict left ventricle remodeling (LVR) in the logistic regression analysis (p > 0.05). T2-mapping TA in reperfused AMI can distinguish AAR from both the infarct zone and the remote myocardial zone without LGE imaging. However, these features cannot predict patients’ functional recovery in the convalescent stage.
Computing the Bond Strength of 3D Printed Polylactic Acid Scaffolds in Mode I and II Using Experimental tests, Finite Element Method and Cohesive Zone Modeling
Authors: Nazemzadeh Nogol , Soufivand Anahita Ahmadi , Abolfathi Nabiollah 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The advent of the Three-Dimensional (3D) printing technique, as an Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology, made the manufacture of complex porous scaffolds plausible in the tissue engineering field. In Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) based 3D printing, layer upon layer deposition of filaments produces voids and gaps, leading to a crack generation and loose bonding. Cohesive Zone Model (CZM), a fracture mechanics concept, is a promising theory to study the layers bond behavior. In this paper, a combination of experimental and computational investigations was proposed to obtain bond parameters and evaluate the effect of porosity and microstructure on these parameters. First, we considered two different designs for scaffolds beside a non-porous Bulk design. Then, we performed Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) and Singe Lap Shear (SLS) tests on the 3D printed samples for Modes I and II, respectively. Afterward, we developed the numerical simulations of these tests using the Finite Element Method (FEM) to obtain CZM bond parameters. Results demonstrate that the initial stiffness and cohesive strength were pretty similar for all designs in Mode I. However, the cohesive energy for the Bulk sample was approximately four times of porous samples. Furthermore, for Mode II, the initial stiffness and cohesive energy of the Bulk model were five and four times of porous designs while their cohesive strengths were almost the same. Also, using cohesive parameters was significantly enhanced the accuracy of FEM predictions in comparison with fully bonded assumption. It can be concluded that for the numerical analysis of 3D printed parts mechanical behavior, it is necessary to obtain and suppose the cohesive parameters. The present work illustrates the effectiveness of CZM and FEM combination to obtain the layer adhesive parameters of the 3D printed scaffold.
Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambient Air Quality in China: Atox Quasi-difference-in-difference Approach
Authors: ZHANG Tuo , Tang Maogang 
Published: February 2021

Abstract

The novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) outbreak has provided a distinct opportunity to explore the mechanisms by which human activities affect air quality and pollution emissions. We conduct a quasi-difference-in-differences (DID) analysis of the impacts of lockdown measures on air pollution during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in China. Our study covers 367 cities from the beginning of the lockdown on January 23, 2020 until April 22, two weeks after the lockdown in epicenter was lifted. Static and dynamic analysis of the average treatment effects of treated effects is conducted for the air quality index (AQI) and six criteria pollutants. The results indicate that, first, on average, the AQI decreased by about 7%. However, it was still over the threshold of the World Health Organization (WHO). Second, we detect heterogeneous changes in the level of different pollutants, which suggests heterogeneous impacts of the lockdown on human activities: carbon monoxide (CO) had the biggest drop of about 30% and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) had the second-biggest drop of 20%. In contrast, ozone (O3) increased by 3.74% due to the improvement of visibility. We project that it would reduce the premature deaths related to air pollution by 150 thousand nationwide during the research period, which is much larger than the death due to COVID-19 infections. Third, air pollution rebounded immediately after the number of infections dropped, which indicates a swift recovery of human activities. This study provides insights for the implementation of environmental policies in China and other developing countries.JEL codes: Q51, Q52, Q53