bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Colchicine-Enabled Genomic Doubling In Oil Palm (Elaeis Guineensis Jacq.)
Authors: Nunekpeku Wonder - , Nyadanu Daniel - , Akromah Richard - , Amoatey Harry Mensah , Kena Alexander Wireko , Ali-Ghanim Abdelbagi Mukhtar , Agyei-Dwarko Daniel , Odoi King Manteaw , Danso Kenneth Ellis 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
The African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis. Jacq.) is an oleaginous tree belonging to the family Arecaceae. The crop is naturally a diploid species (2n = 2x = 32) and the most important oil bearing perennial tree crop cultivated in tropics. In spite of its huge economic importance, it has a very narrow genetic base making its improvement using conventional techniques very difficult. All commercial planting materials are hybrids derived from heterozygous pisifera and dura parents. The imperativeness of generating adequate novel materials with sufficient genetic diversity in order to increase progress in oil palm improvement is therefore, very essential. Genomic manipulations through chromosome doubling may present opportunities to broaden the genetic base and increase the diversity within the commercial oil palm species. Developing an efficient genome doubling protocols using anti-mitotic agents is very important in this respect. It will also complement haploid/doubled haploid production efforts by enabling successful deployment of doubled haploids in oil palm breeding programmes. The objectives of this study were, therefore, to optimize genomic doubling in oil palm by determining optimum colchicine concentrations and also outline procedures for screening for putative polyploids. Oil palm seedlings were subjected to colchicine treatment at concentrations of 0, 1.26, 3.76, 6.26 and 8.76 mM for 0, 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours. The colchicine treatment produced variable physio-morphologies in the treated seedlings. Principal component analysis and agglomerative hierarchical clustering of genotype dependent treatments were carried out to provide an ordination guide. The response of oil palm seedlings to colchicine treatment showed genotypic, concentration of colchicine applied and treatment duration dependency. Ploidy level analysis of the colchicine treated seedlings revealed that polyploidization in oil palm increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with increasing colchicine concentration. Seedlings of the genotype G-131 responded more favourably to the colchicine treatment than seedlings of G-132. Optimal colchicine concentration for genome doubling in G-131 (28.9 %) and G-132 (17.8 %) was 8.76 mM applied for a period of 24 h. A population of 154 tetraploids out of 1800 seedlings of the two genotypes mutagenized has been identified and being raised for further evaluation and genetic exploitation.
Preliminary establishment of a spinal stability scoring system for multiple myeloma
Authors: Yao Xingchen , Shi Xiangjun , Xu Ziyu , Tan Jie , Wei Yanzhe , Qi Lei , Zhou Zihao , Li Lihong , du xinru 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Multiple myeloma is an incurable malignant plasma cell disorder that represents the most common primary malignant bone tumor. It commonly involves bone metastasis in multiple vertebral bodies, which SINS scoring system may not be fully applicable to MM patients. We designed a stability evaluation system to evaluate the spinal stability of patients with MM spinal involvement in order to guide clinical treatment.
Methods: By using Delphi method, information was collected and extracted through a series of questionnaires and improved via feedback and we preliminary establishment of a spinal stability scoring system for multiple myeloma.
Results: Fifteen clinicians completed a second round of questionnaires and compared their answers with those of the first round of questionnaires to identify significant comments or changes that required group discussions. As a result, no further feedback was used to improve the scoring system. After integrating the information from the expert consultation questionnaire, we established the initial scoring system for MM spine stability and used the scoring system to assess a series of representative clinical cases. The scoring system consisted of the following six components.The MM spinal stability scoring system was created by calculating the scores of the six separate components: Location, Pain, Number of segments, Physiological curvature, Comorbidities and Neurological function. The minimum value was ‘0’, and the maximum value was ‘24’. A score of ‘0-10’ indicated ‘spine stability’, a score of ‘11-17’ indicated ‘potential instability’, and a score of ‘18-24’ indicated ‘spine instability’. Patients with a score of ‘11-24’ need an intervention such as surgery.
Conclusions: The initial establishment of the MM spine stability scoring system provides a vital theoretical basis for the evaluation of spine stability in individuals with MM.
Trial registration: The conducted study contains a retrospective analysis of medical
records of our hospital database. Beijing Chao-yang Hospital Human Research Ethics
Committee classifies this as a retrospective audit. The ethics approval and consent
was given for the conducted retrospective data analysis.
Midbrain Atrophy Related to Parkinsonism in a Non-Coding Repeat Expansion Disorder: Five Cases of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 31 With Nigrostriatal Dopaminergic Dysfunction
Authors: Norioka; Ryohei , Sugaya Keizo , Murayama Aki , Kawazoe Tomoya , Tobisawa Shinsuke , Kawata Akihiro , Takahashi Kazushi 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
BackgroundSpinocerebellar ataxia type 31 (SCA31) is caused by non-coding pentanucleotide repeat expansions in the BEAN1 gene. Clinically, SCA31 is characterized by late-adult onset, pure cerebellar ataxia. To explore the association between parkinsonism and SCA31, five patients with SCA31 with concomitant nigrostriatal dopaminergic dysfunction (NSDD) development, including three cases of L-DOPA responsive parkinsonism, were characterized. MethodsTo assess regional brain atrophy, cross-sectional and longitudinal imaging analyses were retrospectively performed using Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) planimetry. The midbrain-to-pons (M/P) area ratio and cerebellar area were measured on midsagittal T1-weighted MRI in five patients with NSDD (NSDD(+)), 14 patients with SCA31 without NSDD (NSDD(-)), 32 patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and 15 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy. Longitudinal changes in the M/P area ratio were assessed by serial MRI of NSDD(+) (n = 5) and NSDD(-) (n = 9). ResultsThe clinical characteristics relevant to parkinsonism in NSDD(+) were indistinguishable from those of PD except for the prominence of bradykinesia/akinesia (5/5) and the absence of dysautonomia (5/5). However, a clear reduction in the midbrain area and the M/P area ratio was observed in NSDD(+) (p <0.05) while there was no significant difference in disease duration or in the pons area among NSDD(+), NSDD(-), and PD. A faster rate of decline in the midbrain area and the M/P area ratio was evident in NSDD(+) (p <0.05).Conclusion﻿The unique features of midbrain atrophy related to NSDD in our patients suggest that SCA31 belongs to the group of non-coding repeat expansion disorders causing parkinsonism.
The Intersectional Effects of Ethnicity/Race and Poverty on Health Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults Within Multi-Ethnic Asian Populace: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Foong Hui Foh , Hamid Tengku Aizan , Ibrahim Rahimah , Haron Sharifah Azizah 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Ethnicity/race and poverty are among determinants of health in older persons. However, studies involving intersectional effects of ethnicity/race and poverty on health of older adults within multi-ethnic Asian populace is limited. Hence, this study aimed to examine the intersectional effects of ethnicity/race and poverty on cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and multimorbidity among community-dwelling older adults in Malaysia.Methods: Data were obtained from the first wave of a Peninsular Malaysia national survey - “Identifying Psychosocial and Identifying Economic Risk Factor of Cognitive Impairment among Elderly”. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify intersectional effects and associations between control variables and health outcomes. A comparison between Malay and non-Malay older adults within the same poverty group, as well as hardcore poor and non-hardcore poor older people within the same ethnicity groups, were conducted to understand the intersectional effects of ethnicity/race and poverty on health. Results: Prevalence of cognitive impairment was highest among the hardcore poor group while risk of depression and multimorbidity were highest among non-Malays. Malay older adults were more prone to developing cognitive impairment regardless of their poverty status whereas non-Malay from the hardcore poor group had higher tendency for risk of depression and multimorbidity. Hardcore poor older adults residing alone were associated with higher depressive symptoms. But fewer older adults currently working reported multimorbidity. Conclusions: Health outcomes of Malaysian older adults differ according to ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Given the importance of demographic characteristics on health outcomes, design of interventions targeting older adults within multi-ethnic settings must address specific characteristics, especially that of ethnicity and sociodemographic status so as to fulfil their needs. Several implications for future practice were discussed.
Characterization and Analysis of Sip1Aa Protein Expressed by cry1Ac Promoter
Authors: Wang Jing , Ding Mingyue , Wang Lin , Cui Jun , Li Haitao , Gao Jiguo 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
In this study, based on the pUC19 vector and using overlapping PCR technology, the researchers constructed an expression vector of the Sip1Aa protein guided by a cry1Ac promoter. The expression situation, insecticidal activity and solubility were researched, and the expression of the Sip1Aa protein, as guided by a T7 promoter, was compared. Additionally, the fermentation conditions were explored on a preliminary basis and a histidine label was added to the recombinant plasmid via reverse PCR for subsequent purification of recombinant proteins. The results showed that both the cry1Ac and T7 promoters could guide Sip1Aa to express as a soluble protein of 37.6 kDa, and there was no significant difference in insecticidal activity against Colaphellus bowringi Baly, with LC50 values of 1.637 mg/mL and 1.683 μg/mL, respectively. The soluble component of the Sip1Aa protein, when guided by the cry1Ac promoter, was significantly higher than when it was guided by the T7 promoter. The expression of the cry1Ac guider-promoted Sip1Aa protein was more suitable at 37℃ and 16 h. The recombinant protein was purified after an exogenous histidine sequence was added. This provides a new research method and idea to solve the problem of the Sip1Aa protein usually producing a large number of inclusion bodies when expressed in E. coli, and provides new ideas for the study of sip gene rapid expression, functional verification and insecticidal mechanisms.
Study on Anti-pneumonia Mechanisms of Honeysuckle Based on Network Pharmacology
Authors: Bai Chen , Xueyan Ma , Liu Hui , Xian Fuyang , Liu Shaoyang , Long Chaojun , Yu He , Liu Tiegang , Xiaohong Gu 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Honeysuckle is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. It is widely used in the treatment of respiratory infectious diseases in Asia and even worldwide reported in the literature. However, its mechanism remains unclear. Pneumonia is one of the most common clinical manifestations of respiratory infections. This study is aim to find out the molecular mechanism of honeysuckle in the treatment of pneumonia.Methods: LPS-induced pneumonia rats were administered with honeysuckle decoction and compared its efficacy with dexamethasone. The components in honeysuckle decoction were analyzed by liquid-phase mass spectrometry. The target proteins for those components were obtained by database search, target fishing and text mining methods, and then were matched with the genes of pneumonia in the CTD database. Analyzed interactions of target protein by using String database, enrichment analysis by David database, molecular docking was performed by AUTODOCK and PyRx. Its related network diagrams drew by Cytoscape.Results: Our results indicate that honeysuckle can alleviate the inflammation of rat lung tissue to a certain extent, and has similar therapeutic effects as dexamethasone. There are 31 compounds in honeysuckle, and 366 genes associated with these compounds and pneumonia. Among them, 18 of the top 5%, including GAPDH, TNF, FOS, VEGFA, BDNF, etc., were enriched in pathway closely related to pneumonia: Glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, Nitrogen metabolism, and Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, etc. The results of molecular docking confirmed that Inosito binds to the PTEN protein of the Phosphatidylinositol signaling system pathway.Conclusions: This study suggests that honeysuckle can play a role in the treatment of pneumonia by affecting multiple targets and pathways, of which Inosito-PTEN-Phosphatidylinositol signaling system may be the most important mechanism. This reflects the multi-target multi-pathway of traditional Chinese medicine, and has a certain specific therapeutic effect on the disease. By interfering with the signaling pathways of the body cells, honeysuckle can be used as a drug candidate for clinical pneumonia treatment.
The usage of enzyme replacement treatments, economic burden, and quality of life of patients with four lysosomal storage diseases in Shanghai, China
Authors: Hu Jiahao , Zhu Lin , He Jiangjiang , Li Dingguo , Zhang Huiwen , Kang Qi , Jin Chunlin 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background

Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a group of rare diseases that caused progressive physical dysfunction and organ failure, which significantly affected patients’ quality of life. Enzyme replacement treatments (ERTs) are now acknowledged as the advanced therapies for LSDs while cost millions per patient per year. Previous studies seldom reported the usage of ERTs and disease burden of patients with LSDs in China. The objective of this study was to explore the characteristics and usage of ERTs of patients with the four different LSDs (Gaucher, Fabry, Pompe disease and Mucopolysaccharidosis) in Shanghai and then evaluate the economic burden and quality of life of these patients.
Methods

The study used data extracted from a large survey of living conditions of patients with rare diseases in Shanghai, which was conducted from April to August 2020. A total of 31patients, involving 5, 14, 4 and 8 patients with Gaucher, Fabry, Pompe disease and Mucopolysaccharidosis, respectively, was included in analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the socio-demographic information (age, gender, education and etc.), economic burden caused by LSDs (direct medical and non-medical costs, and indirect cost in 2019), the treatment (usage of drugs) and the patients’ quality of life.
Results

Five Gaucher disease patients in Shanghai used Imiglucerase in 2019, while the other 26 patients with the other three LSDs didn’t receive ERTs. The total health expenditure of Gaucher disease patients was 2,273,000CNY on average mainly resulted by the high cost of Imiglucerase. The total health expenditure of the other 26 patients was 37,765CNY on average. The average total disease burdens of Gaucher disease patients and the patients with the other three LSDs were 164,301CNY and 58,352CNY, respectively. The mean EQ-VAS score of GD patients was 76.4 ± 15.5, which was higher than that of the other three LSDs. All the patients with LSDs in this study reported poor quality of life, which was significantly worse than the Chinese general population.
Conclusion

Few patients with LSDs in Shanghai could have access to available ERTs without a high reimbursement level. Though the cost-sharing mechanism of basic medical insurance, charity fund and patients had been explored for Gaucher disease in Shanghai, the Out-of-pocket part still laid a heavy economic burden on the patients and their families. The scope of drug reimbursement list and the reimbursement level should be further expanded and raised to help improve the quality of life of patients with LSDs.
Active Cloaking and Illusion of Electric Potentials in Electrostatics
Authors: Helfrich-Schkabarenko Andreas , Ismail-Zadeh Alik , Sommer Aron 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Cloaking and illusion has been demonstrated theoretically and experimentally in several research fields. Here we present for the first time an active exterior cloaking device in electrostatics operating in a two-horizontally-layered electroconductive domain, and use the superposition principle to cloak electric potentials. The device uses an additional current source pattern introduced on the interface between two layers to cancel the total electric potential to be measured. Also, we present an active exterior illusion device allowing for detection of a signal pattern corresponding to any arbitrarily chosen current source instead of the existing current source. The performance of the cloaking/illusion devices is demonstrated by three-dimensional models and numerical experiments using synthetic measurements of the electric potential. Sensitivities of numerical results to a noise in measured data and to a size of cloaking devices are analysed. The numerical results show quite reasonable cloaking/illusion performance, which means that a current source can be hidden electrostatically. The developed active cloaking/illusion methodology can be used in subsurface geo-exploration studies, electrical engineering, live sciences, and elsewhere.
A systematic review and classification of information-sharing methods
Authors: Nikolaidis Georgios F. , Woods Beth , Palmer Stephen , Soares Marta O 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Sparse relative effectiveness evidence is a frequent problem in Health Technology Assessment (HTA). Where evidence directly pertaining to the decision problem is sparse, it may be feasible to expand the evidence-base to include studies that relate to the decision problem only indirectly: for instance, when there is no evidence on a comparator, evidence on other treatments of the same molecular class could be used; similarly, a decision on children may borrow-strength from evidence on adults. Usually, in HTA, such indirect evidence is either included by ignoring any differences (‘lumping‘) or not included at all (‘splitting‘). However, a range of more sophisticated methods exists, primarily in the biostatistics literature. The objective of this study is identify and classify the breadth of the available information-sharing methods. Methods: Forwards and backwards citation-mining techniques were used on a set of seminal papers on the topic of information-sharing. Papers were included if they specified (network) meta-analytic methods for combining information from distinct populations, interventions, outcomes or study-designs. Results: Overall, 89 papers were included. A plethora of evidence synthesis methods have been used for information-sharing. Most papers (n = 78) described methods that shared information on relative treatment effects. Amongst these, there was a strong emphasis on methods for information-sharing across multiple outcomes (n = 39) and treatments (n = 23), with fewer papers focusing on study-designs (n = 10) or populations (n = 6). We categorise and discuss the methods under four ’core’ relationships of information-sharing: functional, exchangeability-based, prior-based and multivariate relationships, and explain the assumptions made within each of these core approaches. Conclusions: This study highlights the range of information-sharing methods available. These methods often impose more moderate assumptions than lumping or splitting. Hence, the degree of information-sharing that they impose could potentially be considered more appropriate. Our identification of four ‘core‘ methods of information-sharing allows for an improved understanding of the assumptions underpinning the different methods. Further research is required to understand how the methods differ in terms of the strength of sharing they impose and the implications of this for health care decisions.
Tribological changes of tooth enamel-mullite/3Y-TZP couple in artificial saliva
Authors: Huang Yanqi , Li Zhuan , Liu Peng-fei , Cheng Yan-meng , Li Wen-jie , Xiao Peng 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
In-situ mullite toughened 3Y-TZP composite ceramic (mullite/3Y-TZP) with excellent mechanical properties was fabricated by gel-casting. The cytotoxicity of mullite/3Y-TZP was determined by both extract and direct contact methods, and the results indicated that mullite/3Y-TZP had no acute cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the tribological properties of the tooth enamel sliding against mullite/3Y-TZP in artificial saliva were investigated by using the pin-on-plate friction method. The friction coefficient (μ) between the two friction samples was about 0.464 with a stable friction process, and both of them showed slight wear. Analysis of the wear surface and debris demonstrated that the tooth enamel mainly suffered from fatigue wear accompanied by mild adhesive wear, while mullite/3Y-TZP showed slight abrasive wear. This result indicated that mullite/3Y-TZP had good wear resistance and showed potential applications in dental material.
The role of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 in predicting sepsis-associated liver dysfunction: an observational study
Authors: Niesobska Ewa Woznica , Lesnik Patrycja , Woznica Ryszard , Janc Jaroslaw , Zalewska Malgorzata , Lysenko Lidia 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Sepsis-associated liver dysfunction (SALD) is associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality in the Intensive Care Unit. Bilirubin is one of the components of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment used in Sepsis-3 criteria. Hyperbilirubinemia is a late and non-specific symptom of liver dysfunction. The aim of the study was to identify plasma biomarkers, which could be used for the early diagnosis of SALD.Methods: A single-centre, prospective observational study was conducted in the ICU of Wroclaw University Hospital. Plasma biomarkers - prothrombin time, INR, antithrombin III, bilirubin, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase, albumin, endothelin-1, hepcidin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), thrombin-antithrombin complex and interferon-gamma inducible protein 10 kDa were analysed. Plasma samples were obtained from eligible septic patients within 24 hours after having developed sepsis/septic shock. Enrolled patients were followed for 14 days for developing SALD and 28 days for overall survival.Results: 79 patients were enrolled in the study, and 24 (30.4%) of them developed SALD. PAI-1 with a cut-off value of 9ng/ml was shown to be a predictor of SALD (AUC=0.727, sensitivity 79.2%; specificity 41.8%; accuracy 53.2%) and of 28-day survival in patients with sepsis/septic shock (log rank test, p=0.00091). This was also useful in predicting 28-day survival, in combination with AST (log rank test, p=0.00242).Conclusions: Sepsis-associated hyperbilirubinemia is frequent, but bilirubin is a late and non-specific marker of SALD. Measuring PAI-1 serum levels at the onset of sepsis/ septic shock may be useful in predicting the development of SALD. A combination of PAI-1 and AST better predicts the 28-day survival than PAI-1 alone, but due to the low cut-off values of AST, this might not be clinically significant.