bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tracking Microbial Communities Across Aedes Albopictus Life Stages and Larval Habitat Types
Authors: Tokash-Peters Amanda G. , Woodhams Douglas C. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Aedes albopictus, the Tiger Mosquito, has been hailed as one of the most invasive arbovirus-transmitting mosquitoes globally. With the growing potential of microbial methods for mosquito control, it has become increasingly imperative to understand the factors that contribute to naturally-occurring microbiome communities. Here, we analyzed the impact of larval water type and life stage on the microbial community of Aedes albopictus. The field-collected water samples from tree holes and tires that were used to rear larval mosquitoes in the laboratory were significantly different from each other in terms of sOTU (bacterial species) richness, with tree holes having a far greater number of sOTUs. For beta diversity measures (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity) Aedes albopictus were not significantly different from adult Aedes aegypti, but mosquito sex, life stage, and overall treatment group were significantly different when analyzed by ANOSIM. Based on our findings, the environment surrounding larval mosquitoes (and subsequent adult mosquitoes from those habitats) and the life stage of mosquitoes (regardless of species) shapes mosquito microbiome assemblages. This work further supports the idea that mosquito adults maintain a microbiome specific to larval habitat, despite major reductions to their microbiome prior to eclosion, which could shape the success of implemented microbial engineering or control methods.
Efficient Gene Editing Through an Intronic Selection Marker in Cells
Authors: Wang Shang , Li Yuqing , Zhong Li , Wu Kai , Zhang Ruhua , Kang Tiebang , Wu Song , Wu Yuanzhong 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background Gene editing technology has provided researchers with the ability to modify genome sequences in almost all eukaryotes. Gene-edited cell lines are being used with increasing frequency in both bench research and targeted therapy. Despite the great importance and universality of gene editing, however, precision and efficiency are hard to achieve with the prevailing editing strategies, such as homology-directed DNA repair (HDR) and the use of base editors (BEs). Results & Discussion Our group has developed a novel gene editing technology to indicate DNA variation with an independent selection marker using an HDR strategy, which we named Gene Editing through an Intronic Selection marker (GEIS). GEIS uses a simple process to avoid nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ)-mediated false-positive effects and achieves editing efficiency as high as 91% without disturbing endogenous gene splicing and expression. We re-examined the correlation of the conversion tract and editing efficiency, and our data suggest that GEIS has the potential to edit approximately 99% of gene editing targets in human and mouse cells. The results of further comprehensive analysis suggest that the strategy may be useful for introducing multiple DNA variations in cells.
Enhanced Surveillance in a Digital Health Landscape: The Role of the Near-Real Time Right to Care Knowledge Centre within South Africa’s APACE HIV Program
Authors: Pedro Pisa , Melinda Potgieter , Marcus Rennick , Onaga Chuka , Molefi Seithati , Muzvidziwa Tafadzwa , Chirowodza Admire , Majuba Pappie , Sanne Ian , Brahmbhatt Heena , Mdl David , Mdl Bheki , Mtungwa Ishmael , Mogane Pharais 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Introduction: Right to Care (RTC), through support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) implements innovations that improve data accessibility and utilization for improved program performance and patient outcomes for large scale HIV care and treatment programs. Frequent and accessible data, coupled with changes to business practices to use that data, allow for targeted and timely HIV program interventions that impact patient outcomes in Ehlanzeni district, Mpumalanga, South Africa.Methods: In South Africa, within the USAID Accelerating Program Achievements to Control the Epidemic (APACE) program, the Knowledge Centre (KC) – an interoperable automated data warehouse and visualization near real-time solution - allow for rapid daily assessment of over- and under-performance cross-sectionally. The authors established the impact of the KC intervention for 29 USAID-selected Siyenza facilities, before the KC intervention (Dec 2018 to Feb 2019) compared to HIV outcomes during the KC intervention (March 2019 to May 2019), stratified by facility classification as included or not included in the Siyenza program using both non-parametric and parametric methodologies.Results: Average facility ART initiations increased by 16% from a monthly average of 54 new initiations pre-Siyenza to 62 new ART initiations during Siyenza; retention increased to a net retention in care ratio of 1.15 indicating that patients labelled as lost to care were brought back. An independent-samples t-test indicated that the net retention in care scores were significantly higher for Siyenza facilities (M =.379, SD =.808) compared to non-Siyenza facilities (M=-.061, SD =1.016), t(208) = 2.224, p < 0.027, d = .445 during the Siyenza period. A significant difference was noted between the means with a 62.3% chance that the Siyenza facilities have a higher observed mean than the non-Siyenza facilities during the intervention period. Results indicate that Siyenza facilities maintain cohort growth, while non-Siyenza facilities continued to lose patients. Conclusion: The accessibility and utilization of near to real-time interoperable data within HIV programs allowed for rapid responses to program performance, needs and improved patient outcomes. Daily data review meetings facilitated precision programming and contributed to the behavior change necessary to institute routine data use for decision making and evaluations within programs.
Attenuation and Dispersion on Terahertz Wireless Channels in Falling Rain
Authors: Ma Jianjun , Li Peian , Zhao Liangbin , Wang Jianchen , Liu Wenbo , Mei Yu , Bu Xiangyuan , An Jianping 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Investigations on wireless channel performance in adverse weathers could be helpful and important for the future applications of terahertz communication technique in outdoor scenarios. However, in most cases only amplitude performance has been studied by using a broadband-pulsed terahertz source or an amplitude modulated data stream, not including phase degradation (temporal dispersion). This limitation may mask important aspects of channel performance with phase modulation schemes, especially for wide bandwidth signals. In this work, we report the amplitude and phase characterizations of a terahertz channel in falling rain by a time-domain spectrometer system. We also demonstrate error rate performance by a 16 quadrature amplitude modulated (16-QAM) terahertz signal at a data rate of 5 gigabits per second. We observe that, besides strong water vapor absorption, the weak water absorption line could also lead to obvious dispersion effects. Our work highlights the importance of new frequency band boundaries for minimum temporal dispersion and optimized digital communications in the terahertz frequency range.
Chemical Sedimentation as a Driver of Habitat Diversity in Dryland Wetlands
Authors: Humphries Marc , McCarthy Terence 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Freshwater wetlands located in dryland environments are characterised by high evapotranspiration rates and frequent periods of desiccation, which strongly influence the water chemistry and solute budgets of these systems. The transpiration of groundwater, especially by trees, is an important mechanism through which dryland wetlands can lose water. This process can lead to groundwater salinization and the precipitation of substantial quantities of mineral phases within the soil, the accumulation of which can have profound consequences for wetland structure and function. This paper aims to bring together current knowledge on the processes that result in solute accumulation and chemical sedimentation which assist in maintaining freshwater conditions in many seasonal dryland wetlands. Examples from central and southern Africa, Australia and South America are presented to illustrate the geomorphically diverse settings under which chemical sedimentation can occur, and the importance of these processes for the resilience and longevity of dryland wetlands. We show that the localised development of saline groundwater and subsurface precipitation of minerals within soils can play a key role in creating and maintaining the habitat diversity of dryland wetlands. Wetland vegetation focuses the accumulation of deleterious constituents, thereby preventing widespread salinization and playa-lake formation, and thus ensuring that the bulk of the surface water remains fresh. Although such processes remain widely understudied, we suggest that chemical sedimentation could be a common phenomenon in many dryland wetlands and have important implications for the future management of these ecosystems.
The Effect of Glutamine Supplementation on Serum Levels of Some Inflammatory Factors, Oxidative Stress, and Appetite in COVID-19 Patients: A Case-Control Study
Authors: mohajeri mahsa , horriatkhah ehsan 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background: Malnutrition is seen in COVID-19 patients, and reducing malnutrition with appropriate therapies may improve these patients' health. this case-control study aimed to assess and compare serum levels of some inflammatory factors and oxidative stress and appetite in COVID-19 patients with respiratory infections that receive glutamine treatment with a control group. Method: In this study, patients who consented to use glutamine were considered as the case group and other patients who did not use glutamine were considered as a control group. Twenty-seven Covid-19 patients (10 female, 48.5 ± 9.1) using L-Glutamine and 27 Covid-19 patients (12 female, 48.8 ± 4.6) with similar age, gender, and clinical status were included in the study. For five days, the case group was given 10g/day of glutamine supplement. At the end of the fifth day, blood samples were taken again to test for serum levels of IL1β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant capacity, then all data were analyzed. Results: Serum levels of beta-1 interleukin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and hs-CRP were significantly reduced with five days of glutamine supplementation (p <0.05), and patients' appetite during five days of glutamine supplementation compared with the control group had a significant increase (p <0.05. Conclusion: Glutamine supplementation in COVID-19 patients with respiratory infection significantly reduces serum levels of interleukin-1 beta, hs-CRP, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and significantly increases appetite, so glutamine supplementation may be useful for COVID-19 patients in the hospital.
[18F]FDG PET-CT in Patients With DLBCL Treated With CAR-T Cell Therapy: A Practical Approach of Reporting Pre- and Post-treatment Studies
Authors: Cohen Dan , Luttwak Efrat , Beyar-Katz Ofrat , Krauthammer Shir Hazut , Bar-On Yael , Amit Odelia , Gold Ronit , Perry Chava , Avivi Irit , Ram Ron , Even-Sapir Einat 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Purpose: The introduction of CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) for treatment of relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) gives hope to patients with otherwise dismal prognosis. Therapy outcomes depend, however, on selection of patients and on accurate early identification of non-responders. Patients treated with CAR-T usually undergo [18F]FDG PET-CT at time of decision (TD), time of CAR-T transfusion (TT), one month (M1) and three months (M3) post therapy. The purpose of the current study was to identify the specific parameters that should be addressed when reporting PET-CT studies in the clinical setting of CAR-T therapy.Methods: A total of 138 PET-CT scans (30 TD, 42 TT, 44 M1, 22 M3) of 48 patients treated with CAR-T were included. SUVmax, TMTV, TLG were calculated in all scans. Response was assessed using Deauville scale and ΔSUVmax method. Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint. Median follow-up was 12.8 (IQR 6.4-16.0) months from CAR-T infusion.Results: In a univariate analysis, TD-SUVmax > 17.1 and TT-SUVmax > 12.1 were associated with shorter OS (Pv<0.05). In a multivariate analysis, three factors were significantly associated with shorter OS: TD-SUVmax > 17.1 (HR 10.3; Pv<0.01), LDH > 450 U/l (HR 7.7; Pv<0.01) and ECOG score > 1 (HR 5.5; Pv=0.04). Data from TD and TT PET-CT scans were not predictive of toxicity. On M1-PET-CT, patients with Deauville score > 3 had significantly shorter OS (median 7.9 months, versus not reached, Pv<0.01). ΔSUVmax ≤ 66% on M1-PET-CT predicted shorter OS when comparison of M1-SUVmax was made to TD-SUVmax (Pv=0.02) and not to TT-SUVmax (Pv=0.38).Conclusion: Pre-treatment SUVmax may guide patient selection for CAR-T therapy. On M1-PET-CT, Deauville score and ΔSUVmax from TD may identify early therapy failure. These parameters are easy to obtain and should be included in the PET-CT report.
Intra-articular Administrated Hydrogels of Hyaluronic Acid Hybridized with Triptolide/Gold Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery to Rheumatoid Arthritis Combined with Photothermal-chemo Therapy
Authors: Li Chenxi , Liu Rui , Song Yurong , Zhu Dongjie , Yu Liuchunyang , Huang Qingcai , Zhang Zhengjia , Xue Zeyu , Hua Zhenglai , Lu Cheng , Liu Yuanyan 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Triptolide (TP) as a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) is effective on the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To alleviate the toxicity and elevate therapeutic specificity, hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels load RGD-attached gold nanoshell containing TP are synthesized, which can be used for targeted photothermal-chemo therapy, and imaging of RA in vivo. The hydrogels system composed of thiol and tyramine modified HA conjugates has been applied artificial tissue models of cartilage for studying drug delivery and release properties. After the degradation of HA chains, heat together with drugs can be delivered to the inflammatory joints simultaneously due to the near-infrared resonance (NIR) irradiation of Au nanoshell. RA is a chronic inflamed disease, which is characterized by synovial inflammation of multiple joints, and can be penetrated with NIR light. These intra-articular administrated hybrid hydrogels combined with NIR irradiation can improve clinical arthritic conditions and inflamed joints in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice, which just need a smaller dosage of TP with non-toxicity. Additionally, the TP-Au/HA hybrid hydrogels treatment reduced the invasion and migration of RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLSs) in vitro significantly, through reducing the phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6K, its substrates, and confirmed that the mTOR pathway was inhibited.
Detection of Inherited Mutations in Brazilian Breast Cancer Patients Using Multi-Gene panel Testing
Authors: Guindalini Rodrigo Santa Cruz , Viana Danilo Vilela , Kitajima João Paulo Fumio Whitaker , Rocha Vinícius Marques , López Rossana Verónica Mendoza , Zheng Yonglan , Freitas Érika , Monteiro Fabiola Paoli Mendes , Valim André , Schlesinger David , Kok Fernando , Olopade Olufunmilayo I. , Folgueira Maria Aparecida Azevedo Koike 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Genetic diversity of germline variants in breast cancer (BC) predisposition genes, is unexplored in miscegenated people, such as Latin American populations. We evaluated 1,662 Brazilian BC patients, who underwent hereditary multi-gene panel testing (20–38 cancer susceptibility genes), to determine the spectrum and prevalence of (likely) pathogenic variants (P/LP) and variants of uncertain significance (VUS). In total, 161 (9.7%) participants carried germline P/LP variants in BRCA1/2 and 162 (9.7%) in other cancer predisposition genes. Overall, 341 distinctive P/LP variants were identified in 22 genes, including BRCA1(28%), BRCA2(19%), TP53(11%), MUTYH heterozygous (10%), ATM(9%), CHEK2(6%), and PALB2(5%). The Brazilian variant TP53 R337H (c.1010G > A, p.Arg337His), detected in 1.6% of BC patients and 0.09% of reference controls (RC), was strongly associated with odds of disease (OR = 17.67; 95%CI:9.21–34.76; p < 0.001). Heterozygous MUTYH c.1187G > A and MUTYH c.536A > G, detected in 0.78% (0.90% RC) and 0.48% (0.40% RC) of the patients, respectively, were not associated with the odds of BC, the former with OR = 0.87 (95%CI:0.49–1.53; p = 0.63) and the latter with OR = 1.20 (95%CI:0.58–2.49; p = 0.63). Besides, 766 individuals (46.1%) had 1 or more VUS. Concluding, the use of multi-gene panel testing doubled the identification of mutation carriers in Brazilian BC patients. Special attention should be given to TP53 mutations.
Time slows down on a crowded train
Authors: Sadeghi Saeedeh , Daziano Ricardo , Yoon So-Yeon , Anderson Adam 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Numerosity, complexity and affect are among factors known to dilate perceived time. While such objective and subjective factors are usually tested in isolation with simple stimuli in the lab, here we examined the perceived passage of time in the ecology of daily social life: crowded public transit. Higher crowding level denotes a higher numerosity along with increased negative affect. Accordingly, we hypothesized that crowding lengthens subjective trip duration. Participants (N=41) experienced short (between 1 to 2 minutes) immersive subway trips using Virtual Reality (VR). Each individual experienced multiple virtual trips with different crowding levels. After each trip, they were asked to estimate the trip duration and rate its affective pleasantness. Presence of one additional person per square meter of the train significantly increased perceived travel time by an average of 1.8 seconds. Rather than objective factors, this effect was mediated by subjective negative feelings induced by crowding. Analysis of cardiac data also revealed the slope of change in heart rate during a trip as a physiological source of perceived travel time, independent of the crowding level. This study is an example of bringing basic psychological and physiological findings into an ecologically valid setting using VR technology. Findings have broader implications for the effects of disliking social crowding on our daily perceptions, which is likely more pronounced during or even after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 Hao , Zhang Bo 
Published: July 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.
Evaluating Machine Learning Classifiers for Glaucoma Referral Decision Support in Primary Care Settings
Authors: Kaskar Omkar G. , Wells-Gray Elaine , Fleischman David , Grace Landon 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Several artificial intelligence algorithms have been proposed to help diagnose glaucoma by analyzing the functional and/or structural changes in the eye. These algorithms require carefully curated datasets with access to ocular images. In the current study, we have modeled and evaluated classifiers to predict self-reported glaucoma using a single, easily obtained ocular feature (intraocular pressure (IOP)) and non-ocular features (age, gender, race, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and comorbidities). The classifiers were trained on publicly available data of 3,015 subjects without a glaucoma diagnosis at the time of enrollment. 337 subjects subsequently self-reported a glaucoma diagnosis in a span of 1-12 years after enrollment. The classifiers were evaluated on the ability to identify these subjects by only using their features recorded at the time of enrollment. Support vector machine, logistic regression, and adaptive boosting performed similarly on the dataset with F1 scores of 0.31, 0.30, and 0.28, respectively. Logistic regression had the highest sensitivity at 60% with a specificity of 69%. Predictive classifiers using primarily non-ocular features have the potential to be used for identifying suspected glaucoma in non-eye care settings, including primary care. Further research into finding additional features that improve the performance of predictive classifiers is warranted.
WITHDRAWN: Inclined, Expanded and Curved Interference Pattern of Double Slit Experiment---Mathematical Description (1)
Authors: Peng Hui 
Published: July 2021

Abstract

Young’s double slit experiments express the mystery of quantum mechanics. To explore the mystery, varieties of the double slit experiments were performed. It has been shown that the following three phenomena emerged simultaneously in one double slit experiment: (1) the interference patterns incline towards the axis that perpendicular to the axis the diaphragm rotating around; (2) the interference patterns curved; (3) the distances between the fringes of the interference patterns expanded. To determine the direction the interference pattern curved towards, we proposed the right-hand rule for the clockwise rotating diaphragm and the left-hand rule for the counterclockwise rotating diaphragms. In this article we derived the mathematical formulars for the first phenomenon that interference patterns incline. We show that the inclination of the interference pattern is determined by two angles, one is the original orientation of the double slit, other one is the rotating angle of the diaphragm, either clockwise or counterclockwise.