bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genome analysis of the monoclonal marbled crayfish reveals genetic separation over a short evolutionary timescale
Authors: Maiakovska Olena , Andriantsoa Ranja , Tönges Sina , Legrand Carine , Gutekunst Julian , Hanna Katharina , Pârvulescu Lucian , Novitsky Roman , Weiperth András , Sciberras Arnold , Deidun Alan , Ercoli Fabio , Kouba Antonin , Lyko Frank 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis) represents a very recently evolved parthenogenetic freshwater crayfish species that has invaded diverse habitats in Europe and in Madagascar. However, population genetic analyses have been hindered by the homogeneous genetic structure of the population and the lack of suitable tools for data analysis. We have used whole-genome sequencing to characterize reference specimens from various known wild populations. In parallel, we established a whole-genome sequencing data analysis pipeline for the population genetic analysis of nearly monoclonal genomes. Our results provide evidence for systematic genetic differences between geographically separated populations and illustrate the emerging differentiation of the marbled crayfish genome. We also used mark-recapture population size estimation in combination with genetic data to model the growth pattern of marbled crayfish populations. Our findings uncover evolutionary dynamics in the marbled crayfish genome over a very short evolutionary timescale and identify the rapid growth of marbled crayfish populations as an important factor for ecological monitoring.
A chicken DNA methylation clock for the prediction of broiler health
Authors: Raddatz Günter , Arsenault Ryan J. , Aylward Bridget , Whelan Rose , Böhl Florian , Lyko Frank 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) is the globally most important source of commercially produced meat. While genetic approaches have played an important role in the development of chicken stocks, little is known about chicken epigenetics. We have systematically analyzed the chicken DNA methylation machinery and DNA methylation landscape. While overall DNA methylation distribution was similar to mammals, sperm DNA appeared hypomethylated, which correlates with the absence of the DNMT3L cofactor in the chicken genome. Additional analysis revealed the presence of low-methylated regions, which are conserved gene regulatory elements that show tissue-specific methylation patterns. We also used whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to generate 56 single-base resolution methylomes from various tissues and developmental time points to establish an LMR-based DNA methylation clock for broiler chicken age prediction. This clock was used to demonstrate epigenetic age acceleration in animals with experimentally induced inflammation. Our study provides detailed insights into the chicken methylome and suggests a novel application of the DNA methylation clock as a marker for livestock health.
Gastrin, via activation of PPARα, protects the kidney against hypertensive injury
Authors: Gu Daqian , Fang Dandong , Zhang Mingming , Guo Jingwen , Ren Hongmei , Li Xinyue , Zhang Ziyue , Yang Donghai , Zou Xue , Liu Yukai , Wang Wei Eric , Wu Gengze , Jose Pedro A. , Han Yu , Zeng Chunyu 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Hypertensive nephropathy (HN) is a common cause of end-stage renal disease with renal fibrosis; chronic kidney disease is associated with elevated serum gastrin. However, the relationship between gastrin and renal fibrosis in HN is still unknown. We, now, report that mice with angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced HN had increased renal cholecystokinin receptor B (CCKBR) expression. Knockout of CCKBR in mice aggravated, while long-term subcutaneous infusion of gastrin ameliorated the renal injury and interstitial fibrosis in HN and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). The protective effects of gastrin on renal fibrosis can be independent of its regulation of blood pressure, because in UUO, gastrin decreased renal fibrosis without affecting blood pressure. Gastrin treatment decreased Ang II-induced renal tubule cell apoptosis, reversed Ang II-mediated inhibition of macrophage efferocytosis, and reduced renal inflammation. A screening of the regulatory factors of efferocytosis showed involvement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α). Knockdown of PPAR-α by shRNA blocked the anti-fibrotic effect of gastrin in vitro in mouse renal proximal tubule cells and macrophages. Immunofluorescence microscopy, Western blotting, luciferase reporter, and Cut&tag-qPCR analyses showed that CCKBR may be a transcription factor of PPAR-α, because gastrin treatment induced CCKBR translocation from cytosol to nucleus, binding to the PPAR-α promoter region, and increasing PPAR-α gene transcription. In conclusion, gastrin protects against HN by normalizing blood pressure, decreasing renal tubule cell apoptosis, and increasing macrophage efferocytosis. Gastrin-mediated CCKBR nuclear translocation may make it act as a transcription factor of PPAR-α, which is a novel signaling pathway. Gastrin may be a new potential drug for HN therapy.
Iterative registration for multi‐modality retinal fundus photographs using directional vessel skeleton
Authors: Kong Wenwen , Zang Pengxiao , Niu Sijie , Li Dengwang 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis paper proposes an automated registration method for multi‐modality retinal fundus photographs based on the directional vessel skeleton. The main purpose is to register two retinal fundus photographs with different modalities of the same scanning region, which can provide multi‐modality information for clinicians to diagnose retinal diseases or to make a treatment decision. The directional vessel skeleton of each fundus image is first detected by bias field correction and Gabor filter. The final registered fundus photographs are then obtained by the iterative affine registration between the detected directional vessel skeletons of two photographs. In this work, four kinds of fundus photographs in the macular regions of the patient with diseases, consisting of 20 optical coherence tomography fundus images, 20 colour fundus photographs, 20 fluorescein fundus angiography images and 20 indocyanine green angiography images, are utilised to quantitatively evaluate the proposed method. The root‐mean‐square errors show an advantageous performance in both registration success rate and accuracy.
A stochastic approach for automated brain MRI segmentation
Authors: Chatterjee Pubali , Sharma Kaushik Das , Chakrabarti Amlan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis paper presents an approach to segment lesions from brain magnetic resonance images in a fully automatic manner. The proposed idea leverages the strength of classical random walker algorithm and graph cut optimization technique in a single framework. We demonstrate that formulating a “prior” from a stochastic model can ameliorate the need of manually selected seed selection process in the random walker framework, thus making the algorithm fully automatic in a generic manner. By analytically solving a linear system of equations in the random walk process, initial labelling ∈ [0, 1] of each pixel in the image are computed to obtain the likelihood probability. These probabilities are then used to compute the likelihood for the data fidelity term in the energy function to compute the final segmentation, which is minimized by min cut max flow algorithm. Experimental results show the superiority of the proposed method over the state‐of‐the‐art techniques on publicly available datasets.
SAR image despeckling using deep CNN
Authors: Passah Alicia , Amitab Khwairakpam , Kandar Debdatta 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSynthetic aperture radar (SAR) images are contaminated with noise called speckle that is multiplicative in nature. The presence of speckles in SAR images makes it impossible to understand and interpret for extensive range of applications. However, certain characteristics of SAR and the ability to function irrespective of weather conditions, are making such images worth processing in order to be able to extract relevant information. A despeckling model is proposed that uses deeper convolutional neural networks, which was never used before, as far as authors are concerned, for diminishing speckle in noisy SAR images. Multiple skip connections from the ResNet model are also employed in authors' proposed architecture. In order to maintain uniformity, a formula to be followed while applying skip connections is also derived. A hybrid loss function is developed to train the network more consistently to achieve the desired output. Experiments on simulated SAR images using the NWPU‐RESISC benchmark are conducted and tested on real TerraSAR‐X images and compared with the state‐of‐the‐art techniques. Results show that the proposed method achieved considerable improvements compared to state‐of‐the‐art methods with PSNRs 27.02, 24.60, and 22.01 for looks 10, 4, and 1, respectively.
SYNGuard: Dynamic threshold‐based SYN flood attack detection and mitigation in software‐defined networks
Authors: Rahouti Mohamed , Xiong Kaiqi , Ghani Nasir , Shaikh Farooq 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSYN flood attacks (half‐open attacks) have been proven a serious threat to software‐defined networking (SDN)‐enabled infrastructures. A variety of intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) have been introduced for identifying and preventing such security threats, but they often result in significant performance overhead and response time. Therefore, those existing approaches are inflexible for large‐scale networks and real‐time applications. For this reason, a novel and adaptive threshold‐based kernel‐level intrusion detection and prevention system by leveraging SDN capabilities are proposed. The proposed systems to detect and mitigate the aforementioned threats within an SDN over widely used traditional IDPS technologies, Snort and Zeek, are comparatively examined. The approach is evaluated using a mixture of fundamental adverse attacks and SDN‐specific threats on a real‐world testbed. The experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of the mechanism to detect and mitigate SYN flood attacks within an SDN environment.
Anatomy of Pelvic leak points in the context of varicose veins
Authors: Delfrate Roberto 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPelvic venous networks (competent themselves or not) can be the origin of reflux in the superficial leg veins. They are frequently involved in recurrences after classical venous treatment options, as they are not treated in that context. Studies based on various assessments (clinical, ultrasound, venography) conclude that around 10 % of women with varicose vein have their origin in pelvic leaks points, this incidence is 4 times higher in multiparous than in nulliparous. Claude Franceschi first analyzed and described the reflux pathways for this pelvic leak points. The most frequently involved escape points or “Pelvic Leak Points” are the perineal points (PP), draining through the labial region to the leg and the inguinal points through the inguinal ring (IP). Others are the Clitoridian point (CP), gluteal points (GP) and obturatorian point (OP). Their investigation has to be performed in standing position and using Valsalva – but the most important part of the investigation is the anatomic knowledge about the different pathways.
Cardiotoxicity and cardiac monitoring following the use of radiotheranostics agents including 177Lu-PSMA for prostate cancer and 177Lu-DOTATATE for neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Jafari Esmail , Amini Abdul Latif , Ahmadzadehfar Hojjat , Bagheri Dara , Assadi Majid 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to determine the probable cardiotoxicity following radionuclide therapy (RNT), specifically peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with 177Lu-DOTATATE and radioligand therapy (RLT) with 177Lu-PSMA by evaluation of serum troponin I and cardiac profile change during a follow-up time.
Materials and Methods Patients with prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) referred for PRRT and RLT, respectively, were enrolled in this study. The cardiac profiles of the patients were evaluated by a cardiologist and a cardiac history was obtained from all patients. Also, troponin I was measured before and 48 hours after treatment.
Results In this retrospective study for assessment of RLT associated cardiotoxicity, 24 patients were evaluated with a median age of 64 years (27–99 years) including 13 NET patients and 11 prostate cancer patients. Patients were followed up for 4 to 31 months which no cardiovascular problem was observed. In evaluation of troponin I, 39 RNT cycles were evaluated. In all patients, the value of troponin I was in normal range. In all patients, the median values of serum troponin I before and after treatment were 0.2 ± 0.02 (range: 0.00–0.42) and 0.28 ± 0.02 (range: 0.00–0.46) ng/ml, respectively (p > 0.05). In the prostate cancer patients, the median values of serum troponin I before and after treatment were 0.26 ± 0.04 (0.04–0.42) and 0.30 ± 0.04 (0.00–0.41) ng/ml, respectively (p > 0.05). In the NET patients, the median values of serum troponin I before and after treatment were 0.18 ± 0.03 (0.00–0.42) and 0.17 ± 0.03 (0.00–0.46) ng/ml, respectively (p > 0.05).
Conclusion PRRT with 177Lu-DOTATATE and RLT with 177Lu-PSMA as emerging therapeutic modalities have no significant cardiotoxicity. However, further well-designed studies are recommended.
Internal Neurolysis (Nerve Combing) for Trigeminal Neuralgia without Neurovascular Compression
Authors: Gonzales-Portillo Marco , Huamán Luis Adrián 
Published: January 2021

AbstractObjective The aim of the present study was to describe and evaluate the initial and the long-term clinical outcome of internal neurolysis (IN) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) without neurovascular compression (NVC).Methods A total of 170 patients diagnosed with TN were treated by posterior fossa exploration, during the period between April 2012 and October 2019. The patients were divided into two groups: Group A (50 patients) was treated by IN and Group B (120 patients) received microvascular decompression (MVD). Surgical outcomes and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Pain intensity was assessed by the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain intensity score and BNI facial numbness score. Pain recurrence was statistically evaluated with Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results Pain was completely relieved in 44 patients (88%) who underwent IN (group A); 3 (6%) experienced occasional pain but did not require medication (BNI 2). In group B, 113 (94%) experienced immediate pain relief after MVD. The median duration of follow-ups was 4 years (6 months to 7.5 years). In Group A, there was a meantime recurrence of 27 months in 3 patients (6%). The recurrence in Group B was of 5.8% during the follow-up period. There were no statistically significant differences in the surgical outcomes between the two groups. All patients with IN experienced some degree of numbness, 88% of the cases resolved in 6 months, on average.Conclusion Internal neurolysis is an effective, safe and durable treatment option for trigeminal neuralgia when NVC is absent.
Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma with Oligodendroglioma-Like Areas with Negative 1p19q Co-Deletion
Authors: Goel Deepa , Sharma Shobhna , Gupta Aditya 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe most common mixed glioma encountered in routine surgical practice is oligoastrocytoma (OA); however, its is currently considered a vanishing entity. The 2016 classification of the World Health Organization (WHO) discourages the diagnosis of tumors as mixed glioma. The recommendations are that diffuse gliomas, including those with mixed or ambiguous histological features, should be subjected to molecular testing. Dual-genotype OAs are not yet a distinct entity or variant in the classification. We report a case of mixed glioma: a pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) mixed with an oligodendroglioma. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) pattern of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) negativity with retained nuclear expression of the alpha-thalassemia x-linked intellectual disability syndrome (ATRX) protein, and 1p19q co-deletion negativity in both the components enabled its identification as a mixed glioma rather than a collision tumor. To the best of our knowledge, the case herein presented is the fourth case of PXA with oligodendroglioma. Out of the other three reported cases, only one was of a collision tumor with a dual genotype, and the other two showed similar molecular signatures in both components. The present article discusses the histological, immunohistochemical and molecular features of the aforementioned case.
Can Routine Blood Biochemistry Parameters be Predictive Prognostic Marker(s) in Operated Patients with Meningioma WHO Grade 1?
Authors: Yuksel Ulas , Ozdemir Alemiddin , Kisa Ucler , Ogden Mustafa , Bakar Bulent 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background Today, there is a need for new and independent additional advanced markers that can predict the prognosis of meningioma patients, postoperatively. The present study aimed to find out postoperative short-term prognostic markers in patients with meningioma using their demographic data and routine blood biochemistry findings evaluated preoperatively.
Methods The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores of the patients were recorded. Additionally, preoperatively obtained serum glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP), sodium, potassium, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, and hemoglobin level values, platelet, leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, eosinophil, basophil, and monocyte count results, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR) values were evaluated.
Results In the present study, 23 operated patients with meningioma World Health Organization (WHO) grade 1 (17 females, 6 males) were included. Correlation test results revealed that the GCS score, platelet count, and serum potassium level values could directly predict the short-term prognosis of these patients. Additionally, these test results suggested that the lymphocyte, monocyte, and eosinophil count values, PLR, LMR, ESR, serum glucose, CRP, and AST level values could be indirect markers in predicting the short-term prognosis. However, likelihood ratio test results revealed that only monocyte count value, LMR value, and serum CRP level value could be the markers for prediction of the short-term prognosis.
Conclusion At the end of the present study, it was concluded that the monocyte count value, LMR value, and serum CRP level value could be the best markers in predicting the short-term prognosis of the operated meningioma patients.
The COVID-19 effect on the Paris agreement
Authors: Reilly John M. , Chen Y.-H. Henry , Jacoby Henry D. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe pandemic and efforts to control it are causing sharp reductions in global economic activity and associated fossil energy use, with unknown influence on longer-term efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Climate Agreement. To explore this effect, estimates of economic recession and recovery in near-term months are extended to cover a return to full employment in future years, to be compared with an estimate of growth had COVID-19 not occurred. On the assumption that the Paris emissions pledges for 2020 will be met in any case, projection of global emissions with and without the pandemic show that, through its growth impact alone, it will yield only a small effect on emissions in 2030 and beyond. Other COVID legacies may include residual influences in patterns of consumption and travel, and the direction of recovery funds to low carbon investments. Most important, however, will be the effect of the economic shocks on the willingness of nations to meet (or augment) their existing Paris emissions pledges. The main effect of the pandemic on the threat of climate change, therefore, will be not its growth impact but its influence on national commitments to action.
Accessing Bodies that Matter
Authors: Krasuska Karolina , Janion Ludmiła , Usiekniewicz Marta 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
In this self-reflexive paper, co-written by scholars currently collaborating on the Polish translation of Judith
Butler’s Bodies that Matter, we discuss the political and activist stakes of translating a canonical queer theory
text over 25 years after its original publication, in the context of anti-lgbtq+ public discourse in today’s Poland. We argue that
the collective character of our translation process turns it into an activist workshop that negotiates social norms and works on
the invention and application of their alternatives. This activist practice results in a programmatically accessible translation,
written in gender-inclusive and queer-sensitive language that follows the poststructuralist philosophical underpinnings of the
1993 source text and its gendered language. Discussing examples of Butler’s use of grammatical gender and her politicized style in
our translation, the article contributes to understanding the queer activist practice of translation and, specifically,
underwritten questions of translating queer theory in a contemporary Polish (linguistic) context.
Spin waves in unsaturated single- and double-layered ferromagnetic nanorings
Authors: Hussain B , Haghshenasfard Z , Cottam M G 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
A theoretical analysis is described for the spin waves in single- and double-layered nanorings using a microscopic, or Hamiltonian-based, formalism. The calculations, which yield the frequencies and spatially-dependent intensities of the quantized spin waves, are applied to the vortex and onion (bi-domain) states in a single nanoring, as well as to the field-induced switching. In the case of asymmetric double-layered nanorings (with a nonmagnetic spacer) there are coupled spin waves controlled by varying the spacer thickness to change the strength of the inter-ring dipolar interactions. The different possible magnetic states, depending on the applied magnetic field, may involve vortex states (with the same or opposite chirality) in both layers, a vortex state in one layer and onion state in the other, or onion states in both layers. Numerical applications are made to permalloy nanorings with realistic dimensions and magnetic parameter values.
A rechargeable all-solid-state sodium peroxide (Na2O2) battery with low overpotential
Authors: Jiang Chenggong , Mao Baohua , Diao Fangyuan , Li Qingtian , Wen Zhaoyin , Si Pengchao , Zhang Hui , Liu Zhi 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Na–O2 batteries have been attracting attention owing to their intrinsically high theoretical energy density. Several Na–O2 systems can produce various discharge products with different electrochemical performances. For example, sodium superoxide (NaO2) batteries have a low overpotential, and sodium peroxide (Na2O2) batteries have a high capacity. Studies of Na2O2 batteries are relatively scarce, owing to the difficulty of forming pure Na2O2 discharge products. A pure Na2O2 battery system is highly desirable for fully exploring the formation and decomposition of Na2O2 in Na–O2 batteries and evaluating their potential. This model of a Na2O2 battery should also be compatible with in situ characterization. To this end, we constructed a simple rechargeable all-solid-state Na2O2 battery. Using a nanoporous gold film as the cathode and Na–β″-Al2O3 as a solid electrolyte, we assembled a Na–O2 battery that can produce and decompose Na2O2. The all-solid-state Na–O2 battery is a simple model for conducting in situ ambient-pressure x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) investigations. The battery can be cycled at a low overpotential (≈450 mV). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the APXPS and Raman results demonstrated that Na2O2 was the main discharge product and its transformation occurred during the charge and discharge periods. The operando investigation of this type of all-solid-state Na2O2 battery can help in the comprehensive exploration of the potential of Na–O2 batteries.