bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Establishment and evaluation of a rat model of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) thrombosis using a 3D-printed mock-oxygenator
Authors: Umei Nao , Lai Angela , Miller Jennifer , Shin Suji , Roberts Kalliope , AI Qatarneh Saif , Ichiba Shingo , Sakamoto Atsuhiro , Cook Keith E. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundExtracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) research using large animals requires a significant amount of resources, slowing down the development of new means of ECMO anticoagulation. Therefore, this study developed and evaluated a new rat ECMO model using a 3D-printed mock-oxygenator.MethodsThe circuit consisted of tubing, a 3D-printed mock-oxygenator, and a roller pump. The mock-oxygenator was designed to simulate the geometry and blood flow patterns of the fiber bundle in full-scale oxygenators but with a low (2.5 mL) priming volume. Rats were placed on arteriovenous ECMO at a 1.9 mL/min flow rate at two different heparin doses (n = 3 each): low (15 IU/kg/h for eight hours) versus high (50 IU/kg/h for one hour followed by 25 IU/kg/h for seven hours). The experiment continued for eight hours or until the mock-oxygenator failed. The mock-oxygenator was considered to have failed when its blood flow resistance reached three times its baseline resistance.ResultsDuring ECMO, rats maintained near-normal mean arterial pressure and arterial blood gases with minimal hemodilution. The mock-oxygenator thrombus weight was significantly different (p < 0.05) between the low (0.02 ± 0.006 g) and high (0.003 ± 0.001 g) heparin delivery groups, and blood flow resistance was also larger in the low anticoagulation group.ConclusionsThis model is a simple, inexpensive system for investigating new anticoagulation agents for ECMO and provides low and high levels of anticoagulation that can serve as control groups for future studies.
Insights about the epidemiology of Salmonella Typhimurium isolates from different sources in Brazil using comparative genomics
Authors: Seribelli Amanda Ap. , da Silva Patrick , da Cruz Marcelo Ferreira , de Almeida Fernanda , Frazão Miliane R. , Medeiros Marta I. C. , Rodrigues Dália dos P. , Kich Jalusa D. , de Jesus Benevides Leandro , Soares Siomar de C. , Allard Marc W. , Falcão Juliana Pfrimer. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is an important zoonotic agent worldwide. The aim of this work was to compare genetically 117 S. Typhimurium isolated from different sources over 30 years in Brazil using different genomics strategies.

Results
The majority of the 117 S. Typhimurium strains studied were grouped into a single cluster (≅ 90%) by the core genome multilocus sequence typing and (≅ 77%) by single copy marker genes. The phylogenetic analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) grouped most strains from humans into a single cluster (≅ 93%), while the strains isolated from food and swine were alocated into three clusters. The different orthologous protein clusters found for some S. Typhimurium isolated from humans and food are involved in metabolic and regulatory processes. For 26 isolates from swine the sequence types (ST) 19 and ST1921 were the most prevalent ones, and the ST14, ST64, ST516 and ST639 were also detected. Previous results typed the 91 S. Typhimurium isolates from humans and foods as ST19, ST313, ST1921, ST3343 and ST1649. The main prophages detected were: Gifsy-2 in 79 (67.5%) and Gifsy-1 in 63 (54%) strains. All of the S. Typhimurium isolates contained the acrA, acrB, macA, macB, mdtK, emrA, emrB, emrR and tolC efflux pump genes.

Conclusions
The phylogenetic trees grouped the majority of the S. Typhimurium isolates from humans into a single cluster suggesting that there is one prevalent subtype in Brazil. Regarding strains isolated from food and swine, the SNPs’ results suggested the circulation of more than one subtype over 30 years in this country. The orthologous protein clusters analysis revealed unique genes in the strains studied mainly related to bacterial metabolism. S. Typhimurium strains from swine showed greater diversity of STs and prophages in comparison to strains isolated from humans and foods. The pathogenic potential of S. Typhimurium strains was corroborated by the presence of exclusive prophages of this serovar involved in its virulence. The high number of resistance genes related to efflux pumps is worrying and may lead to therapeutic failures when clinical treatment is needed.
Performance measurement for new mobile data services during generation upgrading period: a case of China’s telecom industry
Authors: Du Yu , Zhang Xiao H. , Li Zheng R. , Guo Yi J. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractFor the global telecom operators, mobile data services have gradually taken the part of traditional voice services to become the main revenue growth point. However, during the upgrading period of new generation networks (such as 5G), new mobile data services are still at the stage of exploration; the network capabilities and the application scenarios are unmatured. In this phase, it is incomplete and misleading to simply measure the performance of new services from one dimension, such as data traffic or revenue, and the measurement should be dynamically changed according to the development of the new services. Therefore, telecom operators want to improve the existing performance measurement from the aspect of integrity and dynamics. In this paper, we propose mobile-data-service development index (MDDI) and build a quantitative model to dynamic measure the overall performance of mobile data services. To approach a fuller understanding, we creatively bring investment indicators and networks reliability indicators into performance indicators system and discuss the relationships among subindices and the selection of outcome criteria in MDDI. In the part of empirical research, we use the model to analyze the dynamic characteristics of a new mobile data service in China and summarize the development strategies of every stage. The findings can also give guidelines for new services of 5G and other new generation networks in the future.
Identification of a prognostic long noncoding RNA signature in lung squamous cell carcinoma: a population-based study with a mean follow-up of 3.5 years
Authors: Zheng Rongjiong , Zheng Mengdi , Wang Mingming , Lu Feijie , Hu Meiling 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a form of cancer that is associated with high rates of relapse, poor responsiveness to therapy, and a relatively poor prognosis. The relationship between long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression and LSCC patient prognosis remains to be established.

Methods
In the present study, we discovered that lncRNAs were differentially expressed in LSCC tumor tissues relative to normal control tissues, and we explored the prognostic relevance of these lncRNA expression patterns using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Results
These multidimensional data were analyzed in order to identify lncRNA signatures that were associated with LSCC patient survival outcomes. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed prognostic capabilities for three of these lncRNAs (LINC02555, APCDD1L-DT and OTX2-AS1). A Cox regression analysis revealed this three-lncRNA signature to be significantly associated with patient survival. Further GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the predicted target genes of these three lncRNAs were also potentially involved in cancer-associated pathways.

Conclusions
Together these results thus indicate that this novel three-lncRNA signature can be used to predict LSCC patient prognosis.
Role of preoperative computed tomography angiographic anatomical considerations and their intraoperative interpretations in prediction of outcome in microsurgical clipping of ruptured anterior communicating aneurysm
Authors: Alawamry Ahmed Mohamed Ehsan , Taha Mahmoud Mostafa , Abdelbary Tarek Hassan , Bessar Ahmed Awad , Farid Mostafa 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Anatomy of anterior communicating vascular complex is variable and sometimes causes troublesome situations during microsurgical clipping of ruptured anterior communicating (Acom) aneurysms. Preoperative understanding of anatomy, expecting the presence of normal variations, knowing the exact aneurysm morphometrics and understanding flow dynamic patterns, help to reach an appropriate surgical outcome.

Methods
We analyzed the preoperative angiographic anatomical findings in computed tomography angiography and compared them to the intraoperative microscopic anatomical finding in 52 patients who underwent microsurgical clipping of ruptured Acom aneurysms, to reach angiographic prognostic factors in ruptured Acom aneurysm surgery.

Results
There is statistically significant relation between intraoperative anatomical factors and preoperative CTA findings (closed A2 aneurysm angle, neck extending to A2, anatomical variation, hypoplastic A1, and posterior projection).

Conclusion
CTA is a reliable method to predict the intraoperative anatomy in Acom aneurysm clipping. Poor outcome was more common among cases with posterior projection, closed A2-aneurysm angle, aneurysm neck extension to A2, and hypoplastic A1.
Insights into genomic evolution from the chromosomal and mitochondrial genomes of Ustilaginoidea virens
Authors: Zhang Kang , Zhao Zaixu , Zhang Ziding , Li Yuejiao , Li Shaojie , Yao Nan , Hsiang Tom , Sun Wenxian 
Published: April 2021

AbstractUstilaginoidea virens, the causal agent of rice false smut, is an economically important filamentous fungal pathogen. A high-quality reference genome of U. virens promotes understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying its virulence and pathogenicity. Here, we report the first chromosome-level assembly of U. virens genome consisting of seven chromosomes ranging from 2.4 to 7.5 Mb. The assembly has dramatic improvements over previous assemblies, including considerably longer contigs, higher proportion of repetitive elements and more functionally annotated genes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed an extremely low intraspecific sequence divergence in U. virens. By contrast, intraspecific genome comparisons uncovered dynamic genomic alterations including massive structural variations and widespread lineage-specific regions (LSRs) among U. virens strains, which were mainly generated by recent burst of retrotransposons. Genomic plasticity created by structural variations and LSRs might drive rapid evolution of U. virens. High-quality mitochondrial genomes of eight U. virens strains exhibit size variations from 94 to 102 kb. Consistently, U. virens contains conserved lengths of exons and highly dynamic mobile introns, which contribute to intraspecific size variations due to gain/loss of homing endonuclease genes. This study highlights unique characteristics in nuclear and mitochondrial genomic divergence and provides new insights into genomic and mitochondrial evolution of U. virens.
Comparative evaluation of semi-quantitative CT-severity scoring versus serum lactate dehydrogenase as prognostic biomarkers for disease severity and clinical outcome of COVID-19 patients
Authors: Magdy Ahmed M. , Saad Mohammad A. , El Khateeb Ahmed F. , Ahmed Mona I. , Gamal El-Din Dina H. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic causes significant strain on healthcare infrastructure and medical resources. So, it becomes crucial to identify reliable predictor biomarkers for COVID-19 disease severity and short term mortality. Many biomarkers are currently investigated for their prognostic role in COVID-19 patients. Our study is retrospective and aims to evaluate role of semi-quantitative CT-severity scoring versus LDH as prognostic biomarkers for COVID-19 disease severity and short-term clinical outcome.

Results
Two hundred sixty-six patients between April 2020 and November 2020 with positive RT-PCR results underwent non-enhanced CT scan chest in our hospital and were retrospectively evaluated for CT severity scoring and serum LDH level measurement. Data were correlated with clinical disease severity. CT severity score and LDH were significantly higher in severe and critical cases compared to mild cases (P value < 0.001). High predictive significance of CT severity score for COVID-19 disease course noted, with cut-off value ≥ 13 highly predictive of severe disease (96.96% accuracy); cut-off value ≥ 16 highly predictive of critical disease (94.21% accuracy); and cut-off value ≥ 19 highly predictive of short-term mortality (92.56% accuracy). CT severity score has higher sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values as well as overall accuracy compared to LDH level in predicting severe, critical cases, and short-term mortality.

Conclusion
Semi-quantitative CT severity scoring has high predictive significance for COVID-19 disease severity and short-term mortality with higher sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy compared to LDH. Our study strongly supports the use of CT severity scoring as a powerful prognostic biomarker for COVID-19 disease severity and short-term clinical outcome to allow triage of need for hospital admission, earlier medical interference, and to effectively prioritize medical resources for cases with high mortality risk for better decision making and clinical outcome.
Cell-Free DNA Detection of Tumor Mutations in Heterogeneous, Localized Prostate Cancer Via Targeted, Multiregion Sequencing
Authors: Chen Emmalyn , Cario Clinton L. , Leong Lancelote , Lopez Karen , Márquez César P. , Li Patricia S. , Oropeza Erica , Tenggara Imelda , Cowan Janet , Simko Jeffry P. , Kageyama Robin , Wells Daniel K. , Chan June M. , Friedlander Terence , Aggarwal Rahul , Paris Pamela L. , Feng Felix , Carroll Peter R. , Witte John S. 
Published: April 2021

PURPOSE Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) may allow for minimally invasive identification of biologically relevant genomic alterations and genetically distinct tumor subclones. Although existing biomarkers may detect localized prostate cancer, additional strategies interrogating genomic heterogeneity are necessary for identifying and monitoring aggressive disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether circulating tumor DNA can detect genomic alterations present in multiple regions of localized prostate tumor tissue. METHODS Low-pass whole-genome and targeted sequencing with a machine-learning guided 2.5-Mb targeted panel were used to identify single nucleotide variants, small insertions and deletions (indels), and copy-number alterations in cfDNA. The majority of this study focuses on the subset of 21 patients with localized disease, although 45 total individuals were evaluated, including 15 healthy controls and nine men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Plasma cfDNA was barcoded with duplex unique molecular identifiers. For localized cases, matched tumor tissue was collected from multiple regions (one to nine samples per patient) for comparison. RESULTS Somatic tumor variants present in heterogeneous tumor foci from patients with localized disease were detected in cfDNA, and cfDNA mutational burden was found to track with disease severity. Somatic tissue alterations were identified in cfDNA, including nonsynonymous variants in FOXA1, PTEN, MED12, and ATM. Detection of these overlapping variants was associated with seminal vesicle invasion ( P = .019) and with the number of variants initially found in the matched tumor tissue samples ( P = .0005). CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate the potential of targeted cfDNA sequencing to detect somatic tissue alterations in heterogeneous, localized prostate cancer, especially in a setting where matched tumor tissue may be unavailable (ie, active surveillance or treatment monitoring).
Sewing Machines for Socialism?
Authors: Banks Elizabeth 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis article examines negotiations on aid, scholarship provision, and a hoped-for visit by former cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, that took place between the Committee for Soviet Women (KSZh) and the Organization for Mozambican Women (OMM) as a lens into Soviet-African interaction in the late twentieth century. Women's organizations offer a unique perspective as women's rights occupied a central place in socialism, conceptions of modernity, and African nationalist organizing. Drawing on archives, interviews, and organizational publications, the article highlights how the symbolic and pragmatic politics of these connections were woven together through the circulation of gifts. At the same time, the article draws attention to fundamental misalignment in the groups' conceptions of gender and in their ambitions for the relationship. Bound by institutional norms, the KSZh consistently offered OMM the same set of items year after year, while OMM women asked for alternative forms of support with higher material and symbolic value because they believed their relationship should be mutually determined and relevant for local conditions.
Cubitus interruptus is necessary but not sufficient for direct activation of a wing-specific decapentaplegic enhancer
Authors: Hepker Jennifer , Blackman Ronald K. , Holmgren Robert 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
In Drosophila, the imaginal discs are the primordia for adult appendages. Their proper formation is dependent upon the activation of the decapentaplegic (dpp) gene in a stripe of cells just anterior to the compartment boundary. In imaginal discs, the dpp gene has been shown to be activated by Hedgehog signal transduction. However, an initial analysis of its enhancer region suggests that its regulation is complex and depends upon additional factors. In order to understand how multiple factors regulate dpp expression, we chose to focus on a single dpp enhancer element, the dpp heldout enhancer, from the 3′ cis regulatory disc region of the dpp locus. In this report, we present a molecular analysis of this 358 bp wing-and haltere-specific dpp enhancer, which demonstrates a direct transcriptional requirement for the Cubitus interruptus (Ci) protein. The results suggest that, in addition to regulation by Ci, expression of the dpp heldout enhancer is spatially determined by Drosophila TCF (dTCF) and the Vestigial/Scalloped selector system and that temporal control is provided by dpp autoregulation. Consistent with the unexpectedly complex regulation of the dpp heldout enhancer, analysis of a Ci consensus site reporter construct suggests that Ci, a mediator of Hedgehog transcriptional activation, can only transactivate in concert with other factors.
longfin causes cis-ectopic expression of the kcnh2a ether-a-go-go K+ channel to autonomously prolong fin outgrowth
Authors: Stewart Scott , Le Bleu Heather K. , Yette Gabriel A. , Henner Astra L. , Robbins Amy E. , Braunstein Joshua A. , Stankunas Kryn 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
Organs stop growing to achieve a characteristic size and shape in scale with the body of an animal. Likewise, regenerating organs sense injury extents to instruct appropriate replacement growth. Fish fins exemplify both phenomena through their tremendous diversity of form and remarkably robust regeneration. The classic zebrafish mutant longfint2 develops and regenerates dramatically elongated fins and underlying ray skeleton. We show longfint2 chromosome 2 overexpresses the ether-a-go-go-related voltage-gated potassium channel kcnh2a. Genetic disruption of kcnh2a in cis rescues longfint2, indicating longfint2 is a regulatory kcnh2a allele. We find longfint2 fin overgrowth originates from prolonged outgrowth periods by showing Kcnh2a chemical inhibition during late stage regeneration fully suppresses overgrowth. Cell transplantations demonstrate longfint2-ectopic kcnh2a acts tissue autonomously within the fin intra-ray mesenchymal lineage. Temporal inhibition of the Ca2+-dependent phosphatase calcineurin indicates it likewise entirely acts late in regeneration to attenuate fin outgrowth. Epistasis experiments suggest longfint2-expressed Kcnh2a inhibits calcineurin output to supersede growth cessation signals. We conclude ion signaling within the growth-determining mesenchyme lineage controls fin size by tuning outgrowth periods rather than altering positional information or cell-level growth potency.
Oxygen availability as a control factor in the density-dependent regulation of protein synthesis in cell culture
Authors: Verma Desh Pal S. , Marcus A. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
Dilution of a density-inhibited Arachis culture results in a 10-fold increase in capacity for protein synthesis during the first 2 h after dilution. The limitation in the density-inhibited state is not inadequate nutrition, inappropriate pH, or a diffusible inhibitor as the dilution can be carried out in medium obtained by filtration of 14-day cells. The respiratory rate of the culture increases 2-fold immediately after dilution and the ATP level increases 3-fold during the 2-h period subsequent to dilution. These observations suggest that the initial function activated by dilution is an increased availability of oxygen and that this increase in oxygen provides an increased level of ATP, finally resulting in an increased rate of protein synthesis. This idea is further supported by the finding that both the increase in cellular ATP and the acceleration of the rate of protein synthesis can be obtained in dense culture, in the absence of dilution, by maintaining the cells for 2 h under oxygen.
Microprobe measurements of calcium binding in the contractile spasmoneme of a vorticellid
Authors: Routledge L. M. , Amos W. B. , Gupta B. L. , Hall T. A. , Weis-Fogh T. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
By means of an electron microprobe, the calcium content of isolated contractile organelles (spasmonemes) from the ciliate Zoothamnium was compared in extension and contraction. By using calcium buffers of different total concentrations, it was shown that the calcium in extended organelles was almost entirely due to concentration of solute during the drying of the specimen. Contracted organelles contained 17g more calcium per kg of dry mass than extended ones, and this extra calcium was bound strongly. The quantity of calcium bound in this way is consistent with the theory that the energy for contraction is derived from the chemical potential of calcium ions. Stoichiometry suggests that between 1·4 and 2·1 calcium ions become bound to each molecule of a spasmonemal calcium-binding protein.