bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FGD5-AS1 Inhibits Osteoarthritis Development by Modulating miR-302d-3p/TGFBR2 Axis
Authors: Yang Yue , Sun Zhibo , Liu Feng , Bai Yuanzhang , Wu Fei 
Published: April 2021

Objective Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disorder, accompanied by extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Reportedly, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in OA pathogenesis. However, the role of lncRNA FYVE, RhoGEF, and PH domain containing 5 antisense RNA 1 (FGD5-AS1) in OA development is still not fully clarified. This study was aimed to clarify the role of FGD5-AS1 in OA. Methods FGD5-AS1 and miR-302d-3p expression levels were determined in cartilage tissues and chondrocytes by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Chondrocytes (C20/A4 cells) were stimulated with interleukin 1β (IL-1β) to mimic the inflammatory environment of OA. Cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine assays. Cell apoptosis was measured by the caspase-3 activity assay and flow cytometry. Transforming growth factor beta receptors II (TGFBR2), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), and ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 5 expression levels were examined by qRT-PCR or Western blot. The regulatory relationships among FGD5-AS1, miR-302d-3p, and TGFBR2 were predicted by the StarBase v2.0, miRanda, miRDB, and TargetScan databases, and confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay. Results FGD5-AS1 and TGFBR2 expression levels were downregulated while miR-302d-3p expression was increased in cartilage tissues of OA patients. Knocking down FGD5-AS1 inhibited the viability of C20/A4 cells but induced apoptosis and ECM degradation, while FGD5-AS1 overexpression exerted opposite effects. MiR-302d-3p was identified as a target of FGD5-AS1, and TGFBR2 was identified as a target of miR-302d-3p. FGD5-AS1 positively regulated TGFBR2 expression by repressing miR-302d-3p expression, and miR-302d-3p inhibition or TGFBR2 restoration reversed the changes of cell viability, apoptosis, and ECM degradation induced by FGD5-AS1 knockdown. Conclusion FGD5-AS1 can probably inhibit OA progression by regulating miR-302d-3p/TGFBR2 axis.
How Many Patients Achieve an Acceptable Symptom State After Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome? A Cross-sectional Study Including PASS Cutoff Values for the HAGOS and iHOT-33
Authors: Ishøi Lasse , Thorborg Kristian , Ørum Marie G. , Kemp Joanne L. , Reiman Michael P. , Hölmich Per 
Published: April 2021

Background: Hip arthroscopy is a viable treatment for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). Clinically relevant improvements in hip function and pain after surgery are often reported, but it is less clear how many patients achieve an acceptable symptom state (Patient Acceptable Symptom State [PASS]). Purpose: To investigate the proportion of patients who achieved a PASS 12 to 24 months after hip arthroscopy and to determine the cutoff scores of the 2 recommended and valid patient-reported outcome measures (the subscales of the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score [HAGOS] and the International Hip Outcome Tool—33 [iHOT-33]) for which patients are most likely to achieve PASS. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Eligible study patients were identified in the Danish Hip Arthroscopy Registry. An electronic questionnaire was used to collect data on PASS, HAGOS, and iHOT-33 12 to 24 months after surgery. PASS was measured using an anchor question. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were applied to identify the PASS cutoff values of HAGOS and iHOT-33 scores. Results: A total of 137 individuals (mean age at surgery, 35.4 ± 9.4 years) were included in the study at a mean follow-up of 18.5 ± 3.2 months after surgery. At follow-up, 64 individuals (46.7%; 95% CI, 38.6-55.1) reported PASS. Higher HAGOS and iHOT-33 values were observed for participants who reported PASS compared with those who did not report PASS (Cohen d ≥ 1.06; P < .001). Cutoff scores for HAGOS subscales (42.5-82.5) and iHOT-33 (67.00) showed excellent to outstanding discriminative ability in predicting PASS (area under the curve, 0.82-0.92). Conclusion: In total, 46% of individuals having hip arthroscopy for FAIS achieved PASS at 12 to 24 months of follow-up. Patients who achieved PASS had statistically significant and substantially better self-reported hip function compared with those who did not achieve PASS. Cutoff values at HAGOS subscales and iHOT-33 showed excellent to outstanding discriminative ability in predicting patients with PASS.
Deconstructing Merit: Dalit Presence in Higher Education
Authors: Singh Kanika 
Published: April 2021

Higher education is exclusionary in principle but it must not perpetuate injustice as it is antithetical to the spirit of academia. This article aims to elaborate on the condition of Indian higher education specifically in response to the question of accessibility. The current systems designed to screen students indirectly favour individuals with inherent privileges. These privileges are converted into socially sanctioned claim on opportunities through the merit discourse. What does this entail for Dalits whose academic performance and potential is questioned based on flawed systems and methods? The primary objective of this article is to understand the complexities in the current usage of merit in Indian admission policies in higher education. The article presents multiple interpretations of merit as understood by the respondents during the primary data collection from a public university. A detailed discussion on the themes culled out from the data collection will highlight the larger problem of fetishizing merit without understanding its deeply problematic structure. The article also investigates the invisibility of caste discrimination and hypervisibility of caste otherwise in university space against the meritocratic principle that is considered to be a better alternative to caste-based quotas with respect to admission policies in higher education institutions.
OTULIN is a new target of EA treatment in the alleviation of brain injury and glial cell activation via suppression of the NF-κB signalling pathway in acute ischaemic stroke rats
Authors: Xu Hongbei , Wang You , Luo Yong 
Published: April 2021

AbstractObjectiveOvarian tumour domain deubiquitinase with linear linkage specificity (OTULIN) is a potent negative regulator of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling pathway, and it plays a strong neuroprotective role following acute ischemic stroke. Electroacupuncture (EA) is an effective adjuvant treatment for reducing brain injury and neuroinflammation via the inhibition of NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation, but the underlying mechanism is not clear. The present study investigated whether OTULIN was necessary for EA to mitigate brain injury and glial cell activation in a transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model in rats.MethodsAn acute ischaemic stroke model was established via tMCAO surgery in Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. EA was performed once daily at “Baihui (GV 20)”, “Hegu (LI 4)”, and “Taichong (LR 3)” acupoints. The effect of EA on the spatiotemporal expression of OTULIN in the ischaemic penumbra of the cerebral cortex was detected within 7 days after reperfusion. The effects of OTULIN gene silencing on EA neurological deficits, cerebral infarct volume, neuronal damage, the activation of microglia and astrocytes, the contents of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), and the expression of p-IκBa, IκBa and nucleus/cytoplasm NF-κB p65 protein were assessed.ResultsEA treatment increased endogenous OTULIN expression, which peaked at 48 h. Enhanced OTULIN was primarily located in neurons, but a small amount of OTULIN was detected in microglia. OTULIN silencing obviously reversed EA neuroprotection, which was demonstrated by worsened neurobehavioural performance, cerebral infarct volume and neuronal injury. The inhibitory effect of EA on the NF-κB pathway was also attenuated by enhanced IκBα phosphorylation and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. EA partially inhibited the transformation of microglia and astrocytes from resting states to activated states and reduced the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. However, these preventive effects were reversed after the silencing of OTULIN expression.ConclusionsOTULIN provides a new potential therapeutic target for EA to alleviate acute ischaemic stroke-induced brain injury and the activation of glial cells, which are related to suppression of the NF-κB signalling pathway.
The Band-Gap Studies of Short-Period CdO/MgO Superlattices
Authors: Przeździecka Ewa , Strąk P. , Wierzbicka A. , Adhikari A. , Lysak A. , Sybilski P. , Sajkowski J. M. , Seweryn A. , Kozanecki A. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractTrends in the behavior of band gaps in short-period superlattices (SLs) composed of CdO and MgO layers were analyzed experimentally and theoretically for several thicknesses of CdO sublayers. The optical properties of the SLs were investigated by means of transmittance measurements at room temperature in the wavelength range 200–700 nm. The direct band gap of {CdO/MgO} SLs were tuned from 2.6 to 6 eV by varying the thickness of CdO from 1 to 12 monolayers while maintaining the same MgO layer thickness of 4 monolayers. Obtained values of direct and indirect band gaps are higher than those theoretically calculated by an ab initio method, but follow the same trend. X-ray measurements confirmed the presence of a rock salt structure in the SLs. Two oriented structures (111 and 100) grown on c- and r-oriented sapphire substrates were obtained. The measured lattice parameters increase with CdO layer thickness, and the experimental data are in agreement with the calculated results. This new kind of SL structure may be suitable for use in visible, UV and deep UV optoelectronics, especially because the energy gap can be precisely controlled over a wide range by modulating the sublayer thickness in the superlattices.
Retrospective non-target analysis to support regulatory water monitoring: from masses of interest to recommendations via in silico workflows
Authors: Lai Adelene , Singh Randolph R. , Kovalova Lubomira , Jaeggi Oliver , Kondić Todor , Schymanski Emma L. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Applying non-target analysis (NTA) in regulatory environmental monitoring remains challenging—instead of having exploratory questions, regulators usually already have specific questions related to environmental protection aims. Additionally, data analysis can seem overwhelming because of the large data volumes and many steps required. This work aimed to establish an open in silico workflow to identify environmental chemical unknowns via retrospective NTA within the scope of a pre-existing Swiss environmental monitoring campaign focusing on industrial chemicals. The research question addressed immediate regulatory priorities: identify pollutants with industrial point sources occurring at the highest intensities over two time points. Samples from 22 wastewater treatment plants obtained in 2018 and measured using liquid chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry were retrospectively analysed by (i) performing peak-picking to identify masses of interest; (ii) prescreening and quality-controlling spectra, and (iii) tentatively identifying priority “known unknown” pollutants by leveraging environmentally relevant chemical information provided by Swiss, Swedish, EU-wide, and American regulators. This regulator-supplied information was incorporated into MetFrag, an in silico identification tool replete with “post-relaunch” features used here. This study’s unique regulatory context posed challenges in data quality and volume that were directly addressed with the prescreening, quality control, and identification workflow developed.

Results
One confirmed and 21 tentative identifications were achieved, suggesting the presence of compounds as diverse as manufacturing reagents, adhesives, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals in the samples. More importantly, an in-depth interpretation of the results in the context of environmental regulation and actionable next steps are discussed. The prescreening and quality control workflow is openly accessible within the R package Shinyscreen, and adaptable to any (retrospective) analysis requiring automated quality control of mass spectra and non-target identification, with potential applications in environmental and metabolomics analyses.

Conclusions
NTA in regulatory monitoring is critical for environmental protection, but bottlenecks in data analysis and results interpretation remain. The prescreening and quality control workflow, and interpretation work performed here are crucial steps towards scaling up NTA for environmental monitoring.
A cell-based ribozyme reporter system employing a chromosomally-integrated 5′ exonuclease gene
Authors: Aroonsri Aiyada , Kongsee Jindaporn , Gunawan Jeremy David , Aubry Daniel Abidin , Shaw Philip James 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Bioinformatic genome surveys indicate that self-cleaving ribonucleic acids (ribozymes) appear to be widespread among all domains of life, although the functions of only a small number have been validated by biochemical methods. Alternatively, cell-based reporter gene assays can be used to validate ribozyme function. However, reporter activity can be confounded by phenomena unrelated to ribozyme-mediated cleavage of RNA.

Results
We established a ribozyme reporter system in Escherichia coli in which a significant reduction of reporter activity is manifest when an active ribozyme sequence is fused to the reporter gene and the expression of a foreign Bacillus subtilis RNaseJ1 5′ exonuclease is induced from a chromosomally-integrated gene in the same cell.

Conclusions
The reporter system could be useful for validating ribozyme function in candidate sequences identified from bioinformatics.
Correlations among disability, anti-AQP4 antibody status and prognosis in the spinal cord involved patients with NMOSD
Authors: Hsu Jung Lung , Liao Ming-Feng , Chang Kuo-Hsuan , Cheng Mei-Yun , Ro Long-Sun 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a rare neuroinflammatory disorder of the central nervous system that typically involves the optic nerve, the spinal cord and other specific brain regions. In relapse of the disease, factors associated with clinical features and lesion severity are important for clinicians to predict disease-related disability.

Methods
We retrospectively analyzed 22 female patients with NMOSD who had spinal cord lesions. Detailed clinical features, onset symptoms, motor disability, relapse episodes, serum aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) autoantibodies and MRI characteristics were documented to correlate their associations with the nadir and three-month Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores. Patients with three-month EDSS scores below four (< 4) were categorized as the good outcome group, while those with scores of four or more (> 4) were categorized as the poor outcome group.

Results
In patients with NMOSD, the mean age was 44.5 ± 12.8 years, and the mean three-month EDSS score was 4.3 ± 1.9. A significantly higher all-limb muscle power score was found in the good EDSS group than in the poor EDSS group (p = 0.01). A tendency toward longer follow-up periods and lower anti-AQP4 antibody levels was found in the good outcome group. Serum anti-AQP4 antibodies were present in 86% of patients with NMOSD, and MOG autoantibodies were found in one anti-AQP4 antibody-negative patient (33.3%). In patients with NMOSD, more than 40% of spinal cord lesions were distributed at the middle cervical and upper thoracic levels.

Conclusions
Our findings suggest that EDSS scores and MRC scores at the nadir had significant associations with three-month EDSS scores. The topographic distributions of the spinal cord lesions might relate to different serum anti-AQP4 antibody status. However, further studies will be needed to corroborate this finding.
Associations between mandibular torus and types of temporomandibular disorders, and the clinical usefulness of temporary splint for checking bruxism
Authors: Lee Hee-Min , Kang Dong-Woo , Yun Pil-Young , Kim Il-hyung , Kim Young-Kyun 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Occlusal stress from oral parafunctional habits is one of the causes of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and mandibular torus (MT). Although some studies have investigated the correlation between TMD and MT, understanding of the relationships between types of TMD and MT is insufficient. Therefore, we conducted this study to investigate the associations between presence of MT and TMD types.

Methods
This study included 77 patients diagnosed with TMD who first visited our clinic for TMD between March 2019 and July 2020. Among them, 30 (38.9%) had MT, and 54 (70.1%) had oral parafunction. Parafunctional activity during sleep was confirmed using a temporary splint for checking bruxism (TSCB).

Results
The relationship between prevalence of MT and oral parafunction in TMD patients was not statistically significant (P = 0.131), but the odds ratio was relatively high at 2.267. An analysis of TMD type revealed that Type I, which is classified as myalgia of the masticatory muscles, and MT had a significant association (P = 0.011). We fabricated a TSCB for 27 patients to wear during sleep and confirmed that 23 (85.2%) had nocturnal bruxism. The TSCB results and presence of MT showed a significant relationship (P = 0.047).

Conclusion
Through the results of this study, clinicians may consider the hyperactivity of masticatory muscles in the presence of MT when treating TMD patients. In addition, TSCB has a great diagnostic value as it can be easily manufactured and be useful for discovering pre-existing oral parafunctions that patients are not aware of.
What is the performance in public hospitals? A longitudinal analysis of performance plans through topic modeling
Authors: Noto Guido , Lo Verso Andrea Carlo , Barresi Gustavo 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Both the concept of performance and the role of hospitals in health systems evolved significantly in the last decades. Today, the performance in health could be defined as the ability to create ‘population value,’ and the hospitals’ role is to support this aim by providing acute care and by integrating and coordinating their activity with other settings of care. This research aims to assess how and with what degree the management of public hospitals have embraced in practice the updated concept of performance and their new role.

Result
The paper analyses 181 performance plans of 48 Italian autonomous public hospitals over a nine-year period through the topic modeling algorithm called Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). This is a method that allows for analysing large textual corpora that generates a representation of the latent topics discussed therein. The concept of performance in public hospitals was framed into 15 topics resulting from the analysis of the hospitals’ performance plans. The prevalence of each topic was analysed through the period considered so as to understand the evolution of performance-related practices over the last decade.

Conclusion
In recent years, the concept of performance in hospitals evolved toward the adoption of an outcome-based and population-based perspective. Additional effort should be devoted toward improved collaboration and integration of care with other settings.
Towards open, reliable, and transparent ecology and evolutionary biology
Authors: O’Dea Rose E. , Parker Timothy H. , Chee Yung En , Culina Antica , Drobniak Szymon M. , Duncan David H. , Fidler Fiona , Gould Elliot , Ihle Malika , Kelly Clint D. , Lagisz Malgorzata , Roche Dominique G. , Sánchez-Tójar Alfredo , Wilkinson David P. , Wintle Bonnie C. , Nakagawa Shinichi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractUnreliable research programmes waste funds, time, and even the lives of the organisms we seek to help and understand. Reducing this waste and increasing the value of scientific evidence require changing the actions of both individual researchers and the institutions they depend on for employment and promotion. While ecologists and evolutionary biologists have somewhat improved research transparency over the past decade (e.g. more data sharing), major obstacles remain. In this commentary, we lift our gaze to the horizon to imagine how researchers and institutions can clear the path towards more credible and effective research programmes.
Selenium source and level on performance, selenium retention and biochemical responses of young broiler chicks
Authors: Arnaut Pedro Righetti , da Silva Viana Gabriel , da Fonseca Lucimauro , Alves Warley Junior , Muniz Jorge Cunha Lima , Pettigrew James Eugene , e Silva Fabyano Fonseca , Rostagno Horácio Santiago , Hannas Melissa Izabel 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundSelenium (Se) has been recognized as an essential micronutrient for nearly all forms of life. In recent decades, broiler responses to dietary Se supplemental levels and sources have received considerable attention. On environmental grounds, organic trace mineral utilization in practical broiler feeds has been defended due to its higher bioavailability. In such feeds, trace minerals are provided simultaneously in the same supplement as inorganic salts or organic chelates, a fact commonly ignored in assays conducted to validate organic trace mineral sources. The current assay aimed to investigate growth and biochemical responses, as well as Se retention of growing chicks fed diets supplemented with organic and inorganic Se levels and where the trace minerals (zinc, copper, manganese, and iron) were provided as organic chelates or inorganic salts according to Se source assessed. In so doing, a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement was used to investigate the effects of sodium selenite (SS) and selenium-yeast (SY) supplemented in feeds to provide the levels of 0, 0.08, 0.16, 0.24, and 0.32 mg Se/kg.ResultsChicks fed selenium-yeast diets had body weight (BW), and average daily gain (ADG) maximized at 0.133 and 0.130 mg Se/kg, respectively. Both Se sources linearly increased (P < 0.05) the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in chick blood but higher values were observed in sodium selenite fed chicks (P < 0.05). Both Se sources influenced thyroid hormone serum concentrations (P < 0.05). Chicks fed SY exhibited greater retention of Se in the feathers (P < 0.05). Relative bioavailability of selenium yeast compared with SS for the Se content in carcass, feathers, total and Se retention were, 126, 116, 125 and 125%, respectively. SY supplementation resulted in lower liver Se concentration as Se supplementation increased (P < 0.05).ConclusionsBased on performance traits, the supplemental level of organic Se as SY in organic trace minerals supplement to support the maximal growth of broiler chicks is 0.133 mg Se/kg.