bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Utility of 18F-Fluorocholine PET/CT in The Imaging of Parathyroid Adenomas
Authors: Andrzej Mazurek , Miroslaw Dziuk , Ewa Witkowska-Patena , Witold Chudzinski , Agnieszka Gizewska , Stanislaw Piszczek , Marek Saracyn 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Aim: to estimate sensitivity of 18F-FCH PET/CT in preoperative localisation of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Methods: 65 consecutive patients with PHPT who underwent neck ultrasound (US) and 99mTc/99mTc-MIBI dual-phase parathyroid scintigraphy were prospectively enrolled. Twenty-two patients had unsuccessful parathyroid surgery prior to the study. PET/CT scans were performed 65.0 ± 13.3 min after injection of 218.5 ± 31.9 MBq of 18F-fluorocholine (FCH). Three experienced nuclear medicine physicians assessed the detection rate of hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue. Response to parathyroidectomy and clinical follow-up served as a reference test. Per-patient sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) were calculated for patients who underwent surgery.Results: 18F-FCH PET/CT was positive in 61 patients, and negative in four. US and parathyroid scintigraphy showed positive and negative results in 20 , 45 and 17, 48, respectively. US showed nodular goiter in 31 patients and chronic thyroiditis in 9 patients. Parathyroid surgery was performed in 43 (66%) patients. 18F-FCH PET/CT yielded sensitivity of 100% (95% CI [87.99-100]) and PPV of 85.7% (95% CI [70.77-94.06]). Similar values were observed in patients with chronic thyroiditis, nodular goiter, and patients after an unsuccessful parathyroid surgery. PET/CT identified hyperparathyroidism complications (kidney stones, osteoporotic bone fractures and brown tumours) in 11 patients.Conclusions: 18F-FCH PET/CT effectively detected hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue and its complications. The method showed excellent sensitivity and positive predictive value, including patients with nodular goiter, chronic thyroiditis and prior unsuccessful parathyroidectomy. PET/CT performance was superior to neck ultrasound and parathyroid scintigraphy.
Preparation of long single-strand DNA concatemers for high-level fluorescence in situ hybridization
Authors: Cao Dongjian , Wu Sa , Xi Caili , Li Dong , Zhu Kaiheng , Zhang Zhihong , Gong Hui , Luo Qingming , Yang Jie 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a powerful tool to visualize transcripts in fixed cells and tissues. Despite the recent advances in FISH detection methods, it remains challenging to achieve high-level FISH imaging with a simple workflow. Here, we introduce a method to prepare long single-strand DNA concatemers (lssDNAc) through a controllable rolling-circle amplification (CRCA). Prepared lssDNAcs were used to develop novel AmpFISH workflows. In addition, we present its applications in different scenarios. AmpFISH shows the following advantages: 1) enhanced FISH signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) up to 160-fold compared with single-molecule FISH; 2) simultaneous detection of FISH signals and fluorescent proteins or immunofluorescence (IF) in tissues; 3) simple workflows; and 4) cost-efficiency. In brief, AmpFISH provides convenient and versatile tools for sensitive RNA/DNA detection and to gain useful information on cellular molecules using simple workflows.
Recombinant subunits of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as vaccine candidates to elicit neutralizing antibodies
Authors: ghahroodi Faezeh Noorabad , Khalili Saeed , Rasaee Mohammad Javad 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The spike protein has been reported as one of the most critical targets for vaccine design strategies against the SARS-COV-2 infection. Hence, we have designed, produced, and evaluated the potential use of recombinant proteins derived from spike protein as vaccine candidates capable of neutralizing SARS-COV-2 virus. In silico tools were used to design spike-based subunit recombinant proteins (P1, P2, and P3). These proteins were checked for their ability to be identified by the anti-SARS-COV-2 antibodies by exposing them to Covid-19 serum samples. The proteins were then injected into mice and rabbits and the antibody titers were measured for 170 days. The virus neutralization test (VNT) was performed to analyze the obtained antibodies for their neutralization efficiency. The antibodies that existed in the serum of COVID-19 patients have identified the designed proteins. The anti-spike antibody titer was increased in the animals injected with recombinant proteins. The VNT results revealed that the produced antibodies could neutralize the cultured live virus. The long-lasting antibody titers (130 and 170 days for rabbit and mouse groups) indicated the elicitation of a strong immune response by the recombinant proteins. Subunit vaccines could also be considered as robust tools for effective vaccination against COVID-19. Using a combination of in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments, it was shown that the injection of spike-based recombinant proteins could stimulate long-lasting and neutralizing antibody responses. Further evaluation of the recombinant proteins examined in our studies in higher primates and human would elucidate their true potentials.
Potential Value of Periostin as a Clinically Applicable Biomarker for Osteoarthritis
Authors: Tan Qizhao , Yang Zhongwei , Xin Xing , Yang Bin , Xing Zhili , Li Feng , Zhang Ke , Tian Yun , Zhu Tengjiao 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Emerging knowledge has highlighted the role of periostin (POSTN) in osteoarthritis (OA) process; however, whether POSTN is suitable as a biomarker of OA remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the potential value of POSTN as a biomarker of OA. Methods: We detected the expression of POSTN in the cartilage of ovariectomy (OVX)-OA rats and different compartments of the knee joint in patients with OA using immunohistochemistry and examined serum POSTN levels in patients with or without OA using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The associations among serum POSTN levels, clinical symptoms, and radiological severity were assessed according to the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores and, Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) grading, respectively. Finally, multivariable cumulative link models were established to evaluate the validity of serum POSTN as a predictor of knee OA.Results: The significantly higher POSTN expression was found in OVX-OA rats than Sham rats, while, the expression of POSTN was significantly higher in the torn cartilage of patients with OA. However, the serum POSTN level did not differ significantly between patients with and without OA. Additionally, we found no remarkable associations between serum POSTN level and WOMAC scores and KL grading. Subsequent analysis revealed that serum POSTN was not a significant predictor of OA.Conclusion: Thus, although POSTN may be involved in the initiation and progression of OA and local POSTN is valuable in disease diagnosis and distinguishing of the severity of disease, its serum level is not sufficient to serve as a candidate biomarker of OA given the current analysis technology.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel Mitovirus From the Phytopathogenic Fungus Fusarium Oxysporum
Authors: wang Jing , Qiu Rui , Li Chengjun , Li Shujun , Li Xiaojie , Zhao Jun , Bai jingke , Chen Yuguo 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Fusarium oxysporum is a cosmopolitan plant pathogen causing Fusarium wilt and Fusarium root rot in many economically important crops. There is still limited information about mycoviruses that infect F. oxysporum. Here, a novel mitovirus tentatively named Fusarium oxysporum mitovirus 1 (FoMV1) was identified from F. oxysporum strain B2-10. The genome of FoMV1 is 2,453 nt in length with a predicted AU content of 71.6%, and contains one large open reading frame (ORF) using the fungal mitochondrial genetic code. The ORF encodes RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) of 723 amino acids with a molecular mass of 84.98 kDa. The RdRp domain of FoMV1 shares 29.01–68.43% sequence similarity to the members of the family Mitoviridae. Phylogenetic analysis further suggested that FoMV1 is a new member of a distinct species in the genus Mitovirus.
The relationship between the level of exercise and hemoglobin A1c in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Igarashi Yutaka , Akazawa Nobuhiko , Maeda Seiji 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses reported that exercise improved hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but the improvement reported was heterogeneous. A difference in the level of exercise might be the reason for that heterogeneity. Objective: The aim of study was to evaluate the relationship between changes in HbA1c and exercise levels when performing various types of exercise.Methods: The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials involving adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and a mean age of ≥18 years, intervention involving exercise alone, the overall duration of intervention ≥12 weeks, and reporting HbA1c. The mean difference (defined as difference [intervention group value minus control group value] in change [final value minus baseline value] in the mean value) was calculated. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was defined as the mean difference weighted by the inverse of the squared standard error for each study, and all WMDs were pooled as overall effects. A meta-regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between the exercise level and the WMD in HbA1c. All analyses were performed using restricted maximum likelihood. Results: Forty-eight studies (2395 subjects) were analyzed. The pooled WMD in HbA1c decreased significantly (−0.5% [95% confidence intervals: −0.6 to −0.4)]) but contained significant heterogeneity (Q=103.8, P<0.01; I2=36.6%). The pooled WMD in body mass index (BMI) decreased significantly (−0.55 kg/m2 [95% confidence intervals: −0.58 to −0.51]) and did not contain heterogeneity (Q=25.8, P=0.99; I2=0.0%). A meta-regression analysis showed that the intensity (metabolic equivalents [METs]), time (min/session), or frequency (sessions/week) of exercise was not associated with the HbA1c. However, the overall duration of exercise (weeks) was significantly associated with the WMD in HbA1c (meta-regression coefficient: 0.01 [95% confidence intervals: 0.002 to 0.016]; R2=70.0%), and that result did not contain significant heterogeneity (P>0.05; I2=14.7%). Even when studies were limited to those involving mean age ≥40 years, mean baseline HbA1c ≥6.5%, mean duration of type 2 diabetes mellitus ≥5.0 years, mean baseline BMI ≥30 kg/m2, calculation of the WMD in BMI, performance of aerobic exercise alone, or no inclusion of a high risk of bias, there was no change in these results. Conclusions: The exercise intervention decreased HbA1c in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, but that change likely depended on the overall duration of exercise. HbA1c may increase if exercise is continued, but at least continuing exercise is not necessarily beneficial for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. This may be the result of intervention in the form of exercise alone.
Individual Differences in Habitat Selection Mediate Landscape Level Predictions of a Functional Response
Authors: Newediuk Levi , Prokopenko Christina M. , Wal Eric Vander 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Context
Conserving and managing habitat for animals requires robust models to predict their space use. The functional response in habitat selection posits that animals adjust their habitat selection according to availability.
Objectives
Habitat availability can change over short time periods and small spatial distances, and thus failing to account for changes in habitat availability while modelling may not produce reliable predictions in the near–term or future. However, because individuals may respond to habitat availability differently, the functional response is also limited for predicting habitat selection by individuals.
Methods
Using a functional response in elk (Cervus canadensis) selection for mixed forest in response to road proximity, we compared habitat selection predictions made by population-level resource selection functions (RSFs) with random effects to incorporate individual differences in selection, to generalized functional response (GFR) RSFs.
Results
We found that since not all individuals followed the road-dependent functional response, the random effects model both predicted the distributions of individuals more accurately (R2 = 0.62 vs. R2 = 0.51) and produced coefficient estimates that matched their selection for mixed forest and distance from roads better than the GFR model (RMSE = 0.25 vs. RMSE = 0.29 and 0.37 vs. 0.46).
Conclusions
Individual habitat selection often varies within populations, and revealing those differences shows how individuals help populations respond to environmental change. We suggest that evaluating individual differences using multiple predictive approaches is necessary to forecast long–term habitat selection.
Effect of Local Metakaolin Developed from Natural Material Soorh and Coal Bottom Ash on Fresh, Hardened Properties and Embodied Carbon of Self-Compacting Concrete
Authors: Keerio Manthar Ali , Saand Abdullah , Kumar Aneel , Bheel Naraindas , Ali Karm 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The carbon dioxide emissions from Portland cement production have increased significantly and Portland cement is the main binder used in self-compacting concrete, so there is an urgent need to find environmental friendly materials as alternative resources. In most developing countries, the availability of huge amounts of agricultural waste has paved the way for studying how these materials can be processed into self-compacting concrete as binder and aggregates compositions. Therefore, this experimental program was carried out to study the properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) made with local metakaolin, coal bottom ash separately and combined. Total 25 mixes were prepared with four mixes as 5,10, 15 and 20% replacement of cement with metakaolin, four mixes as 10, 20, 30 and 40% of coal bottom ash as partial replacement of fine aggregates separately and 16 mixes prepared combined with metakaolin and coal bottom ash. The fresh properties were explored by slump flow, T50 flow, V-funnel, L-box, J-Ring sieve segregation test. Moreover, the hardened properties of concrete were performed for compressive, splitting tensile and flexural strength and permeability of SCC mixtures. Fresh concrete test results show that even if no viscosity modifier is required, satisfactory fresh concrete properties of SCC can be obtained by replacing the fine aggregate with coal bottom ash content. At 15% replacement of cement with local metakaolin is optimum and gave better results as compared to control SCC. At 30% replacement of fine aggregate is optimum and gave better results as compared to control SCC. In the combined mix 10% replacement of cement with metakaolin combined with 30% replacement of fine aggregate with coal bottom ash is optimum and gave better results as compared to control SCC.
Efficacy and Safety of Trabectedin in Patients with Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Bicentric Retrospective Analysis.
Authors: Loïc Chaigneau , Marine Jary , Virginie Nerich , Alice Hervieu , Sébastien Aubry , Céline Charon Barra , Guillaume Meynard , Florent Neumann , Elsa Kalbacher , Nicolas Isambert 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are a rare and heterogenous group of tumors, with poor prognostic, judging from their frequency to relapse. Few drugs are available. Since 2007, trabectedin got approval after failure of anthracyclines and ifosfamide, for advanced or metastatic STS.Patients and Methods: This retrospective study describes effects of trabectedin on survival, response, and toxicity, in STS patients. One hundred twenty-nine patients treated between 2002 and 2019 were analysed, from two French centers. All patients were tested for toxicities, and efficacy was assessed in patients exposed to at least 2 cycles of trabectedin.Results: Three median cycles were administered per patient (1-79). Among the 115 patients analysed for efficacy, the median progression free survival was 3.0 months [CI95%: 2.3 – 4.7], with an overall survival of 11.9 months [CI95%: 10.2 – 16.6]. The rate of disease control was 45.2% at the end of treatment. Myxoid liposarcoma (n = 11) was the histology subtype that benefited most from this chemotherapy with median progression free survival and an overall survival of 13.3 months [CI95%: 2.3 – 18.7] and 27.8 months [CI95%: 3.2 – 64.7], respectively. Adverse events were manageable. Conclusion: Efficacy of trabectedin is confirmed in terms of clinical benefit and low toxicity, especially for myxoid liposarcoma.
Needs Assessment for Physical Activity Information During COVID-19 among a Nationally Representative Sample of Parents and Children ages 6-17 in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Johnson Ashleigh , Kroshus Emily , Tandon Pooja 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background

The COVID-19 pandemic presented novel barriers to youth physical activity engagement. Identifying what resources parents and children are interested in receiving can support efforts to mitigate the negative impact of the pandemic on youth physical activity behavior. This study aimed to identify physical activity-related information needs during the COVID-19 pandemic among a nationally representative sample of parents of children ages 6–10 and parent-child dyads of children ages 11–17.
Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted by a market research company in October-November 2020. Parents and children were asked about their interest in information about helping their family and themselves, respectively, be active. Weighted percentages were calculated for reported information needs.
Results

Final analytic sample was 1000 parents (55.4% female; 74.7% White; 74.0% non-Hispanic); 500 children ages 11–17 (52.1% male; 77.6% White; 77.4% non-Hispanic). Over 40% of respondents were interested in information about being active during COVID-19. Parents were more likely to be interested in information if they worked from home compared to outside the home [53.3% (95% CI:43.3%-63.0%) versus 22.0% (95% CI:14.9%-31.3%), respectively]; had children attending school remotely compared to in-person [47.3% (95% CI:40.2%-54.5%) versus 27.5% (95% CI:19.6%-37.1%), respectively]; and lived in a big city (66.5%; 95% CI: 54.5%-76.7%) compared to a suburban area (42.5%; 95% CI: 34.2%-51.2%), small town (34.6%; 95% CI: 22.8%-48.8%), or rural area (34.1%; 95% CI: 22.8%-47.6%). Children most interested were those who did not have resources for online activity engagement, and those worried about their safety or getting infected with COVID-19. Children were also more likely to be interested in information if their parents worked full-time compared to not working [48.6% (95% CI:41.7%-55.6%) versus 31.5% (95% CI:24.1%-39.9%), respectively], and lived in big city compared to a rural area [57.2% (95% CI:45.3%-68.3%) versus 27.8% (95% CI:17.8%-40.7%)].
Conclusions

Families most interested in physical activity-related resources were those whose organized activity opportunities may have been disrupted by the pandemic. Identifying felt needs is an important step in developing interventions that effectively support families in promoting activity. Behavioral interventions oriented around increasing youth physical activity should provide guidance that resonates with families and accounts for setting-specific constraints and stressors.
Coalitional Graph Game of Multi-Hop Clustering in Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks
Authors: Charoenchai Siwapon , Siripongwutikorn Peerapon 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Road traffic information can be collected over a vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) and utilized in many intelligent traffic system applications. A clustering mechanism is used to create a cluster of vehicles to facilitate the data collection from vehicles to road side units (RSUs) acting as sink nodes. Unlike previous works that focus on cluster lifetime or throughput, we propose a coalitional graph game (CGG) technique to form a multi-hop cluster with a largest possible coverage area for a given transmission delay time constraint to economize on the number of RSUs. Vehicles decide to join or leave the coalition based on their individual utility that is a weighted function of number of members in the coalition, relative velocities, distance to sink nodes, and transmission delay toward the sink nodes. The stability of cluster formation is proved by using a discrete-time Markov chain. Our results show that the proposed game model always yields a stable coalition structure that satisfies the objective, and the solutions vary with the weights given to individual components in the utility function.
Supplementation of Micronutrients Against COVID-19.
Authors: Unnithan Ajaya Kumar Ayyappan 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background and Objectives: There is no pharmacological treatment with proven efficacy against coronavirus disease-19. Certain micronutrients have roles in the maintenance of an effective immune system. From the point of view of public health, it will be good to adopt a nutrional strategy to enhance the immunity of the general population against viral diseases. Method and Study design: A review was done to now the evidence for the antiviral and immunomodulatory properties of micronutrients. A search was done in Pubmed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for the nutrients with proven effect against viral infection. Experimental studies, clinical studies, reviews, and meta-analyses were studied descripitively.Results: There are experimental studies about the effects of micronutrients against viral infection. Vitamins such as A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate, and trace elements such as zinc, selenium, iron, magnesium, and copper boost the immune response. The antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E can help in controlling the ‘cytokine storm’, produced by excessive inflammation. Vitamin D can increase anti-inflammatory cytokines. Selenium and zinc can protect the lungs in acute respiratory distress syndrome. There are many meta-analyses on the randomized controlled trials (RCT) about the effect of micronutrients on viral infection. The analyses of the trials supplementing vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and selenium have shown significance. Conclusions: There is level 2A evidence for the beneficial effects of vitamins and micronutrients in modulating the immunity against viral infections. So a programme for nutritional supplementation of these can help in fighting the pandemic.
Three-Step One-Way Model in Terahertz Biomedical Detection
Authors: Peng Yan , Huang Jieli , Luo Jie , Yang Zhangfan , Wang Liping , Wu Xu , Yu Chen , Zang Xiaofei , Hu Qing , Gu Min , Zhang Xicheng , Zhu Yiming , Zhuang Songlin 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Terahertz technology has broad application prospects in biomedical detection. However, the mixed characteristics of actual samples make the terahertz spectrum complex and difficult to distinguish, and there is no practical terahertz detection method for medical clinics. Here, we propose a three-step one-way terahertz model, presenting a detailed flow analysis of terahertz technology in the biomedical detection of renal fibrosis as an example: 1) biomarker determination: screening disease biomarkers and establishing the terahertz spectrum and concentration gradient; 2) mixture interference removal: clearing the interfering signals in the mixture for the biomarker in the animal model and evaluating and retaining the effective characteristic peaks; and 3) individual difference removal: excluding individual interference differences and confirming the final effective terahertz parameters in the human sample. The root mean square error of our model is three orders of magnitude lower than that of the gold standard, with profound implications for the rapid, accurate and early detection of diseases.