bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PredictPTB: An Interpretable Preterm Birth Prediction Model Using Attention-based Recurrent Neural Networks
Authors: AlSaad Rawan , Malluhi Qutaibah , Boughorbel Sabri 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: Early identification of pregnant women at risk for preterm birth (PTB), a major cause of infant mortality and morbidity, has a significant potential to improve prenatal care. However, we lack effective predictive models which can accurately forecast PTB and complement these predictions with appropriate interpretations for clinicians. In this work, we introduce a clinical prediction model (PredictPTB) which combines variables (medical codes) readily accessible through electronic health record (EHR) to accurately predict the risk of preterm birth at 1, 3, 6, and 9 months prior to delivery. Methods: The architecture of PredictPTB employs recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to model the longitudinal patient's EHR visits and exploits a single code-level attention mechanism to improve the predictive performance, while providing temporal code-level and visit-level explanations for the prediction results. We compare the performance of different combinations of prediction time-points, data modalities, and data windows. We also present a case-study of our model's interpretability illustrating how clinicians can gain some transparency into the predictions. Results: Leveraging a large cohort of 222,436 deliveries, comprising a total of 27,100 unique clinical concepts, our model was able to predict preterm birth with an ROC-AUC of 0.82, 0.79, 0.78, and PR-AUC of 0.40, 0.31, 0.24, at 1, 3, and 6 months prior to delivery, respectively. Results also confirm that observational data modalities (such as diagnoses) are more predictive for preterm birth than interventional data modalities (e.g., medications and procedures). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that PredictPTB can be utilized to achieve accurate and scalable predictions for preterm birth, complemented by explanations that directly highlight evidence in the patient's EHR timeline.
Genome-Wide Run of Homozygosity Analysis Reveals Candidate Genomic Regions Associated with Environmental Adaptations of Tibetan Native Chickens
Authors: Yuan Jingwei , Li Shijun , Sheng Zheya , Zhang Meikun , Liu Xuming , Yuan Zhengdong , Yang Ning , Chen Jilan 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background
In Tibet, two most important breeds are Tibetan chicken and Lhasa white chicken, and the duo exhibit specific adaptations to high altitude and produce indispensable protein for humans living in the plateau. These breeds were partly included in conservation plans as their biodiversity is important as a genetic resource. However, population genetic analysis of the chickens is rarely investigated. Based on whole-genome sequencing data of 113 chickens from 4 Tibetan chicken population including Shigatse (SH), Nyemo (NM), Dagze (DZ) and Nyingchi (LZ), as well as Lhasa white (LW) chicken population, we performed genetic diversity and differentiation, run of homozygosity (ROH), genomic inbreeding and selection signature analyses.
Results
Our results showed high genetic diversity across the five chicken populations. The linkage disequilibrium decay was highest in LZ, and moderate level of genetic differentiation was found between LZ and other populations (Fst ranging from 0.05 to 0.10). Furthermore, the highest ROH-based inbreeding estimate (FROH) was 0.11 in LZ, whereas it ranges from 0.04 to 0.06 in the other four chicken populations. In total, 74, 111, 62, 42 and 54 ROHs containing SNPs with concurrency ranked top 1% were identified for SH, NM, DZ, LZ and LW, respectively. BDNF, CCDC34, LGR4, LIN7C, GLS, LOC101747789, MYO1B, STAT1 and STAT4 were shared genes harbored by these ROHs in the five populations, suggesting their important roles in adaptation of the chickens. Combined with selection signature analysis, we also identified a common candidate genomic region harboring AMY2A, NTNG1 and VAV3 genes. These genes have been reported to contribute to digestion, neurite growth and high-altitude adaptation, which could be involved in selection during evolution process.
Conclusions
High genetic diversity was observed in Tibetan native chickens. Nyingchi population, possessing highest FROH, is genetically distant from other chicken population. Candidate genes in ROH islands could aid the genetic characterization of the five Tibetan native chicken populations. Our findings contribute to the understanding of genetic diversity and offer valuable insights for the genetic mechanism of adaptation, as well as provide veritable tools that can help in the design and implementation of breeding and conservation strategies for Tibetan native chickens.
Effort-reward Imbalance at Work and Oral Diseases: a Cross-sectional Study in Japan
Authors: Sato Yukihiro , Yoshioka Eiji , Takekawa Masanori , Saijo Yasuaki 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Psychological stress is a potential risk factor for oral diseases. However, evidence for association between work stress and oral diseases is lacking. We aimed to examine the associations of work stress, according to the effort-reward imbalance model, with dental caries, periodontal disease, and tooth loss. This cross-sectional study included 619 regular employees. Work stress was assessed using the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) ratio. Dental caries and tooth loss were assessed according to the number of decayed and filled teeth (DFT) and missing teeth (MT) among set of 28 teeth. Severe periodontitis was assessed using a questionnaire. The mean ERI ratio (with standard deviations) was 1.12 (0.47). In the pooled analysis, a one-unit increase in the ERI ratio was associated with -0.90 (95% CI = -1.67, -0.12) changes in the mean DFT and -0.20 (95% CI =-0.45, 0.06) changes in the mean MT from adjusted linear regression models. A one-unit increase in the ERI ratio was also associated with 1.66 (95% CI = 1.10, 2.52) of the risk for severe periodontitis based on Poisson regression models. ERI at work was associated with a low number of dental caries and tooth loss, and an increased risk of severe periodontitis.
Long non-coding RNA (FALEC), as a lncRNA, Promotes Malignant Behaviors of Gastric Cancer Cells by Regulating miR-203b/PIM3 Axis
Authors: Dong Wenjing , Gong Mancheng , Xiao Jianjun , Li Huifen , Tian Muyou , Wang Senming 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
BackgroundPieces of evidences have shown the important regulatory effects of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in gastric cancer (GC). While it is not entirely clear for the role and mechanism of focally amplified lncRNA on chromosome 1 (FALEC) during GC tumorigenesis. MethodsThe levels of FALEC, microRNA-203b (miR-203b), and PIM3 were confirmed by qRT-PCR. And cell autophagy, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were estimated using western blot for autophagy-related proteins, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), CCK-8, flow cytometer, and Transwell assays in NCI-N87 cells and Xenograft tumor. Besides, the interaction between miR-203b and FALEC or PIM3 was verified using a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, the involvement of miR-203b and PIM3 in the regulatory effects of FALEC on GC was determined by rescue experiments. ResultsThe results proved that FALEC and PIM3 were highly expressed, while miR-203b was lowly expressed in GC. FALEC knockdown repressed GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, promoted apoptosis and autophagy in vitro. Meanwhile, FALEC knockdown prevented growth and induced GC autophagy in vivo. In mechanism, FALEC could upregulate PIM3 by sponging miR-203b in GC cells. Besides, FALEC induced the malignant behaviors of GC cells by regulating the miR-203b/PIM3 axis. Conclusions﻿Therefore, FALEC/miR-203b/PIM3 axis might act as the promising therapeutic target for the therapy of GC patients.
Spatial Distribution of Total 210Pb in the Marine Sediment of Peninsular Malaysia: Radioactivity Level Variations in The Sunda Shelf Seas
Authors: Zaini Nur Ashikin , Rahim Mohamad Arif Che Abd , Liu Shengfa , Shi Xuefa , Mohamed Che Abd Rahim 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Radiochemical separation techniques were applied to measure 210Pb radioactivity in the samples to determine spatial distribution of total 210Pb radionuclide in surface sediments and water column for the main waters on the Sunda Shelf. The average 210Pb radioactivity level recorded from the Malacca Strait (MS) is significantly higher than the southern South China Sea (sSCS); this is attributed to the supply of input from the Andaman Sea in its northern areas, and massive terrestrial processes from bordering land masses. The results reveal that the decreasing trend of total 210Pb in Peninsular Malaysia’s marine sediment starts with the north maritime zone of Malacca Strait (64.28 ± 5.97 Bq/kg) > south maritime zone of Malacca Strait (50.88 ± 6.15 Bq/kg) > east maritime zone of sSCS (41.01 ± 3.07 Bq/kg) > south maritime zone of sSCS (40.78 ± 3.16 Bq/kg). The Kelantan and Pahang Deltas have been identified as two of the main anthropogenic sources of input for total 210Pb in the sSCS while atmospheric transboundary mobilization affecting total 210Pb in water column. In the Malacca Strait, however, the distribution of total 210Pb might be influenced mainly by in situ processes of the strait’s seafloor and sources origin of sediment.
Music Generates Emotional Responses in Growing Pigs
Authors: Cardona Juliana Zapata , Ceballos Maria Camila , Morales Ariel Marcel Tarazona , Jaramillo Edimer David , Rodríguez Berardo de Jesús 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
There is a lack of clarity on whether pigs can emotionally respond to musical stimulation and whether that response is related to music types. Qualitative Behavioral Assessment (QBA) was used to evaluate effects of 16 distinct musical pieces (in terms of harmony and vertical density) on emotional responses in nursery pigs (n=30) during four periods: “habituation,” “treatments,” “breaks,” and “final.” Data were evaluated using Principal component analysis (PCA). Two principal components (PC) were considered in the analysis: PC1, characterized as a positive emotions index, included the terms content, playful, sociable, and happy, whereas PC2, characterized as a negative emotions index, included fearful, inquisitive, and uneasy with positive loadings, and relaxed and calm with negative loadings. Musical stimulation (treatment) increased (P < 0.01) both emotional indices, compared to other periods and this response was influenced by the compositional characteristics of the music. We concluded that pigs have a wide variety of emotional responses, with different affective states related to the type of music used, providing evidence of its potential use as environmental enrichment for the species.
The Development and Evaluation of Online Podcast Modules as a Toolkit for Teaching Genetics and Genomics Competencies in Post-Graduate Medical Education
Authors: Phillips Eliza , Yang Xiao-Ru , Chang Caitlin , Borch Lauren , Sparkes Rebecca , MacPherson Melissa 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: The lack of comfort with core genetic and genomic competencies among medical trainees and physicians is a barrier to the implementation of precision medicine. To address this, we developed short online modules to promote genetic competencies for use post-graduate medical education. Methods: The educational toolkit was delivered as short online podcasts accompanied by slides. Each core module is approximately 15-20 minutes, and covered basic genetics, genetic testing, counselling and consenting, and interpreting and delivering results. These were supplemented by case-based modules on cancer genetics, prenatal genetics and cardiogenetics. The modules had pre- and post-test multiple choice questions pertaining to genetic and genomic competencies, attitudes towards precision medicine, and perceived competence. Results: Based on the pre- and post-test data, residents reported a discordance between how often they cared for patients with genetic disorders and their level of confidence with core genetic competencies. Post-module evaluations demonstrated a significant increase in confidence in interpreting a microarray, and basic genetics knowledge.Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that podcast modules are an innovative method to promote genetic and genomic competencies to postgraduate medical trainees. Limitations to our study included a small sample size, and further work is needed identify and address barriers to implementation. We suggest that integration at the post-graduate medical education level will be crucial to further promoting the development of precision medicine competencies in medical trainees and physicians.
Comparing the Deep Root Growth and Water Uptake of Intermediate Wheatgrass (Kernza®) to Alfalfa.
Authors: Clement Corentin , Sleiderink Joost , Svane Simon Fiil , Smith Abraham George , Diamantopoulos Efstathios , Desbrøll Dorte Bodin , Thorup-Kristensen Kristian 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
AimsWater is the most important yield-limiting factor worldwide and drought is predicted to increase in the future. Perennial crops with more extensive and deep root systems could access deep stored water and build resilience to water shortage. In the context of human nutrition, perennial grain crops are very interesting. However, it is still questionable whether they are effective in using subsoil water. We compared intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza®) Thinopyrum intermedium, a perennial grain crop, to alfalfa Medicago sativa, a perennial forage, for subsoil root growth and water uptake.MethodsUsing TDR sensors, deuterium tracer labelling, minirhizotrons and the Hydrus-1D model we characterised the root distribution and water uptake patterns of these two perennial crops during two cropping seasons under field conditions down to 2.5 m soil depth.ResultsBoth crops grew roots down to 2.0 m depth that were active in water uptake but alfalfa was deeper rooted than intermediate wheatgrass. All experimental methods concluded that alfalfa used more water from below 1.0 m depth than intermediate wheatgrass. However, simulations predicted that intermediate wheatgrass used more than 20 mm of water after anthesis from below 1 m soil depth. Simulations confirmed the advantage of deep roots in accessing deep soil water under drought.ConclusionsIn regions with high groundwater recharge, growing deep-rooted perennial crops have great potential to exploit deep soil water that is often left unused. However, the road to a profitable perennial grain crop is still long and breeding intermediate wheatgrass (Kernza®) cultivars for increased root growth at depth seems to be a worthy investment for the development of more drought tolerant cultivars.
Influence of Indoor Residual Spay on An. Gambiae S.L. and An. Funestus Abundance, Resting Behavior and Community Perception on Irs Intervention In Kagera-Tanzania
Authors: Kikompolisi Gordian , Emidi Basiliana , Ngasala Billy 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: There has been a persistence of malaria transmission in Kagera Region despite consecutive phases of indoor residual spraying (IRS) targeting malaria vectors. In addition to that, there is limited information on the resting behaviors of An. gambiae s.l. and An. funestus and community perception on IRS in Kagera. Methods: The study was conducted in two districts; Missenyi and Karagwe. Missenyi was IRS sprayed with Pirimiphos methyl insecticide and Karagwe was unsprayed. Mosquito collections were conducted using bucket traps and CDC (Centre for Disease Control) light traps. Mosquitoes were identified morphologically using taxonomical key. Sibling species were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Interviews and focused group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in order to obtain information on community perception with regard to IRS interventions. Results: A total of 5,777 mosquitoes were collected indoors by CDC light traps. An. gambiae s.l. and An. funestus accounted for 13% (n=749) of all mosquitoes collected. Unexpectedly, large proportions of An. funestus were collected indoors in Missenyi district, despite the fact that, the area was sprayed. In Karagwe district, An. gambiae s.l. was collected in large proportion. Results have showed that, An. arabiensis was the dominant sibling species among the An. gambiae s.l. in Karagwe and Missenyi districts with 82.8% (n=24) and 98.8% (n=166), respectively. Study participants agreed that, IRS campaign is useful for control of malaria vectors. They also reported that, malaria transmission have declined by comparing before and after IRS. Challenges reported which the IRS campaign poses to them, including the emergence of other insects in their houses and increase of mosquitoes later after IRS. They also reported some mosquito resting places which are not a target during spray operations. Conclusion: The present study has revealed the abundance of malaria vectors and community perception on IRS intervention efficacy and sustainability. Surprisingly, large proportions of An. funestus were collected indoors, despite the fact that, Missenyi district was sprayed. This situation calls for further studies on An. funestus behaviors and possible reasons for tolerance in sprayed area. Community sensitization before, during and after IRS application needs to be strengthen for getting intended results.
Adsorption of volatile organic compounds and microwave regeneration on self-prepared high-surface-area beaded activated carbon
Authors: Hsiao Shih-Ying , You Shu-Wen , Wang Can , Deng Ji-Guang , Hsi Hsing-Cheng 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Self-prepared beaded activated carbons (SBAC) were derived from carbonized phenolic formaldehyde (PF) resins through an optimal activation procedure (900 o C for 4 h) using CO 2 . A commercial BAC (termed KBAC) was adopted to compare with SBAC over physicochemical properties, adsorption performance against methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and toluene (TOL), and the regenerability using microwave irradiation. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models showed good fitting results to explain the adsorption equilibrium. The isosteric heat of adsorption was calculated using the Clausius-Clapeyron equation; the parameters obtained from the D-R isotherm indicate that the interactions between adsorbate and adsorbent were mainly due to physisorption. Microwave heating was applied to the regeneration of saturated adsorbents to examine the effect of irradiation power and heating time on the desorption behavior of adsorbate. Within 12 min of microwave irradiation, excellent desorption efficiencies based on gravimetric method were shown, reaching 110.7 ± 14.4, 104.4 ± 2.6, 90.2 ± 2.3, and 85.5 ± 5.7% for MEK-SBAC, MEK-KBAC, TOL-SBAC, and TOL-KBAC, respectively. After an 8-cycle of adsorption/regeneration, the adsorption capacity for SBAC was significantly decreased when loaded with TOL, whereas it was more significant than the virgin sample as loaded with MEK. In contrast, KBAC was able to sustain the adsorption capacity after an 8-cycle of regeneration, proving its stability throughout the microwave heating. Kinetic models were further employed to illustrate the desorption of the adsorbates from BAC samples, showing that intraparticle diffusion in SBAC and KBAC was the rate-limiting step during microwave heating. The core kinetic parameters obtained could provide insights for lab-scale adsorbent beds or practical engineering scale design. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the excellent adsorption performance of SBAC and the feasibility of microwave regeneration of BACs.
Involvement of Serum Amyloid A1 in the Pathogenesis of Insulin Resistance in Ovarian Granulosa Cells in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Zhu Qinling , Yao Yue , Xu Lizhen , Wu Hasiximuke , Wang Wangsheng , He Yaqiong , Wang Yuan , Lu Yao , Qi Jia , Ding Ying , Li Xinyu , Huang Jiaan , Zhao Hanting , Du Yanzhi , Sun Kang , Sun Yun 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: Insulin resistance (IR) contributes to ovarian dysfunctions in PCOS patients. Serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) is an acute phase protein produced primarily by the liver in response to inflammation. In addition to its role in inflammation, SAA1 may participate in IR development in peripheral tissues. Yet, expressional regulation of SAA1 in the ovary and its role in the pathogenesis of ovarian IR in PCOS remain elusive. Methods: Follicular fluid and granulosa cells were collected from PCOS and non-PCOS patients with and without IR to measure SAA1 abundance for analysis of its correlation with IR status. The effects of SAA1 on its own expression and insulin signaling pathway were investigated in cultured primary granulosa cells. Results: Ovarian granulosa cells were capable of producing SAA1, which could be induced by SAA1 per se. Moreover, the abundance of SAA1 significantly increased in granulosa cells and follicular fluid in PCOS patients with IR. SAA1 treatment significantly attenuated insulin-stimulated membrane translocation of glucose transporter 4 and glucose uptake in granulosa cells through induction of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) expression with subsequent inhibition of Akt phosphorylation. These effects of SAA1 could be blocked by inhibitors for toll-like receptors 2/4 (TLR 2/4) and nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B (NF-κB). Conclusions: Human granulosa cells are capable of feedforward production of SAA1, which significantly increased in PCOS patients with IR. Excessive SAA1 reduces insulin sensitivity in granulosa cells via induction of PTEN and subsequent inhibition of Akt phosphorylation upon activation of TLR2/4 and NF-κB pathway. These findings highlight that local excessive synthesis of SAA1 is associated with IR development in granulosa cells of PCOS patients.