bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Different Land Use Types Managed By Smallholder Farmers on Soil Properties in Central Ethiopia
Authors: Haile Getahun , Lemenih Mulugeta , Itanna Fisseha , Teklu Beyene , Agegnehu Getachew 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background Aim: Land use change causes a remarkable change in soil properties. The nature of change depends on multiple factors such as soil type, type and intensity of land use, climate, and the like. This study investigated the variation in soil physicochemical properties across five common land use practices i.e., enset system, farmland, and grazing-land (closed and open), and Eucalyptus woodlots practiced on originally same soil type and comparable topographic and climatic settings.Methods: A total of 105 disturbed and undisturbed soil samples [5 treatments (land use types) *7 replications (household)* 3 soil depth layers: 0–15cm, 15–30 cm, 30–45cm] were collected for selected soil chemical and physical analyses. Standard soil analytical procedures were followed in carrying out soil analysis. To meet the assumptions of normal distribution and homogeneity of variances, soil data on available phosphors were log-transformed before statistical analysis was undertaken and reported after back transformation. Two way analysis of variable were used to investigate the effects of land use and soil depth and their interaction on soil properties and when the analysis showed a significant difference (p <0.05) among land use and soil depth men separation were made using Turkey’s pairwise comparisons.Results: There were significant differences in physical and chemical properties of soil across land use and soil depth categories. Enset system had significantly higher pH, available phosphorus (P), exchangeable potassium (K+), soil organic carbon (SOC), and total nitrogen (TN) and their stocks than other land use types. Enset fields had higher SOC (78.4%) and soil TN (75%), and SOC and TN stocks of (66%) and (58%), respectively than cereal farmland. This study had also revealed a less expected finding of higher soil organic carbon and total nitrogen under Eucalyptus wood than farm land. Soil carbon and total nitrogen stocks showed a decreasing trend of enset system> closed grazing-land > eucalyptus woodlot > open grazing-land > farmland 0-45cm.Conclusion: Overall, some land use systems (e. g. enset agroforestry) improve the soil biophysical and chemical properties, while others such as cereal production degrade the soil. Hence appropriate land and soil management intervention should be promptly adapted to mitigating the continuous loss of nutrient from the dominantly practiced cereal farm land through maintaining crop residues, manure, crop rotation and scaling up agro-forestry system.
Relative Performance of Cluster Algorithms and Validation Indices in Maize Genome-wide Structure Patterns
Authors: Videla María Eugenia , Iglesias Juliana , Bruno Cecilia 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
A number of clustering algorithms are available to depict population genetic structure (PGS) with genomic data; however, there is no consensus on which methods are the best performing ones. We conducted a simulation study of three PGS scenarios with subpopulations k=2, 5 and 10, recreating several maize genomes as a model to: (i) compare three well-known clustering methods: UPGMA, k-means and, Bayesian method (BM), (ii) asses four internal validation indices: CH, Connectivity, Dunn and Silhouette, to determine the reliable number of groups defining a PGS, and (iii) estimate the misclassification rate for each validation index. Moreover, a publicly available maize dataset was used to illustrate the outcomes of our simulation. BM was the best method to classify individuals in all tested scenarios, without assignment errors. Conversely, UPGMA was the method with the highest misclassification rate. In scenarios with 5 and 10 subpopulations, CH and Connectivity indices had the maximum underestimation of group number for all cluster algorithms. Dunn and Silhouette indices showed the best performance with BM. Nevertheless, since Silhouette measures the degree of confidence in cluster assignment, and BM measures the probability of cluster membership, these results should be considered with caution. In this study we found that BM showed to be efficient to depict the PGS in both simulated and real maize datasets. This study offers a robust alternative to unveil the existing PGS, thereby facilitating population studies and breeding strategies in maize programs. Moreover, the present findings may have implications for other crop species.
IL-17 Upregulates MCP-1 Expression via Act1 / TRAF6 / TAK1 in Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis
Authors: huang xiao , Li Zhuolun , Shen Xinhe , nie na , shen yan 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Myocarditis is a myocardial inflammatory infiltration heterogeneous disease. At present, various interventions are not effective in the treatment of myocarditis. IL-17, an important pro‐inflammatory factor secreted mainly by Th17 cells, can promote the expression of multiple cytokines. MCP-1 is an important cytokine that mediates mononuclear cell infiltration. Studies have found that IL-17 could stimulate the expression of MCP-1 to mediate inflammatory infiltration. But the mechanism by which IL-17 induces MCP-1 expression in experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to establish an EAM model to explore the role of Act1/TRAF6/TAK1 cascade in the induction of MCP-1 by IL-17. In the present study, we found that in EAM, IL-17 could stimulate the expression of MCP-1 by activating Act1/TRAF6/TAK1 cascade. After interfering TAK1 with si-TAK1, myocardial tissue inflammation was greatly alleviated, and both MCP-1 mRNA and protein expression were downregulated. In conclusion, IL-17 can activate AP-1, NF-κB via Act1/TRAF6/TAK1 upregulation of MCP-1 expression in EAM.
Phase I Trial of Copanlisib, a Selective Pi3k Inhibitor, in Combination With Cetuximab in Patients With Recurrent and/or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Marret Grégoire , Isambert Nicolas , Rezai Keyvan , Gal Jocelyn , Saada-Bouzid Esma , Rolland Frédéric , Chausson Maggy , Borcoman Edith , Alt Marie , Klijanienko Jerzy , Vansteene Damien , Guigay Joël , Kamal Maud , Bièche Ivan , LeTourneau Christophe 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
BackgroundThe phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase pathway is often altered in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and is involved in the resistance to EGFR inhibitors. ObjectiveWe investigated the dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), maximum tolerated dose, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of the combination of copanlisib, an intravenous, pan-class I PI3K inhibitor, with the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody cetuximab in recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC patients in a phase I dose-escalation trial. Patients and methodsCopanlisib was given intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 of 28-day cycles at the dose of 45 mg and 30 mg, in combination with standard doses of weekly cetuximab (400 mg/m² loading dose followed by 250 mg/m² on days 8, 15, and 22, and weekly thereafter). ResultsThree patients received copanlisib 45 mg, of whom two experienced grade 3 hyperglycemia during Cycle 1 that met the DLT criteria. Eight patients were then treated with copanlisib at the dose of 30 mg. Because of the occurrence of hyperglycemia, a premedication with metformine was introduced on the day of the injections. No DLTs were reported at this dose level. The trial was stopped early because of the unfavourable toxicity profile of the combination. Among eight evaluable patients for response, four patients (50%) had disease stabilization according to RECIST1.1 as best response.ConclusionCopanlisib combined with cetuximab demonstrated unfavorable toxicity and limited efficacy in heavily pretreated recurrent and/or metastatic HNSCC patients. NCT02822482, Date of registration: June 2016.
An Improved Blockchain-Based Secure Data Deduplication using Attribute-Based Role Key Generation with Efficient Cryptographic Methods
Authors: S Ruba , Kalpana A.M. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Deduplication can be used as a data redundancy removal method that has been constructed to save system storage resources through redundant data reduction in cloud storage. Now a day, deduplication techniques are increasingly exploited to cloud data centers with the growth of cloud computing techniques. Therefore, many deduplication methods were presented by many researchers to eliminate redundant data in cloud storage. For secure deduplication, previous works typically have introduced third-party auditors for the data integrity verification, but it may be suffered from data leak by the third-party auditors. And also the customary methods could not face more difficulties in big data deduplication to correctly consider the two conflicting aims of high duplicate elimination ratio and deduplication throughput. In this paper, an improved blockchain-based secure data deduplication is presented with efficient cryptographic methods to save cloud storage securely. In the proposed method, an attribute-based role key generation (ARKG) method is constructed in a hierarchical tree manner to generate a role key when the data owners upload their data to cloud service provider (CSP) and to allow authorized users to download the data. In our system, the smart contract (agreement between the data owner and CSP) is done using SHA-256 (Secure Hash Algorithm-256) to generate a tamper-proofing ledger for data integrity, in which data is protected from illegal modifications, and duplication detection is executed through hash-tag that can be formed by SHA-256. Message Locked encryption (MLE) is employed to encrypt data for data uploading by the data owners to the CSP. The experimental results show that our proposed secure deduplication scheme can give higher throughput and a low duplicate elimination ratio.
An Innovative Framework for Real Time Monitoring of Pollutant Point Sources in River Networks
Authors: BaratiMoghaddam M. , Mazaheri Mehdi , Samani J. M. V. , Boano Fulvio 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The simultaneous identification of location and source release history in complex river networks is a very complicated ill-posed problem, particularly in a case of multiple unknown pollutant sources with time-varying release pattern. This study presents an innovative method for simultaneous identification of the number, locations and release histories of multiple pollutant point sources in a river network using minimum observation data. Considering two different type of monitoring stations with an adaptive arrangement as well as real-time data collection at those stations and using a reliable numerical ﬂow and transport model, at first the number and suspected reach of presence of pollutant sources are determined. Then the source location and its intensity function is calculated by solving inverse source problem using a geostatistical approach. A case study with three different scenarios in terms of the number, release time and location of pollutant sources are discussed, concerning a river network with unsteady and non-uniform flow. Results showed the capability of the proposed method in identifying of sought source characteristics even in complicated cases with simultaneous activity of multiple pollutant sources.
Epidemiological Surveillance To Establish Thresholds For Influenza Among Children In Satellite Cities Of A metropolitan area of Tokyo, Japan
Authors: Matsuda Ayako , Asayama Kei , Obara Taku , Yagi Naoto , Ohkubo Takayoshi 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Few reports have longitudinally investigated seasonal influenza epidemiological surveillance data of pediatric populations in the metropolitan areas of Japan. We aimed to provide descriptive characteristics of circulating influenza and to investigate the usefulness of setting thresholds for influenza in children (0–15 years old) in two satellite cities of a metropolitan area of Tokyo, Japan, for five consecutive seasons of the influenza epidemic.Methods: The survey was conducted annually during the influenza season, from 2014 to 2018 (ending March 2019), at preschools (kindergartens and nursery schools), elementary schools, and junior high schools located in Toda and Warabi cities, Saitama prefecture. We investigated the epidemiological characteristics and established thresholds using the World Health Organization method.Results: Of the 108,362 children (21,024 to 22,088 throughout five seasons) who received the questionnaire, 76,753 (70.8%; 14,652 to 15,808) responded. After exclusion of responses without basic information, 64,586 children were included in the analysis, of which 13,754 (21.3%) had tested positive for influenza. Influenza type A was generally dominant, whereas type B was responsible for a substantial share of all influenza cases (>40% in seasons 2015 and 2017, when type A circulated with low incidence). The weeks when the influenza epidemic peaked had no clear seasonal pattern among the surveyed years, i.e., the peaks appeared at week 51 (mid-December) or later, whereas the World Health Organization methods reported that the median period when a peak was observed was at 3 weeks (mid-January), regardless of school age group.Conclusions: The present information obtained from the epidemiological survey regarding seasonal influenza in children would be useful for general practitioners, health policymakers, and planners who establish prevention and control methods against influenza.
A fully automatic deep learning system for L3 slice selection and body composition assessment on abdominal computed tomography.
Authors: Ha Jiyeon , Park Taeyong , Kim Hong-Kyu , Shin Youngbin , Ko Yousun , Kim Dong Wook , Sung Yu Sub , Lee Jiwoo , Ham Su Jung , Khang Seungwoo , Jeong Heeryeol , Koo Kyoyeong , Lee Jeongjin , Kim Kyung Won 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background and aims: As sarcopenia research has been gaining emphasis, the need for quantification of abdominal muscle on computed tomography (CT) is increasing. Thus, a fully automated system to select L3 slice and segment muscle in an end-to-end manner is demanded. We aimed to develop a deep learning model (DLM) to select the L3 slice with consideration of anatomic variations and to segment cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of abdominal muscle and fat. Methods: Our DLM, named L3SEG-net, was composed of a YOLOv3-based algorithm for selecting the L3 slice and a fully convolutional network (FCN)-based algorithm for segmentation. The YOLOv3-based algorithm was developed via supervised learning using a training dataset (n=922), and the FCN-based algorithm was transferred from prior work. Our L3SEG-net was validated with internal (n=496) and external validation (n=586) datasets. L3 slice selection accuracy was evaluated by the distance difference between ground truths and DLM-derived results. Technical success for L3 slice selection was defined when the distance difference was <10 mm. Overall segmentation accuracy was evaluated by CSA error. The influence of anatomic variations on DLM performance was evaluated.Results: In the internal and external validation datasets, the accuracy of automatic L3 slice selection was high, with mean distance differences of 3.7±8.4 mm and 4.1±8.3 mm, respectively, and with technical success rates of 93.1% and 92.3%, respectively. However, in the subgroup analysis of anatomic variations, the L3 slice selection accuracy decreased, with distance differences of 12.4±15.4 mm and 12.1±14.6 mm, respectively, and with technical success rates of 67.2% and 67.9%, respectively. The overall segmentation accuracy of abdominal muscle areas was excellent regardless of anatomic variation, with the CSA errors of 1.38–3.10 cm2.Conclusions: A fully automatic system was developed for the selection of an exact axial CT slice at the L3 vertebral level and the segmentation of abdominal muscle areas.
A Cross-sectional Analysis of Kogi State Residents' Knowledge and Perceptions on COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mofolorunsho Taiye Babatunde , Mofolorunsho Kehinde Charles , Owoyemi Julius Olugbenga , Oloruntoba Olowonibi Olabisi , Onoja Joseph Ajogwu 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Coupled with the outbreak of Covid-19 in Nigeria, there has been a controversial trailing of the Covid-19 incidence in Kogi State involving the state authorities and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Giving the importance of appropriate awareness and the perceptions to curbing the spread of the disease, this study aimed at assessing the knowledge, perception and precautionary measures of Kogi state residents in response to the outbreak of Covid-19. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted among 401 residents in Kogi State Nigeria, with a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequencies and Simple percentage in tables. Findings revealed that all the participants were aware of and had basic knowledge about Covid-19. The study participants had ample knowledge about the required preventive measures and how to protect themselves from Covid-19. It was also revealed that 45.2% of the respondents were conversant with the practice of three to more of the precautionary guidelines for preventing Covid-19. The study also found that a significant number of the respondents held a very low risk perception of Covid-19 by expressing an unlikely probability of getting infected by the virus. As regards skepticism and belief on coronavirus, 45.9% believed that Covid-19 is a hoax which was invented by interest groups for financial gains; 46.1% opined that the number of people reported by the NCDC as infected by the coronavirus in Nigeria is exaggerated. Again, 33.7% of the respondents believed that the second wave of the Covid-19 in Nigeria was a scam. The main source of Covid-19 information utilized by majority of the respondents was from Television programmes (34.2%) and Whatsapp (31.9%) platforms. The study concluded that while there was a high level of awareness of Covid-19 among residents of Kogi State and a remarkable level of precautionary practices against the spread of the Covid-19 virus, there are however, indications of misconceptions and misinformation that breeds skepticism and belief that may be detrimental to curbing effectively, the spread of the Covid-19 virus within the state.
BCAT1 Promotes Lung Adenocarcinoma Progression Through Enhanced Mitochondrial Respiration and NF-κB Pathway Activation
Authors: Yu Mengdan , Zhao Qianwei , Li Jinxia , Xu Fang , Zhang Zhibiao , Liu Yixian , Dai Liping , Zhang Bingxia , Zhang Jianying , Zhang Jintao 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
BCAT1 is up-regulated and acts as an oncogenic factor in many types of cancers, but its role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) development is not clearly understood. Here we found BCAT1 protein level was up-regulated in tumor tissues, which was positively associated with TNM stage and local lymph node metastasis of LUAD patients. BCAT1 knockdown inhibited cell growth and mobility while BCAT1 overexpression promoted LUAD development both in vitro and in vivo. BCAAs metabolism and mitochondrial respiration were enhanced in BCAT1 overexpression cells, which were more sensitive to Leucine and Isoleucine supplements, compared to control cells. Moreover, RNA sequencing analysis suggested that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BCAT1 overexpression LUAD cells were enriched in metabolism, signal transduction, and immune response processes, and BCAT1 overexpression decreased NFKBIB mRNA level that induced NF-κB pathway activation in LUAD cells. As an inhibitor of NF-κB pathway, ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (PDTC) treatment predominately counteracted the effect of NF-κB pathway activation and inhibited LUAD cells proliferation and migration, especially cells with BCAT1 overexpression. Taken together, our findings point a key role for BCAT1 in promoting LUAD development through metabolic reprogramming and NF-κB pathway activation, which provides promising molecular biomarker and therapeutic targets for LUAD diagnosis and treatment.
Clinical Effect of Plastic Splint for Treatment of New type of Midshaft Clavicle Fracture: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Zhu Xing-tao , Sun Yi-tao , Dai Yu-xiang , Lin Shun , Sun Yi-fu , Ma Zhi-jia , Jiang Hong , Liu Jin-tao 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: On the basis of conservative treatment of 81 midshaft clavicle fractures, a new type of midshaft clavicle fracture was proposed and the clinical effect of plastic splinting in the treatment of these fractures was observed. Methods: Eighty-one patients with midshaft clavicle fractures treated with plastic splints from January 2018 to July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The fractures were divided into four types according to their displacement. All patients underwent plastic splint fixation for 4 weeks. The visual analog scale score, Constant–Murley shoulder joint score, patient satisfaction with the post-treatment appearance, nonunion rate, and malunion rate were examined at 1, 3, and 9 months after treatment. Results: Seventeen patients had type I fractures, 18 had type II, 9 had type III, and 37 had type IV. For all four fracture types, the mean visual analog scale score and Constant–Murley score considerably improved from pretreatment to 9 months post-treatment. Seven patients were not satisfied with the post-treatment appearance. Five patients still had no obvious callus at 9 months after treatment, indicating non-healing; most of these patients had type Ⅲ and Ⅳ fractures. Conclusions: Use of the new type of midshaft clavicle fracture is more appropriate for evaluation of the clinical treatment effect because it has more guiding significance for the treatment and prognosis of midshaft clavicle fractures. A plastic splint can be used to treat midshaft clavicle fractures. The short-term clinical effect is safe, and fracture reduction is accurate. Although the incidence of malunion after plastic splint treatment is high, most patients are still satisfied with the appearance after treatment. This technique can be popularized in clinical practice. The functional score and satisfaction with the post-treatment appearance were lower in patients with type Ⅲ and Ⅳ fractures than in those with type Ⅰ and Ⅱ fractures, and the rate of nonunion and abnormal healing were relatively high. Other treatment methods should be considered as early as possible for such patients to achieve the best treatment effect.
A Simplified Procedures for Cellulase Filter Paper Assay
Authors: Abulela Mohamed Abdelazim 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
A new procedures to minimize labor intensiveness and complexity that has long been recognized in cellulase filter paper activity measurement (FPAase) described by the international union of pure and applied chemistry (IUPAC) was developed. It follows the main idea of IUPAC with only exception finding at least two cellulase dilutions have optical densities slightly more and less than a reference optical density of an arbitrary fixed 2 mg absolute glucose amount after a red-ox color reaction and due to cellulase-filter paper hydrolysis. The yielding glucose amount difference as compared to this reference is expressed in terms of absorbance difference percent determined by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS), in case of cellulase is cellubiase rich. If not, an external supplemental portion should be added. The intersection of the line of these two cellulase dilutions with abscissa intersect a vertical at a hypothetical 0% absorbance difference percent corresponding to a critical cellulase dilution exactly release this fixed arbitrary 2 mg glucose amount value. The factor 0.37 of this critical cellulase dilution equals to its filter paper units expressed in FPU per ml.