bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Own price elasticities of the demand for sugar-sweetened beverages in Bangladesh
Authors: Huque Rumana , Azad Abul Kalam , Ahmed Nasiruddin 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background: Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is a major public health problem globally. Increasing the price of SSBs through taxation is an effective tool to reduce SSB consumption. Price-elasticity estimates are useful in measuring the effect of taxation on consumption. We estimated the own price elasticities of demand for SSBs in Bangladesh, which will inform how SSB taxes could affect behaviour.
Methods: We used Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2016 data, which is a nationally representative dataset on the household level across the country and is conducted using the stratified random sampling method. Deaton’s method is generally used to estimate the price elasticities for household-level data where data on prices are not available. We also employed Deaton’s method to estimate the price elasticities for SSBs in Bangladesh.
Results: We found that the own price elasticity for SSBs varied between -0.53% to -1.17% by types of SSBs in Bangladesh. The price elasticity for soft drinks was −1.17, indicating that if the price of soft drinks increases by 10% via taxes, the quantity consumed of these beverages would reduce by 11.7%.
Conclusion: This is the first study that estimates the own price elasticities of demand for SSBs in Bangladesh. Our results suggest raising SSB prices through increased taxation in order to reduce SSB consumption and ensure public health gains in Bangladesh.
The PI4K2A positively regulates the synthesis of milk fat in cows, promotes the proliferation of bovine mammary epithelial cells, and inhibits their apoptosis
Authors: Mu Tong , Hu Honghong , Feng Xiaofang , Wang Chuanchuan , Zhang Juan , Sun Zhihong , Gu Yaling 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background: Milk fat is the most important and energy-rich substance in milk. It is crucial to study the theory and pathways of milk fat synthesis and its regulation in dairy cows for the study of lactation biology. However, the current identification of valuable candidate genes affecting milk fat is limited.
Method: This study uses real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) technology to perform tissue expression profile analysis on 15 candidate differentially expressed genes related to milk fat metabolism obtained from our previous transcriptome sequencing and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), to determine the key candidate genes affecting milk fat synthesis in dairy cows. Investigate the specific regulatory mechanisms of key candidate genes in cow milk fat metabolism using overexpression (adenovirus) and interference techniques (lentivirus).
Results: The results showed that the expression level of PI4K2A gene in milk gland tissue was significantly higher than that in small intestine, liver, kidney, heart, and ovary (P < 0.05). Compared with other genes, the expression of PI4K2A in mammary gland tissue and bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) was also higher and more stable. Ultimately, we identified PI4K2A as the key candidate gene responsible for regulating milk fat synthesis in dairy cows, and it plays a vital role in the cytoplasm of BMECs. Afterwards, we constructed the adenovirus overexpression vector and lentivirus interference vector for the PI4K2A gene, and combined quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot (WB) techniques to detect the effects of overexpressing and interfering with the PI4K2A gene on lipid metabolism in BMEC. The results indicate that the PI4K2A gene plays a positive regulatory role in the fatty acid (FA) transport process involved in milk fat synthesis in cows (P < 0.05). Upon further examination of triglycerides (TAG), cholesterol, and lipid droplet content in BMECs, we found that PI4K2A also has a positive regulatory effect on bovine milk fat synthesis (P < 0.05). The results obtained from EdU and apoptosis kit detection indicated that the PI4K2A gene positively regulated BMECs proliferation (P < 0.05) while negatively regulating their apoptosis process (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: This study offers valuable genetic marker information for precise molecular breeding of milk component traits in dairy cows, with potential implications for mammary gland wound healing and treatment of mammary gland-related diseases.
A simple but high effective specimen preparation for DNA extraction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its clinical application in quantitative-PCR determination of tuberculosis infection
Authors: Yuan Ren-bin , Liu Shuang , Cui Yu-qian , Cao Min , Zhuo Hui , Wang Tai-song , Xie Xu-chao , Zhang Miao-yu , Xu He , Wan Fan , He Qing 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background：In the recent few years, there is an ongoing outbreak of tuberculosis worldwide. Molecular diagnosis based on genomic amplification is a rapid and reliable method for early detection of tuberculosis infection. However, the quality and quantity of nucleic acid of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) extracted from different human specimens is still a bottleneck for molecular analysis because of the difficulty associated with breaking cell walls of MTB.
Methods：In this study, new specimens handling methods including Dounce homogenizer with a loose pestle and a tight pestle, compared with a conventional procedure consisted of sodium hydroxide, were applied for DNA isolation from human samples (sputum and pleural effusion) with or without MTB, and real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were evaluated DNA recovery, sensitivity and specificity for early and accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis infection.
Results：45 patients infected with tuberculosis and 56 normal controls were enrolled. With specimens handling with both the tight pestle and loose pestle of Dounce homogenizer, MTB DNA was recovered about 300 -104 times than traditional specimen pretreated method and 83.67%-100% tuberculosis infections could be better detected. The new DNA extraction methods were also performed excellent in plural effusion with detection rate in the range of 85.71%-90.47%. The relative lower specificity (80.55%-92.31%) was also well explained by follow-up. RT-qPCR handling with D-Tight data expanding with another 209 suspicious TB individuals (164 diagnosed with TB infection and 45 diagnosed with non-TB infection) showed a high sensitivity (97.47%, taken clinical diagnosis as golden standard) with no significant diverse between TB treated group and TB non-treated group (96.30% VS 98.08%).
Conclusions： The results demonstrates that Dounce homogenizer could offer high quality and quantity MTB DNA to RT-qPCR determination of MTB infection.
A simple and rapid preparation of smooth muscle myosin 2 for the electron microscopic analysis
Authors: Bharda Anahita , Jung Hyun Suk 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
There has been an increase in the demand for purified protein as a result of recent developments in the structural biology of myosin 2. Although promising, current practices in myosin purification are usually time-consuming and cumbersome. The reported increased actin to myosin ratio in smooth muscles adds to the complexity of the purification process. Present study outlines a streamlined approach to isolate smooth muscle myosin 2 molecules from actomyosin suspension of chicken gizzard tissues. The procedure entails treating actomyosin for a brief period with actin-binding peptide phalloidin, followed by co-sedimentation and short column size exclusion chromatography. Typical myosin molecule with heavy and light chains and approximately 95% purity was examined using gel electrophoresis. Negative staining electron microscopy and image processing showed intact 10S myosin 2 molecules, proving that phalloidin is effective at eliminating majority of actin in the form of F-actin without dramatic alteration in the structure of myosin. The entire purification discussed here can be completed in a few hours, and further analysis can be done the same day. Thus, by offering quick and fresh supplies of native myosin molecules suited for structural research, specially cryo-electron microscopy, this innovative approach can be adapted to get around the drawbacks of time-intensive myosin purifying processes.
Preservation of pulmonary branch of vagus nerve in three-dimensional thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer: a retrospective study
Authors: Huang Wencong , Yang Jiantian , Chen Huiwen , Li Peijian , Wei Wei 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background Preservation of the pulmonary branch of the vagus nerve during systematic dissection of mediastinal lymph nodes in radical resection of lung cancer was studied to explore its role in reducing postoperative complications.Methods The clinical data of 80 patients who underwent three-dimensional thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer in the Department of Thoracic Surgery of Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital from 2020 to 2022 were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether the pulmonary branch of the vagus nerve was retained during intraoperative carinal lymph node dissection: those in whom the pulmonary branch of the vagus nerve was retained and those in whom the pulmonary branch of the vagus nerve was not retained. The operative duration, first postoperative defecation time, chest tube duration, total chest drainage volume, average pain intensity during the first 5 days, incidence of postoperative pneumonia, and postoperative hospitalization duration were compared between the two groups.Results There was no significant difference in the first postoperative defecation time between the two groups (P > 0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences in the operative duration, chest tube duration, total chest drainage volume, average pain intensity during the first 5 days, white blood cell count and procalcitonin level on postoperative days 1 and 5, and postoperative hospitalization duration between the two groups (P < 0.05).Conclusion Preserving the pulmonary branch of the vagus nerve during carinal lymph node dissection in three-dimensional thoracoscopic radical resection of lung cancer can reduce postoperative complications.
Dissipation, residues and evaluation of processing factor for spirotetramat and its formed metabolites during kiwifruit growing, storage and processing
Authors: Tian Fajun , Qiao Chengkui , Wang Caixia , Pang Tao , Guo Linlin , Li Jun , Pang Rongli , Xie Hanzhong 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Spirotetramat is widely used around the world to control sucking pests and may form in agricultural products. In the current study, the dissipation, residues and evaluation of processing factor (PF) for spirotetramat and its formed metabolites were investigated during kiwifruit growing, storage and processing. The residue analysis method was established based on high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) combined with a QuEChERS method to detect the residues of spirotetramat and its metabolites in kiwifruit and its processed products. The method provided recoveries of 74.7 − 108.7%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 0.6–13.1%. The residues dissipated following the first-order kinetics with a half-life of 9.90–10.34 days in the field and 24.75–30.13 days during storage. Residues of spirotetramat and its formed metabolites in kiwifruit would not pose dietary risk to consumers. Moreover, the peeling and fermentation was the highest removal efficiency for the spirotetramat and its formed metabolites residues during prosessing. The PF values calculated after each individual process were < 1, indicating significant reduction of residues in different processing processes of kiwifruit. The spirotetramat was degraded during kiwifruit wine-making process with half-lives of 3.36–4.91 days. B-enol and B-keto were the main metabolites detected in kiwifruit and its processed products. This study revealed the residues of spirotetramat and its formed metabolites in kiwifruit growing, storage and processing, which helps provide reasonable data for studying the dietary risk factors of kiwifruits and products.
Experimental and Numerical Mudflows Modeling for Runout and Deposition Height Assessmen
Authors: Muñoz Fredy , Vega Johnny , Hidalgo César 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Mudflows are natural phenomena starting from landslides and presenting high impact when they occur. They generate great catastrophes in their path because most of the time there is no indication prior to the failure that triggers them. Understanding how mud is transported is of great importance in infrastructure projects that coincide with hillside areas due to the high risk of occurrence of this phenomenon by cause of the high slopes, which can involve great risks and produce disasters that involve great costs. This work presents the evaluation of mudflows, from the implementation of a laboratory scale experiment in a consistometer with its calibration and validation from numerical models to estimate rheological parameters of the material. Tests were also carried out in an open channel in the laboratory, based on the data previously obtained considering the behavior of the material as a both Newtonian fluid and non-Newtonian fluid. The experiment considered a channel with dimensions of 3 m long, 0.5 m high and 0.7 m wide with slope control, and a mud composition of silty material with 60% moisture. The tests were conducted with slopes of 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. The numerical models were carried out in ANSYS FLUENT software. In addition, the calibration data of the numerical model were used for a real case study, simulating the slip flow occurred in Yangbaodi, in the southeast of China, occurred on September 18, 2002. The results of the numerical models were compared with the experimental results and show that these have a great capacity to reproduce what is observed in the laboratory when the material is considered as a non-Newtonian fluid. The model reproduced in an appropriate way the movement of the flow at laboratory scale, and for the aforementioned case study, some differences in the final length of deposition were noticed, achieving interesting results that lead the use of the calibrated model towards the estimation of risks due to the mudflow occurrence.
The impact of an increased Fibrosis-4 index and the severity of hepatic steatosis on mortality in diabetes patients
Authors: Ma Xiaoyan , Zhu Yixuan , Yeo Yee Hui , Fan Zhiwen , Xu Xiaoming , Rui Fajuan , Ni Wenjing , Gu Qi , Tong Xin , Yin Shengxia , Qi Xiaolong , Shi Junping , Wu Chao , Li Jie 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background & aims: Data on the effects of liver fibrosis and hepatic steatosis on outcomes in diabetic patients are limited. Therefore, we investigated the predictive value of the fibrosis and the severity of hepatic steatosis for all-cause mortality in diabetes patients.
Methods: A total of 1,903 patients with diabetes from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) dataset were enrolled. Presumed hepatic fibrosis was evaluated with Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4). The mortality risk and corresponding hazard ratio (HR) were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models.
Results: Over a median follow-up of 19.4 years, all-cause deaths occurred in 69.6%. An FIB-4 ≥1.3 was an independent predictor of mortality in diabetic patients (HR: 1.198, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.054-1.361, p =0.006). Overall, an FIB-4 ≥1.3 without moderate-severe steatosis increased the mortality risk (HR: 1.277; 95%CI: 1.077-1.513, p =0.005). The similar results were found in diabetes patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) (HR: 1.457; 95%CI: 1.045-2.032, p =0.027), metabolic syndrome (MetS) (HR: 1.343; 95%CI: 1.051-1.716, p =0.019) or abdominal obesity (HR: 1.325; 95%CI: 1.048-1.674, p=0.019).
Conclusions: Liver fibrosis, as estimated by FIB-4, may serve as a more reliable prognostic indicator for diabetic patients than hepatic steatosis. Diabetes patients with an FIB-4 ≥1.3 without moderate-severe steatosis had a significantly increased all-cause mortality risk. These findings highlight the importance of identifying and monitoring those patients, as they may benefit from further evaluation and risk stratification.
Rapid detection of common variants and deletions of CYP21A2 using MALDI-TOF MS Short title: CYP21A2 genotyping using MALDI-TOF MS
Authors: Yin Xiaoshan , Lin Yiming , Zhang Ting , Miao Haixia , Hu Lingwei , Hu Zhenzhen , Zhou Dou , Wu Benqing , Huang Xinwen 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Newborn screening (NBS) for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) based on hormonal testing is successfully implemented in many countries. However, this method cannot detect non-classic CAH and has high false positive rates.
Methods
This study aimed to develop a novel MALDI-TOF MS assay that can identify common variants and deletions of CYP21A2 in the Chinese population.
Results
Thirty-seven clinical patients with CAH confirmed by Sanger sequencing and MLPA analysis were detected by MALDI-TOF MS assay. Two CYP21A2 variants were detected in 30 patients and one CYP21A2 variant was detected in 7 patients. The MALDI-TOF MS assay detected 67 mutant alleles in 37 patients with a detection rate of 90.5%. Sanger sequencing revealed that three variants in seven patients were not included in the designed panel. Eleven distinct CYP21A2 variants were identified, including five missense variants, two nonsense variants, two large gene deletions, one splice variant, and one frameshift variant. The most frequent variant was c.293-13C > G (37.84%), followed by c.518T > A (21.62%) and exon 1–7 deletion (17.57%).
Conclusion
We have developed a high-throughput MALDI-TOF MS assay that can simultaneously detect common variants and deletions of CYP21A2. This assay can be used for population-based genetic screening and rapid detection of suspected patients, and is expected to be a valuable complement to biochemical-based testing for the detection of CAH.
Clinical profile and parameters of patients infected with HBV and co-infected with HDV in Western Amazon
Authors: Silva Eugênia Castro e , Roca Tárcio Peixoto , Passos-Silva Ana Maísa , Borzacov Lourdes Maria Pinheiro , Oliveira Adrhyan Araújo Silva , Queiroz Jackson Alves Silva , Salcedo Juan Miguel Villalobos , Vieira Deusilene 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Hepatitis Delta represents an even greater risk in the progression of advanced liver disease compared with HBV and is related to rapid progression to liver cirrhosis and HCC. The exact mechanism that determines the spontaneous clearance of delta virus or its progression to fibrosis and cirrhosis remains unknown. In this scenario, studies on the influence of virological, immunological and genetic aspects related to clinical evolution in chronic carriers of HBV and HDV are still scarce, especially in the Amazon region. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the clinical profile of infected and co-infected individuals in the Western Amazon.
Methods
The study was carried out at the Specialized Outpatient Clinic for Viral Hepatitis belonging to the Centro de Pesquisa em Medicina Tropical de Rondônia/CEPEM. 100 individuals were included, stratified into two groups: 50 with hepatitis B virus and 50 co-infected with hepatitis Delta virus.
Results
The overall mean age was 48 ± 10.38 years. For the HBV-positive and HDV-positive groups, 66% (33/50) and 54% (27/50) were men and 56% (28/50) and 58% (29/50) were on antiviral treatment, respectively. Among the HBV immune-active carriers, there was a predominance of men, high levels of HBV-DNA, thrombocytopenia and high levels of ALT and AST. HDV carriers with detectable HDV-RNA demonstrated predominance of thrombocytopenia and high levels of ALT and AST. Comparative analysis between patients with HBV and co-infected with HDV shows significant differences in terms of age, HBV viral load levels, platelet levels and albumin levels.
Conclusion
Thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and advanced fibrosis were more prevalent in individuals infected with HDV compared to those monoinfected with HBV and may be important markers in differentiating the different infections. Patients with detectable HDV RNA also showed significant changes in biomarkers compared to undetectable patients, suggesting a worse prognostic effect in this group.
Liquid plasma induces necroptosis without inflammatory responses in head and neck cancer cells
Authors: Choi Jae Hoon , Kim Sungryeal , Lee Yun Snag , You Young Suk , Jang Jeon Yeob , Shin Yoo Seob , Kim Chul-Ho 
Published: September 2023

Abstract
Background
Several types of regulated cell deaths are known, including apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis. Among these cell deaths, apoptosis is induced by many cancer therapeutic agents. In the case of resistance, however, induction of other regulated cell death, such as necroptosis, are required. Liquid plasma, which is prepared by treatment of non-thermal plasma to solution, induces various types of regulated cell death via reactive oxygen and nitrogen species.
Methods
Liquid plasma was generated by N2/Ar plasma treatment in culture medium (MEM, DMEM, or RPMI 1640) for 120 s per mL of medium (2 cm). Cell viability was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) (Dojindo, NX653) and apoptosis was determined by TUNEL assay. TNF-α, CHX, and zVAD-fmk were used to induce necroptosis in HNSCC cells, and necroptosis inhibitors, such as Nec-1 (50 µM), GSK'872 (10 µM), and NSA (2 µM) were used to inhibit necroptosis. Statistical comparisons between groups were carried out using the student’s t-test.
Results
Here, we determined the type of cell death induced by liquid plasma in head and neck cancer (HNC) cells. Our results show that liquid plasma caused necroptosis in HNC cells, and peroxynitrite in the liquid plasma might be involved in the cell death. The levels of inflammation-related molecules, including NF-kB, IL-6, and mitochondrial antiviral signaling proteins, were elevated in HNC cells, and treatment of HNC cells with liquid plasma decreased their expression.
Conclusion
These results suggest that liquid plasma could be used to treat HNC by inducing necroptosis without inflammatory responses. In this study, we demonstrated that liquid plasma treatment may kill HNC cells without causing necroptosis-induced inflammation and inflammation-mediated diseases.