bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mononucleotide A-repeats may Play a Regulatory Role in Endothermic Housekeeping Genes
Authors: Pholtaisong Jatuphol , Chaiyaratana Nachol , Aporntewan Chatchawit , Mutirangura Apiwat 
Published: July 2022

Background: Coding and non-coding short tandem repeats (STRs) facilitate a great diversity of phenotypic traits. The imbalance of mononucleotide A-repeats around transcription start sites (TSSs) was found in 3 mammals: H. sapiens, M. musculus, and R. norvegicus. Principal Findings: We found that the imbalance pattern originated in some vertebrates. A similar pattern was observed in mammals and birds, but not in amphibians and reptiles. We proposed that the enriched A-repeats upstream of TSSs is a novel hallmark of endotherms or warm-blooded animals. Gene ontology analysis indicates that the primary function of upstream A-repeats involves metabolism, cellular transportation, and sensory perception (smell and chemical stimulus) through housekeeping genes. Conclusions: Upstream A-repeats may play a regulatory role in the metabolic process of endothermic animals.
Physician Path to Wellness. A Qualitative Investigation of Self-Reported Strategies to Shift from Detrimental Health to Optimal Wellness
Authors: Sizemore Ross , Huecker Martin , Shreffler Jacob , Zaino Mallory , Thomas Alyssa , Kelley Justin 
Published: July 2022

Background: A healthy physician performs better clinically and provides superior care to patients than a physician struggling with burnout. Objective: The purpose of this study is to assess the physician perception of “health” and “burnout,” to identify successful wellness-promoting behaviors, and to build a model characterizing the successful transition from poor health to wellness. Methods: Utilizing a qualitative approach, the team conducted one-on-one, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with physicians from different specialties. Questions focused on behaviors, beliefs, and system changes that facilitated their transition from poor health/burnout to wellness. Interviews were recorded and responses qualitatively coded from a set of definitions of wellness and burnout. These coded responses were quantified, and code prevalence was analyzed. Results: Fourteen physicians completed interviews. The codebook consisted of 74 total themes, with nine occurring in more than 10 (71%) of the interviews. Most themes yielded to categories of Wellness, Unwell, and Burnout, with several themes related to individual agency in facilitating wellness. Highly prevalent themes included support systems, nutrition, exercise, and cognitive health. Subjects generally described comprehensive approaches to successfully transitioning to wellness. Conclusion: This study describes strategies for the successful transition to wellness: physician-level factors such as a healthy support system, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and developing consistent daily routines. These findings support the importance of physician autonomy and individual-level wellness-promoting strategies for a physician’s transition to wellness. More research should investigate the overall effect of individual-level strategies versus system-level interventions.
Multi-antigen-targeted T-cell therapy to treat patients with relapsed/refractory breast cancer
Authors: Hoyos Valentina , Vasileiou Spyridoula , Kuvalekar Manik , Watanabe Ayumi , Tzannou Ifigeneia , Velazquez Yovana , French-Kim Matthew , Leung Wingchi , Lulla Suhasini , Robertson Catherine , Foreman Claudette , Wang Tao , Bulsara Shaun , Lapteva Natalia , Grilley Bambi , Ellis Matthew , Osborne Charles Kent , Coscio Angela , Nangia Julie , Heslop Helen E. , Rooney Cliona M. , Vera Juan F. , Lulla Premal , Rimawi Mothaffar , Leen Ann M. 
Published: July 2022

Purpose: Adoptively transferred, ex vivo expanded multi-antigen-targeted T cells (multiTAA-T) represent a new, potentially effective, and nontoxic therapeutic approach for patients with breast cancer (BC). In this first-in-human trial, we investigated the safety and clinical effects of administering multiTAA T cells targeting the tumor-expressed antigens, Survivin, NY-ESO-1, MAGE-A4, SSX2, and PRAME, to patients with relapsed/refractory/metastatic BC. Materials and methods: MultiTAA T-cell products were generated from the peripheral blood of heavily pre-treated patients with metastatic or locally recurrent unresectable BC of all subtypes and infused at a fixed dose level of 2 × 107/m2. Patients received two infusions of cells 4 weeks apart and safety and clinical activity were determined. Cells were administered in an outpatient setting and without prior lymphodepleting chemotherapy. Results: All patients had estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor positive BC, with one patient also having human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive. There were no treatment-related toxicities and the infusions were well tolerated. Of the 10 heavily pre-treated patients enrolled and infused with multiTAA T cells, nine had disease progression while one patient with 10 lines of prior therapies experienced prolonged (5 months) disease stabilization that was associated with the in vivo expansion and persistence of T cells directed against the targeted antigens. Furthermore, antigen spreading and the endogenous activation of T cells directed against a spectrum of non-targeted tumor antigens were observed in 7/10 patients post-multiTAA infusion. Conclusion: MultiTAA T cells were well tolerated and induced disease stabilization in a patient with refractory BC. This was associated with in vivo T-cell expansion, persistence, and antigen spreading. Future directions of this approach may include additional strategies to enhance the therapeutic benefit of multiTAA T cells in patients with BC.
Malaria serosurvey among acute febrile patients come for health care seeking at the high malaria-endemic setting of North West Ethiopia
Authors: Kebede Fassikaw , Kebede Tsehay 
Published: July 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to assess malaria seroprevalence among acute febrile illness cases who come for health care seeking in the high malaria-endemic setting of North West Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional-based descriptive serosurvey of malaria infections was employed among 18,386 febrile patients from September 2020 to August 2021. Data were entered using Epi Data version 4.2 and exported to STATA (SE) R-14 version statistical software for further analysis. Bi-variable and multivariable regression analyses were conducted to identify malaria infection. Finally, variables with P-value less than 0.05 were considered significant predictors for malaria infection. Results: The mean (±standard deviation) age of participants was 48.6 (±18.4) years. The overall seroprevalence of malaria infection was estimated as 27.8% (95% confidence interval = 27.2; 28.6, standard error = 0.003). Malaria infection was significantly associated with participants being female (adjusted odds ratio = 2.9; 95% confidence interval = 1.8; 3.7, P = 0.01), age 5–29 years (adjusted odds ratio = 2.2; 95% confidence interval = 1.7; 2.8, P = 0.02), rural (adjusted odds ratio = 3.9; 95% confidence interval = 1.9; 4.4, P = 0.001), and Hgb ⩽11 mg/dL (adjusted odds ratio = 3.4; 95% confidence interval = 1.9; 5.86, P = 0.01). Conclusion: Nearly every three to ten acute febrile cases were positive for confirmed malaria infection. The risk of malaria infection was significantly associated with respondents being female, aged 5–29 years, rural, and levels of hemoglobin were significantly associated with malaria infection.
Metastatic Ceruminous Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Lumbar Spine Causing Neurological Compromise: A Case Report
Authors: Shen Yi-Wei , Yang Yi , Liu Hao , Zhou Zhong-Jie , Li Tao 
Published: July 2022

Background Ceruminous glands are modified apocrine glands of the external auditory canal (EAC). Malignant tumours within the ceruminous glands are extremely rare, and the most common histological type is adenoid cystic carcinoma (ADCC), which has high recurrence and metastasis risks. Although a few cases of metastatic ADCC from other head and neck glands have been reported, metastatic ADCC originating from the ceruminous gland are extremely rare. Case presentation We present an unusual case of spinal metastases of ADCC from ceruminous glands. A 61-year-old woman complaining of low back pain and both lower limbs pain was referred to our department. The primary ceruminous tumour was resected 26 years ago and recurred 6 years later, which was treated by radiotherapy. Three years ago, she presented with low back pain and was diagnosed as multiple lungs and bone metastases. The patient underwent tumour excision, decompression and fusion. The biopsy revealed metastatic ADCC. The symptoms were alleviated after surgery. Conclusions ADCC of EAC is a pernicious malignant tumour that is characterized by slow-growing patterns and a high predisposition to recurrence and metastasis. Differential diagnoses of ADCC and benign tumours in the EAC are challenging, particularly at early stages. We report a rare case of ceruminous ADCC with a prolonged clinical history as well as spinal metastasis and highlight the significance of regular follow-ups for patients undergoing tumour excision in the EAC.
The reaction to CSR controversies by institutional investors
Authors: Alda Mercedes 
Published: July 2022

Despite the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) firm controversies, little is known about their effect on institutional investors. We study the most important institutional investors worldwide: pension funds and mutual funds. The separation between fund management and ownership raises the need to examine how fund managers and fund participants react to investee-firms’ CSR controversies. Considering the conventional/Socially Responsible Investment (SRI-fund nature, we find that investee-firms’ controversies diversely affect fund performance, depending on the controversy type. Furthermore, participants and managers of SRI pension and SRI mutual funds display a passive behavior toward controversies. These attitudes are consistent with enduring behavior and continuity investment policies, such as amending/controlling CSR-firm controversies. In contrast, conventional pension-fund and conventional mutual-fund participants seem guided by traditional investment rules to deal with unsatisfactory situations and respond to controversies after managerial decisions regarding these events with negative reactions. Finally, firms developing CSR-engagement strategies may soften market and managerial reactions toward controversies. Nonetheless, symbolic CSR-engagement practices arouse participants’ responses. JEL CLASSIFICATION: G11, G23, M14
Extended DMPs Framework for Position and Decoupled Quaternion Learning and Generalization
Authors: Liao Zhiwei , Zhao Fei , Jiang Gedong , Mei Xuesong 
Published: July 2022

AbstractDynamic movement primitives (DMPs) as a robust and efficient framework has been studied widely for robot learning from demonstration. Classical DMPs framework mainly focuses on the movement learning in Cartesian or joint space, and can't properly represent end-effector orientation. In this paper, we present an extended DMPs framework (EDMPs) both in Cartesian space and 2-Dimensional (2D) sphere manifold for Quaternion-based orientation learning and generalization. Gaussian mixture model and Gaussian mixture regression (GMM-GMR) are adopted as the initialization phase of EDMPs to handle multi-demonstrations and obtain their mean and covariance. Additionally, some evaluation indicators including reachability and similarity are defined to characterize the learning and generalization abilities of EDMPs. Finally, a real-world experiment was conducted with human demonstrations, the endpoint poses of human arm were recorded and successfully transferred from human to the robot. The experimental results show that the absolute errors of the Cartesian and Riemannian space skills are less than 3.5 mm and 1.0°, respectively. The Pearson’s correlation coefficients of the Cartesian and Riemannian space skills are mostly greater than 0.9. The developed EDMPs exhibits superior reachability and similarity for the multi-space skills’ learning and generalization. This research proposes a fused framework with EDMPs and GMM-GMR which has sufficient capability to handle the multi-space skills in multi-demonstrations.
Resolution Enhancement in Ultrasonic TOFD Imaging by Combining Sparse Deconvolution and Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (Sparse-SAFT)
Authors: Sun Xu , Lin Li , Jin Shijie 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe shallow subsurface defects are difficult to be identified and quantified by ultrasonic time-of-flight diffraction (TOFD) due to the low resolution induced by pulse width and beam spreading. In this paper, Sparse-SAFT is proposed to improve the time resolution and lateral resolution in TOFD imaging by combining sparse deconvolution and synthetic aperture focusing technique (SAFT). The mathematical model in the frequency domain is established based on the l1 and l2 norm constraints, and the optimization problem is solved for enhancing time resolution. On this basis, SAFT is employed to improve lateral resolution by delay-and-sum beamforming. The simulated and experimental results indicate that the lateral wave and tip-diffracted waves can be decoupled with Sparse-SAFT. The shallow subsurface defects with a height of 3.0 mm at the depth of 3.0 mm were detected quantitatively, and the relative measurement errors of flaw heights and depths were no more than 10.3%. Compared to conventional SAFT, the time resolution and lateral resolution are enhanced by 72.5 and 56% with Sparse-SAFT, respectively. Finally, the proposed method is also suitable for improving resolution to detect the defects beyond dead zone.
Comparison of the elastic limit and yield load of nailed joints connecting solid wood and wood-based board material
Authors: Watanabe Naoki , Ogawa Keita , Kobayashi Kenji 
Published: July 2022

AbstractEvaluations of the lateral properties of timber joints are necessary to ensure the safety of timber buildings. The yield load is an important property that is usually obtained using authorized engineering techniques. Although yield loads have been easily obtained using authorized techniques, events that have occurred in the joint during yielding have not been clarified. This study experimentally obtains elastic limit data using nailed joints. Mechanical tests measuring the residual displacement after various lateral loads with six-joint specimen specifications were conducted. In this study, the load at which the residual displacement reached 5% of the nail diameter was defined as the elastic limit. The experimentally obtained elastic limits were compared with the yield loads obtained using authorized engineering techniques. The ratios of elastic limits to the yield loads obtained using the perfect elasto-plastic model, method described in EN, and 5% offset method were 0.554–0.743, 0.557–0.834, and 0.648–0.801, respectively. The results numerically revealed that residual displacements occurred at a much lower load than the yield loads.
Therapeutic utility of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based approaches in chronic neurodegeneration: a glimpse into underlying mechanisms, current status, and prospects
Authors: Rahbaran Mohaddeseh , Zekiy Angelina Olegovna , Bahramali Mahta , Jahangir Mohammadsaleh , Mardasi Mahsa , Sakhaei Delaram , Thangavelu Lakshmi , Shomali Navid , Zamani Majid , Mohammadi Ali , Rahnama Negin 
Published: July 2022

AbstractRecently, mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)-based therapy has become an appreciated therapeutic approach in the context of neurodegenerative disease therapy. Accordingly, a myriad of studies in animal models and also some clinical trials have evinced the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of MSC transplantation in neurodegenerative conditions, most importantly in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington’s disease (HD). The MSC-mediated desired effect is mainly a result of secretion of immunomodulatory factors in association with release of various neurotrophic factors (NTFs), such as glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Thanks to the secretion of protein-degrading molecules, MSC therapy mainly brings about the degradation of pathogenic protein aggregates, which is a typical appearance of chronic neurodegenerative disease. Such molecules, in turn, diminish neuroinflammation and simultaneously enable neuroprotection, thereby alleviating disease pathological symptoms and leading to cognitive and functional recovery. Also, MSC differentiation into neural-like cells in vivo has partially been evidenced. Herein, we focus on the therapeutic merits of MSCs and also their derivative exosome as an innovative cell-free approach in AD, HD, PD, and ALS conditions. Also, we give a brief glimpse into novel approaches to potentiate MSC-induced therapeutic merits in such disorders, most importantly, administration of preconditioned MSCs.
Exploring urine sediments as a non-invasive method for DNA methylation detection in bladder cancer
Authors: El azzouzi Meryem , El ahanidi Hajar , Hafidi Alaoui Chaimae , Chaoui Imane , Benbacer Laila , Tetou Mohamed , Hassan Ilias , Bensaid Mounia , Oukabli Mohamed , Ameur Ahmed , Al bouzidi Abderrahmane , El mzibri Mohammed , Attaleb Mohammed 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
The main epigenetic event occurring during the bladder carcinogenesis process is DNA methylation, affecting genes involved in various metabolic pathways and cell regulation. The use of biological fluids such as urine sediments could be used as a non-invasive approach to enhance bladder cancer management. In this study, we aim to determine the promoter methylation status of a panel of genes in bladder cancer on tumor biopsies and urine sediments to evaluate the usefulness of urine samples as a non-invasive approach for methylation status assessment.

Methods
Using the methylation-specific PCR technique, we explored the promoter methylation status of hTERT, TWIST1, VIM and NID2 genes in 40 tumor biopsies and their paired urine samples from Moroccan bladder cancer patients.

Results
In this study, bladder tumors showed promoter hypermethylation frequency of individual genes as 90%, 85%, 62.5% and 72.5% in TWIST1, hTERT, NID2 and VIM genes, respectively.
Interestingly, the specificity of methylation detection in urine samples was 100% and the sensitivity to detect hypermethylation of TWIST1, hTERT, NID2 and VIM genes reached 91.7%; 97.1%; 84% and 82.8%, respectively.

Conclusions
Our results clearly show that the assessment of promoter hypermethylation in urine samples is highly specific and has high sensitivity. Furthermore, urine sediments would be a useful approach to detect the DNA methylation status of genes and its potential association with bladder cancer development.
Genome-wide association and genotype by environment interactions for growth traits in U.S. Red Angus cattle
Authors: Smith Johanna L. , Wilson Miranda L. , Nilson Sara M. , Rowan Troy N. , Schnabel Robert D. , Decker Jared E. , Seabury Christopher M. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Background
Genotypic information produced from single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays has routinely been used to identify genomic regions associated with complex traits in beef and dairy cattle. Herein, we assembled a dataset consisting of 15,815 Red Angus beef cattle distributed across the continental U.S. and a union set of 836,118 imputed SNPs to conduct genome-wide association analyses (GWAA) for growth traits using univariate linear mixed models (LMM); including birth weight, weaning weight, and yearling weight. Genomic relationship matrix heritability estimates were produced for all growth traits, and genotype-by-environment (GxE) interactions were investigated.

Results
Moderate to high heritabilities with small standard errors were estimated for birth weight (0.51 ± 0.01), weaning weight (0.25 ± 0.01), and yearling weight (0.42 ± 0.01). GWAA revealed 12 pleiotropic QTL (BTA6, BTA14, BTA20) influencing Red Angus birth weight, weaning weight, and yearling weight which met a nominal significance threshold (P ≤ 1e-05) for polygenic traits using 836K imputed SNPs. Moreover, positional candidate genes associated with Red Angus growth traits in this study (i.e., LCORL, LOC782905, NCAPG, HERC6, FAM184B, SLIT2, MMRN1, KCNIP4, CCSER1, GRID2, ARRDC3, PLAG1, IMPAD1, NSMAF, PENK, LOC112449660, MOS, SH3PXD2B, STC2, CPEB4) were also previously associated with feed efficiency, growth, and carcass traits in beef cattle. Collectively, 14 significant GxE interactions were also detected, but were less consistent among the investigated traits at a nominal significance threshold (P ≤ 1e-05); with one pleiotropic GxE interaction detected on BTA28 (24 Mb) for Red Angus weaning weight and yearling weight.

Conclusions
Sixteen well-supported QTL regions detected from the GWAA and GxE GWAA for growth traits (birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight) in U.S. Red Angus cattle were found to be pleiotropic. Twelve of these pleiotropic QTL were also identified in previous studies focusing on feed efficiency and growth traits in multiple beef breeds and/or their composites. In agreement with other beef cattle GxE studies our results implicate the role of vasodilation, metabolism, and the nervous system in the genetic sensitivity to environmental stress.
Transcriptional responses are oriented towards different components of the rearing environment in two Drosophila sibling species
Authors: De Panis D. , Dopazo H. , Bongcam-Rudloff E. , Conesa A. , Hasson E. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe chance to compare patterns of differential gene expression in related ecologically distinct species can be particularly fruitful to investigate the genetics of adaptation and phenotypic plasticity. In this regard, a powerful technique such as RNA-Seq applied to ecologically amenable taxa allows to address issues that are not possible in classic model species. Here, we study gene expression profiles and larval performance of the cactophilic siblingsDrosophila buzzatiiandD. koepferaereared in media that approximate natural conditions and evaluate both chemical and nutritional components of the diet. These closely related species are complementary in terms of host-plant use since the primary host of one is the secondary of the other.D. koepferaeis mainly a columnar cactus dweller whileD. buzzatiiprefersOpuntiahosts.ResultsOur comparative study shows thatD. buzzatiiandD. koepferaehave different transcriptional strategies to face the challenges posed by their natural resources. The former has greater transcriptional plasticity, and its response is mainly modulated by alkaloids of its secondary host, while the latter has a more canalized genetic response, and its transcriptional plasticity is associated with the cactus species.ConclusionsOur study unveils a complex pleiotropic genetic landscape in both species, with functional links that relate detox responses and redox mechanisms with developmental and neurobiological processes. These results contribute to deepen our understanding of the role of host plant shifts and natural stress driving ecological specialization.