bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New index using triglyceride-glucose-body mass index for predicting mortality in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis
Authors: Park Pil Gyu , Pyo Jung Yoon , Ahn Sung Soo , Song Jason Jungsik , Park Yong-Beom , Huh Ji Hye , Lee Sang-Won 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
This study aimed to investigated whether triglyceride-glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) and a new index using TyG-BMI (NITGB) could predict all-cause mortality in nonobese patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). The medical records of 78 nonobese AAV patients (BMI < 23.0 kg/m2 for Asian) were retrospectively reviewed. TyG-BMI was calculated by the equation: Ln [triglyceride × fasting glucose/2] × BMI. To develop NITGB, we assigned a weight of a number close to an 0.1 decimal integer to each variable according to the slopes for independent variables with P-value < 0.1 in the multivariable Cox analysis. The median age was 54.3 years and five patients died. When nonobese AAV patients were divided into two groups based on TyG-BMI ≥ 187.74, those with TyG-BMI ≥ 187.74 exhibited a significantly higher risk for all-cause mortality than those without (RR 9.450). Since age (HR 1.324), Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS; HR 1.212), and TyG-BMI ≥ 187.74 (HR 12.168) were independently associated with all-cause mortality, NITGB was developed as follow: age + 0.2 × BVAS + 2.5 × TyG-BMI ≥ 187.74. When nonobese AAV patients were divided into two groups based on NITGB ≥ 27.36, those with NITGB ≥ 27.36 showed a significantly higher risk for all-cause mortality than those without (RR 284.000). Both nonobese AAV patients with TyG-BMI ≥ 187.74 and those with NITGB ≥ 27.36 exhibited significantly higher cumulative rates of all-cause mortality than those without. NITGB along with TyG-BMI could predict all-cause mortality in nonobese AAV patients.
Efficacy and safety for combination of trephine with a new tool in foraminoplasty in percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhu Guangye , Tang Jingjing , Lin Shaohao , He Jiahui , Ge Zhilin , Zhang Peng , Ren Hui , Cui Jianchao , Liang De , Jiang Xiaobing 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background: Foraminoplasty is a critical step in percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (PETD) for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH). It is usually performed using trephine under fluoroscopy guidance and is especially suitable for beginners. However, foraminoplasty with trephine may sometimes leave the cut bone in the body and then even cause neural symptoms. We designed a new tool named anchor drill to assist trephine in performing foraminoplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety for combination of trephine with anchor drill in foraminoplasty.Methods: A retrospective review was performed to identify patients with lumbar disc extrusion or sequestration between January 2018 to January 2021 who underwent PETD. Foraminoplasty using trephine alone or trephine combined with anchor drill under fluoroscopy guidance was performed in all surgeries. Duration of foraminoplasty, endoscopic operation time, fluoroscopy time, bone residual incidence after foraminoplasty and perioperative complications were reviewed. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores were assessed before, 1 day, 3 months and 12 months after surgery for all patients.Results: A total of 100 patients were included (55 in combination group, 45 in trephine group). Bone residual incidence after foraminoplasty of combination group was 9.09%, which was significantly lower than that of trephine group with 33.33% (P＜0.05). Mean endoscopic operation time of combination group was significantly shorter than that of trephine group (P＜0.05). Fluoroscopy time and duration of foraminoplasty showed no significant differences between two cohorts. Total perioperative complication incidence was lower in combination group, among which the neural irritation incidence showed significant difference (combination group: 3.64%, trephine group: 17.78%, P＜0.05). No severe vascular and neurological complications occurred in perioperative period. VAS and JOA scores were compared before and after surgery and differences were statistically significant for all patients (P＜0.001). At each follow-up visit, no significant differences were found in VAS and JOA scores between two cohorts. Conclusions: Combination of trephine with anchor drill was demonstrated to be safe and effective in foraminoplasty in PETD, improving success rate of foraminoplasty and reducing neurological complications relative to using trephine alone.
Pathological oligodendrocyte precursor cells revealed in human schizophrenic brains and trigger schizophrenia-like behaviors and synaptic defects in genetic animal model
Authors: Niu Jian-Qin , Yu Guangdan , Su Yixun , Guo Chen , Yi Chenju , Yu Bin , Chen Hui , Cui Yihui , Wang Xiaorui , Wang Yuxin , Chen Xiaoying , Wang Shouyu , Wang Qi , Chen Xianjun , Hu Xuelian , Mei Feng , Verkhratsky Alexej , Xiao Lan 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Although the link of white matter to pathophysiology of schizophrenia is documented, loss of myelin is not detected in patients at the early stages of the disease, suggesting that pathological evolution of schizophrenia may occur before significant myelin loss. Disrupted-in-schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) protein is highly expressed in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and regulates their maturation. Recently, DISC1-Δ3, a major DISC1 variant that lacks exon 3, has been identified in schizophrenia patients, although its pathological significance remains unknown. In this study, we detected in schizophrenia patients a previously unidentified pathological phenotype of OPCs exhibiting excessive branching. We replicated this phenotype by generating a mouse strain expressing DISC1-Δ3 gene in OPCs. We further demonstrated that pathological OPCs, rather than myelin defects, drive the onset of schizophrenic phenotype by hyperactivating OPCs’ Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which consequently upregulates Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1 (Wif1) leading to the aberrant synaptic formation and neuronal activity. Suppressing Wif1 in OPCs rescues synaptic loss and behavioral disorders in DISC1-Δ3 mice. Our findings reveal the pathogenetic role of OPC-specific DISC1-Δ3 variant in the onset of schizophrenia and highlight the therapeutic potential of Wif1 as an alternative target for the treatment of this disease.
Combined wind profile characteristics based on wind parameters joint probability model in a mountainous gorge
Authors: Zhang Mingjin , Zhang Jinxiang , Jiang Fanying , Wu Lianhuo , Qin Jingxi , Li Yongle 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Long-span bridges in mountainous areas are greatly disturbed by wind, and the wind field in the mountain gorge bridge site is extremely complex. Therefore, it is of great engineering significance to accurately evaluate the wind field characteristics of this kind of terrain. In this paper, to enhance understanding of this kind of wind field, the wind field in a mountainous gorge is measured for a long time using wind radar, and the mean wind parameters is statistically analyzed. The results show that the mean wind parameters vary greatly under different wind directions, and the wind speed profile does not meet the power-law model. Therefore, a mixed model suitable for the wind speed profile in a mountainous gorge is proposed. Additionally, GEV distribution and Logistic distribution are found to be suitable for describing the distribution characteristics of wind speed and angle of attack, respectively. In addition, considering the correlation between wind parameters, this paper also constructs the joint probability model of wind speed and angle of attack at different heights by the Copula function. Thus, a combined wind parameters profile model is developed under different exceedance probabilities based on the inverse first-order reliability method (IFORM). This study can provide a reference for the construction of the joint probability model of wind parameters.
The Role of Assistant Psychologists within Inpatient Units: A Clinical Audit
Authors: Wilkinson Jade , Chin Rachel 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Objectives: Current guidelines for the employment of Assistant Psychologists (APs) and Honorary APs (HAPs) are unclear and lack contextual considerations. This leaves standards open to interpretation, and thus places psychology graduates in a vulnerable position risking exploitation. In anticipation of the release of new guidelines, this audit aimed to evaluate the role of the APs within inpatient units against the current standards. Methods: All APs within a specialist mental health rehabilitation service in the North-West of England (n = 5) were invited, and agreed, to participate in the audit.Findings: All standards were found to be unmet, with only a proportion of APs receiving the support stipulated and working within the parameters of their pay band. Conclusion: This audit highlighted the need for context-specific considerations in the new guidance and recommendations to ensure appropriate support is in place. A re-audit is suggested upon publication of new standards and the national implications of this audit are discussed.
X-linked recessive ichthyosis in 8 Tunisian patients: awareness of misdiagnosis due to the technical trap of the STS pseudogene
Authors: CHOUK Hamza , SAAD Sarra , DIMASSI Sarra , FETOUI Nadia GHARIANI , BENNOUR Ayda , GAMMOUDI Rima , ELMABROUK Haifa , SAAD Ali , DENGUEZLI Mohamed , H’MIDA Dorra 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Introduction: X-linked recessive ichthyosis (XLI) is a genodermatosis, caused by a deficiency of the steroid sulphatase enzyme encoded by the STS gene (OMIM # 300747). Adopted XLI molecular diagnosis approaches differ from one laboratory to another depending on available technical facilities. Our work aims to figure out a sound diagnostic strategy for XLI.Patients and Methods: We collected 8 patients with XLI, all males, from 3 unrelated Tunisian families from central Tunisia. Genetic diagnosis was conducted through a large panel of genetic techniques including: Sanger Sequencing, haplotype analysis of STR markers, MLPA analysis, FISH and array CGH.Results: Direct Sanger sequencing of the STS gene showed the same deletion of 13 base pairs within the exon 4 in all patients resulting in a premature stop codon. However, all patients’ mothers were not carriers of this variant and no common haplotype flanking STS gene was shared between affected patients. Sequence alignment with reference human genome revealed an unprocessed pseudogene of the STS gene located on the Y chromosome, on which the 13 bp deletion was actually located. STS MLPA analysis identified a deletion of the entire STS gene on X chromosome for all affected patients. This deletion was confirmed by FISH and delineated by array CGH.Conclusion: All our patients shared a deletion of the entire STS gene revealed by MLPA, confirmed by FISH and delineated by array CGH. Geneticists must be aware of the presence of pseudogenes that can lead to XLI misdiagnosis.
Using the esophageal cancer stem cells (CSCs) for better understanding the tumor metastasis and metastasis-associated genes
Authors: Kokabi Fariba , Khosravi Ayyoob , Jazi Marie Saghaeian , Asadi Jahanbakhsh 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background: Understanding the metastasis and host–tumor cell interactions is needed for effective targeted therapy of metastasis. The aim of this study was to develop mouse model to mimic the late steps of the metastasis process using tail-vein injection of esophageal CSCs. Also, the expression of human metastasis-associated genes (SLUG, E-cad, and CTHRC1) were evaluated in primary tumors. Material and Methods: The sphere formation assay was used to enrich CSCs from YM-1 cell line. For analysis of tumorigenicity, Adherent cells and enriched CSCs were injected into the nude mice. The expression of SLUG, E-cad, and CTHRC1 genes was examined by Real-Time qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods. Also, these cancer cells were injected into the tail vein of nude mice to investigate the metastatic potential of enriched CSCs and their adherent YM-1 cells. To verify metastasis, IHC staining for human p63 and p40 proteins were performed. Results: Our findings showed the up-regulation of SLUG and down-regulation of E-cad in the esophageal CSC-derived tumors (ECSCTs) compared to adherent cells-derived tumors. There was no statistically significant difference between CTHRC1 gene expressions in both groups of tumors. IHC staining confirmed the higher expression of SLUG protein in ECSCTs compared to adherent cell-derived tumors. Enriched CSCs were able to metastasize to the lungs and livers, but, metastasis of adherent cells wasn't observed. Conclusion: Our study suggests esophageal CSCs can migrate and metastasize to the lung and liver and this mouse model can provide a useful and relevant model for studying the metastasis in human esophageal cancer. Also, our findings showed the up-regulation of SLUG in the ECSCTs compared to esophageal adherent cells-derived tumors.
Bacillus thuringiensis pesticidal toxins: A global analysis based on scientometric study (1980 – 2021)
Authors: Karim Abdul Aziz , Idris Abeer Babiker , YILMAZ Semih 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background: Several studies have been conducted on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) pesticidal toxins due to their successful environmentally friendly biopesticide activity against various insect pest orders, protozoa, mites, and nematodes. However, no existing study has systematically examined the trends and evolution of research on Bt pesticidal toxins from a scientometric perspective. This study aimed to analyze the trends and hotspots of global research in this field.Methodology: 5757 publications on Bt pesticidal toxins were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS) from 1980 to 2021. Statistical and scientometric analyses were performed using Excel, CiteSpace and VOSviewer visualisation tools to evaluate the contributions of different countries, institutions, highly influential references, and most used keywords.Results: Out of the 5757 publications, the USA contributed the most, with 1562 publications, 72,754 citations, and 46.58 average citations per paper (ACPP); however, Belgium had the highest (106.43) ACPP among the top 20 contributing countries. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences is the leading institution with 298 publications and 21.20 ACPP. The Pasteur Institute is ranked first (90.04) in terms of ACPP. Keywords analyses revealed that recent studies are inclined towards the evolution of insect resistance against Bt toxins.Conclusion: In future, studies related to the development of resistance mechanisms by insects against Bt pesticidal toxins and ways to overcome them will likely receive more attention.
Keystone Genes from Extracellular DNA Facilitate Microbial Adaptation in Organochlorine Pesticide-Contaminated Soil
Authors: Zhang Zhongyun , Shi Yu , Adams Jonathan M. , Shu Wensheng , Ye Mao , Yu Pingfeng , Jiang Xin 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background: Keystone genes exert great influence on maintaining microbiome stability and functional recovery irrespective of their environmental abundance. Elucidating the effects of environmental stresses on their variation is vital for identifying the recovery potential of ecosystems and regulating microbial adaptation within. Extracellular and intracellular gene transfer under pesticide-induced selection is convenient for studying keystone genes shifts and their role in ecosystem recovery potential. Results: Metagenomic analysis revealed that increased stress induced by organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) decreased soil bacterial diversity, and enriched abundance of functional genes associated with metabolism and gene transfer potential, both in extracellular and intracellular DNA. Increased OCP concentrations also significantly enhanced intercellular gene associations, which facilitated the abundance of keystone genes associated with metabolic functions by a factor of 2.14 times. Keystone genes devoted their niche specificity in microbiome co-occurrence networks, enhancing microbial survival under OCP stress where they had been taken up and incorporated by intercellular transfer. This was verified by culturing on media containing OCP (e.g., p-nitrochlorobenzene). Furthermore, in a 100-day field observation of ten different OCP-contaminated sites, China, keystone genes genes ssuD, livH, yfcG, coxA and gst, showed significant variations in abundance in response to the recovery of OCP-induced ecosystems and their intercellular transfer was promoted by 0~1.50 orders of magnitude. Conclusion: Under OCP-induced stress, the microbial community composition, community structure and certain transferable keystone genes all participate in the adaptive response to the environmental stresses. The observed gene transfers within the extracellular and intracellular DNA fractions emphasize the pivotal influence of keystone genes in maintaining ecosystem stability and resilience.
Nonlinear ultrasonic inspection of the effect of contaminants on material properties of epoxy-adhesive
Authors: Pyun Do-Kyung , Koester Lucas W. , Barnard Daniel J. , Bond Leonard J. 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Adhesive joints have been an effective alternative to conventional mechanical fasteners for joining materials in the aerospace and automotive industries. Although adhesive joints have various advantages, including uniform stress distribution, lower weight, improved corrosion tolerance, and design flexibility, there can be various defects in adhesive joints, which have limited wider application. This paper investigates the effect of a contaminant on the chemical and mechanical properties of the epoxy-adhesive and seeks to determine if a SHG method can reliably detect and characterize the degree of contamination in the epoxy-adhesive. A contract based ultrasonic through-transmission method was used to measure nonlinearity and then the nonlinearity parameter was calculated using the measured fundamental and second harmonic frequency components in the signals. It was found that there is higher sensitivity to contaminant concentration, up to 1.5%, of the nonlinearity parameter than that for the sound velocity. These data were also found to correlate with changes in the mechanical hardness, which was measured by the Rockwell hardness testing, with different four levels of contamination. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were also conducted to assess the effect of the contaminant on thermal properties of the epoxy-adhesive. The DSC and TGA techniques were used to evaluate the curing reaction and the thermal stability of the epoxy-adhesive respectively.
Predict lncRNA-disease associations based on graphlet interaction
Authors: Li Nian , Guan Nana , Qu Jia 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The study of the lncRNA-diseases association is a prevalent project. Researchers have developed many effective computational models to assist experimental research. In this paper, we proposed a computational model (GILDA) to predict the potential lncRNA-disease associations based on graphlet interaction. This model established lncRNA similarity graph and disease similarity graph. Based on the graphlet interaction, we calculated the numbers of graphlet interaction isomers in the similarity graphs respectively, which were then taken as features to train the model, and obtained the predicted lncRNA-disease association scores. Compared with the previous calculation models, GILDA fully considers the direct and indirect relationship between two nodes through the graphlet interaction. The AUC value of GILDA in global LOOCV is 0.8844, in local LOOCV is 0.8468, and in fivefold cross-validation is \(0.8742\pm 0.0057\). At the same time, we made case studies of hepatecellular carcinoma, renal cancer and adenocarcinoma. The results proved that among the first 10 lncRNAs predicted for the three diseases, the prediction accuracy was 100%, 100% and 80%, respectively.
Theoretical proposal of a revolutionary water-splitting photocatalyst: The monolayer of boron phosphide
Authors: Suzuki Tatsuo 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Recently, hydrogen generation by water-splitting photocatalysts is attracting attention as a sustainable and clean energy resource. Photocatalytic hydrogen-generation systems are much simpler, cheaper, and easier to scale up than the coupled systems of electrolysis and solar cells, wind-power generation, etc. However, photocatalytic hydrogen generation is currently inefficient. This paper proposes the monolayer of boron phosphide as a stable highly-efficient water-splitting photocatalyst by high-precision density-functional theory calculations using a HSE06 functional with a solvent effect. The monolayer of boron phosphide has a direct allowed energy gap of about 1.4 eV, and functions as a one-step excitation photocatalyst. It absorbs sunlight with wavelengths below about 890 nm (ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared light) and produces both hydrogen gas and oxygen gas from water at a suitable pH condition. By calculating the overpotentials of hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, its photocatalytic effectiveness was confirmed. The monolayers of boron phosphide will realize green hydrogen revolution.
Serum C reactive protein predicts humoral response after BNT162b2 booster administration
Authors: Salvagno Gian Luca , Henry Brandon M. , Pighi Laura , De Nitto Simone , Lippi Giuseppe 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background: We explored here the impact that baseline inflammation on post-vaccine anti-SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) antibodies response after BNT162b2 vaccine booster administration.Materials and Methods: The population consisted of 78 healthcare workers of Pederzoli Hospital in Peschiera del Garda (Italy), who received a booster dose of BNT162b2 vaccine 8 months after completing homologous primary vaccination cycle. Serum levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike trimeric IgG were measured pre- and post-booster, whilst serum C reactive protein (CRP) was measured on pre-booster samples.Results: BNT162b2 vaccine booster increased anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike trimeric IgG by nearly 40-fold (median increase, 38-fold; IQR, 20-78 folds). A highly significant correlation was found between pre-booster serum CRP concentration and post-booster anti-SARS-COV-2 spike trimeric RBD IgG antibodies variation (r= 0.36; 95%CI, 0.15-0.54; p=0.001). The median post-booster increase of anti-SARS-COV-2 spike trimeric RBD IgG antibodies was significantly higher in patients with serum CRP >3 mg/L compared to those with serum CRP <3 mg/L (54 vs. 37 folds; p=0.025).Conclusions: Evidence emerged from this study suggest that baseline CRP values could be used as valuable information for personalizing COVID-19 vaccines booster administration.