bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Geometry and Kinematics Characteristics of Strike-Slip Fault Zone in Complex Structure Area: A Case Study From the South No. 15 Strike-Slip Fault Zone in the Eastern Sichuan Basin, China
Authors: Cheng Xiaoyun , Ding Wenlong , Pan Lei , Zou Yutao , Li Yuntao , Yin Yixing , Ding Shihao 
Published: May 2022

The eastern Sichuan Basin has undergone multiple stages of tectonic evolution and shows complex structural characteristics. It is found that there are a series of NW-SE base-trending strike-slip faults in this area besides NE-SW strike-blocking structures. There are almost no previous studies on strike-slip faults in the eastern Sichuan Basin. This paper fills in the blank of geometry and kinematics research on the strike-slip fault zone in this area. Based on highly precise 3D seismic section, coherent attribute slice and time slice, the geometric and kinematic characteristics of the fault are analyzed. The dynamic characteristics are analysed based on the structural style of the superimposed development model and the nature and activity intensity of strike-slip faults in different periods. and it was found that No. 15 strike-slip fault was a large basement strike-slip fault. The research results show that the profile of the No. 15 strike-slip fault mainly shows a subvertical fracture, positive flower structure and negative flower structure and a composite flower structure with positive and negative flower structures superimposed on each other in the upper and lower planar sections with linearly outspread and zonal distribution characteristics; spatially, there is a “ribbon” effect and a “dolphin” effect. the left strike-slip distance of the TS interface is 0.462 km, and the right strike-slip distance of the TP2 interface is 0.782 km. The strike-slip fault experienced at least three active stages of superimposed deformation during its formation and reconstruction, among which episode II in the middle Caledonian movement was the main active stage of the No. 15 strike-slip fault zone. This study of the structural style and genetic mechanism of a strike-slip fault zone is of guiding significance to the exploration and development of strike-slip fault-controlled reservoirs in the study area.
The Effect of Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines on TRAB in Graves’ Disease
Authors: Huang LingHong , Jiang ZhengRong , Zhou JingXiong , Chen YuPing , Huang HuiBin 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundThe ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced the development of vaccines. Reports have suggested that vaccines play a role in inducing autoimmune diseases (AIDs). Scattered cases have reported that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines may promote thyroid disease, including Graves’ disease (GD). However, the effect of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine on GD remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the response of thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAB) to inactivated SARS-COV-2 vaccines.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study to observe the differences in thyroid function and TRAB trends between pre-vaccination (n=412) and post-vaccination (n=231) groups at an interval of 2 months. We then retrospectively observed the differences in serum thyroid function and TRAB levels at 3 months before (n=280), 1 month before (n=294), 1 month after (n=306), and 3 months after (n=250) vaccination. Subsequently, 173 GD patients who were not vaccinated with inactivated SARS-COV-2 vaccines were selected for a prospective study. Thyroid function and TRAB assessment were performed before 3 and 1 months and 1 and 3 months after the first dose of vaccination and were then compared by repeated measures ANOVA to explore their dynamic changes.ResultsA retrospective study preliminarily observed that the trend of TRAB post-vaccination was opposite of that pre-vaccination (p=0.000), serum TRAB levels decreased before vaccination and increased after vaccination. In this prospective study, repeated measures ANOVA indicated significant differences in serum FT3 (p=0.000), FT4 (p=0.000), TSH (p=0.000), and TRAB (p=0.000) levels at different time points before and after vaccination. Serum TRAB levels showed dynamic changes that decreased significantly at 1 month before vaccination (p=0.000), no significant differences at 1 month after vaccination (p=0.583), and reflected an upward trend at 3 months after vaccination (p=0.034). Serum FT3 and FT4 levels showed similar trends to serum TRAB levels before and after vaccination. Instead, the serum TSH levels showed a continuous upward trend over time.ConclusionBased on the results obtained in both retrospective and prospective studies, we concluded that serum TRAB levels decreased less after inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and showed an upward trend, which may be related to humoral immunity induced by vaccination.
The Saturation Effect of Obesity on Bone Mineral Density for Older People: The NHANES 2017–2020
Authors: Zhang Ya , Pu Jian 
Published: May 2022

IntroductionPrevious studies have shown that obesity has a positive effect on bone mineral density (BMD). However, excessive obesity is harmful to health, especially in older adults. In addition, it is unclear what body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) to maintain for the most beneficial BMD in older adults.MethodsMultivariate logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between BMI, WC, and femoral neck BMD using the most recent data from the 2017–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Fitting smoothing curves and saturation effects analysis were also used to determine the association of nonlinear relationships between BMI, WC, and femoral neck BMD.ResultsThe analysis included a total of 2,903 adults. We discovered that BMD and WC were positively linked to femoral neck BMD. The favorable associations of BMI and WC with femoral neck BMD were maintained in all subgroup analyses stratified by sex and race, except among Mexican Americans. Furthermore, smoothing curve fitting revealed that the link between BMI and BMD was not only a linear connection, and that there was a saturation point. The BMI saturation value in the femoral neck BMD was 24.3 (kg/m2), according to the saturation effect analysis.ConclusionsIn persons over the age of 50, our research found a positive relationship between obesity and BMD, and we also found a saturation value between BMI and BMD. According to this study, maintaining BMI at a moderate level (about 24.3 kg/m2) would result in an optimal balance between BMI and BMD in adults over 50 years of age.
Inorganic Phosphorus Transformation and Phosphorus Adsorption–Desorption Properties of Soil in a Cotton Field Under Mulched Drip Irrigation in Xinjiang: A Four-Year Field Assessment
Authors: Tang Xuexia , Liu Meijuan , Sheng Jiandong , Chai Zhongping , Feng Gu , Chen Bolang 
Published: May 2022

Phosphorus (P) fertilizer is generally applied to enhance the soil P pool and meet crop demand, but most of the added P is absorbed by soil. This study aimed to explore the importance of P fractions and adsorption–desorption characteristics on the demand for P fertilizer to determine the optimum P fertilizer amount for a cotton field under mulched drip irrigation in Xinjiang, China. A 4-year experiment (2016–2019) was conducted in a cotton field to evaluate the effects of five P fertilizer addition levels (0, 75, 150, 300, and 450 kg P2O5 ha−1 year−1) on inorganic P fractions and P adsorption–desorption properties at different soil depths and explore the effects of soil properties on P adsorption. The 4-year continuous P fertilization enhanced the inorganic P content and altered the proportions of various P forms. A large proportion of P accumulated in soil was transformed into Ca8-P, followed by Ca2-P, mainly in the surface layer. The accumulation and transformation of P in fertilized soil reduced P adsorption and enhanced P desorption. Soils with higher P application levels had higher inorganic P accumulation with lower adsorption and higher desorption. The total P and Olsen-P in a 0- to 5-cm soil layer; Ca8-P and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in a 5- to 10-cm soil layer; Olsen-P, Ca10-P, clay, and cation exchange capacity in a 10- to 20-cm soil layer; and Olsen-P in a 20- to 40-cm soil layer significantly affected the P adsorption–desorption (p &lt; 0.05). The application rate of 75–150 kg P2O5 ha−1 year−1 produced lower inorganic P accumulation, favorable adsorption–desorption properties, and high cotton yield, and thus could be considered the optimal P fertilizer application level.
A Study on the Oil Price Cointegration Dynamic Process: Evidence From the Shanghai Crude Oil Futures
Authors: Wang Hongxia , Qiu Shushu , Yick Ho Yin , Dai Yuhu 
Published: May 2022

This work studies the integration process of the Shanghai crude oil futures market in pricing discovery mechanism of global crude oil markets by conducting cointegration analysis and lead–lag causality tests. Using the representative samples of several futures contracts covering different listing periods, we conclude a significant and gradual change of the relations between the Shanghai crude oil futures market and international benchmarks, from unidirectional Granger causality to bidirectional Granger causality. The cointegration relationships become stable after about 2 years’ market development. Moreover, the Shanghai crude oil futures market always leads domestic (Daqing) crude oil spot market since 2019. Our evidences support that it has the increasing influence on domestic crude oil market and international benchmarks.
An Integrated Regulatory Network of mRNAs, microRNAs, and lncRNAs Involved in Nitrogen Metabolism of Moso Bamboo
Authors: Yuan Tingting , Zhu Chenglei , Li Guangzhu , Liu Yan , Yang Kebin , Li Zhen , Song Xinzhang , Gao Zhimin 
Published: May 2022

Nitrogen is a key macronutrient essential for plant growth and development, and its availability has a strong influence on biological processes. Nitrogen fertilizer has been widely applied in bamboo forests in recent decades; however, the mechanism of nitrogen metabolism in bamboo is not fully elucidated. Here, we characterized the morphological, physiological, and transcriptome changes of moso bamboo in response to different schemes for nitrogen addition to illuminate the regulation mechanism of nitrogen metabolism. The appropriate addition of nitrogen improved the chlorophyll content and Pn (net photosynthetic rate) of leaves, the nitrogen and ammonium contents of the seedling roots, the biomass of the whole seedling, the number of lateral roots, and the activity of enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism in the roots. Based on the whole transcriptome data of the roots, a total of 8,632 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) were identified under different nitrogen additions, such as 52 nitrate transporter genes, 6 nitrate reductase genes, 2 nitrite reductase genes, 2 glutamine synthase genes, 2 glutamate synthase genes (GOGAT), 3 glutamate dehydrogenase genes, and 431 TFs belonging to 23 families. Meanwhile, 123 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and 396 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were characterized as nitrogen responsive, respectively. Furthermore, 94 DEM-DEG pairs and 23 DEL-DEG pairs involved in nitrogen metabolism were identified. Finally, a predicted regulatory network of nitrogen metabolism was initially constructed, which included 17 nitrogen metabolic pathway genes, 15 TFs, 4 miRNAs, and 10 lncRNAs by conjoint analysis of DEGs, DEMs, and DELs and their regulatory relationships, which was supported by RNA-seq data and qPCR results. The lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network provides new insights into the regulation mechanism of nitrogen metabolism in bamboo, which facilitates further genetic improvement for bamboo to adapt to the fluctuating nitrogen environment.
Potential of Polyethyleneimine as an Adjuvant To Prepare Long-Term and Potent Antifungal Nanovaccine
Authors: Jin Zhao , Dong Yi-Ting , Liu Shuang , Liu Jie , Qiu Xi-Ran , Zhang Yu , Zong Hui , Hou Wei-Tong , Guo Shi-Yu , Sun Yu-Fang , Chen Si-Min , Dong Hai-Qing , Li Yong-Yong , An Mao-Mao , Shen Hui 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundCandida albicans infections are particularly prevalent in immunocompromised patients. Even with appropriate treatment with current antifungal drugs, the mortality rate of invasive candidiasis remains high. Many positive results have been achieved in the current vaccine development. There are also issues such as the vaccine’s protective effect is not persistent. Considering the functionality and cost of the vaccine, it is important to develop safe and efficient new vaccines with long-term effects. In this paper, an antifungal nanovaccine with Polyethyleneimine (PEI) as adjuvant was constructed, which could elicit more effective and long-term immunity via stimulating B cells to differentiate into long-lived plasma cells.Materials and MethodsHsp90-CTD is an important target for protective antibodies during disseminated candidiasis. Hsp90-CTD was used as the antigen, then introduced SDS to “charge” the protein and added PEI to form the nanovaccine. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscope were conducted to identify the size distribution, zeta potential, and morphology of nanovaccine. The antibody titers in mice immunized with the nanovaccine were measured by ELISA. The activation and maturation of long-lived plasma cells in bone marrow by nanovaccine were also investigated via flow cytometry. Finally, the kidney of mice infected with Candida albicans was stained with H&amp;E and PAS to evaluate the protective effect of antibody in serum produced by immunized mice.ResultsNanoparticles (NP) formed by Hsp90-CTD and PEI are small, uniform, and stable. NP had an average size of 116.2 nm with a PDI of 0.13. After immunizing mice with the nanovaccine, it was found that the nano-group produced antibodies faster and for a longer time. After 12 months of immunization, mice still had high and low levels of antibodies in their bodies. Results showed that the nanovaccine could promote the differentiation of B cells into long-lived plasma cells and maintain the long-term existence of antibodies in vivo. After immunization, the antibodies in mice could protect the mice infected by C. albicans.ConclusionAs an adjuvant, PEI can promote the differentiation of B cells into long-lived plasma cells to maintain long-term antibodies in vivo. This strategy can be adapted for the future design of vaccines.
Evaluation of a Human T Cell-Targeted Multi-Epitope Vaccine for Q Fever in Animal Models of Coxiella burnetii Immunity
Authors: Sluder Ann E. , Raju Paul Susan , Moise Leonard , Dold Christina , Richard Guilhem , Silva-Reyes Laura , Baeten Laurie A. , Scholzen Anja , Reeves Patrick M. , Pollard Andrew J. , Garritsen Anja , Bowen Richard A. , De Groot Anne S. , Rollier Christine , Poznansky Mark C. 
Published: May 2022

T cell-mediated immunity plays a central role in the control and clearance of intracellular Coxiella burnetii infection, which can cause Q fever. Therefore, we aimed to develop a novel T cell-targeted vaccine that induces pathogen-specific cell-mediated immunity to protect against Q fever in humans while avoiding the reactogenicity of the current inactivated whole cell vaccine. Human HLA class II T cell epitopes from C. burnetii were previously identified and selected by immunoinformatic predictions of HLA binding, conservation in multiple C. burnetii isolates, and low potential for cross-reactivity with the human proteome or microbiome. Epitopes were selected for vaccine inclusion based on long-lived human T cell recall responses to corresponding peptides in individuals that had been naturally exposed to the bacterium during a 2007-2010 Q fever outbreak in the Netherlands. Multiple viral vector-based candidate vaccines were generated that express concatemers of selected epitope sequences arranged to minimize potential junctional neo-epitopes. The vaccine candidates caused no antigen-specific reactogenicity in a sensitized guinea pig model. A subset of the vaccine epitope peptides elicited antigenic recall responses in splenocytes from C57BL/6 mice previously infected with C. burnetii. However, immunogenicity of the vaccine candidates in C57BL/6 mice was dominated by a single epitope and this was insufficient to confer protection against an infection challenge, highlighting the limitations of assessing human-targeted vaccine candidates in murine models. The viral vector-based vaccine candidates induced antigen-specific T cell responses to a broader array of epitopes in cynomolgus macaques, establishing a foundation for future vaccine efficacy studies in this large animal model of C. burnetii infection.
Case Report: Multimodal Imaging in a Rare Case of Morning Glory Disc Anomaly Complicated With Choroidal Ossification
Authors: Wang Shuya , Wang Xingrong , Wang Ying , Bi Hongsheng 
Published: May 2022

PurposeThe authors described a 7-year-old boy who was diagnosed with morning glory disc (MGD) anomaly in the right eye via fundus examination. However, during the head CT examination, a hyperdense choroidal lesion was discovered around the optic disc. Comprehensive investigations revealed that the lesion's characteristics were extremely consistent with choroidal osteoma (CO), so the patient was diagnosed with MGD with CO on his second visit. However, in the subsequent follow-up, the author discovered pigmentary alterations in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the patient's right eye. Finally, the diagnosis was corrected to MGD with choroidal ossification following a thorough etiological analysis. Meanwhile, the characteristics of choroidal ossification were described in detail through multimodal imaging in this article.MethodsRetrospective review of a case note.ConclusionsSimilar to CO, choroidal ossification is the consequence of structured osseous tissue formation regulated by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. It consists of bone trabecular and vascular components and is difficult to be distinguished from CO on imaging examinations. In contrast to the congenital prevalence of CO, there are often incentives for the occurrence of choroidal ossification. These inducements will eventually mediate the inflammation in the eye, resulting in the activation of many cytokines and the production of choroidal ossification. Around one-third of patients with MGD will experience retinal detachment, and in certain cases, the subretinal fluid will be absorbed spontaneously, resulting in alterations to the RPE. These processes can activate inflammatory factors in the eye, bringing about a cascade of abnormalities, including the development of CO. Therefore, the proper diagnosis of disease should not be made exclusively on the basis of the imaging findings. A thorough analysis of the epidemiology and etiology is crucial.
Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Takayasu Arteritis Directly Correlates With Diastolic Dysfunction and Inflammatory Cell Infiltration in the Vessel Wall: A Clinical, ex vivo and in vitro Analysis
Authors: Cicco Sebastiano , Desantis Vanessa , Vacca Antonio , Cazzato Gerardo , Solimando Antonio G. , Cirulli Anna , Noviello Silvia , Susca Cecilia , Prete Marcella , Brosolo Gabriele , Catena Cristiana , Lamanuzzi Aurelia , Saltarella Ilaria , Frassanito Maria Antonia , Cimmino Antonella , Ingravallo Giuseppe , Resta Leonardo , Ria Roberto , Montagnani Monica 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundTakayasu Arteritis (TAK) increases vascular stiffness and arterial resistance. Atherosclerosis leads to similar changes. We investigated possible differences in cardiovascular remodeling between these diseases and whether the differences are correlated with immune cell expression.MethodsPatients with active TAK arteritis were compared with age- and sex-matched atherosclerotic patients (Controls). In a subpopulation of TAK patients, Treg/Th17 cells were measured before (T0) and after 18 months (T18) of infliximab treatment. Echocardiogram, supraaortic Doppler ultrasound, and lymphocytogram were performed in all patients. Histological and immunohistochemical changes of the vessel wall were evaluated as well.ResultsTAK patients have increased aortic valve dysfunction and diastolic dysfunction. The degree of dysfunction appears associated with uric acid levels. A significant increase in aortic stiffness was also observed and associated with levels of peripheral T lymphocytes. CD3+ CD4+ cell infiltrates were detected in the vessel wall samples of TAK patients, whose mean percentage of Tregs was lower than Controls at T0, but increased significantly at T18. Opposite behavior was observed for Th17 cells. Finally, TAK patients were found to have an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).ConclusionOur data suggest that different pathogenic mechanisms underlie vessel damage, including atherosclerosis, in TAK patients compared with Controls. The increased risk of ASCVD in TAK patients correlates directly with the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration in the vessel wall. Infliximab restores the normal frequency of Tregs/Th17 in TAK patients and allows a possible reduction of steroids and immunosuppressants.
Clinical Features and Factors Associated With Sepsis-Associated Encephalopathy in Children: Retrospective Single-Center Clinical Study
Authors: Chen Yihao , Hu Yan , Li Xufeng , Chen Peiling , Wang Chun , Wang Jing , Wu Jiaxing , Sun Yueyu , Zheng Guilang , Lu Yiyun , Guo Yuxiong 
Published: May 2022

BackgroundSepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a common complication in septic patients with a higher ICU and hospital mortality in adults and poorer long-term outcomes. Clinical presentation may range from mild confusion to convulsions and deep coma; however, little is known about SAE in children. We aimed to retrospectively analyze the data for children with sepsis, to illustrate the epidemiology, performance, and adverse outcome, and to evaluate the association between risk factors and SAE in children.MethodsAll children with sepsis who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China from January 2010 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsA total of 210 patients with sepsis were retrospectively assigned to the SAE and non-SAE groups, of which 91 (43.33%) were diagnosed with SAE with a mortality of 6.70% (14/210). Significant differences were observed in the level of white blood platelet, platelets, international normalized ratio, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, total protein, Ccr, UREA, blood urea nitrogen, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, creatine kinase, creatine kinase isoenzymes, lactate dehydrogenase, procalcitonin, and lactic acid (p &lt; 0.05). In the risk assessment scales, significant differences were observed in the modified Glasgow Coma score, PCIS, Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction Score 2 (PELOD-2), Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score, and Pediatric Risk of Mortality III (p &lt; 0.05). The incidence of septic shock, acute kidney disease, liver dysfunction, and coagulation disorder were higher in the SAE group (p &lt; 0.05). The mechanical ventilation time ([6.57 d ± 16.86 d] vs. [2.05 d ± 5.79 d]; p &lt; 0.001), CRRT time ([1.74 d ± 6.77 d] vs. [0.11 d ± 0.63 d]; p &lt; 0.001), ICU stay time ([299.90 h ± 449.50 h] vs. [177.67 h ± 245.36 h]); p &lt; 0.001 was longer than that of non-SAE. Both the PCT, Ca2+, septic shock, PELOD-2, and midazolam were identified as independent risk factors, and fentanyl was a protective factor for SAE in pediatric patients (p &lt; 0.05). The main clinical neurological symptoms consisted of agitation, hypnosia, hypnosis alternates agitated, anterior fontanelle full/bulging/high tension, coma, muscle hypertonia, muscle hypotonia, hyperreflexia, focal seizure, and generalized seizure.ConclusionsThe incidence of SAE in children was found high and the prognosis poor. In this retrospective study, the identified patients were more susceptible to SAE, with an inflammatory storm with hypocalcemia or septic shock. The use of midazolam will increase the occurrence of SAE, whereas fentanyl will reduce the incidence of SAE, and PELOD-2 may predict the occurrence of SAE.