bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Long-Term Proppant Conductivity
Authors: Wang Jun , Xiong Youming , Jiao Guoying , Lei Dengsheng 
Published: February 2022

Long-term conductivity data is essential to predict the production performance of the fractured well. It is necessary to know its long-term conductivity when choosing Tianxiang ceramic to prop hydraulic fractures in Northwest China. Its long-term conductivity was evaluated using DL-2000 equipment. Testing time at each closure stress point is more than 7 h, though the procedure used is similar to the recommended practice for short-term proppant conductivity. This test also investigates how factors such as proppant concentration and proppant size affected long-term conductivity. The results show these factors have a significant effect on long-term conductivity. Conductivity increases as proppant concentration rises, contributing to the increase of proppant volume and fracture height. Large proppants provide higher conductivity because large proppants have higher pore space and higher proppant pack height. High experimental temperature increases proppant conductivity due to dissolution and migration of minor fines and impurities. Besides, due to compaction, conductivity declines with the increase of testing time. Therefore, short-term conductivity is higher than long-term conductivity, while conductivity drops as testing time lasts. The results imply that Tianxiang ceramic performs as well as other ceramic proppants. It can offer proppant conductivity required by stimulation and qualifies to stimulate oil and gas wells in China. The achievements of this experiment will benefit hydraulic fracturing stimulation.
m6A mRNA Methylation Was Associated With Gene Expression and Lipid Metabolism in Liver of Broilers Under Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation
Authors: Guo Feng , Zhang Yanhong , Ma Jinyou , Yu Yan , Wang Qiuxia , Gao Pei , Wang Li , Xu Zhiyong , Wei Xiaobing , Jing Mengna 
Published: February 2022

Hepatic inflammation is always accompanied with abnormal lipid metabolism. Whether N6-methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA methylation affects irregular inflammatory lipid level is unclear. Here, the m6A modification patterns in chicken liver at the acute stage of LPS-stimulated inflammation and at the normal state were explored via m6A and RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. A total of 7,815 m6A peaks distributed in 5,066 genes were identified in the normal chicken liver and were mostly located in the CDS, 3′UTR region, and around the stop codon. At 2 h after the LPS intraperitoneal injection, the m6A modification pattern changed and showed 1,200 different m6A peaks. The hyper- and hypo-m6A peaks were differentially located, with the former mostly located in the CDS region and the latter in the 3′UTR and in the region near the stop codon. The hyper- or hypo-methylated genes were enriched in different GO ontology and pathways. Co-analysis revealed a significantly positive relationship between the fold change of m6A methylation level and the relative fold change of mRNA expression. Moreover, computational prediction of protein–protein interaction (PPI) showed that genes with altered m6A methylation and mRNA expression levels were clustered in processes involved in lipid metabolism, immune response, DNA replication, and protein ubiquitination. CD18 and SREBP-1 were the two hub genes clustered in the immune process and lipid metabolism, respectively. Hub gene AGPAT2 was suggested to link the immune response and lipid metabolism clusters in the PPI network. This study presented the first m6A map of broiler chicken liver at the acute stage of LPS induced inflammation. The findings may shed lights on the possible mechanisms of m6A-mediated lipid metabolism disorder in inflammation.
PRRX1 Is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker and Facilitates Tumor Progression Through Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition in Uveal Melanoma
Authors: Meng Zhishang , Chen Yanzhu , Wu Wenyi , Yan Bin , Zhang Lusi , Chen Huihui , Meng Yongan , Liang Youling , Yao Xiaoxi , Luo Jing 
Published: February 2022

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. UM develops and is sustained by inflammation and immunosuppression from the tumor microenvironment (TME). This study sought to identify a reliable TME-related biomarker that could provide survival prediction and new insight into therapy for UM patients. Based on clinical characteristics and the RNA-seq transcriptome data of 80 samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, PRRX1 as a TME- and prognosis-related gene was identified using the ESTIMATE algorithm and the LASSO–Cox regression model. A prognostic model based on PRRX1 was constructed and validated with a Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset of 63 samples. High PRRX1 expression was associated with poorer overall survival (OS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) in UM patients. Comprehensive results of the prognostic analysis showed that PRRX1 was an independent and reliable predictor of UM. Then the results of immunological characteristics demonstrated that higher expression of PRRX1 was accompanied by higher expression of immune checkpoint genes, lower tumor mutation burden (TMB), and greater tumor cell infiltration into the TME. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that high PRRX1 expression correlated with angiogenesis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and inflammation. Furthermore, downregulation of PRRX1 weakened the process of EMT, reduced cell invasion and migration of human UM cell line MuM-2B in vitro. Taken together, these findings indicated that increased PRRX1 expression is independently a prognostic factor of poorer OS and MFS in patients with UM, and that PRRX1 promotes malignant progression of UM by facilitating EMT, suggesting that PRRX1 may be a potential target for UM therapy.
Overexpression of FcεRI on Bone Marrow Mast Cells, but Not MRGPRX2, in Clonal Mast Cell Disorders With Wasp Venom Anaphylaxis
Authors: Elst Jessy , De Puysseleyr Leander P. , Ebo Didier G. , Faber Margaretha A. , Van Gasse Athina L. , van der Poorten Marie-Line M. , Decuyper Ine I. , Bridts Chris H. , Mertens Christel , Van Houdt Michel , Hagendorens Margo M. , De Clerck Luc S. , Verlinden Anke , Vermeulen Katrien , Maes Marie-Berthe , Berneman Zwi N. , Valent Peter , Sabato Vito 
Published: February 2022

BackgroundUncertainties remain about the molecular mechanisms governing clonal mast cell disorders (CMCD) and anaphylaxis.ObjectiveThis study aims at comparing the burden, phenotype and behavior of mast cells (MCs) and basophils in patients with CMCD with wasp venom anaphylaxis (CMCD/WVA+), CMCD patients without anaphylaxis (CMCD/ANA-), patients with an elevated baseline serum tryptase (EBST), patients with wasp venom anaphylaxis without CMCD (WVA+) and patients with a non-mast cell haematological pathology (NMHP).MethodsThis study included 20 patients with CMCD/WVA+, 24 with CMCD/ANA-, 19 with WVA+, 6 with EBST and 5 with NMHP. We immunophenotyped MCs and basophils and compared baseline serum tryptase (bST) and both total and venom specific IgE in the different groups. For basophil studies, 13 healthy controls were also included.ResultsHigher levels of bST were found in CMCD patients with wasp venom anaphylaxis, CMCD patients without anaphylaxis and EBST patients. Total IgE levels were highest in patients with wasp venom anaphylaxis with and without CMCD. Bone marrow MCs of patients with CMCD showed lower CD117 expression and higher expression of CD45, CD203c, CD63, CD300a and FcεRI. Within the CMCD population, patients with wasp venom anaphylaxis showed a higher expression of FcεRI as compared to patients without anaphylaxis. Expression of MRGPRX2 on MCs did not differ between the study populations. Basophils are phenotypically and functionally comparable between the different patient populations.ConclusionPatients with CMCD show an elevated burden of aberrant activated MCs with a significant overexpression of FcεRI in patients with a wasp venom anaphylaxis.
Non-Invasive Monitoring for Rejection in Kidney Transplant Recipients After SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination
Authors: Al Jurdi Ayman , Gassen Rodrigo B. , Borges Thiago J. , Solhjou Zhabiz , Hullekes Frank E. , Lape Isadora T. , Efe Orhan , Alghamdi Areej , Patel Poojan , Choi John Y. , Mohammed Mostafa T. , Bohan Brigid , Pattanayak Vikram , Rosales Ivy , Cravedi Paolo , Kotton Camille N. , Azzi Jamil R. , Riella Leonardo V. 
Published: February 2022

IntroductionStudies have shown reduced antiviral responses in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, but data on post-vaccination alloimmune responses and antiviral responses against the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant are limited.Materials and methodsTo address this issue, we conducted a prospective, multi-center study of 58 adult KTRs receiving mRNA-BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 vaccines. We used multiple complementary non-invasive biomarkers for rejection monitoring including serum creatinine, proteinuria, donor-derived cell-free DNA, peripheral blood gene expression profile (PBGEP), urinary CXCL9 mRNA and de novo donor-specific antibodies (DSA). Secondary outcomes included development of anti-viral immune responses against the wild-type and Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2.ResultsAt a median of 85 days, no KTRs developed de novo DSAs and only one patient developed acute rejection following recent conversion to belatacept, which was associated with increased creatinine and urinary CXCL9 levels. During follow-up, there were no significant changes in proteinuria, donor-derived cell-free DNA levels or PBGEP. 36% of KTRs in our cohort developed anti-wild-type spike antibodies, 75% and 55% of whom had neutralizing responses against wild-type and Delta variants respectively. A cellular response against wild-type S1, measured by interferon-γ-ELISpot assay, developed in 38% of KTRs. Cellular responses did not differ in KTRs with or without antibody responses.ConclusionsSARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination in KTRs did not elicit a significant alloimmune response. About half of KTRs who develop anti-wild-type spike antibodies after two mRNA vaccine doses have neutralizing responses against the Delta variant. There was no association between anti-viral humoral and cellular responses.
Altered Differentiation and Inflammation Profiles Contribute to Enhanced Innate Responses in Severe COPD Epithelium to Rhinovirus Infection
Authors: Guo-Parke Hong , Linden Dermot , Mousnier Aurelie , Scott Ian C. , Killick Helen , Borthwick Lee A. , Fisher Andrew J. , Weldon Sinéad , Taggart Clifford C. , Kidney Joseph C. 
Published: February 2022

BackgroundRespiratory viral infections are closely associated with COPD exacerbations, hospitalisations, and significant morbidity and mortality. The consequences of the persisting inflammation and differentiation status in virus associated severe disease is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate barrier function, cellular architecture, the inflammatory response in severe COPD bronchial epithelium to human rhinovirus (HRV) induced pathological changes and innate immune responses.MethodsWell-differentiated primary bronchial epithelial cells (WD-PBECs) derived from severe COPD patients and age-matched healthy controls were cultured in the air-liquid interface (ALI) model. The differentiation phenotype, epithelial barrier integrity, pathological response and cytokine secreting profile of these cultures before and after HRV infection were investigated.ResultsWD-PBECs derived from severe COPD patients showed aberrant epithelium differentiation with a decreased proportion of ciliated cells but increased numbers of club cells and goblet cells compared with healthy controls. Tight junction integrity was compromised in both cultures following HRV infection, with heightened disruptions in COPD cultures. HRV induced increased epithelial cell sloughing, apoptosis and mucus hypersecretion in COPD cultures compared with healthy controls. A Th1/Th2 imbalance and a strong interferon and pro-inflammatory cytokine response was also observed in COPD cultures, characterized by increased levels of IFNγ, IFNβ, IP-10, IL-10 and decreased TSLP and IL-13 cytokine levels prior to HRV infection. Significantly enhanced basolateral secretion of eotaxin 3, IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF were also observed in both mock and HRV infected COPD cultures compared with corresponding healthy controls. In response to HRV infection, all cultures displayed elevated levels of IFNλ1 (IL-29), IP-10 and TNFα compared with mock infected cultures. Interestingly, HRV infection dramatically reduced IFNλ levels in COPD cultures compared with healthy subjects.ConclusionAn altered differentiation phenotype and cytokine response as seen in severe COPD WD-PBECs may contribute to increased disease susceptibility and an enhanced inflammatory response to HRV infection.
Early Antiretroviral Therapy in AIDS Patients Presenting With Toxoplasma gondii Encephalitis Is Associated With More Sequelae but Not Increased Mortality
Authors: Cubas-Vega Nadia , López Del-Tejo Paola , Baia-da-Silva Djane C. , Sampaio Vanderson Souza , Jardim Bruno Araújo , Santana Monique Freire , Lima Ferreira Luiz Carlos , Safe Izabella Picinin , Alexandre Márcia A. Araújo , Lacerda Marcus Vinícius Guimarães , Monteiro Wuelton Marcelo , Val Fernando 
Published: February 2022

BackgroundEvidence on the optimal time to initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the presence of toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) is scarce. We compared the impact of early vs. delayed ART initiation on mortality and neurologic complications at discharge in a Brazilian population co-infected with HIV and TE.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated data from 9 years of hospitalizations at a referral center in Manaus, Amazonas. All ART-naïve hospitalized patients were divided into early initiation treatment (EIT) (0-4 weeks) and delayed initiation treatment (DIT) (&gt;4 weeks). The groups were compared using chi-square test and mortality at 16 weeks.ResultsFour hundred sixty nine patients were included, of whom 357 (76.1%) belonged to the EIT group. The median CD4+ lymphocyte count and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were 53 cells/mm3 and 0.09, respectively. Mortality rate and presence of sequelae were 4.9% (n = 23) and 41.6% (n = 195), respectively. Mortality was similar between groups (p = 0.18), although the EIT group had the highest prevalence of sequelae at discharge (p = 0.04). The hazard ratio for death at 16 weeks with DIT was 2.3 (p = 0.18). The necessity for intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation were similar between groups.ConclusionIn patients with AIDS and TE, early ART initiation might have a detrimental influence on the occurrence of sequelae.
Corneal Biomechanics Differences Between Chinese and Caucasian Healthy Subjects
Authors: Vinciguerra Riccardo , Herber Robert , Wang Yan , Zhang Fengju , Zhou Xingtao , Bai Ji , Yu Keming , Chen Shihao , Fang Xuejun , Raiskup Frederik , Vinciguerra Paolo 
Published: February 2022

PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate the difference between Caucasian and Chinese healthy subjects with regards to Corvis ST dynamic corneal response parameters (DCRs).MethodsTwo thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine healthy Caucasian and Chinese subjects were included in this multicenter retrospective study. Subsequently, Chinese eyes were matched to Caucasians by age, intraocular pressure (IOP), and Corneal Thickness (CCT) using a case-control matching algorithm. The DCRs assessed were Deformation Amplitude (DA) Applanation 1 velocity (A1v), integrated radius (1/R), deformation amplitude ratio (DAratio), stiffness parameter at applanation 1 (SPA1), ARTh (Ambrósio's Relational Thickness to the horizontal profile), and the novel Stress Strain Index (SSI).ResultsAfter age-, CCT-, and IOP- matching, 503 Chinese were assigned to 452 Caucasians participants. Statistical analysis showed a statistical significant difference between Chinese and Caucasian Healthy subjects in the values of SPA1 (p = 0.008), Arth (p = 0.008), and SSI (p &lt; 0.001). Conversely, DA, A1v, DAratio, and 1/R were not significantly different between the two ethnical groups (p &gt; 0.05).ConclusionWe found significant differences in the values of the DCRs provided by the Corvis ST between Chinese and Caucasian healthy subjects.
The Impact of Instant Coffee and Decaffeinated Coffee on the Gut Microbiota and Depression-Like Behaviors of Sleep-Deprived Rats
Authors: Gu Xinyi , Zhang Shuyi , Ma Weini , Wang Qixue , Li Ying , Xia Chenyi , Xu Ying , Zhang Ting , Yang Li , Zhou Mingmei 
Published: February 2022

ObjectiveBased on our previous research, chronic paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) can cause depression-like behaviors and microbial changes in gut microbiota. Coffee, as the world’s most popular drink for the lack of sleep, is beneficial to health and attention and can eliminate the cognitive sequelae caused by poor sleep. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of coffee and decaffeinated coffee on PSD rats.Research Design and MethodsA total of 32 rats were divided into four groups: control group, PSD model group, conventional coffee group, and decaffeinated coffee group. Behavioral tests, including sucrose preference test, open field test, forced swimming test, and tail suspension test, as well as biochemical detection for inflammatory and antioxidant indexes were performed. The effects of coffee and decaffeinated coffee on the gut microbiota of PSD rats were investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.ResultsCoffee and decaffeinated coffee significantly improved the depression-like behaviors. Moreover, the serum levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha were decreased in both coffee and decaffeinated coffee groups, as well as the levels of superoxide dismutase and GSH-Px were increased. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that the abundance of S24-7, Lachnospiraceae, Oscillospira, and Parabacteroides were significantly increased in PSD rats, while the abundance of Akkermansia and Klebsiella were significantly decreased. After the treatment of coffee and decaffeinated coffee, the abundance of the above gut microbiota was all restored in different degrees. Coffee had relatively more significant effects on PSD-induced depressive-like behaviors, while the difference between coffee and decaffeinated coffee was not obvious in correcting the disorder of gut microbiota.ConclusionsThese findings have shown that both coffee and decaffeinated coffee are effective for sleep deprivation-induced depression-like behaviors and the dysbiosis of gut microbiota and indicated that caffeine may be not the only key substance of coffee for regulating gut microbiota.
Endoglin Wild Type and Variants Associated With Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia Type 1 Undergo Distinct Cellular Degradation Pathways
Authors: Gariballa Nesrin , Kizhakkedath Praseetha , Akawi Nadia , John Anne , Ali Bassam R. 
Published: February 2022

Endoglin, also known as cluster of differentiation 105 (CD105), is an auxiliary receptor in the TGFβ signaling pathway. It is predominantly expressed in endothelial cells as a component of the heterotetrameric receptor dimers comprising type I, type II receptors and the binding ligands. Mutations in the gene encoding Endoglin (ENG) have been associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 1 (HHT1), an autosomal dominant inherited disease that is generally characterized by vascular malformation. Secretory and many endomembrane proteins synthesized in the Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are subjected to stringent quality control mechanisms to ensure that only properly folded and assembled proteins are trafficked forward through the secretory pathway to their sites of action. We have previously demonstrated that some Endoglin variants causing HHT1 are trapped in the ER and fail to traffic to their normal localization in plasma membrane, which suggested the possible involvement of ER associated protein degradation (ERAD) in their molecular pathology. In this study, we have investigated, for the first time, the degradation routes of Endoglin wild type and two mutant variants, P165L and V105D, and previously shown to be retained in the ER. Stably transfected HEK293 cells were treated with proteasomal and lysosomal inhibitors in order to elucidate the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the loss of function phenotype associated with these variants. Our results have shown that wild type Endoglin has a relatively short half-life of less than 2 hours and degrades through both the lysosomal and proteasomal pathways, whereas the two mutant disease-causing variants show high stability and predominantly degrades through the proteasomal pathway. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that Endoglin variants P165L and V105D are significantly accumulated in HEK293 cells deficient in HRD1 E3 ubiquitin ligase; a major ERAD component. These results implicate the ERAD mechanism in the pathology of HHT1 caused by the two variants. It is expected that these results will pave the way for more in-depth research studies that could provide new windows for future therapeutic interventions.
Rich-Club Organization Disturbances of the Individual Morphological Network in Subjective Cognitive Decline
Authors: Peng Liling , Feng Jing , Ma Di , Xu Xiaowen , Gao Xin 
Published: February 2022

BackgroundSubjective cognitive decline (SCD) was considered to be the preclinical stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, less is known about the altered rich-club organizations of the morphological networks in individuals with SCD.MethodsThis study included 53 individuals with SCD and 54 well-matched healthy controls (HC) from the Alzheimer’s disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) database. Individual-level brain morphological networks were constructed by estimating the Jensen-Shannon distance-based similarity in the distribution of regional gray matter volume. Rich-club properties were then detected, followed by statistical comparison.ResultsThe characteristic rich-club organization of morphological networks (normalized rich-club coefficients &gt; 1) was observed for both the SCD and HC groups under a range of thresholds. The SCD group showed a reduced normalized rich-club coefficient compared with the HC group. The SCD group exhibited the decreased strength and degree of rich-club connections than the HC group (strength: HC = 79.93, SCD = 74.37, p = 0.028; degree: HC = 85.28, SCD = 79.34, p = 0.027). Interestingly, the SCD group showed an increased strength of local connections than the HC group (strength: HC = 1982.16, SCD = 2003.38, p = 0.036).ConclusionRich-club organization disturbances of morphological networks in individuals with SCD reveal a distinct pattern between the rich-club and peripheral regions. This altered rich-club organization pattern provides novel insights into the underlying mechanism of SCD and could be used to investigate prevention strategies at the preclinical stage of AD.
X-Ray Lithography for Nanofabrication: Is There a Future?
Authors: Bharti Amardeep , Turchet Alessio , Marmiroli Benedetta 
Published: February 2022

X-ray lithography has been first proposed almost 50 years ago, and the related LIGA process around 25 years ago. It is therefore a good time to make an analysis of the technique, with its pros and cons. In this perspective article, we describe X-ray lithography’s latest advancements. First, we report the improvement in the fabrication of the high aspect ratio and high-resolution micro/nanostructures. Then, we present the radiation-assisted synthesis and processing of novel materials for the next generation of functional devices. We finally draw our conclusion on the future prospects of the technique.