bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Automatic annotation of liver computed tomography images based on a vessel‐skeletonization method
Authors: Pan Jiahui , Zhang Jianhao , Luo Siqi , Zhang Jiantao , Liang Yan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAnatomical analysis of liver region is an essential and key step for liver‐related disease diagnosis and treatment. One of the challenging issues is to annotate the functional regions of liver automatically or semi‐ automatically by analyzing Computed Tomography (CT) images. The present study developed a complete liver annotation system with an improved vessel‐skeletonization method is proposed for CT images. In the first step, an automatic level set method and a customized region‐growing method are applied to extract the liver region including vessels and tumors. Next, a modified iterative thinning method is developed to obtain the geometric structure of liver vessels and mark a vessel skeleton. The three‐dimensional information is transformed into a tree data structure for storage. Based on the branch distribution of portal vein skeleton, a model‐based method with a modified nearest neighbor segment approximation (NNSA) algorithm is adopted for the functional liver anatomy. Three experiments involving five 64‐row liver CT datasets are performed. The accuracies of segmentation and annotation results were validated by an experienced doctor. Compared with different methods, our proposed vessel skeletonization method can simultaneously preserve the connectivity of the vasculature topology and generate the skeleton in a shorter time. Furthermore, our proposed annotation system can provide both visual and measurable information of livers. These experimental results demonstrate the usefulness and effectiveness of our proposed method. Our liver annotation system is helpful to evaluate the function of liver system and support diagnosis of liver disease.
Cytotoxicity, cellular uptake and apoptotic responses in human coronary artery endothelial cells exposed to ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Palacios‐Hernandez Teresa , Diaz‐Diestra Daysi M. , Nguyen Alexander K. , Skoog Shelby A. , Vijaya Chikkaveeraiah Bhaskara , Tang Xing , Wu Yong , Petrochenko Peter E. , Sussman Eric M. , Goering Peter L. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractUltrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (USPION) possess reactive surfaces, are metabolized and exhibit unique magnetic properties. These properties are desirable for designing novel theranostic biomedical products; however, toxicity mechanisms of USPION are not completely elucidated. The goal of this study was to investigate cell interactions (uptake and cytotoxicity) of USPION using human coronary artery endothelial cells as a vascular cell model. Polyvinylpirrolidone‐coated USPION were characterized: average diameter 17 nm (transmission electron microscopy [TEM]), average hydrodynamic diameter 44 nm (dynamic light scattering) and zeta potential −38.75 mV. Cells were exposed to 0 (control), 25, 50, 100 or 200 μg/mL USPION. Concentration‐ and time‐dependent cytotoxicity were observed after 3‐6 hours through 24 hours of exposure using Alamar Blue and Real‐Time Cell Electronic Sensing assays. Cell uptake was evaluated by imaging using live‐dead confocal microscopy, actin and nuclear fluorescent staining, and TEM. Phase‐contrast, confocal microscopy, and TEM imaging showed significant USPION internalization as early as 3 hours after exposure to 25 μg/mL. TEM imaging demonstrated particle internalization in secondary lysosomes with perinuclear localization. Three orthogonal assays were conducted to assess apoptosis. TUNEL staining demonstrated a marked increase in fragmented DNA, a response pathognomonic of apoptosis, after a 4‐hour exposure. Cells subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis exhibited degraded DNA 3 hours after exposure. Caspase‐3/7 activity increased after a 3‐hour exposure. USPION uptake resulted in cytotoxicity involving apoptosis and these results contribute to further mechanistic understanding of the USPION toxicity in vitro in cardiovascular endothelial cells.
Treprostinil Hydrogel Iontophoresis in Systemic Sclerosis‐Related Digital Skin Ulcers: A Safety Study
Authors: Guigui Alicia , Mazet Roseline , Blaise Sophie , Cracowski Claire , Beau‐Guillaumot Myrtille , Kotzki Sylvain , Roustit Matthieu , Cracowski Jean‐Luc 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDigital skin ulcers are a severe complication of systemic sclerosis. The first‐line treatment is intravenous iloprost, but it induces dose‐limiting adverse effects. Local administration of treprostinil through skin iontophoresis may be a safe alternative. We conducted a 2‐stage, randomized, placebo‐controlled single‐ascending‐dose study in healthy volunteers and patients with systemic sclerosis‐related digital ulcer. We further explored the effect of the procedure on skin blood flux. In a first group of healthy subjects, treprostinil and placebo iontophoresis were performed at 3 locations (ie, 6 skin sites): the sole of the foot, the leg, and the fingers. We used a 1‐mg/mL hydrogel of treprostinil. We then randomly treated systemic sclerosis‐related digital ulcers in a 3:1 ratio of treprostinil or placebo. We used concentrations from 0.1 to 1 mg/mL. All adverse events were recorded and rated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), whereas skin microvascular blood flux was recorded with laser speckle contrast imaging. Among the 12 healthy volunteers, we observed 60 local adverse effects: burns, skin pain, erythema, and pruritus, graded 1 or 2 on the 5‐point CTCAE scale. Treprostinil iontophoresis significantly increased skin blood flux on the leg (AUC0‐4 h at 88 460% ± 6436% versus 12 730% ± 3397% baseline flux.min respectively; P < .001) and on the sole of the foot (AUC0‐3 h at 20 124% ± 6119% versus 3142% ± 3036% baseline flux.min, respectively; P = .018) with a trend on the finger. Among 5 patients with systemic sclerosis‐related digital ulcer, 2 resolutive local adverse effects were reported. Iontophoresis of treprostinil hydrogel was safe in systemic sclerosis patients with digital ulcer.
Microbial adaptation to high ammonia concentrations during anaerobic digestion of manure‐based feedstock: biomethanation and 16S rRNA gene sequencing
Authors: Kalamaras Sotirios D , Vasileiadis Sotirios , Karas Panagiotis , Angelidaki Irini , Kotsopoulos Thomas A 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDMicrobial consortia resistant to high ammonia concentrations may facilitate biogas production from high ammonia‐containing wastes and manures during anaerobic digestion. Microbial communities were gradually enriched via sequential batch cultivations (stepwise exposure) at increasing ammonia concentrations up to the extremely high concentration of 9 g total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) L−1. This study examined the adaptation of anaerobic microbial consortia to high ammonia concentrations by the use of a complex substrate based on manure in order to generate tailor‐made inocula for bioaugmentation purposes. RNA analysis was performed to determine the microbial community composition and activity of anaerobic bacteria and methanogens.RESULTSThe enrichment series was successful in terms of methane production at ammonia concentrations as high as 5 g TAN L−1 in comparison with the control concentration of 2 g TAN L−1. Methanosarcina was the core active dominant methanogen genus in all enrichment cultures and its relative activity was sharply increased at 3 g and 9 g TAN L−1. Cellulolytic bacteria activity mostly decreased with ammonia increase. Moreover, syntrophic butyrate and long‐chain fatty acid degraders along with hydrogenotrophic methanogens were activated at increased ammonia concentrations.CONCLUSIONSThe results of the study demonstrated an efficient method to enrich ammonia‐tolerant microbial consortia for bioaugmentation purposes in biogas reactors with concentrations ≤5 g TAN L−1. RNA analysis revealed high relative abundances of Methanosarcina and hydrogenotrophic methanogens at high concentrations of ammonia. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
α,α‐Dibromoketone precursors in the synthesis of some new thiazole derivatives: Thiazol‐2‐yl hydrazonobutanoates, thiazol‐2‐yl pyrazole‐4‐carboxylates and acids
Authors: Kiran Vijay , Joshi Radhika , Pundeer Rashmi 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn the present study, α,α‐dibromoacetophenones are used as efficient precursors for the facile synthesis of several new hydrazonothiazoles, ethyl 3‐((4‐arylthiazol‐2‐yl)hydrazono)butanoates, which undergo Vilsmeier‐Haack cyclization to obtain thiazolylpyrazole esters, ethyl 3‐methyl‐1‐(4‐arylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carbxylates, basic hydrolysis of which gives the corresponding acids, 3‐methyl‐1‐(4‐arylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carbxylic acids. All these compounds are tested for antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis; Gram‐negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and antifungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans.
Frontline Science: Cxxc5 expression alters cell cycle and myeloid differentiation of mouse hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells
Authors: Joshi Hemant R , Hill Harry R , Zhou Zemin , He Xiao , Voelkerding Karl V , Kumánovics Attila 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
CXXC5 is a member of the CXXC-type zinc finger epigenetic regulators. Various hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic roles have been assigned to CXXC5. In the present study, the role of Cxxc5 in myelopoiesis was studied using overexpression and short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown in mouse early stem and progenitor cells defined as Lineage− Sca-1+c-Kit+ (LSK) cells. Knockdown of Cxxc5 in mouse progenitor cells reduced monocyte and increased granulocyte development in ex vivo culture systems. In addition, ex vivo differentiation and proliferation experiments demonstrated that the expression of Cxxc5 affects the cell cycle in stem/progenitor cells and myeloid cells. Flow cytometry-based analyses revealed that down-regulation of Cxxc5 leads to an increase in the percentage of cells in the S phase, whereas overexpression results in a decrease in the percentage of cells in the S phase. Progenitor cells proliferate more after Cxxc5 knockdown, and RNA sequencing of LSK cells, and single-cell RNA sequencing of differentiating myeloid cells showed up-regulation of genes involved in the regulation of cell cycle after Cxxc5 knockdown. These results provide novel insights into the physiologic function of Cxxc5 during hematopoiesis, and demonstrate for the first time that it plays a role in monocyte development.
COVID‐2019: The role of the nsp2 and nsp3 in its pathogenesis
Authors: Angeletti Silvia , Benvenuto Domenico , Bianchi Martina , Giovanetti Marta , Pascarella Stefano , Ciccozzi Massimo 
Published: February 2020

AbstractLast December 2019, a new virus, named novel Coronavirus (COVID‐2019) causing many cases of severe pneumonia was reported in Wuhan, China. The virus knowledge is limited and especially about COVID‐2019 pathogenesis. The Open Reading Frame 1ab (ORF1ab) of COVID‐2019 has been analyzed to evidence the presence of mutation caused by selective pressure on the virus. For selective pressure analysis fast‐unconstrained Bayesian approximation (FUBAR) was used. Homology modelling has been performed by SwissModel and HHPred servers. The presence of transmembrane helical segments in Coronavirus ORF1ab non structural protein 2 (nsp2) and nsp3 was tested by TMHMM, MEMSAT, and MEMPACK tools. Three‐dimensional structures have been analyzed and displayed using PyMOL. FUBAR analysis revealed the presence of potential sites under positive selective pressure (P < .05). Position 723 in the COVID‐2019 has a serine instead a glycine residue, while at aminoacidic position 1010 a proline instead an isoleucine. Significant (P < .05) pervasive negative selection in 2416 sites (55%) was found. The positive selective pressure could account for some clinical features of this virus compared with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Bat SARS‐like CoV. The stabilizing mutation falling in the endosome‐associated‐protein‐like domain of the nsp2 protein could account for COVID‐2019 high ability of contagious, while the destabilizing mutation in nsp3 proteins could suggest a potential mechanism differentiating COVID‐2019 from SARS. These data could be helpful for further investigation aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets or vaccine strategy, especially in the actual moment when the epidemic is ongoing and the scientific community is trying to enrich knowledge about this new viral pathogen.
Recent wetting trend in China from 1982 to 2016 and the impacts of extreme El Niño events
Authors: Yan Hao , Wang Shao‐Qiang , Wang Jun‐Bang , Guo An‐Hong , Zhu Zai‐Chun , Myneni Ranga B. , Shugart Herman H. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractClimate warming generally is expected to increase drought, but arguments about China's past drought trends persist. PDSIARTS, a revised self‐calibrating Palmer Drought Severity Index, was computed for China over 1982–2016 using satellite leaf‐area indices combined with monthly climate data interpolated from 2000 high‐density stations. Drought climatology was analysed against climate factors. The results show that temperature has increased at a rate of 0.38°C per decade (p < .001) in China in the past 35 years (1982–2016). However, over the same interval, China and the northern China region became wetter. PDSIARTS increased at a rate of 0.03 yr−1 (p < .001) across China during 1982–2016. The analogous increase of PDSIARTS in northern China was 0.05 yr−1 (p < .001). In China, the 5‐year interval from 2012 to 2016 was the wettest 5 years in the 35‐year interval. This arises from the coupled effects of decreased potential evaporation (Ep) and increased precipitation (Pr). The implication is that temperature increase does not necessarily indicate increased drought. A potential complication is that the 2015/16 El Niño event induced the highest Pr in southern China for 1982–2016, and northern China still had plentiful Pr in 2015/16, which further contributed to the wettest 2‐years (2015/16) during the past 35 years in the whole of China. This study highlights the joint impacts of Pr and Ep on the dry/wet changes and the possibility of extremely wet events in the warming future.
Exploring Nurses’ Involvement in Artificial Nutrition and Hydration at the End of Life: A Scoping Review
Authors: Albanesi Beatrice , Marchetti Anna , D'Angelo Daniela , Capuzzo Maria Teresa , Mastroianni Chiara , Artico Marco , Lusignani Maura , Piredda Michela , De Marinis Maria Grazia 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThis review aimed to summarize existing nursing literature to provide an overview of the extent, range, and nature of nurses’ involvement in artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) at the end of life and to map the key concepts underpinning nurses’ involvement in ANH. A scoping review was designed following the methodological framework guidelines of Arksey and O'Malley and the recommendations for advancing the methodology by Levac et al. An inductive qualitative content analysis was conducted according to the guidelines by Elo and Kyngäs. Thirty‐nine articles were identified. Content analysis revealed 1 main category: “nurses’ role in the decision‐making process,” with the 2 subcategories of “mediator” and “activator.” The category and subcategories are influenced by the following generic categories: “being,” “feeling,” and “knowing,” each of them constituted by 2 subcategories in their turn. Nurses perform the roles of activator and mediator. Their ability to establish good relationships and their attitudes enable the creation of teamwork and closeness to patients and family: relationships and attitudes are the subcategories of the “being” category. The category “feeling” represents the ways nurses experience the decision‐making process, which can raise ethical and moral dilemmas and cause emotional responses. For these reasons, nurses have to create the right balance between personal‐self and professional‐self. The category “knowing” includes nurses’ clinical and ethical knowledge about ANH. It emerges that deep clinical and ethical knowledge of ANH is necessary to provide consistent, adequate care at end of life.
A paper‐based gas sensor for simultaneous noninstrumental colorimetric detection of nitrite and sulfide in waters
Authors: Pena‐Pereira Francisco , Matesanz Óscar , Lavilla Isela , Bendicho Carlos 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe use of paper‐based devices in combination with noninstrumental detection systems is becoming increasingly important in the analytical field due to its simplicity, rapidity, and low cost. However, their use for determination of volatile analyte derivatives is still relatively scarce. The present work reports on the assessment of a paper‐based gas‐sensing approach for the simultaneous noninstrumental colorimetric detection of nitrite and sulfide. Colorimetric systems based on the Griess and methylene blue assays, formation of colored metallic sulfides, and interaction/reaction with in situ generated metallic nanoparticles were preliminary evaluated. Then, the effect of experimental variables affecting the analytical performance of the paper‐based gas sensor was studied with two digitization systems, namely a scanner and a smartphone. Under optimal conditions, the developed system yielded limits of detection of 0.055 and 0.005 mg/L for nitrite and sulfide, respectively. The repeatability, expressed as relative standard deviation, was found to be 5.9 and 6.7% for nitrite and sulfide, respectively. The proposed method was finally applied to the analysis of water samples, showing recoveries in the range of 95–105%.
The usage of WeChat to promote academic publishing in China: A case study on Chinese Laser Press
Authors: Wang Xiaofeng , Deng Ying , Lü Xuan , Zhang Xinlei , Yang Lei 
Published: February 2020

WeChat is one of the most popular social media applications in China and is widely used by publishers to promote their journals and activities.
The Chinese Laser Press (CLP) has four WeChat accounts; approximately 1 million reads were recorded in 2018.
The most influential WeChat account of the CLP had almost 43,000 subscribers at the end of 2019.
WeChat is a successful tool for connecting journals with readers and can increase the visibility of the journals both within China and elsewhere.
Connecting with researchers via WeChat is helping CLP maintain relations with researchers throughout their career.
Infrared transparent millimeter wave antenna based on sapphire substrate
Authors: Sun Weiguo , Zhu Xubo , Zhang Yanjun , Li Mo , Zhao Liang , Fan Zhongguo , Chen Hongxu 
Published: February 2020

AbstractWe describe a novel millimeter wave antenna based on sapphire substrate. An infrared transparent millimeter wave antenna and the characterization of its radiation pattern, gain, main frequency, and dielectric infrared transmission were reported. The proposed antenna was constructed from several infrared transparent dielectric materials with thin gold film array elements using a photolithographic process. Several single‐layer infrared‐transparent substrates were stacked. As a infrared transparent window, the antennas have applications in multimode communications, navigation, and detection, particularly for millimeter wave and infrared wavelength in a common aperture system.
Improved guidance algorithm considering terminal attitude constraints for spacecrafts via optimal control theory
Authors: Li Yuan , Wei Changzhu , Lu Baogang 
Published: February 2020

SummaryMotivated by new aerospace applications, the condition of minimum‐energy achieving high accuracy of both terminal orbital injection and attitude angle is required for better navigation and observation. The stability of guidance command also needs to be improved considering the control system. In this article, an optimal guidance algorithm with an advanced numerical method of spacecrafts is proposed. In order to ensure the continuity of the attitude angle and its terminal constraints, the thrust vector is treated as the state variable in the optimal control problems, and the rate of attitude angle change is regarded as the control variable. Then the optimal ascent problem of spacecrafts based on a nondimensional dynamical model is derived in detail, including performance index considering energy consumption, optimal conditions, and terminal conditions. To improve the computational efficiency of optimal ascent problems, a numerical method and a solution strategy are proposed. Simulation results show that the terminal attitude angle error of proposed method is much less than that of the traditional guidance method, and the continuity and stability of the guidance command is also better, which demonstrates the high accuracy and strong adaptability of the guidance algorithm developed in this article.
Antibacterial 3D graphene composite gel with polyaspartamide and tannic acid containing in situ generated Ag nanoparticle
Authors: Wang Bo , Moon Jong R. , Ryu Seungbae , Park Ki D. , Kim Ji‐Heung 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe increased use of medical devices combined with the emergence of new multi‐drug‐resistant bacteria has enhanced research on biomaterial‐related infections. Small size of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) has already been suggested to show high antibacterial activities. However, small AgNPs tend to aggregate during preparation, resulting in a significant decrease in their antibacterial properties. Three‐dimensional (3D) graphene can be used as a support matrix, for the fixation of precious metal NPs and the maximization of the load. Here, we present a synthetic poly(amino acid), specifically, polyaspartamide modified by ethylenediamine and ethanolamine [PolyAspAm(EDA/EA)], which was mixed with tannic acid and graphene oxide to fabricate an ultralight 3D graphene hybrid aerogel. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed AgNP loading on the aerogel with the size of less than 50 nm uniformly dispersed, and AgNP loading on the aerogels led to the inhibition of antibacterial cell growth. The measured antibacterial activity, as determined by the inhibition zone and optical density in test, demonstrated that PolyAspAm(EA/EDA)/TA‐GO‐AgNP has a bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, thereby suggesting that this 3D polymer graphene composite gel has potential as a novel antibacterial material for a wide range of clinical applications.