bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum Bioavailable, Rather Than Total, 25‐hydroxyvitamin D Levels Are Associated With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Survival
Authors: Fang Ai‐Ping , Long Jing‐An , Zhang Yao‐Jun , Liu Zhao‐Yan , Li Qi‐Jiong , Zhang Dao‐Ming , Luo Yun , Zhong Rong‐Huan , Zhou Zhong‐Guo , Xu Yan‐Jun , Xu Xiao‐Jun , Ling Wen‐Hua , Chen Min‐Shan , Zhu Hui‐Lian 
Published: November 2019

Background and Aims
Free and bioavailable 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) are emerging measurements of vitamin D status. It remains unclear whether circulating free or bioavailable 25OHD are relevant to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that bioavailable 25OHD may be a better serum biomarker of vitamin D status than total 25OHD on the association with HCC survival.

Approach and Results
We included 1,031 newly diagnosed, previously untreated patients with HCC from the Guangdong Liver Cancer Cohort enrolled between September 2013 and April 2017. Serum total 25OHD levels were measured using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Serum‐free 25OHD levels were measured using a two‐step enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Bioavailable 25OHD levels were calculated from measured free 25OHD and albumin using a previously validated equation. Primary outcomes were liver cancer–specific (LCSS) and overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards models were performed to calculate the multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). During a median follow‐up of 726 days, 430 patients had deceased, including 393 deaths from HCC. In multivariable analyses, higher bioavailable 25OHD levels were significantly associated with better survival, independent of nonclinical and clinical prognostic factors including serum C‐reactive protein, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage, and cancer treatment. The multivariable‐adjusted HRs in the highest versus lowest quartile of bioavailable 25OHD levels were 0.69 (95% CI: 0.51, 0.93; P for trend = 0.014) for LCSS and 0.71 (95% CI: 0.53, 0.94; P for trend = 0.013) for OS. In contrast, neither total nor free 25OHD levels were associated with LCSS or OS.

Conclusions
Higher bioavailable, rather than total, 25OHD levels were independently associated with improved survival in a population‐based HCC cohort, suggesting a potential utility of bioavailable 25OHD in HCC prognosis.
Clinical significance of CD133 and Nestin in astrocytic tumor: The correlation with pathological grade and survival
Authors: Zhang Qingping , Xu Binchu , Chen Jianliang , Chen Furong , Chen Zhongping 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to investigate the interaction between CD133 and Nestin and further assessed the correlation of CD133 and Nestin with clinicopathological characteristics and survival in patients with astrocytic tumor.MethodsTotally 127 patients with astrocytic tumor underwent surgical resection were enrolled. Patients’ age, gender, and World Health Organization (WHO) grade were recorded, and the survival data were extracted from the follow‐up records. The expressions of CD133 and Nestin in astrocytic tumor tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay. The WHO grade I and II astrocytic tumors were defined as low‐grade astrocytic tumors (LGA), the WHO grade III and IV astrocytic tumors were defined as high‐grade astrocytic tumors (HGA).ResultsThere were 79 (62.2%), 34 (26.8%), 14 (11.0%), and 0 (0.0%) patients with CD133 negative, low, moderate, and high expression, respectively; 7 (5.5%), 47 (37.0%), 20 (15.7%), 53 (41.7%) patients with Nestin negative, low, moderate, high expression, respectively. CD133 and Nestin were both correlated with advanced WHO grade but not with age or gender, and positive correlation was observed between CD133 and Nestin. For survival, both CD133 and Nestin were correlated with unfavorable overall survival (OS), and further analysis illustrated that Nestin but not CD133 independently predicted poor OS. Subgroup analysis also revealed that Nestin but not CD133 negatively associated with shorter OS in LGA patients, while both CD133 and Nestin were correlated with poor OS in HGA patients.ConclusionCD133 and Nestin present as potential biomarkers for advanced pathological grade and poor survival in patients with astrocytic tumor.
Potential impacts of specific global warming levels on extreme rainfall events over southern Africa in CORDEX and NEX‐GDDP ensembles
Authors: Abiodun Babatunde J. , Mogebisa Tlakale O. , Petja Brilliant , Abatan Abayomi A. , Roland Takong R. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis study examines the potential impacts of specific global warming levels (GWLs) on extreme rainfall events in southern Africa and over 12 major cities in the region. We analysed two regional climate simulation datasets: the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) and the NASA Earth eXchange Global Daily Downscaled Projections (NEX‐GDDP, hereafter referred to as NEX), which used different methods (dynamical and statistical, respectively) in downscaling several global climate model (GCM) simulations from CMIP5. Twenty simulations were used from each dataset. The simulated rainfall indices for the reference period (1971–2000) were compared with eight observation datasets. The projected changes in rainfall indices were examined at four GWLs under the RCP8.5 climate forcing scenario. The projections from the CORDEX and NEX ensembles were compared and the self‐organizing map (SOM) analysis was used to classify the projected changes from the simulations into 12 groups, based on their similarities. There is a good agreement among the eight observation datasets, albeit with some differences. The two simulation datasets (CORDEX and NEX) capture the climatology of rainfall indices over southern Africa and, in some cases, the simulation errors fall within the observation uncertainties. CORDEX and NEX datasets agree on fewer rain days but more intense rainfall events over southern Africa in the future and indicate that the magnitude of these changes increases with the GWLs. They also agree on a future increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme rainfall events north of 20°S and a decrease south of 20°S. However, CORDEX indicates that the rainfall deficit from the fewer rain events may exceed the rainfall surplus from the more intense rain events, but NEX indicates the opposite. In the SOM classification, while some simulations project a decrease in tropical temperate trough (TTT) rainfall, some project an increase, and some indicate an equatorward shift of the TTT rainfall. The simulations project a decrease in annual rainfall over five cities, an intensification of extreme rainfall over five cities and more frequent extreme rainfall events over four cities. The results of this study have application in mitigating the future impacts of extreme rainfall events over southern Africa, especially in the cities.
Integrated in‐syringe magnetic sheet solid‐phase extraction and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for determination of aflatoxins in fresh and moldy breads
Authors: Sereshti Hassan , Khodayari Farnaz , Nouri Nina 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDMagnetic three‐dimensional graphene‐based nanoadsorbents have unique characteristics such as large surface area, good thermal and chemical stability, and high adsorption capacity that make them efficient materials in sorbent‐based extraction techniques. In this study, four aflatoxins (AFs) were analyzed in bread samples using magnetic three‐dimensional graphene as the adsorbent phase in dispersive micro solid‐phase extraction.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSIn‐syringe magnetic sheet solid‐phase extraction based on magnetic three‐dimensional graphene in tandem with dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was used for the extraction and preconcentration of the target AFs. The effect of significant parameters of the method was investigated and the optimum conditions were determined as follows: adsorbent dosage, 20 mg; desorption/disperser solvent (methanol) volume, 700 μL; desorption solvent flow rate, 0.7 mL min−1; pH, neutral; salt (NaCl) concentration, 10% (w/v); extraction solvent (chloroform) volume, 250 μL; and centrifugation rate (and time), 4000 rpm (5 min). The limits of detection and quantification were in the ranges 0.043–0.083 and 0.14–0.28 μg kg−1, respectively. The extraction method was followed by the HPLC technique with fluorescence detection and applied to the determination of the AFs in four different Iranian fresh and moldy bread samples. The relative recoveries were in the range 84–107% with relative standard deviations of 3.9–8.6%. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Technical Note: Robust individual thermoluminescence dosimeter tracking using optical fingerprinting
Authors: Shang Daili , Gu Wenbo , Landers Angelia , Woods Kaley , Yu Victoria , Neph Ryan , Tenn Stephen , Sheng Ke 
Published: November 2019

PurposeThe thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) has desirable features including low cost, reusability, small size, and relatively low energy dependence. However, the commonly available poly‐crystal TLDs (e.g., TLD‐100) exhibit high interdetector variability that requires individual calibration for high detection accuracy. To improve individual TLD tracking robustness, we developed an optical fingerprinting method to identify the TLD‐100 chips.MethodsSeven hundred and fifty‐two images were initially captured using a digital microscope camera to build a feature library for both facets of 376 TLD‐100 chips. A median intensity thresholding method was used to segment images into foreground and background. The affine transformation was used to register the segmented images to the same position. The fingerprint of each image was calculated from its registered image. All fingerprints were then recorded in an Elasticsearch® search database. The TLD fingerprint match was tested three times when the library was established and repeated once 20 months later. All chips were irradiated at 0, 1, 4, and 8 Gy on a calibrated clinical MV linac to establish the individual calibration curve.ResultsThe true positive rate of identifying TLDs based on their optical fingerprints was 100% at initialization of the inventory. After 20 months and multiple deployments for characterization, calibration, and dose measurement, the true positive match rate dropped to 99% with zero false‐positive matches. The TLDs exhibited high self‐consistency in the dose–response test with R2 between 0.988 and 1 with linear regression.ConclusionsThe TLD‐100 chips surface textures are unique and sufficient to support accurate identification based on the optical fingerprinting. This method provides inexpensive and robust management of the TLDs for individual calibration and dosimetry.
Analysis of retention of gadolinium by brain, bone, and blood following linear gadolinium‐based contrast agent administration in rats with experimental sepsis
Authors: Damme Nikolas M. , Fernandez Diego P. , Wang Li‐Ming , Wu Qi , Kirk Ryan A. , Towner Rheal A. , McNally J. Scott , Hoffman John M. , Morton Kathryn A. 
Published: November 2019

PurposeIt is important to identify populations that may be vulnerable to the brain deposition of gadolinium (Gd) from MRI contrast agents. At intervals from 24 hours to 6 weeks following injection of a linear Gd contrast agent, the brain, blood and bone content of Gd were compared between control rats and those with experimental endotoxin‐induced sepsis that results in neuroinflammation and blood–brain barrier disruption.MethodsMale rats were injected intraperitoneally with 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide. Control animals received no injection. Twenty‐four hours later, 0.2 mmol/kg of gadobenate dimeglumine was injected intravenously. Brain, blood, and bone Gd levels were measured at 24 hours, 1 week, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy.ResultsBlood Gd decreased rapidly between 24 hours and 1 week, and thereafter was undetectable, with no significant difference between lipopolysaccharide and control rats. Brain levels of Gd were significantly higher (4.29‐2.36‐fold) and bone levels slightly higher (1.35‐1.11‐fold) in lipopolysaccharide than control rats at all time points with significant retention at 6 weeks.ConclusionExperimental sepsis results in significantly higher deposition of Gd in the brain and bone in rats. While blood Gd clears rapidly, brain and bone retained substantial Gd even at 6 weeks following contrast injection.
Physical and thermal properties of l‐lactide/ϵ‐caprolactone copolymers: the role of microstructural design
Authors: Phetsuk Sawarot , Molloy Robert , Nalampang Kanarat , Meepowpan Puttinan , Topham Paul D , Tighe Brian J , Punyodom Winita 
Published: November 2019

AbstractUnderstanding the underlying role of microstructural design in polymers allows for the manipulation and control of properties for a wide range of specific applications. As such, this work focuses on the study of microstructure–property relationships in l‐lactide/ϵ‐caprolactone (LL/CL) copolymers. One‐step and two‐step bulk ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) procedures were employed to synthesize LL/CL copolymers of various compositions and chain microstructures. In the one‐step procedure, LL and CL were simultaneously copolymerized to yield P(LL‐stat‐CL) statistical copolymers. In the two‐step procedure, poly(l‐lactide) (PLL) and poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) prepolymers were synthesized in the first step before CL and LL respectively were added in the second step to yield P[LL‐b‐(CL‐stat‐LL)‐b‐LL] and P[CL‐b‐(LL‐stat‐CL)‐b‐CL] block copolymers as the final products. The findings reveal that, in addition to the copolymerization procedure employed, the length and type of the prepolymer play important roles in determining the chain microstructure and thereby the overall properties of the final copolymer. Moreover, control over the degree of crystallinity and the type of crystalline domains, which is controlled during the polymer chemistry process, heavily influences the physical and mechanical properties of the final polymer. In summary, this work describes an interesting approach to the microstructural design of biodegradable copolymers of LL and CL for potential use in biomedical applications. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Optimal Trapezius Electrophysiological Recording Site
Authors: Kim Ki Hoon , Shin Seyoung , Kim Dong Hwee 
Published: November 2019

BackgroundVarious active recording electrode positions for the trapezius motor nerve conduction study have been suggested.ObjectiveTo determine the optimal recording site of the trapezius muscles in a spinal accessory nerve conduction study.DesignRetrospective descriptive study.SettingDepartment of physical medicine and rehabilitation in a tertiary clinic center.ParticipantsThirty‐four patients between 33 and 82 years of age with preoperative head and neck cancer (68 upper and middle trapezius muscles).InterventionsAnalysis of compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) of upper and middle trapezius.Main Outcome MeasurementsCMAP latency and amplitudes were obtained at five and four recording points with constant intervals on the horizontal line of the upper and middle trapezius, respectively.ResultsThe maximum CMAP amplitude of the upper trapezius was (mean ± SD) 8.5 ± 1.4 mV with the recording at the midpoint between the C7 spinous process and the lateral margin of the acromion. The maximum CMAP amplitude of the middle trapezius was 4.2 ± 1.4 mV, recorded on the horizontal line at the junction of the middle and lateral thirds between the root of the scapular spine and the vertebral spinous process.ConclusionThe optimal recording site in motor nerve conduction study of the trapezius is the midpoint between the C7 spinous process and the acromion for the upper trapezius, and the junction of middle and lateral thirds of the line between the root of scapular spine and the vertebral spine for the middle trapezius.
Synthesis, crystal structure, hydrogen bonding interactions analysis of novel acyl thiourea derivative
Authors: Zhang Xing , Du Xiaoli , Song Jirong , Huang Jie 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe N‐(p‐methoxybenzoyl)‐N′‐(2,4‐dinitrophenyl amino)thiourea has been synthesized and characterized by FT‐IR, 1H NMR, and elemental analyses techniques. Also, its molecular structure was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. It revealed that the title compound crystallizes with two unique molecules in the asymmetric unit of the orthorhombic unit cell, space group Pna2(1) with a = 18.857(5) Å, b = 8.148(2) Å, c = 22.443(6) Å, β = 90.00°, C15H13N5O6S, Mr = 391.36, V = 3448.2(15) Å3, Z = 8, Dc = 1.508 g·cm−1, F(000) = 1616, μ = 0.233 mm−1, S = 1.06, the final R = 0.0626, and wR (I > 2ϭ(I)) = 0.1392. Intramolecular NH … N, CH … N, and NH … O hydrogen bonds indicate that the molecule conformation was mostly planar. Crystal structure stacking through the NH … O, CH … O, and NH … S hydrogen bonds, and two π … π interactions arrangement revealed their conspicuous role in the stabilization of the molecular structure. The type and nature of intermolecular interactions in the crystal structure were investigated by Hirshfeld surfaces and their associated two‐dimensional fingerprint plots. Furthermore, shape index and curvedness surfaces further confirmed π … π stacking interactions with different features of molecule A and B. More importantly, the reduced density gradient (RDG) function provides a real‐space function for discussing noncovalent interactions (NCI) in title compound, including van der Waals interactions and CH … π contacts in addition to hydrogen bonding interactions within molecule.
Control of western corn rootwormviaRNAi traits in maize: lethal and sublethal effects ofSec23dsRNA
Authors: Vélez Ana M , Fishilevich Elane , Rangasamy Murugesan , Khajuria Chitvan , McCaskill David G , Pereira Adriano E , Gandra Premchand , Frey Meghan LF , Worden Sarah E , Whitlock Shannon L , Lo Wendy , Schnelle Karl D , Lutz Jamie R , Narva Kenneth E , Siegfried Blair D 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundRNA interference (RNAi) triggered by maize plants expressing RNA hairpins against specific western corn rootworm (WCR) transcripts have proven to be effective at controlling this pest. To provide robust crop protection, mRNA transcripts targeted by double‐stranded RNA must be sensitive to knockdown and encode essential proteins.ResultsUsing WCR adult feeding assays, we identifiedSec23as a highly lethal RNAi target.Sec23encodes a coatomer protein, a component of the coat protein (COPII) complex that mediates ER‐Golgi transport. The lethality detected in WCR adults was also observed in early instar larvae, the life stage causing most of the crop damage, suggesting that WCR adults can serve as an alternative to larvae for dsRNA screening. Surprisingly, over 85% transcript inhibition resulted in less than 40% protein knockdown, suggesting that complete protein knockdown is not necessary forSec23RNAi‐mediated mortality. The efficacy ofSec23dsRNA for rootworm control was confirmedin planta; T0maize events carrying rootwormSec23hairpin transgenes showed high levels of root protection in greenhouse assays. A reduction in larval survival and weight were observed in the offspring of WCR females exposed toSec23dsRNA LC25in diet bioassays.ConclusionWe describeSec23as RNAi target forin plantarootworm control. High mortality in exposed adult and larvae and moderate sublethal effects in the offspring of females exposed toSec23dsRNA LC25, suggest the potential for field application of this RNAi trait and the need to factor in responses to sublethal exposure into insect resistance management programs. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
A family affair: resistance mechanism and alternative control of three Amaranthus species resistant to acetolactate synthase inhibitors in Italy
Authors: Milani Andrea , Scarabel Laura , Sattin Maurizio 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDSeveral soybean fields in Italy were found to be infested by multiple species of Amaranthus spp. not adequately controlled by acetolactate (ALS) inhibitor herbicides. The objectives of this research were (i) to create a simplified botanical key to identify weedy amaranths; (ii) to determine the number and type of sites of action the accession are resistant to, i.e. resistance pattern; and (iii) to determine the main resistance mechanisms involved d) to evaluate the efficacy of herbicides with different site of action.RESULTSAn easy‐to‐use botanical key was devised and successfully used in the infested sites and results were confirmed through a species‐specific molecular marker. Amaranthus retroflexus L. (redrood pigweed) was found in three sites; plants with Asp376Glu substitution at the ALS gene were resistant to thifensulfuron‐methyl. Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J.D.Sauer (waterhemp) and Amaranthus hybridus L. (smooth pigweed) accessions were cross‐resistant to thifensulfuron‐methyl and imazamox; most ALS‐resistant plants had a point mutation at position 574. One A. hybridus accession had the substitution Trp574Met, new for Amaranthus genus. All ALS‐resistant accessions were controlled by glyphosate and metribuzin. A. retroflexus accessions were controlled by bentazon, instead an A. hybridus and some A. tuberculatus accession were not.CONCLUSIONSThe simplified botanical key proposed herein could be a useful tool for farmers and weed scientists to reliably identify Amaranthus species in the field. The main resistance mechanism in the three Amaranthus species is target‐site mediated. This is the first evidence of ALS‐resistant A. tuberculatus outside its native North American range. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Evaluation of performance and validity limits of gas chromatography electron ionisation with Orbitrap detection for fatty acid methyl ester analyses
Authors: Merlier Franck , Octave Stéphane , Tse Sum Bui Bernadette , Thomasset Brigitte 
Published: November 2019

RationaleWhile the GC‐Orbitrap, marketed in 2015, represents a technological breakthrough in terms of sensitivity, resolution and mass stability, many studies have reported ion ratio modification in mass spectra using the standard 70 eV electron ionisation.MethodsWe studied the influence of the acquisition and sample parameters leading to these modifications on fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs).ResultsFAMEs showed that these variations in relative intensities of ions were related to the acquisition parameters such as the mass range and the offset values of the C‐TRAP, but also directly related to the column concentration of the sample, and especially that it was molecule‐dependent. Advantageously, it is possible to use this feature to promote the molecular ions of FAMEs sometimes not present in a spectrum under electron ionisation at 70 eV.ConclusionsThe 70 eV electron ionisation mass spectra from the GC‐Orbitrap were clearly molecule‐dependent and could be due to metastable ions during storage states in the C‐TRAP.