bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel nomogram to predict the local tumor progression after microwave ablation in patients with early‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma: A tool in prediction of successful ablation
Authors: An Chao , Wu Songsong , Huang Zhimei , Ni Jiayan , Zuo Mengxuan , Gu Yangkui , Zhang Tianqi , Huang Jinhua 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectivesTo develop a nomogram for the local tumor progression (LTP) in patients with early‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after computed tomography‐guided percutaneous microwave ablation (CT‐PMWA) and to assess clinical‐pathologic risk factors for individual LTP estimation. Furthermore, we compared the prognostic predictive ability for LTP between the nomogram and the traditional staging systems.MethodsThis retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Five hundred and forty treatment‐naïve patients with HCC according to the Milan criteria, who subsequently underwent CT‐PMWA were reviewed from 2009 to 2019. Baseline characteristics were collected to identify the risk factors for the determination of LTP after CT‐PMWA. The multivariate Cox proportional‐hazards model based on significant prognostic factors of LTP was used to construct the nomogram, which was then assessed for its predictive accuracy using mainly the Harrell's C‐index and time‐dependent area under the curve (tAUC).ResultsAfter a median follow‐up time of 28.7 months, 6.5% (35/540) patients had LTP. The nomogram was developed based on the tumor size, tumor number, Child‐Turcotte‐Pugh (CTP) grade, platelet, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The nomogram had good calibration and discriminatory abilities in the training set, with C‐indexes of 0.799 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.738, 0.860), and tAUCs of 0.844 (CI: 0.728, 0.895), that were greater than those of traditional staging systems. Internal validation with 1000 bootstrap resamples had a good C‐index of 0.735 (CI: 0.648, 0.816).ConclusionsThe nomogram model can be used to predict accurately LTP after CT‐PMWA for early‐stage HCC, as well as to assist physicians during the therapeutic decision‐making process.
Deploying Fluorescent Nucleoside Analogues for High‐Throughput Inhibitor Screening
Authors: Seebald Leah , Madec Amaël G. E. , Imperiali Barbara 
Published: November 2019

AbstractHigh‐throughput small‐molecule screening in drug discovery processes commonly rely on fluorescence‐based methods including fluorescent polarization and fluorescence/Förster resonance energy transfer. These techniques use highly accessible instrumentation; however, they can suffer from high false‐negative rates and background signals, or might involve complex schemes for the introduction of fluorophore pairs. Herein we present the synthesis and application of fluorescent nucleoside analogues as the foundation for directed approaches for competitive binding analyses. The general approach describes selective fluorescent environment‐sensitive (ES) nucleoside analogues that are adaptable to diverse enzymes that act on nucleoside‐based substrates. We demonstrate screening a set of uridine analogues and development of an assay for fragment‐based lead discovery with the TcdB glycosyltransferase (GT), an enzyme associated with virulence in Clostridium difficile. The uridine‐based probe used for this high‐throughput screen has a KD value of 7.2 μm with the TcdB GT and shows a >30‐fold increase in fluorescence intensity upon binding. The ES‐based probe assay is benchmarked against two other screening approaches.
Long‐term clinical safety and efficacy of drug‐coated balloon in the treatment of in‐stent restenosis: A meta‐analysis and systematic review
Authors: Xi Yangbo , Chen Jiahao , Bi Yuying , Xie Shuling , Liao Tong , Zhang Yuanchun , Kislauskis Edward , Wu Tim , Laham Roger , Xiao Jianmin 
Published: November 2019

AbstrctObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the long‐term clinical safety and efficacy of drug‐coated balloon (DCB) in the treatment of in‐stent restenosis (ISR).BackgroundThere is a long‐term safety issue in peripheral arterial disease patients treated with paclitaxel‐coated balloon, this has also raised concerns on DCB in coronary intervention.MethodsNine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nine observational studies (OSs) were included with a total of 3,782 patients (1,827 in the DCB group, 1,955 in the drug‐eluting stent [DES] group) being analyzed. The primary outcome measure—major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), target lesion revascularization (TLR), target vessel revascularization (TVR), myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac death (CD), stent thrombosis (ST), all‐cause death (AD), and coronary angiography outcomes included late lumen loss (LLL), minimum luminal diameter (MLD), diameter stenosis (DS) were analyzed.ResultsDCB treatment significantly reduced the LLL (MD: −0.13; [CI −0.23 to −0.03], p = .01). No difference was found for MLD (MD: −0.1; [CI −0.24 to 0.04], p = .17) and DS% (RR = 0.98 [CI 0.80–1.20], p = .86). There was no significant difference in TLR, TVR, MI, CD, ST, AD, and the overall incidence of MACEs between the two groups up to 3 years follow‐up. Subgroup analysis for different type of ISR and DES showed no significant difference in the incidence of endpoints, and there is no difference when considering RCTs or OSs only.ConclusionsThe safety and efficacy of the DCB and DES in the treatment of ISR is comparable at up to 3 years follow‐up.
Influence of Impurities and Oxidation on Hydroconversion of Waste Cooking Oil into Bio‐jet Fuel
Authors: Zhang Zongwei , Zhang Xiangwen , Wang Qingfa 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe influences of impurities and oxidation evolution of waste cooking oil on the preparation of bio‐jet fuel via hydroconversion were studied. The hydrogenation active sites and acid sites were covered by heavy metals, sulfides, and basic nitrogen compounds, resulting in the increase of selectivity for bio‐jet fuel by decreasing the selectivity of diesel, aromatics, and iso‐alkanes. The effects of impurities, oxidation on the reaction pathway, and product distribution became more distinct with higher catalyst acidity. The evolution and variation of naphthalene, indan, and phenanthrene obtained from cyclic fatty acids influenced the properties of fuel or evoked the catalyst deactivation. This work will help to design new catalysts for selective conversion of waste cooking oil into bio‐jet fuel.
Self‐Supporting Electrode Composed of SnSe Nanosheets, Thermally Treated Protein, and Reduced Graphene Oxide with Enhanced Pseudocapacitance for Advanced Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Kong Peng , Zhu Ling , Li Fengrong , Xu Guobao 
Published: November 2019

AbstractA self‐supporting electrode composed of carbon‐coated tin selenide nanosheets, thermally treated protein, and reduced graphene oxide was prepared for sodium‐ion batteries via a protein‐assisted self‐assembly, cost‐efficient vacuum filtration, and subsequent low‐temperature annealing. During this process, the hierarchical three‐dimensional framework has been achieved, in which tin selenide nanosheets consisted of nanocrystals with diameter of about 5 nm, and confined in a highly conductive interconnected reduced graphene oxide network by thermally treated bovine serum albumin. The unique structure not only promises structural stability and the reaction kinetics of the electrode during charge‐discharge process, but also possesses substantial interfacial sites for Na+ redox reaction giving rise to additional pseudocapacitance. Therefore, the self‐supporting composite as anode exhibits an outstanding capacity of 617.5 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, high rate capability of 213.8 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1, and superior cyclic performance of 503.9 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 100 cycles. Therefore, the electrode materials have large potential in advanced sodium‐ion batteries in portable, flexible, and wearable electronics.
Hollow Structure VS2@Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) Architecture for Enhanced Sodium‐Ion Battery Performance
Authors: Qi Haimei , Wang Lina , Zuo Tiantian , Deng Shunlan , Li Qi , Liu Zong‐Huai , Hu Peng , He Xuexia 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAs a typical two‐dimensional (2D) layered material, (vanadium disulfide) VS2 has huge potentials for application in SIBs due to its large interlayer spacing and high conductivity compared to metal oxide or other 2D materials. Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) possesses exceptional electronic properties and large specific area favoring fast electron transport and rich redox sites. In this work, VS2 hollow flower spheres and RGO nanocomposites were developed for the first time, it was synthesized using a facile solvothermal method. Benefiting from the exceptional layered structure, when used as the anode material for SIBs at room temperature, the as‐prepared electrode material of VS2 hollow flower spheres @RGO (named as VS2 HFS/RGO) nanocomposites delivers a high reversible discharge specific capacity of around 430 mAh/g at current density of 100 mA/g, superior rate performance (2 A/g) and excellent cycling properties with the discharge capacity remained 350 mAh/g at 100 mA/g after 500 cycles. Results show that the kinetics of VS2 HFS/RGO nanocomposites were mainly a capacitive‐controlled storage process and the high capacity contribution were beneficial for good rate performance. This work could provide new approaches and potentials for exploring and searching high performances anode materials for the practical applications of SIBs.
Atomically Precise Lanthanide‐Iron‐Oxo Clusters Featuring the ϵ‐Keggin Ion
Authors: Zheng Xiu‐Ying , Du Ming‐Hao , Amiri Mehran , Nyman May , Liu Qiang , Liu Tao , Kong Xiang‐Jian , Long La‐Sheng , Zheng Lan‐Sun 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAtomically precise molecular metal‐oxo clusters provide ideal models to understand metal oxide surfaces, self‐assembly, and form‐function relationships. Devising strategies for synthesis and isolation of these molecular forms remains a challenge. Here, the synthesis of four Ln‐Fe oxo clusters that feature the ϵ‐{Fe13} Keggin cluster in their core is reported. The {Fe13} metal‐oxo cluster motif is the building block of two important iron oxyhydroxyide phases in nature and technology, ferrihydrite (as the δ‐isomer) and magnetite (the ϵ‐isomer). The reported ϵ‐{Fe13} Keggin isomer as an isolated molecule provides the opportunity to study the formation of ferrihydrite and magnetite from this building unit. The four currently reported isostructural lanthanide‐iron‐oxo clusters are fully formulated [Y12Fe33(TEOA)12(Hyp)6(μ3‐OH)20(μ4‐O)28(H2O)12](ClO4)23⋅50 H2O (1, Y12Fe33), [Gd12Fe33(TEOA)12(Hyp)6(μ3‐OH)20(μ4‐O)32(H2O)12](ClO4)15⋅50 H2O (2, Gd12Fe33) and [Ln16Fe29(TEOA)12(Hyp)6(μ3‐OH)24(μ4‐O)28(H2O)16](ClO4)16(NO3)3⋅n H2O (Ln=Y for 3, Y16Fe29, n=37 and Ln=Gd for 4, Gd16Fe29 n=25; Hyp=trans‐4‐Hydroxyl‐l‐proline and TEOA=triethanolamine). The next metal layer surrounding the ϵ‐{Fe13} core within these clusters exhibits a similar arrangement as the magnetite lattice, and Fe and Ln can occupy the same positions. This provides the opportunity to construct a family of compounds and optimize magnetic exchange in these molecules through composition tuning. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and high‐resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESI‐MS) show that these clusters are stable upon dissolution in both water and organic solvents, as a first step to performing further chemistry towards building magnetic arrays or investigating ferrihydrite and magnetite assembly from pre‐nucleation clusters.
Explicit Construction of RIP Matrices Is Ramsey‐Hard
Authors: Gamarnik David 
Published: November 2019

AbstractMatrices Φ ∈ ℝn × p satisfying the restricted isometry property (RIP) are an important ingredient of the compressive sensing methods. While it is known that random matrices satisfy the RIP with high probability even for n = logO(1)p, the explicit deteministic construction of such matrices defied the repeated efforts, and most of the known approaches hit the so‐called sparsity bottleneck. The notable exception is the work by Bourgain et al. constructing an n × p RIP matrix with sparsity s = Θ(n1/2 + ϵ), but in the regime n = Ω(p1 − δ).In this short note we resolve this open question by showing that an explicit construction of a matrix satisfying the RIP in the regime n = O(log2p) and s = Θ(n1/2) implies an explicit construction of a three‐colored Ramsey graph on p nodes with clique sizes bounded by O(log2p) — a question in the field of extremal combinatorics that has been open for decades. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impression management against early dismissal? CEO succession and corporate social responsibility
Authors: Liu Xin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis study builds on insights from both upper echelons theory and agency perspective to examine the effect on corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance of CEO succession. Drawing on prior literature on impression management and analyzing the CEO selection process, we argue that CEO successors are motivated to improve CSR performance as a tactic of impression management in the CEO succession context in the hope of securing their leadership against the early dismissal. Additionally, we explore the moderating effect of CEO characteristics, specifically age and origin, on the relationship between CEO succession and CSR. Based on a sample of 3360 firm‐year data in 736 Chinese listed companies from the period of 2008–2016, we find that CEO succession has a positive effect on post‐succession CSR and CEO age enhances the effect while CEO outside origin weakens this effect.
Ionic‐Liquid‐Modified Click‐Based Porous Organic Polymers for Controlling Capture and Catalytic Conversion of CO2
Authors: Cui Caiyan , Sa Rongjian , Hong Zixiao , Zhong Hong , Wang Ruihu 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCapture and catalytic conversion of CO2 into value‐added chemicals is a promising and sustainable approach to relieve global warming and the energy crisis. Nitrogen‐rich porous organic polymers (POPs) are promising materials for CO2 capture and separation, but their application in the additive‐free catalytic conversion of CO2 into cyclic carbonates is still a challenge. Herein, a nitrogen‐rich click‐based POP (CPP) was developed for the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 with epoxides in the absence of metal, solvents, and additives. The introduction of imidazolium‐based ionic liquids on the CPP host backbone could modulate the porosity, CO2 adsorption/desorption, CO2 selectivity over N2, and catalytic activity in the chemical transformation. A tentative catalytic pathway was proposed to account for the superior catalytic activity of the catalytic systems, in which the incorporated ionic liquid and porous properties of CPP synergistically contributed to the catalytic reaction. This study provides a platform to understand the cooperative effects of porous properties and nucleophilic anions on the cycloaddition reaction of CO2 with epoxides.
Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis in immunocompromised patients: Can it be Cryptococcus
Authors: Sood Ridhi , Tyagi Ruchita , Selhi Pavneet , Kaur Harpreet , Sood Neena 
Published: November 2019

AbstractCryptococcal meningitis commonly affects immunocompromised cases and can have varied presentation. In some instances, the presence of a plethora of inflammatory cells on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in an immunosuppressed patient can lead to further investigations, which unravel the presence of cryptococcal meningitis. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the spectrum of CSF findings of immunosuppressed patients who were diagnosed to have cryptococcal meningitis. Retrospective analysis of CSF cytospin slides exhibiting pleocytosis and belonging to immunocompromised patients was performed, and these cases were found to have cryptococcal meningitis. Out of 932 cases of CSF (January 2016‐July 2017), 10 had pleocytosis and 5 of these 10 cases demonstrated spores of Cryptococcus. Male‐to‐female ratio was 1:1.5. All the patients were immunocompromised and had CSF leukocytosis. Lymphocytes and monocytes were present in all samples while only one case showed plasma cells. Spores of Cryptococcus were also noted in all the cases and highlighted on India Ink Preparation and Gomori Methenamine Silver stain. All the cases were positive for agglutination‐based cryptococcal antigen assay, except one where the test was not done. All immunosuppressed patients having pleocytosis in CSF were found to have cryptococcal infection. Therefore, pleocytosis in CSF in any immunosuppressed patient should raise the suspicion of cryptococcal meningitis. The pathologist and the clinician need to be vigilant in such scenarios to rule out any opportunistic infection and investigate the patient thoroughly for any underlying immunosuppression.
Responses of diversity, productivity, and stability to the nitrogen input in a tropical grassland
Authors: Verma Preeti , Sagar R. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAtmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is a matter of serious concern for the structure and functioning of global ecosystems, but the effect of N application of species diversity (D), primary productivity (P), and stability (S) of tropical grassland ecosystems is not known. The present study reports the effects of different levels of N application on species composition, and the D, P, S, and their relationships in a tropical grassland. Within the experimental grassland, 72 1 × 1 m plots with 6 N‐input levels and with 12 replicates, were established in 2013. For 3 yr, different doses of urea as a source of N were applied to the plots. Data on individuals and biomass of each species were recorded and statistically analyzed. The study revealed that the N applied caused variations in species composition, D, P, and S. Below the 90 kg N dose, D was positively related to P and S while, above this level, the relations were negative due to N‐induced responses of species and functional group composition as well as biomass distribution among them. The optimum applied N levels for maximum D (50–60 kg N), P (120 kg N), and a positive relationship of S with D (up to 90 kg N treatment) suggested that the 90‐kg N dose could be the maximum dose of N that the grassland can tolerate. Hence, N application should not exceed the 90‐kg level for sustainability of the structure and functioning of tropical grassland ecosystems.
Highlighting convergent evolution in morphological traits in response to climatic gradient in African tropical tree species: The case of genus Guibourtia Benn.
Authors: Tosso Félicien , Doucet Jean‐Louis , Daïnou Kasso , Fayolle Adeline , Hambuckers Alain , Doumenge Charles , Agbazahou Honoré , Stoffelen Piet , Hardy Olivier J. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Adaptive evolution is a major driver of organism diversification, but the links between phenotypic traits and environmental niche remain little documented in tropical trees. Moreover, trait‐niche relationships are complex because a correlation between the traits and environmental niches displayed by a sample of species may result from (a) convergent evolution if different environmental conditions have selected different sets of traits, and/or (b) phylogenetic inertia if niche and morphological differences between species are simply function of their phylogenetic divergence, in which case the trait‐niche correlation does not imply any direct causal link. Here, we aim to assess the respective roles of phylogenetic inertia and convergent evolution in shaping the differences of botanical traits and environmental niches among congeneric African tree species that evolved in different biomes.

This issue was addressed with the tree genus Guibourtia Benn. (Leguminosae and Detarioideae), which contains 13 African species occupying various forest habitat types, from rain forest to dry woodlands, with different climate and soil conditions. To this end, we combined morphological data with ecological niche modelling and used a highly resolved plastid phylogeny of the 13 African Guibourtia species.

First, we demonstrated phylogenetic signals in both morphological traits (Mantel test between phylogenetic and morphological distances between species: r = .24, p = .031) and environmental niches (Mantel test between phylogenetic and niche distances between species: r = .23, p = .025). Second, we found a significant correlation between morphology and niche, at least between some of their respective dimensions (Mantel's r = .32, p = .013), even after accounting for phylogenetic inertia (Phylogenetic Independent Contrast: r = .69, p = .018). This correlation occurred between some leaflet and flower traits and solar radiation, relative humidity, precipitations, and temperature range.

Our results demonstrate the convergent evolution of some morphological traits in response to climatic factors in congeneric tree species and highlight the action of selective forces, along with neutral ones, in shaping the divergence between congeneric tropical plants.
Efficient phenotypic sex classification of zebrafish using machine learning methods
Authors: Hosseini Shahrbanou , Simianer Henner , Tetens Jens , Brenig Bertram , Herzog Sebastian , Sharifi Ahmad Reza 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSex determination in zebrafish by manual approaches according to current guidelines relies on human observation. These guidelines for sex recognition have proven to be subjective and highly labor‐intensive. To address this problem, we present a methodology to automatically classify the phenotypic sex using two machine learning methods: Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNNs) based on the whole fish appearance and Support Vector Machine (SVM) based on caudal fin coloration. Machine learning techniques in sex classification provide potential efficiency with the advantage of automatization and robustness in the prediction process. Furthermore, since developmental plasticity can be influenced by environmental conditions, we have investigated the impact of elevated water temperature during embryogenesis on sex and sex‐related differences in color intensity of adult zebrafish. The estimated color intensity based on SVM was then applied to detect the association between coloration and body weight and length. Phenotypic sex classifications using machine learning methods resulted in a high degree of association with the real sex in nontreated animals. In temperature‐induced animals, DCNNs reached a performance of 100%, whereas 20% of males were misclassified using SVM due to a lower color intensity. Furthermore, a positive association between color intensity and body weight and length was observed in males. Our study demonstrates that high ambient temperature leads to a lower color intensity in male animals and a positive association of male caudal fin coloration with body weight and length, which appears to play a significant role in sexual attraction. The software developed for sex classification in this study is readily applicable to other species with sex‐linked visible phenotypic differences.