bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatio‐temporal characteristics of small‐scale wave–current ripples on the Ameland ebb‐tidal delta
Authors: Brakenhoff Laura , Kleinhans Maarten , Ruessink Gerben , van der Vegt Maarten 
Published: December 2019

AbstractEbb‐tidal deltas are highly dynamic environments affected by both waves and currents that approach the coast under various angles. Among other bedforms of various scales, these hydrodynamics create small‐scale bedforms (ripples), which increase the bed roughness and will therefore affect hydrodynamics and sediment transport. In morphodynamic models, sediment transport predictions depend on the roughness height, but the accuracy of these predictors has not been tested for field conditions with strongly mixed (wave–current dominated) forcing. In this study, small‐scale bedforms were observed in the field with a 3D Profiling Sonar at five locations on the Ameland ebb‐tidal delta, the Netherlands. Hydrodynamic conditions ranged from wave dominated to current dominated, but were mixed most of the time. Small‐scale ripples were found on all studied parts of the delta, superimposed on megaripples. Even though a large range of hydrodynamic conditions was encountered, the spatio‐temporal variations in small‐scale ripple dimensions were relatively small (height
0.015 m, length
0.11 m). Also, the ripples were always highly three‐dimensional. These small dimensions are probably caused by the fact that the bed consists of relatively fine sediment. Five bedform height predictors were tested, but they all overestimated the ripple heights, partly because they were not created for small grain sizes. Furthermore, the predictors all have a strong dependence on wave‐ and current‐related velocities, whereas the ripple heights measured here were only related to the near‐bed orbital velocity. Therefore, ripple heights and lengths in wave–current‐dominated, fine‐grained coastal areas (
mm) may be best estimated by constant values rather than values dependent on the hydrodynamics. In the case of the Ameland ebb‐tidal delta, these values were found to be
m and
m. ©2019 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
CBS gene polymorphism and promoter methylation‐mediating effects on the efficacy of folate therapy in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia
Authors: Zhao Qinglin , Zhang Chengda , Li Dankang , Huang Xiaowen , Ren Bingnan , Yue Limin , Du Binghui , Godfrey Opolot , Zhang Weidong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundA decrease in cystathionine beta‐synthase (CBS) enzyme activity could lead to hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). Studies have revealed that DNA methylation has a mediating effect on the development of diseases. The present study aimed to explore CBS promoter methylation‐mediating effects on the efficacy of folate treatment for HHcy.MethodsHHcy patients were treated with folate (5 mg/day) for 90 days and then divided into a failure group (Hcy ≥ 15 μmol/l) and a success group (Hcy < 15 μmol/l) according to post‐treatment plasma Hcy levels. Genotyping of CBS gene (rs2851391 and rs706209) in patients (n = 638) was detected using a MassArray system (Sequenom, San Diego, CA, USA). The baseline DNA methylation levels of patients (n = 299) were detected using MethylTarget™ technology (Genesky Biotechnologies Inc., Shanghai, China).ResultsThe CBS rs2851391 TC + CC genotype was related to a 57% reduction of failure risk in HHcy treatment compared to the TT genotype (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.19–0.97). The CBS rs706209 CT + TT genotype had a 2.97‐fold increased risk of failure to treatment compared to the CC genotype (95% CI = 1.52–5.80). After adjustment for confounding factors, the odds ratio (95% CI) for the risk of failure in HHcy treatment in total and male patients was 0.55 (0.32–0.93) and 0.34 (0.16–0.69), respectively, for patients with higher methylation levels (≥ methylation median). Additionally, baseline CBS promoter methylation mediated 33.39% of the effect of rs2851391 on the efficacy of folate treatment for HHcy (ACME [average causal mediation effects]: –0.05, 95% CI = –0.11 to 0.00, p = 0.046).ConclusionsThe present study indicates that CBS gene polymorphism and promoter methylation could affect the efficacy of HHcy. There were potentially causal effects of genetic, epigenetic variations at the CBS rs2851391 locus on the efficacy of HHcy therapy with folate.
Efficient synthesis and molecular docking of novel antibacterial pyrimidines and their related fused heterocyclic derivatives
Authors: Sanad Sherif M. H. , Ahmed Ahmed A. M. , Mekky Ahmed E. M. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract3‐(Benzo[d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl)‐1‐(thiophen‐2‐yl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one reacted with each of thiourea and 6‐amino‐2‐thioxo‐2,3‐dihydropyrimidin‐4(1H)‐one to give the corresponding pyrimidine‐2(1H)‐thiones. Then, these compounds reacted with the appropriate hydrazonyl chlorides in dioxane in the presence of triethylamine to afford the corresponding [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]pyrimidines and their related fused pyridines. Moreover, chalcone was cyclocondensed with 2‐cyanothioacetamide to give pyridine‐2(1H)‐thione and taken as a key synthon to novel 2‐(methylthio)pyridothienopyrimidin‐4(3H)‐one derivative. The above derivative reacted with the appropriate hydrazonyl chlorides in dioxane in the presence of triethylamine to yield the corresponding pyridothieno[3,2‐d][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]pyrimidines. Study of the in vitro antimicrobial activities of the newly pyrimidines were performed. Pyridothienopyrimidine 24a showed the highest inhibitory activity against all bacteria with MIC values of 3.9, 7.81, 7.81, and 15.62 μg/mL, respectively, against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus mutans, respectively, as compared to reference drugs. Molecular docking was studied to predict of the optimized conformation of pyrimidines as active ligands against the Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase. The structures of the hybrid molecules were elucidated by IR, Mass, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectra as well as elemental analyses.
Morphological and biomechanical effects of annulus fibrosus injury and repair in an ovine cervical model
Authors: Long Rose G. , Ferguson Stephen J. , Benneker Lorin M. , Sakai Daisuke , Li Zhen , Pandit Abhay , Grijpma Dirk W. , Eglin David , Zeiter Stephan , Schmid Tanja , Eberli Ursula , Nehrbass Dirk , Di Pauli von Treuheim Theodor , Alini Mauro , Iatridis James C. , Grad Sibylle 
Published: December 2019

AbstractTissue engineering repair of annulus fibrosus (AF) defects has the potential to prevent disability and pain from intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation and its progression to degeneration. Clinical translation of AF repair methods requires assessment in long‐term large animal models. An ovine AF injury model was developed using cervical spinal levels and a biopsy‐type AF defect to assess composite tissue engineering repair in 1‐month and 12‐month studies. The repair used a fibrin hydrogel crosslinked with genipin (FibGen) to seal defects, poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) scaffolds to replace lost AF tissue, and polyurethane membranes to prevent herniation. In the 1‐month study, PTMC scaffolds sealed with FibGen herniated with polyurethane membranes. When applied alone, FibGen integrated with the surrounding AF tissue without herniation, showing promise for long‐term studies. The 12‐month long‐term study used only FibGen which showed fibrous healing, biomaterial resorption and no obvious hydrogel‐related complications. However, the 2 mm biopsy punch injury condition also exhibited fibrotic healing at 12 months. Both untreated and FibGen treated groups showed equivalency with no detectable differences in histological grades of proteoglycans, cellular morphology, IVD structure and blood vessel formation, biomechanical properties including torque range and axial range of motion, Pfirrmann grade, IVD height, and quantitative scores of vertebral body changes from clinical computed tomography. The biopsy‐type injury caused endplate defects with a high prevalence of osteophytes in all groups and no nucleus herniation, indicating that the biopsy‐type injury requires further refinement, such as reduction to a slit‐type defect that could penetrate the full depth of the AF without damaging the endplate. Results demonstrate translational feasibility of FibGen for AF repair to seal AF defects, although future study with a more refined injury model is required to validate the efficacy of FibGen before translation.
T1 measurement of bound water in cortical bone using 3D adiabatic inversion recovery ultrashort echo time (3D IR‐UTE) Cones imaging
Authors: Guo Tan , Ma Yajun , Jerban Saeed , Jang Hyungseok , Zhao Wei , Chang Eric Y. , Chen Min , Bydder Graeme M. , Du Jiang 
Published: December 2019

PurposeWe describe the measurement of bound water T1 () of cortical bone in vitro and in vivo with a 3D adiabatic inversion recovery ultrashort echo time (IR‐UTE) Cones sequence using a clinical 3T scanner.MethodsA series IR‐UTE data from 6 repetition times (TRs) with 5 inversion times (TIs) at each TR were acquired from 12 human tibial bone specimens, and data from 4 TRs with 5 TIs at each TR were acquired from the tibial midshafts of 8 healthy volunteers. The pore water nulling point was calculated from exponential fitting of the inversion recovery curve at each TR. Bone specimens and volunteers were then scanned again with the calculated nulling point at each TR. was derived through exponential fitting of data from IR‐UTE images acquired at different TRs using the calculated pore water nulling point for each TR.ResultsIn vitro pore water nulling TIs were 141.3 ± 11.6, 123.4 ± 8.9, 101.3 ± 6.2, 88.9 ± 5.3, 74.8 ± 4.2, and 59.2 ± 3.9 ms for the 6 TRs of 500, 400, 300, 250, 200, and 150 ms, respectively. In vivo pore water nulling TIs were 132.8 ± 12.8, 110.3 ± 10.0, 80.0 ± 7.2, and 63.9 ± 5.4 ms for the 4 TRs of 400, 300, 200, and 150 ms, respectively. Excellent exponential fitting was achieved for IR‐UTE imaging of bound water with pore water nulled at each TR. The mean was 106.9 ± 6.3 ms in vitro and 112.3 ± 16.4 ms in vivo.ConclusionUsing the 3D IR‐UTE Cones with a variable TR/TI approach, of cortical bone was calculated after complete nulling of pore water signals.
HPLC‐DAD method for the detection of five annopurpuricins in root samples ofAnnona purpurea
Authors: Hernández‐Fuentes Gustavo A. , Peraza Campos Ana L. , Ceballos‐Magaña Silvia G. , Muñiz‐Valencia Roberto , Parra‐Delgado Hortensia 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIntroductionAnnona purpureais a species known in Mexico as “cabeza de negro”. In folk medicineA. purpurearoot is used to treat patients with kidney diseases and cancer. Our recent studies demonstrated that this species contains five acetogenins named annopurpuricins A–E, which are active against tumoural cell lines in a subnanomolar range.ObjectiveTo develop an analytical method using a high‐performance liquid chromatography diode array detector (HPLC‐DAD) to quantify annopurpuricins A–E in differentA. purpurearoot samples.MethodologyTo quantify the five annopurpuricins A–E a sample treatment was carried out, which consisted of fractionation by means of cold and hot maceration; using solvents of ascending polarity: hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and water. The resulting extracts were subject to HPLC‐DAD analysis. The optimised chromatographic separation on a XBRIDGE C18 column achieved separation of all compounds in around 30 min.ResultsThe developed method was validated according to ICH (International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use) validation guide. The developed analytical method was found fast, economic, robust, sensitive, linear and precise. The dichloromethane extract ofA. purpureacontains annopurpuricin A in quantities 2‐ to 25‐fold higher than annopurpuricins B–E. This optimised method identified and quantified five annopurpuricins, highly bioactive molecules, inA. purpurearoot.ConclusionsThe fingerprint of the dichloromethane extracts ofA. purpureawas obtained at 210 nm. The results analysis allowed to quantify annopurpuricins A–E that are present in different collection batches of medium polarity extracts. After data analysis, annopurpuricin A could be establish as the metabolite marker of the root of the species.
Clinical research study designs: The essentials
Authors: Chidambaram Ambika G. , Josephson Maureen 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn clinical research, our aim is to design a study which would be able to derive a valid and meaningful scientific conclusion using appropriate statistical methods. The conclusions derived from a research study can either improve health care or result in inadvertent harm to patients. Hence, this requires a well‐designed clinical research study that rests on a strong foundation of a detailed methodology and governed by ethical clinical principles. The purpose of this review is to provide the readers an overview of the basic study designs and its applicability in clinical research.
“Reactance inversion” at low frequencies in a child undergoing treatment of a cystic fibrosis exacerbation
Authors: Allen Julian Lewis , Ren Clement L. , McDonough Joseph , Clem Charles C. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIntroductionImpulse oscillometry (IOS) employs high frequency sinusoidal or impulse pressure and flow waveforms to interrogate the mechanical properties of the respiratory system. It has special applications to preschool and younger children who may have difficulty performing the repetitive forced expiratory maneuvers required for spirometry.Case presentationWe present a case illustrating improvements of respiratory system mechanics measured by IOS in a 6‐year‐old child with cystic fibrosis (CF) who demonstrated clinical and radiological improvement after a course of therapy with hospitalization and intravenous antibiotics, and initiation of a cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) protein corrector/potentiator agent. We also report a new finding: observed lower than expected reactance at low compared to high frequencies (“reactance inversion”).ConclusionReactance inversion may reflect parallel pathway inhomogeneities in resistance and elastance or intrabreath airway inertance changes in young children with CF. Further study is needed in children with airway obstruction due to asthma, cystic fibrosis, and chronic lung disease of infancy to demonstrate the prevalence of this finding and whether it is specific to a measurement device.
Cell‐free DNA content in follicular fluid: A marker for the developmental ability of porcine oocytes
Authors: Ichikawa Kana , Shibahara Hidenori , Shirasuna Komei , Kuwayama Takehito , Iwata Hisataka 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPurposeThe present study examined the relationships among the amount of cell‐free‐DNA (cfDNA) in porcine follicular fluid (FF), the developmental ability of enclosed oocytes, and characteristics of granulosa cells and examined the effect of cfDNA content in maturation medium on the developmental ability of the oocytes.MethodsOocytes and FF were collected from individual gilts, and the gilts were rated based on the ability of their oocytes to develop to the blastocyst stage and the amount of cfDNA in the FF. The copy numbers of mitochondrial DNA (Mt‐DNA) and nuclear DNA (N‐DNA) were measured by real‐time PCR and the DNA sequence. FF or cfDNA was added to the maturation medium, and the developmental ability of the oocytes was examined.ResultsThe amount of cfDNA was associated with apoptosis of the granulosa cells, and high‐cfDNA content in FF was associated with low developmental ability of oocytes. Supplementation of the maturation medium with FF containing high cf‐Mt‐DNA or with DNA extracted from the FF did not affect oocyte developmental competence.ConclusionsCell‐free DNA content in FF is a marker for oocyte competence, but cfDNA in the oocyte maturation environment did not affect oocyte developmental ability.
Hollow fiber vitrification allows cryopreservation of embryos with compromised cryotolerance
Authors: Uchikura Ayuko , Matsunari Hitomi , Maehara Miki , Yonamine Shiori , Wakayama Sayaka , Wakayama Teruhiko , Nagashima Hiroshi 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPurposeThis study aims to demonstrate vitrification methods that provide reliable cryopreservation for embryos with compromised cryotolerance.MethodsTwo‐cell stage mouse embryos and in vitro produced porcine embryos were vitrified using the hollow fiber vitrification (HFV) and Cryotop (CT) methods. The performance of these two methods was compared by the viability of the vitrified‐rewarmed embryos.ResultsRegardless of the method used, 100% of the mouse 2‐cell embryos developed successfully after vitrification‐rewarming into the blastocyst stage, whereas vitrification tests using porcine morulae with the HFV method produced significantly better results. The developmental rates of vitrified porcine morula into the blastocyst stage, as well as blastocyst cell number, were 90.3% and 112.3 ± 6.9 in the HFV group compared with 63.4% and 89.5 ± 8.1 in the CT group (P < .05). Vitrification tests using 4‐ to 8‐cell porcine embryos resulted in development into the blastocyst stage (45.5%) in the HFV group alone, demonstrating its better efficacy. The HFV method did not impair embryo viability, even after spontaneous rewarming at room temperature for vitrified embryos, which is generally considered a contraindication.ConclusionVitrification test using embryos with compromised cryotolerance allows for more precise determining of effective cryopreservation methods and devices.
“She Lied”: Social construction, rape myth prevalence in social media, and sexual assault policy
Authors: Stabile Bonnie , Grant Aubrey , Purohit Hemant , Rama Mohammad 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThis analysis investigates the presence of rape myths in the policy context, as reflected in social media, and considers how those myths might manifest in policy related to sexual assault in accordance with the social construction theory of target populations. Contested interpretations of Title IX between the Obama and Trump administrations serve as an example of how underlying assumptions about target populations based on rape myths might influence policy design. The rape myth that women routinely lie about rape is investigated through an examination of its prevalence on Twitter using a dataset collected over a period of 4 months. From the dataset, a typology of tweets was created that identifies emergent themes reflecting the social construction of target populations, including accusers and the accused. These message categories—accusational, validational and sensational—have potential policy relevance, as between 44% and 48% of the tweets are found to be accusational, meaning that they express doubts about or undermine accusers, and/or perpetuate the idea that women lie about rape.
Finite dimensional state representation of physiologically structured populations
Authors: Diekmann Odo , Gyllenberg Mats , Metz Johan A. J. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn a physiologically structured population model (PSPM) individuals are characterised by continuous variables, like age and size, collectively called their i-state. The world in which these individuals live is characterised by another set of variables, collectively called the environmental condition. The model consists of submodels for (i) the dynamics of the i-state, e.g. growth and maturation, (ii) survival, (iii) reproduction, with the relevant rates described as a function of (i-state, environmental condition), (iv) functions of (i-state, environmental condition), like biomass or feeding rate, that integrated over the i-state distribution together produce the output of the population model. When the environmental condition is treated as a given function of time (input), the population model becomes linear in the state. Density dependence and interaction with other populations is captured by feedback via a shared environment, i.e., by letting the environmental condition be influenced by the populations’ outputs. This yields a systematic methodology for formulating community models by coupling nonlinear input–output relations defined by state-linear population models. For some combinations of submodels an (infinite dimensional) PSPM can without loss of relevant information be replaced by a finite dimensional ODE. We then call the model ODE-reducible. The present paper provides (a) a test for checking whether a PSPM is ODE reducible, and (b) a catalogue of all possible ODE-reducible models given certain restrictions, to wit: (i) the i-state dynamics is deterministic, (ii) the i-state space is one-dimensional, (iii) the birth rate can be written as a finite sum of environment-dependent distributions over the birth states weighted by environment independent ‘population outputs’. So under these restrictions our conditions for ODE-reducibility are not only sufficient but in fact necessary. Restriction (iii) has the desirable effect that it guarantees that the population trajectories are after a while fully determined by the solution of the ODE so that the latter gives a complete picture of the dynamics of the population and not just of its outputs.
Internal microdosimetry of alpha-emitting radionuclides
Authors: Hofmann Werner , Li Wei Bo , Friedland Werner , Miller Brian W. , Madas Balázs , Bardiès Manuel , Balásházy Imre 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAt the tissue level, energy deposition in cells is determined by the microdistribution of alpha-emitting radionuclides in relation to sensitive target cells. Furthermore, the highly localized energy deposition of alpha particle tracks and the limited range of alpha particles in tissue produce a highly inhomogeneous energy deposition in traversed cell nuclei. Thus, energy deposition in cell nuclei in a given tissue is characterized by the probability of alpha particle hits and, in the case of a hit, by the energy deposited there. In classical microdosimetry, the randomness of energy deposition in cellular sites is described by a stochastic quantity, the specific energy, which approximates the macroscopic dose for a sufficiently large number of energy deposition events. Typical examples of the alpha-emitting radionuclides in internal microdosimetry are radon progeny and plutonium in the lungs, plutonium and americium in bones, and radium in targeted radionuclide therapy. Several microdosimetric approaches have been proposed to relate specific energy distributions to radiobiological effects, such as hit-related concepts, LET and track length-based models, effect-specific interpretations of specific energy distributions, such as the dual radiation action theory or the hit-size effectiveness function, and finally track structure models. Since microdosimetry characterizes only the initial step of energy deposition, microdosimetric concepts are most successful in exposure situations where biological effects are dominated by energy deposition, but not by subsequently operating biological mechanisms. Indeed, the simulation of the combined action of physical and biological factors may eventually require the application of track structure models at the nanometer scale.