bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brain micro‐vasculature imaging: An unsupervised deep learning algorithm for segmenting mouse brain volume probed by high‐resolution phase‐contrast X‐ray tomography
Authors: Patera Alessandra , Zippo Antonio G. , Bonnin Anne , Stampanoni Marco , Biella Gabriele E. M. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractHigh‐throughput synchrotron‐based tomographic microscopy at third generation light sources allows to probe cm‐sized samples at micrometer‐resolution. In this work, we present an approach to image a full mouse brain. With Indian‐ink as a contrast agent, it was possible to obtain 3D distribution of microvessels while a computational framework automatically extracted the morphological and geometrical embedding of the putative vascular systems. Results demonstrate the potentiality of the proposed methodology to visualize and quantify in 3D details of the brain tissue with an image quality and resolution previously unachievable.
The expression profile and bioinformatics analysis of microRNAs in human bronchial epithelial cells treated by beryllium sulfate
Authors: Yi Shan , Liu Yan‐ping , Li Xun‐ya , Yuan Xiao‐yan , Wang Ye , Cai Ying , Lei Yuan‐di , Huang Lian , Zhang Zhao‐hui 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBeryllium and its compounds are systemic toxicants that mainly accumulate in the lungs. As a regulator of gene expression, microRNAs (miRNAs) were involved in some lung diseases. This study aimed to analyze the levels of some inflammatory cytokine and the differential expressions of miRNAs in human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) induced by beryllium sulfate (BeSO4) and to further explore the biological functions of differentially expressed miRNAs. The profile of miRNAs in 16HBE cells was detected using the high‐throughput sequencing between the control groups (n = 3) and the 150 μmol/L of BeSO4‐treated groups (n = 3). Bioinformatics analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs was performed, including the prediction of target genes, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was applied to verify some damage‐related miRNAs. We found that BeSO4 can increase the levels of some inflammatory cytokine such as interleukin‐10 (IL‐10), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2). And BeSO4 altered miRNAs expression of 16HBE cells and a total of 179 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, including 88 upregulated miRNAs and 91 downregulated miRNAs. The target genes predicted by 28 dysregulated miRNAs were mainly involved in the transcription regulation, signal transduction, MAPK, and VEGF signaling pathway. The qRT‐PCR verification results were consistent with the sequencing results. miRNA expression profiling in 16HBE cells exposed to BeSO4 provides new insights into the toxicity mechanism of beryllium exposure.
How US dental schools can better prepare their students to perform operative procedures
Authors: He Karen , Breitman Leela , Lee Jennifer , Van Doren Emily , Li Alice , Donoff R. Bruce 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjectiveThe aim of this study was to characterize the curricular and supplemental resources used by dental students during their operative dentistry course, survey students’ perception of each resource's “helpfulness,” and assess students’ perceptions of preparedness to perform operative dental procedures in clinical settings.MethodsAmerican Student Dental Association delegates at all accredited dental education programs in the United States were asked to forward an email to students enrolled at their respective institutions explaining the purpose of the study and asking them to fill out our survey. The response rate was calculated using the targeted enrollment data found in American Dental Education Association Official Guide to Dental Schools.ResultsA total of 715 qualified respondents completed our questionnaire for a response rate of 13.5%. 90% of students felt at least “moderately prepared” to perform operative procedures in the clinical environment. The 3 most common curricular resources provided to students were lecture slides (n = 707, 99%), live lectures (n = 664, 93%), and live faculty demonstrations (n = 547, 77%). YouTube was the most common supplemental resource utilized by students (n = 575, 80%). When asked to select which resources were the most helpful for their learning, 49% (270/547) selected live faculty demonstrations, 27% (153/575) selected YouTube videos, and 23% (155/664) selected lectures/lecture slides.ConclusionTo best meet the expectations of the current generation of dental students and to prevent early‐stage dental learners from being influenced by clinical misinformation online, dental schools should consider adapting and producing more online, video‐based learning resources for their curricula.
Design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel combretastatin A‐4 based chalcone derivatives as anticancer agents
Authors: Rathnakar Bethi , Kumar Gajula S. , Mahammad Saleem P. , Gattu Sridhar , Kalyani Sambaru , Nimma Rameshwar , Satyanarayana Mavurapu 
Published: November 2020

AbstractA series of combretastatin A‐4 based chalcones (14a‐l) were designed, synthesized and these compounds examined for inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human lung (A549), breast (MCF‐7), melanoma (A375), and colon (HT‐29) carcinoma cells. Compounds 14b, 14c, 14e, 14h, and 14i (tri/dimethoxy, methyl, and mono/dinitro derivatives) have exhibited the most potent antiproliferative activity with IC50 < 2 μM and the hexa methoxy derivative 14b, the most promising one, which displayed the potent inhibitory activities in MCF‐7 (IC50: 10 nM), A375 (IC50: 12 nM), and A549 (IC50: 65 nM) cell lines, and is 18 times more potent than the CA‐4. Compound 14b represents a new scaffold and the results provide insights into further development of anticancer agents.
Rising Costs of Otic Drops: Review of a National Database
Authors: Bluher Andrew E. , Moody‐Antonio Stephanie 
Published: November 2020

ObjectivesUS prescription drug prices have increased substantially during the past decade and now account for approximately 17% of total US health expenditures. Otic drop prices are of particular interest given their common use in otolaryngologic clinical practice. We hypothesized that otic drop prices increased at a rate significantly higher than the overall inflation rate. We considered potential causes for otic drop price fluctuations during this period and whether they could be correlated with corporate restructuring events.MethodsPublicly available data on otic antibiotic drop pricing was assessed from 2012 to 2020 and were correlated with contemporaneous publicly available information about corporate and political events.ResultsCiproHC (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX, US), Ciprodex (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX, US), Cortisporin‐TC (Endo Pharmaceuticals, Dublin, Ireland), Coly‐Mycin S (JHP Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Rochester, MI, US), generic neomycin‐polymixin‐HC otic drop, ciprofloxacin otic drop, and ofloxacin otic had overall change in cost between January 2014 and January 2020 of 69.9%, 63%, 268.9%, 219.5%, 232.5%, 13%, and 62.4%, respectively. Generic ofloxacin otic drop showed the most price fluctuation, temporarily rising 945% from July 2015 to its peak price of $26/mL in October 2016.ConclusionOtic drop prices have been volatile, with overall price increases higher than overall inflation. Drug pricing is not transparent, making it difficult for prescribers and patients alike to be cost conscious when choosing the best therapy. We outline six factors that contribute to high US medication prices and also highlight two examples of otic drops that underwent significant price fluctuation during the studied period.Level of EvidenceV Laryngoscope, 131:E1069–E1075, 2021
Hyperbranched Poly(Glycidol)‐Grafted Silica Nanoparticles for Enhancing Li‐Ion Conductivity of Poly(Ethylene Oxide)
Authors: Mallela Yadagiri L. N. K. , Jeong Se Young , Kumar Santosh , Lee Jae‐Suk 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSilica nanoparticles bearing hyperbranched polyglycidol (hbP) grafts are synthesized and blended with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) for the fabrication of composite solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) for enhancing Li‐ion conductivity. Different batches of hbPs are prepared, namely, the 5th, 6th, and 7th with increasing molecular weights using cationic ring‐opening polymerization and grafted the hbPs onto the silica nanoparticles using quaternization reaction. The effect of end functionalization of hbP‐grafted silica nanoparticles with a nitrile functional group (CN–hbP–SiO2) on the ionic conductivity of the blends with PEO is further studied. High dipole moments indicate polar nature of nitriles and show high dielectric constants. Among all the hbPs, the 6th‐batch CN–hbP–SiO2 nanoparticles exhibit better ionic conductivity on blending with PEO showing ionic conductivity of 2.3 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 80 °C. The blends show electrochemical stability up to 4.5 V versus lithium metal.
Zwitterionic Silicone Materials Derived from Aza‐Michael Reaction of Amino‐Functional PDMS with Acrylic Acid
Authors: Genest Aymeric , Portinha Daniel , Pouget Emmanuel , Lamnawar Khalid , Ganachaud Francois , Fleury Etienne 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSupramolecular zwitterionic silicones are synthesized by aza‐Michael reaction between acrylic acid and amine‐functional polydimethylsiloxanes. The in‐depth characterization of this chemistry, applied for the first time to silicones, is investigated first with model alkylamines (hexylamine, 2‐ethylhexylamine and N‐propylethylenediamine), a model oligosiloxane (3‐aminopropylmethyl bis(trimethylsiloxy)silane), and finally various amino‐polysiloxanes. It is shown that after a first acid–base reaction resulting in ionic pairing, aza‐Michael addition proceeds smoothly in mild conditions (50 °C, 1‐week reaction). Both monoadducts and di‐adducts, together with residual amine, are observed by NMR. The supramolecular assembly of the thus‐created zwitterionic moieties is highlighted by a concomitant increase in viscosity and phase separation, as observed by transmission electron microscopy, bringing an additional glass transition at –40 °C assigned to highly polar ionic clusters. Below the stoichiometry in acrylic acid, all zwitterionic silicones follow the same classical behavior of nonentangled polymers according to the Rouse model, whereas upon introducing an excess of acrylic acid to amino groups, an enhancement of the elasticity is observed. Finally, silicone elastomers with solid‐like behavior and elastomeric mechanical properties are obtained using a high molar mass polymer bearing bifunctional N‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐3‐aminopropyl units that favor a high degree of physical crosslinking.
Formation, Structure, and Mechanical Performance of Silk Nanofibrils Produced by Heat‐Induced Self‐Assembly
Authors: Xiao Yuelong , Liu Yawen , Zhang Wenwen , Qi Ping , Ren Jing , Pei Ying , Ling Shengjie 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe heat‐induced self‐assembly of silk fibroin (SF) is studied by combing fluorescence assessment, infrared nanospectroscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray scattering, and Derjaguin−Muller−Toporov coupled with atomic force microscopy. Several fundamental issues regarding the formation, structure, and mechanical performance of silk nanofibrils (SNFs) under heat‐induced self‐assembly are discussed. Accordingly, SF in aqueous solution is rod‐like in shape and not micellar. The formation of SNFs occurs through nucleation‐dependent aggregation, but the assembly period is variable and irregular. SF shows inherent fractal growth, and this trend is critical for the short‐term assembly. The long‐term assembly of SF, however, mainly involves an elongation growth process. SNFs produced by different methods, such as ethanol treatment and heat incubation, have similar secondary structure and mechanical properties. These investigations improve the in‐depth understanding of fundamental issues related to self‐assembly of SNFs, and thus provide inspiration and guidance in designing of silk nanomaterials.
A Molecular Dynamics Study of the Mechanical Properties of Ionic Copolymers during Tension–Recovery Deformation
Authors: Ma Mengze , Fu Yao 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPolymer electrolytes have attracted ever‐increasing attention in the field of energy storage and conversion due to their significantly improved safety features and processability compared with liquid electrolytes and inorganic solid electrolytes. The mechanical integrity of ionic copolymers is one of the most important properties that need to be considered in the development of polymer electrolytes. In this study, the uniaxial tension–recovery studies are conducted in single‐ion diblock copolymers via coarse‐grained molecular dynamics simulation, where the fraction of the charged block is varied to form spherical, cylindrical, and lamellar morphologies. It is found that the dynamic hysteresis loss and permanent displacement have strong dependence on the fraction of the charged block and charge ratio. The change in the radius of gyration greatly varies for the different morphology. Furthermore, the charged copolymers are subjected to more changes in bond orientation during tension and also preserve more changes at recovery. It is likely that the charged monomers and counterions contribute to the stronger crosslinking effect in charged copolymers, reducing chain slippage and hysteresis loss.
MetaPASS: A Web Application for Analyzing the Biological Activity Spectrum of Organic Compounds Taking into Account their Biotransformation
Authors: Rudik Anastasia , Dmitriev Alexander , Lagunin Alexey , Filimonov Dmitry , Poroikov Vladimir 
Published: November 2020

AbstractMost drug‐like compounds can interact with several pharmacological targets and exhibit complex biological activity spectra. Analysis of these spectra helps find and optimize new pharmaceutical agents or identify new uses for approved and investigational drugs (drug repurposing). Since most pharmaceuticals usually undergo biotransformation in the human body, it is reasonable during drug discovery to take into account biological activity spectra of metabolites. A new freely available MetaPASS web application (http://www.way2drug.com/metapass) has been developed	for analyzing the probable biological activity spectra of drug‐like organic compounds taking into account their metabolites ‐ integrated activity profile. To obtain an integrated biological activity profile, one can create a biotransformation network for any compound or analyze known networks for more than 950 compounds from ChEBML and DrugBank. Biological activity profile prediction is based on the PASS Refined software that predicts 1,333 biological activities with an average accuracy (IAP, calculated by leave‐one‐out cross‐validation procedure) exceeded 0.97.
Evaluation of hepatic steatosis before liver transplantation in ex vivo by volumetric quantitative PDFF‐MRI
Authors: Chen Gen , Jiang Jipin , Wang Xinqiang , Yang Min , Xie Yalong , Guo Hui , Tang Hao , Zhou Lifen , Hu Daoyu , Kamel Ihab R. , Chen Zhishui , Li Zhen 
Published: November 2020

PurposeOver the last two decades, extended criteria have promoted an increased number of donor livers available for liver transplantation. But posttransplant graft loss is still a major concern. Macrovesicular hepatic steatosis (MHS) is recognized as the most significant prognostic histologic parameter in predicting posttransplant graft loss. We aimed to evaluate the utility of ex vivo volumetric quantitative MRI for quantifying MHS before liver transplantation using proton density fat‐fraction (PDFF‐MRI) histogram analysis.MethodsPDFF‐MRI was performed at 3.0T in 40 livers. We obtained histogram parameters of whole‐liver volume of interest, including the mean, median, 5th, 10th, 25th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentile PDFF; skewness; kurtosis; entropy; and volume.ResultsLivers from 40 cadaveric donors were included, and histologic ex vivo fat quantification was available for 33 livers. Ten livers had MHS and 23 had normal fat content. The MHS group had higher mean, median, 5th, 10th, 25th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentile PDFF, and entropy than the group with normal fat content (P < .05). Median PDFF had greater area under the curve value than other parameters. Mean PDFF showed an excellent correlation with entropy and a moderate correlation with MHS quantification on histology.ConclusionsEx vivo volumetric quantitative PDFF‐MRI histogram analysis is a very useful and noninvasive method to detect MHS before liver transplantation. Median PDFF was the best predictor of the presence of MHS. Entropy is a very promising parameter.
A cover‐based contact detection approach for irregular convex polygons in discontinuous deformation analysis
Authors: Zhuang Xiaoying , Zheng Fei , Zheng Hong , Jiao Yu‐Yong , Rabczuk Timon , Wriggers Peter 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIrregular polygon shapes (eg, with small edges or small angles) are usually encountered in the contact simulation of discrete block systems. Treatment of irregular polygons in contact detection process has critical effects on the robustness and efficiency of the discontinuous computation approach. The present work proposes a cover‐based strategy to detect and solve contacts of irregular convex polygons in a robust and efficient way. Contact constraints of two polygons are represented by vertex‐edge and edge‐vertex contact covers in 2D. Two loops, namely vertex‐edge loop and edge‐vertex loop, and two filter criteria, namely the entrance filter criterion and the distance filter criterion, are used to establish the potential contact cover list of two neighbor polygons. The initial active and closed contact covers are chosen based on block configuration at the beginning of the step and they are then updated in the open‐close iteration process using proposed criteria. This strategy is implemented in discontinuous deformation analysis. The robustness of the proposed cover‐based approach and the conventional type‐based approach in handling contact of irregular blocks is verified first. Then, the contact analysis efficiency of the cover‐based approach with different contact tolerances is evaluated. This cover‐based method can be extended to 3D case for efficient and robust contact analysis of irregular polyhedral blocks.
Continuing care for patients affected by urologic chronic pelvic pain in the era of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic
Authors: Giannantoni Antonella , Rubilotta Emanuele , Balzarro Matteo , Gubbiotti Marilena 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAimsSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic poses a challenge to treatment of patients with urologic chronic pelvic pain (UCPP), who are at risk to be postponed in the priority of care. We investigated pain, catastrophizing, and psychological status in UCPP patients during SARS‐CoV‐2 by means of Skype telephone calls.MethodsA total of 28 UCPP patients underwent Skype video consultations. Pain intensity was assessed with Pain Numerical Rating Scale (PNRS). Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS‐21) were used to assess catastrophizing and psychological status.ResultsDuring SARS‐CoV‐2, UCPP patients showed higher intensity of pain than before (mean ± SD PNRS score: 7.25 ± 0.9 vs. 5.4 ± 0.7; p < .0001), with pain exacerbation in 75%; they showed higher PCS and DASS‐21 scores as compared to before the pandemic (mean ± SD PCS total score: 32.4 ± 1.2 vs. 23.7 ± 3.5; mean ± SD DASS‐21 total score: 42.03 ± 4.5 vs. 34.4 ± 2.2; p < .001 and p < .001, respectively).ConclusionDuring SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic UCPP patients presented with high intensity of pain, marked catastrophizing thoughts and severe alteration of the psychological status. These observations impose the need not to postpone assessment and treatment of these patients during the pandemic. Remote visits with video telephone calls are a simple way of continuing care in UCPP patients.
Event‐triggered control of nonlinear positive semi‐Markovian jump systems with randomly occurring actuator faults
Authors: Zhang Suhuan , Zhang Junfeng , Cai Xiushan , Li Shuo 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis article is concerned with the event‐triggered nonfragile reliable control of nonlinear positive semi‐Markovian jump systems with randomly occurring faults. The randomly occurring actuator fault, describing the phenomenon of the actuator fault appearing in a random way, is assumed to obey a semi‐Markovian process different from the jump process of the systems. The nonlinear function is located in a sector. Using a stochastic copositive Lyapunov function integrated with linear programming, an event‐triggered control strategy is employed to deal with the stochastic stabilization of the underlying systems, where the transition rates satisfy a polytopic uncertain condition. Nonfragile reliable controllers with additive and multiplicative perturbations are proposed for the considered systems, respectively. Compared with existing results, the obtained approach establishes a more general fault description and proposes a more practicable control design. Finally, the novelties of the proposed approach are verified via two examples.
Clinical features of odontogenic infection requiring extraoral drainage in elderly patients. A single‐institution retrospective study
Authors: Yoshizumi Junko , Anzai Hiromasa , Mitate Eiji , Obayashi Yuko , Mori Shihomi , Yokoo Yoshinobu , Hashimoto Kenichiro , Hiraki Akimitsu 
Published: November 2020

AbstractElderly people are thought to be more vulnerable to microbial infections because of age‐related changes in the immune system and poorer nutritional status. Furthermore, comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus and medications can influence infection severity and response to treatment. To know more about the characteristics of odontogenic infections in the elderly patients, we compared the clinical characteristics between patients aged <75 years (control group; n = 22) and those aged ≥75 years (elderly group; n = 9), who underwent extraoral surgical drainage for odontogenic infection at our hospital's Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from 2011 to 2016. The following features were more common in the elderly group than in the control group: hypertension, incisor as the causative tooth, submental space as the site of the abscess, periapical periodontitis as the initial inflammation, and Staphylococci as the isolated bacterium. The elderly group also had lower body mass index, serum albumin level and PNI than the control group, implying poorer nutritional status. There were no significant differences in the duration of hospitalization between the groups. Since comorbidities and malnutrition are still seen to be risk factors in the elderly, we should take care of them paying attention to not only to inflammatory markers, but also to nutrition markers and systemic conditions.