bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Environmentally friendly biological nanofibers based on waste feather keratin by electrospinning with citric acid vapor modification
Authors: Ding Jiao , Lai Ruihao , Chen Wenjie , He Ming , Zhu Guodian , Huang Suqing , Yin Guoqiang 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWaste feather keratin (FK)‐based nanofibers by electrospinning and citric acid (CA) vapor modification has been successfully prepared and investigated. FK, poly(vinyl alcohol), and poly(ethylene oxide) have been used as raw materials and CA vapor as cross‐linker. The structural, thermal, hydrophobicity, and mechanical properties of FK‐based nanofibers by CA vapor modification with various cross‐linking time have been completely explored. In order to investigate the effect of H2O vapor on CA vapor modification, H2O vapor modification was performed on the FK‐based nanofibers at the same conditions. The results show that the average diameter of nanofibers increased from 250.83 ± 29.65 nm to 338.79 ± 31.43 nm by CA vapor modification with 15 h. Similarly, the thermal stability and water resistance of FK‐based nanofibers by CA vapor modification have been significantly improved. The tensile strength (σb) and elongation at breakage point (εb) of FK‐based nanofibers after CA vapor modified for 15 h were about 1.5 and 2 times higher than that of nonmodified nanofibers, respectively. By comparison, scanning electron microscopy results suggest that the FK‐based nanofibers modified by H2O vapor cannot maintain the morphology of the nanofibers, resulting in large‐scale adhesion. The thermal properties of FK‐based nanofibers with H2O vapor modification have no obvious change. The hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of FK‐based nanofibers by H2O vapor modification are not as good as that of CA vapor modification. In summary, these results exhibit that nontoxic and natural CA can be used as cross‐linking agent to enhance the comprehensive performance of FK‐based nanofibers. This study provides a new method to modify FK‐based nanofibers and refined the waste feathers, which not only protected the environment, but also gained benefits, which has a broad application prospect.
SSRgenotyper: A simple sequence repeat genotyping application for whole‐genome resequencing and reduced representational sequencing projects
Authors: Lewis Daniel H. , Jarvis David E. , Maughan Peter J. 
Published: December 2020

PREMISEMany programs can identify simple sequence repeat (SSR) motifs in genomic data. SSRgenotyper extends SSR identification to en masse genotyping from resequencing data for diversity panels and linkage mapping populations.METHODS AND RESULTSSSRgenotyper will find and genotype SSRs from SAM files and an SSR reference FASTA. Several outputs are possible, including a simple table with the SSR marker name, position, and SSR alleles, defined by the repeat number of the repeat motif. Specific output files include a GENEPOP‐formatted file for downstream genetic diversity analyses and a traditional A, H, B mapping file output that is phased to the parents of the population for biparental linkage map construction. Linkage maps produced using SSRgenotyper genotypes were highly collinear with physical maps and correctly inferred known phylogenies.CONCLUSIONSSSRgenotyper provides an easy‐to‐use, accurate, and scalable SSR genotyping platform for whole‐genome resequencing data. SSRgenotyper is freely available at https://github.com/dlewis27/SSRgenotyper.
Composite modeling of leaf shape along shoots discriminates Vitis species better than individual leaves
Authors: Bryson Abigail E. , Wilson Brown Maya , Mullins Joey , Dong Wei , Bahmani Keivan , Bornowski Nolan , Chiu Christina , Engelgau Philip , Gettings Bethany , Gomezcano Fabio , Gregory Luke M. , Haber Anna C. , Hoh Donghee , Jennings Emily E. , Ji Zhongjie , Kaur Prabhjot , Kenchanmane Raju Sunil K. , Long Yunfei , Lotreck Serena G. , Mathieu Davis T. , Ranaweera Thilanka , Ritter Eleanore J. , Sadohara Rie , Shrote Robert Z. , Smith Kaila E. , Teresi Scott J. , Venegas Julian , Wang Hao , Wilson McKena L. , Tarrant Alyssa R. , Frank Margaret H. , Migicovsky Zoë , Kumar Jyothi , VanBuren Robert , Londo Jason P. , Chitwood Daniel H. 
Published: December 2020

PremiseLeaf morphology is dynamic, continuously deforming during leaf expansion and among leaves within a shoot. Here, we measured the leaf morphology of more than 200 grapevines (Vitis spp.) over four years and modeled changes in leaf shape along the shoot to determine whether a composite leaf shape comprising all the leaves from a single shoot can better capture the variation and predict species identity compared with individual leaves.MethodsUsing homologous universal landmarks found in grapevine leaves, we modeled various morphological features as polynomial functions of leaf nodes. The resulting functions were used to reconstruct modeled leaf shapes across the shoots, generating composite leaves that comprehensively capture the spectrum of leaf morphologies present.ResultsWe found that composite leaves are better predictors of species identity than individual leaves from the same plant. We were able to use composite leaves to predict the species identity of previously unassigned grapevines, which were verified with genotyping.DiscussionObservations of individual leaf shape fail to capture the true diversity between species. Composite leaf shape—an assemblage of modeled leaf snapshots across the shoot—is a better representation of the dynamic and essential shapes of leaves, in addition to serving as a better predictor of species identity than individual leaves.
Exploration of the nitrogen heterocyclic periphery around the core of the advanced FFA1 agonist fasiglifam (TAK‐875)
Authors: Lukin Alexey , Bakholdina Anna , Zhurilo Nikolay , Onopchenko Oleksandra , Zhuravel Elena , Zozulya Sergey , Gureev Maxim , Safrygin Alexander , Krasavin Mikhail 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThree types of heterocyclic moieties—piperidines fused to a heteroaromatic moiety—were explored as potential periphery motifs for the pharmacophoric core of fasiglifam (TAK‐875), with fasiglifam being the most advanced agonist of free fatty acid receptor 1, a promising target for therapeutic intervention in type 2 diabetes. Several observed structure–activity relationship trends were corroborated by in silico docking results. Balanced selection based on potency and Caco‐2 permeability advanced six compounds to cellular efficacy tests (glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion in rat insulinoma INS1E cells). This led to the nomination of compound 16a (LK1408, 3‐[4‐({4‐[(3‐{[(2‐fluorobenzyl)oxy]methyl}‐1‐methyl‐1,4,6,7‐tetrahydro‐5H‐pyrazolo[4,3‐c]pyridin‐5‐yl)methyl]benzyl}oxy)phenyl]propanoic acid hydrochloride) as the lead for further development.
Effect of alginate matrix engineered to mimic the pancreatic microenvironment on encapsulated islet function
Authors: Enck Kevin , Tamburrini Riccardo , Deborah Chaimov , Gazia Carlo , Jost Alec , Khalil Fatma , Alwan Abdelrahman , Orlando Giuseppe , Opara Emmanuel C. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIslet transplantation is emerging as a therapeutic option for type 1 diabetes, albeit, only a small number of patients meeting very stringent criteria are eligible for the treatment because of the side effects of the necessary immunosuppressive therapy and the relatively short time frame of normoglycemia that most patients achieve. The challenge of the immune‐suppressive regimen can be overcome through microencapsulation of the islets in a perm‐selective coating of alginate microbeads with poly‐l‐lysine or poly‐
l‐ornithine. In addition to other issues including the nutrient supply challenge of encapsulated islets a critical requirement for these cells has emerged as the need to engineer the microenvironment of the encapsulation matrix to mimic that of the native pancreatic scaffold that houses islet cells. That microenvironment includes biological and mechanical cues that support the viability and function of the cells. In this study, the alginate hydrogel was modified to mimic the pancreatic microenvironment by incorporation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Mechanical and biological changes in the encapsulating alginate matrix were made through stiffness modulation and incorporation of decellularized ECM, respectively. Islets were then encapsulated in this new biomimetic hydrogel and their insulin production was measured after 7 days in vitro. We found that manipulation of the alginate hydrogel matrix to simulate both physical and biological cues for the encapsulated islets enhances the mechanical strength of the encapsulated islet constructs as well as their function. Our data suggest that these modifications have the potential to improve the success rate of encapsulated islet transplantation.
Informed consent in critically ill adults participating to a randomized trial
Authors: Guinchard Milène , Warpelin‐Decrausaz Loane , Schindler Kaspar , Rüegg Stephan , Oddo Mauro , Novy Jan , Alvarez Vincent , Rossetti Andrea O. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectiveThe 2014 update of the Swiss law on research increases patients' protection; it adds specific requirements for emergency situations, implying an active search for patients' wishes regarding research participation; the possibility of consent waivers is not clearly stated. We explored its practical impact in a RCT on critically ill adults.MethodsWe considered prospectively collected consents of a multicenter trial addressing the impact of continuous EEG on survival. We assessed the proportions of consents obtained strictly according to the law, of specific waivers for this study obtained from the IRB (early death; relatives' unavailability despite repeated attempts), and the yield of retrieving statements on willingness to research participation. We compared the proportion of consent refusals with those of recent trials in similar environments, and estimated the potential impact on study results.ResultsOf 402 recruited patients, six had double inclusions, one died before intervention, and 27 (6.7%, alive on long‐term) were excluded following consent refusal or withdrawal, leaving 368 analyzable patients. Specific waivers allowed inclusion of 134 (36.4%) patients, while informed consents were obtained for all others. A statement of willingness to research participation was found in only 14.1%. In recent trials, consent refusal oscillated between 0%–23%, according to different waiver policies.ConclusionsConsent waivers should be specifically foreseen to prevent losing a potentially relevant proportion of patients reaching endpoints, and ensure results generalizability. The yield of looking for willingness to research participation seems low; this questions its current usefulness and calls for a public awareness campaign.
Microstructural white matter abnormalities in pediatric and adult obsessive‐compulsive disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Qian , Zhao Youjin , Huang Zixuan , Guo Yi , Long Jingyi , Luo Lekai , You Wanfang , Sweeney John A. , Li Fei , Gong Qiyong 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo identify the most prominent and replicable fractional anisotropy (FA) alterations of white matter associated with obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) in tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS) studies.MethodsWe reviewed previous TBSS studies (n = 20) in OCD and performed a meta‐analysis (n = 16) of FA differences.ResultsNo between‐group differences in FA were detected in the pooled meta‐analysis. However, reduced FA was identified in the genu and anterior body of corpus callosum (CC) in adult OCD. FA reductions in the anterior body of CC were associated with a later age of onset in adult patients with OCD. For pediatric OCD, decreased FA in earlier adolescence and increased FA in later adolescence were seemingly related to an altered trajectory of brain maturation.ConclusionsAbsent in the pooled sample but robust in adults, disrupted microstructural organization in the anterior part of CC indicates a bias of deficits toward connections in interhemispheric connections of rostral neocortical regions, which could lead to deficits of interhemispheric communication and thus contribute to cognitive and emotional deficits in adult OCD. The correlation between FA in the anterior body of CC and older illness onset suggests that patients with later adult onset of illness may represent a biologically distinct subgroup. For pediatric OCD, alterations in neurodevelopmental maturation may contribute to inconsistent patterns of FA alteration relative to controls during adolescence. While most studies of OCD have emphasized alterations of within hemisphere fronto‐striatal circuits, these results indicate that between hemisphere connectivity of this circuitry may also represent important pathophysiology of the illness.
Trends in solitary plasmacytoma, extramedullary plasmacytoma, and plasma cell myeloma incidence and myeloma mortality by racial‐ethnic group, United States 2003‐2016
Authors: Ellington Taylor D. , Henley S. Jane , Wilson Reda J. , Wu Manxia , Richardson Lisa C. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPlasma cell myeloma (also called multiple myeloma), solitary plasmacytoma, and extramedullary plasmacytoma are primarily diseases of the elderly. Evidence suggests an association between excess body weight and multiple myeloma. Few population‐based studies have examined incidence and mortality of each site in one study. We analyzed incidence and death rates by site (solitary plasmacytoma, extramedullary plasmacytoma, and multiple myeloma) by gender, age, race/ethnicity, and rural‐urban status among adult males and females (aged 20 years or older) in the United States during 2003‐2016. Trends were characterized as average annual percentage change (AAPC) in rates. During 2003‐2016, overall incidence rates among adults were 0.45 for solitary plasmacytoma, 0.09 for extramedullary plasmacytoma, and 8.47 for multiple myeloma per 100,000 persons. Incidence rates for multiple myeloma increased during 2003‐2016 among non‐Hispanic whites (AAPC = 1.78%) and non‐Hispanic blacks (2.98%) 20‐49 years of age; non‐Hispanic whites (1.17%) and non‐Hispanic blacks (1.24%) 50‐59 years of age; and whites non‐Hispanic (0.91%), and non‐Hispanic blacks (0.96%). During 2003‐2016 overall myeloma (extramedullary plasmacytoma and multiple myeloma) death rates among adults was 4.77 per 100,00 persons. Myeloma death rates decreased during 2003‐2016 among non‐Hispanic white (AAPC = −1.23%) and Hispanic (−1.34%) women; and non‐Hispanic white (−0.74%), non‐Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native (−3.05%) men. The US population is projected to become older and will have a larger proportion of persons who have had an earlier and longer exposure to excess body weight. The potential impact of these population changes on myeloma incidence and mortality can be monitored with high‐quality cancer surveillance data.
Ethnic and border differences on blood cancer presentation and outcomes: A Texas population‐based study
Authors: Bencomo‐Alvarez Alfonso E. , Gonzalez Mayra A. , Rubio Andres J. , Olivas Idaly M. , Lara Joshua J. , Padilla Osvaldo , Orazi Attilio , Corral Javier , Philipovskiy Alexander , Gaur Sumit , Mulla Zuber D. , Dwivedi Alok K. , Eiring Anna M. 
Published: December 2020

BackgroundThe Texas/Chihuahua (US/Mexico) border is a medically underserved region with many reported barriers for health care access. Although Hispanic ethnicity is associated with health disparities for many different diseases, the population‐based estimates of incidence and survival for patients with blood cancer along the border are unknown. The authors hypothesized that Hispanic ethnicity and border proximity is associated with poor blood cancer outcomes.MethodsData from the Texas Cancer Registry (1995‐2016) were used to investigate the primary exposures of patient ethnicity (Hispanic vs non‐Hispanic) and geographic location (border vs non‐border). Other confounders and covariates included sex, age, year of diagnosis, rurality, insurance status, poverty indicators, and comorbidities. The Mantel‐Haenszel method and Cox regression analyses were used to determine adjusted effects of ethnicity and border proximity on the relative risk (RR) and survival of patients with different blood cancer types.ResultsHispanic patients were diagnosed at a younger age than non‐Hispanic patients and presented with increased comorbidities. Whereas non‐Hispanics had a higher incidence of developing blood cancer compared with Hispanics overall, Hispanics demonstrated a higher incidence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (RR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.79‐2.08; P < .001) with worse outcomes. Hispanics from the Texas/Chihuahua border demonstrated a higher incidence of chronic myeloid leukemia (RR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.07‐1.51; P = .02) and acute myeloid leukemia (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04‐1.33; P = .0009) compared with Hispanics living elsewhere in Texas.ConclusionsHispanic ethnicity and border proximity were associated with a poor presentation and an adverse prognosis despite the younger age of diagnosis. Future studies should explore differences in disease biology and treatment strategies that could drive these regional disparities.
Adverse childhood experiences and early maladaptive schemas in adulthood: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Pilkington Pamela D. , Bishop Amy , Younan Rita 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundSchema Therapy is based on the theory that trauma and neglect in childhood lead to early maladaptive schemas and psychopathology in adulthood. The aim of this review was to evaluate support for this theory by synthesizing the literature on childhood adversity and schemas.MethodsA systematic review and meta‐analysis were completed in compliance with PRISMA. PsycInfo, CINAHL and PubMed were searched to identify eligible studies that reported unadjusted association(s) between adverse childhood events and schema scores when participants were 18 years or older. Meta‐analyses were conducted to estimate the pooled effect size of associations between schemas and experiences of childhood adversity.ResultsA total of 33 studies met inclusion criteria and provided sufficient data for meta‐analyses on childhood experiences relating to toxic frustration of needs (emotional neglect and physical neglect) and trauma and victimization (emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse). Of the 124 meta‐analyses, 65 indicated that schemas show small to large correlations with emotional neglect (range: r = .16 [Failure] to r = .51 [Emotional Deprivation]); small to moderate correlations with emotional abuse (range: r = .20 [Vulnerability to Harm] to r = .44 [Emotional Deprivation]); and small correlations with physical neglect, physical abuse and sexual abuse (range: r = .16 [Vulnerability to Harm] to .26 [Emotional Deprivation and Social Isolation]).ConclusionsOf the 33 included studies, only one used a longitudinal design. However, based on the correlational studies available, early maladaptive schemas in adulthood are associated with a history of childhood abuse and neglect.
Geolocation analysis for Search And Rescue systems using LoRaWAN
Authors: Bouras Christos , Gkamas Apostolos , Kokkinos Vasileios , Papachristos Nikolaos 
Published: December 2020

SummaryLow‐power wide‐area network (LPWAN) technologies are aiming to provide power‐efficient solutions to the field of Internet of Things (IoT). Over the last years, we have seen a significant development within the area of IoT applications. For many applications, the problem of localization (i.e., determine the physical location of nodes) is critical. An area study of such use case is also the rescue monitor systems. In this study, we start by describing a solution designed for the long range wide area network (LoRaWAN) to localize position of IoT modules such as wearables used from vulnerable groups. Through performance study of the behavior of a LoRaWAN channel and using trilateration and RSSI information, the localization of an IoT wearable can be acquired within a small range. Routing people in need is one of the use cases the above mechanism could be integrated so as to be able to be tracked by familiar people. After that, we evaluate the usage of mathematical model of multilateration algorithms using time difference of arrival (TDoA) as a solution for positioning over LoRaWAN. The research is carried out using simulations in Python by configuring the constant positions of the Gateways inside an outdoor area. The proposed algorithms can be integrated in application for tracking people at any time and especially routing people from vulnerable groups. Through multilateration and algorithm's prediction, we can have an accuracy of 40–60 m in location positioning, ideal for search and rescue use cases. We finally summarize the above algorithms' estimation and general behavior in a SAR system.
Breeding system of diploid sexuals within theRanunculus auricomuscomplex and its role in a geographical parthenogenesis scenario
Authors: Karbstein Kevin , Rahmsdorf Elisabeth , Tomasello Salvatore , Hodač Ladislav , Hörandl Elvira 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe larger distribution area of asexuals compared with their sexual relatives in geographical parthenogenesis (GP) scenarios has been widely attributed to the advantages of uniparental reproduction and polyploidy. However, potential disadvantages of sexuals due to their breeding system have received little attention so far. Here, we study the breeding system of five narrowly distributed sexual lineages ofRanunculus notabiliss.l. (R. auricomuscomplex) and its effects on outcrossing, inbreeding, female fitness, and heterozygosity. We performed selfing and intra‐ and interlineage crossings by bagging 481 flowers (59 garden individuals) followed by germination experiments. We compared seed set and germination rates, and related them to genetic distance and genome‐wide heterozygosity (thousands of RADseq loci). Selfings (2.5%) unveiled a significantly lower seed set compared with intra‐ (69.0%) and interlineage crossings (69.5%). Seed set of intra‐ (65%) compared to interpopulation crossings (78%) was significantly lower. In contrast, all treatments showed comparable germination rates (32%–43%). Generalized linear regressions between seed set and genetic distance revealed positive relationships in general and between lineages, and a negative one within lineages. Seed set was the main decisive factor for female fitness. Germination rates were not related to genetic distance at any level, but were positively associated with heterozygosity in interlineage crossings. Experiments confirmed full crossability and predominant outcrossing among sexualR. notabiliss.l. lineages. However, up to 5% (outliers 15%–31%) of seeds were formed by selfing, probably due to semi‐self‐compatibility in a multi‐locus gametophytic SI system. Less seed set in intrapopulation crossings, and higher seed set and germination rates from crossings of genetically more distant and heterozygous lineages (interlineage) indicate negative inbreeding and positive outbreeding effects. In GP scenarios, sexual species with small and/or isolated populations can suffer from decreased female fitness due to their breeding system. This factor, among others, probably limits range expansion of sexuals.