bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human milk and mucosa-associated disaccharides impact on cultured infant fecal microbiota
Authors: Rubio-del-Campo Antonio , Alcántara Cristina , Collado María Carmen , Rodríguez-Díaz Jesús , Yebra María J. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractHuman milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are a mixture of structurally diverse carbohydrates that contribute to shape a healthy gut microbiota composition. The great diversity of the HMOs structures does not allow the attribution of specific prebiotic characteristics to single milk oligosaccharides. We analyze here the utilization of four disaccharides, lacto-N-biose (LNB), galacto-N-biose (GNB), fucosyl-α1,3-GlcNAc (3FN) and fucosyl-α1,6-GlcNAc (6FN), that form part of HMOs and glycoprotein structures, by the infant fecal microbiota. LNB significantly increased the total levels of bifidobacteria and the speciesBifidobacterium breveandBifidobacterium bifidum. TheLactobacillusgenus levels were increased by 3FN fermentation andB. breveby GNB and 3FN. There was a significant reduction ofBlautia coccoidesgroup with LNB and 3FN. In addition, 6FN significantly reduced the levels ofEnterobacteriaceaefamily members. Significantly higher concentrations of lactate, formate and acetate were produced in cultures containing either LNB or GNB in comparison with control cultures. Additionally, after fermentation of the oligosaccharides by the fecal microbiota, severalBifidobacteriumstrains were isolated and identified. The results presented here indicated that each, LNB, GNB and 3FN disaccharide, might have a specific beneficial effect in the infant gut microbiota and they are potential prebiotics for application in infant foods.
Skeletal involvement in children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis: healing, complications, and functional outcome
Authors: Abdelaal Ahmed H. K. , Sedky Mohamed , Gohar Seham , Zaki Iman , Salama Asmaa , Hassanain Omayma , El Ghoneimy Ahmed M. 
Published: July 2020

Introduction: Skeletal involvement in children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a common feature of the disease. Several options for the treatment of these skeletal lesions have been reported. We describe our experience in the treatment of skeletal involvement of LCH in this retrospective case series study, entailing anatomic distribution, pattern of healing, skeletal deformities, and functional outcome of skeletal LCH. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for patients diagnosed with LCH and having skeletal lesions in the period between 2007 and 2015. Out of a total of 229 cases, 191 (83.4%) had skeletal involvement. Bone healing was divided into partial and complete based on the size of lesion and cortical changes in plain radiograph. Skeletal deformities were serially measured. Time to pain control, resumption of weight bearing, and the final functional status of the patient were reviewed. Results: The mean age at presentation was 4.4 years (3 m–14.8 y) and the mean follow-up period was 53.3 months (0.2–120.7). After screening of skeletal and extra-skeletal lesions, 59 patients (31%) had M-S (Multisystem) LCH and 132 (69%) had S-S (Single system) LCH. Unifocal bone lesions were found in 81 (42.5%) patients, and multifocal bone lesions in 110 patients (57.5%). Single or multiple bone lesions were found in the craniofacial bones in 152 patients (79.5%), femur in 19 patients, (10%), ribs in 18 patients (9.4%), spine in 15 patients (8.1%), pelvis in 14 patients (7.3%), scapula in 8 patients (4.1%), humerus in 6 (3.1%), clavicle in 6 patients (3.1%), tibia in 3 patients (1.5%), radius in 3 patients (1.5%), and the ulna in 2 patients (1%) patients. No lesions were found in the fibula, hand, or foot. Out of all skeletal lesions, 179 (93.7%) patients were treated either medically or conservatively and 12 patients (6.2%) were treated surgically. The mean time to complete healing was 5.2 months (2–12). Skeletal complications included: pathologic fractures (9 vertebra plana, 5 long bone, 1 iliac bone), deformities (9 thoracolumbar kyphosis, 2 cervical spine subluxations, 2 coxa vara deformity of the proximal femur and one flattening of iliac bone). Conclusion: Non-operative treatment can lead to adequate bone healing in few months period. Partial or complete remodeling of bone deformities can be observed without surgical correction. However, surgical intervention might be indicated when cervical spine affection may lead to instability and subsequent neurological affection. Functional impairment is rarely caused by skeletal lesions in LCH.
18F-sodium fluoride bone deposition quantitation with PET in Mice: Variation with age, sex, and circadian rhythm
Authors: Dorau-Rutke Viktoria , Huang Kai , Lukas Mathias , Schulze Marc O. , Rosner Christian , Gregor-Mamoudou Betina , Steffen Ingo G. , Brenner Winfried , Beindorff Nicola 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Aim The aim of this study was to establish a data base for normal 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) bone uptake as a function of age, sex and circadian rhythm in mice.
Methods In 12 female (F) and 12 male (M) C57BL/6N mice PET images were acquired 90 min after intravenous injection of 20 MBq 18F-NaF for 30 minutes. Each mouse was imaged in follow-up studies at 1, 3, 6, 13 and 21 months of age. In order to assess for physiologic changes related to circadian rhythm, animals were imaged during light (sleep phase) as well as during night conditions (awake phase). Bone uptake is described as the median percentage of the injected activity (%IA) and in relation to bone volume (%IA/ml).
Results A significant smaller bone volume was found in F (1.79 ml) compared to M (1.99 ml; p < 0.001). In sex-pooled data, highest bone uptake occurred at an age of 1 month (61.1 %IA, 44.5 %IA/ml) with a significant reduction (p < 0.001) at age 3 months (43.6 %IA, 23.6 %IA/ml), followed by an increase between 13 (47.3 %IA, 24.5 %IA/ml) and 21 months (52.2 %IA, 28.1 %IA/ml). F had a significantly higher total uptake (F 48.2 %IA, M 43.8 %IA; p = 0.026) as well as a higher uptake per ml bone tissue (F 27.0 %IA/ml; M 22.4 %IA/ml; p < 0.001). A significant impact of circadian rhythm was only found for F at ages of 3 and 6 months with a higher uptake during the sleep phase.
Conclusion Circadian rhythm had a significant impact on uptake only in F of 3 and 6 months. Regarding sex, F showed generally higher uptake rates than M. The highest uptake values were observed during bone growth at age 1 month in both sexes, a second uptake peak occurred in elderly F. Designing future bone uptake studies with M, attention must be paid to age only, while in F circadian rhythm and age must be taken into account.
Spleen Stiffness Measurements Predict the Risk of Hepatic Decompensation After Direct-Acting Antivirals in HCV Cirrhotic Patients
Authors: Dajti Elton , Ravaioli Federico , Colecchia Antonio , Marasco Giovanni , Bacchi Reggiani Maria Letizia , Colli Agostino , Alemanni Luigina Vanessa , Tamè Mariarosa , Andreone Pietro , Brillanti Stefano , Azzaroli Francesco , Mazzella Giuseppe , Festi Davide 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Purpose Little evidence is available regarding the risk of hepatic decompensation (HD) after direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. Our aim was to assess the risk of decompensation and the prognostic role of noninvasive tests, such as liver (LSM) and spleen (SSM) stiffness measurements, in the prediction of decompensation after sustained virologic response (SVR) by DAAs.
Materials and Methods A cohort study involving 146 cirrhotic patients treated with DAAs in our tertiary center with LSM and SSM available both before and six months after treatment (SVR24). A historical cohort of 92 consecutive cirrhotic patients with active HCV was used as a control group. A propensity score inverse probability weighting method was used to account for differences between the groups. Time-dependent models for the prediction of decompensation were applied to account for changes in noninvasive tests after therapy.
Results The decompensation incidence in the DAA cohort was 7.07 (4.56–10.96) per 100 person-years (PYs), which was significantly lower than in the active HCV cohort. The DAA therapy was an independent protective factor for HD development (SHR: 0.071, 95 %-CI: 0.015–0.332). SSM ≥ 54 kPa was independently associated with decompensation despite SVR achievement (SHR: 4.169, 95 %-CI: 1.050–16.559), alongside with a history of decompensation (SHR: 7.956, 95 %-CI: 2.556–24.762). SSM reduction < 10 % also predicted the risk of decompensation after SVR24.
Conclusion The risk of decompensation was markedly reduced after DAA therapy, but it was not eliminated. Paired SSM values stratified the risk of decompensation after SVR better than other noninvasive tests.
Institutional quality, foreign direct investment, and economic development in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Adegboye Folasade Bosede , Osabohien Romanus , Olokoyo Felicia O. , Matthew Oluwatoyin , Adediran Oluwasogo 
Published: July 2020

AbstractForeign direct investment (FDI) is regarded as a critical determinant in the concept of development for Africa. However, institutional quality in the recipient countries is considered an essential factor that can be used to drive FDI flows inward. The study aims to establish the effect of institutions’ challenges on the FDI inflow and how it impacts on economic development for host selected countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The study employed pooled data for 30 SSA countries for the period within the years 2000 and 2018. The analysis method used was the fixed and random effect regression model utilized to estimate the effect of foreign capital on economic development with considerations for the quality of institutions for developing SSA sub-region of Africa. This study reveals that foreign capital inflow is crucial for economic development in the SSA sub-region of Africa. Quality of institutions as determining factors also affected the level of inflow of FDI to the host SSA sub-region, which resulted in the underutilization of domestic resources and hence abnormal development of domestic sector investment. The study recommends that the government of host SSA sub-region needs to consider the degree of institutional quality to encourage further FDI inflows. To afford the maximal benefit of FDI in the development of the host domestic sector and to guard the industry that foreign investment flows into carefully. It is expedient, thereby, that the domestic investment is enhanced to ensure that dependence on foreign capital inflow continues to decline as income increases. Until domestic investments are sufficient to generate advancement in technology and desired economic development for the selected countries, in the SSA sub-region.
The strategies and tactics of fighting against precarisation of work: a comparative study of precarious workers’ struggles in two South African municipalities
Authors: Ntuli Lawrence 
Published: July 2020

ABSTRACT
This article compares the tactics and strategies used by precarious workers who fought through the union and those who engaged in struggle without being led by the trade union. Even though both groups fought separately and used different form of organisations, they used almost identical tactics and strategies. Most importantly, both groups of workers believed that only through a trade union could they win better pay and conditions. This article draws on data sourced from primary (interviews) and secondary sources.
In vivo identification of apoptotic and extracellular vesicle‐bound live cells using image‐based deep learning
Authors: Kranich Jan , Chlis Nikolaos‐Kosmas , Rausch Lisa , Latha Ashretha , Schifferer Martina , Kurz Tilman , Foltyn‐Arfa Kia Agnieszka , Simons Mikael , Theis Fabian J. , Brocker Thomas 
Published: July 2020

ABSTRACTThe in vivo detection of dead cells remains a major challenge due to technical hurdles. Here, we present a novel method, where injection of fluorescent milk fat globule‐EGF factor 8 protein (MFG‐E8) in vivo combined with imaging flow cytometry and deep learning allows the identification of dead cells based on their surface exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) and other image parameters. A convolutional autoencoder (CAE) was trained on defined pictures and successfully used to identify apoptotic cells in vivo. However, unexpectedly, these analyses also revealed that the great majority of PS+ cells were not apoptotic, but rather live cells associated with PS+ extracellular vesicles (EVs). During acute viral infection apoptotic cells increased slightly, while up to 30% of lymphocytes were decorated with PS+ EVs of antigen‐presenting cell (APC) exosomal origin. The combination of recombinant fluorescent MFG‐E8 and the CAE‐method will greatly facilitate analyses of cell death and EVs in vivo.
Holistic identification and assessment of environmental risks of arable land use in two grain producing areas of China
Authors: Yin Guanyi , Lin Zhulu , Jiang Xilong , Sun Jin , Qiu Menglong 
Published: July 2020

ABSTRACT
Taking two typical grain producing areas of southern (Dongting Lake Region) and northern China (Shandong Province) as examples, this study used fault tree analysis and parametric estimation to provide a comparative analysis for environmental risks of intensive arable land use. The results show that (1) in the risks of eutrophication, toxicity, soil structure, greenhouse effect and air pollution, the greenhouse effect was the most prominent with the highest discharge; (2) the Dongting Lake Region discharged less pollutants annually than did Shandong Province, while surpassing Shandong in cumulative pollutant discharge in 2007-2018; (3) the spatial distribution of environmental risk in the Dongting Lake Region was mostly concentrated in the northern area, whereas that in Shandong Province displayed a scattered pattern; (4) in the Dongting Lake Region, Yueyang, Changde, and Yiyang were high environmental risk cities in 2007-2018, whereas in Shandong Province, Zaozhuang, Heze, Liaocheng, and Dezhou exhibited higher comprehensive environmental risk indexes in 2007-2008, while Rizhao replaced them in 2018. The results indicated that ago-production material use must be controlled, reasonable zoning for areas posing environmental risks must be employed and cities with high environmental risk must be dynamically monitored to prevent the intensification of environmental risks of arable land use.
Small-cavity chamber dose response in megavoltage photon beams coupled to magnetic fields
Authors: Cervantes Yunuen , Billas Ilias , Shipley David , Duane Simon , Bouchard Hugo 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
In MRgRT, dosimetry measurements are performed in the presence of magnetic fields. For high-resolution measurements, small-cavity ionization chambers are required. While Monte Carlo simulations are essential to determine dosimetry correction factors, models of small-chambers require careful validation with experimental measurements. The aim of this study is to characterize small-cavity chamber response coupled to magnetic fields. Small-cavity chambers (PTW31010, PTW31016, PTW31021 and PTW3022) are irradiated by a 6 MV photon beam for 9 magnetic field strengths between -1.5 T and +1.5 T. The chamber axis is orientated either parallel or perpendicular to the irradiation beam, with the magnetic field always perpendicular to the beam. MC simulations are performed in EGSnrc. The sensitive volume of the chambers is reduced to account for the inefficiency adjacent to the guard electrode (dead volume) based on COMSOL calculations of electric potentials. The magnetic field affects the chamber response by up to 4.1% and 4.5% in the parallel and perpendicular orientations, respectively, compared to no magnetic field. The maximal difference in dose response between experiments and simulations is up to 6.1% and 4.5% for parallel and perpendicular orientation, respectively. When the dead volume is removed, which accounts for the 15%-23% of the nominal volume, the difference, in most cases, is within the stated uncertainties. Nevertheless, for a particular chamber, the reduced nominal volume barely improved the agreement between the experimental and calculated relative response (4.53% to 4.13%). This disagreement may be due to the imperfect chamber geometry model, as was found from microCT images. A detailed uncertainty analysis is presented. The characterization of small-cavity ion chamber response coupled to magnetic fields is complex. Small differences between real and model chamber geometry that normally would be insignificant become an issue in the presence of magnetic fields. Accurate characterization of the nominal volume is essential for small-cavity ion chamber modelling.
Upgrade of the ALICE inner tracking system: Construction and commissioning
Authors: Fantoni Alessandra 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) is the CERN LHC experiment optimized for the study of the strongly interacting matter produced in heavy-ion collisions, in particular the characterization of the quark-gluon plasma. After the successful operation of the experiment during the first two runs of the LHC, the ALICE collaboration is currently working on a major upgrade of its detectors, to be installed during the 2019–2020 Long Shutdown (LS2). The main goal is to increase the readout capabilities and allow recording of Pb–Pb minimum bias events at rates in excess of 50 kHz, which is the expected Pb–Pb interaction rate at the LHC after LS2. One key part of the upgrade is the construction of a new Inner Tracking System (called ITS2) that will significantly improve the impact parameter resolution of the tracks, tracking efficiency, and readout capacity which enables precise measurements of low momentum charged particles. The ITS2 consists of seven approximately-cylindrical detector layers of CMOS Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) with the sensor matrix and readout integrated on a single chip, named ALPIDE (ALice PIxel DEtector), covering an area of 10 m2 and containing about 12.5 billion pixels. All layers are mounted on ultra-lightweight carbon support structures with an embedded cooling system. This allows a reduction of the material budgets down to about 0.3% X0 for the inner layers and 1% X0 for the outer layers, with respect to the previous ITS system. After a brief overview of the upgrade motivation, details of the overall layout will be given as well as the construction and commissioning status and plans.
Wearable multichannel haptic device for encoding proprioception in the upper limb
Authors: Sagastegui Alva Patrick G , Muceli Silvia , Farokh Atashzar S , William Lucie , Farina Dario 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Objective. We present the design, implementation, and evaluation of a wearable multichannel haptic system. The device is a wireless closed-loop armband driven by surface electromyography (EMG) and provides sensory feedback encoding proprioception. The study is motivated by restoring proprioception information in upper limb prostheses. Approach. The armband comprises eight vibrotactile actuators that generate distributed patterns of mechanical waves around the limb to stimulate perception and to transfer proportional information on the arm motion. An experimental study was conducted to assess: the sensory threshold in eight locations around the forearm, the user adaptation to the sensation provided by the device, the user performance in discriminating multiple stimulation levels, and the device performance in coding proprioception using four spatial patterns of stimulation. Eight able-bodied individuals performed reaching tasks by controlling a cursor with an EMG interface in a virtual environment. Vibrotactile patterns were tested with and without visual information on the cursor position with the addition of a random rotation of the reference control system to disturb the natural control and proprioception. Main results. The sensation threshold depended on the actuator position and increased over time. The maximum resolution for stimuli discrimination was four. Using this resolution, four patterns of vibrotactile activation with different spatial and magnitude properties were generated to evaluate their performance in enhancing proprioception. The optimal vibration pattern varied among the participants. When the feedback was used in closed-loop control with the EMG interface, the task success rate, completion time, execution efficiency, and average target-cursor distance improved for the optimal stimulation pattern compared to the condition without visual or haptic information on the cursor position. Significance. The results indicate that the vibrotactile device enhanced the participants’ perceptual ability, suggesting that the proposed closed-loop system has the potential to code proprioception and enhance user performance in the presence of perceptual perturbation.
Antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticle coatings formed by electrophoretic deposition
Authors: Uribe P A , Ruiz J , Ortiz C C , Blanco S I , Gutierrez J A 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
The scientific community is focused on the development and use of new nanomaterials to create novel devices and systems that can be useful to solve problems or provide services. Among all nanomaterials, semiconductors allow improving optical, electrical, and catalytic properties of several surfaces, including the corrosion resistance of the materials; corrosion causes several problems and economic losses in the food, pharmaceutical, and hospital industries because the materials selected must be durable, economic, and as innocuous as possible. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is one of the most interesting materials, is a photo-chemically active n-type semiconductor and has particular defects into intrinsic lattices, such as Zn and O vacancies. Herein, we use electrophoretic deposition (EPD) for the synthesis of nanostructured films composed of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) as a protective coating on low-alloy carbon steel. The electrochemical stability of the coated steel was evaluated and compared with the response of the bare steel. This work used NPs formed in homogeneous media and in reverse micelles (RMs) formed in our previous published report. The coatings were synthesized on the surface of SAE 1020 carbon steel electrodes with 12 mm diameter. As results, two different colloidal systems were formed, by RMs we synthesized high mono-dispersed and spherical 3-5 nm ZnONPs, and by homogeneous media anisotropic 20-100 nm ZnONPs, both systems with excellent fluorescence emission at different excitation wavelengths. The electrochemical evaluation confirms the stability of the coatings obtained, improving the corrosion resistance of the low-alloy carbon steel. We found that the coating obtained with the smallest particles shows better protective properties; the difference between both coatings could be related to the force balance during the electrophoretic deposition, where the friction force, that is against the electrophoretic movement, is proportional to the particle size, reducing the amount of deposited material.