bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lipid is heterogeneously distributed in muscle and associates with low radiodensity in cancer patients
Authors: Bhullar Amritpal S. , Anoveros‐Barrera Ana , Dunichand‐Hoedl Abha , Martins Karen , Bigam David , Khadaroo Rachel G. , McMullen Todd , Bathe Oliver F. , Putman Charles T. , Clandinin Michael T. , Baracos Vickie E. , Mazurak Vera C. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundLow muscle radiodensity is associated with mortality in a variety of cancer types. Biochemical and morphological correlates are unknown. We aimed to evaluate triglyceride (TG) content and location as a function of computed tomography (CT)‐derived measures of skeletal muscle radiodensity in cancer patients.MethodsRectus abdominis (RA) biopsies were collected during cancer surgery from 75 patients diagnosed with cancer. Thin‐layer chromatography and gas chromatography were used for quantification of TG content of the muscle. Axial CT images of lumbar vertebra were used to measure muscle radiodensity. Oil Red O staining was used to determine the location of neutral lipids in frozen muscle sections.ResultsThere was wide variation in RA radiodensity in repeated measures (CV% ranged from 3 to 55% based on 10 serial images) as well as within one slice (CV% ranged from 6 to 61% based on 10 subregions). RA radiodensity and total lumbar muscle radiodensity were inversely associated with TG content of RA (r = −0.396, P < 0.001, and r = −0.355, P = 0.002, respectively). Of the total percentage area of muscle staining positive for neutral lipid, 54 ± 17% was present as extramyocellular lipids (range 23.5–77.8%) and 46 ± 17% (range 22.2–76.5%) present as intramyocellular lipid droplets.ConclusionsRepeated measures revealed wide variation in radiodensity of RA muscle, both vertically and horizontally. Low muscle radiodensity reflects high level of TG in patients with cancer. Non‐uniform distribution of intramyocellular and extramyocellular lipids was evident using light microscopy. These results warrant investigation of mechanisms resulting in lipid deposition in muscles of cancer patients.
Engineering students' learning during internships: Exploring the explanatory power of the job demands‐control‐support model
Authors: Goller Michael , Harteis Christian , Gijbels David , Donche Vincent 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundInternships are highly relevant learning experiences for engineering students. However, such practice‐based learning settings must be carefully designed to allow their learning potential to unfold.PurposeExploring the job demands‐control‐support (JDCS) model, this study aimed to investigate how job demands, job control, and social support affect interns' use of different learning strategies.MethodThe study utilized data collected from a sample of engineering students (n= 118) who completed a required internship during their degree. The data were analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach including latent factors.ResultsJob demands were found to be a relevant and significant driver of students' shared regulation (e.g., asking for feedback), self‐regulation (e.g., self‐directed use of codified information), efforts to relate theory to practice (e.g., connecting workplace experience with theoretical knowledge), and the absence of avoidance of learning (e.g., lack of adaptation to work situations), but not of external regulation (e.g., asking for help to solve problems). Job control, however, was not found to be a positive or significant driver of student learning. Social support was found to be a relevant and significant predictor of external and shared regulation but not of the other learning activities.ConclusionsThis study provided mixed findings regarding key hypotheses central to the JDCS model, generating rather poor evidence supporting it. In fact, job demands, job control, and social support exhibited much less explanatory power than expected for engineering students' learning during internships.
Off‐axis loads cause failure of the distal radius at lower magnitudes than axial loads: A side‐to‐side experimental study
Authors: Johnston James D. , McDonald Matthew P. , Kontulainen Saija A. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractOff‐axis loading associated with a fall onto the outstretched hand has been hypothesized to induce distal radius failure at lower magnitudes than axially directed loading commonly used in biomechanical models for estimating fracture risk. However, this hypothesis has not been tested with side‐to‐side experimental testing. The objective of this study was to compare distal radius failure loads between forearm pairs experimentally tested in an axial or off‐axis loading configuration. We acquired 18 pairs of cadaveric forearms from 18 female donors (mean age (standard deviation): 84.4 (7.9) years). Each forearm pair was tested to failure using either an axial compression test (vertical orientation with 0° dorsal inclination, 3°‐6° radial inclination) or an off‐axis test corresponding to the hand position during a fall (15° dorsal inclination, 3°‐6° radial inclination). Failure testing was performed at 3 mm/s onto the palm of the hand until fracture occurred. Of the 18 pairs, 11 sustained a distal radius fracture. We compared failure loads between the two groups using a paired t test. Results indicated that failure load under off‐axis loading was 29% lower than failure load under axial compressive loading (mean difference: −0.31 kN; 95% confidence interval: −0.47 to −0.16 kN, P = .001). In conclusion, off‐axis loading associated with a fall onto the outstretched hand resulted in a 29% lower failure load. Integrating an off‐axis loading configuration into current biomechanical models of distal radius bone strength may prevent overestimating of failure load and may offer a clinically relevant option to estimate distal radius fracture risk and monitor therapy efficacy.
Raman microimaging as an analytical technique for simultaneous quantification and localization of active principles in pharmaceutical solid dosage forms
Authors: Sanhueza Mario I. , Meléndrez Manuel F. , von Plessing Carlos , Bastidas Camila Y. , Neira José Y. , Freer Juanita , Castillo Rosario del P. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractRaman microimaging, as a product of Raman microspectroscopy mapping and multivariate analysis, was used for the localization and quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in tablets made in laboratory. This was done to develop an analytical strategy to simultaneously recover qualitative and quantitative information of solid dosage forms at a microscopic level by using a nondestructive method. A chemical system, composed of acetaminophen (AMP), caffeine, and one excipient (microcrystalline cellulose), was subjected to chemometric analysis through principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares (MCR–ALS). This was done by using Raman spectra obtained from microscopic images with pixel sizes of 15 × 15 μm to localize the APIs in the tablets. Partial least squares (PLS) was applied as a calibration method to obtain bulk and single‐pixel concentrations of APIs in the samples. MCR–ALS provided better results than PCA for the localization of APIs. PLS achieved satisfactory root mean standard error values in the external validation set (<4% w/w) in bulk concentration determinations of AMP. This method also achieved concentrations for each pixel of the images, reconstructing images very similar to those obtained by MCR–ALS. Consequently, simultaneous localization and quantification of AMP was possible. Finally, the performance of Raman microimaging was evaluated through estimation of analytical figures of merit (AFOMs) of the technique used to assess the quantification of APIs. This included different calculus of uncertainty in the signal in a technique where the signal/noise ratio is low, and AFOMs for multivariate quantification are not often reported.
Changes in soil microbial community structure during long‐term secondary succession
Authors: Liu Jin , Jia Xiaoyu , Yan Weiming , Zhong Yangquanwei , Shangguan Zhouping 
Published: January 2020

AbstractUnderstanding the changes in microbial community composition that occur during succession can help elucidate the mechanisms that drive successional dynamics. However, the mechanisms underlying community assemblages and promoting temporal succession are often overlooked in microbial ecology, and comparisons of the relative roles of bacteria and fungi during long‐term secondary succession are rare. Using both 16S and ITS rRNA gene sequencing, we studied shifts in bacterial and fungal communities in a well‐established secondary successional chronosequence that spanned approximately 160 years in an ecosystem. Our results showed that the abundance of both bacteria and fungi increased with succession in the early stages but then reached a relatively stable state in later successional stages. Diversity showed a fairly linear increase with succession, and there were inconsistent changes between the bacterial and fungal communities. During succession, soil bulk density, soluble carbon, total nitrogen and plant richness had large effects on the microbial community. The abundance of most phyla showed parabolic trends with succession; however, Verrucomicrobia and Basidiomycota showed linear increases with succession, and Cercozoa and Chytridiomycota showed linear decreases with succession. These microbial taxa may be considered collaborative development microbial biomarkers of secondary succession. The predicted microbial functions related to C and N cycle genes showed corresponding changes in succession, which need further study. Our findings suggest that the relationships between soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities mutually influence one another, leading to their ongoing relationship in the course of secondary succession.
Harmful alga trades off growth and toxicity in response to cues from dead phytoplankton
Authors: Brown Emily R. , Kubanek Julia 
Published: January 2020

AbstractOrganisms are under selection pressure to recognize predators and assess predation risk to avoid becoming prey. In some cases, the presence of injured competitors alerts individuals to the likelihood that predators are nearby. Previous studies have shown that the marine dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum responds to chemical cues from copepods by dramatically upregulating sodium channel‐blocking toxins that appear to function as defenses against copepod grazing. However, it is unknown whether A. minutum uses other cues, such as damaged phytoplankton, some of which are its competitors, to assess predation risk and subsequently increase its resistance to predators. To investigate the role of dead phytoplankton cues in chemical defense plasticity, A. minutum was exposed for 3 days to chemical cues from six different phytoplankton. Chemical cues from dead, unrelated, historically co‐occurring phytoplankton species induced toxin production in A. minutum coincident with a decrease in growth. In contrast, exposure to chemical cues from more closely related dead phytoplankton, either conspecific or congeneric, suppressed toxin production in A. minutum relative to their absence. This was coupled with a modest, yet significant, increase in growth. The consistent inverse relationship between toxin production and growth suggests that A. minutum experiences a trade‐off. Together, these results reveal that relatedness of dead phytoplankton is important in how A. minutum utilizes resources for growth and defense.
Chromosome 15q BP3 to BP5 deletion is a likely locus for speech delay and language impairment: Report on a four‐member family and an unrelated boy
Authors: Pavone Piero , Ruggieri Martino , Marino Simona D. , Corsello Giovanni , Pappalardo Xena , Polizzi Agata , Parano Enrico , Romano Catia , Marino Silvia , Praticò Andrea Domenico , Falsaperla Raffaele 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundDeletions in chromosome 15q13 have been reported both in healthy people and individuals with a wide range of behavioral and neuropsychiatric disturbances. Six main breakpoint (BP) subregions (BP1‐BP6) are mapped to the 15q13 region and three further embedded BP regions (BP3‐BP5). The deletion at BP4‐BP5 is the rearrangement most frequently observed compared to other known deletions in BP3‐BP5 and BP3‐BP4 regions. Deletions of each of these three regions have previously been implicated in a variable range of clinical phenotypes, including minor dysmorphism, developmental delay/intellectual disability, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders, behavioral disturbances, and speech disorders. Of note, no overt clinical difference among each group of BP region deletions has been recorded so far.MethodsWe report on a four‐member family plus an additional unrelated boy affected by a BP3‐BP5 deletion that presented with typical clinical signs including speech delay and language impairment. A review of the clinical features associated with the three main groups of BP regions (BP4‐BP5, BP3‐BP5, and BP3‐BP4) deletions is reported.ResultsArray‐CGH analysis revealed in the mother (case 1) and in her three children (cases 2, 3, and 4), as well as in the unrelated boy (case 5), the following rearrangement: arr (hg19) 15q13.1‐q13.3 (29.213.402–32.510.863) x1.ConclusionThis report, along with other recent observations, suggests the hypothesis that the BP region comprised between BP3 and BP5 in chromosome 15q13 is involved in several brain human dysfunctions, including impairment of the language development and, its deletion, may be directly or indirectly responsible for the speech delay and language deficit in the affected individuals.
Social benefits of government investment in enterprises
Authors: Fan Xiaoshuai , Chen Ying‐Ju , Zhou Junjie 
Published: January 2020

AbstractA critical issue for many governments is boosting the adoption rates of products or technologies that enhance consumer surplus or total social welfare. Governments may, for example, pay subsidies to producers or to consumers to stimulate the manufacture or consumption of specific products, for example, energy‐efficient appliances or more effective drugs. This research proposes a strategic government investment policy, namely, share acquisition, and demonstrates its effectiveness in reaching societal objectives. We consider a Cournot quantities‐choice market comprised of homogeneous firms where the government intervenes to buy shares, and turning private firms into state‐owned enterprises. We recognize that purchasing a single private firm is the optimal policy for the government to reach its societal objectives. Additionally, taking into consideration financial constraints, we find that the optimal stake increases with the budget. Compared with the optimal output‐based subsidy policy, when the budget is low, the optimal government investment policy induces a higher consumer surplus. In addition, in differentiated Cournot competition, under which firms compete in selling substitutable products, we find that when the budget is sufficient, the optimal stake purchased first decreases and then increases according to the substitutability level among products.
Small prey exploitation during the final Gravettian in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula: The case of Level D from Arbreda Cave
Authors: Rufí Isaac , Lloveras Lluís , Soler Joaquim , Soler Narcís 
Published: January 2020

AbstractArbreda Cave is one of the most important sites in the Reclau Caves complex (Serinyà, north‐east Iberian Peninsula). Its stratigraphy reveals that the cave was intensively occupied during the Upper Palaeolithic. As in other archaeological sites in the western Mediterranean regions, a shift towards an intensification in small prey exploitation has been observed over the course of this period. This trend is indicated by the presence of large quantities of small mammal remains, mainly rabbits, in the archaeofaunal assemblages. However, the anthropogenic origin of these bone accumulations requires to be proved through the detailed taphonomic analysis because their presence in the archaeological record may be consequence of the activity of different agents. On this question, neotaphonomic studies have become a valuable tool with which to distinguish the taphonomic signatures produced by terrestrial carnivores, birds of prey, and humans.Although most researchers agree on the importance of small prey in the human diet during this period, this issue has not yet been resolved. Because data are still scarce, subsistence in some Upper Palaeolithic episodes, such as the final Gravettian, is not well understood. The aim of this paper is to establish the origin of the small mammal prey assemblages from Level D of Arbreda Cave and to assess the importance of these animals for the subsistence of humans in western Mediterranean regions. This level has been dated to ca. 25–20 kyr 14C BP and is mainly contemporary with the palaeoenvironmental cold conditions derived from the Greenland Stadial 3. The results of this study indicate that Level D small mammal prey assemblages have a remarkable anthropogenic footprint. Rabbits were intensively exploited, but other small mammals, such as hedgehogs, were also part of the human diet. The animal carcasses were brought whole to the cave, where they were butchered, cooked, and consumed. In addition, marrow exploitation was also practiced in the case of the rabbits.Although at Arbreda Cave, ungulates were a primary resource in the subsistence of hunter–gatherers; small prey also played an important role in human diet during the final Gravettian.
Design of a tether‐driven minimally invasive robotic surgical tool with decoupled degree‐of‐freedom wrist
Authors: Chandrasekaran Karthik , Thondiyath Asokan 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundDexterous surgical tool wrists used in tele‐operated robotic surgery typically have mechanically coupled pitch and yaw degree of freedom (DoF). This leads to complex control requirements.Materials and MethodsThe design of a robotic surgical tool with a mechanically decoupled dexterous wrist which uses stationary tether guides to guide drive tethers is presented. The tethers are routed through the plane of symmetry of the tool and follow law of belting to mechanically decouple the wrist. An optimization procedure for the placement of the stationary tether guides to minimize the change in tether length is presented.ResultsExperimental and analytical results confirm the decoupled motion capability of the wrist. Also, the change in length of tether segments over the operating range of motion was found to be very small.ConclusionA prototype has been fabricated through metal 3D printing and integrated to a tele‐operated robotic setup to demonstrate its utility in surgical application.
Global output feedback regulation of nonlinear time delay systems subject to sensor measurement faults
Authors: Li Kuo , Hua Changchun , Guan Xinping 
Published: January 2020

SummaryThis article studied the global output feedback regulation problem for a class of uncertain nonlinear time delay systems subject to unknown measurement faults on sensors. Different from the existing works, we consider the unknown time‐varying delays on the system states and relax their conservative condition on nonlinear functions. By introducing two novel time‐varying gains, a new global output feedback regulation algorithm is proposed, which ensures control parameters can be chosen flexibly. The proposed linear‐like controller is independent of the unknown time‐varying delays. Moreover, it has a simple structure, which is convenient for the implementation in practice. Based on the Lyapunov stability theory, it is strictly proved that all signals of the resulting closed‐loop system are globally bounded with the designed controller. Finally, a simulation example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed output feedback regulation algorithm.
Emerging DNA Technologies and Stigmatization
Authors: Machado Helena , Granja Rafaela 
Published: January 2020

AbstractDespite their consolidated role in providing evidence for criminal justice, DNA technologies have been subjected to continuous investment that has given rise to the emergence of new DNA technologies. This chapter will focus on such innovations, explaining how forensic genetics is increasingly expanding its role in the criminal justice system. Recent technologies such as familial searching and forensic DNA phenotyping might help to generate intelligence for criminal investigations. Familial searching is a technology that attempts to identify criminal suspects through their genetic connection with relatives. Forensic DNA phenotyping makes it possible to focus on a particular suspect group that shares genetic ancestry and/or externally visible characteristics. The chapter critically reviews the existing debate in the field of social sciences about emerging DNA technologies. The core argument is that the application of DNA phenotyping and familial searching in the governance of crime holds the potential to increase risks of stigmatization and reinforce the criminalization of certain populations who are more vulnerable to the actions of the criminal justice system.
Cement-based additive manufacturing: experimental investigation of process quality
Authors: Foteinopoulos Panagis , Esnault Vivien , Komineas George , Papacharalampopoulos Alexios , Stavropoulos Panagiotis 
Published: January 2020

AbstractThe interest in additive manufacturing (AM) of cement-based materials is steadily increasing. Moreover, there is a growing need for higher productivity and part quality. In this study, the impact of the different values of the process parameters on part quality was identified. An alternative process-control strategy was investigated, according to which the width of the extruded path is controlled by the ratio of the extrusion speed over the scanner head speed. To conduct linear- and rotational-extrusion experiments, an experimental apparatus was designed. The significance of the effect of the speed ratio on the part quality was found to be the highest, followed by the extrusion radius, whereas the extrusion speed appeared to be of low importance. Therefore, in linear extrusion, high quality and consistency can be achieved by maintaining the ratio value above 0.8. However, in rotational extrusion, the effect of the radius was additionally considered by calculating the ratio on the outer side of the part, rather than on the centerline. Thus, acceptable quality and consistency were ensured for both linear and curved paths by controlling the aforementioned ratio values.
Regularity of solutions to anisotropic nonlocal equations
Authors: Chaker Jamil 
Published: January 2020

AbstractWe study harmonic functions associated to systems of stochastic differential equations of the form $$dX_t^i=A_{i1}(X_{t-})dZ_t^1+\cdots +A_{id}(X_{t-})dZ_t^d$$

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. In this article we prove Hölder regularity of bounded harmonic functions with respect to solutions to such systems.