bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polygenic Multiple Sclerosis Risk and Population‐Based Childhood Brain Imaging
Authors: de Mol C. Louk , Jansen Philip R. , Muetzel Ryan L. , Knol Maria J. , Adams Hieab H. , Jaddoe Vincent W. , Vernooij Meike W. , Hintzen Rogier Q. , White Tonya J. , Neuteboom Rinze F. 
Published: March 2020

ObjectiveMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease with a substantial genetic component and immune‐mediated neurodegeneration. Patients with MS show structural brain differences relative to individuals without MS, including smaller regional volumes and alterations in white matter (WM) microstructure. Whether genetic risk for MS is associated with brain structure during early neurodevelopment remains unclear. In this study, we explore the association between MS polygenic risk scores (PRS) and brain imaging outcomes from a large, population‐based pediatric sample to gain insight into the underlying neurobiology of MS.MethodsWe included 8‐ to 12‐year‐old genotyped participants from the Generation R Study in whom T1‐weighted volumetric (n = 1,136) and/or diffusion tensor imaging (n = 1,088) had been collected. PRS for MS were calculated based on a large genome‐wide association study of MS (n = 41,505) and were regressed on regional volumes, global and tract‐specific fractional anisotropy (FA), and global mean diffusivity using linear regression.ResultsNo associations were observed for the regional volumes. We observed a positive association between the MS PRS and global FA (β = 0.098, standard error [SE] = 0.030, p = 1.08 × 10−3). Tract‐specific analyses showed higher FA and lower radial diffusivity in several tracts. We replicated our findings in an independent sample of children (n = 186) who were scanned in an earlier phase (global FA; β = 0.189, SE = 0.072, p = 9.40 × 10−3).InterpretationThis is the first study to show that greater genetic predisposition for MS is associated with higher global brain WM FA at an early age in the general population. Our results suggest a preadolescent time window within neurodevelopment in which MS risk variants act upon the brain. ANN NEUROL 2020;87:774–787
A Small‐Molecule AIE Chromosome Periphery Probe for Cytogenetic Studies
Authors: Wu Ming‐Yu , Leung Jong‐Kai , Liu Li , Kam Chuen , Chan Kelvin Yuen Kwong , Li Ronald A. , Feng Shun , Chen Sijie 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe chromosome periphery (CP) is a complex network that covers the outer surface of chromosomes. It acts as a carrier of nucleolar components, helps maintain chromosome structure, and plays an important role in mitosis. Current methods for fluorescence imaging of CP largely rely on immunostaining. We herein report a small‐molecule fluorescent probe, ID‐IQ, which possesses aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) property, for CP imaging. By labelling the CP, ID‐IQ sharply highlighted the chromosome boundaries, which enabled rapid segmentation of touching and overlapping chromosomes, direct identification of the centromere, and clear visualization of chromosome morphology. ID‐IQ staining was also compatible with fluorescence in situ hybridization and could assist the precise location of the gene in designated chromosome. Altogether, this study provides a versatile cytogenetic tool for improved chromosome analysis, which greatly benefits the clinical diagnostic testing and genomic research.
Variation of Oil, Sesamin, and Sesamolin Content in the Germplasm of the Ancient Oilseed Crop Sesamum indicum L.
Authors: Kancharla Pavan Kumar , Arumugam Neelakantan 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCurrently, genetic improvement in oil and lignan content is a major objective in sesame breeding. As a prerequisite to meet the objective, the diversity of these traits of sesame germplasm was examined. Solvent extraction of the harvested seeds demonstrated variation in oil content ranging from 39% to 49% across the sesame accessions tested. High performance liquid chromatography of oil samples showed sesamin and sesamolin as the only lignans present in the oil, with their amount in the range of 2.74–10.55 g L−1 and 2.49–13.78 g L−1, respectively. Coefficient of variation for oil content remained the highest in brown and black seeded accessions, whereas it remained at maximum for sesamin and sesamolin in white seeded ones. Pearson analysis showed a positive correlation between oil and lignan content. It was concluded that Indian sesame accessions exhibit considerable variation in oil and lignans content. The S. indicum varieties with a desirable composition of oil and/or lignans have been identified and recommended for incorporation in breeding programs, as well as for specific human use.
Analysis of the Content of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters in Biodiesel by Fourier‐Transform Infrared Spectroscopy: Method and Comparison with Gas Chromatography
Authors: Torres Alicia , Fuentes Beatriz , Rodríguez Karina E. , Brito Andrea , Díaz Laura 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe increasing importance of sustainability in energy production has led to a global commitment to the use of fuels derived from renewable biological sources, such as biodiesel produced from plant crops or biomass residues, that do not compete with human food for their production. For a biofuel to be considered biodiesel, it must satisfy the specifications described in the UNE 14214, with the UNE‐EN 14103 referring to the determination of fatty acid methyl ester content. This standard applies gas chromatography as an analytical technique. Gas chromatography is a widely used technique in the analysis of methyl ester although it has a number of drawbacks such as: long analysis times, a high consumption of high‐quality gases and internal standards, does not allow the analysis of different compounds with the same column, etc. From an industrial production point of view, is necessary to know the fatty acid methyl ester content in biodiesel samples quickly. This paper studies the development of an analytical method using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) as alternative to gas chromatography (GC), since it is a simple, rapid, and precise analytical technique to quantify fatty acid methyl ester content in biofuel samples.
Hydrogen‐bonded poly(vinyl alcohol)‐boehmite composites exhibiting excellent shape memory properties
Authors: Han Yanyang , Wang Haimei , Jiao Xiuling , Chen Dairong 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPoly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) networks cross‐linked by inorganic nanofillers‐boehmite (AlOOH) nanowires via strong hydrogen bonding was prepared by a facile strategy. These PVA‐AlOOH composites displayed significantly enhanced mechanical and thermal properties due to the excellent mechanical property and high heat resistant of AlOOH nanowires, as well as the strong hydrogen bonding formed between PVA and AlOOH. Interestingly, it was worth mentioning that the PVA‐AlOOH composites exhibited excellent shape memory behavior. The strong hydrogen bonding between PVA matrix and AlOOH nanowires acted as the hard segments to maintain the permanent shape, while the weak one between PVA chains served as switching segments to fix the temporary shape and recover to the permanent shape. This physical cross‐linked system provided a simple and efficient strategy to obtain smart shape memory materials.
α‐Chitin dissolution, N‐deacetylation and valorization in deep eutectic solvents
Authors: Vicente Filipa A. , Bradić Bojana , Novak Uroš , Likozar Blaž 
Published: March 2020

AbstractChitin displays a highly rigid structure due to the vast intra‐ and intermolecular hydrogen bonding, thus hindering its dissolution and deacetylation using most solvents. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are special and environmentally friendly solvents composed of a hydrogen bond acceptor and a hydrogen bond donor. This allows them to dissolve chitin by disturbing its natural hydrogen bonding while establishing new bonds, hence turning the polymer more susceptible to solvents. Therefore, four distinct DESs (choline chloride‐lactic acid ([Ch]Cl:LA), choline chloride:oxalic acid ([Ch]Cl:OA), choline chloride:urea ([Ch]Cl:U) and betaine‐glycerol (Bet:G)) were applied in chitin dissolution, being the most performant ones further applied in its homogenous N‐deacetylation with NaOH. In this work, a milder and more biocompatible approach was carried out by using 30 wt% NaOH at 80°C, instead of the typical ≥40 wt% NaOH at temperatures ≥100°C. Herein, the reaction process took up to 18 hours, being the results analyzed through ATR‐FTIR. Chitin was converted into chitosan with a 70‐80% degree of deacetylation (DDA) in a short period while using homogenous conditions. These promising results provide the first proof of concept of the ability of Bet:G and [Ch]Cl:LA‐based DESs to be used as a greener approach for the chitin homogeneous N‐deacetylation.
Circularly polarized light at the mirror: Caveats and opportunities
Authors: Zinna Francesco , Pescitelli Gennaro , Di Bari Lorenzo 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMoving from the simple concept that reflection onto a mirror surface changes the handedness of circularly polarized light, we describe what happens to the emergent polarization in two different cases after reflection on a back mirror. In the first case, a regular emitter is taken into account, where reflection has the effect to destroy the emergent polarization. In the second case, we show what could happen when a hypothetical apparently non‐reciprocal emitting material undergoes a similar experiment. These simple concepts have important implications in the design of efficient circularly polarized emitting devices.
Face‐Fusion of Icosahedral Boron Hydride Increases Affinity to γ‐Cyclodextrin: closo,closo‐[B21H18]− as an Anion with Very Low Free Energy of Dehydration
Authors: Assaf Khaleel I. , Holub Josef , Bernhardt Eduard , Oliva‐Enrich Josep M. , Fernández Pérez M. Isabel , Canle Moisés , Santaballa J. Arturo , Fanfrlík Jindřich , Hnyk Drahomír , Nau Werner M. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe supramolecular recognition of closo,closo‐[B21H18]− by cyclodextrins (CDs) has been studied in aqueous solution by isothermal titration calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These solution studies follow up on previous mass‐spectrometric measurements and computations, which indicated the formation and stability of CD ⋅ B21H18− complexes in the gas phase. The thermodynamic signature of solution‐phase binding is exceptional, the association constant for the γ‐CD complex with B21H18− reaches 1.8×106 M−1, which is on the same order of magnitude as the so far highest observed value for the complex between γ‐CD and a metallacarborane. The nature of the intermolecular interaction is also examined by quantum‐mechanical computational protocols. These suggest that the desolvation penalty, which is particularly low for the B21H18− anion, is the decisive factor for its high binding strength. The results further suggest that the elliptical macropolyhedral boron hydride is another example of a CD binder, whose extraordinary binding affinity is driven by the chaotropic effect, which describes the intrinsic affinity of large polarizable and weakly solvated chaotropic anions to hydrophobic cavities and surfaces in aqueous solution.
Belok/XSA Diffraction Beamline for Studying Crystalline Samples at Kurchatov Synchrotron Radiation Source
Authors: Svetogorov Roman D. , Dorovatovskii Pavel V. , Lazarenko Vladimir A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIntroduction of “Belok/XSA” beamline‐modernization is presented here with commissioning of a modern synchrotron beamline with unique capabilities for the structural analysis of single and polycrystalline samples. The beamline is designed to perform important tasks in modern crystallography, such as solving and refining the atomic structure using the single‐ and polycrystal method, studying the real (defective) structure, and analyzing the distribution of electron density in crystals, it is also possible to study rapidly occurring processes, for example, temperature phase transitions. Due to the speed of data accumulation and a registration over a large solid angle, the method allows to study large numbers of samples. This beamline has become extremely demanded in the chemical, biological, material science, and archaeological community in Russia.
Nitroglycerin ameliorates liver injury and regulates adaptive immunity in mice
Authors: Zhao Shuang , Lu Zhong‐Hua , Cui Juan‐Juan , Li Dong , Zhu Yi‐Ling , Gan Jian‐He 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the protective effect of nitroglycerin, a commonly used drug in cardiovascular diseases, on mice with acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The mice were randomly divided into three groups: control, CCl4, and CCl4 + nitroglycerin. They were killed at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after treatment. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected for analysis. Analysis of the amounts of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hepatic glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) showed that nitroglycerin protected against CCl4‐induced acute liver injury. Liver histological analysis provided further evidence of the protective effect of nitroglycerin. Furthermore, we found that nitroglycerin suppressed the increase of T helper 17 (Th17) cells in CCl4‐induced acute liver injury mice. The results indicate that nitroglycerin is a potential candidate for hepatic disease.
Practical Guidelines on the prevention and management of diabetic foot disease (IWGDF 2019 update)
Authors: Schaper Nicolaas C. , van Netten Jaap J. , Apelqvist Jan , Bus Sicco A. , Hinchliffe Robert J. , Lipsky Benjamin A. ,   IWGDF Editorial Board
Published: March 2020

AbstractDiabetic foot disease results in a major global burden for patients and the health care system. The International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) has been producing evidence‐based guidelines on the prevention and management of diabetic foot disease since 1999. In 2019, all IWGDF Guidelines have been updated based on systematic reviews of the literature and formulation of recommendations by multidisciplinary experts from all over the world.In this document, the IWGDF Practical Guidelines, we describe the basic principles of prevention, classification, and treatment of diabetic foot disease, based on the six IWGDF Guideline chapters. We also describe the organizational levels to successfully prevent and treat diabetic foot disease according to these principles and provide addenda to assist with foot screening. The information in these practical guidelines is aimed at the global community of health care professionals who are involved in the care of persons with diabetes.Many studies around the world support our belief that implementing these prevention and management principles is associated with a decrease in the frequency of diabetes‐related lower extremity amputations. We hope that these updated practical guidelines continue to serve as reference document to aid health care providers in reducing the global burden of diabetic foot disease.
Diabetic foot ulcer classifications: A critical review
Authors: Monteiro‐Soares Matilde , Boyko Edward J. , Jeffcoate William , Mills Joseph L. , Russell David , Morbach Stephan , Game Fran 
Published: March 2020

AbstractClassification and scoring systems can help both clinical management and audit outcomes of routine care. The aim of this study was to assess published systems of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) to determine which should be recommended for a given clinical purpose. Published classifications had to have been validated in populations of > 75% people with diabetes and a foot ulcer. Each study was assessed for internal and external validity and reliability. Eight key factors associated with failure to heal were identified from large clinical series and each classification was scored on the number of these key factors included. Classifications were then arranged according to their proposed purpose into one or more of four groups: (a) aid communication between health professionals, (b) predict clinical outcome of individual ulcers, (c) aid clinical management decision making for an individual case, and (d) audit to compare outcome in different populations. Thirty‐seven classification systems were identified of which 18 were excluded for not being validated in a population of >75% DFUs. The included 19 classifications had different purposes and were derived from different populations. Only six were developed in multicentre studies, just 13 were externally validated, and very few had evaluated reliability.Classifications varied in the number (4 ‐ 30), and definition of individual items and the diagnostic tools required. Clinical outcomes were not standardized but included ulcer‐free survival, ulcer healing, hospitalization, limb amputation, mortality, and cost. Despite the limitations, there was sufficient evidence to make recommendations on the use of particular classifications for the indications listed above.
Mass loss and nutrient release during the decomposition of sixteen types of plant litter with contrasting quality under three precipitation regimes
Authors: Du Ningning , Li Wenrao , Qiu Liping , Zhang Yanjiang , Wei Xiaorong , Zhang Xingchang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMass loss and nutrient release during litter decomposition drive biogeochemical cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the relationship between the litter decomposition process and the decomposition stage, precipitation, and litter quality has rarely been addressed, precluding our understanding of how litter decomposition regulates nutrient cycling in various ecosystems and their responses to climate change. In this study, we measured mass loss as well as carbon and nutrient releases during the decomposition of 16 types of leaf litter under three precipitation treatments over 12 months in a common garden experiment (i.e., using standardized soil and climatic conditions). Sixteen types of leaves were divided into three functional groups (evergreen, deciduous, and herbaceous). The objectives were to understand the effects of decomposition stages and precipitation regimes on litter decomposition and to examine the relationship between this effect and chemical properties. The mass loss and release of nitrogen and potassium were significantly higher in the 6‐ to 12‐month stage of decomposition (high temperature and humidity) than in the 0‐ to 6‐month stage. Phosphorus was relatively enriched in evergreen leaves after 6 months of decomposition. The rates of mass loss and nutrient release were significantly greater in herbaceous than in deciduous and evergreen leaves. Increasing precipitation from 400 to 800 mm accelerated mass loss and potassium release but decreased phosphorus release in the 0‐ to 6‐month stage of decomposition. These results highlighted the contribution to and complexity of litter chemical properties in litter decomposition.
Evolutionary significance of the variation in acoustic communication of a cryptic nocturnal primate radiation (Microcebus spp.)
Authors: Hasiniaina Alida Frankline , Radespiel Ute , Kessler Sharon E. , Rina Evasoa Mamy , Rasoloharijaona Solofonirina , Randrianambinina Blanchard , Zimmermann Elke , Schmidt Sabine , Scheumann Marina 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAcoustic phenotypic variation is of major importance for speciation and the evolution of species diversity. Whereas selective and stochastic forces shaping the acoustic divergence of signaling systems are well studied in insects, frogs, and birds, knowledge on the processes driving acoustic phenotypic evolution in mammals is limited. We quantified the acoustic variation of a call type exchanged during agonistic encounters across eight distinct species of the smallest‐bodied nocturnal primate radiation, the Malagasy mouse lemurs. The species live in two different habitats (dry forest vs. humid forest), differ in geographic distance to each other, and belong to four distinct phylogenetic clades within the genus. Genetically defined species were discriminated reliably on the phenotypic level based on their acoustic distinctiveness in a discriminant function analysis. Acoustic variation was explained by genetic distance, whereas differences in morphology, forest type, or geographic distance had no effect. The strong impact of genetics was supported by a correlation between acoustic and genetic distance and the high agreement in branching pattern between the acoustic and molecular phylogenetic trees. In sum, stochastic factors such as genetic drift best explained acoustic diversification in a social communication call of mouse lemurs.
Investigation of the Potential Environmental Risks of Phthalate Derivatives Designed To Be Environmentally Friendly
Authors: Zhang Wenhui , Sun Ruihao , Hou Yilin , Qiu Youli , Li Yu 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Phthalate derivatives with low estrogenic activity, high infrared spectrum signals, high Raman characteristic vibration spectrum, high fluorescence intensity, and high ultraviolet sensitivity were selected as precursors from our previous studies, so that the changes in their toxicity and estrogenic activity during biological metabolism, ozone oxidation, photocatalytic degradation, photodegradation, and microbial degradation could be studied.The transformation pathways of these derivatives were simulated, and the reaction energy barriers were calculated. To determine the potential environmental risks of these phthalate derivatives, the pharmacophore models of biotoxicity and estrogen activity of phthalates were used to predict the biotoxicity and estrogen activity of the transformed products. The results showed an increase in the biotoxicity and estrogen activity of the biometabolites, ozonation products, photocatalytic degradation products, and microbial degradation products; the only products that did not follow this trend were the photodegradation products. Notably, the pathways that produced more potentially toxic compounds were the less favorable paths. Our results indicate that the transformation products of the designed environmentally friendly phthalate derivatives potentially pose environmental risks. To avoid such risks, the environmental transformation pathway of these derivatives should be simulated to screen for environmentally friendly phthalate molecules. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1138–1148. © 2020 SETAC
Oblivious transfer with hidden access control and outsourced decryption from deterministic finite automata‐based functional encryption for an in‐vehicle sensor database system
Authors: Wahaballa Abubaker , Qin Zhiguang , Abdalla Hisham , Abdellatief Majdi , Elfaki Mohamed A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractVehicle sensors are continuously observing the state of the vehicle, collecting and transmitting data from/to surrounding road users. The sensors data are then processed and stored in an in‐vehicle sensor database in the form of records. These records can be accessed and shared by other vehicles or road side units with the aim to improve road safety. However, these records may contain a very sensitive information, such as vehicles' identifiers and location. This information requires extraordinary protection to ensure privacy and confidentiality of the vehicle users. In this article, we propose a secure oblivious transfer protocol with hidden access control and outsourced decryption from deterministic finite automata (DFA)‐based functional encryption (HACOT‐DFA). To reduce the computational costs for users with limited resources, we securely offload the heavy decryption overhead on the user side to an untrusted cloud server. Then, we experimentally compare our HACOT‐DFA protocol against existing HACOT protocols in three different platform settings: the smartphone, the desktop personal computer, and the embedded device Raspberry Pi. The analyses demonstrate that the proposed HACOT‐DFA protocol is more efficient and computationally stable than previous work. Our security proof holds in the standard model using a dual‐system encryption approach.