bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Angular compounding for speckle reduction in optical coherence tomography using geometric image registration algorithm and digital focusing
Authors: Zhao Jingjing , Winetraub Yonatan , Yuan Edwin , Chan Warren H. , Aasi Sumaira Z. , Sarin Kavita Y. , Zohar Orr , de la Zerda Adam 
Published: February 2020

AbstractOptical coherence tomography (OCT) suffers from speckle noise due to the high spatial coherence of the utilized light source, leading to significant reductions in image quality and diagnostic capabilities. In the past, angular compounding techniques have been applied to suppress speckle noise. However, existing image registration methods usually guarantee pure angular compounding only within a relatively small field of view in the focal region, but produce spatial averaging in the other regions, resulting in resolution loss and image blur. This work develops an image registration model to correctly localize the real-space location of every pixel in an OCT image, for all depths. The registered images captured at different angles are fused into a speckle-reduced composite image. Digital focusing, based on the convolution of the complex OCT images and the conjugate of the point spread function (PSF), is studied to further enhance lateral resolution and contrast. As demonstrated by experiments, angular compounding with our improved image registration techniques and digital focusing, can effectively suppress speckle noise, enhance resolution and contrast, and reveal fine structures in ex-vivo imaged tissue.
Quantifying the biochemical state of knee cartilage in response to running using T1rho magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Heckelman Lauren N. , Smith Wyatt A. R. , Riofrio Alexie D. , Vinson Emily N. , Collins Amber T. , Gwynn Olivia R. , Utturkar Gangadhar M. , Goode Adam P. , Spritzer Charles E. , DeFrate Louis E. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractRoughly 20% of Americans run annually, yet how this exercise influences knee cartilage health is poorly understood. To address this question, quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to infer the biochemical state of cartilage. Specifically, T1rho relaxation times are inversely related to the proteoglycan concentration in cartilage. In this study, T1rho MRI was performed on the dominant knee of eight asymptomatic, male runners before, immediately after, and 24 hours after running 3 and 10 miles. Overall, (mean ± SEM) patellar, tibial, and femoral cartilage T1rho relaxation times significantly decreased immediately after running 3 (65 ± 3 ms to 62 ± 3 ms; p = 0.04) and 10 (69 ± 4 ms to 62 ± 3 ms; p < 0.001) miles. No significant differences between pre-exercise and recovery T1rho values were observed for either distance (3 mile: p = 0.8; 10 mile: p = 0.08). Percent decreases in T1rho relaxation times were significantly larger following 10 mile runs as compared to 3 mile runs (11 ± 1% vs. 4 ± 1%; p = 0.02). This data suggests that alterations to the relative proteoglycan concentration of knee cartilage due to water flow are mitigated within 24 hours of running up to 10 miles. This information may inform safe exercise and recovery protocols in asymptomatic male runners by characterizing running-induced changes in knee cartilage composition.
Creep and permeability evolution behavior of red sandstone containing a single fissure under a confining pressure of 30 MPa
Authors: Yang Sheng-Qi , Hu Bo 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe long-term deformation and permeability evolution with time are key issues for geo-engineering applications such as radioactive waste disposal. Rock permeability concurrent with deformation is significantly influenced by cracking. This study investigated the creep-permeability evolution behavior of red sandstone specimens containing a single fissure under a confining pressure of 30 MPa. First, the effects of stress ratio (SR) and fissure dip angle on the creep behavior of rock were investigated. The more loading/unloading cyclic numbers, the larger the irrecoverable axial deformation. The instant elastic strains and visco-elastic strains linearly increased with SR for both the intact and fissured specimens, whereas the instant plastic strains showed different results. The visco-plastic strains nonlinearly increased. For fissured and intact specimens, the creep strains and the steady-state creep rates nonlinearly increased as SR increased. The instantaneous strains, instant elastic strains, and visco-elastic strains slightly varied when the fissure dip angle was less than 45° but notably decreased with increasing fissure dip angle beyond 45°. However, the fissure dip angle had no obvious effects on the plastic and creep strains. Damage (D) was defined using the ratio of non-elastic strains to the total strain. D increased approximately linearly with SR, but the fissure dip angle had no obvious influences. Subsequently, the long-term strength (LTS) of the red sandstone was determined using two different methods. The LTS first decreased when the fissure dip angle increased from 0 to 45° but increased with increasing dip angle. The triaxial and creep failure modes were mainly shear along anti-wing cracks for the fissured specimens but shear failure occurred for the intact specimen. Moreover, the permeability of the fissured red sandstone was governed by SR and deformation or time. During the multi-step loading/unloading creep process, the permeability first decreased and then had a sudden rise when tertiary creep occurred.
Adiposity and mortality in older Chinese: an 11-year follow-up of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study
Authors: Jiang Chao Qiang , Xu Lin , Zhang Wei Sen , Jin Ya Li , Zhu Feng , Cheng Kar Keung , Lam Tai Hing 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPrevious studies on Chinese showed mixed results describing the relationship between obesity and mortality. The optimum levels of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are inconsistent. In the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study, after excluding ever smokers and those with poor health, 19,405 Chinese (50+ years) recruited from 2003 to 2008 were followed-up until 2017. During an average follow-up of 11.5 (standard deviation = 2.3) years, 1,757 deaths were recorded. All-cause mortality showed a J-shaped association with BMI, with the lowest mortality risks at 22.5 kg/m2 for both men and women. In those with BMI ≥ 22.5 kg/m2, an increase of 5 kg/m2 was associated with 29% higher all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–1.46), 30% higher cancer mortality (1.30, 95% CI 1.08–1.57), and 37% higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality (1.37, 95% CI 1.13–1.67) after adjustment for potential confounders. In this first cohort study in one of the most economically developed cities in China, the lowest all-cause mortality was observed for a BMI of 22.5 kg/m2 in all participants, and a WC of 78 cm in men and 72 cm in women.
Probiotic properties of a phytase producing Pediococcus acidilactici strain SMVDUDB2 isolated from traditional fermented cheese product, Kalarei
Authors: Bhagat Deepali , Raina Neelu , Kumar Amit , Katoch Meenu , Khajuria Yugal , Slathia Parvez Singh , Sharma Preeti 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe nutritional challenge faced by the monogastric animals due to the chelation effects of phytic acid, fuel the research on bioprospecting of probiotics for phytase production. Pediococcus acidilactici SMVDUDB2 isolated from Kalarei, exhibited extracellular phytase activity of 5.583 U/mL after statistical optimization of fermentation conditions viz. peptone (1.27%); temperature (37 °C); pH (6.26) and maltose (1.43%). The phytase enzyme possessed optimum pH and temperature of 5.5 and 37 °C, respectively and was thermostable at 60 °C. The enzyme was purified 6.42 fold with a specific activity of 245.12 U/mg with hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The purified enzyme had Km and Vmax values of 0.385 mM and 4.965 μmol/min respectively, with sodium phytate as substrate. The strain depicted more than 80% survival rate at low pH (pH 2.0, 3.0), high bile salt concentration (0.3 and 0.5%), after gastrointestinal transit, highest hydrophobicity affinity with ethyl acetate (33.33 ± 0%), autoaggregation (77.68 ± 0.68%) as well as coaggregation (73.57 ± 0.47%) with Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 3160). The strain exhibited antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 121), Mycobacterium smegmatis (MTCC 994), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 3160), Proteus vulgaris (MTCC 426), Escherichia coli (MTCC 1652) and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (MTCC 1408). The amount of exopolysaccharide produced by the strain was 2 g/L. This strain having the capability of phytate degradation and possessing probiotic traits could find application in food and feed sectors.
Water filtration by burrowing sandprawns provides novel insights on endobenthic engineering and solutions for eutrophication
Authors: Venter Olivia , Pillay Deena , Prayag Kervin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractManaging coastal ecosystems and preserving socio-ecological functioning require a comprehensive understanding of ecological services provided by resident organisms. Here, we provide novel information on water-filtration activities of endobenthic sandprawns (Callichirus kraussi), which are key ecosystem engineers in South African coasts. We demonstrate experimentally that benthic engineering by sandprawns reduces phytoplankton biomass by roughly 50%. Using long-term estuarine data, we demonstrate similar reductions in phytoplankton biomass (by roughly 70%) in sandprawn-dominated areas. Increased burrow wall chlorophyll-a relative to surface sediments that was evident in experiments suggests that pelagic filtration occurs through bi-directional water pumping and phytoplankton adsorption onto burrow walls. Our findings expand understanding of the ecological relevance of sandprawns and functionally similar organisms, the mechanisms by which they engineer ecosystems and their role in mediating coastal bentho-pelagic coupling. Our findings also highlight the potential for deposit-feeders to be used as nature-based solutions to counter coastal eutrophication.
Unhealthy behaviors and risk of uncontrolled hypertension among treated individuals-The CONSTANCES population-based study
Authors: Cherfan Michelle , Vallée Alexandre , Kab Sofiane , Salameh Pascale , Goldberg Marcel , Zins Marie , Blacher Jacques 
Published: February 2020

AbstractFrom an epidemiological standpoint, quantifying the individual and the combined effect of lifestyle factors on uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) deserves further evaluation. We aimed to examine the individual and combined associations between unhealthy behaviors and uncontrolled hypertension among treated hypertensive adults. Cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from CONSTANCES, an ongoing French population-based cohort study. Uncontrolled BP was defined as mean systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or mean diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg. Unhealthy behaviors were considered as heavy alcohol consumption, low or medium adherence to dietary recommendations, sedentary physical activity level, and overweight. A total of 10,710 hypertensive treated volunteer participants were included and 56.1% had uncontrolled hypertension; of them, 2.0%, 24.5%, 54.0% and 19.5% exhibited 0, 1, 2 or ≥3 unhealthy behaviors respectively. In men, there was an increased odds of uncontrolled hypertension with heavy alcohol drinking compared to light-or-never (adjusted odds ratio 1.34, 95% CI 1.10–1.63), with low as well as with medium adherence to dietary recommendations compared to high (p < 0.05 for both), and with overweight or obesity compared to a normal body mass index (p ≤ 0.001 for both). In addition, men reporting a combination of ≥3 unhealthy behaviors compared to none, had an increased odds of hypertension of 1.67 (95% CI 1.09–2.53). Unhealthy behaviors described as, heavy alcohol consumption, non-adherence to dietary recommendations and overweight are associated with uncontrolled hypertension, at the individual and combined level, and particularly in men. Improvement of modifiable lifestyle factors could offer considerable benefits in the management of hypertension.
Judgments of effort exerted by others are influenced by received rewards
Authors: Rollwage Max , Pannach Franziska , Stinson Caedyn , Toelch Ulf , Kagan Igor , Pooresmaeili Arezoo 
Published: February 2020

AbstractEstimating invested effort is a core dimension for evaluating own and others’ actions, and views on the relationship between effort and rewards are deeply ingrained in various societal attitudes. Internal representations of effort, however, are inherently noisy, e.g. due to the variability of sensorimotor and visceral responses to physical exertion. The uncertainty in effort judgments is further aggravated when there is no direct access to the internal representations of exertion – such as when estimating the effort of another person. Bayesian cue integration suggests that this uncertainty can be resolved by incorporating additional cues that are predictive of effort, e.g. received rewards. We hypothesized that judgments about the effort spent on a task will be influenced by the magnitude of received rewards. Additionally, we surmised that such influence might further depend on individual beliefs regarding the relationship between hard work and prosperity, as exemplified by a conservative work ethic. To test these predictions, participants performed an effortful task interleaved with a partner and were informed about the obtained reward before rating either their own or the partner’s effort. We show that higher rewards led to higher estimations of exerted effort in self-judgments, and this effect was even more pronounced for other-judgments. In both types of judgment, computational modelling revealed that reward information and sensorimotor markers of exertion were combined in a Bayes-optimal manner in order to reduce uncertainty. Remarkably, the extent to which rewards influenced effort judgments was associated with conservative world-views, indicating links between this phenomenon and general beliefs about the relationship between effort and earnings in society.
Synthetic analogues of 2-oxo acids discriminate metabolic contribution of the 2-oxoglutarate and 2-oxoadipate dehydrogenases in mammalian cells and tissues
Authors: Artiukhov Artem V. , Grabarska Aneta , Gumbarewicz Ewelina , Aleshin Vasily A. , Kähne Thilo , Obata Toshihiro , Kazantsev Alexey V. , Lukashev Nikolay V. , Stepulak Andrzej , Fernie Alisdair R. , Bunik Victoria I. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe biological significance of the DHTKD1-encoded 2-oxoadipate dehydrogenase (OADH) remains obscure due to its catalytic redundancy with the ubiquitous OGDH-encoded 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH). In this work, metabolic contributions of OADH and OGDH are discriminated by exposure of cells/tissues with different DHTKD1 expression to the synthesized phosphonate analogues of homologous 2-oxodicarboxylates. The saccharopine pathway intermediates and phosphorylated sugars are abundant when cellular expressions of DHTKD1 and OGDH are comparable, while nicotinate and non-phosphorylated sugars are when DHTKD1 expression is order(s) of magnitude lower than that of OGDH. Using succinyl, glutaryl and adipoyl phosphonates on the enzyme preparations from tissues with varied DHTKD1 expression reveals the contributions of OADH and OGDH to oxidation of 2-oxoadipate and 2-oxoglutarate in vitro. In the phosphonates-treated cells with the high and low DHTKD1 expression, adipate or glutarate, correspondingly, are the most affected metabolites. The marker of fatty acid β-oxidation, adipate, is mostly decreased by the shorter, OGDH-preferring, phosphonate, in agreement with the known OGDH dependence of β-oxidation. The longest, OADH-preferring, phosphonate mostly affects the glutarate level. Coupled decreases in sugars and nicotinate upon the OADH inhibition link the perturbation in glucose homeostasis, known in OADH mutants, to the nicotinate-dependent NAD metabolism.
Evidence in the Japan Sea of microdolomite mineralization within gas hydrate microbiomes
Authors: Snyder Glen T. , Matsumoto Ryo , Suzuki Yohey , Kouduka Mariko , Kakizaki Yoshihiro , Zhang Naizhong , Tomaru Hitoshi , Sano Yuji , Takahata Naoto , Tanaka Kentaro , Bowden Stephen A. , Imajo Takumi 
Published: February 2020

AbstractOver the past 15 years, massive gas hydrate deposits have been studied extensively in Joetsu Basin, Japan Sea, where they are associated primarily with active gas chimney structures. Our research documents the discovery of spheroidal microdolomite aggregates found in association with other impurities inside of these massive gas hydrates. The microdolomites are often conjoined and show dark internal cores occasionally hosting saline fluid inclusions. Bacteroidetes sp. are concentrated on the inner rims of microdolomite grains, where they degrade complex petroleum-macromolecules present as an impurity within yellow methane hydrate. These oils show increasing biodegradation with depth which is consistent with the microbial activity of Bacteroidetes. Further investigation of these microdolomites and their contents can potentially yield insight into the dynamics and microbial ecology of other hydrate localities. If microdolomites are indeed found to be ubiquitous in both present and fossil hydrate settings, the materials preserved within may provide valuable insights into an unusual microhabitat which could have once fostered ancient life.
Expression of Female Sex Hormone Receptors, Connective Tissue Growth Factor and HER2 in Gallbladder Cancer
Authors: Hryciuk Beata , Pęksa Rafał , Bieńkowski Michał , Szymanowski Bartosz , Radecka Barbara , Winnik Kamil , Żok Jolanta , Cichowska Natalia , Iliszko Mariola , Duchnowska Renata 
Published: February 2020

AbstractGallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly malignant tumor with poorly understood etiology. An insight into phenotypic features of this malignancy may add to the knowledge of its carcinogenesis and pave the way to new therapeutic approaches. We assessed the expression of female sex hormone receptors (ERα, ERβ, PR), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and HER2 in GBC, and adjacent normal tissue (NT), and determined their prognostic impact. Immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of all biomarkers was performed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens in 60 Caucasian GBC patients (51 women and 9 men). ERβ, cytoPR and CTGF expression were found in 89%, 27%, 91% of GBC, and in 63%, 87%, 100% of NT, respectively. No ERα expression was found in GBC and NT. Strong (3+) HER2 expression by IHC or HER2 amplification was seen in five GBC (10.4%). A positive correlation was found between HER2 and CTGF and ERβ expression in GBC and matched NT. In the multivariate analysis, patient age >70 years, tumor size and ERβ expression in GBC was highly predictive for OS (p = 0.003). The correlation between HER2, CTGF and ERβ expression in GBC and NT may indicate the interaction of these pathways in physiological processes and gallbladder pathology.
Kinship and reproductive condition correlate with affiliation patterns in female southern Australian bottlenose dolphins
Authors: Diaz-Aguirre Fernando , Parra Guido J. , Passadore Cecilia , Möller Luciana 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSocial relationships in female mammals are usually determined by an interplay among genetic, endogenous, social and ecological factors that ultimately affect their lifetime reproductive success. However, few studies have attempted to control for, and integrate these factors, hampering our understanding of drivers underlying female sociality. Here, we used generalized affiliation indices, combined with social networks, reproductive condition, and genetic data to investigate drivers of associations in female southern Australian bottlenose dolphins. Our analysis is based on photo-identification and genetic data collected through systematic boat surveys over a two-year study period. Female dolphins formed preferred associations and social clusters which ranged from overlapping to discrete home ranges. Furthermore, matrilineal kinship and biparental relatedness, as well as reproductive condition, correlated with the strength of female affiliations. In addition, relatedness for both genetic markers was also higher within than between social clusters. The predictability of resources in their embayment environment, and the availability of same-sex relatives in the population, may have favoured the formation of social bonds between genetically related females and those in similar reproductive condition. This study highlights the importance of genetic, endogenous, social and ecological factors in determining female sociality in coastal dolphins.
Rapid localization of ureteral calculi in patients with renal colic by “ultrasonic ureteral crossing sign”
Authors: Xia Jianguo , Peng Junhong , Wang Gang , Zheng Tao , Xu Qi 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIn this study, the term “ultrasonic ureteral crossing sign” is defined, and the diagnostic accuracy of this sign in the rapid localization of ureteral calculi is assessed. Between January 2017 and June 2018, 535 patients underwent ultrasound examination for suspected ureteral calculi. The “ultrasonic ureteral crossing sign” was classified as either positive or negative and correlated with the location of ureteral calculi. Of the 451 patients who were ultimately diagnosed with ureteral calculi, 263 patients had a positive sign, of which 258 patients had distal ureteral calculi, and 188 patients had a negative sign, of which 164 patients had proximal ureteral calculi. Eighteen stones were located in the ureter across the iliac vessels. For patients with a positive “ultrasonic ureteral crossing sign”, we observed a 91% sensitivity, 97% specificity, 98% PPV, 87% NPV, and AUC of 0.94 for distal ureteral calculi. For patients with a negative “ultrasonic ureteral crossing sign”, we observed a 97% sensitivity, 91% specificity, 87% PPV, 98% NPV, and AUC of 0.94 for proximal ureteral calculi. The “ultrasonic ureteral crossing sign” was found to accurately predict the location of ureteral calculi, significantly improve the efficiency of ultrasound examination, and provide a useful basis for follow-up treatment.
Nanoremediation of As and metals polluted soils by means of graphene oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Baragaño Diego , Forján Rubén , Welte Lorena , Gallego José Luis R. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe capacity of graphene oxide nanoparticles (nGOx) to reduce or increase As and metals availability in polluted soils was compared with that of zero valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI). The nanomaterials used in this study were characterized by X-ray techniques, CHNS-O analysis, dynamic light scattering, and microscopy procedures such as atomic force microscopy. To assess the capacity of these materials to immobilize pollutants, field samples of two soils were treated with nZVI and nGOx at a range of doses (0.2%, 1% and 5%). Availability tests were then performed. nGOx effectively immobilized Cu, Pb and Cd, but mobilized As and P (even at low doses), in the latter case irrespective of the simultaneous presence of high concentrations of metals. In turn, nZVI promoted notable immobilization results for As and Pb, a poorer result for Cd, and an increased availability for Cu. Soil pH and EC have been slightly affected by nGOx. On the whole, nGOx emerges as a promising option for mobilization/immobilization strategies for soil nanoremediation when combined with other techniques such as phytoremediation.