bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Weak correlation between antibody titers and neutralizing activity in sera from SARS‐CoV‐2 infected subjects
Authors: Criscuolo Elena , Diotti Roberta A. , Strollo Marta , Rolla Serena , Ambrosi Alessandro , Locatelli Massimo , Burioni Roberto , Mancini Nicasio , Clementi Massimo , Clementi Nicola 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPlenty of serologic tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) have been developed so far, thus documenting the importance of evaluating the relevant features of the immune response to this viral agent. The performance of these assays is currently under investigation. Amongst them, LIAISON® SARS‐CoV‐2 S1/S2 IgG by DiaSorin and Elecsys Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 cobas® by Roche are currently used by laboratory medicine hospital departments in Italy and many other countries. In the present study, we firstly compared two serologic tests on serum samples collected at two different time points from 46 laboratory‐confirmed coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) subjects. Secondly, 85 negative serum samples collected before the SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic were analyzed. Thirdly, possible correlations between antibody levels and the resulting neutralizing activity against a clinical isolate of SARS‐CoV‐2 were evaluated. Results revealed that both tests are endowed with low sensitivity on the day of hospital admission, which increased to 97.8% and 100% for samples collected after 15 days for DiaSorin and Roche tests, respectively. The specificity evaluated for the two tests ranges from 96.5% to 100%, respectively. Importantly, a poor direct correlation between antibody titers and neutralizing activity levels was evidenced in the present study. These data further shed light on both potentials and possible limitations related to SARS‐CoV‐2 serology. In this context, great efforts are still necessary for investigating antibody kinetics to develop novel diagnostic algorithms. Moreover, further investigations on the role of neutralizing antibodies and their correlate of protection will be of paramount importance for the development of effective vaccines.
Investigation of NEAT1, IFNG‐AS1, and NRIR expression in Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever
Authors: Bayyurt Burcu , Bakir Mehmet , Engin Aynur , Oksuz Caner , Arslan Serdal 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCrimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), whose causative agent is CCHF orthonairovirus (CCHFV), demonstrates different symptoms in patients. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) take part in various pathological processes of viral diseases. They are prominent regulators of antiviral immune responses. To our knowledge, this study is the first study to investigate nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1), interferon (IFN) gamma antisense RNA 1 (IFNG‐AS1), and negative regulator of IFN response (NRIR) expression in CCHF in the literature. We selected these lncRNAs because they are related to IFN signal or IFN‐stimulated genes. We investigated NEAT1, IFNG‐AS1, and NRIR gene expression in patients with CCHF. Total RNA was extracted from blood samples of 100 volunteers and NEAT1, IFNG‐AS1, and NRIR expression were measured using a quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. NRIR expression was statistically significant in cases versus controls (p < .001), fatals versus controls (p < .001), and fatals versus nonfatals (p = .01). Furthermore, NRIR was found statistically significant at some clinical parameters including alanine aminotransferase (p = .03), international normalized ratio (p = .03), prothrombin time (p = .02), and active partial thromboplastin time (p = .01) in CCHF cases. NEAT1 and IFNG‐AS1 expression were downregulated in the case and fatal groups which were compared with controls. Our results demonstrate that NRIR may be important in CCHF pathogenesis and the target of CCHF treatment.
Effects of the extract from peanut meal fermented with Bacillus natto and Monascus on lipid metabolism and intestinal barrier function of hyperlipidemic mice
Authors: Lu Yaqian , Ding Haoyue , Jiang Xiaoyang , Zhang Huiwen , Ma Aiguo , Hu Yingfen , Li Zichao 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDHyperlipidemia is one of the metabolic disorders that poses a great threat to human health. This study is aimed at investigating the potential hypolipidemic properties of extract from peanut meal fermented with Bacillus natto and Monascus in mice fed with a high‐fat diet. Herein, 60 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into six groups: four control groups, comprised of a normal group, a model (M) group, a positive control group (atorvastatin 10 mg kg−1), and a nonfermented peanut meal extract group (150 mg kg−1), and two experimental groups, comprised of a fermented peanut meal extract low‐dose group (50 mg kg−1) and a fermented peanut meal extract high‐dose group (FH, 150 mg kg−1).RESULTSBody weight (P = 0.001) and levels of serum total cholesterol (P = 0.007), triacylglycerol (P = 0.040), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.001), and leptin (P < 0.001) were remarkably decreased in the FH group, whereas the serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased (P < 0.001) by 78.3% compared with the M group. Ileum tissue stained with hematoxylin and eosin showed that the ileal villus detachments in mice were improved, and the villus height was increased by supplementation with extract from fermented peanut meal. Moreover, the expressions of intestinal ZO‐1 (P = 0.003) and occludin (P = 0.013) were elevated in the FH group, compared with the M group.CONCLUSIONExtract of peanut meal fermented by B. natto and Monascus can effectively improve hyperlipidemia caused by a high‐fat diet in mice, via regulating leptin and blood lipid levels, and protect the intestinal mucosal barrier, which provides evidence for its anti‐hyperlipidemia effects and is a research basis for potential industrial development. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Treatment outcome of superficial leiomyosarcoma
Authors: Wellings Elizabeth P. , Tibbo Meagan E. , Rose Peter S. , Folpe Andrew L. , Houdek Matthew T. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundNonuterine leiomyosarcomas (LMS) are common extremity soft‐tissue sarcomas. Deep LMS are at an increased risk for recurrence; however, few studies have focused on superficial LMS.MethodsWe reviewed the clinicopathological features of 82 patients with a primary superficial LMS. The mean age and follow‐up were 57 ± 15 and 7 ± 5 years. Depth was classified as dermal (based in the skin; n = 35, 43%) and subcutaneous (based below the dermis, above the fascia; n = 47, 57%) on the final resection specimen. Dermal cases were treated with negative margin resection, while subcutaneous tumors were evaluated by a multidisciplinary team for consideration of possible adjuvant therapy.ResultsThe 10‐year disease‐specific survival (DSS) for superficial LMS was 90% with no difference (p = .18) in the 10‐year DSS between patients with dermal (100%) and subcutaneous (86%) LMS. All disease recurrences occurred in subcutaneous LMS (17% vs. 0%, p = .02) and subcutaneous tumors had a worse10‐year metastatic free survival (81% vs. 100%, p = .03).ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that dermal LMS can be managed with a negative margin resection alone. Although the prognosis for patients with subcutaneous LMS is quite favorable, there is some risk for local and distant recurrence, and such patients will benefit from multidisciplinary care.
Performance of a hybrid fine pitch quad flat package mounted with a new flux on printed circuit board in surface insulation resistance test
Authors: Zhou D. , Haseeb A.S.M.A. , Andriyana A. , Wong Y.H. , Sabri M.F.M. , Low B.Y. , Pang X.S. , Eu P.L. , Tan L.C. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAn innovative hybrid quad flat package is designed recently by incorporating two types of leads with two distinctive shapes: gull wing and J‐lead. These leads are separated into two layers to increase the adjacent space between them. Pure tin is used as the connector finish in the package, while Sn‐3.0 Ag‐0.5Cu solder material with a new flux is printed on the footprint copper pads of printed circuit board to join the hybrid packages on it. As compared to the conventional quad flat package, the design significantly increases the lead count by 50 % and reduces the distance between two types of leads to 0.325 mm, consequently improving the functional capability in a smaller size product. Surface insulation resistance test is conducted according to IPC‐TM‐650 standard to analyse the reliability of the newly designed hybrid quad flat package. The absence of tin whisker and dendrite after the test demonstrates the reliability of this hybrid package product and the new flux applied.
MRI to C‐arm spine registration through Pseudo‐3D CycleGANs with differentiable histograms
Authors: Oulbacha Reda , Kadoury Samuel 
Published: October 2020

PurposeImage‐guided spine surgery increasingly relies on diagnostic MRI for device navigation, as it allows to visualize the nerves and soft tissues during screw insertion in the pedicle region, which is not possible with preoperative CT or cone beam CT. However, registration of MRI to C‐arm images remains difficult due to differences in visible tissue.MethodsIn this paper, we introduce a three‐dimensional/two‐dimensional (3D/2D) registration method of preoperative T2‐weighted MRI of the lumbar spine to C‐arm X‐ray using synthetic CT images. The registration work is based on a pseudo‐3D CycleGAN integrating a new cyclic loss function to ensure consistency in MRI and CT synthesis using differentiable histograms to match the multimodal distributions. The unified framework allows to improve bony tissue inference as opposed to regular 2D CycleGAN for image synthesis. A multiplanar digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) registration approach aligns the 3D and 2D images.ResultsExperiments performed on a public dataset of 18 pathological spines yielded a mean dice coefficient of 0.84 ± 0.015 on synthetic CTs. The DRR registration experiments, on the other hand, presented a target localization error of 2.1 ± 0.2mm.ConclusionIntensity distributions and voxel‐wise errors in Hounsfield units show encouraging results, illustrating the network's flexibility of producing qualitatively and quantitatively reasonable synthetic CT scans that can be used in a surgical 3D/2D registration framework. These promising results demonstrate the potential of the synthesis tool prior to integration in an image‐guidance system.
A story of diameter, radius, and (almost) Helly property
Authors: Ducoffe Guillaume , Dragan Feodor F. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe present new algorithmic results for the class of Helly graphs, that is, for the discrete analogues of hyperconvex metric spaces. Specifically, an undirected unweighted graph is Helly if every family of pairwise intersecting balls has a nonempty common intersection. It is known that every graph isometrically embeds into a Helly graph that makes of the latter an important class of graphs in metric graph theory. We study diameter and radius computations within the Helly graphs, and related graph classes. This is in part motivated by a conjecture on the fine‐grained complexity of these two distance problems within the graph classes of bounded fractional Helly number—that contain as particular cases the proper minor‐closed graph classes and the bounded clique‐width graphs. Note that under plausible complexity assumptions, neither the diameter nor the radius can be computed in truly subquadratic time on general graphs. In contrast to these negative results, we first present algorithms which given an n‐vertex m‐edge Helly graph G as input, compute with high probability (w.h.p.) its radius and its diameter in time (i.e., subquadratic in n + m). Our algorithms are based on the Helly property and on the unimodality of the eccentricity function in Helly graphs: every vertex of locally minimum eccentricity is a central vertex. Then, we improve our results for the C4‐free Helly graphs, that are exactly the Helly graphs whose balls are convex. For this subclass, we present linear‐time algorithms for computing the eccentricity of all vertices. Doing so, we generalize previous results on strongly chordal graphs to a much larger subclass, that includes, among others, all the bridged Helly graphs and the hereditary Helly graphs. Lastly, we derive approximate versions of our results for the class of chordal graphs: with the latter satisfying an almost‐Helly‐type property, and a stronger (induced‐path) convexity property than the C4‐free Helly graphs. For the chordal graphs, we can compute in quasi linear time the eccentricity of all vertices with an additive one‐sided error of at most one, which is best possible under the strong exponential‐time hypothesis. This answers an open question of Dragan. In fact, we obtain this last result as a byproduct from a more general reduction: from diameter computation on chordal graphs to the Disjoint Sets problem. Roughly, it implies that the split graphs are the only hard instances for diameter computation on chordal graphs. We also get from our reduction that on any subclass of chordal graphs with constant VC‐dimension (and so, for undirected path graphs), the diameter can be computed in truly subquadratic time.
Water‐soluble graphene oxides grafted by polyanilines
Authors: Yamaguchi Isao , Hirota Tomohiro , Wang Aohan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe treatment of graphene oxide having 4‐aminophenyl groups (GO‐AP) with (NH4)2S2O8 yielded an ammonium radical cation (GO‐AP.+). The radical polymerization of N‐(4‐sulfopropyl)aniline (ANPrSO3H) and copolymerization of ANPrSO3H with aniline (AN) in the presence of GO‐AP.+ yielded water‐soluble GO composites that were grafted with poly(N‐(4‐sulfopropyl)aniline) and poly(N‐(4‐sulfopropyl)aniline‐co‐aniline), namely, GO‐AP‐PANPrSO3H and GO‐AP‐PAN/PANPrSO3H, respectively. The formation of the composites consisted of GO, PAN, and PANPrSO3H chains that were bonded to the amino group of GO‐AP, confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and scanning electron microscopy analyses. The UV‐vis measurements suggested that the polymer chains of the composites were self‐doped by the sulfonic acid group and de‐doped by sodium sulfonation. The composites exhibited photoluminescence resulting from the polymer chain and GO depending on the excitation wavelength. They underwent electrochemical oxidation of the polymer backbone and reduction of the carbonyl groups.
Tensile and morphological properties of nanocrystalline cellulose and nanofibrillated cellulose reinforcedPLAbionanocomposites: A review
Authors: Zaaba Nor Fasihah , Jaafar Mariatti , Ismail Hanafi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn recent years, bionanocomposites have received growing attention in science and industry due to their renewability, biodegradability and superior mechanical properties. Nanocellulose is another promising material that use as a reinforcement filler for bionanocomposite materials due to its lightweight, high surface area, high mechanical strength, high aspect ratio and low density. Different nanocellulose loading, sources, surface modification/functionalization and properties of nanocellulose are important in the production of bionanocomposites. In general, nanocellulose reinforced PLA bionanocomposite offers enhancement in tensile strength and elastic modulus. However, only minimal nanocellulose loadings are required for optimal results due to the incompatibility between the hydrophilic nanocellulose and hydrophobic PLA. This paper reviews the sources of nanocellulose and the properties of nanocellulose with a focus on the tensile and morphological properties of PLA bionanocomposites. Applications of nanocellulose in various industries are discussed in this article. This review article provides some important information. First, this study reviewed the application of nanostructured cellulose in biodegradable polymers. There are two types of nanostructured cellulose: nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC). Second, the status on articles published on nanocellulose and PLA/nanocellulose over the past 10 years is reported. Third, the authors of this paper implemented a holistic and critical review to provide a comprehensive understanding of the different properties between NCC and NFC, the application of nanocellulose in bionanocomposites, as well as the properties of PLA and PLA bionanocomposites. Moreover, the influence of NCC and NFC on the tensile and morphological properties of bionanocomposites is covered in this article.
Ion separations with membranes
Authors: Tang Chao , Bruening Merlin L. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIon separations are important for resource recovery, water treatment, and energy production and storage. Techniques such as chemical precipitation, selective adsorption, and solvent extraction are effective, but membranes may separate ions continuously with less waste and lower energy costs. Separation of monovalent and multivalent ions with nanofiltration or electrodialysis membranes already enables water softening and edible salt purification. Similar membranes are attractive as separators in vanadium redox flow batteries. Selective partitioning of divalent counter‐ions into ion‐exchange membranes even allows transport of these ions against their concentration gradients in salt mixtures. However, separations of ions with the same charge is more challenging. Recent research demonstrated highly selective ion “sieving” at small scales. Separations using electrical potentials and differences in ion electrophoretic mobilities are promising, but relatively unexplored. Carrier‐mediated transport affords high selectivity in liquid membranes, but these systems are not very stable, and selective transport via hopping between anchored carriers has proven elusive. Finally, this paper discusses how concentration polarization decreases selectivities in many membrane processes. Although development of selective, inexpensive ion‐separation membranes is a work in progress, successes in water softening and edible salt purification suggests that future selective membranes will serve as complementary methods to traditional purification techniques.
Exploring attitudes about developing cancer among patients with pre‐existing mobility disability
Authors: Agaronnik Nicole D. , El‐Jawahri Areej , Iezzoni Lisa I. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectiveMobility disability affects approximately 13.7% of the United States population, representing the most common disability type. People with mobility disability experience disparities in cancer screening and higher prevalence of some cancers compared to the general population. We sought to explore the attitudes of people with pre‐existing mobility disability about their cancer diagnosis.MethodsWe conducted open‐ended individual interviews with 20 participants who had pre‐existing mobility disability requiring use of an assistive device or assistance with performance of activities of daily living (ADLs), subsequently diagnosed with cancer (excluding skin cancers). Interviews reached data saturation and were transcribed verbatim for conventional content analysis.ResultsConcerns coalesced around three major themes: sense of control over health conditions, seeking support, and recommendations for other people with disability seeking cancer care. Some participants described feeling a loss of control over their cancer diagnosis that they did not have regarding disability, while others suggested that disability presented greater challenges than their cancer diagnosis. Participants described seeking various forms of support, including emotional support (e.g., from friends and family), informational support (e.g., recommendations for seeking care), instrumental support (e.g., ADLs), and appraisal (e.g., self‐reflection of personal qualities for fighting cancer). They provided recommendations, highlighting importance of self‐advocacy and being attuned to changes in health status.ConclusionsWe found that people with pre‐existing mobility disability and cancer express complex attitudes towards their cancer diagnosis. Findings may inform efforts to improve quality of relevant supports to meet the psychosocial needs of this population.
Further thermo‐stabilization of thermophilic rhodopsin from Thermus thermophilusJL‐18 through engineering in extramembrane regions
Authors: Akiyama Tomoki , Kunishima Naoki , Nemoto Sayaka , Kazama Kazuki , Hirose Masako , Sudo Yuki , Matsuura Yoshinori , Naitow Hisashi , Murata Takeshi 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIt is known that a hyperthermostable protein tolerable at temperatures over 100°C can be designed from a soluble globular protein by introducing mutations. To expand the applicability of this technology to membrane proteins, here we report a further thermo‐stabilization of the thermophilic rhodopsin from Thermus thermophilus JL‐18 as a model membrane protein. Ten single mutations in the extramembrane regions were designed based on a computational prediction of folding free‐energy differences upon mutation. Experimental characterizations using the UV‐visible spectroscopy and the differential scanning calorimetry revealed that four of ten mutations were thermo‐stabilizing: V79K, T114D, A115P, and A116E. The mutation‐structure relationship of the TR constructs was analyzed using molecular dynamics simulations at 300 K and at 1800 K that aimed simulating structures in the native and in the random‐coil states, respectively. The native‐state simulation exhibited an ion‐pair formation of the stabilizing V79K mutant as it was designed, and suggested a mutation‐induced structural change of the most stabilizing T114D mutant. On the other hand, the random‐coil‐state simulation revealed a higher structural fluctuation of the destabilizing mutant S8D when compared to the wild type, suggesting that the higher entropy in the random‐coil state deteriorated the thermal stability. The present thermo‐stabilization design in the extramembrane regions based on the free‐energy calculation and the subsequent evaluation by the molecular dynamics may be useful to improve the production of membrane proteins for structural studies.
In vitro reactions of a cyanocobalamin–cisplatin conjugate with nucleoside monophosphates
Authors: Ventura Giovanni , Calvano Cosima Damiana , Losito Ilario , Viola Andrea , Cinquepalmi Valeria , Cataldi Tommaso R.I. 
Published: October 2020

RationaleCisplatin (CP) is a widely used anticancer drug characterized by toxic side effects that could be alleviated using novel delivery systems including CP prodrugs. The in vitro incubation of a putative prodrug, obtained from cyanocobalamin (CNCbl) and cis‐diamminemonochloroplatinum(II) (mCP), with nucleoside monophosphates (NMPs) was investigated.MethodsThe in vitro reactions between the putative prodrug CNCbl‐mCP and the NMPs of adenosine (AMP), guanosine (GMP), cytidine (CMP) and uridine (UMP) were carried out in slightly acidic water–methanol solutions at 37°C for 24 h. Each sample was examined using reversed‐phase liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization in positive ion mode and tandem mass spectrometry (RPLC/ESI‐MS/MS) by collision‐induced dissociation in a linear ion‐trap mass spectrometer.ResultsSeven adducts were recognized as formed by substitution reactions of the chloride ligand in planar CP. Comparison between observed and theoretical isotopic patterns together with MS/MS fragmentation pathways revealed the presence of single or multiple binding sites depending on the NMP involved. The CNCbl‐mCP conjugate was found to interact with N7 or O4 atoms of GMP and UMP, respectively, generating single adducts, while two isomeric adducts were observed for CMP. Finally, AMP gave rise to three isomeric adducts.ConclusionsIn agreement with literature data relevant to the interaction between CP and NMPs, the most reactive nucleotides were AMP and GMP. The present RPLC/ESI‐MS/MS approach is very promising for investigation of the reactions of CP conjugates with ribonucleotides not only in vitro but also in vivo.