bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is subtotal cholecystectomy safe and feasible? Short‐ and long‐term results
Authors: Acar Nihan , Acar Turan , Sür Yunus , Bağ Halis , Kar Haldun , Yılmaz Bozok Yeliz , Dilek Osman Nuri 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundCholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures. However, it may result in some unpleasant conditions such as bile duct injury (BDI), bile leak, and vessel injury. Subtotal cholecystectomy (SC), which has been introduced as an alternative method for reducing the complication rates, has been reported to have lower risk of BDI when compared to total cholecystectomy.This study aimed to evaluate the indications for SC, its early and late complications and their management, and the risk factors affecting the bile leak.MethodsFifty‐seven patients who underwent SC were included in the study, and their medical records were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsThirty‐three patients were male (57.9%) and the mean age was 64.84 ± 11.35 (range: 29‐86). All patients had at least one episode of cholecystitis. Forty‐seven (82.5%) patients underwent surgery under emergency conditions. Postoperative bile leak/fistula, surgical site infection, and fluid collection were developed in 12 (21.1%), eight (14%), and six (10.5%) patients, respectively. Leaving the remnant tissue pouch open, presence of comorbidity and emergency operative condition were found to increase the risk of leak development (P < .001).During the average follow‐up of 49 months (range: 13‐98), symptomatic choledocholithiasis, symptomatic gallstones in the remnant tissue, and incisional hernia were detected within the first year of surgery in three (5.3%), four (7%), and seven (12.3%) patients, respectively.ConclusionsAlthough SC is not an equivalent to total cholecystectomy, its vital benefit of lowering the risk of BDI should be considered in difficult cases.
Limitations of an in vitro model of the poultry digestive tract on the evaluation of the catalytic performance of phytases
Authors: Greiner Ralf 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe study aims to investigate the limitation of a poultry digestive tract model developed by Menezes‐Blackburn et al. [J Agric Food Chem 63: 6142–6149 (2015)] on the evaluation of the bioefficacy of phytases.RESULTSIt was confirmed that the in vitro model does not mimic the in vivo situation in the birds sufficiently well to identify the best phytase product under real conditions, or to draw conclusion on the effect of phytate concentration, phytate source or feed composition on the bioefficacy of phytase. Addition of calcium ion (Ca2+) up to a concentration of 10 g kg−1 to the feed substrate, for example, did not affect enzymatic phytate dephosphorylation in the in vitro model in contrast to the observation in poultry.CONCLUSIONThe in vitro approach was shown to be applicable as a complementary tool in the pre‐selection of promising phytase candidates, resulting in a reduction in the number of feeding trials in the initial screening phase. © 2020 The Author. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Effect of altitude and terrain aspect on the chemical composition of Coffea canephora cherries and sensory characteristics of the beverage
Authors: Pereira Priscila V , da Silveira Daila L , Schwan Rosane F , de Assis Silva Samuel , Coelho Jussara M , Bernardes Patrícia C 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe terrain slope and field altitude where the plant is cultivated influence the composition of coffee cherries. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of different levels of altitude and terrain slope on the Coffea canephora cherries, as well as on the quality of the final beverage. C. canephora harvested in fields with 300 and 600 m altitude and with southeast‑ and northwest‐facing slopes was evaluated.RESULTSLower pH values were observed for cherries cultivated at higher altitudes. The highest percentage of soluble solids (525.00 g kg−1) was found on northwest‐facing slopes at 300 m. The highest values of phenolic compounds were observed at 600 m. Significant differences were found in the moisture of coffee cherries grown in different terrain slope and in the fiber content at different altitudes. The results do not enable us to conclude how the altitude and terrain slope influence the mineral content of cherries. Acidity, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates were not influenced by altitude or terrain slope. The scores of cup quality were significantly affected by the altitude but not by the terrain slope. Coffees from cherries harvested in fields with 600 m altitude obtained the higher scores.CONCLUSIONResults show that altitude and terrain slope influence some compounds of coffee fruits, whereas others remain unaffected. The findings are important because, during coffee fruits processing, these compounds are used to produce others that will have an influence on the bean and coffee beverage quality. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Design and Synthesis of Polyimide Covalent Organic Frameworks
Authors: Zhang Ya , Huang Zhe , Ruan Bo , Zhang Xinke , Jiang Tao , Ma Ning , Tsai Fang‐Chang 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAs a subseries of the covalent organic framework (COF) material family, polyimide‐based covalent organic framework (PI‐COF) material, which has the advantages of high stability of polyimide, high specific surface area, and controllable pores of COF material, is expected to be a new type of porous material with potential applications. Although the development of PI‐COF is in the early stages during the past decade, it has attracted extensive attention and is widely used in heterogeneous catalysis, gas separation, and storage fields. Therefore, this review is aiming to give a comprehensive understanding of the recent progress of PI‐COFs. This article summarizes the progress of PI‐COF from three aspects: controllable structure design, synthesis method, and application. First of all, under the guidance of network chemical design principles, the topology type of PI‐COF and the size and shape of the formed pores are summarized in terms of different organic monomers. Then the five synthetic strategies for the synthesis of PI‐COF are analyzed. Finally, the applications of PI‐COF in adsorption and separation, drug delivery, solar‐to‐electrochemical energy storage, photocatalysis, and electrocatalyst are introduced.
RNA splicing alteration in the response to platinum chemotherapy in ovarian cancer: A possible biomarker and therapeutic target
Authors: Pellarin Ilenia , Belletti Barbara , Baldassarre Gustavo 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSince its discovery, alternative splicing has been recognized as a powerful way for a cell to amplify the genetic information and for a living organism to adapt, evolve, and survive. We now know that a very high number of genes are regulated by alternative splicing and that alterations of splicing have been observed in different types of human diseases, including cancer. Here, we review the accumulating knowledge that links the regulation of alternative splicing to the response to chemotherapy, focusing our attention on ovarian cancer and platinum‐based treatments. Moreover, we discuss how expanding information could be exploited to identify new possible biomarkers of platinum response, to better select patients, and/or to design new therapies able to overcome platinum resistance.
Chromosomal translocation disrupting the SMAD4 gene resulting in the combined phenotype of Juvenile polyposis syndrome and Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
Authors: Aagaard Katrine S. , Brusgaard Klaus , Miceikaite Ieva , Larsen Martin J. , Kjeldsen Anette D. , Lester Emilie B. , Ousager Lilian B. , Tørring Pernille M. 
Published: October 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundPatients with germline variants in SMAD4 can present symptoms of both juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS) and Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT): JP‐HHT syndrome. Next‐Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques disclose causative sequence variants in around 90% of HHT patients fulfilling the Curaçao criteria. Here we report a translocation event involving SMAD4 resulting in JP‐HHT.MethodsA patient fulfilling the Curaçao criteria was analyzed for variants in ENG, ACVRL1, and SMAD4 using standard techniques. Whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) using both short‐read NGS technology and long‐read Oxford Nanopore technology was performed to define the structural variant and exact breakpoints.ResultsNo pathogenic variant was detected in ENG, ACVRL1, or SMAD4 in DNA extracted from blood. Due to abortus habitualis, the proband´s daughter was submitted for chromosomal analysis, and a cytogenetically balanced chromosomal reciprocal translocation t(1;18)(p36.1;q21.1) was detected in the daughter and the patient. The balanced translocation segregated with both gastrointestinal cancer and HHT in the family. WGS provided the exact breakpoints of the reciprocal translocation proving disruption of the SMAD4 gene.DiscussionA disease‐causing reciprocal translocation between chromosome 1 and 18 with a breakpoint in the SMAD4 locus co‐segregated with JP‐HHT in an extended family. This observation warrants further analysis for chromosomal rearrangements in individuals with clinical HHT or JP‐HHT of unknown cause.
Machine learning prediction of axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer: 2D versus 3D radiomic features
Authors: Arefan Dooman , Chai Ruimei , Sun Min , Zuley Margarita L. , Wu Shandong 
Published: October 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to distinguish axillary lymph node (ALN) status using preoperative breast DCE‐MRI radiomics and compare the effects of two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) analysis.MethodsA retrospective study including 154 breast cancer patients all confirmed by pathology; 80 with ALN metastasis and 74 without. All MRI scans were achieved at a 3.0 Tesla scanner with 7 post‐contrast MR phases sequentially acquired with a temporal resolution of 60 s. MRI radiomic features were extracted separately from a 2D single slice (i.e., the representative slice) and the 3D tumor volume. Several machine learning classifiers were built and compared using 2D or 3D analysis to distinguish positive vs negative ALN status. We performed independent test and 10‐fold cross validation with multiple repetitions, and used bootstrap test, least absolute shrinkage selection operator, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis as statistical tests.ResultsThe highest area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.81 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.80–0.83) and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.81–0.82) for 2D and 3D analysis, respectively; the corresponding accuracy was 79% and 80%. The linear discriminant analysis (LDA) classifier achieved the highest classification performance. None of the AUC differences between 2D and 3D analysis was statistically significant for the several tested machine learning classifiers (allP> 0.05).ConclusionsRadiomic features from segmented tumor region in breast MRI were associated with ALN status. The separate radiomic analysis on 3D tumor volume showed a similar effect to the 2D analysis on the single representative slice in the tested machine learning classifiers.
Increased blood–brain barrier permeability to water in the aging brain detected using noninvasive multi‐TE ASL MRI
Authors: Ohene Yolanda , Harrison Ian F. , Evans Phoebe G. , Thomas David L. , Lythgoe Mark F. , Wells Jack A. 
Published: October 2020

PurposeA fundamental goal in the drive to understand and find better treatments for dementia is the identification of the factors that render the aging brain vulnerable to neurodegenerative disease. Recent evidence indicates the integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to be an important component of functional failure underlying age‐related cognitive decline. Practical and sensitive measurement is necessary, therefore, to support diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeted at maintaining BBB integrity in aging patients. Here, we investigated changes in BBB permeability to endogenous blood water in the aging brain.MethodsA multiple‐echo‐time arterial spin‐labeling MRI technique, implemented on a 9.4T Bruker imaging system, was applied to 7‐ and 27‐month‐old mice to measure changes in water permeability across the BBB with aging.ResultsWe observed that BBB water permeability was 32% faster in aged mice. This occurred along with a 2.1‐fold increase in mRNA expression of aquaporin‐4 water channels and a 7.1‐fold decrease in mRNA expression of α‐syntrophin protein, which anchors aquaporin‐4 to the BBB.ConclusionAge‐related changes to water permeability across the BBB can be captured using noninvasive noncontrast MRI techniques.
Dual‐peptide functionalized nanoparticles for therapeutic use
Authors: Forest Chelsea R. , Silva Caitlin A. C. , Thordarson Pall 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPeptide‐functionalized nanoparticles combine the best of both; the ability of nanoparticles to deliver a drug “cargo” throughout the body and the ability of peptides to selectively target certain cell types or biological systems. The vast majority of peptide‐functionalized nanoparticles employ only one type of peptide, however, to truly realize the potential of these systems in medicine, nanoparticles equipped with two or even more peptide functionalities are desirable. In this review, the latest developments in dual‐peptide functionalized nanoparticles are discussed. These are categorized depending on their structure; first broadly into grafted and self‐assembled dual‐peptide‐nanoparticles with the former then subdivided further into nonconjugated, linearly conjugated and branched conjugated dual‐peptide functionalized nanoparticles. These different categories of dual‐peptide nanoparticles are then discussed with regards to the type of functional peptides used and their role in selective targeting nanomedicine.
Hydrogels from serum albumin in a molten globule‐like state
Authors: Arabi Seyed Hamidreza , Aghelnejad Behdad , Volmer Jonas , Hinderberger Dariush 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe demonstrate that a molten globule‐like (MG) state of a protein, usually described as a compact yet non‐folded conformation that is only present in a narrow and delicate parameter range, is preserved in the high concentration environment of the protein hydrogel. We reveal mainly by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy that bovine serum albumin (BSA) retains the known basic MG state after a hydrogel has been formed from 20 wt% precursor solutions. At pH values of ~11.4, BSA hydrogels made from MG‐BSA remain stable for weeks, while gels formed at slightly different (~0.2) pH units above and below the MG‐state value dissolve into viscous solutions. On the contrary, when hydrophobic screening agents are added such as amphiphilic, EPR‐active stearic acid derivatives (16‐DOXYL‐stearic acid, 16‐DSA), the MG‐state based hydrogel is the least long‐lived, as the hydrophobic interaction of delicately exposed hydrophobic patches of BSA molecules is screened by the amphiphilic molecules. These bio‐ and polymer‐physically unexpected findings may lead to new bio‐compatible MG‐based hydrogels that display novel properties in comparison to conventional gels.
A first‐principles approach for treating wastewaters
Authors: Santana Adriano , Farinha Andreia S. F. , Toraño Aniela Zarzar , Ibrahim Mahmoud , Mishra Himanshu 
Published: October 2020

AbstractNumerous materials are employed for the removal of contaminants from wastewaters. However, the regeneration/reuse of these materials is still seldom practiced. Quantitative insights into intermolecular forces between the contaminants and the functional surfaces might aid the rational design of reusable materials. Here, we compare the efficacies of aliphatic (C8H18), aromatic (C6H6), and aromatic perfluorinated (C6F6) moieties at removing methylene blue (MB+) as a surrogate cationic dye from water. We employed density functional theory with an implicit polarizable continuum model for water to accurately determine the contributions of the solvent's electrostatics in the adsorption process. Our calculations pinpointed the relative contributions of ππ stacking, van der Waals complexation, hydrogen bonding, and cationπ interactions, predicting that MB+ would bind the strongest with C6F6 due to hydrogen bonding and the weakest with C8H18. Complementary laboratory experiments revealed that, despite the similar hydrophobicity of silica beads functionalized with SiC8H17, SiC6H5, and SiC6F5 groups, as characterized by their water contact angles, the relative uptake of aqueous MB+ varied as SiC6F5 (95%) > SiC6H5 (35%) > SiC8H17 (3%). This first principles‐led experimental approach can be easily extended to other classes of dyes, thereby advancing the rational design of adsorbents.
Self‐catalytic mechanism of prebiotic reactions: II. From urea and glycinamide to hypoxanthine
Authors: Enchev Venelin , Slavova Sofia 
Published: October 2020

AbstractMechanisms of reactions for formylation of urea, leading toN,N′‐diformylurea, and for the dehydration of glycinamide andN,N′‐diformylurea, yielding hypoxanthine, are suggested. It is shown that these reactions are self‐catalyzed. The first is catalyzed by formic acid, while the second is catalyzed byN,N′‐diformylurea. The suggested reaction mechanism shows that the N3 and N9 atoms of hypoxanthine originate from urea in agreement with available1H NMR experimental data by Lagoja and Herdewijn (Lagoja & Herdewijn,Chem. Biodiv.2004, 1, 106). A complete reaction pathway of prebiotic reactions for formation of the hypoxanthine from urea, formic acid, and glycinamide in formamide, where formamide/formimidic acid plays the role of a proton‐carrying catalyst, is also suggested.
Trigger‐based tracking control for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems via an event‐triggered extended state observer
Authors: Yang Yang , Si Xuefeng , Yue Dong 
Published: October 2020

SummaryAn event‐triggered observer‐based output feedback control issue together with triggered input is investigated for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems subject to unknown external disturbances. Two separate event‐triggered conditions are located on the measurement channel and control channel, respectively. An event‐triggered extended state observer (ETESO) is employed to estimate unmeasurable states and compensate uncertainties and disturbances in real time while it is not required for real‐time output measurement. Then, combined with backstepping method and active disturbance rejection control, an output feedback control scheme is proposed, where an event‐triggered input is developed for reducing the communication rate between the controller and the actuator. The triggered instants are determined by a time‐varying event‐triggered condition. Two simulations, including a numerical example and an permanent‐magnet motor, are illustrated to verify the effectiveness of the proposed schemes.
Software smell detection techniques: A systematic literature review
Authors: AbuHassan Amjad , Alshayeb Mohammad , Ghouti Lahouari 
Published: October 2020

AbstractSoftware smells indicate design or code issues that might degrade the evolution and maintenance of software systems. Detecting and identifying these issues are challenging tasks. This paper explores, identifies, and analyzes the existing software smell detection techniques at design and code levels. We carried out a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify and collect 145 primary studies related to smell detection in software design and code. Based on these studies, we address several questions related to the analysis of the existing smell detection techniques in terms of abstraction level (design or code), targeted smells, used metrics, implementation, and validation. Our analysis identified several detection techniques categories. We observed that 57% of the studies did not use any performance measures, 41% of them omitted details on the targeted programing language, and the detection techniques were not validated in 14% of these studies. With respect to the abstraction level, only 18% of the studies addressed bad smell detection at the design level. This low coverage urges for more focus on bad smell detection at the design level to handle them at early stages. Finally, our SLR brings to the attention of the research community several opportunities for future research.
The role of burden of disease assessment in tracking progress towards achieving WHO global air quality guidelines
Authors: Evangelopoulos Dimitris , Perez-Velasco Roman , Walton Heather , Gumy Sophie , Williams Martin , Kelly Frank J. , Künzli Nino 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectivesMore than 90% of the global population live in areas exceeding the PM2.5air quality guidelines (AQGs). We provide an overview of the ambient PM2.5-related burden of disease (BoD) studies along with scenario analysis in the framework of the WHO AQG update on the estimated reduction in the BoD if AQGs were achieved globally.MethodsWe reviewed the literature for large-scale studies for the BoD attributed to ambient PM2.5. Moreover, we used the latest WHO statistics to calculate the BoD at current levels and the scenarios of aligning with interim targets and AQG levels.ResultsThe most recent BoD studies (2010 onwards) share a similar methodology, but there are differences in the input data which affect the estimates for attributable deaths (2.9–8.9 million deaths annually). Moreover, we found that if AQGs were achieved, the estimated BoD would be reduced by up to 50% in total deaths worldwide.ConclusionsUnderstanding the BoD across countries, especially in those that do not align with the AQGs, is essential in order to inform actions to reduce air pollution globally.
Design of custom cranial prostheses combining manufacturing and drop test finite element simulations
Authors: Palumbo G. , Piccininni A. , Ambrogio G. , Sgambitterra E. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn this work, impact puncture tests (drop tests) have been used to both tune numerical models and correlate the performance of customised titanium cranial prostheses to the manufacturing process. In fact, experimental drop tests were carried out either on flat disk-shaped samples or on prototypes of titanium cranial prostheses (Ti-Gr5 and Ti-Gr23 were used) fabricated via two innovative sheet metal forming processes (the super plastic forming (SPF) and the single point incremental forming (SPIF)). Results from drop tests on flat disk-shaped samples were used to define the material behaviour of the two investigated alloys in the finite element (FE) model, whereas drop tests on cranial prostheses for validation purposes. Two different approaches were applied and compared for the FE simulation of the drop test: (i) assuming a constant thickness (equal to the one of the undeformed blank) or (ii) importing the thickness distribution determined by the sheet forming processes. The FE model of the drop test was used to numerically evaluate the effect of the manufacturing process parameters on the impact performance of the prostheses: SPF simulations were run changing the strain rate and the tool configuration, whereas SPIF simulations were run changing the initial thickness of the sheet and the forming strategy. The comparison between numerical and experimental data revealed that the performance in terms of impact response of the prostheses strongly depends on its thickness distribution, being strain hardening phenomena absent due to the working conditions adopted for the SPF process or to the annealing treatment conducted after the SPIF process. The manufacturing parameters/routes, able to affect the thickness distribution, can be thus effectively related to the mechanical performance of the prosthesis determined through impact puncture tests.