bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation of amino acids and minerals in Chinese breast milk
Authors: Wei Meng , Deng Zeyuan , Liu Biao , Ye Wenhui , Fan Yawei , Liu Rong , Li Jing 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe nutrients in human milk, particularly amino acids and minerals, are important for infant growth and development. Since there are few reports of amino acids and minerals in Chinese breast milk, we conducted this study to establish a representative preliminary database of breast milk nutrients in Chinese breast milk. In this study, we collected breast milk from healthy mothers in seven cities in western, southern and central China. The composition, content and proportion of total amino acids and ten elements (potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, selenium and phosphorus) in human milk in different lactation stages were investigated.RESULTSIn this study, it was found that the content of total essential amino acids (671.47 mg 100 mL−1) in Chinese breast milk was higher compared with the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) (574 mg 100 mL−1), but the content of leucine (LEU) (129.01 mg 100 mL−1) and cysteine (CYS) (20.31 mg 100 mL−1) was much lower than that recommended by ESPGHAN. Moreover, it was found that the content of most of these ten elements decreased during lactation, and the content of calcium in Chinese breast milk was lower compared with ESPGHAN. In addition, the content of selenium (7.23–20.55 mg 1000 mL−1) in breast milk from the three cities Nanchang, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China was much higher than that recommended by ESPGHAN.CONCLUSIONSIn a word, amino acids and minerals in Chinese human milk showed a significant difference from other countries. Human milk meal or infant food should be regulated to meet the requirements of the infant and to maintain the balance of the amino acids and minerals. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Evaluation of fish freshness using impedance spectroscopy based on the characteristic parameter of orthogonal direction difference
Authors: Sun Jian , Zhang Rongbiao , Zhang Yecheng , Liang Qiufang , Zhang Fei , Xu Peifeng , Li Guoxiao 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDAs a nondestructive testing technology, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) has been applied to evaluate food quality because of its features of rapidity, low cost, nondestructiveness and portability. However, fish freshness evaluation based on existing EIS technology is affected by the differences of individual biological samples. In this study, the difference of electrical properties between two orthogonal directions was extracted to develop a new freshness indicator. A real part orthogonal direction difference parameter set (RODDS) was used to establish a prediction model for total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N).RESULTSCompared with the traditional parameter of EIS, coefficient of determination between RODDS and TVB‐N increased from 0.55 to 0.71 for the calibration group, and root mean squared error between predicted and measured values of TVB‐N decreased from 5.46 to 3.81 for the test group.CONCLUSIONSThe results implied that RODDS could effectively offset individual differences in basic electrical properties and improve the TVB‐N prediction accuracy in practical application scenarios with samples from multiple origins. The proposed method may provide a new idea for the development and improvement of EIS‐based portable testing devices for fish and meat. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Failure to follow up on a medically actionable finding from direct to consumer genetic testing: A case report
Authors: Garmany Ramin , Lee Christopher J. , Sharp Richard R. , Kullo Iftikhar J. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundA 61‐year‐old woman underwent direct to consumer genetic testing and was found to be homozygous for the C282Y HFE variant (c.845G>A :p.Cys282Tyr) which is classified as pathogenic/likely pathogenic for hereditary hemochromatosis. However, no action was taken by the individual.MethodsThe individual took part in the Mayo Clinic Return of Actionable Variants Empiric (RAVE) study and the actionable finding was confirmed and results disclosed in person by a genetic counselor with subsequent referral to a hepatologist.ResultsFurther testing revealed iron overload with an elevated ferritin level (560 ng/ml) and increased ferritin saturation (74%). Phlebotomy was initiated with subsequent normalization of the ferritin levels (252 ng/ml).ConclusionThis case highlights that actionable genetic results may not be acted on after direct to consumer testing and the need for effective genetic counseling after such testing.
Quantitative imaging performance of MARS spectral photon‐counting CT for radiotherapy
Authors: Simard Mikaël , Panta Raj Kumar , Bell Stephen T. , Butler Anthony P.H. , Bouchard Hugo 
Published: April 2020

PurposeTo evaluate the quantitative imaging performance of a spectral photon‐counting computed tomography (SPCCT) scanner for radiotherapy applications. An experimental comparison of the quantitative performance of a Siemens dual‐energy CT (DECT) and a MARS SPCCT scanner is performed to estimate physical properties relevant to radiotherapy of human substitute materials and contrast agent solutions. In human substitute materials, the accuracy of quantities relevant to photon therapy, proton therapy, and Monte‐Carlo simulations, such as the electron density, proton stopping power, and elemental composition is evaluated. For contrast agent solutions, the accuracy of the contrast agent concentrations and the virtual non‐contrast (VNC) electron density is evaluated.MethodsHuman tissue substitute phantoms (Gammex 467 and 472) as well as diluted solutions of contrast agents (iodine and gadolinium based) are scanned with two commercial systems: a Siemens dual‐source CT (SOMATOM Definition Flash, Siemens Healthineers, Forchheim, Germany) and a MARS spectral photon‐counting micro‐CT (MARS V5.2, MARS Bioimaging Ltd., Christchurch, New Zealand). Material decomposition is performed in a maximum a posteriori framework with an optimized material basis tailored to characterize either human substitute materials or contrast agents in the context of experimental multi‐energy CT data.ResultsThe root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) of the electron density calculated over all Gammex inserts is reduced from 1.09 to 0.89% when going from DECT to SPCCT. For the proton stopping power, the RMSE is reduced from 1.92 to 0.89%. Elemental mass fractions of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and calcium are more accurately estimated with the MARS scanner. The RMSE on the iodine‐based contrast agents concentration is reduced from 0.27 to 0.12 mg/mL with SPCCT, and the VNC electron density from 0.40 to 0.22%.ConclusionIn the present phantom study, a MARS photon‐counting scanner provides superior accuracy compared to a Siemens SOMATOM Definition Flash DECT scanner to quantify physical parameters relevant to radiotherapy. This work experimentally demonstrates the benefits of using more energies to characterize human tissue equivalent materials. This highlights the potential of SPCCT for particle therapy, where more accurate tissue characterization is needed, as well as for Monte‐Carlo based planning, which requires accurate elemental mass fractions.
Automating in vivo cardiac diffusion tensor postprocessing with deep learning–based segmentation
Authors: Ferreira Pedro F. , Martin Raquel R. , Scott Andrew D. , Khalique Zohya , Yang Guang , Nielles‐Vallespin Sonia , Pennell Dudley J. , Firmin David N. 
Published: April 2020

PurposeIn this work we develop and validate a fully automated postprocessing framework for in vivo diffusion tensor cardiac magnetic resonance (DT‐CMR) data powered by deep learning.MethodsA U‐Net based convolutional neural network was developed and trained to segment the heart in short‐axis DT‐CMR images. This was used as the basis to automate and enhance several stages of the DT‐CMR tensor calculation workflow, including image registration and removal of data corrupted with artifacts, and to segment the left ventricle. Previously collected and analyzed scans (348 healthy scans and 144 cardiomyopathy patient scans) were used to train and validate the U‐Net. All data were acquired at 3 T with a STEAM‐EPI sequence. The DT‐CMR postprocessing and U‐Net training/testing were performed with MATLAB and Python TensorFlow, respectively.ResultsThe U‐Net achieved a median Dice coefficient of 0.93 [0.92, 0.94] for the segmentation of the left‐ventricular myocardial region. The image registration of diffusion images improved with the U‐Net segmentation (P < .0001), and the identification of corrupted images achieved an F1 score of 0.70 when compared with an experienced user. Finally, the resulting tensor measures showed good agreement between an experienced user and the fully automated method.ConclusionThe trained U‐Net successfully automated the DT‐CMR postprocessing, supporting real‐time results and reducing human workload. The automatic segmentation of the heart improved image registration, resulting in improvements of the calculated DT parameters.
Technical note: Finite‐time regret analysis of Kiefer‐Wolfowitz stochastic approximation algorithm and nonparametric multi‐product dynamic pricing with unknown demand
Authors: Hong L. Jeff , Li Chenghuai , Luo Jun 
Published: April 2020

AbstractWe consider the problem of nonparametric multi‐product dynamic pricing with unknown demand and show that the problem may be formulated as an online model‐free stochastic program, which can be solved by the classical Kiefer‐Wolfowitz stochastic approximation (KWSA) algorithm. We prove that the expected cumulative regret of the KWSA algorithm is bounded above by where κ1, κ2 are positive constants and T is the number of periods for any T = 1, 2, …. Therefore, the regret of the KWSA algorithm grows in the order of , which achieves the lower bounds known for parametric dynamic pricing problems and shows that the nonparametric problems are not necessarily more difficult to solve than the parametric ones. Numerical experiments further demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed KW pricing policy by comparing with some pricing policies in the literature.
Predictors of Weight Loss in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer Receiving Radiation or Concurrent Chemoradiation Treated at a Tertiary Cancer Center
Authors: Pandit Prakash , Patil Roshankumar , Palwe Vijay , Yasam Venkata Ramesh , Nagarkar Rajnish 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundRadiation therapy (RT) has remained the mainstay treatment approach for head and neck cancers. Weight loss due to tumor or tumor‐related factors remains a major health issue among head and neck cancer patients.MethodsA total of 357 patients were identified for the study. Possible weight‐loss predictors were determined in the patients undergoing RT based on the patient demographics, tumor site, and treatment characteristics.ResultsThe mean age of patients was 52 years, whereas the median age was 51 years (range, 18–87). Two hundred and thirteen (66%) patients had oral cavity cancers, 43 (14%) had oropharyngeal cancer, 26 (8%) had hypopharyngeal cancer, 13 (6%) had larynx cancer, and 19 (6%) had other site involvement. A total of 192 patients received 3‐dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3DCRT), whereas 127 patients received intensity modulated radiation therapy–image guided radiation therapy (IMRT‐IGRT), 212 (66%) received concurrent chemotherapy, and 107 (34%) patients did not receive concurrent chemotherapy. A total of 127 (40%) of the patients gained weight during the first week of RT; on the other hand, maximum weight loss among patients was occurred during the third and fourth weeks of RT.ConclusionAnalysis by logistic regression determined there is significant weight loss (>10%) in patients receiving radical RT as compared with adjuvant RT. Better outcomes were observed in patients receiving RT by IMRT‐IGRT technique as compared with 3DCRT technique.
Early‐Life Gut Microbiome—The Importance of Maternal and Infant Factors in Its Establishment
Authors: Kapourchali Fatemeh Ramezani , Cresci Gail A. M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe early‐life microbiome is gaining appreciation as a major influencer in human development and long‐term health. Multiple factors are known to influence the initial colonization, development, and function of the neonatal gut microbiome. In addition, alterations in early‐life gut microbial composition is associated with several chronic health conditions such as obesity, asthma, and allergies. In this review, we focus on both maternal and infant factors known to influence early‐life gut colonization. Also reviewed is the important role of infant feeding, including evidence‐based strategies for maternal and infant supplementation with the goal to protect and/or restore the infant gut microbiome.
Background risk and nonprofit endowment portfolio volatility
Authors: Qu Heng 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis article focuses on endowed operating public charities that receive income not only from sources such as donations, grants, and service fees but also from endowment portfolios. Using the Form 990 data between 2009 and 2016, this study examines if the risk from nonendowment income sources, namely background risk, is relevant to endowment portfolio volatility, and if there are any differences across four types of nonprofits where endowment assets are the most concentrated, including museums, universities and colleges, K‐12 schools, and hospitals. The results show that the association between background risk and endowment portfolio volatility is significant and negative for universities; however, it is either nonsignificant or significantly positive for other types of organizations. This study extends research on university endowments to other types of endowed nonprofits. The findings imply different endowment objectives and reflect different asset allocation strategies across types of organizations.
Influence of processing and particle morphology on final properties of polypropylene/talc nanocomposites
Authors: Castillo Luciana A. , Barbosa Silvia E. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe influence of different processing operations as well as particle morphology and concentration on microstructure and final mechanical properties of polypropylene/talc nanocomposites was studied, performing not only a comparative but also a combined analysis. Two continuous manufacturing process (injection molding and blown film extrusion) and two talc particle morphologies (macro and microcrystalline) were selected. Neat polypropylene and their nanocomposites containing different talc contents (1 and 5 wt%) were previously prepared in a twin‐screw extruder and then they were processed using both processing operations. For injected nanocomposites, tensile behavior was strongly dependent on talc morphology. Tensile strength as well as ductility of nanocomposites containing macrocrystalline talc were higher than the corresponding to polypropylene/microcrystalline talc ones. Meanwhile, talc morphology influenced slightly on tensile behavior of nanocomposite films. These results allow selecting the appropriate particle morphology for each processing operation in order to obtain the best mechanical properties.
BdGT43B2 functions in xylan biosynthesis and is essential for seedling survival in Brachypodium distachyon
Authors: Petrik Deborah L. , Tryfona Theodora , Dupree Paul , Anderson Charles T. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractXylan is the predominant hemicellulose in the primary cell walls of grasses, but its synthesis and interactions with other wall polysaccharides are complex and incompletely understood. To probe xylan biosynthesis, we generated CRISPR/Cas9 knockout and amiRNA knockdown lines of BdGT43B2, an ortholog of the wheat TaGT43‐4 xylan synthase scaffolding protein in the IRX14 clade, in Brachypodium distachyon. Knockout of BdGT43B2 caused stunting and premature death in Brachypodium seedlings. Immunofluorescence labeling of xylans was greatly reduced in homozygous knockout BdGT43B2 mutants, whereas cellulose labeling was unchanged or slightly increased. Biochemical analysis showed reductions in digestible xylan in knockout mutant walls, and cell size was smaller in knockout leaves. BdGT43B2 knockdown plants appeared morphologically normal as adults, but showed slight reductions in seedling growth and small decreases in xylose content in isolated cell walls. Immunofluorescence labeling of xylan and cellulose staining was both reduced in BdGT43B2 knockdown plants. Together, these data indicate that BdGT43B2 functions in the synthesis of a form of xylan that is required for seedling growth and survival in Brachypodium distachyon.
Energy stores and mercury concentrations in a common minnow (spottail shiner, Notropis hudsonius) associated with a peaking hydroelectric dam
Authors: Green Derek J. , Jardine Timothy D. , Weber Lynn P. , Janz David M. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractPeaking hydroelectric facilities release water from dams to match energy production with demand, often on a daily cycle. These fluctuating flows downstream can exert several potential stressors on organisms that may inhibit their growth, indirectly causing higher contaminant concentrations through reduced growth dilution. We collected spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) at two sites upstream and two sites downstream of a peaking hydroelectric dam in east‐central Saskatchewan, Canada, and compared their body condition, triglyceride concentrations, and mercury concentrations. Condition decline was observed in one of two downstream sites from August to September, and the lowest triglyceride concentrations were consistently found downstream of the dam where hydropeaking had the most perceptible effects on the shoreline. Mercury concentrations were significantly greater at both downstream sites relative to upstream. Despite these results, inconsistencies in response parameters across sites and time limited our ability to isolate the effects of hydropeaking as a causative agent and suggest indirect effects such as shifts in algal and macroinvertebrate communities may be responsible for our observations. These results suggest that hydroelectric power generation may indirectly increase mercury concentrations in downstream fish, but more research will be required to determine the specific mechanisms by which this occurs. The results and data also provide useful insights into the physiology of wild spottail shiner populations, which can help to inform the development of these fish as a North American sentinel species.
Metal‐Free Synthesis of Pyrazoles and Chromenopyrazoles from Hydrazones and Acetylenic Esters
Authors: Bhaskaran Rasmi P. , Janardhanan Jith C. , Babu Beneesh P. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAn efficient, metal‐free synthesis of pyrazoles and chromenopyrazoles from aldehyde hydrazones and acetylenic esters has been developed. A library of molecules with diverse functional groups has been synthesized using substituted hydrazones and alkynes, both symmetrical and unsymmetrical ones. The derivatives were isolated in moderate to good yields.
Active Delivery of VLPs Promotes Anti‐Tumor Activity in a Mouse Ovarian Tumor Model
Authors: Wang Chao , Fernández de Ávila Berta Esteban , Mundaca‐Uribe Rodolfo , Lopez‐Ramirez Miguel Angel , Ramírez‐Herrera Doris E. , Shukla Sourabh , Steinmetz Nicole F. , Wang Joseph 
Published: April 2020

AbstractVirus‐like nanoparticles (VLPs) have been used as an attractive means in cancer immunotherapy because of their unique intrinsic immunostimulatory properties. However, for treating metastatic tumors in the peritoneal cavity, such as ovarian cancer, multiple injections of therapy are needed due to the large peritoneal space and fast excretion of therapy. Here, it is reported on the development of active VLP delivery vehicles for the treatment of peritoneal ovarian tumors using biocompatible Qβ VLPs‐loaded Mg‐based micromotors. The autonomous propulsion of such Qβ VLPs‐loaded Mg‐micromotors in the peritoneal fluid enables active delivery of intact immunostimulatory Qβ VLPs to the peritoneal space of ovarian tumor bearing mice, greatly enhancing the local distribution and retention of Qβ VLPs. Such improved distribution and longer retention time of Qβ in the peritoneal cavity leads to enhanced immunostimulation and therefore increased survival rate of tumor‐bearing mice compared to a passive Qβ treatment. For clinical translation, the active delivery of VLPs holds great promise for tumor immunotherapy toward the treatment of different types of primary and metastatic tumors in the peritoneal cavity.
Human‐on‐Leaf‐Chip: A Biomimetic Vascular System Integrated with Chamber‐Specific Organs
Authors: Mao Mao , Bei Ho Pan , Lam Chun Hei , Chen Pengyu , Wang Shuqi , Chen Ying , He Jiankang , Zhao Xin 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe vascular network is a central component of the organ‐on‐a‐chip system to build a 3D physiological microenvironment with controlled physical and biochemical variables. Inspired by ubiquitous biological systems such as leaf venation and circulatory systems, a fabrication strategy is devised to develop a biomimetic vascular system integrated with freely designed chambers, which function as niches for chamber‐specific vascularized organs. As a proof of concept, a human‐on‐leaf‐chip system with biomimetic multiscale vasculature systems connecting the self‐assembled 3D vasculatures in chambers is fabricated, mimicking the in vivo complex architectures of the human cardiovascular system connecting vascularized organs. Besides, two types of vascularized organs are built independently within the two halves of the system to verify its feasibility for conducting comparative experiments for organ‐specific metastasis studies in a single chip. Successful culturing of human hepatoma G2 cells (HepG2s) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) shows good vasculature formation, and organ‐specific metastasis is simulated through perfusion of pancreatic cancer cells and shows distinct cancer encapsulation by MSCs, which is absent in HepG2s. Given good culture efficacy, study design flexibility, and ease of modification, these results show that the bioinspired human‐on‐leaf‐chip possesses great potential in comparative and metastasis studies while retaining organ‐to‐organ crosstalk.
A Multiligand Architectural Photosensitizer That Targets Hemagglutinin on Envelope of Influenza Virus for Photodynamic Inactivation
Authors: Jeong Hayoon , Lee Jeong‐Ju , Lee Jangsu , Na Kun 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe efficacy of current antiviral drugs used to treat influenza has been declining because of mutations and resistance of the virus. Herein, a light‐sensitive multiligand architecture is developed consisting of chitosan conjugated to a photosensitizer and 6'‐sialyllactose (SL) to develop an antiviral agent against influenza with a different mechanism of action (SL‐chitosan‐Chlorin e6, SCC). Saturation transfer difference‐nuclear magnetic resonance determined that the ability of SCC to bind to viral hemagglutinin is stronger than that of the monomeric substance. Virus recognition is confirmed by immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscope imaging. SCC induces viral inactivation by causing permanent membrane damage through its photoactivity. Viral membrane is oxidized by the photoactivity of SCC, thus, the virus membrane collapses. Furthermore, using the plaque reduction assay to evaluate the inhibitory effect of SCC on influenza A and B, it is found that its antiviral effects are 23% and 50% higher than the conventional antiviral drug. Additionally, SCC prevents infection by influenza in 100% of mice subjected to laser irradiation. These results indicate that this photodynamic multiligand structure can overcome the limitations of existing antiviral agents and suggest a pertinent methodology of prophylaxis and treatment by preemptively attacking the virus before it enters the host cell.