bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The walking speed-dependency of gait variability in bilateral vestibulopathy and its association with clinical tests of vestibular function
Authors: McCrum Christopher , Lucieer Florence , van de Berg Raymond , Willems Paul , Pérez Fornos Angélica , Guinand Nils , Karamanidis Kiros , Kingma Herman , Meijer Kenneth 
Published: December 2019

AbstractUnderstanding balance and gait deficits in vestibulopathy may help improve clinical care and our knowledge of the vestibular contributions to balance. Here, we examined walking speed effects on gait variability in healthy adults and in adults with bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP). Forty-four people with BVP, 12 healthy young adults and 12 healthy older adults walked at 0.4 m/s to 1.6 m/s in 0.2 m/s increments on a dual belt, instrumented treadmill. Using motion capture and kinematic data, the means and coefficients of variation for step length, time, width and double support time were calculated. The BVP group also completed a video head impulse test and examinations of ocular and cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and dynamic visual acuity. Walking speed significantly affected all gait parameters. Step length variability at slower speeds and step width variability at faster speeds were the most distinguishing parameters between the healthy participants and people with BVP, and among people with BVP with different locomotor capacities. Step width variability, specifically, indicated an apparent persistent importance of vestibular function at increasing speeds. Gait variability was not associated with the clinical vestibular tests. Our results indicate that gait variability at multiple walking speeds has potential as an assessment tool for vestibular interventions.
The search for an elusive worm in the tropics, the past as a key to the present, and reverse uniformitarianism
Authors: Quiroz Luis I. , Buatois Luis A. , Seike Koji , Mángano M. Gabriela , Jaramillo Carlos , Sellers Andrew J. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe distribution of trace-making organisms in coastal settings is largely controlled by changes in physicochemical parameters, which in turn are a response to different climatic and oceanographic conditions. The trace fossil Macaronichnus and its modern producers are typical of high-energy, siliciclastic foreshore sands in intermediate- to high-latitude settings characterized by cold-water conditions. However, it has been found in Miocene Caribbean deposits of Venezuela, prompting the hypothesis that upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters rather than latitude was the main control of its distribution. To test this hypothesis that was solely based on the fossil record, several trenches and sediment peels were made in two high-energy sand beaches having different oceanographic conditions along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of the Central American Isthmus. As predicted, the burrows were found only in the highly productive waters of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica in connection with upwelling, while they were absent from the warm, oligotrophic waters of the Caribbean coast of Panama. This finding demonstrates that sometimes the past may be a key to the present, providing one of the few documented examples of reverse uniformitarianism.
Upregulation of tropomyosin alpha-4 chain in patients’ saliva with oral squamous cell carcinoma as demonstrated by Phage display
Authors: Faria Paula Cristina Batista , Carneiro Ana Paula , Binato Renata , Nascimento Rafael , Santos Paula Souza , Fagundes Deborah , da Silva Sindeval José , Loyola Adriano Mota , Abdelhay Eliana , Goulart Luiz Ricardo 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPatients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) present significant alterations in their saliva proteome. We have used the shotgun Phage Display (PD) technology to identify candidate proteins that were upregulated in saliva of OSCC by selecting ligands to salivary proteins from a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) PD combinatorial library. After two selection cycles, the highly reactive clone scFv-D09 was able to distinguish saliva of OSCC patients from healthy subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with sensitivity and specificity of 96.67%. Additionally, the scFv-D09 clone presented a positive immunostaining for invasive malignant epithelial cells in the connective tissue, keratin pearls in the OSCC, and ducts of salivary glands. We have further identified the target protein as the tropomyosin alpha-4 chain (TPM4) by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, and its binding to the scFV-D09 was demonstrated by bioinformatics. Briefly, we have identified TPM4 as upregulated salivary protein in patients with OSCC, which plays a central role in stabilizing cytoskeleton actin filaments, probably linked with tumor tissue remodeling. Long-term longitudinal studies are needed to validate TPM4 as a potential marker of a malignant process.
Impact of Organic Loading Rate in Volatile Fatty Acids Production and Population Dynamics Using Microalgae Biomass as Substrate
Authors: Magdalena Jose Antonio , Greses Silvia , González-Fernández Cristina 
Published: December 2019

AbstractVolatile fatty acids (VFAs) are regarded as building blocks with a wide range of applications, including biofuel production. The traditional anaerobic digestion used for biogas production can be alternatively employed for VFAs production. The present study aimed at maximizing VFAs productions from Chlorella vulgaris through anaerobic digestion by assessing the effect of stepwise organic loading rates (OLR) increases (3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 g COD L−1 d−1). The biological system was proven to be robust as organic matter conversion efficiency into VFAs increased from 0.30 ± 0.02 COD-VFAs/CODin at 3 g COD L−1 d−1 to 0.37 ± 0.02 COD-VFAs/CODin at 12 g COD L−1d−1. Even though, the hydrolytic step was similar for all studied scenario sCOD/tCOD = 0.52–0.58), the highest OLR (15 g COD L−1 d−1) did not show any further increase in VFAs conversion (0.29 ± 0.01 COD-VFAs/CODin). This fact suggested acidogenesis inhibition at 15 g COD L−1d−1. Butyric (23–32%), acetic (19–26%) and propionic acids (11–17%) were the most abundant bioproducts. Population dynamics analysis revealed microbial specialization, with a high presence of Firmicutes followed by Bacteroidetes. In addition, this investigation showed the microbial adaptation of Euryarchaeota species at the highest OLR (15 g COD L−1d−1), evidencing one of the main challenges in VFAs production (out-competition of archaea community to avoid product consumption). Stepwise OLR increase can be regarded as a tool to promote VFAs productions. However, acidogenic inhibition was reported at the highest OLR instead of the traditional hydrolytic barriers. The operational conditions imposed together with the high VFAs and ammonium concentrations might have affected the system yields. The relative abundance of Firmicutes (74%) and Bacteroidetes (20%), as main phyla, together with the reduction of Euryarchaeota phylum (0.5%) were found the best combination to promote organic matter conversion into VFAs.
Identification of potential chemosignals in the European water vole Arvicola terrestris
Authors: Nagnan-Le Meillour Patricia , Descamps Amandine , Le Danvic Chrystelle , Grandmougin Maurane , Saliou Jean-Michel , Klopp Christophe , Milhes Marine , Bompard Coralie , Chesneau Didier , Poissenot Kevin , Keller Matthieu 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe water vole Arvicola terrestris is endemic to Europe where its outbreak generates severe economic losses for farmers. Our project aimed at characterising putative chemical signals used by this species, to develop new sustainable methods for population control that could also be used for this species protection in Great Britain. The water vole, as well as other rodents, uses specific urination sites as territorial and sex pheromone markers, still unidentified. Lateral scent glands and urine samples were collected from wild males and females caught in the field, at different periods of the year. Their volatile composition was analysed for each individual and not on pooled samples, revealing a specific profile of flank glands in October and a specific profile of urinary volatiles in July. The urinary protein content appeared more contrasted as males secrete higher levels of a lipocalin than females, whenever the trapping period. We named this protein arvicolin. Male and female liver transcript sequencing did not identify any expression of other odorant-binding protein sequence. This work demonstrates that even in absence of genome, identification of chemical signals from wild animals is possible and could be helpful in strategies of species control and protection.
PEG grafted chitosan scaffold for dual growth factor delivery for enhanced wound healing
Authors: Vijayan Amritha , A. Sabareeswaran , Kumar G. S. Vinod 
Published: December 2019

AbstractApplication of growth factors at wound site has improved the efficiency and quality of healing. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induce proliferation of various cells in wound healing. Delivery of growth factor from controlled release systems protect it from degradation and also result in sustained delivery of it at the site of injury. The goal of the study was to develop a Polyethylene glycol (PEG) cross-linked cotton-like chitosan scaffold (CS-PEG-H) by freeze-drying method and chemically conjugate heparin to the scaffold to which the growth factors can be electrostatically bound and evaluate its wound healing properties in vitro and in vivo. The growth factor containing scaffolds induced increased proliferation of HaCaT cells, increased neovascularization and collagen formation seen by H and E and Masson’s trichrome staining. Immunohistochemistry was performed using the Ki67 marker which increased proliferation of cells in growth factor containing scaffold treated group. Frequent dressing changes are a major deterrent to proper wound healing. Our system was found to release both VEGF and bFGF in a continuous manner and attained stability after 7 days. Thus our system can maintain therapeutic levels of growth factor at the wound bed thereby avoiding the need for daily applications and frequent dressing changes. Thus, it can be a promising candidate for wound healing.
A pre-Inca pot from underwater ruins discovered in an Andean lake provides a sedimentary record of marked hydrological change
Authors: Michelutti Neal , Sowell Preston , Tapia Pedro M. , Grooms Christopher , Polo Martin , Gambetta Alexandra , Ausejo Carlos , Smol John P. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPre-Hispanic artifacts and sacred architecture were recently discovered submerged in a large lake (Laguna Sibinacocha) in the Peruvian Andes. The underwater ruins indicate a dramatic shift in the region’s hydrology but the timing and triggers of this shift remain unknown. In a novel approach blending archaeology and paleoecology, we analyzed a sediment sequence from within one of the recovered artifacts, specifically a pot from the Late Intermediate Period (~1000–1400 CE). Radioisotopic dating of discrete sediment intervals sampled from the pot show a stratigraphically intact profile that preserves a history of change at this site. The pot’s basal sediment age places the timing of lake-level rise during the late ~1600s CE, which post-dates the end of the Inca Empire (1400–1532 CE) by approximately 150 years. The ubiquity of planktonic algae throughout the sediment profile suggests water levels remained high above the pot since its submergence. Paleoclimate data from the nearby Quelccaya ice core records indicate lake flooding followed a pronounced wet period beginning ~1520 CE. These data show the permanence of mean state changes in climate on the region’s hydrology, with clear implications for the study site (an important water resource for ~500,000 people) and other lakes in the rapidly warming Andes.
Analysis of 1.2 million foot scans from North America, Europe and Asia
Authors: Jurca Ales , Žabkar Jure , Džeroski Sašo 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFor decades, footwear brands have developed products using outdated methods and measurements, working with limited insight into the foot shapes and dimensions of their target customers. The integration of 3D scanning technology into footwear retail stores has made it possible for this research to analyze a database containing a large number of male and female 3D foot scans collected across North America, Europe, and Asia. Foot scans were classified into length classes with 5mm length increments; mean width, instep height, and heel width were calculated for each length class. This study confirms the existence of many statistically significant differences in mean foot measurements amongst the regions and between the sexes, and a large dispersion of foot measurements within each group of customers. Therefore, shoes should be developed separately for each group, region, and sex, and at least 3 shoe widths per length class are required to provide a proper fit for 90% of customers. Beyond this, our analysis asserts that a shoe designed for a single group will fit a different segment of the population in another group, and that existing last grading tables should be updated to reflect the foot dimensions of current consumers.
Predictors for de novo stress urinary incontinence following pelvic reconstruction surgery with transvaginal single-incisional mesh
Authors: Wu Pei-Chi , Wu Chin-Hu , Lin Kun-Ling , Liu Yiyin , Loo Zixi , Lee Yung-Chin , Long Cheng-Yu 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe study aims to identify predictors for de novo stress urinary incontinence (SUI) following Elevate mesh surgery. A total of 164 women who underwent Elevate mesh surgeries between November 2011 and February 2014 in a single center were included. Seventy-three women were excluded due to preoperative incontinence or concomitant mid-urethral sling surgery. Fourteen others were excluded due to incomplete medical records. Fisher’s exact test and χ2 test were applied. The univariate logistic regression was used for odds ratios. Of the 77 continent women, 24 (31.2%) experienced de novo SUI after the operation. Significantly more women with de novo SUI were over the age of 64 years (75.0% vs. 47.2%, p = 0.023, OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.15–9.79). Preoperative occult urodynamic stress incontinence (29.2% vs. 3.8%, p = 0.003, OR 10.0, 95% CI 2.0–50.0) and previous SUI history (41.7% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.001, OR 9.1, 95% CI 2.38–33.3) were 2 other predictors of de novo SUI postoperatively. In conclusion, age over 64 years old, occult urodynamic stress incontinence, and previous history of SUI are 3 significant predictors for de novo SUI following the single-incision mesh surgeries.
Study on neuropathological mechanisms of primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis in children using cerebral resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Zhu Wen , Che Yingyu , Wang Yan , Jia Zhiming , Wan Tingxiang , Wen Jianguo , Cheng Jingliang , Ren Chuanchuan , Wu Junwei , Li Yunlong , Wang Qingwei 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPrimary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) is a heterogeneous disorder, which remains a difficult condition to manage due to lack of knowledge on the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Here we investigated the underlying neuropathological mechanisms of PMNE with functional MRI (fMRI), combining the amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and seed-based functional connectivity (seed-based FC) analyses. Compared to the control group, PMNE group showed decreased ALFF value in the left medial orbital superior frontal gyrus (Frontal_Med_Orb_L), and increased ReHo value in the left superior occipital gyrus (Occipital_Sup_L). With left thalamus as the seed, PMNE group showed significantly decreased functional connectivity to the left medial superior frontal gyrus (Frontal_Sup_Medial_L). We conclude that these abnormal brain activities are probably important neuropathological mechanisms of PMNE in children. Furthermore, this study facilitated the understanding of underlying pathogenesis of PMNE and may provide an objective basis for the effective treatment.
Use of Machine Learning and Infrared Spectra for Rheological Characterization and Application to the Apricot
Authors: Cadet Xavier F. , Lo-Thong Ophélie , Bureau Sylvie , Dehak Reda , Bessafi Miloud 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFast advancement of machine learning methods and constant growth of the areas of application open up new horizons for large data management and processing. Among the various types of data available for analysis, the Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy spectra are very challenging datasets to consider. In this study, machine learning is used to analyze and predict a rheological parameter: firmness. Various statistics have been gathered including both chemistry (such as ethylene, titrable acidity or sugars) and spectra values to visualize and analyze a dataset of 731 biological samples. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) principal component analyses (PCA) are used to evaluate their ability to discriminate for one parameter: firmness. Partial least squared regression (PLSR) modeling has been carried out to predict the rheological parameter using either sixteen physicochemical parameters or only the infrared spectra. We show that (i) the spectra alone allows good discrimination of the samples based on rheology, (ii) 3D-PCA allows comprehensive and informative visualization of the data, and (iii) that the rheological parameters are predicted accurately using a regression method such as PLSR; instead of using chemical parameters which are laborious to obtain, Mid-FTIR spectra gathering all physicochemical information could be used for efficient prediction of firmness. As a conclusion, rheological and chemical parameters allow good discrimination of the samples according to their firmness. However, using only the IR spectra leads to better results. A good predictive model was built for the prediction of the firmness of the fruit, and we reached a coefficient of determination R2 value of 0.90. This method outperforms a model based on physicochemical descriptors only. Such an approach could be very helpful to technologists and farmers.
Dysregulation of bladder corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor in the pathogenesis of human interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome
Authors: Jhang Jia-Fong , Birder Lori A. , Jiang Yuan-Hong , Hsu Yung-Hsiang , Ho Han-Chen , Kuo Hann-Chorng 
Published: December 2019

AbstractStress is associated with exacerbated symptoms in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). To investigate the mechanism of stress implicated on IC/BPS, we investigated expression of stress-response receptor corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor (CRHR) in bladder from IC/BPS patients. Twenty-three IC/BPS patients with Hunner’s lesion (HIC), 51 IC/BPS patients without Hunner’s lesion (NHIC), and 24 patients with stress urinary incontinence as controls were enrolled. Cystoscopic biopsies of bladder wall including mucosa and submucosa were obtained from all patients. Western blotting was used to investigate the bladder expression of the CRHR1 and CRHR2. Immunochemical staining revealed CRHR1 expression was mainly located in the submucosa while CRHR2 expression was mainly in uroepithelial cells. Compared to control subjects, the CRHR1 expression was significantly higher, while CRHR2 expression was significantly lower in IC/BPS patients. Further analysis of patients with HIC, NHIC, and control subjects showed that bladder in patients with HIC had significantly higher expressions of CRHR1 and significantly lower CRHR2. CRHR2 expression was significantly negatively correlated with O’Leary-Sant score and bladder pain. Our results indicate dysregulation of bladder CRHR1 and CRHR2 in patients with IC/BPS, and suggest CRH signaling may be associated with IC/BPS symptoms.
Poly (3, 4-ethylene dioxythiophene) Supported Palladium Catalyst prepared by Galvanic Replacement Reaction for Methanol Tolerant Oxygen Reduction
Authors: M Pandia Rajathi , Berchmans Sheela 
Published: December 2019

AbstractHerein, we propose a facile electrochemical approach for the synthesis of Pd loaded poly 3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) electrodeposited on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) resulting in high surface area. The catalyst preparation is initiated with EDOT polymerization on GCE surface by electrochemical potential cycling method, followed by the electrodeposition of Cu from a 2 mM solution of CuSO4 in 0.1 M NaClO4 at a constant potential of +0.34 V vs. SHE in the form of Cu nanocubes on the PEDOT surface. Pd-PEDOT catalyst was then prepared by the partial substitution of copper by galvanic displacement with various concentrations of PdCl2. The prepared Pd/PEDOT electrocatalyst is found to be methanol resistant indicating its usefulness as fuel cell cathode. The prepared catalyst supports two electron transfer of oxygen reduction reaction in 0.5 M H2SO4. The effects of Pd and Cu contents and the quantity of PEDOT, mass and specific activities were studied. At a relatively low Pd loading of 0.57 ng/cm2, the Pd/PEDOT should be a cost-effective alternative cathode catalyst for direct methanol fuel cells, DMFCs. This work explains the usefulness of PEDOT as good catalyst supporting material which is prepared by an eco-friendly electrochemical route.
Peripapillary Vessel Density in Young Patients with Open-Angle Glaucoma: Comparison between High-Tension and Normal-Tension Glaucoma
Authors: Park Ji-Hye , Yoo Chungkwon , Kim Yong Yeon 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAlthough primary open-angle glaucoma (OAG) generally occurs in older individuals and manifests in eyes with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), it may also occur in young patients or in eyes with an IOP that always measures within the statistically normal range. Recent advances in optical coherence tomography angiography have enabled noninvasive visualization of the vasculature around the optic disc. In this study, we investigated the clinical features of young Korean patients with OAG and compared the peripapillary vessel density of patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) to those with high-tension glaucoma (HTG). The peripapillary vessel density was reduced in eyes with HTG compared with that in normal subjects (HTG: 23.18 ± 2.06% vs. normal subjects: 24.74 ± 1.88%, P value = 0.013). In contrast, the peripapillary vessel density of eyes with NTG was comparable with that of normal eyes (NTG: 23.98 ± 2.30% vs. normal subjects: 24.74 ± 1.88%, P value = 0.505). These findings suggest that young patients with HTG show greater peripapillary microvascular attenuation than healthy subjects or young patients with NTG, indicating that different levels of the initial untreated IOP may have different effects on the peripapillary vessel density in young patients with OAG.