bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Electrophysiological evidence for internalized representations of canonical finger-number gestures and their facilitating effects on adults’ math verification performance
Authors: van den Berg Fabian C. G. , de Weerd Peter , Jonkman Lisa M. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractFingers facilitate number learning and arithmetic processing in early childhood. The current study investigated whether images of early-learned, culturally-typical (canonical), finger montring patterns presenting smaller (2,3,4) or larger (7,8,9) quantities still facilitate adults’ performance and neural processing in a math verification task. Twenty-eight adults verified solutions to simple addition problems that were shown in the form of canonical or non-canonical finger-number montring patterns while measuring Event Related Potentials (ERPs). Results showed more accurate and faster sum verification when sum solutions were shown by canonical (versus non-canonical) finger patterns. Canonical finger montring patterns 2–4 led to faster responses independent of whether they presented correct or incorrect sum solutions and elicited an enhanced early right-parietal P2p response, whereas canonical configurations 7–9 only facilitated performance in correct sum solution trials without evoking P2p effects. The later central-parietal P3 was enhanced to all canonical finger patterns irrespective of numerical range. These combined results provide behavioral and brain evidence for canonical cardinal finger patterns still having facilitating effects on adults’ number processing. They further suggest that finger montring configurations of numbers 2–4 have stronger internalized associations with other magnitude representations, possibly established through their mediating role in the developmental phase in which children acquire the numerical meaning of the first four number symbols.
The impact of acute diarrhea on the coagulation status of patients with vitamin K antagonists
Authors: Schweinfurth Johannes , Bauer Alexander , Bauer Frederic , Seibert Felix Sebastian , Rohn Benjamin , Seidel Maximilian , Bertram Sebastian , Stervbo Ulrik , Babel Nina , Westhoff Timm Henning 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAcute diarrhea is associated with a reduced absorption of both vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and vitamin K itself. To date, the net effect on the coagulation status of subjects with VKA remains elusive. We performed a systematic retrospective single-center analysis using an electronic data extraction approach to identify subjects with plasmatic anticoagulation (either VKA or direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC)) and diarrhea in a German University Hospital over a period of eight years. Acute diarrhea and complete documentation of coagulation status on admission were defined as inclusion criteria, anticoagulation other than VKA/DOAC and obvious inadherence as exclusion criteria. Subjects with VKA/DOAC admitted for hypertension served as control group. Data extraction yielded 356 subjects with gastrointestinal diagnoses and 198 hypertensive subjects, 55 and 83 of whom fulfilled all in- and exclusion criteria. INR values of subjects with VKA were significantly higher in subjects with diarrhea than in hypertensive controls (4.3 ± 3.7 vs. 2.3 ± 0.7, p < 0.001). The distribution of subjects having INR values lower, higher or within the target range differed significantly among groups with a substantially higher prevalence of overanticoagulation in the diarrhea group (46.4% vs. 14.3%, p < 0.001). In a multinomial logistic regression model, acute diarrhea was significantly associated with overanticoagulation (odds ratio 7.2, 95% confidence interval 2.163–23.921; p < 0.001), whereas age, sex, creatinine, and indication of anticoagulation were not (p > 0.05 each). Acute diarrhea is associated with a highly increased risk for overanticoagulation in patients with VKA. Thus, gastroenteritis necessitates a close monitoring of INR in order to identify subjects needing a temporary pause of VKA therapy.
Initial growth rates of malware epidemics fail to predict their reach
Authors: Muchnik Lev , Yom-Tov Elad , Levy Nir , Rubin Amir , Louzoun Yoram 
Published: June 2021

AbstractEmpirical studies show that epidemiological models based on an epidemic’s initial spread rate often fail to predict the true scale of that epidemic. Most epidemics with a rapid early rise die out before affecting a significant fraction of the population, whereas the early pace of some pandemics is rather modest. Recent models suggest that this could be due to the heterogeneity of the target population’s susceptibility. We study a computer malware ecosystem exhibiting spread mechanisms resembling those of biological systems while offering details unavailable for human epidemics. Rather than comparing models, we directly estimate reach from a new and vastly more complete data from a parallel domain, that offers superior details and insight as concerns biological outbreaks. We find a highly heterogeneous distribution of computer susceptibilities, with nearly all outbreaks initially over-affecting the tail of the distribution, then collapsing quickly once this tail is depleted. This mechanism restricts the correlation between an epidemic’s initial growth rate and its total reach, thus preventing the majority of epidemics, including initially fast-growing outbreaks, from reaching a macroscopic fraction of the population. The few pervasive malwares distinguish themselves early on via the following key trait: they avoid infecting the tail, while preferentially targeting computers unaffected by typical malware.
The elimination of trace arsenic via hollow fiber supported liquid membrane: experiment and mathematical model
Authors: Suren Sira , Ampronpong Watcharapong , Pancharoen Ura , Maneeintr Kreangkrai 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis work presents the elimination of arsenic ions from synthetic produced water via hollow fiber supported liquid membrane (HFSLM). Results demonstrate that arsenic ions in synthetic wastewater can be successfully treated to meet the wastewater standard as formulated by the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand. The discharged limit of arsenic from industrial wastewater must not be greater than 250 ppb. In a single-step operation, arsenic ions are extracted and stripped. Percentages of extraction and stripping proved to be 100% and 98%, respectively. Optimum conditions found proved to be 0.68 M Aliquat 336 dissolved in toluene as the liquid membrane, at pH 12 of feed solution, having a mixture of HCl and thiourea as the synergistic strippant, and flow rates of both feed and strippant solutions of 100 mL/min. A mathematical model, developed to predict the final concentration of arsenic ions in feed and strippant solutions, is seen to fit in well with the experimental results.
Relationship between ankle strength and range of motion and postural stability during single-leg quiet stance in trained athletes
Authors: Trajković Nebojša , Kozinc Žiga , Smajla Darjan , Šarabon Nejc 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the relationship between strength of ankle plantar and dorsal flexors and range of motion (RoM), and body sway variables during single-leg quiet stance, in highly trained athletes. The participants for this study were young athletes from 9 disciplines (n = 655). Center of pressure (CoP) velocity, amplitude, and frequency were measured during single-leg quiet stance. Moreover, athletes were measured for passive ankle plantar flexion (PF) and dorsal flexion (DF) RoM, and for rate of torque development (RTD) in the 0–50 (RTD50) and 0–200 ms time windows (RTD200). Ankle strength and RoM could not predict CoP velocity total, anterior–posterior (AP), and medial–lateral (ML) (p > 0.05). However, PFRTD50and PFRoMand PFRoMpositively influenced CoP amplitude in ML direction (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.10). Moreover, CoP frequency in ML direction significantly increased with lower PFRTD50, DFRTD50, DFRTD200, PFRoM, and DFRoM(p < 0.05). We have demonstrated that ankle strength and RoM were related to single-leg quiet stance postural balance in trained athletes. The ankle RoM showed the greatest influence on CoP variables in ML directions.
Inhibition of triple negative breast cancer metastasis and invasiveness by novel drugs that target epithelial to mesenchymal transition
Authors: Garcia Elizabeth , Luna Ismat , Persad Kaya L. , Agopsowicz Kate , Jay David A. , West Frederick G. , Hitt Mary M. , Persad Sujata 
Published: June 2021

AbstractInvasive breast cancer (BrCa) is predicted to affect 1 in 9 women in a lifetime;1 in 32 will die from this disease. The most aggressive forms of BrCa, basal-like/triple-negative phenotype (TNBC), are challenging to treat and result in higher mortality due high number of metastatic cases. There is a paucity of options for TNBC treatment, which highlights the need for additional innovative treatment approaches. NIH-III mice were injected in the abdominal mammary fat pad with luciferase-expressing derivative of the human TNBC cell line, MDA-MB-231 cells. Animals were gavage-fed with nitrofen at the doses of 1, 3 or 6 mg/kg/alternate days. However, several structural properties/components of nitrofen raise concerns, including its high lipophilicity (cLogP of nearly 5) and a potential toxophore in the form of a nitroarene group. Therefore, we developed analogues of nitrofen which lack the nitro group and/or have replaced the diaryl ether linker with a diarylamine that could allow modulation of polarity. In vitro anti-invasiveness activity of nitrofen analogues were evaluated by quantitative determination of invasion of MDA-MB-231-Luciferase cells through Matrigel using a Boyden chamber. Our in vivo data show that nitrofen efficiently blocks TNBC tumor metastasis. In vitro data suggest that this is not due to cytotoxicity, but rather is due to impairment of invasive capacity of the cells. Further, using an in vitro model of EMT, we show that nitrofen interferes with the process of EMT and promotes mesenchymal to epithelial transformation. In addition, we show that three of the nitrofen analogues significantly reduced invasive potential of TNBC cells, which may, at least partially, be attributed to the analogues’ ability to promote mesenchymal to epithelial-like transformation of TNBC cells. Our study shows that nitrofen, and more importantly its analogues, are significantly effective in limiting the invasive potential of TNBC cell lines with minimal cytotoxic effect. Further, we demonstrate that nitrofen its analogues, are very effective in reversing mesenchymal phenotype to a more epithelial-like phenotype. This may be significant for the treatment of patients with mesenchymal-TNBC tumor subtype who are well known to exhibit high resistance to chemotherapy.
Optimum power transfer in RF front end systems using adaptive impedance matching technique
Authors: Alibakhshikenari Mohammad , Virdee Bal S. , Azpilicueta Leyre , See Chan H. , Abd-Alhameed Raed , Althuwayb Ayman A. , Falcone Francisco , Huynen Isabelle , Denidni Tayeb A. , Limiti Ernesto 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMatching the antenna’s impedance to the RF-front-end of a wireless communications system is challenging as the impedance varies with its surround environment. Autonomously matching the antenna to the RF-front-end is therefore essential to optimize power transfer and thereby maintain the antenna’s radiation efficiency. This paper presents a theoretical technique for automatically tuning anLCimpedance matching network that compensates antenna mismatch presented to the RF-front-end. The proposed technique converges to a matching point without the need of complex mathematical modelling of the system comprising of non-linear control elements. Digital circuitry is used to implement the required matching circuit. Reliable convergence is achieved within the tuning range of theLC-network using control-loops that can independently control theLCimpedance. An algorithm based on the proposed technique was used to verify its effectiveness with various antenna loads. Mismatch error of the technique is less than 0.2%. The technique enables speedy convergence (< 5 µs) and is highly accurate for autonomous adaptive antenna matching networks.
Comparison of efficacy and safety of various management options for large upper ureteric stones a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Sharma Gopal , Pareek Tarun , Tyagi Shantanu , Kaundal Pawan , Yadav Anuj Kumar , Thummala Yashasvi , Devana Sudheer Kumar 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTo compare the safety and efficacy of various surgical modalities to manage large (> 1 cm) upper ureter stones. Systematic literature search was conducted to include all randomized studies comparing various treatment options for large (> 1 cm) upper ureteric stones. This review included 13 randomized studies with 1871 patients. Laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (LUL) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) were superior to ureteroscopy (URS) and shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) for stone-free rates and need for auxiliary treatments. LUL and PNL were equally effective for stone-free rates and the need for auxiliary treatments. According to SUCRA values for stone-free rates and the need for auxiliary treatments, LUL was the best, followed by PNL. For the duration of surgery, there was no significant difference among all the techniques on network analyses, and SWL was the best according to SUCRA values. Length of hospital stay was significantly shorter for URS than LUL and PNL from network analysis, but there was no significant difference for the rest of the comparisons. Overall complications were similar in all the groups. According to the CINeMa approach, the confidence rating ranged from “very low” to “moderate” for various comparisons. LUL followed by PNL is the most efficacious treatment modality for upper ureteric stones compared to SWL and URS in terms of stone-free rates. However, due to the poor quality of included studies, further high-quality randomized studies are needed.
First dynamics of bacterial community during development of Acropora humilis larvae in aquaculture
Authors: Kullapanich Chitrasak , Jandang Suppakarn , Palasuk Matanee , Viyakarn Voranop , Chavanich Suchana , Somboonna Naraporn 
Published: June 2021

AbstractA symbiosis of bacterial community (sometimes called microbiota) play essential roles in developmental life cycle and health of coral, starting since a larva. For examples, coral bacterial holobionts function nitrogen fixation, carbon supply, sulfur cycling and antibiotic production. Yet, a study of the dynamic of bacteria associated coral larvae development is complicated owning to a vast diversity and culturable difficulty of bacteria; hence this type of study remains unexplored for Acropora humilis larvae in Thai sea. This study represented the first to utilize 16S rRNA gene sequencing to describe the timely bacterial compositions during successfully cultured and reared A. humilis larval transformation in aquaculture (gametes were collected from Sattahip Bay, Chonburi province, Thailand), from gamete spawning (0 h) and fertilization stage (1 h), to embryonic cleavage (8 h), round cell development (28, 39 and 41 h), and planula formation (48 h). The sequencing results as estimated by Good’s coverage at genus level covered 99.65 ± 0.24% of total bacteria. While core phyla of bacteria were observed (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes), changes in bacterial population structures and differential predominant core bacterial orders were denoted for each larval developmental stage, from fertilization to embryonic cleavage and subsequently from the embryonic cleavage to round cell development (P = 0.007). For instances, Pseudoalteromonas and Oceanospirillales were found prevalent at 8 h, and Rhizobiales were at 48 h. The bacterial population structures from the round cell stage, particularly at 41 h, showed gradual drift towards those of the planula formation stage, suggesting microbial selection. Overall, this study provides preliminary insights into the dynamics of bacterial community and their potentially functional association (estimated from the bacterial compositions) during the developmental embryonic A. humilis in a cultivation system in Southeast Asia region.
Fixation stability and deviation in optical coherence tomography angiography using soft contact lens correction in myopes
Authors: Lam Andrew Kwok-cheung , Lau Kenny Kin-hei , Wong Ho-yin , Lam Jasmine Pui-kwan , Yeung Man-for 
Published: June 2021

AbstractTo compare fixation deviation and stability with soft contact lens correction and device built-in auto-focus system during optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). This observational study measured OCTA metrics first with contact lens correction, followed by removal of contact lenses, using the device auto-focus system at a University Optometry Clinic, Hong Kong. All participants were habitual soft contact lens wearers with either low or high myopia. OCTA measurements were obtained using a spectral domain OCTA. Fixation deviation was distance (in pixels) of the fovea to the center of the OCTA measurement grid. Fixation stability was test–retest repeatability (TRR) and coefficient of variation (CV) of fixation deviation from three consecutive OCTA measurements. OCTA metrics included vessel length density (VD), perfusion density (PD), and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area. Averaged OCTA metrics were calculated from three measurements and compared between the two correction methods. The mean ± SD spherical equivalent of 74 eyes from 74 myopes measured was − 1.94D ± 0.75D in low myopes (n = 37) and − 7.97D ± 1.31D in high myopes (n = 37). When corrected with contact lenses, visual acuities of high myopes (median [IQR], − 0.06 [0.08] logMAR) and low myopes (− 0.02 ± 0.08 logMAR) were similar (P = 0.060), and with similar fixation deviation (5.0 ± 2.2 pixels vs 5.3 [3.6] pixels; P = 0.689). High myopes had poorer fixation stability than low myopes (TRR: 10.2 pixels vs 7.5 pixels; CV: 65% vs 54%, respectively). The worst fixation stability occurred when high myopes were corrected using the auto-focus system (TRR: 12.5 pixels, CV: 72%). The difference in VD and PD was within 1 mm−1 and 1%, respectively. The FAZ area was similar. Difference in OCTA metrics was small in each refractive group (< 1 mm−1 in VD, and < 2% in PD). High myopes had more stable fixation when corrected when wearing contact lenses. Subjects with good contact lens corrected visual acuity should wear their contact lenses during OCTA measurements.
Hemodialysis exacerbates proteolytic imbalance and pro-fibrotic platelet dysfunction
Authors: Velasquez-Mao Aaron J. , Velasquez Mark A. , Hui Zhengxiong , Armas-Ayon Denise , Wang Jingshen , Vandsburger Moriel H. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMulti-organ fibrosis among end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients cannot be explained by uremia alone. Despite mitigation of thrombosis during hemodialysis (HD), subsequent platelet dysfunction and tissue dysregulation are less understood. We comprehensively profiled plasma and platelets from ESRD patients before and after HD to examine HD-modulation of platelets beyond thrombotic activation. Basal plasma levels of proteolytic regulators and fibrotic factors were elevated in ESRD patients compared to healthy controls, with isoform-specific changes during HD. Platelet lysate (PL) RNA transcripts for growth and coagulative factors were elevated post-HD, with upregulation correlated to HD vintage. Platelet secretome correlations to plasma factors reveal acutely induced pro-fibrotic platelet phenotypes in ESRD patients during HD characterized by preferentially enhanced proteolytic enzyme translation and secretion, platelet contribution to inflammatory response, and increasing platelet dysfunction with blood flow rate (BFR) and Vintage. Compensatory mechanisms of increased platelet growth factor synthesis with acute plasma matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of MMPs (TIMP) increases show short-term mode-switching between dialysis sessions leading to long-term pro-fibrotic bias. Chronic pro-fibrotic adaptation of platelet synthesis were observed through changes in differential secretory kinetics of heterogenous granule subtypes. We conclude that chronic and acute platelet responses to HD contribute to a pro-fibrotic milieu in ESRD.
Structural basis of complex formation between mitochondrial anion channel VDAC1 and Hexokinase-II
Authors: Haloi Nandan , Wen Po-Chao , Cheng Qunli , Yang Meiying , Natarajan Gayathri , Camara Amadou K. S. , Kwok Wai-Meng , Tajkhorshid Emad 
Published: June 2021

AbstractComplex formation between hexokinase-II (HKII) and the mitochondrial VDAC1 is crucial to cell growth and survival. We hypothesize that HKII first inserts into the outer membrane of mitochondria (OMM) and then interacts with VDAC1 on the cytosolic leaflet of OMM to form a binary complex. To systematically investigate this process, we devised a hybrid approach. First, we describe membrane binding of HKII with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations employing a membrane mimetic model with enhanced lipid diffusion capturing membrane insertion of its H-anchor. The insertion depth of the H-anchor was then used to derive positional restraints in subsequent millisecond-scale Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations to preserve the membrane-bound pose of HKII during the formation of the HKII/VDAC1 binary complex. Multiple BD-derived structural models for the complex were further refined and their structural stability probed with additional MD simulations, resulting in one stable complex. A major feature in the complex is the partial (not complete) blockade of VDAC1’s permeation pathway, a result supported by our comparative electrophysiological measurements of the channel in the presence and absence of HKII. We also show how VDAC1 phosphorylation disrupts HKII binding, a feature that is verified by our electrophysiology recordings and has implications in mitochondria-mediated cell death.
Chemodivergent assembly of ortho-functionalized phenols with tunable selectivity via rhodium(III)-catalyzed and solvent-controlled C-H activation
Authors: Zhang Haiman , Lin Shuang , Gao Hui , Zhang Kaixin , Wang Yi , Zhou Zhi , Yi Wei 
Published: June 2021

AbstractOrtho-functionalized phenols and their derivatives represent prominent structural motifs and building blocks in medicinal and synthetic chemistry. While numerous synthetic approaches exist, the development of atom-/step-economic and practical methods for the chemodivergent assembly of diverseortho-functionalized phenols based on fixed catalyst/substrates remains challenging. Here, by selectively controlling the reactivities of different sites in methylenecyclopropane core, Rh(III)-catalyzed redox-neutral and tunable C-H functionalizations ofN-phenoxyacetamides are realized, providing access to bothortho-functionalized phenols bearing linear dienyl, cyclopropyl or allyl ether groups, and cyclic 3-ethylidene 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran frameworks under mild cross-coupling conditions. These divergent transformations feature broad substrate compatibility, synthetic applications and excellent site-/regio-/chemoselectivity. Experimental and computational mechanistic studies reveal that distinct catalytic modes involving selective β-C/β-H elimination, π-allylation, inter-/intramolecular nucleophilic substitution cascade and β-H’ elimination processes enabled by different solvent-mediated and coupling partner-controlled reaction conditions are crucial for achieving chemodivergence, among which a structurally distinct Rh(V) species derived from a five-membered rhodacycle is proposed as the corresponding active intermediates.