bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Immunological Alterations in Bottlenose Dolphin a Decade after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: Potential for Multigenerational Effects
Authors: De Guise Sylvain , Levin Milton , Jasperse Lindsay , Herrman Jean , Wells Randall S. , Rowles Teresa , Schwacke Lori 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Health assessments were conducted on bottlenose dolphins in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, USA, during 2011 to 2018, to assess potential health effects following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, compared to the unoiled Sarasota Bay, Florida, USA, reference dolphin population. We previously reported significant increases in T-lymphocyte proliferation, as well as lower T helper 1 (Th1) cytokines, higher Th2 cytokine IL-4, and lower T regulatory (Treg) cytokine IL-10 in Barataria Bay in 2011 compared to Sarasota Bay, consistent with Deepwater Horizon oil exposure. Although values between 2013 and 2016 were more similar to those observed in Sarasota Bay, T-cell proliferation was again elevated and cytokine balance tilted toward Th2 in Barataria Bay during 2017–2018. In 2018, Barataria Bay dolphins had significantly more circulating Treg cells than Sarasota Bay dolphins. Mice experimentally exposed to oil also had significantly increased T-lymphocyte proliferation and circulating Treg cell number, including effects in their unexposed progeny. In vitro stimulation resulted in greater Th2 responsiveness in Barataria Bay compared to Sarasota Bay dolphins, and in vitro oil exposure of Sarasota Bay dolphin cells also resulted in enhanced Th2 responsiveness. Evidence points to Treg cells as a potential target for the immunomodulatory effects of oil exposure. The immunological trends observed in Barataria Bay appeared exaggerated in dolphins born after the spill, suggesting the possibility of continued oil exposure or multigenerational health consequences of exposure to oil, as observed in mice. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1308–1321. © 2021 SETAC
Abstract
Our study presents evidence of long-term immune modulation following oil exposure in dolphins, including an increase in T lymphocyte proliferation and a shift of the cytokine balance toward a T helper 2 response, through the modulation of regulatory T cells, with mechanisms substantiated in a mouse model and via direct exposure of mouse cells to oil. The study also supports the potential for multigenerational immune health effects. Th1 = T helper 1; Treg = T regulatory cell.
Blockchain‐based forgery resilient vehicle registration system
Authors: Benarous Leila , Kadri Benamar , Bouridane Ahmed , Benkhelifa Elhadj 
Published: February 2021

AbstractVehicle registration system is an essential process for recording the transfer of vehicles' ownership. Most of existing systems are administratively centralized, semi‐automated, and rely on a formal proof provision. While these systems were initially proposed to preserve the owner's rights, prove their ownerships and legally record used motor‐land transportation means. Unfortunately, these systems also allow the registration of illegally smuggled and stolen vehicles. This is mainly due to inefficient verification methods, long heterogeneous administrative procedures or to corrupt individuals at the motor registration departments. Regardless of the reasons, the fact that the system allows such cases hints on a faulty design. Current systems are centralized and do not perform a double checking until a report is made, which means that this occurs after the fact of registering the forged vehicle. Noting that these reports are not always fruitful, if the vehicle's proofs were properly injected in the system. This paper proposes a system that is transparent where every vehicle registration is done under everyone's watchful eyes. No denying, no alteration, and no unauthorized injection may occur. The proposed system saves the owner's information and the vehicle's descriptions in transactions saved in a public blockchain where all the history of purchases regarding the subject vehicle may be tracked. The use of blockchain technology is motivated by its security, transparency, and traceability as well as its immutability and scalability in terms of users. We have evaluated our proposed solution in terms of its security and resiliency to the injection of forged transactions by the elaboration of the attack tree. The results show our solution's superiority when compared against current registration system.
Association between maternal folate status and gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Yang Yan , Cai Zixin , Zhang Jingjing 
Published: February 2021

AbstractStudies on the association between maternal folate status and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have yielded inconsistent results. This meta‐analysis was performed to determine whether there may exist some association between maternal folate status and GDM. Unrestricted searches of PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Embase were conducted. All relevant studies on the association between maternal folat status and GDM risk were screened. The standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% CIs was used to determine the association between maternal folate and GDM. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random‐effects models to assess the impact of maternal folate status on GDM risk. 12 studies were included. The overall data revealed that compared with the non‐GDM group, women with GDM had higher level of folate (SMD 0.41, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.21, I2 = 17.2%) in second or third trimester. We also found that maternal high folate status may be associated with increased risk of GDM (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.70 to 2.74, I2 = 0.0%). Compared with non‐GDM group, women with GDM are prone to higher folate level. Moreover, high maternal folate status may predict a higher risk of GDM. As the number of included studies was limited, further large population studies are needed in the future.
Kinetics of dehydration and appreciation of the physicochemical properties of osmo‐dehydrated plum
Authors: Pervin Shahnaj , Aziz Md. Gulzarul , Miaruddin Md. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe experiment was conducted to evaluate the dehydration kinetics and quantify its effect on the various physicochemical properties of the osmo‐dehydrated plum during storage at an ambient condition. The six treatments with a combination of three different sucrose–sodium chloride concentrations and two peeling conditions were selected in the experiment. Among the treatments, peeled plum dipped into 5% NaCl solution exhibited a faster drying rate. Concerning the rehydration properties of the osmo‐dehydrated plum, the whole plum immersed into 500B sucrose solution showed the highest reconstitution behavior and the lowest moisture content (wb). The highest values of water activity of 0.514 and the lowest values of texture 1.79 N‐mm2 were investigated in 500B sucrose treated whole plum. The peeled plum obtained the highest lightness (L), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) compared to the unpeeled plum. Osmo‐dehydrated plum with high sugar solution contained more sugar and less total phenolic content nevertheless using only 5% NaCl resulted in less sugar and more total phenolic content after the treatment. The osmo‐dehydrated whole plums prepared in 500B sucrose scored the highest overall acceptability (8.0, e.g., like very much) followed by the 500B sucrose with peeled plum envisaged the sensory evaluation analysis. In conclusion, the osmo‐dehydrated plum treated in 500B sucrose and unpeeled condition performed better with a view to the overall plum quality, color, and acceptability judged by the expert panelists even after 12 months of storage at room temperature.
Enhanced Steam Temperature Enabled by a Simple Three‐Tier Solar Evaporation Device
Authors: Guo Zhenzhen , Xu You , Yu Fang , Yin Jiacheng , Wang Xianbao 
Published: February 2021

AbstractInterfacial water evaporation technology by using solar energy provides one of the promising pathways for freshwater shortage management. However, current research mainly focuses on the improvement of evaporation efficiency by macro or microregulations, ignoring the steam temperature, which is a manifestation of the quality of water. Herein not only is a high‐rate solar evaporation achieved but also steam temperature is enhanced by a simple three‐tier (wet absorber–air gap–dry absorber) device. In a routine interfacial evaporation test, the evaporator achieves a stable evaporation rate up to 2.15 kg m−2 h−1 under one sun, demonstrating a competitive evaporation rate compared with other reports. With the three‐tier device, the steam temperature can increase 33.7%, 41.13%, and 47% without dry absorber under one sun, two sun, and three sun illumination, respectively. At the same time, the steam temperature can be as high as 95.5 °C under three sun intensities. This work provides the possibility of using a simple three‐tier device for high‐temperature steam generation without extra energy input, which contributes to an idea for future research on the production high‐quality water.
Risk assessment of route options for the Hanau–Würzburg/Fulda railway project
Authors: Wilfing Lisa , Michael Joachim , Schütz Dirk 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn the course of the preliminary planning of the new Gelnhausen–Fulda railway line which is part of the railway project Hanau–Würzburg/Fulda, two route options with tunnels, bridges, cuts and embankments are to be investigated and assessed as efficiently as possible with regard to potential geotechnical risk areas. Due to the geological and hydrogeological conditions within the north‐eastern Hessian Buntsandsteingebirge, several groundwater levels, landslides in tunnel portal areas and karstification structures are to be expected on the two route options, each of which is approx. 45 km long. In order to obtain detailed and, above all, large‐scale knowledge of geotechnical hazards of each route = in the preliminary stage of the exploration programme, geophysical surface investigations are a cost‐ and time‐optimized exploration method in addition to standard drilling. These findings as well as existing subsurface information are combined by means of BIM, so that risk areas can be identified at an early stage of the project and taken into account when selecting the most affordable route.
International and European standards for geotechnical monitoring and instrumentation
Authors: Golser Johann , Steiner Walter 
Published: February 2021

AbstractGeotechnical monitoring and instrumentation are indispensable parts of the Observational Approach. in tunnel design and construction. They are an essential requirement for a proper risk management. Since 2013 several standards, valid both in Europe under CEN and international under ISO, were developed dealing with geotechnical monitoring. Five standards have been published by 2020, covering general rules, extensometer, inclinometer, piezometer and pressure cells. Further standards on settlement measurements, strain monitoring and load cells are in progress and will be published in the next few years.
Long‐term monitoring of railway tunnels
Authors: Moritz Bernd , Heissenberger Roman , Schachinger Tobias , Lienhart Werner 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAt the large infrastructure projects of the Austrian Federal Railways in the Alpine region geotechnical structures with different characteristics are encountered. Especially heterogeneity and composition of fault zones associated with different stress conditions are a great challenge during tunnelling. Although the system behaviour resulting from ground‐support interaction is measured by monitoring methods, after completion of tunnel works with installation of the inner lining usually the tunnel is no further monitored. The goal of ÖBB‐Infrastructure AG is to apply robust, reliable and durable monitoring systems for the observation of geotechnical relevant structures during a service life of the tunnels of 150 years. Thereby unfavourable tendencies of system behaviour shall be detected early and measures in terms of predictive maintenance planned in due time to ensure high availability of the tunnels during operation. The paper presents the implementation of long‐term monitoring at the projects Koralm Tunnel and Granitztal Tunnel and gives an outlook at the Semmering Base Tunnel.
Age‐related estimates of aggregate g‐ratio of white matter structures assessed using quantitative magnetic resonance neuroimaging
Authors: Bouhrara Mustapha , Kim Richard W. , Khattar Nikkita , Qian Wenshu , Bergeron Christopher M. , Melvin Denise , Zukley Linda M. , Ferrucci Luigi , Resnick Susan M. , Spencer Richard G. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe g‐ratio, defined as the inner‐to‐outer diameter of a myelinated axon, is associated with the speed of nerve impulse conduction, and represents an index of axonal myelination and integrity. It has been shown to be a sensitive and specific biomarker of neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. However, there have been very few magnetic resonance imaging studies of the g‐ratio in the context of normative aging; characterizing regional and time‐dependent cerebral changes in g‐ratio in cognitively normal subjects will be a crucial step in differentiating normal from abnormal microstructural alterations. In the current study, we investigated age‐related differences in aggregate g‐ratio, that is, g‐ratio averaged over all fibers within regions of interest, in several white matter regions in a cohort of 52 cognitively unimpaired participants ranging in age from 21 to 84 years. We found a quadratic, U‐shaped, relationship between aggregate g‐ratio and age in most cerebral regions investigated, suggesting myelin maturation until middle age followed by a decrease at older ages. As expected, we observed that these age‐related differences vary across different brain regions, with the frontal lobes and parietal lobes exhibiting slightly earlier ages of minimum aggregate g‐ratio as compared to more posterior structures such as the occipital lobes and temporal lobes; this agrees with the retrogenesis paradigm. Our results provide evidence for a nonlinear association between age and aggregate g‐ratio in a sample of adults from a highly controlled population. Finally, sex differences in aggregate g‐ratio were observed in several cerebral regions, with women exhibiting overall lower values as compared to men; this likely reflects the greater myelin content in women's brain, in agreement with recent investigations.
Neural oscillatory responses to performance monitoring differ between high‐ and low‐impulsive individuals, but are unaffected by TMS
Authors: Barth Beatrix , Rohe Tim , Deppermann Saskia , Fallgatter Andreas Jochen , Ehlis Ann‐Christine 
Published: February 2021

AbstractHigher impulsivity may arise from neurophysiological deficits of cognitive control in the prefrontal cortex. Cognitive control can be assessed by time‐frequency decompositions of electrophysiological data. We aimed to clarify neuroelectric mechanisms of performance monitoring in connection with impulsiveness during a modified Eriksen flanker task in high‐ (n = 24) and low‐impulsive subjects (n = 21) and whether these are modulated by double‐blind, sham‐controlled intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS). We found a larger error‐specific peri‐response beta power decrease over fronto‐central sites in high‐impulsive compared to low‐impulsive participants, presumably indexing less effective motor execution processes. Lower parieto‐occipital theta intertrial phase coherence (ITPC) preceding correct responses predicted higher reaction time (RT) and higher RT variability, potentially reflecting efficacy of cognitive control or general attention. Single‐trial preresponse theta phase clustering was coupled to RT in correct trials (weighted ITPC), reflecting oscillatory dynamics that predict trial‐specific behavior. iTBS did not modulate behavior or EEG time‐frequency power. Performance monitoring was associated with time‐frequency patterns reflecting cognitive control (parieto‐occipital theta ITPC, theta weighted ITPC) as well as differential action planning/execution processes linked to trait impulsivity (frontal low beta power). Beyond that, results suggest no stimulation effect related to response‐locked time‐frequency dynamics with the current stimulation protocol. Neural oscillatory responses to performance monitoring differ between high‐ and low‐impulsive individuals, but are unaffected by iTBS.
Variability and effect sizes of intracranial current source density estimations during pain: Systematic review, experimental findings, and future perspectives
Authors: Völker Juan Manuel , Arguissain Federico Gabriel , Andersen Ole Kæseler , Biurrun Manresa José 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPain arises from the integration of sensory and cognitive processes in the brain, resulting in specific patterns of neural oscillations that can be characterized by measuring electrical brain activity. Current source density (CSD) estimation from low‐resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) and its standardized (sLORETA) and exact (eLORETA) variants, is a common approach to identify the spatiotemporal dynamics of the brain sources in physiological and pathological pain‐related conditions. However, there is no consensus on the magnitude and variability of clinically or experimentally relevant effects for CSD estimations. Here, we systematically examined reports of sample size calculations and effect size estimations in all studies that included the keywords pain, and LORETA, sLORETA, or eLORETA in Scopus and PubMed. We also assessed the reliability of LORETA CSD estimations during non‐painful and painful conditions to estimate hypothetical sample sizes for future experiments using CSD estimations. We found that none of the studies included in the systematic review reported sample size calculations, and less than 20% reported measures of central tendency and dispersion, which are necessary to estimate effect sizes. Based on these data and our experimental results, we determined that sample sizes commonly used in pain studies using CSD estimations are suitable to detect medium and large effect sizes in crossover designs and only large effects in parallel designs. These results provide a comprehensive summary of the effect sizes observed using LORETA in pain research, and this information can be used by clinicians and researchers to improve settings and designs of future pain studies.
Fiber ball white matter modeling in focal epilepsy
Authors: Bryant Lorna , McKinnon Emilie T. , Taylor James A. , Jensen Jens H. , Bonilha Leonardo , de Bezenac Christophe , Kreilkamp Barbara A. K. , Adan Guleed , Wieshmann Udo C. , Biswas Shubhabrata , Marson Anthony G. , Keller Simon S. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMulticompartment diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approaches are increasingly being applied to estimate intra‐axonal and extra‐axonal diffusion characteristics in the human brain. Fiber ball imaging (FBI) and its extension fiber ball white matter modeling (FBWM) are such recently described multicompartment approaches. However, these particular approaches have yet to be applied in clinical cohorts. The modeling of several diffusion parameters with interpretable biological meaning may offer the development of new, noninvasive biomarkers of pharmacoresistance in epilepsy. In the present study, we used FBI and FBWM to evaluate intra‐axonal and extra‐axonal diffusion properties of white matter tracts in patients with longstanding focal epilepsy. FBI/FBWM diffusion parameters were calculated along the length of 50 white matter tract bundles and statistically compared between patients with refractory epilepsy, nonrefractory epilepsy and controls. We report that patients with chronic epilepsy had a widespread distribution of extra‐axonal diffusivity relative to controls, particularly in circumscribed regions along white matter tracts projecting to cerebral cortex from thalamic, striatal, brainstem, and peduncular regions. Patients with refractory epilepsy had significantly greater markers of extra‐axonal diffusivity compared to those with nonrefractory epilepsy. The extra‐axonal diffusivity alterations in patients with epilepsy observed in the present study could be markers of neuroinflammatory processes or a reflection of reduced axonal density, both of which have been histologically demonstrated in focal epilepsy. FBI is a clinically feasible MRI approach that provides the basis for more interpretive conclusions about the microstructural environment of the brain and may represent a unique biomarker of pharmacoresistance in epilepsy.
Nomograms for predicting survival outcomes in intensity‐modulated radiotherapy era of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A study based on Epstein–Barr virus DNA biological responses
Authors: Yang Kaixuan , Li Mei , Zhu Jinbing , Zeng Lei , Tian Jiangfang , Xie Wenji , Shou Arthur , Li Yiping , Li Guangjun 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundTreatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is evolving toward Intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era, which requires patient‐specific reestimation of survival outcomes in modern health care.MethodsA total of 488 detectable pre‐treatment Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) DNA patients (stage II‐IVa) treated with induction chemotherapy (IC) and IMRT were examined (training set, n = 325; validation set, n = 163).ResultsConcurrent chemotherapy (CC) was still an independent prognosticator for overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS). Both nomograms included age, T classification, N classification, post‐IC EBV DNA, and CC. Predictions correlated well with observed 3‐/5‐year OS and PFS. The concordance index was 0.776 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69–0.86) for OS and 0.742 (95% CI 0.65–0.83) for PFS in the validation cohort. The nomograms can successfully classify patients into low‐ and high‐risk groups.ConclusionThe validated nomograms provided useful prediction of OS and PFS for detectable pre‐treatment EBV DNA patients with NPC in IMRT era.