bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduced thalamic resting‐state functional connectivity and impaired cognition in acute abstinent heroin users
Authors: Zhang Min , Liu Shuang , Wang Shicong , Xu Yan , Chen Longmao , Shao Ziqiang , Wen Xinwen , Yang Wenhan , Liu Jun , Yuan Kai 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAs a critical component of cortico‐striato‐thalamo‐cortical loop in addiction, our understanding of the thalamus in impaired cognition of heroin users (HU) has been limited. Due to the complex thalamic connection with cortical and subcortical regions, thalamus was divided into prefrontal (PFC), occipital (OC), premotor, primary motor, sensory, temporal, and posterior parietal association subregions according to white matter tractography. We adopted seven subregions of bilateral thalamus as regions of interest to systematically study the implications of distinct thalamic nuclei in acute abstinent HU. The volume and resting‐state functional connectivity (RSFC) differences of the thalamus were investigated between age‐, gender‐, and alcohol‐matched 37 HU and 33 healthy controls (HCs). Trail making test‐A (TMT‐A) was adopted to assess cognitive function deficits, which were then correlated with neuroimaging findings. Although no significant different volumes were found, HU group showed decreased RSFC between left PFC_thalamus and middle temporal gyrus as well as between left OC_thalamus and inferior frontal gyrus and supplementary motor area relative to HCs. Meanwhile, the higher TMT‐A scores in HU were negatively correlated with PFC_thalamic RSFC with inferior temporal gyrus, fusiform, and precuneus. Craving scores were negatively correlated with OC_thalamic RSFC with accumbens, hippocampus, and insula. Opiate Withdrawal Scale scores were negatively correlated with left PFC/OC_thalamic RSFC with orbitofrontal cortex and medial PFC. We indicated two thalamus subregions separately involvement in cognitive control and craving to reveal the implications of thalamic subnucleus in pathology of acute abstinent HU.
Longitudinal effects of adjuvant chemotherapy and related neuropathy on health utility in stage II and III colon cancer patients: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Jongeneel Gabrielle , Greuter Marjolein J. E. , van Erning Felice N. , Twisk Jos W. R. , Koopman Miriam , Punt Cornelis J. A. , Vink Geraldine R. , Coupé Veerle M. H. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPatient's quality of life should be included in clinical decision making regarding the administration of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) in stage II/III colon cancer. Therefore, quality of life, summarized as health utility (HU), was evaluated for patients treated with and without ACT. Furthermore, the role of chemotherapy–induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) on HU was evaluated. Patients diagnosed with stage II/III colon cancer between 2011 and 2019 and participating in the Prospective Dutch ColoRectal Cancer cohort were included (n = 914). HU scores were assessed with the EQ‐5D‐5L at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Patients treated with ACT received mainly capecitabine and oxaliplatin (57%) or capecitabine monotherapy (40%) (average duration: 3.5 months). HU 3 to 18 months after diagnosis (potential ACT period + 12 months follow‐up) was compared between patients treated with and without ACT using a mixed model adjusted for age, sex and education level. Subsequently, the CIPN sensory, motor and autonomy scales, measured using the EORTC QLQ‐CIPN20, were independently included in the model to evaluate the impact of neuropathy. Using a mixed model, a significant difference of −0.039 (95% confidence interval: −0.062; −0.015) in HU was found between patients treated with and without ACT. Including the CIPN sensory, motor and autonomy scales decreased the difference with 0.019, 0.015 and 0.02, respectively. HU 3 to 18 months after diagnosis is significantly lower in patients treated with ACT vs without ACT. This difference is on the boundary of clinical relevance and appears to be partly related to the sensory and motor neuropathy‐related side effects of ACT.
Lead smelting alters wheat flour heavy metal concentrations and health risks
Authors: Li Liping , Zhang Yuqing , Ippolito James A. , Xing Weiqin , Tu Chen 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWheat (Triticum aestivum L.) flour consumption may be a major source of human metal intake, especially when wheat is cultivated in metal‐contaminated soils. This work investigated Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn distribution in whole wheat flour, wheat flour, and wheat bran when grown in an area polluted by Pb smelting. Wheat product heavy metal concentrations were analyzed, and the (non)carcinogenic risks were assessed. Mean Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn concentrations in whole wheat flour were 0.38, 3.83, 0.48, and 29.3 mg kg–1, respectively; those in flour were only slightly reduced. The ratios between noncarcinogenic average daily dose of whole wheat flour and wheat flour consumption ranged from 1.06 to 3.76, with Pb having the greatest values compared with other metals. For children, the average hazard quotients (HQs) of whole wheat flour consumption of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were 4.19, 1.06, 1.53, and 1.07; those for wheat flour consumption were 3.81, 0.68, 0.70, and 0.98, respectively. The HQs of adults were less than those of children. Overall results indicated that consumption of wheat products may lead to health concerns in the heavy metal contaminated area, yet when wheat flour rather than whole wheat flour is consumed, only the human health risk from Pb ingestion is reduced. Altering or removing human edible crops in the most contaminated areas should be considered.
Ankle fusion and replacement gait similar post‐surgery, but still exhibit differences versus controls regardless of footwear
Authors: Stone Amanda E. , Shofer Jane B. , Stender Christina J. , Whittaker Eric C. , Hahn Michael E. , Sangeorzan Bruce J. , Ledoux William R. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPersons with ankle osteoarthritis (AOA) often seek surgical intervention to alleviate pain and restore function; however, recent research has yielded no superior choice between the two primary options: fusion and replacement. One factor yet to be considered is the effect of footwear on biomechanical outcomes. Comparisons of AOA biomechanics to a normative population are also sparse. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine how footwear uniquely affected gait in persons with ankle fusion and replacement and (2) provide context for AOA biomechanics via comparisons to a healthy adult sample. Thirty‐four persons with AOA performed overground walking trials barefoot and shod before surgical intervention and then received either an ankle fusion (n = 14) or replacement (n = 20). Two and/or three years post‐surgery, patients returned for gait analysis. Nineteen controls performed the same gait procedures during a single study visit. Spatiotemporal variables and peak angles, internal moments, powers, and forces were calculated to quantify gait behavior. Overall, the two surgical groups performed similarly to each other but demonstrated marked differences from controls both pre‐ and post‐surgery. No significant differences were detected when examining the effect of footwear. The motion of the midfoot with respect to the hindfoot and forefoot may be instrumental in gait biomechanics following an ankle fusion or replacement and should be considered in future investigations.
Why we can be resilient: We have technology and open standards to thank
Authors: Kasdorf Bill 
Published: January 2021

Key points
Many in the information industry are able to work from home thanks to technologies that did not exist not long ago.
The technologies we rely on, even proprietary ones, are built on a foundation of internet and web standards that we take for granted and may not even be aware of.
The progress of technology over the past few decades is a story of ever‐increasing interoperability.
The web standards from the W3C are open; free of cost; free of intellectual property claims; and have been developed to take accessibility, internationalization, security, privacy, and alignment with the W3C Web Technical Architecture into account.
Our pivot to the demands of the post‐COVID era will be enabled by free, open standards and the new tools and technologies that will be based on them.
A lesson in resilience: The abrupt digital transformation of society conferences in 2020
Authors: Iglesias Violaine , Smith Steven Rathgeb , Gibson Dan 
Published: January 2021

Key points
The pandemic can be seen as an opportunity to revisit the justification for conferences and how they should be run to avoid elitism, climate impact, and diversity.
2020 saw a wealth of different approaches to events, including financing, technologies, scheduling, and the meaning of the term ‘live’.
Engaging attendees and providing networking opportunities are considered the main obstacle to virtual events, but can social networking lessons help resolve – or even improve – this?
It may take some time for online event programming to achieve the right balance of flexibility versus ‘buzz’ to meet a conference's key objectives: knowledge sharing and peer interaction.
Live broadcasting is on the rise, but the on‐demand video model is gaining popularity as it ensures high‐quality presentation recordings and consistency of experience.
Over time, technical challenges of online meetings will resolve, with competition leading to more reasonable pricing, customers becoming savvier, and vendors learning from experience.
Clinical trials optimizing investigator and self‐collection of buccal cells for RNA yield
Authors: Geiger Jessica L. , Cedars Elizabeth D. , Zang Yan , Normolle Daniel P. , Li Hua , Grandis Jennifer R. , Centuori Sara , Johnson Daniel E. , Bauman Julie E. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractObjectiveBuccal cells are an ideal surrogate tissue for studying biologic effects of carcinogens or drugs, however inherent fragility and salivary RNAses limit RNA yield. We conducted healthy volunteer trials to optimize collection conditions.MethodsWe conducted: (a) a single‐arm crossover study evaluating four test conditions on RNA yield by buccal cytobrush; (b) a single‐arm prospective study evaluating RNA yield by investigator vs self‐collection.ResultsAntecedent toothbrushing, time of day, and number of cytobrush strokes did not significantly impact RNA yield. RNA yield was doubled by using 2 vs 1 cytobrush per buccal surface (P = .0054). Self‐collection of buccal cells for RNA was feasible; 36 of 50 (72%) samples passed quality control.ConclusionRNA yield was doubled by using two cytobrushes per buccal surface. Healthy volunteers can self‐collect sufficient buccal RNA for gene expression studies. Techniques from these pragmatic trials could enhance availability of a limited tissue for serial biomarker measurements.Level of Evidence1b—Prognosis Study (Individual prospective cohort study).
Automatic plankton image classification—Can capsules and filters help cope with data set shift?
Authors: Plonus Rene‐Marcel , Conradt Jan , Harmer André , Janßen Silke , Floeter Jens 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe general task of image classification seems to be solved due to the development of modern convolutional neural networks (CNNs). However, the high intraclass variability and interclass similarity of plankton images still prevents the practical identification of morphologically similar organisms. This prevails especially for rare organisms. Every CNN requires a vast amount of manually validated training images which renders it inefficient to train study‐specific classifiers. In most follow‐up studies, the plankton community is different from before and this data set shift (DSS) reduces the correct classification rates. A common solution is to discard all uncertain images and hope that the remains still resemble the true field situation. The intention of this North Sea Video Plankton Recorder (VPR) study is to assess if a combination of a Capsule Neural Network (CapsNet) with probability filters can improve the classification success in applications with DSS. Second, to provide a guideline how to customize automated CNN and CapsNet deep learning image analysis methods according to specific research objectives. In community analyses, our approach achieved a discard of uncertain predictions of only 5%. CapsNet and CNN reach similar precision scores, but the CapsNet has lower recall scores despite similar discard ratios. This is due to a higher discard ratio in rare classes. The recall advantage of the CNN decreases with increasing DSS. We present an alternative method to handle rare classes with a CNN achieving a mean recall of 96% by manually validating an average of 6.5% of the original images.
Synthesis and Properties of Cationic Gradient Brush Copolymers Carrying PEO Side Chains and Catechol Moieties
Authors: Steponaviciute Medeina , Klimkevicius Vaidas , Makuska Ricardas 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSynthesis and study of brush copolymers carrying long PEO side chains and catechol moieties are reported. Kinetics of reversible‐addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer copolymerization of 2‐(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEOMEMA) is studied by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and 1H NMR spectroscopy, which allow calculating not only copolymerization rate but also the evolution of copolymer composition during copolymerization. Molecular weight Mn and dispersity Ð of the copolymers are determined by SEC with triple detection. Well defined gradient copolymers p(DMAEMA‐co‐PEOMEMA) of various composition with degree of polymerization close to 100 and Ð less than 1.18 are synthesized. For attachment of catechol moieties and introduction of positive charge, DMAEMA units are quaternized with 2‐chloro‐3,4‐dihydroxyacetophenone. The use of tetrahydrofuran as a solvent for that reaction allows obtaining the degree of quaternization close to 100%. Positively charged catechol brush copolymers and their solutions are characterized by 1H NMR, fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, potentiometric titration, and water contact angle measurements, and their properties are compared with those of similar neutral catechol brush copolymers.
On the dimension of self‐similar measures with complicated overlaps
Authors: Bárány Balázs , Szvák Edina 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate the Hausdorff dimension of the invariant measures of the iterated function system (IFS) . We provide an “almost every” type result by a direct application of the results of Feng and Hu [5] and Kamalutdinov and Tetenov [9].
Production and characterization of boron carbide and silicon carbide reinforced copper‐nickel composites by powder metallurgy method
Authors: Akkaş M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn this study, composite samples were produced by reinforcing boron carbide and silicon carbide particles in different rates by weight into copper‐nickel powder mixture using powder metallurgy method. The prepared powder mixtures were cold pressed under 600 MPa pressure and pelletized. The pelletized samples were then sintered in an atmosphere‐controlled furnace. Scanning electron microscopy to determine the microstructure of the produced samples and x‐ray diffraction method analysis to determine the phases forming in the structure of the produced samples were used and microhardness was taken to determine the effect of boron carbide and silicon carbide on hardness. In addition to that, the mechanical properties the transverse rupture strength were investigated using three‐point bending tests. The corrosion tests were performed potentiodynamic polarization curves of the samples in 3.5 % sodium chloride solution. The highest hardness value was measured as 162 HV 0.05 in the sample reinforced with 10 % boron carbide. As the amount of silicon carbide increased, the corrosion resistance of the composite increased. Moreover, as the amount of boron carbide increased, the corrosion resistance of the composite decreased. Load‐contact depth values were examined, copper‐nickel+10 % silicon carbide has the highest peak depth of 48.12.
What coronavirus 3C‐like protease tells us: From structure, substrate selectivity, to inhibitor design
Authors: Xiong Muya , Su Haixia , Zhao Wenfeng , Xie Hang , Shao Qiang , Xu Yechun 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe emergence of a variety of coronaviruses (CoVs) in the last decades has posed huge threats to human health. Especially, the ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has led to more than 70 million infections and over 1.6 million of deaths worldwide in the past few months. None of the efficacious antiviral agents against human CoVs have been approved yet. 3C‐like protease (3CLpro) is an attractive target for antiviral intervention due to its essential role in processing polyproteins translated from viral RNA, and its conserved structural feature and substrate specificity among CoVs in spite of the sequence variation. This review focuses on all available crystal structures of 12 CoV 3CLpros and their inhibitors, and intends to provide a comprehensive understanding of this protease from multiple aspects including its structural features, substrate specificity, inhibitor binding modes, and more importantly, to recapitulate the similarity and diversity among different CoV 3CLpros and the structure–activity relationship of various types of inhibitors. Such an attempt could gain a deep insight into the inhibition mechanisms and drive future structure‐based drug discovery targeting 3CLpros.
Spectral diffusion analysis of kidney intravoxel incoherent motion MRI in healthy volunteers and patients with renal pathologies
Authors: Stabinska Julia , Ljimani Alexandra , Zöllner Helge Jörn , Wilken Enrica , Benkert Thomas , Limberg Juliane , Esposito Irene , Antoch Gerald , Wittsack Hans‐Jörg 
Published: January 2021

PurposeTo assess the feasibility of measuring tubular and vascular signal fractions in the human kidney using nonnegative least‐square (NNLS) analysis of intravoxel incoherent motion data collected in healthy volunteers and patients with renal pathologies.MethodsMR imaging was performed at 3 Tesla in 12 healthy subjects and 3 patients with various kidney pathologies (fibrotic kidney disease, failed renal graft, and renal masses). Relative signal fractions f and mean diffusivities of the diffusion components in the cortex, medulla, and renal lesions were obtained using the regularized NNLS fitting of the intravoxel incoherent motion data. Test–retest repeatability of the NNLS approach was tested in 5 volunteers scanned twice.ResultsIn the healthy kidneys, the NNLS method yielded diffusion spectra with 3 distinguishable components that may be linked to the slow tissue water diffusion, intermediate tubular and vascular flow, and fast blood flow in larger vessels with the relative signal fractions, fslow, finterm and ffast, respectively. In the pathological kidneys, the diffusion spectra varied substantially from those acquired in the healthy kidneys. Overall, the renal cyst showed substantially higher finterm and lower fslow, whereas the fibrotic kidney, failed renal graft, and renal cell carcinoma demonstrated the opposite trend.ConclusionNNLS‐based intravoxel incoherent motion could potentially become a valuable tool in assessing changes in tubular and vascular volume fractions under pathophysiological conditions.
Measuring129Xe transfer across the blood‐brain barrier using MR spectroscopy
Authors: Rao Madhwesha R. , Norquay Graham , Stewart Neil J. , Wild Jim M. 
Published: January 2021

PurposeThis study develops a tracer kinetic model of xenon uptake in the human brain to determine the transfer rate of inhaled hyperpolarized129Xe from cerebral blood to gray matter that accounts for the effects of cerebral physiology, perfusion and magnetization dynamics. The129Xe transfer rate is expressed using a tracer transfer coefficient, which estimates the quantity ofhyperpolarized129Xe dissolved in cerebral blood under exchange withdepolarized129Xe dissolved in gray matter under equilibrium of concentration.Theory and MethodsTime‐resolved MR spectra of hyperpolarized129Xe dissolved in the human brain were acquired from three healthy volunteers. Acquired spectra were numerically fitted with five Lorentzian peaks in accordance with known129Xe brain spectral peaks. The signal dynamics of spectral peaks for gray matter and red blood cells were quantified, and correction for the129XeT1dependence upon blood oxygenation was applied.129Xe transfer dynamics determined from the ratio of the peaks for gray matter and red blood cells was numerically fitted with the developed tracer kinetic model.ResultsFor all the acquired NMR spectra, the developed tracer kinetic model fitted the data with tracer transfer coefficients between 0.1 and 0.14.ConclusionIn this study, a tracer kinetic model was developed and validated that estimates the transfer rate of HP129Xe from cerebral blood to gray matter in the human brain.
Nanotheranostics in epilepsy: A perspective for multimodal diagnosis and strategic management
Authors: Shende Pravin , Trivedi Riddhi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractEpilepsy is a common but a complex neurological disorder with limited practices for successful management due to the complicated neuronal network and lack of knowledge of epileptic pathophysiology. Theranostic systems such as implantable devices and biodegradable nanomaterials offer better tailor‐made methods for the detection and treatment using nanotechnology‐based approaches for patients with epilepsy. Miniaturized nano‐implantable devices and biosensors equipped with operations to mimic neurostimulation demonstrate excellent opportunities in profiling the disease and assist in comprehension of the relationship between the disease and host. This strategy is developed for diagnoses and mapping brain activities to integrate and target therapeutic nanosystems in epilepsy. Non‐invasive class of nanotheranostics such as biodegradable and stimuli‐responsive polymers includes nanomaterials that utilize bio‐physico‐chemical processes or stimuli as a source for detecting the state and progress of the disease. The superior form of nanotheranostics encompasses in‐situ diagnostics with triggered release at the specific site. This review article focuses on the nanotheranostic strategies for epilepsy, their implications, challenges and new potentials for detection and therapy in personalized medicine. The concept of “on‐demand” release of drugs at the site of action using bio‐responsive theranostic approach reveals a potential for developing a point of primary care for epilepsy in the future.
Chain structure, linear viscoelasticity and extensional rheology of poly(4‐vinyl biphenyl‐stat‐styrene) statistical copolymers
Authors: López‐Barrón Carlos R. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA series of statistical copolymers of 4‐vinylbiphenyl and styrene were prepared via free radical polymerization to investigate the effect of the comonomer ratio on their microstructure and rheological properties. The glass transition temperature of the copolymers follows a nonlinear monotonic decreasing dependence with increasing styrene content which is well described by the Gordon‐Taylor equation. WAXS measurements reveal that both the backbone to backbone and the inter‐phenyl distances (d1 and d2, respectively) are decreasing functions of the styrene content in the copolymers. The apparent monomeric friction coefficient, calculated from dynamic frequency sweeps in the linear viscoelastic regime, decreases exponentially with the styrene content in the copolymer. We postulate that the strong effect of the copolymer composition on the friction coefficient is due to the larger overlapping distance between phenyl rings of adjacent polymer chains (doverlap), giving rise to stronger aromatic π–π interactions, which in turn results in stronger friction between adjacent chains. The increase in doverlap and monomeric friction coefficient also leads to a significant increase in the extensional strain hardening measured during extensional startup flow measurements.