bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma: An Asian institution's experience
Authors: Ng Kennedy Yao Yi , Chow Edwin Wei Xiang , Jiang Bochao , Lim Cindy , Goh Brian Kim Poh , Lee Ser Yee , Teo Jin Yao , Tan Damien Meng Yew , Cheow Peng Chung , Ooi London Lucien Peng Jin , Chow Pierce Kah Hoe , Lee Joycelyn Jie Xin , Kam Juinn Huar , Koh Ye Xin , Jeyaraj Prema Raj , Tan Ek Khoon , Choo Su Pin , Chan Chung Yip , Chung Alexander Yaw Fui , Tai David 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundPancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly lethal. Surgery offers the only chance of cure, but 5‐year overall survival (OS) after surgical resection and adjuvant therapy remains dismal. Adjuvant trials were mostly conducted in the West enrolling fit patients. Applicability to a general population, especially Asia has not been described adequately.AimWe aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes, prognostic factors of survival, pattern, and timing of recurrence after curative resection in an Asian institution.Methods and ResultsThe clinicopathologic and survival outcomes of 165 PDAC patients who underwent curative resection between 1998 and 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Median age at surgery was 62.0 years. 55.2% were male, and 73.3% had tumors involving the head of pancreas. The median OS of the entire cohort was 19.7 months. Median OS of patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy was 23.8 months. Negative predictors of survival include lymph node ratio (LNR) of >0.3 (HR = 3.36, P = .001), tumor site involving the body or tail of pancreas (HR = 1.59, P = .046), presence of perineural invasion (PNI) (HR = 2.36, P = .018) and poorly differentiated/undifferentiated tumor grade (HR = 1.86, P = .058). The median time to recurrence was 8.87 months, with 66.1% and 81.2% of patients developing recurrence at 12 months and 24 months respectively. The most common site of recurrence was the liver.ConclusionThe survival of Asian patients with resected PDAC who received adjuvant chemotherapy is comparable to reported randomized trials. Clinical characteristics seem similar to Western patients. Hence, geographical locations may not be a necessary stratification factor in RCTs. Conversely, lymph node ratio and status of PNI ought to be incorporated.
A new hardware architecture of the adaptive vector median filter and validation in a hardware/software environment
Authors: Ben Atitallah Ahmed , Abid Imen , Boudabous Anis , Loukil Hassen 
Published: May 2021

SummaryPresented in this paper is a new hardware architecture of the adaptive vector median filter (AVMF). The suggested structure yielded important values in impulsive noise removal from color images while preserving their fine details. The software (SW) study of this filter demonstrated that its implementation is too complex. To overcome this limitation, some approximations using a ROM memory were proposed to perform the square root for a hardware (HW) implementation. Comparative results between the ideal and approximated SWs of the AVMF showed a relative error equal to 0.01%. Then, sequential and parallel HW architectures were developed for this filter based on the approximated method. Finally, the validation of these architectures was conducted using an field‐programmable gate array (FPGA) platform on an HW/SW environment. The validation results demonstrated that the proposed HW/SW implementation of the AVMF can speed up the execution time 180 times in the worst case at 140 MHz compared to the SW solution as well as preserving a high data quality (same image quality).
Identification of optimal location points for efficient data gathering in IoT environment
Authors: Wala Tanuj , Chand Narottam , Sharma Ajay K. 
Published: May 2021

SummaryRecent development in sensor technologies encourages the adoption of mobile data collectors (MDCs), that is, vehicles or robots, to collect data in the Internet of Things (IoT) environment. However, the slow travel speed of the MDCs leads to significant delays in the transmission of data. This work proposes an optimal region location point based route planning (ORLP‐RP) scheme to construct a shorter tour with minimized data delivery latency. Primary goal of the work is to distinguish the overlapped wireless sensor network (WSN) clusters and specify the overlapped regions to find optimal location points within each identified region to ensure one‐hop data gathering from each cluster. Thereafter, MDC trajectory is formed by using the nearest‐neighbor (NN) heuristic approach that generates a near optimal solution. In performance evaluation, the ORLP‐RP scheme has been compared with the existing algorithms such as EAPC, RDP, MOPSO, and NDCMC for data collection in terms of the number of optimal location points, total path length, data gathering latency, network lifespan, energy consumption, and data gathering ratio. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach by improving the number of optimal location points with an average up to 58%, total path length improvement by 17%, energy consumption and network lifespan improvement on average by 18% and 12%, data gathering ratio by the MDC up to 9%, and reducing the delay of the MDC path by 21% compared with considered approaches. Thus, simulation results indicate better performance of the proposed scheme at all the indices listed above.
The fate of a travertine record: Impact of early diagenesis on the Y‐10 core (Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, USA)
Authors: De Boever Eva , Jaramillo‐Vogel David , Bouvier Anne‐Sophie , Frank Norbert , Schröder‐Ritzrau Andrea , Baumgarter Lukas , Swennen Rudy , Foubert Anneleen 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSpring systems are efficient and fast precipitating non‐marine carbonate factories, but they are also prone to (early) diagenesis. Evidence of diagenesis in travertines remains controversial as the resulting textures have been considered primary in other deposits and the impact on geochemical/palaeo‐environmental signals is often poorly addressed. This study revisits the Y‐10 core, taken in 1967 at one of the upper terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park (USA). The travertine depositional facies in the upper 50 m of the core show a general distal to proximal facies trend upwards. To unravel the nature, impact and timing of early diagenesis, fabrics and geochemical signatures are also compared to modern hot spring carbonates. Secondary ion mass spectrometry and detailed microscopy proved powerful in determining the stable isotope signature of different cement generations, thereby detangling the fluid history. Diagenesis starts during spring activity, but these warm waters not only precipitate CaCO3 at the top, they also seem to have circulated through the porous spring fabrics below. It resulted in coarsening and homogenization of the primary textures through neomorphism of aragonite and calcite cementation, often resulting in new intracrystalline microporosity within the calcite crystals. Subsequent circulation of meteoric fluids led to dissolution and cementation, particularly near the top of the core. Careful interpretation of U/Th dates suggests that travertine deposition started at the beginning of the Holocene/end Pleistocene. Calculated depositional (precipitation) rates vary between 2 and 20 mm/year, assuming a constant rate between samples at different depths. Aragonite deposits are completely transformed to calcite below depths of 5–10 m, corresponding to a time span of 4,000 years. Core and petrography observations, together with dating, suggest that travertine strata below marine sandstones in the lower part of the core may relate to fault displacement after the onset of travertine deposition.
Spatial variation in antler investment of Apennine red deer
Authors: Mattioli Stefano , Ferretti Francesco , Nicoloso Sandro , Corlatti Luca 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHeterogeneity in resource availability and quality can trigger spatial patterns in the expression of sexually selected traits such as body mass and weaponry. While relationships between habitat features and phenotypic quality are well established at broad geographical scales, information is poor on spatial patterns at finer, intrapopulation scales. We analyzed biometric data collected on 1965 red deer Cervus elaphus males over 20 years from a nonmigratory population living on two sides of a mountainous ridge, with substantial differences in land cover and habitat quality but similar climate and population density. We investigate spatial patterns in (i) body mass, (ii) antler mass, and (iii) antler investment. We also tested for site‐ and age‐specific patterns in allometric relationship between body mass and antler mass. Statistically significant fine‐scale spatial variations in body mass, antler mass, and, to a lesser extent, antler allocation matched spatial differences in land cover. All three traits were greater in the northern slope, characterized by higher habitat heterogeneity and greater availability of open habitats, than in the southern slope. Moreover, the allometric relationship between body mass and antler mass differed among age‐classes, in a pattern that was consistent between the two mountain slopes. Our results support the occurrence of spatial patterns in the expression of individual attributes also at a fine, intrapopulation scale. Our findings emphasize the role of environmental heterogeneity in shaping spatial variations of key life‐history traits, with potential consequences for reproductive success.
Wild bees of Chile: a database on taxonomy, sociality, and ecology
Authors: López‐Aliste Manuel , Flores‐Prado Luis , Ruz Luisa , Sepúlveda Yanet , Rodríguez Sharon , Saraiva António M. , Fontúrbel Francisco E. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBees are a diverse group of insects that have tremendous importance as pollinators. In recent decades, there has been a global decline in bee populations because of land‐use change, intensive agriculture, and climate change. Unfortunately, our knowledge of native bees’ ecology is rather scarce, and such knowledge gaps are also a major threat to its conservation. In this sense, biological collections are a priceless natural history legacy and an information source for new research and decision making. Chile has a remarkable bee diversity, with 464 species currently known from Chile and a high incidence of endemism and a variety of habitats (including the Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot). The largest wild bee collection in Chile is held at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (comprising a century of data). This collection has been recently included in GBIF. Here we present a database with 36,010 records, including information on sociality and ecology (including information on floral visitation range, the resource collected, and nesting substrates) for 160 out of the 167 bee species included (36% of the Chilean bee diversity, including 49 genera and five families). All records have the taxonomy resolved, and 83% of them have geographic coordinates, covering a latitudinal range between 18° S and 53° S from the continental and insular territories. This data set is released for noncommercial use only. Credits should be given to this paper (i.e., proper citation), and the products generated with this database should be shared under the same license terms (CC BY‐NC‐SA).
Fishing in the Toolbox of Cyclic Turn Mimics: a Literature Overview of the Last Decade
Authors: Bucci Raffaella , Foschi Francesca , Loro Camilla , Erba Emanuela , Gelmi Maria Luisa , Pellegrino Sara 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe main goal in developing peptidomimetics is the stabilization of the bioactive conformation of peptides. Among all the secondary structures, turns are of paramount importance. This review highlights the recent advances in the design and synthesis of cyclic turn mimics. Both amino acids, carbo‐ and hetero‐cyclic scaffolds have been considered, focusing on their use in the preparation of peptidomimetics and on their ability to induce γ‐, β‐, and α‐turns.
Accelerating Amine‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Reactions by Intermolecular Cooperative Thiourea/Oxime Hydrogen‐Bond Catalysis
Authors: Ma Guangning , Afewerki Samson , Zhang Kaiheng , Ibrahem Ismail , Córdova Armando 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe ability of intermolecular cooperative thiourea/oxime hydrogen‐bond catalysis for improving and accelerating asymmetric aminocatalysis is presented. The two readily available hydrogen‐bond‐donating catalysts operates in synergy with a chiral amine catalyst to accomplish highly stereoselective transformations. The synergistic catalyst systems simultaneously activate both electrophiles and nucleophiles, and make the transformations more chemo‐ and stereoselective. This was exemplified by performing co‐catalytic enantioselective direct intermolecular α‐alkylation reactions of aldehydes, direct aldol reactions, and asymmetric conjugate reactions, which gave the corresponding products in high yields and enantiomeric ratios.
Insulator‐based dielectrophoretic focusing and trapping of particles in non‐Newtonian fluids
Authors: Bentor Joseph , Malekanfard Amirreza , Raihan Mahmud Kamal , Wu Sen , Pan Xinxiang , Song Yongxin , Xuan Xiangchun 
Published: May 2021

AbstractInsulator‐based dielectrophoretic (iDEP) microdevices have been limited to work with Newtonian fluids. We report an experimental study of the fluid rheological effects on iDEP focusing and trapping of polystyrene particles in polyethylene oxide, xanthan gum, and polyacrylamide solutions through a constricted microchannel. Particle focusing and trapping in the mildly viscoelastic polyethylene oxide solution are slightly weaker than in the Newtonian buffer. They are, however, significantly improved in the strongly viscoelastic and shear thinning polyacrylamide solution. These observed particle focusing behaviors exhibit a similar trend with respect to electric field, consistent with a revised theoretical analysis for iDEP focusing in non‐Newtonian fluids. No apparent focusing of particles is achieved in the xanthan gum solution, though the iDEP trapping can take place under a much larger electric field than the other fluids. This is attributed to the strong shear thinning‐induced influences on both the electroosmotic flow and electrokinetic/dielectrophoretic motions.
Cost‐effective purification process development for chimeric hepatitis B core (HBc) virus‐like particles assisted by molecular dynamic simulation
Authors: Zhang Bingyang , Yin Shuang , Wang Yingli , Su Zhiguo , Bi Jingxiu 
Published: May 2021

AbstractInserting foreign epitopes to hepatitis B core (HBc) virus‐like particles (VLPs) could influence the molecular conformation and therefore vary the purification process. In this study, a cost‐effective purification process was developed for two chimeric HBc VLPs displaying Epstein–Barr nuclear antigens 1 (EBNA1), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) core. Both chimeric VLPs were expressed in soluble form with high production yields in Escherichia coli. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulation was employed to predict the stability of chimeric VLPs. HCV core‐HBc was found to be less stable in water environment compared with EBNA1‐HBc, indicating its higher hydrophobicity. Assisting with MD simulation, ammonium sulfate precipitation was optimized to remove host cell proteins with high target protein recovery yields. Moreover, 99% DNA impurities were removed using POROS 50 HQ chromatography. In characterization measurement, we found that inserting HCV core epitope would reduce the ratio of α‐helix of HCV core‐HBc. This could be another reason on the top of its higher hydrophobicity predicted by MD simulation, causing its less stability. Tertiary structure, transmission electron microscopy, and immunogenicity results indicate that two chimeric VLPs maintained correct VLP structure ensuring its bioactivity after being processed by the developed cost‐effective purification approach.
The Extended Amphibian Metamorphosis Assay: A Thyroid-Specific and Less Animal-Intensive Alternative to the Larval Amphibian Growth and Development Assay
Authors: Ortego Lisa S. , Olmstead Allen W. , Weltje Lennart , Wheeler James R. , Bone Audrey J. , Coady Katherine K. , Banman Chris S. , Burden Natalie , Lagadic Laurent 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The amphibian metamorphosis assay (AMA; US Environmental Protection Agency [USEPA] test guideline 890.1100 and Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development test guideline 231) has been used for more than a decade to assess the potential thyroid-mediated endocrine activity of chemicals. In 2013, in the context of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program of the USEPA, a Scientific Advisory Panel reviewed the results from 18 studies and recommended changes to the AMA test guideline, including a modification to a fixed-stage design rather than a fixed-time (i.e., 21-d) design. We describe an extended test design for the AMA (or EAMA) that includes thyroid histopathology and time to metamorphosis (Nieuwkoop–Faber [NF] stage 62), to address both the issues with the fixed-time design and the specific question of thyroid-mediated adversity in a shorter assay than the larval amphibian growth and development assay (LAGDA; Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development test guideline 241), using fewer animals and resources. A demonstration study was conducted with the EAMA (up to NF stage 58) using sodium perchlorate. Data analyses and interpretation of the fixed-stage design of the EAMA are more straightforward than the fixed-time design because the fixed-stage design avoids confounded morphometric measurements and thyroid histopathology caused by varying developmental stages at test termination. It also results in greater statistical power to detect metamorphic delays than the fixed-time design. By preferentially extending the AMA to NF stage 62, suitable data can be produced to evaluate thyroid-mediated adversity and preclude the need to perform a LAGDA for thyroid mode of action analysis. The LAGDA remains of further interest should investigations of longer term effects related to sexual development modulated though the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal axis be necessary. However, reproduction assessment or life cycle testing is currently not addressed in the LAGDA study design. This is better addressed by higher tier studies in fish, which should then include specific thyroid-related endpoints. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2135–2144. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Evaluation of the Acute Effects and Oxidative Stress Responses of Phenicol Antibiotics and Suspended Particles in Daphnia magna
Authors: Zhang Yuxuan , Guo Peiyong , Wu Yanmei , Wang Meixian , Deng Jun , Su Haitao , Sun Yinshi 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Suspended particles (SP) exist widely in various water systems and are able to adsorb other pollutants in water, producing ecotoxic effects on aquatic nontarget species. Until now, however, few studies have focused on the effects of SP on antibiotics. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of the mixtures of SP and phenicol antibiotics (chloramphenicol [CAP], thiamphenicol [TAP]) on acute toxicity and oxidative stress responses in Daphnia magna. The results indicated that the acute toxicity of phenicol antibiotics in D. magna was increased when combined with SP. Besides, the immobilization of daphnids caused by phenicol drugs in the presence of 10 mg/L of SP was more intense than that with 200 mg/L of SP. Furthermore, the impact of SP with diverse concentrations on the activity of catalase and the level of reduced glutathione in D. magna was different. Notably, almost all CAP + TAP + SP treatments markedly increased malondialdehyde content in D. magna, causing potential cellular oxidative damage in D. magna. In summary, the present study provides insights into the toxic effects of phenicol antibiotic and SP mixtures on aquatic organisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2463–2473. © 2021 SETAC
Effects of complex extracts of traditional Chinese herbs on gastric mucosal injury in rats and potential underlying mechanism
Authors: Yuan Erdong , Liu Liangyun , Huang Min , Chang Bo , Qi Chunli , Gou Na , Ren Jiaoyan 
Published: May 2021

AbstractFive complex extracts (CEs) of seven Chinese herbs (Astragalus, Poria cocos, Alpinia officinarum Hance, Radix Puerariae, Ginseng, Licorice, Hericium erinaceus) were prepared by hot water extraction and evaluated for their effect on gastric ulcer in rats. In rats with acetic acid‐induced chronic gastric ulcer, gross and microscopic appearance showed that gastric mucosal injury index and lesion inhibition rate were improved after CEs gavage for 21 days. Pretreatment with CEs for 21 days in rats with acute gastric ulcer could also improve the gastric mucosal injury by ethanol. CE1, CE4, and CE5 showed more obvious effect in two models. The cell experiments results showed that CE1, CE4, and CE5 effectively inhibited Wnt signaling activity. Thus, they could protect gastric mucosa through inhibiting Wnt signaling pathway. These results indicated that CE1, CE4, and CE5 had significant protective effects on gastric mucosal injury by inhibiting Wnt signalling pathway and could be developed into safe functional products.
The morphometry of left cuneus mediating the genetic regulation on working memory
Authors: He Xiaoxi , Li Xi , Fu Jilian , Xu Jiayuan , Liu Huaigui , Zhang Peng , Li Wei , Yu Chunshui , Ye Zhaoxiang , Qin Wen 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWorking memory is a basic human cognitive function. However, the genetic signatures and their biological pathway remain poorly understood. In the present study, we tried to clarify this issue by exploring the potential associations and pathways among genetic variants, brain morphometry and working memory performance. We first carried out association analyses between 2‐back accuracy and 212 image‐derived phenotypes from 1141 Human Connectome Project (HCP) subjects using a linear mixed model (LMM). We found a significantly positive correlation between the left cuneus volume and 2‐back accuracy (T = 3.615, p = 3.150e−4, Cohen's d = 0.226, corrected using family‐wise error [FWE] method). Based on the LMM‐based genome‐wide association study (GWAS) on the HCP dataset and UK Biobank 33 k GWAS summary statistics, we identified eight independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were reliably associated with left cuneus volume in both UKB and HCP dataset. Within the eight SNPs, we found a negative correlation between the rs76119478 polymorphism and 2‐back accuracy accuracy (T = −2.045, p = .041, Cohen's d = −0.129). Finally, an LMM‐based mediation analysis elucidated a significant effect of left cuneus volume in mediating rs76119478 polymorphism on the 2‐back accuracy (indirect effect = −0.007, 95% BCa CI = [−0.045, −0.003]). These results were also replicated in a subgroup of Caucasians in the HCP population. Further fine mapping demonstrated that rs76119478 maps on intergene CTD‐2315A10.2 adjacent to protein‐encoding gene DAAM1, and is significantly associated with L3HYPDH mRNA expression. Our study suggested this new variant rs76119478 may regulate the working memory through exerting influence on the left cuneus volume.