bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel ultralow conductivity electromanipulation buffer improves cell viability and enhances dielectrophoretic consistency
Authors: Hyler Alexandra R. , Hong Daly , Davalos Rafael V. , Swami Nathan S. , Schmelz Eva M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCell separation has become a critical diagnostic, research, and treatment tool for personalized medicine. Despite significant advances in cell separation, most widely used applications require the use of multiple, expensive antibodies to known markers in order to identify subpopulations of cells for separation. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) provides a biophysical separation technique that can target cell subpopulations based on phenotype without labels and return native cells for downstream analysis. One challenge in employing any DEP device is the sample being separated must be transferred into an ultralow conductivity medium, which can be detrimental in retaining cells’ native phenotypes for separation. Here, we measured properties of traditional DEP reagents and determined that after just 1–2 h of exposure and subsequent culture, cells’ viability was significantly reduced below 50%. We developed and tested a novel buffer (Cyto Buffer) that achieved 6 weeks of stable shelf‐life and demonstrated significantly improved viability and physiological properties. We then determined the impact of Cyto Buffer on cells’ dielectric properties and morphology and found that cells retained properties more similar to that of their native media. Finally, we vetted Cyto Buffer's usability on a cell separation platform (Cyto R1) to determine combined efficacy for cell separations. Here, more than 80% of cells from different cell lines were recovered and were determined to be >70% viable following exposure to Cyto Buffer, flow stimulation, electromanipulation, and downstream collection and growth. The developed buffer demonstrated improved opportunities for electrical cell manipulation, enrichment, and recovery for next generation cell separations.
Optimization of the shale gas reservoir fracture parameters based on the fully coupled gas flow and effective stress model
Authors: Li Diquan , Wang Yuhua , Zeng Bo , Lyu Qiao , Zhou Xiaojin , Zhang Nanqiao 
Published: March 2021

AbstractFracture parameters are important for oil and gas production. In this paper, we establish a fully coupled gas flow and effective stress model for the single well multi‐stage hydraulic fracturing shale gas reservoir and analyze the optimal fracture parameters of this model. Firstly, the reservoir consists of single‐porosity medium zone, dual‐porosity medium zone, and hydraulic fracture zone. Then, on the basis of the effective stress mechanism, the theory of porous elastic medium, evolution of fractal dimensions, and the mechanism of fluid transportation, we establish an apparent permeability model of matrix and fracture system to couple the deformation of reservoir and gas flow in matrix. After that, the partial differential equation is solved by COMSOL and verified using the field shale gas production data of Barnett and Marcellus. Finally, the model is used to optimize the fracture parameters. The results show that by increasing the half‐length of hydraulic fracture, the gas production gets the maximum growth, followed by increasing the fracture diversion capacity and width of hydraulic fractures. For the shale gas reservoir with large‐fractured and relatively high permeability, increasing the length of hydraulic fractures can bring higher production, while for the micro‐fractured and low‐permeability, hydraulic fractures with complex shapes can contribute to production increase.
Sinkhole subsidence monitoring combining terrestrial laser scanner and high‐precision levelling
Authors: Sevil Jorge , Benito‐Calvo Alfonso , Gutiérrez Francisco 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSinkhole subsidence damage on transportation infrastructure is a particularly problematic hazard that has rapidly increased in numerous karst regions worldwide. The quantitative characterization of the deformation is fundamental for the design of effective mitigation measures and to prevent potential accidents. Nonetheless, there are a limited number of investigations addressing the monitoring of specific active sinkholes through the application of high‐precision and high‐resolution methods. Here, we present a sinkhole monitoring approach including the synergistic combination of high‐precision levelling and high‐resolution terrestrial laser scanner (TLS). The method has been satisfactorily tested in an active sinkhole affecting a railway corridor, which includes conventional and high‐speed railway lines. The main outcome is the first example of low‐error (±3 mm) 3D displacement models of an active sinkhole generated with TLS data without the use of ground control points. The methodological advance related to the 3D geometric alignment of successive point clouds without ground control points simplifies the logistics of TLS data collection and expands the potential sites where this technique can be applied, including non‐accessible areas. The combination of geomorphological mapping and ground‐penetrating radar provided critical data for sinkhole site characterization and design of the monitoring surveys. Subsequently, the integration of high‐precision levelling and TLS data provided accurate information on spatio‐temporal subsidence patterns (rates, kinematic style) and the precise location of the boundaries of the area affected by ground deformation in accessible and non‐accessible zones.
The effects of pH and NaCl concentration on the structure of β‐casein from buffalo milk
Authors: Wu Kong Yang , Yang Tong Xiang , Li Quan Yang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of pH and sodium chloride (NaCl) concentration on the structure of β‐casein (β‐CN) purified from buffalo milk using circular dichroism (CD), intrinsic tryptophan, and anilino‐8‐naphthalene sulfonate (ANS) fluorescence spectroscopy. We found that NaCl concentration played a critical role in the stability of the secondary structure of β‐CN. The CD negative peak had a redshift as the NaCl concentration was increased and accompanied by a decrease of β‐sheet content and an increase of α‐helix content. ANS fluorescence spectroscopy also indicated that higher NaCl concentration and lower pH significantly affected the tertiary structure of β‐CN. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) results showed that the particle size of buffalo β‐CN had a blueshift, and then a redshift within the pH range of 5.0–7.5, and it showed a redshift when the NaCl concentration was increased.
World Health Organization building blocks in rural community health services: An integrative review
Authors: Stockton Deborah A. , Fowler Cathrine , Debono Deborah , Travaglia Joanne 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIntroductionDeveloping and adapting health service models to effectively meet the needs of rural and remote communities is an international priority given inequities in health outcomes compared with metropolitan counterparts. This integrative review aims to inform rural and remote health service delivery systems by drawing on the WHO Framework building blocks to identify lessons learned from the literature describing experiences of rural and remote community health service planning and implementation; and inform recommendations to strengthen often disadvantaged rural and remote health systems for policy makers, health service managers, and those implementing international healthcare initiatives within these contexts.MethodsThe integrative review examined the literature reporting rural and remote community health service delivery published from 2007 to 2017 (the decade following the release of the WHO Framework). Using an analytic frame, a structured template was developed to extract data and categorized against the WHO building blocks, followed by a synthesis of the key findings.ResultsThis integrative review identified that WHO Framework building blocks such as “Service Delivery” and “Health Workforce” are commonly reflected in rural and remote community health service delivery literature in the decade since the Framework's release. However, others such as “Sustainable Funding and Social Protection” are less commonly reported in the literature despite these elements being identified by the WHO as being integral to successful, sustainable health service delivery systems.ConclusionsWe found that collaboration across the health system governance continuum from local to policy level is an essential enabler for rural and remote health service delivery. Community‐based participatory action research provides an opportunity to learn from one another, build capacity, optimize service model suitability, and promotes cultural safety by demonstrating respect and inclusivity in decision‐making. Policy makers and funders need to acknowledge the time and resources required to build trust and community coalitions to inform effective planning and implementation.
Comparison of three biopsy forceps for hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy in postmenopausal patients (HYGREB‐1): A multicenter, single‐blind randomized clinical trial
Authors: Vitale Salvatore Giovanni , Laganà Antonio Simone , Caruso Salvatore , Garzon Simone , Vecchio Giada Maria , La Rosa Valentina Lucia , Casarin Jvan , Ghezzi Fabio 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo compare three types of biopsy forceps for hysteroscopic endometrial biopsy in postmenopausal women.MethodsPostmenopausal women undergoing operative hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy for abnormal uterine bleeding or endometrial thickness (≥5 mm) were included. Operative hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy was performed by hysteroscopic forceps. Women were randomized (1:1:1 ratio) in three groups and allocated to undergo endometrial biopsy by hysteroscopy using spoon, alligator, or snake forceps.ResultsSeventy‐five women were included in the study, 25 in each group. The duration of the biopsy was comparable between the three groups (P = 0.334) with a median of 180 seconds (range 20–480 seconds). No differences were observed about the number of attempts (P = 0.602), the use of another instrument (P = 0.276), and the biopsy appropriateness (P = 0.592). The spoon forceps group reported higher levels of pain compared to the alligator and snake forceps groups (P < 0.001). The spoon forceps received significantly lower scores by the operator compared to the alligator and snake forceps (P < 0.001). The alligator and snake forceps reported wider biopsy than the spoon forceps (P < 0.001).ConclusionSnake and alligator hysteroscopic forceps may be considered the first choice to perform an endometrial biopsy in postmenopausal women.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03427957.
T‐cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain, as a potential immune checkpoint target for immunotherapy of colorectal cancer
Authors: Fathi Mehrdad , Pustokhina Inna , Kuznetsov Sergey V. , Khayrullin Mars , Hojjat‐Farsangi Mohammad , Karpisheh Vahid , Jalili Ali , Jadidi‐Niaragh Farhad 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe importance of the tumor microenvironment in cancer progression has been well studied for many years. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are regarded as potential strategies in enhancing the immune responses in patients with cancer, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC). Notably, CRCs are extraordinarily heterogeneous and mostly are microsatellite‐stable (MSS) or cold tumors, which means that the immune response is not usually as strong as that of foreign cells. T‐cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) is a new immune checkpoint receptor overexpressed inside the CRC tumor‐immune microenvironments. Moreover, several studies have shown that TIGIT in combination with other ICIs and/or conventional treatments, can lead to a robust anti‐tumor response in CRC. This review looks deep inside TIGIT expression patterns, their various functions, and possible immunotherapy strategies to increase survival rates and decrease immune‐related adverse events.
Surfactant‐aided mycoremediation of soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs): progress, limitation, and countermeasures
Authors: Rathankumar Abiram Karanam , Saikia Kongkona , Kumar Ponnusamy Senthil , Varjani Sunita , Kalita Shravani , Bharadwaj Nikhil , George Jenet , Vaidyanathan Vinoth Kumar 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSoil contaminated with hydrophobic organic hydrocarbons, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pose a serious threat to the ecosystem and human health. Moreover, the sorption and desorption of the PAHs, due to the interaction with the soil organic matter (SOM) and other contaminants, greatly affect the fate and mycoremediation efficiency of the contaminated soil. On the other hand, the application of surfactants with or without additives for the mobilization of PAHs from contaminated soil has garnered increasing attention for soil remediation. In this context, several commercial surfactants and biosurfactants were reported either as soil flushing agents or soil additives, followed by either in situ or ex situ mycoremediation of the PAHs from contaminated soil. Hence, for a successful implementation of surfactants for mycoremediation of contaminated soil, a comprehensive introspection on its chemistry and mechanism is necessary. Thus, this review focuses primarily on understanding the effect of surfactants and the mechanism of desorption of PAHs from the soil. This work also emphasizes the effect of surfactants on the efficiency of mycoremediation of contaminated soil. Further, the review summarizes various surfactant‐assisted mycoremediation strategies of contaminated soil. Finally, the limitations of surfactant‐assisted mycoremediation, precipitative, and partitioning loss, along with toxicity of the surfactants, were reviewed. Thus, this review will aid in understanding the underlying mechanism and efficiency of surfactant‐assisted mycoremediation and it also proposes current research trends to improve the efficiency and enhance the bioremediation of PAHs‐contaminated soil. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
An image‐based approach for quantitative assessment of uniformity in particle distribution of noise reduction material
Authors: Tan Hua , Huang Zhang‐Can , Zhu Si‐Rong , He Lang , Fang Xi 
Published: March 2021

AbstractUnder the background of noise pollution caused by railway development, noise reduction material is worthy of in‐depth study. A uniform distribution of particles in the material has an important influence on sound absorption property. In this article, the relevant image processing technology is applied to get structure information to quantify the uniformity. The main contributions of this study are: (a) In the preprocessing stage, SEM cross‐sectional image of material is processed by mean filter and histogram equalization. Therefore, the grayscale and the contrast between target and background are enhanced, and a low‐quality image is transformed into a high‐quality one. (b) In the locating stage, local details of the image are considered to discriminate each particle from the whole image. When a global threshold is combined with the local iteration threshold, an improved Otsu algorithm is designed to binarize the image. Through morphology transforming, area filtering, and hole filling, the connected domain of target can be found and particles are located. (c) In the assessing stage, area index, number index and local distance index are established for assessing the uniformity of pore distribution. The experimental results indicate that statistical analysis is consistent with human visual observation. The smaller the porosity is, the better the uniformity is. Compared with some important methods, the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed approach could be illustrated.
State of the art of bacterial chemotaxis
Authors: Karmakar Richa 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBacterial chemotaxis is a biased movement of bacteria toward the beneficial chemical gradient or away from a toxic chemical gradient. This movement is achieved by sensing a chemical gradient by chemoreceptors. In most of the chemotaxis studies, Escherichia coli has been used as a model organism. E. coli have about 4–6 flagella on their surfaces, and the motility is achieved by rotating the flagella. Each flagellum has reversible flagellar motors at its base, which rotate the flagella in counterclockwise and clockwise directions to achieve “run” and “tumble.” The chemotaxis of bacteria is regulated by a network of interacting proteins. The sensory signal is processed and transmitted to the flagellar motor by cytoplasmic proteins. Bacterial chemotaxis plays an important role in many biological processes such as biofilm formation, quorum sensing, bacterial pathogenesis, and host infection. Bacterial chemotaxis can be applied for bioremediation, horizontal gene transfer, drug delivery, or maybe some other industry in near future. This review contains an overview of bacterial chemotaxis, recent findings of the physiological importance of bacterial chemotaxis in other biological processes, and the application of bacterial chemotaxis.
Post–Liver Transplant Early Allograft Dysfunction Modifies the Effect of Pre–Liver Transplant Renal Dysfunction on Post–Liver Transplant Survival
Authors: Wadei Hani M. , Keaveny Andrew P. , Taner C. Burcin , Yang Liu , Mai Martin L. , Hodge David O. , White Launia J. , Mao Shennen A. , Jarmi Tambi , Croome Kristopher P. 
Published: March 2021

Pre–liver transplantation (LT) renal dysfunction is associated with poor post‐LT survival. We studied whether early allograft dysfunction (EAD) modifies this association. Data on 2,856 primary LT recipients who received a transplant between 1998 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who died within the first post‐LT week or received multiorgan transplants and previous LT recipients were excluded. EAD was defined as (1) total bilirubin ≥ 10 mg/dL on postoperative day (POD) 7, (2) international normalized ratio ≥1.6 on POD 7, and/or (3) alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase ≥2000 IU/mL in the first postoperative week. Pre‐LT renal dysfunction was defined as serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dL or on renal replacement therapy at LT. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to pre‐LT renal dysfunction and post‐LT EAD development. Recipients who had both pre‐LT renal dysfunction and post‐LT EAD had the worst unadjusted 1‐year, 3‐year, and 5‐year post‐LT patient and graft survival, whereas patients who had neither renal dysfunction nor EAD had the best survival (P < 0.001). After adjusting for multiple factors, the risk of death was significantly higher only in those with both pre‐LT renal dysfunction and post‐LT EAD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58‐3.03; P < 0.001), whereas those with renal dysfunction and no EAD had a comparable risk of death to those with normal kidney function at LT (aHR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.86‐1.45; P = 0.41). Results remained unchanged when pre‐LT renal dysfunction was redefined using different glomerular filtration rate cutoffs. Pre‐LT renal dysfunction negatively impacts post‐LT survival only in patients who develop EAD. Livers at higher risk of post‐LT EAD should be used with caution in recipients with pre‐LT renal dysfunction.
Total number of reads affects the accuracy of fetal fraction estimates in NIPT
Authors: Miceikaitė Ieva , Brasch‐Andersen Charlotte , Fagerberg Christina , Larsen Martin Jakob 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundSufficient fetal fraction (FF) is crucial for quality control of NIPT (Non‐Invasive Prenatal Test) results. Different factors influencing bioinformatic estimation of FF should be considered when implementing NIPT. To what extent the total number of sequencing reads influences FF estimate has been unexplored. In this study, to test the robustness of SeqFF FF estimation and provide additional recommendations for NIPT analysis quality control, we compared the SeqFF FF estimates with two other methods and investigated how the number of sequencing reads and FF level affects the accuracy and precision of FF estimates.MethodsWGS data of 516 NIPT samples from a prenatal screening program was obtained. Sample data were randomly downsampled by the read count, and FF was calculated by SeqFF software. Then, the outcome was compared with FF estimates from SNP‐ and chrY‐based methods. FF estimated with different read counts and FF levels were compared with FF at 30 M reads as a reference.ResultsSeqFF FF highly correlates with SNP‐ and chrY‐based FF estimates. Raising read count from 2 M to 10 M drastically increased the accuracy of FF estimates. After adding more reads, we saw a further improvement in FF accuracy, reaching a plateau at 20 M reads. Precision of SeqFF FF estimate is independent of FF level in the sample.ConclusionSeqFF is a robust method for FF estimation for both genders and for any FF level in range 2–13%. Accuracy of FF estimates highly depends on the read count. We recommend using no less than 10 M reads to achieve accurate FF estimates for NIPT analysis in clinical settings.
A fast spectral divide‐and‐conquer method for banded matrices
Authors: Šušnjara Ana , Kressner Daniel 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBased on the spectral divide‐and‐conquer algorithm by Nakatsukasa and Higham [SIAM J. Sci. Comput., 35(3):A1325–A1349, 2013], we propose a new algorithm for computing all the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a symmetric banded matrix with small bandwidth, with the eigenvectors given implicitly as a product of orthonormal matrices stored in the so‐called hierarchically off‐diagonal low‐rank (HODLR) format. For this purpose, we combine our previous work on the fast computation of spectral projectors in the HODLR format, with a novel technique for extracting a basis for the range of such a HODLR matrix. Preliminary numerical experiments demonstrate that our algorithm exhibits quasi‐linear complexity for matrices that can be efficiently represented in the HODLR format throughout the divide‐and‐conquer algorithm, and allows for conveniently dealing with such large‐scale matrices.
Similarity of subjective symptoms between autism spectrum disorder and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: Preliminary findings
Authors: Nakagawa Akari , Hayashi Wakaho , Nishio Takashi , Hanawa Yoichi , Aoyagi Keisuke , Okajima Yuka , Iwanami Akira 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimThe purpose of this study was to examine the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the adult clinical population using the Autism‐Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Adult ADHD Rating Scales self‐report screening version (CAARS‐S:SV).MethodsWe included 50 adults with ASD and 52 with ADHD diagnosed using the DSM‐5 criteria. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using the AQ and CAARS‐S:SV.ResultsThe AQ score was elevated in the ADHD group and the CAARS scores were increased in the ASD group. Specifically, the total AQ score in adults with ADHD was lower than that in the ASD group, but was higher than that in controls. Similarly, the CAARS scores in adults with ASD were lower than in those with ADHD, but were higher than those in controls. No significant correlations were found between AQ, CAARS Inattention/Memory Problems, and CAARS Hyperactivity/Restlessness scores in both the ASD and ADHD groups.ConclusionWhile adults with ASD and ADHD exhibited similar clinical symptoms, the absence of AQ‐CAARS correlations suggests the need for examining factors other than the apparent similarity of clinical symptoms of the two disorders.