bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Digestive Adaptations of Both the Fore- and Hind-gut in a Temperate Colobine Monkey
Authors: Liu Rui , Amato Katherine , Hou Rong , Gomez Andres , Dunn Derek W. , Zhang Jun , Garber Paul A. , Chapman Colin , Righini Nicoletta , He Gang , Fang Gu , Li Yuhang , Li Baoguo , guo songtao 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background: In mammal herbivores, the digestion of fiber usually occurs predominantly in either the foregut or in the hindgut. However, how both gut regions function synergistically in the digestion of fiber and other nutrients has rarely been reported in wild mammals. This requires an integrative study of host anatomy, physiology and gut microbiome. Colobine monkeys (Colobinae) are folivorous, with fiber fermentation primarily occurring in the foregut, with residual fermentation in the hindgut. For the few colobine species that live in temperate regions obtaining energy from fiber during winter is critical but the mechanisms enabling this remain unclear. Results: We studied microbial and morphological digestive adaptations of golden snub-nosed monkeys (GSMs), Rhinopithecus roxellana, a temperate forest colobine from central China. We tested for synergistic foregut and hindgut fiber digestion in a species that experiences high thermal energy demands while restricted to a fibrous, low-energy winter diet. We found that the GSM’s colon has a significantly greater volume than that of other foregut fermenting colobines, and both gut regions of GSMs are dominated by microbial taxa producing enzymes to enable active digestion of complex carbohydrates. The microbiomes of the fore- and hindgut differed significantly in composition and abundance. Although the expression of microbial gene functions for fiber digestion were higher in the foregut than in the hindgut, our microbiome analysis in conjunction with that for morphology, enzyme activity and fiber-protein digestion, suggests complementary fiber and protein metabolism in both gut regions. Conclusions: Our results support that both the GSM fore- and hindgut facilitate fiber digestion, with an enlarged colon consistent as an adaptation to accommodate high throughput of fiber-rich food during winter.
Development and Validation of HPLC-MS2 Methodology for the Accurate Determination of C4-C8 B-type Flavanols and Procyanidins
Authors: Bussy Ugo , Olanrewaju Yusuf , Crozier Alan , Ottaviani Javier , Kwik-Uribe Catherine 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Cocoa flavanols and procyanidins (CFs),natural dietary bioactives, have been extensively studied over the past two decades. Human research on the safety and efficacy of CFs is critically dependent upon on the ability to reliably characeterize the research materials that are utilized, and with growing consumer availability of CF-based products, reliable methods for the detection of potential adulteration are of increasing importance. The characterization of CF usually relies on the separation of the analytes by degree of polymerization followed by fluorescence detection, an approach that has recently been validated and accredited as an AOAC Official Method of Analysis (2020.05). More selective methods exploring mass spectrometry detection have been reported, but could not discuss method accuracy due to limited availability of analytical standards. This research focused on the development of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method (HPLC-MS2) using primary standards and synthetic 13C-labelled procyanidins as internal standards. The ability of MS2 detection to discriminate A- and B-type procyanidins was demonstrated. Method performances were validated for degrees of polymerization up to four in seven food model matrices. Accuracy ranged from 90.9 to 125.4 % and precision was <10 % at lower concentration. Finally, the method was applied to cocoa-based samples and compared to AOAC 2020.05, supporting the use of NIST 8403 as reference material for LC-MS analysis.
Analysis of Cell-free Circulating DNA Fragment Size and Level in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disease
Authors: Hiyama Akihiko , Sakai Daisuke , Nomura Satoshi , Katoh Hiroyuki , Watanabe Masahiko 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background: Cell-free circulating DNA (cfDNA), which can be extracted by liquid biopsy, has been studied as a noninvasive biomarker for various diseases. The potential of cfDNA fragment size and level as a marker for low back pain (LBP) has never been studied. We investigated whether cfDNA is a biomarker of LBP severity in patients with a lumbar degenerative disease (LDD). Methods: Blood samples were obtained from patients with LDD (n = 21) before and immediately after spinal surgery. Plasma DNA was isolated and examined for cfDNA fragment size and concentration. A cohort of healthy volunteers (n = 5) constituted the control group.Results: The cfDNA fragment size tended to be shorter in patients than in healthy controls, but this difference was not significant (P = .224). cfDNA level was significantly higher in LDD patients (mean 0.642±0.199 ng/mL, range 0.302–1.150 ng/mL) than in healthy controls (mean 0.429±0.064 ng/mL, range 0.366–0.506 ng/mL) (P = .029). cfDNA level correlated positively with present pain (r = .421, P = .036), maximum pain (r = .419, P = .037), average pain (r = .566, P = .003), low back pain (r = .403, P = .041), leg pain (r = .480, P = .013), and leg numbness (r = .455, P = .020). cfDNA fragment size did not differ from before to after surgery, but cfDNA level increased postoperatively in patients with LDD. Conclusions: This was the first study investigating whether cfDNA fragment size and level are associated with pain, including LBP, in patients with LDD. Our findings suggest that cfDNA level may be an objective indicator of pain and surgical invasiveness in patients with LDD.
Consistent description of microscopic phenomena by macroscopic observers in quantum theory
Authors: Kryukov Alexey 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Quantum mechanics is the foundation of modern physics that is thought to be applicable to all physical phenomena, at least in principle. However, when applied to macroscopic bodies, the theory seems to be inconsistent. Wigner's friend and related thought experiments demonstrate that accounts by different observers described by the rules of quantum mechanics may be contradictory. Although still highly debated, such experiments seem to demonstrate an incompatibility of quantum mechanics with the usual rules of logic. Alternatively, one of the hidden assumptions in the thought experiments must be wrong. For instance, the argument is invalidated if macroscopic observers cannot be considered as physical systems described by the rules of quantum theory. Here we prove that there is a way to apply the rules of quantum mechanics to macroscopic observers while avoiding contradictory accounts of measurement by the observers. The key to this is the random noise that is ever present in nature and that represents the uncontrollable part of interaction between measured system and the surroundings in classical and quantum physics. By exploring the effect of the noise on microscopic and macroscopic bodies, we demonstrate that accounts of Wigner, the friend and other agents all become consistent. Our result suggests that the existing attempts to modify the Schrodinger equation to account for measurement results may be misguided. More broadly, the proposed mechanism for modeling measurements underlies the phenomenon of decoherence and is shown to be sufficient to explain the transition to Newtonian physics in quantum theory.
MRI Before Biopsy Correlates With Depth of Invasion Corrected for Shrinkage Rate of the Histopathological Specimen in Tongue Carcinoma
Authors: Harada Hiroyuki , Tomioka Hirofumi , Hirai Hideaki , Kuroshima Takeshi , Oikawa Yu , Nojima Hitomi , Sakamoto Junichiro , Kurabayashi Tohru , Kayamori Kou , Ikeda Tohru 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate which radiological depth of invasion (r-DOI) measurement is the most concordant to clinical DOI (c-DOI) derived from correction for the shrinkage rate of the histopathological specimens.We retrospectively reviewed 128 patients with tongue carcinoma who had undergone glossectomy between 2006 and 2019. At first, the width shrinkage rate during formalin fixation and preparation process of histopathological specimens was evaluated. From the shrinking rates, a formula to calculate c-DOI from pathological DOI (p-DOI) was developed. The correlation between c-DOI and r-DOI was evaluated.The specimen shrinkage rate during the histopathological specimen preparation process was 10.3%. Based on that, we yielded the correct formula for c-DOI based on p-DOI and preparation shrinkage rate: c-DOI = p-DOI × 100/89.7. The regression equations for the association of c-DOI with r-DOI measured by ultrasound (n = 128), MRI before biopsy (n = 18), and MRI after biopsy (n = 110) were y = 1.12 * x + 0.21, y = 0.89 * x − 0.26, and y = 0.52 * x + 2.63, respectively, while the coefficients of determination were 0.664, 0.891, and 0.422, respectively. In conclusion, r-DOI using MRI before biopsy most strongly correlated with c-DOI.
Real-time and on-line parallel detection of key fermentation process parameters by near-infrared spectroscopy in different environments
Authors: Chen Yang , Chen Lingli , Guo Meijin , Li Xu , Liu Jinsong , Liu Xiaofeng , Chen Zhongbing , Tian Xiaojun , Zheng Haoyue , Tian Xiwei , Chu Ju , Zhuang Yingping 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The fermentation process is dynamically changing, and the metabolic status can be grasped through real-time monitoring of environmental parameters. In this study, a real-time and on-line monitoring experiment platform for substrates and products detection was developed based on non-contact type near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy technology. The prediction models for monitoring the fermentation process of lactic acid, sophorolipids and sodium gluconate were established based on partial least-squares regression and internal cross-validation methods. Through fermentation verification, the accuracy and precision of the NIR model for the complex fermentation environments, different rheological properties (uniform system and multi-phase inhomogeneous system) and different parameter types (substrate, product and nutrients) have good applicability, and R2 is greater than 0.90, exhibiting a good linear relationship. The root mean square error shows that the model has high credibility. This research provides a basis for the application of NIR spectroscopy in complex fermentation systems.
Effects of Programmed Cell Death Induced by NO on Pollen Viability After Cryopreservation
Authors: Ren Ruifen , Zhou Hao , Zhang Lingling , Zhu Mengting , Jiang Xueru , Liu Yan 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Low activity level of biomaterials after cryopreservation is a bottleneck problem that limited the application of this technology. At present, the mechanism of viability decline after cryopreservation is not fully understood. In this study, the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on programmed cell death (PCD) and its relationship with viability were investigated, using Paeonia lactiflora 'Fen Yu Nu' pollen with significantly decreased viability after cryopreservation. The results showed that: the activity of caspase-3-like and caspase-9-like protease and the apoptosis rate of pollen cells were significantly increased, the expression level of promoting PCD (pro-PCD) gene was up-regulated, while the expression level of inhibiting PCD (anti-PCD) gene was down-regulated after preserved in liquid nitrogen (LN); the NO content in pollen cells increased significantly after LN preserved. The results of correlation analysis showed that NO was significantly correlated with pollen viability and all indicators of PCD. The addition of NO carrier SNP after LN storage reduced pollen viability, increased endogenous NO content, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential level, activated caspase-3-like and caspase-9-like protease in pollen cells, and increased cell apoptosis rate, and the expression levels of pro-PCD genes PDCD2 and ATG8CL were significantly up-regulated, while the expression levels of anti-PCD genes DAD1, BI-1 and LSD1 were significantly down-regulated; and the addition of NO scavenger c-PTIO produced the opposite effect of SNP. It was suggested that NO induced the PCD during the cryopreservation of pollen, which was one of the reasons for the significant decrease of pollen viability after cryopreservation.
Synthesis and Characterization of Heterostructure Pd/Bi2WO6 Nanocomposites with Enhanced Properties of Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalyst
Authors: Phuruangrat Anukorn , Teppetcharat Jarupat , Patiphatpanya Panudda , Dumrongrojthanath Phattranit , Thongtem Somchai , Thongtem Titipun 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Heterostructure Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites were successful synthesized in ethylene glycol by microwave-assisted deposition method at 300 W for 10 min. Effect of the loaded Pd on phase, composition, morphology and visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties of Bi2WO6 was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fast-Fourier-Transform (FFT) diffraction, UV-visible absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In this research, good distribution of cubic phase of spherical Pd nanoparticles with particle size of 15–20 nm supported on orthorhombic Bi2WO6 thin nanoplates. The 10% Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites reveal major metallic Pd0 species containing in Bi2WO6 sample. Microwave can be used to synthesize metallic Pd nanoparticles supporting on top of Bi2WO6 nanoplates. Photocatalytic activities of Bi2WO6 loaded with different weight contents of Pd were monitored through photodegradation of cationic rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation of a xenon lamp. The 10% Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites have the highest photocatalytic activity because Pd nanoparticles as electron acceptors promote interfacial charge-transfer through Pd/Bi2WO6 heterojunction.
Passively Driven Microfluidic Device with Simple Operation for Quantitative Droplet LAMP Sssay for Point-of-Care Analysis
Authors: Lin Pei-Heng , Li Bor-Ran 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Since polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become a vital tool for disease diagnosis, the development of precise applied PCR technologies in point-of care testing (POCT) has become more significant. The microfluidic-based PCR platform offers a great opportunity for on-site diagnosis efficiency, and the system is aimed at user-friendly access. Herein, we demonstrate a microfluidic system with simple operation that provides reliable nucleic acid results from 18 uniform droplets via LAMP qPCR detection. By using only micropipette regulation, users are able to control the nanoliter scale of the droplets in this valve-free and pump-free microfluidic (MF) chip. Based on the oil enclosure method and impermeable fabrication, we successfully preserved the reagent inside the microfluidic system, which significantly reduced the fluid loss and condensation. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the fluorescence intensity between the droplets and during the heating process was <5% and 2.0%, respectively. Additionally, for different nucleic acid detection methods, the MF-LAMP chip in this study showed good applicability to both genome detection and gene expression analysis.
Collapse Dynamics in Hilbert-space Stochastic Processes
Authors: Bajoni Daniele , Nicrosini Oreste , Rimini Alberto , Rodini Simone 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
A detailed study of collapse dynamics as foreseen by the Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber theory of spontaneous collapse and its continuous realisations in the form of stochastic differential equations describing a brownian motion in the Hilbert space is presented.
Comparison of Measurement and Electromagnetic Overall Transfer Matrix Simulation Results of MgF 2 -Nb 2 O 5 Distributed Bragg Reflectors with Different Layers
Authors: Tseng Hsien-Wei , Chen Bo-Syuan. , Wu You-Lin , Lin Jing-Jenn , Yang Cheng-Fu 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
In this study, glasses were used as substrates and an e-beam was used the method to deposit MgF2 and Nb2O5 single-layer films, and the optical properties, including extinction coefficients (k values) and refractive indices (n values), were measured by using the light wavelength as variable. The equation d = λ/(4n) was used to calculate the thickness (d) of 1/4 wavelength (λ) for each layer of the MgF2-Nb2O5 bilayer films in distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) with a designed reflective wavelength at blue light (~450nm). Each MgF2-Nb2O5 bilayer film was called a period, and the glass substrates were used to deposit the films with two, four, and six periods for fabricating the DBRs. The field emission scanning electron microscope equipped with a focused ion beam was used to measure the thickness of each MgF2-Nb2O5 layer in the DBRs with different periods. The measured maximum reflective ratios were compared with Sheppard’s approximate equation, which calculates only the maximum reflective ratio at a specific wavelength. An overall transfer matrix was investigated to calculate the reflective spectra by incorporating the variable n values and thicknesses of the MgF2-Nb2O5 films in each layer. We show that the measured results of the fabricated DBRs matched the results simulated using Sheppard’s approximate equation and the overall transfer matrix.
Newly designed analogues from SARS-CoV inhibitors mimicking the druggable properties against SARS-CoV-2 and its novel variants
Authors: Ferdous Nadim , Reza Mahjerin Nasrin , Islam Md. Shariful , Emon Md. Tabassum Hossain , Nassan Mohamed A. , Ahmed Eman Ibrahim , Batiha Gaber El-Saber , Mohiuddin A. K.M. , Hossain Mohammad Uzzal 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The emerging variants of SARS Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been continuously spreading all over the world and raised global health concerns. The B.1.1.7 (United Kingdom), P.1 (Brazil), B.1.351 (South Africa) and B.1.617 (India) variants resulted due to multiple mutations in the spike glycoprotein (SGp), are resistant to neutralizing antibodies and enable increased transmission. Hence, new drugs might be of great importance against the novel variants of SARS-CoV-2. The SGp and main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 are important targets to design and develop antiviral compounds for new drug discovery. In this study, we selected seventeen phytochemicals and later performed molecular docking to determine the binding interactions of the compounds with the two receptors and calculated several drug likeliness properties for each compound. Luteolin, myricetin and quercetin demonstrated higher affinity for both the proteins and interacted efficiently. To get better compounds, we designed three analogues from these compounds and showed the greater druggable properties than the parent compounds. Furthermore, we found that the analogues bind to the residues of both proteins including the recent novel variants of SARS-CoV-2. The binding study was further verified by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and molecular mechanics/Poisson Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) approaches by assessing the stability of the complexes. MD simulations revealed that Arg457 of SGp and Met49 of Mpro are the most important residues that interacted with the designed inhibitors. Our analysis may give some breakthroughs to develop new therapeutics to treat the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in vivo.
Phytochemical Study and Biological Activity of Three Fern Species of the
Asplenium Genus Growing in Bulgaria
Authors: Petkov Venelin , Slavova Iva , Teneva Desislava , Mladenova Tzvetelina , Stoyanov Plamen , Argirova Mariana 
Published: May 2021

Background:
Ferns are underestimated as medicinal plants and their use in traditional
medicine is limited despite their diversity. Most of the research on their healing properties and phytochemical
composition related to their biological activity has been focused on the secondary
metabolites synthesized by ferns.

Objective:
In this study, we aimed to make an in-depth chemical characterization of three ferns
widely spread in Bulgaria - Asplenium ceterach L., Asplenium scolopendrium L. and Asplenium trichomanes
L.

Methods:
Micro elemental analysis was carried out using ICP-MS. Standard laboratory methods
were used to determine the content of proteins, fats and fatty acids. Chromatographic methods
were applied to quantify some secondary metabolites. Two antioxidant methods and two antimicrobial
tests were used to evaluate the biological properties of the ferns tested.

Results:
Micro elemental analysis showed that these ferns could be useful source of zinc and iron.
Protein content slightly varied among the species (13.6% - 18.4% of the dried plant weight). Negligible
was the variation in oil content (3.1% - 4.0%, dry weight base); oil composition was dominated
by saturated fatty acids. Some principal classes secondary metabolites, individual phenolic acids
and flavonoids were quantified. The extract obtained from Asplenium ceterach L. demonstrated the
highest antioxidant capacity. Fern extracts showed moderate antimicrobial activity against six of
the 14 microorganisms tested.

Conclusion:
The results obtained may reveal new areas of application for ferns and are a solid basis
for comparison with the same species growing in other geographical and climatic conditions,
which may affect their healing properties.
Research on 5G Video Security Communication Technology Based on Massive MIMO
Authors: Li Guozheng , Jiang Heling , Ikbal Mohammad Asif 
Published: May 2021

Background:
The paper aimed at studying a large number of classified and sensitive information
transmission security issues brought by 5G mobile communication system.

Methods:
In this paper, the principle of beamforming and its shortcomings are introduced by combining
the large-scale MIMO technology and directional modulation technology, and the directional modulation
technology based on antenna subset selection and the hybrid array is introduced to realize the
safe transmission target. The results show that large-scale MIMO technology has become a key technology
of 5G mobile communication, but the factors such as multipath fading in the actual wireless
channel have not been fully considered, and the accurate estimation error of channel state information
(CSI) will affect the ideal security level it can achieve.

Results:
The combined application of massive MIMO technology and directional modulation technology
in the 5G system brings security to its communication.

Conclusion :
Directional modulation technology based on signal modulation has become an important
research point of the 5G system because it does not need to consider the eavesdropper's computing
power and can achieve the purpose of safe transmission by disturbing the signal constellation in the
unexpected direction.