bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sterilization of sealed PVDF pouches containing decellularized scaffold by electrical stimulation
Authors: Lee Mi Hee , Jeong HaKyeong , Koo Min‐Ah , Seon Gyeung Mi , Hong Seung Hee , Park Ye Jin , Park Jong‐Chul 
Published: August 2021

AbstractA terminal sterilization process for tissue engineering products, such as allografts and biomaterials is necessary to ensure complete removal of pathogenic microorganisms such as the bacteria, fungi, and viruses. However, it can be difficult to sterilize allografts and artificial tissue models packaged in wet conditions without deformation. In this study, we investigated the sterilization effects of electrical stimulation (ES) and assessed its suitability by evaluating sterility assurance levels in pouches at a constant current. Stability of polyvinylidene fluoride pouches was determined by a sterility test performed after exposure to five microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans) for 5 days; the sterility test was also performed with decellularized human dermal tissues inoculated with the five microorganisms. Sterilization using ES inactivated microorganisms both inside and outside of sealed pouches and caused no damage to the packaged tissue. Our results support the development of a novel system that involves ES sterilization for packaging of implantable biomaterials and human derived materials.
A two‐step strategy for quality control of Xin‐Yu‐Tie‐Pian, an ointment patch
Authors: Chen Xuezhao , Zhang Xiaoyong , Li Wei , Li Shouxin , Ma Shenglin , Tian Jingkui 
Published: August 2021

AbstractXin‐Yu‐Tie‐Pian, an ointment patch which is composed of Tetradium ruticarpum and Asarum sieboldii Miquel, can be used for curing recurrent oral ulcers owing to its good bioactivities. Currently, the lack of a method for its quality evaluation hinders the development and clinical application of Xin‐Yu‐Tie‐Pian. Thus, it is necessary to perform research on quality control. The chromatographic fingerprint, as an identification method, and the simultaneous determination method for two bioactive constituents, evodiamine and rutecarpine, can be used to evaluate the quality of traditional medicine. In this study, a two‐step strategy including fingerprint analysis for identification and a simultaneous determination method for two bioactive constituents was performed for Xin‐Yu‐Tie‐Pian quality control. The fingerprint analysis was validated by stability, precision and repeatability tests and a similarity evaluation was performed with 10 selected characteristic fingerprint peaks of 10 batches of Xin‐Yu‐Tie‐Pian patch. Meanwhile, the simultaneous determination method was evaluated by methodological experiments, including linearity, accuracy, repeatability, stability and feasibility. Finally, the results indicate that this two‐step strategy, including HPLC fingerprint analysis and simultaneous determination method, can be successfully applied for the assessment of the quality and quantity of Xin‐Yu‐Tie‐Pian.
A robust signature of immune‐related long non‐coding RNA to predict the prognosis of bladder cancer
Authors: Lai Cong , Wu Zhenyu , Li Zhuohang , Yu Hao , Li Kuiqing , Tang Zhuang , Liu Cheng , Xu Kewei 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundBladder cancer is the second most common malignant tumor in the urogenital system. The research investigated the prognostic role of immune‐related long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) in bladder cancer.MethodsWe extracted 411 bladder cancer samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Single‐sample gene set enrichment analysis was employed to assess the immune cell infiltration of these samples. We recognized differentially expressed lncRNAs between tumors and paracancerous tissues, and differentially expressed lncRNAs between the high and low immune cell infiltration groups. Venn diagram analysis detected differentially expressed lncRNAs that intersected the above groups. LncRNAs with prognostic significance were identified by regression analysis. Multivariate Cox analysis was used to establish the risk score model. Then we established and evaluated the nomogram. Additionally, we performed gene set enrichment analysis to explore the potential functions of the screened lncRNAs in tumor pathogenesis.ResultsThree hundred and twenty differentially expressed lncRNAs were recognized. We randomly divided patients into the training data set and the testing data set at a 2: 1 ratio. In the training data set, 9 immune‐related lncRNAs with prognostic significance were identified. The risk score model was constructed to classify patients as high‐ and low‐risk cohorts. Patients in the low‐risk cohort had better survival outcomes than those in the high‐risk cohort. The nomogram was established based on the indicators including age, gender, tumor‐node‐metastases stage, and risk score. The model's predictive performance was confirmed by the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, concordance index method, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis. The testing data set also achieved similar results. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that the 9‐lncRNA signature was involved in the modulation of various immune responses, antigen processing and presentation, and T cell receptor signaling pathway.ConclusionsOur study uncovered the prognostic value of immune‐related lncRNAs for bladder cancer and showed that they may regulate tumor pathogenesis in various ways.
Unexplained recurrent shock in peripheral T‐cell lymphoma: A case report
Authors: Imamura Hiroshi , Kashima Yuichiro , Hattori Masao , Mori Kotaro , Takeshige Kanako , Nakazawa Hideyuki 
Published: August 2021

AbstractMalignant lymphoma sometimes manifests with septic‐like shock symptoms. We report a case of peripheral T‐cell lymphoma presenting with unexplained recurrent shock in absence of apparent lymphadenopathy. The patient also experienced varied symptoms, including severe chest and back pain, respiratory distress due to tracheobronchomalacia, skin rash, and fever.
Electrochemical Active Surface Area Determination of Iridium‐Based Mixed Oxides by Mercury Underpotential Deposition
Authors: Duran Silvia , Elmaalouf Marine , Odziomek Mateusz , Piquemal Jean‐Yves , Faustini Marco , Giraud Marion , Peron Jennifer , Tard Cédric 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe electrochemical surface area (ECSA) is a critical property to describe, analyze and compare electrocatalysts. The determination of the mass activity of a given catalyst is associated with this parameter which can thus lead to materials benchmarking. Reliable and robust methods to measure ECSA are needed, and those have to accommodate different structures, morphologies and compositions. In this study, we investigate mercury underpotential deposition (HgUPD) as a way to estimate ECSA for ultraporous electrocatalysts based on iridium and iridium‐molybdenum electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction. Results reveal a clear agreement between physisorption measurements and HgUPD with excellent reproducibility. The method shows also that pre‐ and post‐catalysis surface area measurements are not affected by the catalytic process on short timescale, opening the possibility of electrocalyst stability and degradation monitoring.
Singlet‐Oxygen‐Induced Phospholipase A2 Inhibition: A Major Role for Interfacial Tryptophan Dioxidation
Authors: Nasri Zahra , Memari Seyedali , Wenske Sebastian , Clemen Ramona , Martens Ulrike , Delcea Mihaela , Bekeschus Sander , Weltmann Klaus‐Dieter , von Woedtke Thomas , Wende Kristian 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSeveral studies have revealed that various diseases such as cancer have been associated with elevated phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activity. Therefore, the regulation of PLA2 catalytic activity is undoubtedly vital. In this study, effective inactivation of PLA2 due to reactive species produced from cold physical plasma as a source to model oxidative stress is reported. We found singlet oxygen to be the most relevant active agent in PLA2 inhibition. A more detailed analysis of the plasma‐treated PLA2 identified tryptophan 128 as a hot spot, rich in double oxidation. The significant dioxidation of this interfacial tryptophan resulted in an N‐formylkynurenine product via the oxidative opening of the tryptophan indole ring. Molecular dynamics simulation indicated that the efficient interactions between the tryptophan residue and phospholipids are eliminated following tryptophan dioxidation. As interfacial tryptophan residues are predominantly involved in the attaching of membrane enzymes to the bilayers, tryptophan dioxidation and indole ring opening leads to the loss of essential interactions for enzyme binding and, consequently, enzyme inactivation.
Monitoring the reaction kinetics of waterborne 2‐pack polyurethane coatings in the dispersion and during film formation
Authors: Zhou Hang , Liu Yang , Lu Yijie , Tran Kenneth , Schackmann Emi , Zhang Margaret , Soleimani Mohsen , Lucas Frédéric , Winnik Mitchell A. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe examine the nature of the chemical reactions taking place in a waterborne two‐component polyurethane formulation consisting of an acrylic polyol latex and a hydrophilically modified polyisocyanate (hmPIC) based on the trimer of hexamethylene diisocyanate. The hmPIC was diluted with 30 wt.% of an organic solvent to reduce its viscosity and formed small (~20 nm) droplets when dispersed in water. In mixtures of the polyol and hmPIC, we monitored the rate of NCO group disappearance in the dispersed state by FTIR and showed that it varied with the choice of organic solvent. We developed a method based upon 19F NMR to distinguish the reaction of the NCO groups with OH groups from the polyol from its reaction with water. FTIR measurements on films formed from these dispersions showed how the disappearance of NCO groups depended on relative humidity. In a more semi‐quantitative way, these measurements indicated the relative extent of urethane versus urea formation in these model coatings.
Simulation of the electromagnetic characters of a Faraday‐shielded antenna in a helicon wave plasma source
Authors: Zhou Y. , Ji P. Y. , Tan H. Y. , Zhou M. J. , Wu X. M. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn this article, a structure that employs a Faraday shield between the Shoji antenna and the dielectric tube, which aims to reduce the dielectric wall sputtering, is investigated for the helicon wave plasma (HWP) sources. Faraday shield is usually used between the antenna and the reaction chamber to reduce the radiation from the high electromagnetic field generation, as well as to prevent the sputtering of the antenna material from polluting the reaction chamber during the discharge. Here, the influence of the Faraday shield on the longitudinal and radial electric field of the antenna is analysed through COMSOL MultiphysicsTM. Significant attenuations of both the longitudinal and radial fields are observed in the presence of the shield. In addition, by comparing the electric field distribution under two different shielding parameters, it is found that the shielding effects are not the same. Therefore, a detailed study of two kinds of design (pitch and gap) for the shield was carried out. The results show that the pitch has a little impact on the overall shielding effect when the gap is unaltered. The best shielding performance appears when we set the pitch at T of 8 and 10. In addition, the shielding effect also becomes worse as the gap increases while the pitch remains unchanged. A relatively good shielding effect can be produced by setting the gap to the value of 4–8 mm (a gap/pitch ratio of 2/15–4/15). This work provides a theoretical basis for designing a Faraday shield structure between the antenna and the dielectric tube, which is helpful to realize stable and controllable HWP discharges.
Nonmetal‐to‐metal transition in dense fluid helium
Authors: Preising Martin , Redmer Ronald 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe nonmetal‐to‐metal transition in dense fluid helium is discussed, which has been, in analogy to metallization of hydrogen, predicted as first‐order plasma phase transition using chemical models for the equation of state and plasma composition. However, recent ab initio simulations performed for dense fluid helium indicate that this transition is continuous in the considered regime, without a density jump and latent heat as characteristic of a first‐order phase transition. Implications for some astrophysical plasmas are discussed.
Cytotype and genotype predict mortality and recruitment in Colorado quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Authors: Blonder Benjamin , Ray Courtenay A. , Walton James A. , Castaneda Marco , Chadwick K. Dana , Clyne Michael O. , Gaüzère Pierre , Iversen Lars L. , Lusk Madison , Strimbeck G. Richard , Troy Savannah , Mock Karen E. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSpecies responses to climate change depend on environment, genetics, and interactions among these factors. Intraspecific cytotype (ploidy level) variation is a common type of genetic variation in many species. However, the importance of intraspecific cytotype variation in determining demography across environments is poorly known. We studied quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), which occurs in diploid and triploid cytotypes. This widespread tree species is experiencing contractions in its western range, which could potentially be linked to cytotype‐dependent drought tolerance. We found that interactions between cytotype and environment drive mortality and recruitment across 503 plots in Colorado. Triploids were more vulnerable to mortality relative to diploids and had reduced recruitment on more drought‐prone and disturbed plots relative to diploids. Furthermore, there was substantial genotype‐dependent variation in demography. Thus, cytotype and genotype variation are associated with decline in this foundation species. Future assessment of demographic responses to climate change will benefit from knowledge of how genetic and environmental mosaics interact to determine species’ ecophysiology and demography.
Predicting the population consequences of acoustic disturbance, with application to an endangered gray whale population
Authors: McHuron Elizabeth A. , Aerts Lisanne , Gailey Glenn , Sychenko Olga , Costa Daniel P. , Mangel Marc , Schwarz Lisa K. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAcoustic disturbance is a growing conservation concern for wildlife populations because it can elicit physiological and behavioral responses that can have cascading impacts on population dynamics. State‐dependent behavioral and life history models implemented via Stochastic Dynamic Programming (SDP) provide a natural framework for quantifying biologically meaningful population changes resulting from disturbance by linking environment, physiology, and metrics of fitness. We developed an SDP model using the endangered western gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) as a case study because they experience acoustic disturbance on their summer foraging grounds. We modeled the behavior and physiological dynamics of pregnant females as they arrived on the feeding grounds and predicted the probability of female and offspring survival, with and without acoustic disturbance and in the presence/absence of high prey availability. Upon arrival in mid‐May, pregnant females initially exhibited relatively random behavior before they transitioned to intensive feeding that resulted in continual fat mass gain until departure. This shift in behavior co‐occurred with a change in spatial distribution; early in the season, whales were more equally distributed among foraging areas with moderate to high energy availability, whereas by mid‐July whales transitioned to predominate use of the location that had the highest energy availability. Exclusion from energy‐rich offshore areas led to reproductive failure and in extreme cases, mortality of adult females that had lasting impacts on population dynamics. Simulated disturbances in nearshore foraging areas had little to no impact on female survival or reproductive success at the population level. At the individual level, the impact of disturbance was unequally distributed across females of different lengths, both with respect to the number of times an individual was disturbed and the impact of disturbance on vital rates. Our results highlight the susceptibility of large capital breeders to reductions in prey availability, and indicate that who, where, and when individuals are disturbed are likely to be important considerations when assessing the impacts of acoustic activities. This model provides a framework to inform planned acoustic disturbances and assess the effectiveness of mitigation strategies for large capital breeders.
Moderate plant–soil feedbacks have small effects on the biodiversity–productivity relationship: A field experiment
Authors: Grenzer Josephine , Kulmatiski Andrew , Forero Leslie , Ebeling Anne , Eisenhauer Nico , Norton Jeanette 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPlant–soil feedback (PSF) has gained attention as a mechanism promoting plant growth and coexistence. However, most PSF research has measured monoculture growth in greenhouse conditions. Translating PSFs into effects on plant growth in field communities remains an important frontier for PSF research. Using a 4‐year, factorial field experiment in Jena, Germany, we measured the growth of nine grassland species on soils conditioned by each of the target species (i.e., 72 PSFs). Plant community models were parameterized with or without these PSF effects, and model predictions were compared to plant biomass production in diversity–productivity experiments. Plants created soils that changed subsequent plant biomass by 40%. However, because they were both positive and negative, the average PSF effect was 14% less growth on “home” than on “away” soils. Nine‐species plant communities produced 29 to 37% more biomass for polycultures than for monocultures due primarily to selection effects. With or without PSF, plant community models predicted 28%–29% more biomass for polycultures than for monocultures, again due primarily to selection effects. Synthesis: Despite causing 40% changes in plant biomass, PSFs had little effect on model predictions of plant community biomass across a range of species richness. While somewhat surprising, a lack of a PSF effect was appropriate in this site because species richness effects in this study were caused by selection effects and not complementarity effects (PSFs are a complementarity mechanism). Our plant community models helped us describe several reasons that even large PSF may not affect plant productivity. Notably, we found that dominant species demonstrated small PSF, suggesting there may be selective pressure for plants to create neutral PSF. Broadly, testing PSFs in plant communities in field conditions provided a more realistic understanding of how PSFs affect plant growth in communities in the context of other species traits.
Integrating telemetry data at several scales with spatial capture–recapture to improve density estimates
Authors: Mitchell Corey I. , Shoemaker Kevin T. , Esque Todd C. , Vandergast Amy G. , Hromada Steven J. , Dutcher Kirsten E. , Heaton Jill S. , Nussear Kenneth E. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAccurate population estimates are essential for monitoring and managing wildlife populations. Mark–recapture sampling methods have regularly been used to estimate population parameters for rare and cryptic species, including the federally listed Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii); however, the methods employed are often plagued by violations of statistical assumptions, which have the potential to bias density estimates. By incorporating spatial information into conventional density estimation models, spatial capture–recapture (SCR) models can account for common assumption violations such as spatially heterogeneous detection probabilities and temporary emigration when animals leave plots during a survey. We conducted mark–recapture surveys at 10 1‐km2 plots in and adjacent to the Ivanpah Valley of California and Nevada from 2015 to 2019. Locality data were collected concurrently using radio‐telemetry and GPS data loggers. GPS data demonstrated that desert tortoises frequently exhibited temporary emigration outside a plot during the survey periods, thereby complicating standard approaches for closed‐model density estimation. We integrated mark–recapture survey data for subadults and adults at each plot with corresponding spatial capture locations and supplementary spatial data using a modified SCR model fitted in a Bayesian framework. We compared density estimates modeled with conventional non‐spatial methods, as well as three SCR models based on symmetrical usage areas described by various levels and types of supplementary spatial data. The conventional model consistently resulted in inflated estimates of density while the SCR models allowed us to generate spatially corrected estimates for a species where detectability and densities are low. However, we found that if not properly specified, the temporal scale of supplementary data may result in an unintended source of bias in parameter estimates. Integrating spatial data over a larger temporal scale than mark–recapture surveys were conducted resulted in higher detection probabilities and lower density estimates, due to an overestimation of space use. Our results not only demonstrate the importance of accounting for spatial information but also the value of understanding the potential for bias when integrating multiple data sets at different temporal resolutions. The methods presented can be used to enhance monitoring efforts for the Mojave desert tortoise and other species where mark–recapture methods are used.