bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breastfeeding moderates the relationship between fat mass and obesity‐associated gene rs9939609 and body mass index among adolescents
Authors: Kanders Sofia H. , Nilsson Kent W. , Åslund Cecilia 
Published: July 2021

AbstractObjectiveBreastfeeding, which is important for early growth, is a possible moderator of genetic influence, such as the effect of the fat mass and obesity‐associated gene (FTO) on body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study was to assess the moderating effect of breastfeeding duration on the relationship between FTO rs9939609 and BMI in a Caucasian sample.MethodsAdolescents born in 1997 and in 1999, who were living in the Swedish county Västmanland in 2012, were invited to participate in the Survey of Adolescent Life in Västmanland. The adolescents and their parents completed self‐reported questionnaires in 2012, 2015, and 2018. Genotyping of rs9939609 T > A polymorphism was conducted from saliva DNA samples. Interaction effects of parental reported breastfeeding duration in months, including regions of significance, on the relationship between rs9939609 and BMI plus overweight were assessed.ResultsConsidering physical activity levels, parental reported breastfeeding duration was a moderator of the relationship between rs9939609 and BMI for the younger (regions of significance = <1.6 and >28.1 months) and older adolescents (region of significance = >19.9 months), but not for the young adults. Plots of the association between breastfeeding duration and BMI showed higher BMI for AA with short breastfeeding, but lower BMI with longer breastfeeding than AT and TT. Longer breastfeeding lowered the odds for overweight among the younger adolescents, especially among AA individuals.ConclusionRs9939609 AA individuals were more susceptible than AT and TT individuals to both short and long breastfeeding durations, which is consistent with the differential susceptibility hypothesis. FTO rs9939609 AA might be a plasticity variant with differential susceptibility to environmental influences. Breastfeeding duration may be one of many factors that affect the relationship between rs9939609 and BMI.
Poly(vinyl alcohol)‐based membranes for fuel cell and water treatment applications: A review on recent advancements
Authors: Choudhury Rikarani R. , Gohil Jaydevsinh M. , Dutta Kingshuk 
Published: July 2021

AbstractClean water and energy are two of the most important requirements for human survival. Membrane‐based filtration represents one of the advanced technologies involved in water decontamination; while, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are among the frontrunners in the alternative and renewable energy domain. It is evident that membrane‐based processes provide sustainable solution to the ever‐increasing demand of energy and clean water. Over the years, it has been realized that synthetic poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is one of the potential candidates for the development of membranes, owing to its hydrophilicity, barrier property, film forming ability, crosslinking ability, biodegradability, and low cost. These properties have been widely explored for the fabrication of polymer electrolyte membranes for PEMFCs, in order to improve the ionic conductivity and methanol barrier property, as well as, to reduce the membrane fabrication cost. On the other hand, high water solubility and film forming characteristics of PVA have been used for the formation of water treatment membranes, for enhancing the antifouling property and chemical stability. This review provides in‐depth discussions and analyses on the structure and properties of various PVA‐based copolymers, and their applications as membrane materials for PEMFCs (including direct methanol and alkaline fuel cells) and water remediation.
Effects of graphite oxide on thermal and electrical behaviors of coumarin‐based methacrylate copolymers: Its single chain polymer molecule via intramolecular cyclobutane formation
Authors: Ahmad Abdulhaleem Abdulkareem , Demirelli Kadir 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe random copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 4‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐2H‐chromen‐7‐yl methacrylate (COUMA) [poly (COUMA0.49‐co‐MMA)] (COMCOP1) and [poly(COUMA0.36‐co‐MMA)] (COMCOP2) were prepared via the conventional radical polymerization method. The copolymers were characterized by 1H‐NMR, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), UV–visible (UV–vis), thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry instruments. A kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of COMCOP1 and COMCOP1/GO 16 wt% was investigated using thermogravimetric analyzer with non‐isothermal methods selected for analyzing solid‐state kinetics data. The average activation energy values were calculated via Flynn Wall and Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger‐Akahira‐Sunose models in a period of α = 0.10–0.70. The average values of activation energy obtained from Kissinger method for COMCOP1 and COMCOP1/GO 16 wt% were 94.5 and 78.4 kJ/mol, respectively, whereas, those of estimated by FWO method were 103.5 and 87.0 kJ/mol. We indicate that well‐defined single chain polymer molecule (SCPM) via intramolecular cyclobutane formation could be obtained by the intrachain photodimerization of coumarin groups during UV irradiation at 365 nm diluted solution of COMCOP1. The photodimerization of coumarin groups in the copolymer was confirmed by UV–vis, FT‐IR, and 1H‐NMR instruments. Dielectric and electrical behaviors of the composites having a semiconductor behavior filled GO were investigated. The activation energy values based on dc conductivity for COMCOP1 loaded GO 10 and 12 wt% were decreased from 0.206 to 0.069 eV. Also, the Ea values estimated for COMCOP2‐loaded GO 12 and 13.6 wt% were 0.0580 and 0.0859 eV, respectively.
Distribution analysis of jasmonic acid‐related compounds in developing Glycine max L. (soybean) seeds using mass spectrometry imaging and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Enomoto Hirofumi 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIntroductionJasmonic acid (JA) and its precursors are oxylipins derived from α‐linolenic acid (αLA) and hexadecatrienoic acid, and regulate seed development. However, their spatial distribution in the developing Glycine max L. (soybean) seeds has not been elucidated.ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution of JA‐related compounds in the developing soybean seeds using desorption electrospray ionisation‐mass spectrometry imaging (DESI‐MSI) and liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionisation‐mass spectrometry (LC‐ESI‐MS) analyses.MethodsCryosections of developing seeds were prepared using adhesive films, and subjected to DESI‐MSI analysis. Verification of the DESI‐MSI ion images were performed using DESI‐tandem MSI (MS/MSI), LC‐ESI‐MS and tandem MS (MS/MS).ResultsIn the DESI‐MSI mass spectrum, peaks matching the chemical formulae of αLA, 12‐oxo‐phytodienoic acid (OPDA), and 3‐oxo‐2‐(2‐(Z)‐pentenyl)‐cyclopentane‐1‐octanoic acid (OPC‐8:0) were detected. These compounds were mainly distributed in the seed coat, especially near the hilum. This was consistent with the quantitative results obtained by LC‐ESI‐MS. While, DESI‐MS/MSI and LC‐ESI‐MS/MS suggested the presence of isomers for OPDA and OPC‐8:0. The effect of isomers on the DESI‐MSI ion images was small for OPDA, and considerable for OPC‐8:0.ConclusionThese results demonstrated that free αLA, OPDA, and OPC‐8:0 were the abundant JA‐related compounds mainly distributed in the seed coat of the developing soybeans. OPDA and OPC‐8:0 might exert a biological role in the seed coat. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first report on the accumulation of OPDA and OPC‐8:0 in the seed coat. The combination of DESI‐MSI and LC‐ESI‐MS is a useful tool for distribution analysis of JA‐related compounds in the developing seeds.
Human capital cost and investment policy
Authors: Ji Shuangshuang , King Tao‐Hsien Dolly , Li Xinxin 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we examine the link between human capital cost and investment policy. We find a significantly positive relationship between investment risk and the cost of human capital measured by average employee pay, especially when employees have strong bargaining power. We further investigate various channels through which investment risk influences human capital cost and find strong empirical support that these channels are important drivers. Our results suggest that a higher human capital cost associated with an increase in investment risk discourages firms from making valuable but risky investments in the future, leading to a potential problem of underinvestment.
A smart reactive jamming approach to counter reinforcement learning‐based antijamming strategies in GEO SATCOM scenario
Authors: Arif Shahzad , Hashmi Ali Javed , Khan Waseem , Kausar Rizwana 
Published: July 2021

SummaryReinforcement learning (RL) is being considered for future SATCOM systems due to its inherent capability to self‐learn the optimum decision‐making policy under different scenarios. This capability enables SATCOM systems to manage their resources judiciously and mitigate jamming attacks autonomously without prior jammer type classification. We propose a novel smart reactive SATCOM jamming approach that would not only counter these RL based anti‐jamming strategies but would also be effective against conventional anti‐jamming schemes, that is, FHSS and DSSS. The proposed jamming approach exploits the limitations in learning patterns of Q‐learning‐based RL agent and achieves effective jamming while conserving considerable amount of jamming power. To achieve this, we propose an intelligent jamming engine (IJE) along with few potent jamming algorithms and evaluate their performance in terms of throughput degradation of victim SATCOM link, jamming power conservation, and design complexity of the jammer. Software simulations successfully demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed smart reactive jamming approach which outperforms the standard reactive jammer against RL‐based antijamming schemes.
Dendrite‐Free Li Metal Anodes and the Formation of Plating Textures with a High Transference Number Modified Separator
Authors: Li Xuting , Ye Jiajia , Fu Zhanghua , Xia Guang , Chen Chuanzhong , Hu Cheng 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe application of Li metal anodes is currently hindered by the uncontrolled growth of Li dendrites. Herein, the effects of a modified separator with a high Li+ transference number (t+) on the structure and electrochemical performance of Li metal anodes are reported. Stable and dendrite‐free plating/stripping cycles are achieved under current densities up to 5 mA cm−2 and areal capacities up to 20 mAh cm−2. The uniformly grown Li grains under the high t+ environment also exhibit well‐defined textures (preferred orientations). At a low plating capacity, epitaxial growth takes place on the {100} textures already existing in the rolled Li foils and the uniform Li+ flux strengthens this preferred orientation. Increasing the plating capacity to 20 mAh cm−2, the later‐grown textures change to {110} due to the reduced space charges and alleviated transport limits of Li+ under the high t+ environment, which favor the exposure of the close‐packed {110} planes. Compression‐induced <111> fiber textures are also resolved and the content increases with the plating capacity. Identification of the textures is meaningful for the exploration of advanced epitaxial substrates beyond Cu foils for high‐energy‐density Li metal batteries. LiS pouch cells are finally evaluated for the potential application of the modified separator.
Documentation‐based functional constraint generation for library methods
Authors: Jiang Renhe , Chen Zhengzhao , Pei Yu , Pan Minxue , Zhang Tian , Li Xuandong 
Published: July 2021

SummaryAlthough software libraries promote code reuse and facilitate software development, they increase the complexity of programme analysis tasks. To effectively analyse programmes built on top of software libraries, it is essential to have specifications for the library methods that can be easily processed by analysis tools. However, the availability of such specifications is seriously limited at the moment. Manually writing the specifications can be prohibitively expensive and error‐prone, while existing automated approaches to inferring the specifications seldom produce results that are strong enough to be used in programme analysis. In this work, we propose the Doc2smt approach to generating strong functional constraints in SMT for library methods based on their documentations. Doc2smt first applies natural language processing (NLP) techniques and a set of rules to translate a method's natural language documentation into a large number of candidate constraint clauses in OCL. Then, it utilizes a manually enhanced domain model to identify OCL candidate constraint clauses that comply with the problem domain in static validation, translates well‐formed OCL constraints into the SMT‐LIB format, and checks whether each SMB‐LIB constraint rightly abstracts the functionalities of the method under consideration via testing in dynamic validation. In the end, it reports the first functional constraint that survives both validations to the user as the result. We have implemented the approach into a supporting tool with the same name. In experiments conducted on 451 methods from the Java Collections Framework and the Java IO library, Doc2smt generated correct constraints for 309 methods, with the average generation time for each correct constraint being merely 2.7 min. We have also applied the generated constraints to facilitate symbolic‐execution‐based test generation with the Symbolic Java PathFinder (SPF) tool. For 24 utility methods manipulating Java container and IO objects, SPF with access to the generated constraints produced 51.2 times more test cases than SPF without the access.
The Design and Evolution of OCB
Authors: Krovetz Ted , Rogaway Phillip 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWe describe OCB3, the final version of OCB, a blockcipher mode for authenticated encryption (AE). We prove the construction secure, up to the birthday bound, assuming its underlying blockcipher is secure as a strong-PRP. We study the scheme’s software performance, comparing its speed, on multiple platforms, to a variety of other AE schemes. We reflect on the history and development of the mode.
The Solution of the Deep Boltzmann Machine on the Nishimori Line
Authors: Alberici Diego , Camilli Francesco , Contucci Pierluigi , Mingione Emanuele 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe deep Boltzmann machine on the Nishimori line with a finite number of layers is exactly solved by a theorem that expresses its pressure through a finite dimensional variational problem ofmin–maxtype. In the absence of magnetic fields the order parameter is shown to exhibit a phase transition whose dependence on the geometry of the system is investigated.
Firefly luciferase offers superior performance to AkaLuc for tracking the fate of administered cell therapies
Authors: Amadeo Francesco , Plagge Antonius , Chacko Anitta , Wilm Bettina , Hanson Vivien , Liptrott Neill , Murray Patricia , Taylor Arthur 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Introduction
A novel, red-shifted bioluminescence imaging (BLI) system called AkaBLI has been recently developed for cell tracking in preclinical models and to date, limited data is available on how it performs in relation to existing systems.

Purpose
To systematically compare the performance of AkaBLI and the standard Firefly luciferase (FLuc) systems to monitor the biodistribution and fate of cell therapies in rodents.

Methods
Umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) were transduced to produce two genetically engineered populations, expressing either AkaLuc or the engineered FLuc luc2. The bioluminescence of AkaLuc+ and FLuc+ cells was assessed both in vitro (emission spectra, saturation kinetics and light emission per cell) and in vivo (substrate kinetics following intraperitoneal and subcutaneous administration and biodistribution of the cells up to day 7).

Results
Introduction of the reporter genes has no effect on MSC phenotype. For BLI, the FLuc system is superior to AkaBLI in terms of (i) light output, producing a stronger signal after subcutaneous substrate delivery and more consistent signal kinetics when delivered intraperitoneally; (ii) absence of hepatic background; and (iii) safety, where the AkaLuc substrate was associated with a reaction in the skin of the mice in vivo.

Conclusion
We conclude that there is no advantage in using the AkaBLI system to track the biodistribution of systemically administered cell-based regenerative medicine therapies in vivo.
Tofacitinib in the treatment of skin and musculoskeletal involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis, evaluated by ultrasound
Authors: Karalilova Rositsa Valerieva , Batalov Zguro Anastasov , Sapundzhieva Tanya Lyubomirova , Matucci-Cerinic Marco , Batalov Anastas Zgurov 
Published: July 2021

AbstractSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune connective tissue disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, autoimmunity-driven damage and vasculopathy. The current approved disease-modifying treatments have limited efficacy, and treatment is guided toward alleviating organ complications. Thus, there is an unmet need for discovering new effective treatment options. There is recent evidence that the JAK/STAT signaling pathway is markedly activated in SSc patients. To assess the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib (TOF) on skin and musculoskeletal involvement as compared to methotrexate (MTX) in systemic sclerosis (SSc). In this 52-week pilot study, 66 patients with SSc were enrolled: 33 patients received 5 mg of oral TOF twice a day; 33 received 10 mg of MTX weekly. The proportion of dcSSc and lcSSc patients was similar (dcSSc: 42% TOF group and 36% MTX group; lcSSc: 58% TOF group and 64% MTX group). The primary outcome was the change in the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS). Secondary outcomes included ultrasound (US) skin thickness and musculoskeletal involvement (US10SSc score). Digital ulcers (DUs) and adverse events (AEs) were documented through the treatment. Both groups had similar characteristics and medians on the outcome measures at baseline. At week 52, the TOF median mRSS was significantly lower than the MTX (p < 0.001) with a mean reduction of 13 points versus MTX 2.57. The mean percent improvement in the TOF group was 44% higher than in the MTX group. TOF median US skin thickness was significantly lower than MTX (p < 0.001), with a mean reduction of 0.31 mm versus 0.075 mm in the MTX group. The US10SSc median score was significantly lower in the TOF group (p = 0.002); mean reduction of 10.21 versus 5.27 in the MTX group. Healing of DUs with no new occurrences was observed in the TOF group. There was no significant difference between the groups in the number of AEs from baseline to week 52. TOF showed greater efficacy than MTX in reducing mRSS, skin thickness and musculoskeletal involvement in SSc and a satisfactory safety profile.
The Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center (MMRRC): the NIH-supported National Public Repository and Distribution Archive of Mutant Mouse Models in the USA
Authors: Amos-Landgraf James , Franklin Craig , Godfrey Virginia , Grieder Franziska , Grimsrud Kristin , Korf Ian , Lutz Cat , Magnuson Terry , Mirochnitchenko Oleg , Patel Samit , Reinholdt Laura , Lloyd K. C. Kent 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center (MMRRC) Program is the pre-eminent public national mutant mouse repository and distribution archive in the USA, serving as a national resource of mutant mice available to the global scientific community for biomedical research. Established more than two decades ago with grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the MMRRC Program supports a Consortium of regionally distributed and dedicated vivaria, laboratories, and offices (Centers) and an Informatics Coordination and Service Center (ICSC) at three academic teaching and research universities and one non-profit genetic research institution. The MMRRC Program accepts the submission of unique, scientifically rigorous, and experimentally valuable genetically altered and other mouse models donated by academic and commercial scientists and organizations for deposition, maintenance, preservation, and dissemination to scientists upon request. The four Centers maintain an archive of nearly 60,000 mutant alleles as live mice, frozen germplasm, and/or embryonic stem (ES) cells. Since its inception, the Centers have fulfilled 13,184 orders for mutant mouse models from 9591 scientists at 6626 institutions around the globe. Centers also provide numerous services that facilitate using mutant mouse models obtained from the MMRRC, including genetic assays, microbiome analysis, analytical phenotyping and pathology, cryorecovery, mouse husbandry, infectious disease surveillance and diagnosis, and disease modeling. The ICSC coordinates activities between the Centers, manages the website (mmrrc.org) and online catalog, and conducts communication, outreach, and education to the research community. Centers preserve, secure, and protect mutant mouse lines in perpetuity, promote rigor and reproducibility in scientific experiments using mice, provide experiential training and consultation in the responsible use of mice in research, and pursue cutting edge technologies to advance biomedical studies using mice to improve human health. Researchers benefit from an expansive list of well-defined mouse models of disease that meet the highest standards of rigor and reproducibility, while donating investigators benefit by having their mouse lines preserved, protected, and distributed in compliance with NIH policies.
Gay men’s stress response to a general and a specific social stressor
Authors: Sattler Frank A. , Nater Urs M. , Mewes Ricarda 
Published: July 2021

AbstractGay men show altered psychobiological stress responses and exhibit a higher prevalence of mental disorders than their heterosexual counterparts. Both of these findings are likely due to gay-specific discrimination. Since it has not yet been determined whether gay-specific stress is more noxious than general stress, we tested whether gay men react more strongly to gay-specific socially stressful stimuli than to general socially stressful stimuli. N = 33 self-identified gay men (mean = 26.12 years of age, SD = 5.89), 63.6% of whom were in a relationship with a man, participated in an experimental within-group study, in which they were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) as well as a gay-specific TSST in a randomized order. Salivary cortisol and testosterone were assessed at five time points during the laboratory tests and perceived stress was assessed at four time points. According to psychobiological and perceived stress indices, the participants reacted similarly to a gay-specific and general social stressor. There were no significant differences in the outcomes, either when looking at pre–post-test differences or when comparing the overall stress responses. Given that the response to a gay-specific social stressor was equally pronounced as the one to a general social stressor, programs aiming to decrease minority stress but overlooking general stress are likely to yield only partial improvements in gay men’s mental health. Instead, we suggest helping gay men cope with both forms of stress through building social support, assertiveness, and mindfulness skills, as well as decreasing emotional dysregulation.