bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Methuselah’s daughters: Paternal age has little effect on offspring number and quality in Cardiocondyla ants
Authors: Heinze Jürgen , Hanoeffner Michaela , Delabie Jacques H. C. , Schrempf Alexandra 
Published: November 2018

AbstractMale age may directly or indirectly affect the fitness of their female mating partners and their joint progeny. While in some taxa of insects, old males make better mates and fathers, young males excel in others. Males of most social Hymenoptera are relatively short lived and because of testis degeneration have only a limited sperm supply. In contrast, the wingless fighter males of the ant Cardiocondyla obscurior live for several weeks and produce sperm throughout their lives. Wingless males engage in lethal combat with rival males and the winner of such fights can monopolize mating with all female sexuals that emerge in their nests over a prolonged timespan. Here, we investigate if male age has an influence on sperm quality, the queen's lifespan and productivity, and the size and weight of their offspring. Queens mated to one‐week or six‐week‐old males did not differ in life expectancy and offspring production, but the daughters of young males were slightly heavier than those of old males. Our data suggest negligible reproductive senescence of C. obscurior males even at an age, which only few of them reach. This matches the reproductive strategy of Cardiocondyla ants, in which freshly emerging female sexuals rarely have the option to mate with males other than the one present in their natal nest.
Weather fluctuations affect the impact of consumers on vegetation recovery following a catastrophic die‐off
Authors: He Qiang , Silliman Brian R. , van de Koppel Johan , Cui Baoshan 
Published: November 2018

AbstractProlonged droughts exacerbated by climate change have been widely documented to interact with consumers to decimate vegetation in many ecosystems. Although climate change is increasing within‐year variation in precipitation and temperature, how weather fluctuations affect the impact of consumers on vegetation processes remains poorly understood. In a salt marsh that has recently experienced drought‐associated vegetation die‐off, we investigated how top‐down control of plant recovery by a prominent salt marsh grazer varies with weather. Our results showed that grazing‐driven plant mortality varied strongly with weather in spring, with intense grazing occurring during cool, wet days immediately following rain. Intense grazing on cool, wet days across the generally dry spring season had a strong impact that eliminated plant seedlings that could otherwise have become tolerant of grazing in the following summer, thereby restricting vegetation recovery and contributing to the persistence of an unvegetated salt barren state. Thus, weather fluctuations can modulate the impact of consumers on vegetation recovery, a fundamental process underlying the fate of ecosystems after disturbances. A multi‐timescale perspective on top‐down control that combines the impact of short‐term fluctuations in weather and that of long‐term variation in mean climate can not only help understand ecosystem dynamics in an increasingly variable climate, but may also inform conservation strategies or recovery plans for ecosystems that are already lost to climate change.
The analysis of formation of polymer‐containing oily sludge produced during the wastewater treatment in offshore oilfield
Authors: Chen Bin , Zhao Lin , Wang Chengsheng , Chen Shijia , Wu Xiaoyan , Li Qi , Zuo Qingquan 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn this paper, a study on formation of polymer‐containing oily sludge (PCOS) produced during polymer‐containing oily wastewater (PCOW) treatment was carried out. First, the composition of PCOW and PCOS was compared. The results showed that not all the oil in PCOW transferred into the PCOS and the water‐insoluble polymer in PCOS was the mixture of residual polymer (HMPAM) after the polymer flooding and cationic flocculant (CPAM) using for treating wastewater. Then, flocculation and zeta potential tests presented that hydrophobic water‐insoluble polymer was formed by electrostatic neutralization between HMPAM and CPAM. At last, dual‐polarization interferometry (DPI) tests were innovatively used to investigate the interaction between the water‐insoluble polymer and oil components. The results revealed that the order of interaction between water‐insoluble polymer and oil components was saturate < aromatic < resin < asphaltene. In one word, the PCOS was formed by interactions among HMPAM, CPAM and some oil components, especially the asphaltene, resin, and aromatic.
Usefulness of repeat pelvic ultrasonography before surgery for benign ovarian mass
Authors: Lee Dong‐Yun , Kim Hyo‐Jeong , Lee Jee‐Yeon , Choi DooSeok 
Published: November 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the results of repeat pelvic ultrasonography before surgery in patients with suspicion of benign ovarian tumor.MethodsA retrospective study included premenopausal women who were scheduled to undergo surgery for a benign‐appearing ovarian mass and who had repeat ultrasonography on the day before surgery at Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea, between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2011, to check for any change in the mass. Ultrasonography findings and final histology were evaluated by medical record review.ResultsOf 1854 women studied, regression of mass was detected before surgery for 27 patients, and 105 patients had histologically proven functional cysts; considered together, 132 patients had functional cysts, and the remaining 1722 women had benign ovarian tumors. Evaluation of the findings of initial ultrasonography revealed that mean size (P=0.008) and proportion of bilateral cysts (P<0.001) were lower in the presence of functional cysts than benign tumors. Additionally, an anechoic pattern was more common among regressed functional cysts than among histologically proven functional cysts (P<0.001). In total, 105 (5.7%) patients required surgery for a functional cyst despite repeat ultrasonography.ConclusionRepeating ultrasonography prior to surgery may have only a limited ability to prevent unnecessary surgeries for functional cysts.
Quality characteristics of pomegranate juice concentrates produced by ohmic heating assisted vacuum evaporation
Authors: Sabanci Serdal , Cevik Mutlu , Cokgezme Omer F , Yildiz Hasan , Icier Filiz 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDVacuum evaporation (VE) process is widely utilized in fruit juice evaporation to preserve quality attributes of final product. However, it has some disadvantages such as possible degradation of aroma components or volatile fatty acids due to long process time, and low energy efficiency of process. Pomegranate juice having 17.5% total soluble solid (TSS) content was evaporated to 40% TSS by ohmic heating assisted vacuum evaporation (OVE; 7.5, 10 and 12.5 V cm−1) and VE in the present study. The effects of the evaporation methods on pH, titratable acidity and colour values, antioxidant activity (AA), total monomeric anthocyanin (TMA), total phenolic content (TPC), hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and invert sugar content of pomegranate juice concentrates were compared.RESULTSThe colour properties, TMA, TPC and AA values of pomegranate juice concentrates evaporated by OVE were more influenced than those evaporated by VE. The degradation of sugars was minimized for OVE processes at high voltage gradients (10 and 12.5 V cm−1), and HMF content of pomegranate juice concentrated by OVE was lower than VE.CONCLUSIONIt is thought that electrochemical reactions occurred because of the use of titanium electrodes during the OVE process caused these quality changes in pomegranate juice concentrates having high acidity. Hence, it was concluded that the utilization of relatively more electrochemically inert electrodes should be investigated in further studies to better evaluate the of influence of OVE method on quality attributes of different fruit juices. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Simultaneous determination of levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in human urine by ionic‐liquid‐based, dual‐template molecularly imprinted coated graphene oxide monolithic solid‐phase extraction
Authors: Ma Wanwan , Row Kyung Ho 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA novel method was developed to simultaneously determine the ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin levels in human urine using an ionic‐liquid‐based, dual‐molecularly imprinted polymer‐coated graphene oxide solid‐phase extraction monolithic column coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography. The molecularly imprinted monolithic column was prepared using ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin as templates, 1‐vinyl‐3‐ethylimidazolium bromide as the functional monomer, and graphene oxide as the core material. The resulting imprinted monoliths were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy. The efficiency and capacity of the ionic‐liquid‐based imprinted monolithic column were investigated by varying the synthesis conditions (ciprofloxacin/levofloxacin ratio and template/functional monomer/cross‐linker ratio). The solid‐phase extraction process was optimized by changing the washing and eluting conditions. The results suggested that the proposed ionic‐liquid‐based molecularly imprinted solid‐phase extraction monolithic‐high‐performance liquid chromatography method could separate ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin efficiently and simultaneously from human urine. The mean recoveries of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin ranged from 89.2 to 93.8 and 86.7 to 94.6%, respectively. The intra‐ and interday relative standard deviation ranged from 0.9 to 3.2 and 0.8 to 2.9%, respectively. Under the optimized conditions, the recoveries of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin were more than 93.8%.
Advances in the development of molecularly imprinted polymers for the separation and analysis of proteins with liquid chromatography
Authors: Boysen Reinhard I. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThis review documents recent advances in the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of molecularly imprinted polymers in the form of monoliths and particles/beads for the use in the separation and analysis of proteins with solid‐phase extraction or liquid chromatography. The merits of three‐dimensional molecular imprinting, whereby the molecular template is randomly embedded in the polymer, and two‐dimensional imprinting, in which the template is confined to the surface, are described. Target protein binding can be achieved by either using the entire protein as a template or by using a protein substructure as template, that is, a peptide, as in the "epitope" approach. The intended approach and strategy then determine the choice of polymerization method. A synopsis has been provided on methods used for the physical, chemical, and functional characterizations and associated performance evaluations of molecularly imprinted and nonimprinted control polymers, involving a diverse range of analytical techniques commonly used for low and high molecular mass analytes. Examples of recent applications demonstrate that, due to the versatility of imprinting methods, molecularly imprinted monoliths or particles/beads can be adapted to protein extraction/depletion and separation procedures relevant to, for example, protein biomarker detection and quantification in biomedical diagnostics and targeted proteomics.
Postoperative respiratory complications and racial disparities following inpatient pediatric tonsillectomy: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Kou Yann‐Fuu , Sakai Mark , Shah Gopi B. , Mitchell Ron B. , Johnson Romaine F. 
Published: November 2018

Objectives/HypothesisTo study rates of respiratory complications/interventions among inpatient tonsillectomy patients in the United States and identify risk factors for these events.Study DesignRetrospective database review.MethodsChildren (age < 18 years) undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy in 2006, 2009, and 2012 were studied using the Kids Inpatient Database, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Outcomes were analyzed for respiratory events (complications/interventions) and racial disparities. Pearson χ test was used to analyze categorical data and regression analysis was used for continuous variables. Respiratory events were analyzed by racial identity using logistic regression analysis. A P < .05 was considered significant.ResultsThe study included 30,617 patients (41% female, 51% white, 24% African American, 23% Hispanic, 3.0% Asian). The mean age was 5.2 years, and mean length of stay 2.3 days. The overall complication rate was 6.0%, and overall intervention rate was 3.6%. Respiratory events were more common among African American children (odds ratio [OR]: 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3‐1.6) and less common among white children (OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.8‐0.9). These differences were significant after controlling for age, gender, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and asthma. The mortality rate was 0.05% with no ethnic predilection.ConclusionsRespiratory events after inpatient tonsillectomy included laryngo/bronchospasm, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, intubation, prolonged intubation, and ventilation. Although uncommon, these were more common among African American children. Further research is needed to understand the etiology of this disparity.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 129:995–1000, 2019
Recent Progress in Polymeric Carbonyl‐Based Electrode Materials for Lithium and Sodium Ion Batteries
Authors: Amin Kamran , Mao Lijuan , Wei Zhixiang 
Published: November 2018

AbstractAdvancement in mobile electronics is driving progress in lithium ion batteries. Recently, organic electrode materials have emerged as promising candidates for lithium ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacity, ease of synthesis, versatility of structure, and abundance. Polymerization is a strategy used to overcome the issues associated with small organic molecules for charge storage application. The focus of this review is on the most recent progress in the field of polymeric carbonyl materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) and sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Advantages of organic electrode materials, device architecture, and charge storage mechanism are discussed. Challenges associated with carbonyl‐based electrodes and some recent solutions are outlined. Later, a comparison of theoretical capacity, practical capacity, and cyclic life are presented for different carbonyl systems. Capacity‐fading phenomena and structural degradation during charging are discussed where necessary. Some key parameters for the design of flexible batteries are highlighted and an overview of some recent contributions of our group in this field are reported. Finally, some future prospects for researchers in this field are outlined.
MicroRNA‐590‐3p inhibits trophoblast‐dependent maternal spiral artery remodeling by repressing low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 6
Authors: Zhang Yinghong , Pan Xianzhen , Yu Xiaoyan , Li Lei , Qu Hongmei , Li Shuhong 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe remodeling of maternal spiral artery following embryo implantation, which relies on well‐regulated trophoblast functions, is a pivotal process to ensure a successful pregnancy. Low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 6 (LRP6) and microRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are suggested to be involved in angiogenesis and several vascular diseases; however, their functions in the control of trophoblast remain elusive. We therefore aimed to examine the roles of LRP6 and miR‐590‐3p in the regulation of trophoblast during the remodeling of maternal spiral artery.MethodsHTR‐8/SVneo cell, a trophoblast cell line, was utilized to study the effects of LRP6 and miR‐590‐3p on apoptosis, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, as well as tube formation. Expression of angiogenic factors placental growth factor (PlGF), matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and activities of canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway, which were implicated in the process of artery remodeling, were also examined.ResultsMiR‐590‐3p directly targeted 3′ untranslated region (3′‐UTR) of LRP6 mRNA and repressed LRP6 expression, which in turn inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, as well as tube formation, and resulted in apoptosis in HTR‐8/SVneo cells. Further, inhibition of LRP6 through miR‐590‐3p significantly suppressed the expression of PlGF, MMPs, and VEGF and reduced the activation of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway.ConclusionMicroRNAs‐590‐3p may inhibit trophoblast‐dependent maternal spiral artery remodeling, via both trophoblast invasion and endovascular formation, by repressing LRP6.
Higher Chain Length Distribution in Debranched Type‐3 Resistant Starches (RS3) Increases TLR Signaling and Supports Dendritic Cell Cytokine Production
Authors: Lépine Alexia F.P. , de Hilster Roderick H. J. , Leemhuis Hans , Oudhuis Lizette , Buwalda Piet L. , de Vos Paul 
Published: November 2018

ScopeResistant starches (RSs) are classically considered to elicit health benefits through fermentation. However, it is recently shown that RSs can also support health by direct immune interactions. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that the structural traits of RSs might impact the health benefits associated with their consumption.Methods and resultsEffects of crystallinity, molecular weight, and chain length distribution of RSs are determined on immune Toll‐like receptors (TLRs), dendritic cells (DCs), and T‐cell cytokines production. To this end, four type‐3 RSs (RS3) are compared, namely Paselli WFR, JD150, debranched Etenia, and Amylose fraction V, which are extracted from potatoes and enzymatically modified. Dextrose equivalent seems to be the most important feature influencing immune signaling via activation of TLRs. TLR2 and TLR4 are most strongly stimulated. Especially Paselli WFR is a potent activator of multiple receptors. Moreover, the presence of amylose, even to residual levels, enhances DC and T‐cell cytokine responses. Paselli WFR and Amylose fraction V influence T‐cell polarization.ConclusionsIt has been shown here that chain length and particularly dextrose equivalent are critical features for immune activation. This knowledge might lead to tailoring and design of immune‐active RS formulations.
Novel SPEG mutations in congenital myopathies: Genotype–phenotype correlations
Authors: Qualls Anita E. , Donkervoort Sandra , Herkert Johanna C. , D'gama Alissa M. , Bharucha‐Goebel Diana , Collins James , Chao Katherine R. , Foley A. Reghan , Schoots Mirthe H. , Jongbloed Jan D.H. , Bönnemann Carsten G. , Agrawal Pankaj B. 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Centronuclear myopathies (CNMs) are a subtype of congenital myopathies (CMs) characterized by muscle weakness, predominant type 1 fibers, and increased central nuclei. SPEG (striated preferentially expressed protein kinase) mutations have recently been identified in 7 CM patients (6 with CNMs). We report 2 additional patients with SPEG mutations expanding the phenotype and evaluate genotype–phenotype correlations associated with SPEG mutations.
Methods: Using whole exome/genome sequencing in CM families, we identified novel recessive SPEG mutations in 2 patients.
Results: Patient 1, with severe muscle weakness requiring respiratory support, dilated cardiomyopathy, ophthalmoplegia, and findings of nonspecific CM on muscle biopsy carried a homozygous SPEG mutation (p.Val3062del). Patient 2, with milder muscle weakness, ophthalmoplegia, and CNM carried compound heterozygous mutations (p.Leu728Argfs*82) and (p.Val2997Glyfs*52).
Conclusions: The 2 patients add insight into genotype–phenotype correlations of SPEG‐associated CMs. Clinicians should consider evaluating a CM patient for SPEG mutations even in the absence of CNM features. Muscle Nerve 59:357–362, 2019
Caffeine improves bladder function in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats
Authors: Liu Ya‐Dong , Zhang Si‐Cong , Xue Jun , Wei Zhong‐Qing , Shen Bai‐Xin , Ding Liu‐Cheng 
Published: November 2018

AimsTo examine the protective effects of caffeine in rats with diabetes mellitus (DM) by using urodynamics.MethodsFemale Sprague‐Dawley rats (n = 24) were divided into four groups: control group, DM group, DM + caffeine (5 mg/kg/day), and DM + caffeine (10 mg/kg/day). DM was induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Cystometric studies were conducted on all rats. After 8 weeks of treatment with caffeine, the urodynamic parameters, including bladder capacity, residual urine volume, voiding time, and peak voiding pressure, were measured.ResultsDM rats had a higher bladder capacity and post‐void residual urine volume (PVR), an increased voiding time and peak voiding pressure, and a markedly lower voiding efficiency than the control group rats. After treatment with caffeine, bladder capacity, post‐void residual urine volume, and peak voiding pressure were significant lower than those in the DM group, but voiding efficiency was markedly higher.ConclusionThe results suggested that caffeine (5 or 10 mg/kg/day) may improve the bladder function at 8 weeks after STZ induction. Thus, this may represent a potential strategy to increase voiding efficiency in diabetes.
Multimaterial topology design for optimal elastic and thermal response with material‐specific temperature constraints
Authors: Kang Ziliang , James Kai A. 
Published: November 2018

SummaryWe present an original method for multimaterial topology optimization with elastic and thermal response considerations. The material distribution is represented parametrically using a formulation in which finite element–style shape functions are used to determine the local material properties within each finite element. We optimize a multifunctional structure that is designed for a combination of structural stiffness and thermal insulation. We conduct parallel uncoupled finite element analyses to simulate the elastic and thermal response of the structure by solving the two‐dimensional Poisson problem. We explore multiple optimization problem formulations, including structural design for minimum compliance subject to local temperature constraints so that the optimized design serves as both a support structure and a thermal insulator. We also derive and implement an original multimaterial aggregation function that allows the designer to simultaneously enforce separate maximum temperature thresholds based upon the melting point of the various design materials. The nonlinear programming problem is solved using gradient‐based optimization with adjoint sensitivity analysis. We present results for a series of two‐dimensional example problems. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm consistently converges to feasible multimaterial designs with the desired elastic and thermal performance.