bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sorafenib in Hepatopulmonary Syndrome: A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Authors: Kawut Steven M. , Ellenberg Susan S. , Krowka Michael J. , Goldberg David , Vargas Hugo , Koch David , Sharkoski Tiffany , Al‐Naamani Nadine , Fox Alyson , Brown Robert , Levitsky Joshua , Oh Jae K. , Lin Grace , Song Nianfu , Mottram Carl , Doyle Margaret F. , Kaplan David E. , Gupta Samir , Fallon Michael B. 
Published: February 2019

The tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib improves hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) in an experimental model. However, the efficacy and adverse effect profile in patients with HPS are unknown. We aimed to determine the effect of sorafenib on the alveolar‐arterial oxygen gradient (AaPO2) at 3 months in patients with HPS. We performed a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled parallel trial of sorafenib in patients with HPS at 7 centers. A total of 28 patients with HPS were randomized to sorafenib 400 mg by mouth daily or a matching placebo in a 1:1 ratio. We found no statistically significant difference in the median change in AaPO2 from baseline to 12 weeks between the patients allocated to sorafenib (4.5 mm Hg; IQR, –3.8 to 7.0 mm Hg) and those allocated to placebo (–2.4 mm Hg; IQR, –4.8 to 8.2 mm Hg; P = 0.70). There was also no difference between the groups in terms of degree of intrapulmonary shunting by contrast echocardiography. Sorafenib significantly reduced circulating levels of angiogenic markers, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (P < 0.01) and TIE2‐expressing M2 monocytes (P = 0.03), but it reduced the mental component scores of the Short Form 36 (P = 0.04), indicating a worse quality of life. In conclusion, sorafenib did not change the AaPO2 or other disease markers at 3 months in patients with HPS. Alternative antiangiogenic therapies or treatments targeting other pathways should be investigated.
Re‐examining the effects of aging on household recycling behavior: A study in France
Authors: Guiot Denis , Malas Ziad , Urien Bertrand 
Published: February 2019

AbstractWhile age is the variable most often used to explain household recycling behavior, research findings reveal only limited or contradictory effects. This study demonstrates the utility of several additional variables related to age in regard to explaining the effect of aging on household recycling behavior. These variables are generativity, available time, and perceived skills. By drawing on the theory of planned behavior, this paper offers a model that clarifies how age indirectly influences household recycling behavior. The model is tested on a stratified sample, and the results are analyzed through mediation tests and structural equation modeling. While aging is associated with lower levels of enthusiasm for recycling, more skills and available time allow recycling to be accomplished with increased ease. Finally, the results enable an explanation of the previous contradictory results about age effects and lead to managerial and societal recommendations on how household recycling can be effectively promoted.
Mathematical modeling of the dynamics of the bladder cancer and the immune response applied to a patient: Evolution and short‐term prediction
Authors: Burgos‐Simón Clara , García‐Medina Noemí , Martínez‐Rodríguez David , Villanueva Rafael‐Jacinto 
Published: February 2019

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases in the urinary system and a highly aggressive neoplasm. The prognosis is not favorable usually, and its evolution for particular patients is very difficult to find out. In this paper, we propose a dynamic mathematical model that describes the bladder tumor growth and the immune response evolution. This model is customized for a single patient, determining appropriate model parameter values via model calibration. Due to the uncertainty of the tumor evolution, using the calibrated model parameters, we predict the tumor size and the immune response evolution over the next few months assuming three different scenarios: favorable, neutral, and unfavorable. In the former, it is not expected any trace of the cancer in the middle of September 2018 (after 16 mo). In the neutral scenario, at the same date, a 7‐ to 8‐mm tumor is expected. In the worst case, a 40‐mm tumor is expected. The patient was cited on 10 September 2018 to check the tumor size, and according to the doctors, there was no sign of recurrence. It seems that we are in the favorable scenario. The patient will be called again for follow‐up in mid‐2019.
Robust Markers of Coffee Consumption Identified Among the Volatile Organic Compounds in Human Urine
Authors: Mack Carina I. , Egert Björn , Liberto Erica , Weinert Christoph H. , Bub Achim , Hoffmann Ingrid , Bicchi Carlo , Kulling Sabine E. , Cordero Chiara 
Published: February 2019

ScopeThe human volatilome has gained high interest for the discovery of potential biomarkers of diseases. However, knowledge about the diet as a crucial factor affecting the volatilome is scarce. Therefore, the search for disease biomarkers, as well as the potential use of volatiles as dietary markers is so far limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of the diet with the urinary volatilome with the special task to find potential markers of coffee consumption in 24 h urine samples from the Karlsruhe Metabolomics and Nutrition (KarMeN) study.Methods and resultsAcidified urine samples are analyzed using an approach combining headspace solid phase microextraction (HS‐SPME) sampling with untargeted GC×GC‐MS. Overall, 138 reliably occurring volatiles are detected. To account for the unequally concentrated urine samples, results of six different commonly used normalization methods are compared. Statistical analysis evidences six potential markers of coffee consumption, the most promising being 3,4‐dimethyl‐2,5‐furandione. A correlation analysis between the 24 h dietary recall data and the urinary volatilome reveals further promising associations.ConclusionThe human urinary volatilome is highly affected by the diet, enabling access to a high level of information about potential diet‐related biomarkers. Therefore, it is a very promising source for further investigations on dietary markers.
Compact size of a Wilkinson power divider using impedance coordinate tracking based on T‐shaped line
Authors: Yoon Ki‐Cheol , Chung Taishin , Kim Kwang Gi , Yoo Heon 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis article presents the compact size of the Wilkinson power divider using T‐shaped line through the impedance coordinate tracking progress at Smith‐chart. After the series line impedance, electrical length, and stub impedance were calculated, the T‐shaped line was designed through the impedance coordinate tracking in the Smith‐chart. This reduced the entire size of the proposed power divider by an average of 4.81 times (79.2%) more than conventional structure. The experimental results of the S21, S31, and S11 are 3.06 dB, 3.08 dB, and 25.04 dB at center frequency of 2.318 GHz, respectively. The experimented S‐parameter difference between S21 and S31 is 3.0 dB. This proposed Wilkinson power divider can be applied to mobile communications and wireless medical communication systems.
Synergistic effect of double percolated co‐supportive MWCNT‐CB conductive network for high‐performance EMI shielding application
Authors: Ravindren Revathy , Mondal Subhadip , Nath Krishnendu , Das Narayan Ch. 
Published: February 2019

The recent development in telecommunication technology has led electromagnetic interference (EMI) to a serious threat to both electronic devices and living beings. In this work, we designed a highly efficient EMI shielding material by taking advantage of both carbonaceous hybrid filler and double percolation phenomenon. Here, a flexible, lightweight microwave absorbing conductive polymer composite was fabricated by employing poly (ethylene‐co‐methyl acrylate) and ethylene octene copolymer (EMA/EOC) binary blend as the matrix and multiwall carbon nanotube carbon black (MWCNT/CB) hybrid filler as the conductive moiety. We investigated the effect of MWCNT content in the hybrid composite on mechanical, thermomechanical, electrical, and shielding efficiency. A total EMI shielding efficiency of −37.4 dB in the X band region was attained with 20 wt% hybrid filler containing 50 wt% MWCNT along with promising mechanical properties.
Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogel: from a brittle material to a nanofilled semi‐interpenetrating polymer network with potential application in wound dressings
Authors: Ruiz‐Galindo Oscar , Zizumbo‐López Arturo , Licea‐Claveríe Angel , Pérez‐Sicairos Sergio 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIn this work we report the photopolymerization of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) together with a hydrophilic chitosan derivate (carboxymethyl‐chitosan) to yield a semi‐interpenetrating polymer network (semi‐IPN) that was filled with poly(N‐vinylcaprolactam)/poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate) core–shell nanogels in order to enhance the mechanical properties of the resulting hydrogels. The mechanical properties of the nanofilled semi‐IPNs were found to be more suitable for wound dressing applications than the PHEMA hydrogel as described by dynamic mechanical analysis in dry form and submerged in water. This was evidenced by a higher Young's modulus and higher elongation at break in the semi‐IPNs compared to blank PHEMA hydrogels. Furthermore, when the hydrogels were filled with nanogels, there was an elongation at break similar to that of skin with only a slightly lower Young's modulus. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
A new insight to explore the regulation between S‐nitrosylation and N‐glycosylation
Authors: Du Hu , Chen Lichao , Zhan Ni , Mu Jinye , Ren Bo , Zuo Jianru 
Published: February 2019

AbstractNitric oxide (NO) is a signal molecule in plants and animals. Arabidopsis GSNO reductase1 (AtGSNOR1) catalyzes metabolism of S‐nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) which is a major biologically active NO species. The GSNOR1 loss‐of‐function mutant gsnor1‐3 overaccumulates GSNO with inherent high S‐nitrosylation level and resistance to the oxidative stress inducer paraquat (1,1′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐bipyridinium dichloride). Here, we report the characterization of dgl1‐3 as a genetic suppressor of gsnor1‐3. DGL1 encodes a subunit of the oligosaccharyltransferse (OST) complex which catalyzes the formation of N‐glycosidic bonds in N‐glycosylation. The fact that dgl1‐3 repressed the paraquat resistance of gsnor1‐3 meanwhile gsnor1‐3 rescued the embryo‐lethal and post‐embryonic development defect of dgl1‐3 reminded us the possibility that S‐nitrosylation and N‐glycosylation crosstalk with each other through co‐substrates. By enriching glycoproteins in gsnor1‐3 and mass spectrometry analysis, TGG2 (thioglucoside glucohydrolase2) was identified as one of co‐substrates with high degradation rate and elevated N‐glycosylation level in gsnor1‐3 ost3/6. The S‐nitrosylation and N‐glycosylation profiles were also modified in dgl1‐3 and gsnor1‐3. Thereby, we propose a linkage between S‐nitrosylation and N‐glycosylation through co‐substrates.
An integrated transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis of the Cucurbita pepo nectary implicates key modules of primary metabolism involved in nectar synthesis and secretion
Authors: Solhaug Erik M. , Roy Rahul , Chatt Elizabeth C. , Klinkenberg Peter M. , Mohd‐Fadzil Nur‐Aziatull , Hampton Marshall , Nikolau Basil J. , Carter Clay J. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractNectar is the main reward that flowers offer to pollinators to entice repeated visitation. Cucurbita pepo (squash) is an excellent model for studying nectar biology, as it has large nectaries that produce large volumes of nectar relative to most other species. Squash is also monoecious, having both female and male flowers on the same plant, which allows comparative analyses of nectary function in one individual. Here, we report the nectary transcriptomes from both female and male nectaries at four stages of floral maturation. Analysis of these transcriptomes and subsequent confirmatory experiments revealed a metabolic progression in nectaries leading from starch synthesis to starch degradation and to sucrose biosynthesis. These results are consistent with previously published models of nectar secretion and also suggest how a sucrose‐rich nectar can be synthesized and secreted in the absence of active transport across the plasma membrane. Nontargeted metabolomic analyses of nectars also confidently identified 40 metabolites in both female and male nectars, with some displaying preferential accumulation in nectar of either male or female flowers. Cumulatively, this study identified gene targets for reverse genetics approaches to study nectary function, as well as previously unreported nectar metabolites that may function in plant‐biotic interactions.
Lung cancer mortality clusters in urban and rural areas of Shandong Province, China: A spatial scan statistical analysis
Authors: Fu Zhentao , Li Yingmei , Chu Jie , Sun Jiandong , Lu Zilong , Zhang Jiyu , Chen Xianxian , Zhang Gaohui , Xue Fuzhong , Guo Xiaolei , Xu Aiqiang 
Published: February 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo detect the spatial distribution and high‐risk clusters of lung cancer mortality for the years 2011–2013 in Shandong Province, China. The urban–rural differences in the spatial distribution and clusters of disease mortality were also examined.MethodsLung cancer mortality data were obtained from Shandong Death Registration System during 2011–2013, and were adjusted with the underreporting rate. The purely spatial scan statistics method was carried out using a discrete Poisson model.ResultsSeven significant spatial clusters of high mortality of lung cancer were detected in Shandong Province at the county level, mainly in the eastern, northern, central, and southwestern regions. The spatial distributions were different between urban and rural populations. Population aging influenced the distribution of lung cancer clusters for the urban and rural eastern region residents.ConclusionsThis study provided evidence for the presence of clusters of lung cancer mortality in Shandong, China, and found urban–rural differences in the clusters, which might be helpful in developing effective strategies to control lung cancer in different areas.
Comparison of the Mermin and Penn models for inelastic mean‐free path calculations for electrons based on a model using optical energy‐loss functions
Authors: Da Bo , Shinotsuka Hiroshi , Yoshikawa Hideki , Tanuma Shigeo 
Published: February 2019

We present detailed comparisons of calculated inelastic mean‐free paths (IMFPs) of electrons with energies up to 10 keV from the full Penn algorithm (FPA) model and the Mermin model using prototypical Drude‐type energy‐loss functions (ELFs). From systematic comparisons of IMFPs obtained from the prototypical ELFs using these two models, we obtain evidence that supports the Mermin model as the more reasonable model for electron IMFP calculations than the FPA model. The deviations between these two models are mainly because of finite plasmon lifetimes and show a strong dependence on the width of the ELFs and electron energy. For instance, the theoretical description of the ELF based on the Mermin model predicts lower values for the IMFPs than those obtained by the FPA approach in most cases. As for those prototypical ELFs with neither very sharp nor very broad structures that describe the ELF of actual materials, the Mermin IMFPs are smaller than the FPA IMFPs by about 5% for energies between 1 and 10 keV. We also found that over the 130 to 10 keV range, the modified Bethe equation fits IMFPs calculated with both algorithms within a 1% relative difference.
Dust induces lung fibrosis through dysregulated DNA methylation
Authors: Zhang Na , Liu Keliang , Wang Kai , Zhou Ci , Wang Hejing , Che Shuangshuang , Liu Zhihong , Yang Huifang 
Published: February 2019

AbstractPneumoconiosis is a serious occupational disease that often occurs to coal workers with no early diagnosis and effective treatment at present. Diffuse pulmonary fibrosis is the major pathological change of pneumoconiosis, and its mechanism is still unclear. Epigenetics is involved in the development of many diseases, and it is closely associated with fibrosis. In this study, we investigated whether DNA methylation contributes to the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis in pneumoconiosis. By exposure to coal dust or silica dust, we established the models of coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP), which showed an increased expression of COL‐I, COL‐III. We further found that DNMT1, DNMT3a, DNMT3b, MBD2, MeCP2 protein expression changed. Pretreatment with DNMT inhibitor 5‐aza‐dC reduced expression of COL‐I, COL‐III, and reduced pulmonary fibrosis. In summary, our results showed that DNA methylation contributes to dust‐induced pulmonary fibrosis and that it may serve as a theoretical basis for testing DNA methyltransferase inhibitors in the treatment of CWP.
Influence of model parameters on the design of large diameter monopiles for multi‐megawatt offshore wind turbines at 50‐m water depths
Authors: Njomo‐Wandji Wilfried , Natarajan Anand , Dimitrov Nikolay 
Published: February 2019

AbstractRelevant modelling approaches towards the design of a large diameter monopile for 10 MW offshore wind turbines at 50‐m water depths are considered to evaluate their respective impacts on the structural integrity. The analysed models or model parameters include soil‐structure interaction, construction errors, and damping. The study is conducted on a reference structure verified with respect to fatigue, ultimate (strength, stability, and soil capacity), and serviceability limit states after fully coupled load simulations. Models and their parameters are carefully obtained in line with the case in hand. Perturbation analysis is used to assess the impact of the soil model, the geometric imperfections, and the damping on the structure safety and robustness. Results show that all of them significantly influence the fatigue lifetime, the geometric imperfections and the soil model impact the ultimate stresses, and the soil model affects the deformations of the final design, from which guidance on the optimal selection of these parameters leading to material savings is made.
Tissue‐specific mechanisms of alternative polyadenylation: Testis, brain, and beyond (2018 update)
Authors: MacDonald Clinton C. 
Published: February 2019

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is how genes choose different sites for 3′ end formation for mRNAs during transcription. APA often occurs in a tissue‐ or developmental stage‐specific manner that can significantly affect gene activity by changing the protein product generated, the stability of the transcript, its localization within the cell, or its translatability. Despite the important regulatory effects that APA has on tissue‐specific gene expression, only a few examples have been characterized mechanistically. In this 2018 update to our 2010 review, we examine mechanisms for the control of APA and update our understanding of the older mechanisms since 2010. We once postulated the existence of tissue‐specific factors in APA. However, while a few tissue‐specific polyadenylation factors are known, the emerging conclusion is that the majority of APA is accomplished by altering levels of core polyadenylation proteins. Examples of those core proteins include CSTF2, CPSF1, and subunits of mammalian cleavage factor I. But despite support for these mechanisms, no one has yet documented any of these proteins changing in either a tissue‐specific or developmental manner. Given the profound effect that APA can have on gene expression and human health, improved understanding of tissue‐specific APA could lead to numerous advances in gene activity control.This article is categorized under:
RNA Processing > 3′ End Processing
RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development
On the Paleo-climatic/Environmental Impacts and Socio-Cultural System Resilience along the Historical Silk Road
Authors: Yang Liang Emlyn , Bork Hans-Rudolf , Fang Xiuqi , Mischke Steffen , Weinelt Mara , Wiesehöfer Josef 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThis chapter introduces, by literature reviews, the issue of the links and processes behind climate change, environmental change, and socio-culture change in the past at the ancient Silk Road region. Analyses of the changes of the socio-environment system in this area enhance our understanding on the regular patterns of coupled natural and social evolution, and is thus of important theoretical and practical significance. We argue that the cross-cutting theme has been to reach beyond simple explanations of environmental or human determinism, but social resilience under environmental impacts. Studies indicate both that climate conditions significantly influence human socio-cultural systems and that the socio-culture systems are certainly resilient to climate impacts. This chapter also summarizes the scope of all chapters in this book by illustrating the specific topics, research areas, focused periods and their inner relationships. The conclusion further summarizes the recent research states on past socio-environmental dynamics and the findings achieved in this book, as well as some outlooks.
Social Impacts of Climate Change in Historical China
Authors: Fang Xiuqi , Su Yun , Wei Zhudeng , Yin Jun 
Published: February 2019

AbstractThe social impact of past climate change is one of the key areas of study relating to global climate change, particularly its ability to provide valuable lessons for dealing with ongoing challenges of global climate change. Drawing on the abundant historical literature, many recent studies have examined the social impacts of climate change in China during the past 2000 years. This paper reviews the main progress of these studies in three parts. First, a concept model based on the food security in relation to global climate change has been constructed, which can then be used to interpret impact-response processes of climate change in the history of China. Second, we derive a methodology for quantifying the impact of historical climate change, drawing on a series of 4 key social and economic sequences at a 10-year resolution. These have been reconstructed based on the semantic differential method over the past 2000 years in China. Third, using a variety of statistical analyses, we update the understanding of climate impacts throughout the history of China. The overall impacts of climate were negative in the cold periods and positive in the warm periods, at decadal to centennial scales during Chinese history. However, the impacts seemed a mixed blessing both in the cold or warm periods. The social-economic development and population growth in warm periods would intensify the natural resource shortage and disequilibria in the human-environment system, especially when encountering abrupt climate changes. Adaptation to adverse climate change could not only help people to avoid hardship whilst maximizing profits, but also expanded the capabilities for the continual development of Chinese civilization.