bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of anti‐obesity medication initiation and duration on weight loss in a comprehensive weight loss programme
Authors: Safavi R. , Lih A. , Kirkpatrick S. , Haller S. , Bailony M. R. 
Published: July 2019

SummaryObjectiveThis retrospective study aimed to evaluate the impact of anti‐obesity medication (AOM) initiation, usage and duration on weight loss in a 72‐week precision obesity programme. The type of AOM, diet and exercise plan was chosen based upon an individual's biological and psychosocial needs. The 72‐week study duration allowed for a fair investigation of the downstream impact of delayed versus early AOM initiation.MethodsParticipants, aged ≥18 years with body mass index ≥30 kg m−2, enrolled from 1 March 2015 to 1 April 2017, were included. Subgroups were assigned by AOM usage (users versus non‐users, early [before 8 weeks] versus delayed [after 8 weeks] AOM initiation and short [<6 months] versus long [≥6 months] AOM duration). Primary endpoints included change in baseline weight at 72 weeks and proportions achieving ≥5%, ≥10% and ≥15% weight loss. Outcomes were compared between subgroups.ResultsMean age and body mass index (N = 129) were 45.0 ± 14.0 years and 37.0 ± 6.0 kg m−2, respectively; 67% were female. At week 72, AOM users (N = 71) achieved significantly greater mean percentage reduction in baseline weight than non‐users (N = 58). On average, baseline weight decreased by 14.04 ± 6.2% in users versus 10.9 ± 6.8% in non‐users (P = 0.008); 84% and 94% of non‐user and AOM users lost >5% weight loss (P = 0.006). A higher proportion of users lost ≥15% of weight (45.1% vs. 19.0%; P < 0.001). Mean percentage reduction in weight was greater for early versus delayed starters (−17.60 ± 5.3% vs. −13.95 ± 5.5%; P = 0.024), and longer AOM usage trended towards increased weight loss.ConclusionEarly initiation of AOM may enhance weight loss.
Seeing the forest in order and the trees in disorder: Environmental orderliness versus disorderliness affects the perceptual processing style
Authors: Li Kaiyun , Yang Huijing , Wang Xueyang , Zhang Tuo , Lu Ping , Lin Fengxun 
Published: July 2019

AbstractPeople attend to the same event or object by using a global or local processing style across different environments. Different physical environmental conditions, such as orderliness and disorderliness, activate different psychological states and produce different kinds of outcomes. However, previous work has rarely examined whether individuals exposed to different orderly or disorderly environments attend to the “global” or the “local” differently. Thus, in the current study, we conducted three behavioral experiments to directly examine the impact of disorder versus order cues on people's types of perceptual and conceptual processing (global vs. local). We asked participants to perform a typical Kimchi–Palmer figures task or a categorization task: with pre‐primed disorderly or orderly physical environmental pictures (Experiment 1), with basic visual pictures (Experiment 2), and imagining a real environment (Experiment 3). The results revealed that in any of the above operations, orderly experience led to global perceptual processing, whereas disorderly experience led to local perceptual processing. This difference in processing style was not influenced by the participants’ daily habits or their preference for the need for structure. However, this difference in perceptual processing style did not spill over to the conceptual processing style. These findings provide direct evidence of the effects of disorderliness versus orderliness on global versus local perceptual and conceptual processing and imply that environmental orderliness or disorderliness may functionally affect cognitive processing (i.e., how we see and think about events and objects). Thus, the findings creatively bridge several lines of research and shed light on a basic cognitive mechanism responsible for perceptions of order/disorder.
Combining agriculture and energy industry waste products to yield recyclable, thermally healable copolymers of elemental sulfur and oleic acid
Authors: Smith Ashlyn D. , Thiounn Timmy , Lyles Elliott W. , Kibler Emily K. , Smith Rhett C. , Tennyson Andrew G. 
Published: July 2019

ABSTRACTSulfur and oleic acid, two components of industrial waste/byproducts, were combined in an effort to prepare more sustainable polymeric materials. Zinc oxide was employed to serve the dual role of compatibilizing immiscible sulfur and oleic acid as well as to suppress evolution of toxic H2S gas during reaction at high temperature. The reaction of sulfur, oleic acid, and zinc oxide led to a series of composites, ZOSx (x = wt % sulfur, where x is 8–99). The ZOSx materials ranged from sticky tars to hard solids at room temperature. The ZOSx compositions were assessed by 1H NMR spectrometry, FTIR spectroscopy, and elemental microanalysis. Copolymers ZOS59‐99, were further analyzed for thermal and mechanical properties by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Remarkably, even ZOS99, comprising only 1 wt % of zinc oxide/oleic acid (99 wt % S) exhibits at least an eightfold increase in storage modulus compared to sulfur alone. The four solid samples (59–99 wt % S) were thermally healable and readily remeltable with full retention of mechanical durability. These materials represent a valuable proof‐of‐concept for sustainably sourced, recyclable materials from unsaturated fatty acid waste products. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1704–1710
Influence of family income and medical insurance coverage on health‐related quality of life and optimism in cancer patients at a Hong Kong private hospital: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Chiu Sai Yiu Richard , Yang Zuyao 
Published: July 2019

AbstractObjectiveHealth‐related quality of life (HRQL) and optimism are important health domains that express the physical, emotional, and psychological well‐being of cancer patients. Previous studies have explored income and medical insurance coverage as predictors of their well‐being with the aim to better understand their financial needs. The primary objective of this study was to examine the associations in the private health sector in Hong Kong.MethodsThe study was conducted cross‐sectionally with a structured questionnaire in traditional Chinese. HRQL was assessed with the RAND 12‐item Health Survey, and optimism was assessed with the Life Orientation Test. The two primary predictors were family income and medical insurance coverage. The associations were tested using logistic regression, controlling for other sociodemographic and clinical covariates.ResultsA total of 428 questionnaires were used in the regression model. After adjusting for other covariates, no significant association was observed with family income as the predictor. Medical insurance coverage was a significant and positive predictor of optimism with odds ratio of 2.30 and 95% confidence interval of 1.30 to 4.05 for the group with the most coverage with little to no coverage as the reference group.ConclusionsThe significant association between medical insurance coverage and optimism might be an indication that the medical cost was a financial burden to many cancer patients in Hong Kong. In addition to their medical needs, cancer support organization and health care practitioners must be able to recognize and assist with the financial needs of the cancer patients.
AKR1C3 expression in primary lesion rebiopsy at the time of metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer is strongly associated with poor efficacy of abiraterone as a first‐line therapy
Authors: Zhao Jinge , Zhang Mengni , Liu Jiandong , Liu Zhenhua , Shen Pengfei , Nie Ling , Guo Wenhao , Cai Diming , Liu Jiyan , Armstrong Cameron M. , Sun Guangxi , Chen Junru , Zhu Sha , Dai Jindong , Zhang Haoran , Zhao Peng , Zhang Xingming , Yin Xiaoxue , Zhu Xudong , Ni Yuchao , Chen Ni , Zeng Hao 
Published: July 2019

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies had demonstrated that aldo‐keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3), a crucial enzyme in the steroidogenic pathway, played an important role in abiraterone (ABI)‐resistance in metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) by increasing intratumoral androgen synthesis. However, its value in predicting treatment response in patients with mCRPC is unknown.Method and MaterialsData of 163 patients with metastatic prostate cancer between 2016 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received androgen deprivation therapy plus bicalutamide after initial diagnosis. After mCRPC, either ABI or docetaxel (DOC) treatment was used. No patient had the experience of therapy to the primary tumor. AKR1C3 protein was detected by immunohistochemical staining from rebiopsy (re‐Bx) of primary prostate lesions at mCRPC. Kaplan‐Meier curves and Cox regression were used to analyze the association between AKR1C3 and treatment outcomes.ResultsAKR1C3 was positive in 58 of 163 (35.6%) cases. AKR1C3 was associated with significantly shorter median prostate‐specific antigen progression‐free survival (mPSA‐PFS, 5.6 mo vs 10.7 mo; P < .001), median radiographic progression‐free survival (mrPFS, 11.1 mo vs 18.0 mo; P = .018), and numerically shorter median overall survival (mOS, 20.4 mo vs 26.4 mo; P = .157). Notably, AKR1C3‐positive patients treated with ABI, but not DOC, had shorter mPSA‐PFS and mrPFS compared with AKR1C3‐negative men, (mPSA‐PFS, 5.7 mo vs. 11.2 mo; P < .001; mrPFS, 12.4 mo vs 23.3 mo; P = .048). However, AKR1C3 expression had no correlation to PSA response or OS. Multivariate Cox regression indicated that AKR1C3 was independently accompanied with rapid PSA progression (hazard ratio [HR], 3.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.10‐6.31; P < 0.001) and radiological progression (HR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.05‐4.11; P = .036) in the ABI‐treated subgroup.ConclusionThis study demonstrated that AKR1C3 detection in tissues from prostate re‐Bx at mCRPC was associated with early resistance to ABI but not DOC. These results will help to make optimal personalized treatment decisions for patients with mCRPC, facilitate physicians predicting the effectiveness of ABI.
Modification of lactoferrin by peroxynitrite reduces its antibacterial activity and changes protein structure
Authors: Alhalwani Amani Y. , Davey Rachel L. , Kaul Navneeta , Barbee Scott A. , Alex Huffman J. 
Published: July 2019

AbstractLactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional protein that plays important physiological roles as one of the most concentrated proteins in many human and other mammalian fluids and tissues. In particular, LF provides antibacterial properties to human milk, saliva, and tear fluid. LF also protects against stress‐induced lipid peroxidation at inflammation sites through its iron‐binding ability. Previous studies have shown that LF can be efficiently nitrated via biologically relevant mediators such as peroxynitrite (ONOO−), which are also present at high intracellular concentrations during inflammation and nitrosative stress. Here, we examine changes in antibacterial properties and structure of LF following ONOO− treatment. The reaction induces nitration of tyrosine and tryptophan residues, which are commonly used as biomarker molecules for several diseases. Treatment with ONOO− at a 10/1 M ratio of ONOO− to tyrosine inhibited all antibacterial activity exhibited by native LF. Secondary structural changes in LF were assessed using circular dichroism spectroscopy. Nitration products with and without the addition of Fe3+ show significant reduction in alpha‐helical properties, suggesting partial protein unfolding. Iron‐binding capacity of LF was also reduced after treatment with ONOO−, suggesting a decreased ability of LF to protect against cellular damage. LC‐MS/MS spectrometry was used to identify LF peptide fragments nitrated by ONOO−, including tyrosine residue Y92 located in the iron‐binding region. These results suggest that posttranslational modification of LF by ONOO− could be an important pathway to exacerbate infection, for example, in inflamed tissues and to reduce the ability of LF to act as an immune responder and decrease oxidative damage.
The effects of black seed supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Darand Mina , Darabi Zahra , Yari Zahra , Hedayati Mehdi , Shahrbaf Mohammad Amin , Khoncheh Ahmad , Hosseini‐Ahangar Behnam , Alavian Seyed Moayyed , Hekmatdoost Azita 
Published: July 2019

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly related to cardiovascular disorders risk factors. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of black seed (Nigella sativa) supplementation on cardiovascular disorders risk factors in patients with NAFLD. This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial was conducted on 50 patients with NAFLD. Participants were assigned to receive a lifestyle modification plus 2 g/day of either N. sativa or placebo for 12 weeks. Compared with the placebo, N. sativa supplementation led to significant reductions in serum glucose (−7.95 vs. −1.22; p = .041), serum insulin (−3.87 vs. −1.07; p = .027), homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (−1.02 vs. −0.28; p = .021), and a significant increase in quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (0.03 vs. 0.006; p = .002). All of these changes were remained significant after adjusting for known confounding variables; however, there was no significant difference in lipid profile changes between the two groups (p = .05). N. sativa supplementation significantly decreased hepatic steatosis percentage compared with the placebo after adjustment for confounding variables (p = .005). In conclusion, our results indicate that daily intake of 2‐g N. sativa plus lifestyle modification is superior to lifestyle modification alone in amelioration of insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in patients with NAFLD.
Characterization of polymeric phenolic acids and flavonoids in Clerodendranthi Spicati Herba using ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry with target and nontarget data mining strategy
Authors: Luo Yun , Wen Quan , Lai Chang‐Jiang‐Sheng , Feng Yulin , Tan Ting 
Published: July 2019

RationaleClerodendranthi Spicati Herba (CSH) is often used to treat urinary stones, urinary tract infections and nephritis in China. Much literature has reported that polymeric phenolic acids and flavonoids are the major bioactive components in CSH. Therefore, it is very meaningful to identify the polymeric phenolic acids and flavonoids in CSH.MethodsUltrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF‐MS/MS) analysis with target and nontarget data mining strategy was proposed to rapidly profile the polymeric phenolic acids and flavonoids in CSH. Diagnostic product ions and neutral loss filter were beneficial for identifying the polymeric phenolic acids and flavonoids from complex compounds in CSH.ResultsA total of 118 compounds, including 85 polymeric phenolic acids and 33 flavonoids, were reasonably identified in CSH by comparing their main fragmentation pathways with literature data, and 85 of them were discovered in CSH firstly by nontarget analysis. Nine potential compounds were characterized tentatively as new pentameric and hexameric phenolic acids in CSH. Six types of polymeric phenolic acids (monomer, dimer, trimer, tetramer, pentamer and hexamer) and four types of flavonoids (apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin and quercetin) were identified in CSH.ConclusionsThe results indicated that the UHPLC/QTOF‐MS/MS method coupled with target and nontarget data mining strategy was feasible and rational for identifying the polymeric phenolic acids and flavonoids in complex chemical constituents of CSH. The findings will be conducive to the discovery of the active ingredients of CSH and the establishment of quality standards.
Detection of urinary metabolites of arimistane in humans by gas chromatography coupled to high‐accuracy mass spectrometry for antidoping analyses
Authors: Martinez Brito Dayamin , de la Torre Xavier , Botrè Francesco 
Published: July 2019

RationaleThe selection of the most appropriate metabolites of the substances included in the Prohibited List of the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA) is fundamental for setting up methods allowing the detection of their intake by mass spectrometric methods. The aim of this work is to investigate the metabolism of arimistane (an aromatase inhibitor included in the WADA list) in order to improve its detection capacity among the antidoping community.MethodsUrinary samples collected after controlled single administration of arimistane in three healthy volunteers were analysed using the common routine sample preparation in antidoping laboratories to determine the steroid profile parameters considered in the steroid module of the Athlete Biological Passport by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). For the elucidation of the proposed metabolites, GC coupled to high‐accuracy MS (GC/qTOFMS) was used. Both mass spectrometers were operated in electron ionization mode. Non‐conjugated (free), glucuronated and sulfated fractions were analysed separately.ResultsNo relevant effects on the steroid profile could be detected after a single oral dose (25 mg). Up to 15 metabolites, present only in the post‐administration samples, were detected and some structures were postulated. These metabolites are mainly excreted as glucuro‐conjugated into urine and only minor amounts of two metabolites are also excreted unconjugated or as sulfates.ConclusionsArimistane itself was not observed in the free or glucuronated fractions, but only in the sulfate fraction. The peaks showing mass spectra in agreement with hydroxylated metabolites did not match with those for 7‐keto‐DHEA, 7α‐ or 7β‐hydroxy‐DHEA. This suggests that the first hydroxylation did not occur on C3, but on C2. These newly described metabolites allow the specific detection of arimistane misuse in sports.
Remote sensing of river corridors: A review of current trends and future directions
Authors: Tomsett Christopher , Leyland Julian 
Published: July 2019

AbstractRiver corridors play a crucial environmental, economic, and societal role yet also represent one of the world's most dangerous natural hazards, making monitoring imperative to improve our understanding and to protect people. Remote sensing offers a rapidly growing suite of methods by which river corridor monitoring can be performed efficiently, at a range of scales and in difficult environmental conditions. This paper aims to evaluate the current state and assess the potential future of river corridor monitoring, whilst highlighting areas that require further investigation. We initially review established methods that are used to undertake river corridor monitoring, framed by the context and scales upon which they are applied. Subsequently, we review cutting edge technologies that are being developed and focussed around unmanned aerial vehicle and multisensor system advances. We also “horizon scan” for future methods that may become increasingly prominent in research and management, citing examples from within and outside of the fluvial domain. Through review of the literature, it has become apparent that the main gap in fluvial remote sensing lies in the trade‐off between resolution and scales. However, prioritising process measurements and simultaneous multisensor data collection is likely to offer a bigger advance in understanding than purely from better surveying methods alone. Challenges regarding the legal deployment of more complex systems, as well as effectively disseminating data into the science community, are amongst those that we propose need addressing. However, the plethora of methods currently available means that researchers and monitoring agencies will be able to identify suitable techniques for their needs.
A powerful software‐defined cyber‐physical system to expand CPS adoption
Authors: Yu Haisheng , Qi Heng , Li Keqiu 
Published: July 2019

SummaryThe cyber‐physical system (CPS) has become a promising direction that can enrich the interaction between people and people, people and objects, objects and objects in the physical world and the virtual world. Because of the development of CPS, the number and types of smart device connected to the Internet has rapidly increased, bringing with it the current issues of flexibility, efficiency, availability, security, and scalability of the Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) network. These problems are caused by the key mechanism of large‐scale distribution to the IoT network. In this article, we propose CPSS inspired by software‐defined networking (SDN) and service‐oriented architecture, which is a powerful software‐defined cyber‐physical system to solve the challenges of broader CPS adoption. CPSS has three complementary modules: application‐as‐a‐service (AAAS), network‐as‐a‐service (NAAS), and infrastructure‐as‐a‐service (IAAS). IAAS collects network information from a different set of controllers and devices and generates a domain‐wide network view. NAAS collects information from different domains and generates a global view, which helps data transmission between different domains and enables seamless switching between applications and infrastructure devices. AAAS provides personalized service for each user. To test CPSS, we develop a prototype system. Our experimental results show that CPSS can effectively control cyber‐physical system, and CPSS has greatly improved network latency, network throughput, and network reliability compared to traditional controller‐controlled CPS.
Verbundträger und Verbunddeckensysteme mit Stegöffnungen
Authors: Claßen Martin , Bielak Jan , Spelter Arne 
Published: July 2019

AbstractIm Hoch‐ und Industriebau werden immer häufiger Stahl‐Beton‐Verbunddeckensysteme mit hohem Installationsgrad eingesetzt, in denen zur Reduzierung der Bauhöhe die Gebäudetechnik durch Öffnungen in den Trägerstegen geführt wird. Regelungen zur Bemessung von Verbundträgern mit Stegausschnitten sind in der europäischen Normung derzeit allerdings nicht vorhanden und bestehende Ingenieurmodelle aus der Literatur decken die auftretenden Effekte nicht vollständig ab. Hierdurch kann die Querkrafttragfähigkeit des Betongurts, die im Bereich einer Stegöffnung einen wesentlichen Anteil der Gesamttragfähigkeit ausmacht, für die Bemessung nicht angesetzt werden. Im Rahmen des vorliegenden Aufsatzes wird daher ein Modell für Träger mit Öffnungen vorgestellt, das eine mechanisch konsistente Bemessung unter Berücksichtigung aller möglichen Versagensarten ermöglicht. Das Vorgehen wird anhand eines ausführlichen Anwendungsbeispiels veranschaulicht.
Identity-based and anonymous key agreement protocol for fog computing resistant in the Canetti–Krawczyk security model
Authors: Patonico Simone , Braeken An , Steenhaut Kris 
Published: July 2019

AbstractFog computing allows to connect the edge of the network, consisting of low cost Internet of Things devices, with high end cloud servers. Fog devices can perform data processing, which can significantly reduce the delay for the application. Moreover, data aggregation can be carried out by fog devices which decrease the bandwidth needed being very important for the wireless part of the communication with the cloud servers. The edge-fog-cloud architecture is currently being rolled out for several applications in the field of connected cars, health care monitoring, etc. In this paper, we propose an identity-based, mutual authenticated key agreement protocol for this fog architecture, in which end device and fog are able to establish a secure communication without leakage of their identities. Only the cloud server is able to control the identities of device and fog. We formally prove that the session keys are also protected in the Canetti–Krawczyk security model, in which adversaries are considered to have access to session state specific information, previous session keys, or long-term private keys. The scheme is very efficient as it only utilises elliptic curve operations and basic symmetric key operations.