bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of acoustic power and pH on pectin‐enriched extracts obtained from citrus by‐products. Modelling of the extraction process
Authors: Umaña Mónica M , Dalmau María E , Eim Valeria S , Femenia Antoni , Rosselló Carmen 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe ultrasound‐assisted extraction of pectic polysaccharides from orange by‐products was investigated. Kinetics of mechanical agitation (0.2 × g) and acoustic (US1: 542 W L−1 and US2: 794 W L−1) extractions, were obtained and modelled at different pH values (1.5 and 2.0). All extractions were carried out at 25 °C, using citric acid as the extraction solvent.RESULTSHigher pectic polysaccharides extraction yields were obtained with ultrasonic assistance, in comparison with the results obtained using mechanical agitation. Moreover, yield increases were significantly higher using the more acidic pH. Thus, at pH 1.5, pectin yield increased from ∼19%, obtained with agitation, to ∼47%, applying ultrasound; whereas, at pH 2.0, this increase was from ∼10%, with agitation, to ∼18%, applying ultrasound. A considerable decrease of the galacturonic acid proportion was observed on the extracts when ultrasound were applied for 60 min under pH 2.0. High methoxyl pectins were extracted at pH 1.5 whereas at pH 2.0, pectins exhibited a low methylation degree. Curves of acoustic and mechanical agitation extractions were properly represented by a second‐order rate model (average mean relative error ≤ 7.4%). The extraction rate constant, initial extraction rate and maximum yield were determined for all experimental conditions.CONCLUSIONOverall, the results clearly indicated that the effect of ultrasound was highly dependent on the pH. Therefore, adequate acidic conditions must be applied in order to improve the efficiency of ultrasound on the pectin extraction process. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Interaction of race and pathology for neuroendocrine tumors: Epidemiology, natural history, or racial disparity?
Authors: DePalo Danielle K. , Lee Rachel M. , Lopez‐Aguiar Alexandra G. , Gamboa Adriana C. , Rocha Flavio , Poultsides George , Dillhoff Mary , Fields Ryan C. , Idrees Kamran , Nathan Hari , Abbott Daniel , Maithel Shishir K. , Russell Maria C. ,   other members of the United States Neuroendocrine Tumor Study Group
Published: August 2019

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesAlthough minority race has been associated with worse cancer outcomes, the interaction of race with pathologic variables and outcomes of patients with gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP‐NETs) is not known.MethodsPatients from the US Neuroendocrine Study Group (2000‐2016) undergoing curative‐intent resection of GEP‐NETs were included. Given few patients of other races, only Black and White patients were analyzed.ResultsA total of 1143 patients were included. Median age was 58 years, 49% were male, 14% Black, and 86% White. Black patients were more likely to be uninsured (7% vs 2%, P = .011), and to have symptomatic bleeding (13% vs 7%, P = .009), emergency surgery (7% vs 3%, P = .006), and positive lymph nodes (LN) (47% vs 36%, P = .021). However, Black patients had improved 5‐year recurrence‐free survival (RFS) (90% vs 80%, P = .008). Quality of care was comparable between races, seen by similar LN yield, R0 resections, postoperative complications, and need for reoperation/readmission (all P > .05). While both races were more likely to have pancreas‐NETs, Black patients had more small bowel‐NETs (22% vs 13%, P < .001). LN positivity was prognostic for pancreas‐NETs (5‐year RFS 67% vs 83%, P = .001) but not for small‐bowel NETs.ConclusionsBlack patients with GEP‐NETs had more adverse characteristics and higher LN positivity. Despite this, Black patients have improved RFS. This may be attributed to the epidemiologic differences in the primary site of GEP‐NETs and variable prognostic value of LN‐positive disease.
Increases in Midwestern cougars despite harvest in a source population
Authors: Larue Michelle A. , Nielsen Clayton K. , Pease Brent S. 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTAlthough cougars (Puma concolor) appear to be recolonizing the midwestern United States, there is concern that hunting in source populations (primarily the Black Hills, SD and WY, USA) may prevent cougars from dispersing eastward. We use carcass data of cougars (n =147 carcasses at known locations, of which 111 were of known sex) in the Midwest collected during 1990–2015 to quantify whether cougar hunting in the Black Hills affected cougar distribution and presence in the Midwest. We separated carcass data into 2 time periods: before hunting in the Black Hills (i.e., pre‐hunt; 1990–2004) and after hunting (i.e., post‐hunt; 2005–2015). We hypothesized that if hunting prevented dispersal into the Midwest, cougar distribution would be random and their presence less, relative to the pre‐hunt period. We also were interested in sex ratios of carcasses over time, given the importance of that demographic metric to the potential establishment of viable populations. During the pre‐hunt period, 25 carcasses were dispersed randomly in the Midwest. During the post‐hunt period, we found nearly 4 times the number of carcasses in the Midwest (n = 86), carcasses were significantly clustered, and a greater percentage of carcasses were female (pre‐hunt n = 6 [24%]; post‐hunt n = 27 [31%]). Relative to the pre‐hunt period, we observed a 460‐km northward shift in the directional distribution of carcass locations during the post‐hunt period. These findings do not support the idea that hunting in the Black Hills has prevented cougar presence from increasing in the Midwest. Alternatively, we suggest the potential for immigration from cougar populations farther to the west as an explanation for the increase in cougar presence (particularly females) confirmed after the initiation of cougar hunting in the Black Hills. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
Survival and growth of northern bobwhite offspring post‐translocation
Authors: Lunsford Kyle D. , Howell Paige E. , Roberts Thomas B. , Terhune Theron M. , Martin James A. 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTContinual population declines in northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have prompted the use of population restoration techniques in conjunction with habitat management to restore their populations. We tested the site familiarity hypothesis to determine if translocation to new environments affected offspring survival and growth rates of bobwhites. We used bobwhites from north Florida and translocated them to a study site in Brunswick County, North Carolina, USA, and monitored birds during April−October 2016 and April−October 2017. We used the corral capture method and modified‐suture technique to capture and radio‐tag chicks to evaluate offspring growth and survival rates of resident and translocated bobwhites. Offspring survival varied by year and age. We did not find any difference in offspring survival rates of resident and translocated individuals, lending no support to the site familiarity hypothesis with regards to survival. Offspring of resident bobwhites did not grow at a faster rate than offspring of translocated bobwhites, indicating a lack of support for the site familiarity hypothesis in terms of physiological development. Survival, however, is a more important metric for determining post‐translocation population dynamics, and our results indicated that translocated bobwhites can reproduce and raise offspring similar to resident counterparts, but both had low survival. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
Formation of Zirconium(IV)–Heparin Complex Multilayers on Solid Surfaces for Long‐Lasting Antiplatelet Application
Authors: Jeong Yeonwoo , Kang Sung Min 
Published: August 2019

AbstractA facile approach to enhancing the blood compatibility of solid surfaces based on ZrIV–heparin complexation is reported. Solid surfaces are pretreated with tannic acid (TA)/ZrIV complexes. Heparin is then deposited on the surface through a spin‐coating process and fixed by a ZrIV‐mediated crosslinking reaction. Using this approach, TA/ZrIV/heparin complex multilayers that are highly resistant to human platelet adhesion are formed on various substrates including metal, metal oxides, ceramics, and synthetic polymers. This approach presents a sustainable way for the immobilization of heparin onto surfaces because it does not require any derivatization of heparin molecule as well as time‐consuming processes.
Development of 3D Biofabricated Cell Laden Hydrogel Vessels and a Low‐Cost Desktop Printed Perfusion Chamber for In Vitro Vessel Maturation
Authors: Distler Thomas , Ruther Florian , Boccaccini Aldo R. , Detsch Rainer 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe vascular system represents the key supply chain for nutrients and oxygen inside the human body. Engineered solutions to produce sophisticated alternatives for autologous or artificial vascular implants to sustainably replace diseased vascular tissue still remain a key challenge in tissue engineering. In this paper, cell‐laden 3D bioplotted hydrogel vessel‐like constructs made from alginate di‐aldehyde (ADA) and gelatin (GEL) are presented. The aim is to increase the mechanical stability of fibroblast‐laden ADA‐GEL vessels, tailoring them for maturation under dynamic cell culture conditions. BaCl2is investigated as a crosslinker for the oxidized alginate‐gelatin system. Normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF)‐laden vessel constructs are optimized successfully in terms of higher stiffness by increasing ADA concentration and using BaCl2, with no toxic effects observed on NHDF. Contrarily, BaCl2crosslinking of ADA‐GEL accelerates cell attachment, viability, and growth from 7d to 24h compared to CaCl2. Moreover, alignment of cells in the longitudinal direction of the hydrogel vessels when extruding the cell‐laden hydrogel crosslinked with Ba2+is observed. It is possible to tune the stiffness of ADA‐GEL by utilizing Ba2+as crosslinker. In addition, a customized, low‐cost 3D printed polycarbonate (PC) perfusion chamber for perfusion of vessel‐like constructs is introduced.
Mechanical Strengths of Hydrogels of Poly(N,N‐Dimethylacrylamide)/Alginate with IPN and of Poly(N,N‐Dimethylacrylamide)/Chitosan with Semi‐IPN Microstructures
Authors: Bai Changzhuang , Huang Qiuhua , Zhang Xiao , Xiong Xiaopeng 
Published: August 2019

AbstractTough hydrogels receive continuous attention because of their promising applications in many fields. Herein, tough hydrogels of poly (N,N‐dimethylacrylamide) (PDMAA)/alginate (SA) are prepared, with interpenetrating network (IPN) and of PDMAA/chitosan (CS) with semi‐IPN microstructure, respectively. The toughening of the hydrogel by incorporating natural polymers is studied by compressing tests and dynamic mechanical analyses. Moreover, cyclic load–unload compressing of the two types of hydrogels are performed at low strains and under relatively high strains, in order to compare their strength and anti‐fatigue properties. The results indicate that the mechanical strength can be markedly improved upon addition of the natural polymers, and the IPN hydrogel of PDMAA/SA reveals much higher mechanical performances but is less stable. However, the semi‐IPN hydrogel of PDMAA/CS displays excellent anti‐fatigue stability, but with relatively low strength. Swelling tests, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are carried out to study the microstructures of the hydrogels, which are carefully analyzed to understand the difference in mechanical performances of those hydrogels. The results suggest that the presence of sacrificial unit and higher chain density in the IPN are helpful for toughening hydrogels, while the semi‐IPN network is beneficial to improve the energy dissipation efficiency.
Oxidative phosphorylation inhibition induces anticancerous changes in therapy‐resistant–acute myeloid leukemia patient cells
Authors: Vitkevičienė Aida , Janulis Vytautas , Žučenka Andrius , Borutinskaitė Veronika , Kaupinis Algirdas , Valius Mindaugas , Griškevičius Laimonas , Navakauskienė Rūta 
Published: August 2019

AbstractTreatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is still a challenge because of common relapses or resistance to treatment. Therefore, the development of new therapeutic approaches is necessary. Various studies have shown that certain cancers, including some chemoresistant AML subsets, have upregulated oxidative phosphorylation. In this study, we aimed to assess treatment‐resistant AML patients’ cell modulation using oxidative phosphorylation inhibitors metformin and atovaquone alone and in various combinations with cytosine analog cytarabine and apoptosis inducer venetoclax. Metabolic activity analysis using Agilent Seahorse XF Extracellular Flux Analyzer revealed that peripheral blood mononuclear cells’ metabolic state was different among treatment‐resistant AML patients. We demonstrated that metformin decreased therapy‐resistant–AML cell oxidative phosphorylation ex vivo, cotreatment with cytarabine and venetoclax slightly increased the effect. However, treatment with atovaquone did not have a marked effect in our experiment. Cell treatment had a slight effect on cell proliferation inhibition; combination of metformin, cytarabine, and venetoclax had the strongest effect. Moreover, a slightly higher effect on cell proliferation and cell cycle regulation was demonstrated in the cells with higher initial oxidative phosphorylation rate as demonstrated by gene expression analysis using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Proteomic analysis by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry demonstrated that chemoresistant AML cell treatment with metformin modulated metabolic pathways, while metformin combination with cytarabine and venetoclax boosted the effect. We suggest that oxidative phosphorylation inhibition is effective but not sufficient for chemoresistant AML treatment. Indeed, it causes anticancerous changes that might have an important additive role in combinatory treatment.
A 57‐Year‐Old Woman With Progressive Left Hand Clumsiness and Falls
Authors: Paramanandam Vijayashankar , Olszewska Diana Angelika , Shakya Bhattacharjee , Chalissery Albi Jose , O'Connell Martin , Farrell Michael , Lynch Tim 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTClinical HistoryA 57‐year old woman presented with left hand pain, periodic leg movement during sleep, gradual onset of stiffness, clumsiness, and falls. Neurological examination showed: generalized rigidity and bradykinesia. There was left hand dystonic posturing and ideomotor apraxia, as well as mirror movements of upper limbs and stimulus‐sensitive myoclonus. The patient had a high‐pitched voice and hypophonia (Video S1).DiscussionExperts discuss localization and the syndromic diagnosis and predict the underlying pathology. The pathological diagnosis is then provided and clinical learning points are considered.
Effect of ICRU report 90 recommendations on Monte Carlo calculatedkQfor ionization chambers listed in the Addendum to AAPM’s TG‐51 protocol
Authors: Kawachi Toru , Saitoh Hidetoshi , Katayose Tetsurou , Tohyama Naoki , Miyasaka Ryohei , Cho Sang Yong , Iwase Tsutomu , Hara Ryusuke 
Published: August 2019

PurposeThe ICRU has published new recommendations for ionizing radiation dosimetry. In this work, the effect of recommendations on the water‐to‐air and graphite‐to‐air restricted mass electronic stopping power ratios (sw, airandsg, air) and the individual perturbation correction factorsPiwas calculated. The effect on the beam quality conversion factorskQfor reference dosimetry of high‐energy photon beams was estimated for all ionization chambers listed in the Addendum to AAPM’s TG‐51 protocol.MethodsThesw, air,sg, air, individualPi,andkQwere calculated using EGSnrc Monte Carlo code system and key data of both ICRU report 37 and ICRU report 90. First, thePiandkQwere calculated using precise models of eight ionization chambers: NE2571 (Nuclear Enterprise), 30013, 31010, 31021 (PTW), Exradin A12, A12S, A1SL (Standard imaging), and FC‐65P (IBA). In this simulation, the radiation sources were one60Co beam and ten photon beams with nominal energy between 4 MV and 25 MV. Then, the change inkQfor ionization chambers listed in the Addendum to AAPM’s TG‐51 protocol was calculated by changing the specification of the simple‐model of ionization chamber. The simple‐models were made with only cylindrical component modules. In this simulation, the radiation sources of60Co beam and 24 MV photon beam were used.ResultsThe significant changes (p < 0.05) were observed forsw, air,sg, air, the wall correction factorPwall, and the waterproofing sleeve correction factorPsleeve. The decrease insw, airvaried from −0.57% for a60Co beam to −0.36% for the highest beam quality. The decrease insg, airvaried from −0.72% to −1.12% in the same range. The changes inPwallandPsleevewere up to 0.41% and 0.14% and those maximum changes were observed for the60Co beam. All changes in the central electrode correction factorPcel, the stem correction factorPstem, and the replacement correction factorPreplwere from −0.02% to 0.12%. Those changes were statistically insignificant (p = 0.07 or more) and were independent of photon energy. The change inkQwas mainly characterized by the change insw, air,Pwall, andPsleeve. The relationship between the change inkQand the beam quality index was linear approximately. The changes inkQof the simple‐models were agreed with those of the precise‐models within 0.08%.ConclusionThe effects of ICRU‐90 recommendations onkQfor the ionization chambers listed in the Addendum to AAPM's TG‐51 protocol were from −0.15% to 0.30%. To remove the known systematic effect on the clinical reference dosimetry, thekQbased on ICRU‐37 should be updated to thekQbased on ICRU‐90.
Predicting gamma passing rates for portal dosimetry‐based IMRT QA using machine learning
Authors: Lam Dao , Zhang Xizhe , Li Harold , Deshan Yang , Schott Brayden , Zhao Tianyu , Zhang Weixiong , Mutic Sasa , Sun Baozhou 
Published: August 2019

PurposeIntensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) quality assurance (QA) measurements are routinely performed prior to treatment delivery to verify dose calculation and delivery accuracy. In this work, we applied a machine learning‐based approach to predict portal dosimetry based IMRT QA gamma passing rates.Methods182 IMRT plans for various treatment sites were planned and delivered with portal dosimetry on two TrueBeam and two Trilogy LINACs. A total of 1497 beams were collected and analyzed using gamma criteria of 2%/2 mm with a 5% threshold. The datasets for building the machine learning models consisted of 1269 beams. Ten‐fold cross‐validation was utilized to tune the model and prevent “overfitting.” A separate test set with the remaining 228 beams was used to evaluate model performance. Each beam was characterized by a set of 31 features including both plan complexity metrics and machine characteristics. Three tree‐based machine learning algorithms (AdaBoost, Random Forest, and XGBoost) were used to train the models and predict gamma passing rates.ResultsBoth AdaBoost and Random Forest had 98% of predictions within 3% of the measured 2%/2 mm gamma passing rates with a maximum error less than 4% and a mean absolute error < 1%. XGBoost showed a slightly worse prediction accuracy with 95% of the predictions within 3% of the measured gamma passing rates and a maximum error of 4.5%. The three models identified the same nine features in the top 10 most important ones that are related to plan complexity and maximum aperture displacement from the central axis or the maximum jaw size in a beam.ConclusionWe have demonstrated that portal dosimetry IMRT QA gamma passing rates can be accurately predicted using tree‐based ensemble learning models. The machine learning based approach allows physicists to better identify the failures of IMRT QA measurements and to develop proactive QA approaches.
Application of the DC resistivity method in urban geological problems of karstic areas
Authors: Plank Zsuzsanna , Polgár Dorottya 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTTerminating industrial activities may have harmful side effects on the infrastructure of a civil society. One effective method of solving environmental and geotechnical problems in urban areas is a direct‐current resistivity survey. In karstic areas, large‐scale geological structures directly affect the near‐surface, small‐scale events. Reliable data on the geological background of harmful events are acquired through suitable combinations of large‐scale and of small‐scale high‐resolution surveys. In this study, the geological background of three urban subsurface‐related problems was investigated in a karstic area: collapse of a sinkhole, suffusion of a basement area, and contamination of an urban creek. In each case, the scientific work aimed at setting up of a suitable model that describes the harmful event and its geological background. For this purpose, a combination of large‐scale and high‐resolution resistivity data was acquired and augmented by borehole information and laboratory analyses. The error analyses of the resulting models suggest that the methodology of dual‐scale geoelectric investigation of urban hazards in karstic areas can provide applicable models for mitigation measures.
Estimating sex using isolated appendicular skeletal elements from Chachapoyas, Peru
Authors: Anzellini Armando , Toyne J. Marla 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe estimation of sex from human skeletal remains is one of the primary steps in the creation of a bioarchaeological demography. Conventionally, sex has been estimated from the crania or os coxae, but commingled contexts pose challenges when associating these key elements with the rest of the remains becomes impossible or if the sample is mostly represented by postcranial appendicular elements. Following successful applications of logistic regression to appendicular metrics in forensic anthropology for the estimation of sex using appropriate reference samples, this study aims to create a similar method to be applied in archaeological contexts in the Andes. This is achieved through the collection of osteometric data from complete burials of previously estimated sex recovered at the archaeological site of Kuelap, in Chachapoyas, Peru. Using these data, we created logistic regression formulae, using both frequentists and Bayesian approaches, that utilize standard metrics of the humerus, femur, and tibia to estimate the sex of individuals in this sample, testing their apparent accuracy and, through their application to a commingled context, their applicability in situations when only appendicular remains may be present or complete. Both frequentist and Bayesian‐derived formulae provided a correct classification of between 82% and 93% for the previously estimated sample, on par with correct classification rates of cranial nonmetrics. No significant difference was observed between the Bayesian approach and the frequentist approach. The application of this method for sex estimation to a commingled context also provided a demography consistent with that created using only os coxae and cranial remains. These results underscore the validity and reliability of this methodology and provide further support for its application in other bioarchaeological contexts across the Andean region.