bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sex differences in brain connectivity and male vulnerability in very preterm children
Authors: Kozhemiako Nataliia , Nunes Adonay S. , Vakorin Vasily A. , Chau Cecil M. Y. , Moiseev Alexander , Ribary Urs , Grunau Ruth E. , Doesburg Sam M. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractEvidence indicates better cognitive and behavioral outcomes for females born very preterm (≤32 weeks gestation) compared to males, but the neurophysiology underlying this apparent resiliency of the female brain remains poorly understood. Here we test the hypothesis that very preterm males express more pronounced connectivity alterations as a reflection of higher male vulnerability. Resting state MEG recordings, neonatal and psychometric data were collected from 100 children at age 8 years: very preterm boys (n = 27), very preterm girls (n = 34), full‐term boys (n = 15) and full‐term girls (n = 24). Neuromagnetic source dynamics were reconstructed from 76 cortical brain regions. Functional connectivity was estimated using inter‐regional phase‐synchronization. We performed a series of multivariate analyses to test for differences across groups as well as to explore relationships between deviations in functional connectivity and psychometric scores and neonatal factors for very preterm children. Very preterm boys displayed significantly higher (p < .001) absolute deviation from average connectivity of same‐sex full‐term group, compared to very preterm girls versus full‐term girls. In the connectivity comparison between very preterm and full‐term groups separately for boys and girls, significant group differences (p < .05) were observed for boys, but not girls. Sex differences in connectivity (p < .01) were observed in very preterm children but not in full‐term groups. Our findings indicate that very preterm boys have greater alterations in resting neurophysiological network communication than girls. Such uneven brain communication disruption in very preterm boys and girls suggests that stronger connectivity alterations might contribute to male vulnerability in long‐term behavioral and cognitive outcome.
Interferon‐gamma carrying nanoemulsion with immunomodulatory and anti‐tumor activities
Authors: Ribeiro Elton B. , de Marchi Patricia G.F. , Honorio‐França Adenilda C. , França Eduardo L. , Soler Maria A.G. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe therapeutic administration of cytokines has been introduced aiming to modulate the immune response system, seeking for different approaches to face pathologies such as cancer, auto immune and infectious diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a stable oil‐in‐water (O/W) nanoemulsion system carrying the cytokine Interferon gamma (IFN‐γ) on the activity of phagocytes and MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells. Nanoemulsions were prepared through ultra‐homogenization, and they consisted of distilled water, triglycerides of capric acid/caprylic, sorbitan‐oleate, polysorbate 80, and 1‐butanol. IFN‐γ (100 ng ml−1) was incorporated into two O/W nanoemulsion formulations, and these formulations were characterized in terms of their preliminary and accelerated physicochemical stability, rheological properties, droplet size, polydispersity and surface charge. We identified the most optimal IFN‐γ nanoemulsion (IFN‐γNE2), which remained stable under extreme temperature variations for 90 days, contained an average dose of 97 ng ml−1 of IFN‐γ and exhibited a biocompatible pH and a relative stable rheological profile. Cell viability and intracellular Ca2+ release assays conducted showed that IFN‐γNE2 reduced the cell viability of MCF‐7 cells without affecting the cell viability of phagocytes. Furthermore, IFN‐γNE2 was able to induce cellular activity of phagocytes as evidenced by increased intracellular Ca2+ release in these cells. Our findings on this IFN‐γ nanoemulsion suggest that it can be a promising therapeutic agent for immunostimulation and cancer treatment.
Laccases as versatile enzymes: from industrial uses to novel applications
Authors: Moreno Antonio D , Ibarra David , Eugenio Maria E , Tomás‐Pejó Elia 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe application of enzymes offers an enormous potential in the improvement of existing industrial procedures and in the establishment of new processes for obtaining high‐added value products. Enzymes provide cleaner and more efficient industrial processes and contribute to the sustainability concept. In this sense, laccases are very versatile biocatalysts currently used in food, textile and pulp and paper sectors among others. During the last years, scientific efforts have been diverted to the exploitation of such interesting enzymes in novel fields like lignocellulosic biorefineries, biosensors or enzymatic biofuel cells. This review provides a general vision of the use of laccase enzymes describing their main characteristics and mode of action. Furthermore, their current uses in industrial processes are summarized and the most novel potential application of laccases are revealed. The increasing interest on laccases is also demonstrated by the research efforts on enzyme engineering as it is detailed in this review. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3 over iron‐cerium mixed oxide catalyst prepared by different methods
Authors: Ma Yingli , Tang Xiaolong , Gao Fengyu , Yi Honghong , Zhao Shunzheng , Shi Yiran , Wang Chengzhi 
Published: October 2019

BACKGROUNDNitrogen oxide (NOx) is one of the important atmospheric pollutants, causing damage to the environment and the human body. Currently, selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology is the main denitration method, and SCR catalyst is the key to this technology. Iron (Fe)‐based catalysts have recently been widely studied because of their low cost and good catalytic effect on medium and low temperature effects. In this article, iron‐cerium mixed oxide (FeOx‐CeO2) catalysts were prepared by five common preparation methods, and their physicochemical properties and low temperature NH3‐SCR catalytic activity were studied.RESULTSThe results show that the preparation method has a certain influence on the catalytic performance [activity and nitrogen (N2) selectivity] of the catalyst. The order of activity is microemulsion method (MM) ≈ sol–gel (SG) method > coprecipitation method > hydrothermal synthesis method > solid‐phase mixing (SPM) method.CONCLUSIONThis result is related to the specific surface area of the catalyst, the microstructure, the valence distribution of the elements, the redox ability and the surface acidic sites. It is worth noting that the activity of the catalyst prepared by the SG method is good, but the selectivity of N2 is poor, which is related to the oxidizing ability of the catalyst. The catalyst prepared by the MM has moderate oxidizing ability and large specific surface area, provides abundant acidic sites and has excellent catalytic performance. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Toward understanding the mechanism of pure CO2‐quenching sonochemical processes
Authors: Merouani Slimane , Hamdaoui Oualid , Al‐Zahrani Saeed M 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDCarbon dioxide (CO2) is a gas that has a distinguished effect on the sonochemical process. Dissolving pure CO2 in solutions prevented sonochemical action in all laboratory‐scale experiments, reported until know. The mechanism underlying the pure‐CO2 nullifying sonochemical treatment is until now under debate.RESULTSHerein, thanks to confronting detailed numerical simulation results for single bubble sonochemistry with literature experimental observations, the mechanism of pure CO2‐quenching sonochemical reaction was clarified. The acoustic generation of free radicals under CO2 atmosphere was simulated for different conditions of frequency (20−1100 kHz), acoustic power (0.5−1 W cm‐2), liquid temperature (20−50 °C) and external pressure (0.6−1.6 atm) and compared with that generated for air‐saturation, for the same conditions. Depending on the sonochemical parameters, it was found that CO2 may enhance, decrease or completely suppress the acoustic generation of hydroxyl radicals. The effect of CO2 was strongly operating conditions‐dependent.CONCLUSIONGiven that CO2 nullified all sonolytic actions in aqueous solution, it was concluded that owing to its very high solubility in water (46‐fold much higher than that of air), CO2 could suppress the inertial cavitation bubbles responsible of all chemical actions. Gases of too higher solubility could favor the bubble–bubble coalescence rather than the production of inertial cavitation bubbles. The bubble–bubble coalescence in this case could be a suppressor of inertial cavitation. A high extent of bubbles coalescence could take place under CO2 saturation provoking total disappearance of the chemical activity. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Morphological characterization, growth appraisal, and probing biofuels potential of newly isolated Scenedesmus sp. from desert Cholistan
Authors: Alam Muhammad Maqsood , Mumtaz Abdul Samad , Hallenbeck Patrick C. , Shah Sayed Afzal , Abidin Shiekh Zain Ul , Inam Farooq 
Published: October 2019

AbstractMicroalgae have an excellent potential for producing valuable natural products, including biofuels. Therefore, it is imperative to explore and document the existing microalgal flora and utilize their potentials to cope the increasing human needs. The present work aims at exploring and characterizing newly isolated microalgae from desert Cholistan, a habitat with myriad algal diversity. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and molecular phylogenetic approaches were used for species‐level identification. Characterization and growth optimization of Scendesmus sp. were analyzed under three different growth modes to determine the most favorable conditions for increasing biomass, growth rate, and lipid content. The results revealed that mixotrophic (MT) mode significantly increases photosynthetic activity, growth rate, and lipid content with glycerol as supplement carbon source. The investigated Scenedesmus dimorphous produced a maximum dry weight of 1.73 g L−1, improved fatty acid methyl esters profile and yield lipid up to 40% of DCW (68 g L−1) under MT mode, which is almost double to that of photoautotrophic cultivation. The glycerol availability in medium has been identified as the critical element for boosting growth and lipid content. Thus, it can reduce the cost of biofuel production.
Association of polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor gene with susceptibility to and severity of hand, foot, and mouth disease caused by coxsackievirus A16
Authors: Li Ya‐Ping , Wang Mu‐Qi , Deng Hui‐Ling , Li Mei , Zhang Xin , Dang Shuang‐Suo , Zhai Song 
Published: October 2019

AbstractCoxsackievirus A16 (CA16) remains the most common causative agent of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), and is related to high incidence and critical complications. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) activity might affect the outcome of CA16 infection. Our case‐control research aims to evaluate the relationship between VDR polymorphisms in the gene encoding and susceptibility to and severity of HFMD due to CA16. Three single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of VDR gene were selected according to functional prediction and linkage disequilibrium, and were examined utilizing the SNPscan method to identify possible associations with HFMD caused by CA16. A significant relationship was found in the HFMD cases of polymorphism rs11574129 (GA vs GG: odds ratio (OR) = 0.068, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.007‐0.693, P = .023; GA + AA vs GG: OR = 0.322, 95%CI = 0.106‐0.984, P = .047), and vitamin D levels in genotype AA were significantly higher than those in genotype GG (P < .05). These results suggest that VDR rs11574129 may influence genetic susceptibility to CA16‐associated HFMD.
The climatology of cold and heat waves in Brazil from 1961 to 2016
Authors: Bitencourt Daniel P. , Fuentes Márcia V. , Franke Alberto E. , Silveira Rafael B. , Alves Maikon P. A. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractExtreme temperatures have caused various damages to society around the world. In Brazil, an example of that is the impact of cold and heat waves on public health. In order to analyse the temporal and spatial variability of such events, this study applied a single criterion to identify cold and heat waves. The study collected data on the events from daily temperature records from 264 weather stations over 56 years (1961–2016). The following parameters were used to describe each event: frequency, duration, severity, and intensity. The results showed that in all the Brazilian regions the frequency of heat waves increased and that of cold waves decreased between the years 1961 and 2016. The number of heat waves per year, notably, was greater than that of cold waves, and the mean duration of heat waves was about 1 day longer than that of cold waves. Additionally, it was found that cold waves were more severe and intense in areas often reached by cold air masses with temperatures below zero in most of Southern Brazil. In terms of severity and intensity of heat waves, two different configurations were observed: They were more severe in the Southern region and more intense in the Midwestern region of the country, and not so expressive in the Northern and Northeastern regions. Those findings justify the need for continuous updating of public policies focused on sectors often affected by cold and heat.
Coupling forecast calibration and data‐driven downscaling for generating reliable, high‐resolution, multivariate seasonal climate forecast ensembles at multiple sites
Authors: Schepen Andrew , Everingham Yvette , Wang Quan J. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractCalibration and downscaling of ensemble GCM forecasts is becoming increasingly important for hydrological and agricultural modelling in support of the management and protection of valuable natural resources. Moreover, skilful and reliable daily forecast sequences are required to drive decision support models that operate on a daily time step. While downscaling of daily GCM outputs has been developed extensively in climate impacts studies, much less attention has been paid to the downscaling of ensemble GCM forecasts, which has the confronting aspect of low and diminishing skill with increasing lead time. Evidence is building that simple bias‐correction methods that do not model correlation between forecasts and observations, nor attempt to correct spatial, temporal and inter‐variable correlations, produce downscaled forecasts that perform poorly in applications models. Thus downscaling GCM forecasts requires inclusion of a full calibration component to reduce bias, improve reliability, capture skill where it is available and remove negative skill. In this study, we propose a new methodology for coupling a full GCM forecast calibration with empirical methods to (a) instil correct temporal, spatial and inter‐variable correlations in ensembles and (b) perform a multivariate downscaling of ensembles to daily sequences at multiple sites. Through a case study application, the proposed methodology is shown to produce skilful monthly–seasonal forecasts of rainfall, temperature and solar radiation at regional spatial scales. It also produces realistic and coherent multivariate daily sequences at multiple sub‐grid locations. The new methodology can be applied to more effectively integrate climate forecasts into hydrological and crop models and to support proactive decision‐making in agriculture and natural resources management.
Extraction of matrine from soil with matrix solid‐phase dispersion by molecularly imprinted polymers derived from lignin‐based Pickering emulsions
Authors: Yin Ran , Chen Ligang , Ma Ling 
Published: October 2019

AbstractMolecularly imprinted polymers prepared by Pickering emulsion method with lignin as stable particle were used as dispersants in matrix solid‐phase dispersion, followed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to research the degradation behavior of matrine in soil. The molecularly imprinted polymers have regular morphology and uniform particles. Moreover, the adsorption experiments and the conditions of matrix solid‐phase dispersion were discussed. With the optimal conditions of matrix solid‐phase dispersion, the recoveries of matrine were 95.4–98.2%, relative standard deviations were 0.6–5.1%, and the detection limit was 5 ng/g. Moreover, the degradation behavior of matrine in soil was researched, it indicated the half‐life of matrine was 2.7–3.2 days, and it was an environmentally friendly botanical pesticide. The method was successfully applied to separate and analyze matrine in soil samples can decrease analysis time, save organic solvents, and improve the selectivity.
Quantifying the potential for improved management of weather risk using sub‐seasonal forecasting: The case of UK telecommunications infrastructure
Authors: Brayshaw David J. , Halford Alan , Smith Stefan , Jensen Kjeld 
Published: October 2019

AbstractReliable and affordable telecommunications are an integral part of service‐based economies, but the nature of the associated physical infrastructure leads to considerable exposure to weather. With unique access to observational records of the UK fixed‐line telecommunications infrastructure, an end‐to‐end demonstration of how extended range forecasts can be used to improve the management of weather risk is presented, assessing forecast value on both short‐term “operational” (weeks) and long‐term “planning” timeframes (months/years). A robust long‐term weather‐related fault‐rate climatology is first constructed at weekly resolution, based on the ERA‐Interim reanalysis. A clear dependence of winter fault rates on large‐scale atmospheric circulation indices is demonstrated. The European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) sub‐seasonal forecast system is subsequently shown to produce skilful forecast of winter weekly fault rates at lead times of three to four weeks ahead (i.e. days 14–20 and 21–28). Forecast skill at a given lead time is, however, a necessary rather than a sufficient condition for improved risk management. It is shown that practical decision‐making leads to dependencies across multiple forecasts times that cannot be modelled using traditional “cost‐loss matrix” methods as errors in previous forecasts influence the value of subsequent forecasts. A parsimonious model representing operational decision‐making for fault repair scheduling is therefore constructed to show that fault‐rate forecast skill does improve both short‐ and long‐term management outcomes (in this case meeting performance targets more often in the short term, or reducing the resources required to achieve these targets in the long term). Consequently, it is argued that new methods are needed for forecast skill assessment in complex decision environments.
Prediction of landfalling Bay of Bengal cyclones during 2013 using the high resolution Weather Research and Forecasting model
Authors: Singh K. S. , Bhaskaran Prasad K. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe present study investigated the capability of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model in the forecast/simulation of five landfalling Bay of Bengal (BoB) cyclones during 2013. A 3D variational (3DVar) method of data assimilation of the WRF model was used to assimilate the Global Telecommunication System and satellite radiances to improve the initial conditions. The results demonstrated that the model has the ability to simulate the cyclone track, intensity and structure. The study also indicates that predicted storm track, landfall and intensity improved with the 3DVar technique compared to without it. This was due to better initial conditions in the 3DVar experiment. The predicted track errors of the five storms were compared to available global and regional forecasting systems and the results show that the model has the capability for prediction of cyclones over the BoB region. The forecasted mean track errors were about 70, 114, 182 and 184 km; minimum centre pressure was about 8, 10, 13, 13 hPa and maximum surface wind was about 6, 10, 9, 8 m·s−1 on day 1 to day 4 forecast respectively. The study also presents some of the important predicted diagnostic parameters such as temperature anomaly, divergence, heating rate, frozen hydrometeors, vorticity field, equivalent potential temperature, maximum reflectivity, accumulated rainfall and horizontal wind fields compared to available observations for the extremely severe cyclonic storm Phailin. The warm core structure of the Phailin cyclone was resolved in the model between 9 and 15 km compared to satellite observations. The statistical analysis, distribution and magnitude of forecasted accumulated rainfall are also compared to the rainfall of 174 automatic weather stations.
Treatment planning optimization with beam motion modeling for dynamic arc delivery of SBRT using Cyberknife with multileaf collimation
Authors: Bedford James L. , Tsang Henry S. , Nill Simeon , Oelfke Uwe 
Published: October 2019

PurposeThe use of dynamic arcs for delivery of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) on Cyberknife is investigated, with a view to improving treatment times. This study investigates the required modeling of robot and multileaf collimator (MLC) motion between control points in the trajectory and then uses this to develop an optimization method for treatment planning of a dynamic arc with Cyberknife. The resulting plans are compared in terms of dose‐volume histograms and estimated treatment times with those produced by a conventional beam arrangement.MethodsFive SBRT patient cases (prostate A — conventional, prostate B — brachytherapy‐type, lung, liver, and partial left breast) were retrospectively studied. A suitable arc trajectory with control points spaced at 5° was proposed and treatment plans were produced for typical clinical protocols. The optimization consisted of a fluence optimization, segmentation, and direct aperture optimization using a gradient descent method. Dose delivered by the moving MLC was either taken to be the dose delivered discretely at the control points or modeled using effective fluence delivered between control points. The accuracy of calculated dose was assessed by recalculating after optimization using five interpolated beams and 100 interpolated apertures between each optimization control point. The resulting plans were compared using dose‐volume histograms and estimated treatment times with those for a conventional Cyberknife beam arrangement.ResultsIf optimization is performed based on discrete doses delivered at the arc control points, large differences of up to 40% of the prescribed dose are seen when recalculating with interpolation. When the effective fluence between control points is taken into account during optimization, dosimetric differences are <2% for most structures when the plans are recalculated using intermediate nodes, but there are differences of up to 15% peripherally. Treatment plan quality is comparable between the arc trajectory and conventional body path. All plans meet the relevant clinical goals, with the exception of specific structures which overlap with the planning target volume. Median estimated treatment time is 355 s (range 235–672 s) for arc delivery and 675 s (range 554–1025 s) for conventional delivery.ConclusionsThe method of using effective fluence to model MLC motion between control points is sufficiently accurate to provide for accurate inverse planning of dynamic arcs with Cyberknife. The proposed arcing method produces treatment plans with comparable quality to the body path, with reduced estimated treatment delivery time.