bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects, Damage Characteristics and Recovery Potential of Traffic‐induced Nitric Oxide Emissions in PEM Fuel Cells under Variable Operating Conditions
Authors: Misz U. , Talke A. , Heinzel A. , Beckhaus P. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractUnderstanding of the influence of traffic‐related nitrogen oxides on proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is essential to improve life time and durability of fuel cell vehicles. In a 3‐year work, both the damaging mechanisms and the influence of NOx on PEM fuel cells under real environmental and operating conditions became more comprehensible. It could be shown that even a low concentration level of 150 ppb NOx, which is often exceeded in traffic areas, causes considerable power losses. Furthermore, NO leads to significantly faster voltage drops compared to NO2, so typical NO peaks during rush hour traffic can reduce the fuel cell power. The concentration profile also has an influence on the degradation. The impact of NOx peaks is more negative compared to continuous NOx dosing when charging the fuel cell with the same total amount of NOx. It is possible to recover the fuel cell but it takes several hours depending on operating conditions and prior contamination level. To increase the recovery process the fuel cell has to be operated at a cathode potential below 0.3 V to reduce NOx and detach the contaminant from the platinum catalyst. A negative effect is the formation of NH4+, which is suspected to decompose the membrane in long term perspective.
Spatial parcellations, spectral filtering, and connectivity measures in fMRI: Optimizing for discrimination
Authors: Sala‐Llonch Roser , Smith Stephen M. , Woolrich Mark , Duff Eugene P. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe analysis of Functional Connectivity (FC) is a key technique of fMRI, having been used to distinguish brain states and conditions. While many approaches to calculating FC are available, there have been few assessments of their differences, making it difficult to choose approaches, and compare results. Here, we assess the impact of methodological choices on discriminability, using a fully controlled data set of continuous active states involving basic visual and motor tasks, providing robust localized FC changes. We tested a range of anatomical and functional parcellations, including the AAL atlas, parcellations derived from the Human Connectome Project and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) of many dimensionalities. We measure amplitude, covariance, correlation, and regularized partial correlation under different temporal filtering choices. We evaluate features derived from these methods for discriminating states using MVPA. We find that multidimensional parcellations derived from functional data performed similarly, outperforming an anatomical atlas, with correlation and partial correlation (p < .05, FDR). Partial correlation, with appropriate regularization, outperformed correlation. Amplitude and covariance generally discriminated less well, although gave good results with high‐dimensionality ICA. We found that discriminative FC properties are frequency specific; higher frequencies performed surprisingly well under certain configurations of atlas choices and dependency measures, with ICA‐based parcellations revealing greater discriminability at high frequencies compared to other parcellations. Methodological choices in FC analyses can have a profound impact on results and can be selected to optimize accuracy, interpretability, and sharing of results. This work contributes to a basis for consistent selection of approaches to estimating and analyzing FC.
Brain and soccer: Functional patterns of brain activity during the generation of creative moves in real soccer decision‐making situations
Authors: Fink Andreas , Bay Jürgen U. , Koschutnig Karl , Prettenthaler Katharina , Rominger Christian , Benedek Mathias , Papousek Ilona , Weiss Elisabeth M. , Seidel Anna , Memmert Daniel 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThis fMRI study investigated brain activity while soccer players were imagining creative moves in real soccer decision‐making situations. After presenting brief video clips of a soccer scene, participants had to imagine themselves as the acting player and think either of a creative or obvious move that might lead to a goal. Findings revealed stronger activation during trials in which the generation of obvious moves was required, relative to trials requiring creative moves. The reversed contrast (creative > obvious) showed no significant effects. Activations were mainly left‐lateralized, primarily involving the cuneus, middle temporal gyrus, and the rolandic operculum, which are known to support the processing of multimodal input from different sensory, motor and perceptual sources. Interestingly, more creative solutions in the soccer task were associated with smaller contrast values for the activation difference between obvious and creative trials, or even with more activation in the latter. Furthermore, higher trait creative potential (as assessed by a figural creativity test) was associated with stronger activation differences between both conditions. These findings suggest that with increasing soccer‐specific creative task performance, the processing of the manifold information provided by the soccer scenario becomes increasingly important, while in individuals with higher trait creative potential these processes were recruited to a minor degree. This study showed that soccer‐specific creativity tasks modulate activation levels in a network of regions supporting various cognitive functions such as semantic information processing, visual and motor imagery, and the processing and integration of sensorimotor and somatosensory information.
Cholangiopathy in children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction
Authors: Sen Sarma Moinak , Yachha Surender Kumar , Rai Praveer , Neyaz Zafar , Srivastava Anshu , Poddar Ujjal 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBackgroundPortal cavernoma cholangiopathy (PCC), a surgical‐endoscopic dilemma, has not been studied comprehensively, more so in children. Our study aimed to evaluate PCC in children using a combination of magnetic resonance cholangiography‐portovenography (MRC‐MRPV) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS).MethodsIn this prospective cross‐sectional study, recruited children with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO) underwent MRC‐MRPV and radial array EUS. PCC was categorized as asymptomatic PCC, symptomatic and no‐PCC. Modified Llop grading was used to grade the MRC changes.ResultsSixty‐six of 72 (92%) children had PCC (85% asymptomatic; 7% symptomatic) on MRC. Age at study and duration of disease had significant correlation (r = 0.588, P < 0.001). 63% had grade III MRC changes. MRC grades and superior mesenteric vein block (64%) on MRPV significantly corresponded with EUS changes (intracholedochal varices, choledochal perforators, intramural cholecystic collaterals and biliary calculi). Superior mesenteric vein non‐patency was a strong predictor of MRC biliary changes (P = 0.003, odds ratio 46.4, 95% confidence interval 4.91–623.6).ConclusionsA majority of EHPVO children have asymptomatic cholangiopathy and should be routinely evaluated for PCC at the time of first presentation by MRC‐MRPV. Additional superior mesenteric vein block with portal cavernoma results in significantly higher changes of cholangiopathy on MRC and EUS.
Embracing microbial exposure in mouse research
Authors: Huggins Mathew A , Jameson Stephen C , Hamilton Sara E 
Published: September 2018

Abstract
Research using mouse models have contributed essential knowledge toward our current understanding of how the human immune system functions. One key difference between humans and typical laboratory mice, however, is exposure to pathogens in their respective environments. Several recent studies have highlighted that these microbial encounters shape the development and functional status of the immune system. For humans, such numerous and unavoidable encounters with viruses, bacteria, and parasites may be a defining factor in generating a healthy and robust immune system, poised to respond to new infections and to vaccination. Additionally, the commensal organisms that make up the host microbiome also change with environment and impact the immune response. Hence, there is a pressing need to generate more faithful mouse models that reflect the natural state of the human immune system. This review explores the use of new experimental mouse models designed to better understand how host-microbial interactions shape the immune response. By embracing these technologies to complement traditional mouse models, researchers can remove a significant barrier that has long separated murine and human immunologists.
Review exploring newly developed mouse models that include microbial experience to more closely recapitulate the human immune system.
The (Dis)Pleasures of Creativity: Spontaneous Eye Blink Rate during Divergent and Convergent Thinking Depends on Individual Differences in Positive and Negative Affect
Authors: de Rooij Alwin , Vromans Ruben D. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPrevious research has demonstrated that individual differences in affect and motivation predict divergent and convergent thinking performance, two thinking processes involved in creative idea generation. Individual differences in affect and motivation also predict spontaneous eye blink rate (sEBR) during divergent and convergent thinking; and sEBR predicts divergent and convergent thinking performance. This study investigates experimentally whether the relationship between sEBR and divergent and convergent thinking depends on individual differences in affect and motivation. Eighty‐two participants completed the Emotion/motivation‐related Divergent and Convergent thinking styles Scale (EDICOS; G. Soroa et al., 2015), performed the alternative uses task (AUT; divergent thinking) or the remote associates task (RAT; convergent thinking), while their sEBR was captured with an eye‐tracker. The results showed that individual differences in positive affect positively correlated with sEBR for the AUT, whereas individual differences in negative affect positively correlated with sEBR for the RAT. Furthermore, the interaction between individual differences in positive and negative affect and sEBR predicted divergent and convergent thinking performance. The contribution of our study is therefore that individual differences in positive and negative affect can both positively correlate with sEBR during divergent and convergent thinking; and that this predicts divergent and convergent thinking performance.
Effect of Different Tube Feeding Methods on the Delivery of Docosahexaenoic and Arachidonic Acid: An In Vitro Pilot Study
Authors: Martini Silvia , Aceti Arianna , Furini Martina , Munarini Alessandra , La Riccia Cristina , Mantovani Vilma , Faldella Giacomo , Corvaglia Luigi 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBackground: Arachidonic acid (AA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are crucial for neural and visual development after premature birth. Preterm infants usually require tube feeding (TF) until the achievement of adequate oral feeding skills; the impact of TF on DHA and AA delivery has not been investigated yet. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different TF techniques on the delivery of AA and DHA contained in human milk (HM). Methods: HM samples (65 mL each) were collected and divided into three 20‐mL aliquots. The remaining 5 mL served as baseline. Three TF techniques were simulated (1 for each aliquot): gravity bolus feeding (BF), 3‐hour continuous feeding using a horizontal feeding pump, and 3‐hour continuous feeding with the feeding pump angled at 45°. For horizontal continuous feeding (HCF) and 45° angled continuous feeding (ACF), aliquots delivered between 0 and 90 minutes (T1) and 91 and 180 minutes (T2) were collected separately. AA and DHA concentration was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and compared among the TF methods. DHA and AA delivery at T1 and T2 was also evaluated. Results: Fifty‐one simulated feeds were performed. DHA and AA amounts after BF and ACF did not differ significantly compared with baseline, whereas HCF resulted in significantly lower DHA and AA concentration. During T2, ACF delivered almost twice the DHA and AA amounts compared with T1. Conclusion: The delivery of HM AA and DHA is significantly affected by TF, with potential clinical implications. When BF is not tolerated, ACF might represent a feasible alternative to reduce TF‐related DHA and AA loss.
The Effect of Higher Protein Dosing in Critically Ill Patients: A Multicenter Registry‐Based Randomized Trial: The EFFORT Trial
Authors: Heyland Daren K. , Patel Jayshil , Bear Danielle , Sacks Gordon , Nixdorf Heidi , Dolan Jennifer , Aloupis Marianne , Licastro Kate , Jovanovic Vera , Rice Todd W. , Compher Charlene 
Published: September 2018

AbstractCurrent randomized trials and observational studies evaluating higher versus lower protein doses in critically ill patients yield inconclusive results. Because of few studies and methodologic limitations, clinical guidelines suggest a wide range of protein intake based on weak evidence. Clinical equipoise about protein dosing exists. The purpose of the current manuscript is to provide the rationale and protocol for a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of 4000 critically ill patients randomly allocated to receive a higher or lower protein dose. We propose a global, volunteer‐driven, registry‐based RCT involving >100 intensive care units (ICUs). We will enroll mechanically ventilated patients with high nutrition risk, identified by low (≤25) or high (≥35) body mass index, moderate to severe malnutrition, frailty, sarcopenia, or when >96‐hour duration of mechanical ventilation is expected. Exclusion criteria include patients who are >96 hours since initiation of mechanical ventilation, moribund, or pregnant, and where the clinician lacks clinical equipoise regarding protein dose. The intervention consists of higher (≥2.2 g/kg/d) or lower (≤1.2 g/kg/d) protein dose, achieved by enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition, or both. The primary outcome will be 60‐day mortality. Key secondary outcomes include time‐to‐discharge alive from hospital, ICU and hospital survival, and length of stay. As this is research based on existing medical practice, we will apply for a waiver of informed consent, where possible. The large sample size is a reflection of the small signal we expect to see in this large, pragmatic trial.
The application of FT‐NIRS for the detection of bruises and the prediction of rot susceptibility of ‘Hass’ avocado fruit
Authors: Wedding Brett B , Wright Carole , Grauf Steve , Gadek Paul , White Ronald D 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDA rapid non‐destructive in‐line grading system that can rapidly and accurately assess individual avocado fruit for internal quality attributes, including bruises and rots, would allow the avocado industry to provide a more consistent fruit quality to the consumer, optimise market distribution and ensure maximum yield for the producer and retailer. Fourier transform–near‐infrared (FT‐NIR) spectroscopy was investigated to detect bruises and rot susceptibility as an indication of shelf‐life in avocado fruit at both the sprung stage of ripeness and eating ripe fruit.RESULTSThe classification models (principal component linear discriminant analysis, partial least squares discriminant analysis and support vector machine) for each of three growing seasons found hard green fruit that were deliberately bruised could be correctly detected with 70–78% accuracy after 2–5 h following impact damage and with 83–89% accuracy after 24 h. For eating ripe fruit, the accuracy was 60–100% after 2–5 h following impact damage and 66–100% after 24 h. The ability of the classification models to accurately predict rot development into two classes, ≤10% and >10% of flesh affected, ranged from 65% to 84% over the three growing seasons. When the rot classes were defined as ≤30% and >30% the accuracy was 69–77%.CONCLUSIONSThe results of the study highlight the potential of FT‐NIR reflectance spectroscopy for application in a commercial, in‐line setting for the non‐destructive evaluation of impact damage and rot susceptibility of whole avocado fruit. The study indicates that fruit should be held for approximately 24 h prior to scanning to allow bruise development to occur, particularly in hard fruit (i.e., stage 2) prior to bruise assessment. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Fucosterol Causes Small Changes in Lipid Storage and Brassicasterol Affects some Markers of Lipid Metabolism in Atlantic Salmon Hepatocytes
Authors: Liland Nina S. , Pittman Karin , Whatmore Paul , Torstensen Bente E. , Sissener Nini H. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSeveral feeding trials with Atlantic salmon fed naturally high phytosterol concentrations due to dietary rapeseed oil inclusion have shown changes in lipid metabolism and increased hepatic lipid storage in the fish. An in vitro trial with Atlantic salmon hepatocytes was, therefore, performed to study the possible direct effects of phytosterols on lipid storage and metabolism. The isolated hepatocytes were exposed to seven different sterol treatments and gene expression, as well as lipid accumulation by Oil Red O dyeing, was assessed. Fucosterol, a sterol found in many algae species, had an effect on the size of individual lipid droplets, leading to smaller lipid droplets than in the control without added sterols. A sterol extract from soybean/rapeseed led to an increase in the percentage of hepatocytes with visible lipid droplets at 20× magnification, while hepatocytes of both the sterol extract‐treated groups and fucosterol‐treated groups had a larger proportion of their area covered with lipids compared to control cells. Brassicasterol, a sterol characteristic of rapeseed oil, was the only sterol treatment leading to a change in gene expression, affecting the expression of the nuclear receptors, peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (pparg) and retinoid X receptor (rxr). The current study thus shows that phytosterols can have direct, although subtle, effects on both hepatic lipid storage and gene expression of Atlantic salmon in vitro.
Influence of oceanographic variability on near‐shore microbial communities of the sub‐Antarctic Prince Edward Islands
Authors: Venkatachalam Siddarthan , Matcher Gwynneth F. , Lamont Tarron , van den Berg Marcel , Ansorge Isabelle J. , Dorrington Rosemary A. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe Prince Edward Islands (PEIs) lie within the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), in a transition zone bordered by the sub‐Antarctic Front (SAF) to the north and the Antarctic Polar Front (APF) in the south. A climate‐driven southward shift of the ACC and its frontal systems, the SAF and APF, in the vicinity of the PEIs is associated with a long‐term decline in the frequency of island‐associated phytoplankton blooms. These oceanographic perturbations coincide with significant declines in top predator populations attributed to shifts in the distribution and availability of prey, illustrating the interconnectedness between the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the PEIs. This study investigated the influence of oceanographic variability on the marine ecosystem of the PEIs. A shift in phytoplankton and bacterial communities was observed that coincides with the position of the southern branch of the SAF, which was located to the north of the PEIs during 2014 and to the south during 2012, 2013, and 2015. These shifts in the diversity and structure of marine microbial communities correlate with significant perturbations in the position of the SAF relative to the islands leading us to conlclude that bacterial and phytoplankton communities in the PEI region are strongly influenced by shifts in the position of the SAF relative to the PEIs. This study highlights the critical need to link on‐going physical time series measurements with biological observations to provide a better understanding of the direct role that the upstream dynamics has on the near‐shore island environment and its productivity.
Bioturbator‐stimulated loss of seagrass sediment carbon stocks
Authors: Thomson A. C. G. , Trevathan‐Tackett S. M. , Maher D. T. , Ralph P. J. , Macreadie P. I. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractSeagrass ecosystems are highly productive, and are sites of significant carbon sequestration. Sediment‐held carbon stocks can be many thousands of years old, and persist largely due to sediment anoxia and because microbial activity is decreasing with depth. However, the carbon sequestered in seagrass ecosystems may be susceptible to remineralization via the activity of bioturbating fauna. Microbial priming is a process whereby remineralization of sediment carbon (recalcitrant organic matter) is stimulated by disturbance, i.e., burial of a labile source of organic matter (seagrass). We investigated the hypothesis that bioturbation could mediate remineralization of sediment carbon stocks through burial of seagrass leaf detritus. We carried out a 2‐month laboratory study to compare the remineralization (measured as CO2 release) of buried seagrass leaves (Zostera muelleri) to the total rate of sediment organic matter remineralization in sediment with and without the common Australian bioturbating shrimp Trypaea australiensis (Decapoda: Axiidea). In control sediment containing seagrass but no bioturbators, we observed a negative microbial priming effect, whereby seagrass remineralization was favored over sediment remineralization (and thus preserving sediment stocks). Bioturbation treatments led to a two‐ to five‐fold increase in total CO2 release compared to controls. The estimated bioturbator‐stimulated microbial priming effect was equivalent to 15% of the total daily sediment‐derived CO2 releases. We propose that these results indicate that bioturbation is a potential mechanism that converts these sediments from carbon sinks to sources through stimulation of priming‐enhanced sediment carbon remineralization. We further hypothesized that significant changes to seagrass faunal communities may influence seagrass sediment carbon stocks.
Heterotrophic microbes upgrade food value of a terrestrial carbon resource for Daphnia magna
Authors: Tang Yali , Yang Xiaoqin , Xu Ruohua , Zhang Xiufeng , Liu Zhengwen , Zhang Yongdong , Dumont Henri J. 
Published: September 2018

AbstractTerrestrial carbon resources are generally regarded as inferior‐quality food for zooplankton due to a lack of essential biomolecules (e.g., polyunsaturated fatty acids). However, recent stable isotopic studies have suggested terrestrial carbon to be substantial resource for zooplankton, though the mechanisms of assimilation are not well understood. Here, we consider the possibility that heterotrophic microbes can upgrade the nutritional value of terrestrial carbon and thereby support the somatic growth and reproduction of zooplankton. To test this hypothesis, a simplified experimental food chain was established. Aquatic microbes were raised under dark laboratory conditions on a terrestrial carbon source, decaying corn straw (Zea mays L.), and the resulting degradation products were supplied as food to Daphnia magna. Significant increases in microbial abundance and concomitant increases in polyunsaturated fatty acid were observed during the degradation of corn straw. Furthermore, experiments indicated that the somatic growth and reproduction of D. magna was supported exclusively by the products of corn straw decay. Our results indicate a pathway for the assimilation of terrestrial carbon by zooplankton, in which heterotrophic microbes serve as trophic links.