bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of the conductivity detection signal in capillary electrophoresis systems using neutral cyclodextrins as sweeping agents
Authors: Boublík Milan , Riesová Martina , Dubský Pavel , Gaš Bohuslav 
Published: February 2018

AbstractConductivity detection is a universal detection technique often encountered in electrophoretic separation systems, especially in modern chip‐electrophoresis based devices. On the other hand, it is sparsely combined with another contemporary trend of enhancing limits of detection by means of various preconcentration strategies. This can be attributed to the fact that a preconcentration experimental setup usually brings about disturbances in a conductivity baseline. Sweeping with a neutral sweeping agent seems a good candidate for overcoming this problem. A neutral sweeping agent does not hinder the conductivity detection while a charged analyte may preconcentrate on its boundary due to a decrease in its effective mobility. This study investigates such sweeping systems theoretically, by means of computer simulations, and experimentally. A formula is provided for the reliable estimation of the preconcentration factor. Additionally, it is demonstrated that the conductivity signal can significantly benefit from slowing down the analyte and thus the overall signal enhancement can easily overweight amplification caused solely by the sweeping process. The overall enhancement factor can be deduced a priori from the linearized theory of electrophoresis implemented in the PeakMaster freeware. Sweeping by neutral cyclodextrin is demonstrated on an amplification of a conductivity signal of flurbiprofen in a real drug sample. Finally, a possible formation of unexpected system peaks in systems with a neutral sweeping agent is revealed by the computer simulation and confirmed experimentally.
Enrichment of ANME‐2 dominated anaerobic methanotrophy from cold seep sediment in an external ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor
Authors: Bhattarai Susma , Cassarini Chiara , Rene Eldon R. , Kümmel Steffen , Esposito Giovanni , Lens Piet N. L. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAnaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) coupled to sulfate reduction is a microbially mediated unique natural phenomenon with an ecological relevance in the global carbon balance and potential application in biotechnology. This study aimed to enrich an AOM performing microbial community with the main focus on anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) present in sediments from the Ginsburg mud volcano (Gulf of Cadiz), a known site for AOM, in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) for 726 days at 22 (± 3)°C and at ambient pressure. The MBR was equipped with a cylindrical external ultrafiltration membrane, fed a defined medium containing artificial seawater and operated at a cross flow velocity of 0.02 m/min. Sulfide production with simultaneous sulfate reduction was in equimolar ratio between days 480 and 585 of MBR operation, whereas methane consumption was in oscillating trend. At the end of the MBR operation (day 726), the enriched biomass was incubated with 13C labeled methane, 13C labeled inorganic carbon was produced and the AOM rate based on 13C‐inorganic carbon was 1.2 μmol/(gdw d). Microbial analysis of the enriched biomass at 400 and 726 days of MBR operation showed that ANME‐2 and Desulfosarcina type sulfate reducing bacteria were enriched in the MBR, which formed closely associated aggregates. The major relevance of this study is the enrichment of an AOM consortium in a MBR system which can assist to explore the ecophysiology of ANME and provides an opportunity to explore the potential application of AOM.
Water Energy Harvesting and Self‐Powered Visible Light Communication Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerator
Authors: Wang Jie , Zhang Hulin , Xie Xiaoyu , Gao Min , Yang Weiqing , Lin Yuan 
Published: February 2018

AbstractHarvesting energy from water is desirable and promising for its universal availability and wide abundance on the earth. Here, we introduce a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) with advantages of simple configuration and low cost, which not only can get energy from the water, but also can actively detect the location and velocity of the flowing water according to the electric output of the TENG. Besides, we can adjust the structure of the TENG to harvest wind energy and realize self‐powered rotating state monitoring. Moreover, our desirable TENG can be utilized to construct a self‐powered visible light communication (VLC) system for active monitoring, which can be used for wireless data transmission without an external power source. This work promotes the development of renewable energy harvesting based on TENGs, and has a great potential application in self‐powered wireless monitoring.
An updated method for estimating landslide‐event magnitude
Authors: Tanyaş Hakan , Allstadt Kate E. , van Westen Cees J. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSummary statistics derived from the frequency–area distribution (FAD) of inventories of triggered landslides allows for direct comparison of landslides triggered by one event (e.g. earthquake, rainstorm) with another. Such comparisons are vital to understand links between the landslide‐event and the environmental characteristics of the area affected. This could lead to methods for rapid estimation of landslide‐event magnitude, which in turn could lead to estimates of the total triggered landslide area. Previous studies proposed that the FAD of landslides follows an inverse power‐law, which provides the basis to model the size distribution of landslides and to estimate landslide‐event magnitude (mLS), which quantifies the severity of the event. In this study, we use a much larger collection of earthquake‐induced landslide (EQIL) inventories (n=45) than previous studies to show that size distributions are much more variable than previously assumed. We present an updated model and propose a method for estimating mLS and its uncertainty that better fits the observations and is more reproducible, robust, and consistent than existing methods. We validate our model by computing mLS for all of the inventories in our dataset and comparing that with the total landslide areas of the inventories. We show that our method is able to estimate the total landslide area of the events in this larger inventory dataset more successfully than the existing methods. © 2018 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
MicroRNA‐365 modulates astrocyte conversion into neuron in adult rat brain after stroke by targeting Pax6
Authors: Mo Jia‐Lin , Liu Qi , Kou Zeng‐Wei , Wu Kun‐Wei , Yang Ping , Chen Xian‐Hua , Sun Feng‐Yan 
Published: February 2018

AbstractReactive astrocytes induced by ischemia can transdifferentiate into mature neurons. This neurogenic potential of astrocytes may have therapeutic value for brain injury. Epigenetic modifications are widely known to involve in developmental and adult neurogenesis. PAX6, a neurogenic fate determinant, contributes to the astrocyte‐to‐neuron conversion. However, it is unclear whether microRNAs (miRs) modulate PAX6‐mediated astrocyte‐to‐neuron conversion. In the present study we used bioinformatic approaches to predict miRs potentially targeting Pax6, and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to model cerebral ischemic injury in adult rats. These rats were given striatal injection of glial fibrillary acidic protein targeted enhanced green fluorescence protein lentiviral vectors (Lv‐GFAP‐EGFP) to permit cell fate mapping for tracing astrocytes‐derived neurons. We verified that miR‐365 directly targets to the 3′‐UTR of Pax6 by luciferase assay. We found that miR‐365 expression was significantly increased in the ischemic brain. Intraventricular injection of miR‐365 antagomir effectively increased astrocytic PAX6 expression and the number of new mature neurons derived from astrocytes in the ischemic striatum, and reduced neurological deficits as well as cerebral infarct volume. Conversely, miR‐365 agomir reduced PAX6 expression and neurogenesis, and worsened brain injury. Moreover, exogenous overexpression of PAX6 enhanced the astrocyte‐to‐neuron conversion and abolished the effects of miR‐365. Our results demonstrate that increase of miR‐365 in the ischemic brain inhibits astrocyte‐to‐neuron conversion by targeting Pax6, whereas knockdown of miR‐365 enhances PAX6‐mediated neurogenesis from astrocytes and attenuates neuronal injury in the brain after ischemic stroke. Our findings provide a foundation for developing novel therapeutic strategies for brain injury.
Community violence exposure correlates with smaller gray matter volume and lower IQ in urban adolescents
Authors: Butler Oisin , Yang Xiao‐Fei , Laube Corinna , Kühn Simone , Immordino‐Yang Mary Helen 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAdolescents’ exposure to community violence is a significant public health issue in urban settings and has been associated with poorer cognitive performance and increased risk for psychiatric illnesses, including PTSD. However, no study to date has investigated the neural correlates of community violence exposure in adolescents. Sixty‐five healthy adolescents (age = 14–18 years; 36 females, 29 males) from moderate‐ to high‐crime neighborhoods in Los Angeles reported their violence exposure, parents’ education level, and free/reduced school lunch status (socio‐economic status, SES), and underwent structural neuroimaging and intelligence testing. Violence exposure negatively correlated with measures of SES, IQ, and gray matter volume. Above and beyond the effect of SES, violence exposure negatively correlated with IQ and with gray matter volume in the left inferior frontal gyrus and anterior cingulate cortex, regions involved in high‐level cognitive functions and autonomic modulation, and previously shown to be reduced in PTSD and combat‐exposed military populations. The current results provide first evidence that frontal brain regions involved in cognition and affect appear to be selectively affected by exposure to community violence, even in healthy nondelinquent adolescents who are not the direct victims or perpetrators of violence.
Cardiorespiratory noise correction improves the ASL signal
Authors: Hassanpour Mahlega S. , Luo Qingfei , Simmons W. Kyle , Feinstein Justin S. , Paulus Martin P. , Luh Wen‐Ming , Bodurka Jerzy , Khalsa Sahib S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractCardiorespiratory fluctuations such as changes in heart rate or respiration volume influence the temporal dynamics of cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements during arterial spin labeling (ASL) fMRI. This “physiological noise” can confound estimates of resting state network activity, and it may lower the signal‐to‐noise ratio of ASL during task‐related experiments. In this study we examined several methods for minimizing the contributions of both synchronized and non‐synchronized physiological noise in ASL measures of CBF, by combining the RETROICOR approach with different linear deconvolution models. We evaluated the amount of variance in CBF that could be explained by each method during physiological rest, in both resting state and task performance conditions. To further demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, we induced low‐frequency cardiorespiratory deviations via peripheral adrenergic stimulation with isoproterenol, and determined how these fluctuations influenced CBF, before and after applying noise correction. By suppressing physiological noise, we observed substantial improvements in the signal‐to‐noise ratio at the individual and group activation levels. Our results suggest that variations in cardiac and respiratory parameters can account for a large proportion of the variance in resting and task‐based CBF, and indicate that regressing out these non‐neuronal signal variations improves the intrinsically low signal‐to‐noise ratio of ASL. This approach may help to better identify and control physiologically driven activations in ASL resting state and task‐based analyses.
Statistical inference in brain graphs using threshold‐free network‐based statistics
Authors: Baggio Hugo C. , Abos Alexandra , Segura Barbara , Campabadal Anna , Garcia‐Diaz Anna , Uribe Carme , Compta Yaroslau , Marti Maria Jose , Valldeoriola Francesc , Junque Carme 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe description of brain networks as graphs where nodes represent different brain regions and edges represent a measure of connectivity between a pair of nodes is an increasingly used approach in neuroimaging research. The development of powerful methods for edge‐wise group‐level statistical inference in brain graphs while controlling for multiple‐testing associated false‐positive rates, however, remains a difficult task. In this study, we use simulated data to assess the properties of threshold‐free network‐based statistics (TFNBS). The TFNBS combines threshold‐free cluster enhancement, a method commonly used in voxel‐wise statistical inference, and network‐based statistic (NBS), which is frequently used for statistical analysis of brain graphs. Unlike the NBS, TFNBS generates edge‐wise significance values and does not require the a priori definition of a hard cluster‐defining threshold. Other test parameters, nonetheless, need to be set. We show that it is possible to find parameters that make TFNBS sensitive to strong and topologically clustered effects, while appropriately controlling false‐positive rates. Our results show that the TFNBS is an adequate technique for the statistical assessment of brain graphs.
Using quantitative tissue phenotype to assess the margins of surgical samples from a pan‐Canadian surgery study
Authors: Guillaud Martial , MacAulay Calum E. , Berean Kenneth W. , Bullock Martin , Guggisberg Kelly , Klieb Hagen , Puttagunta Lakshmi , Penner Carla , Kwan Keith , Rosin Miriam P. , Poh Catherine F. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this study was to use quantitative tissue phenotype (QTP) to assess the surgical margins to examine if a fluorescence visualization‐guided surgical approach produces a shift in the surgical field by sparing normal tissue while catching high‐risk tissue.MethodsUsing our QTP to calculate the degree of nuclear chromatin abnormalities, Nuclear Phenotypic Score (NPS), we analyzed 1290 biopsy specimens taken from surgical samples of 248 patients enrolled in the Efficacy of Optically‐guided Surgery in the Management of Early‐staged Oral Cancer (COOLS) trial. Multiple margin specimens were collected from each surgical specimen according to the presence of fluorescence visualization alterations and the distance to the surgical margins.ResultsThe NPS in fluorescence visualization‐altered (fluorescence visualization‐positive) samples was significantly higher than that in fluorescence visualization‐retained (fluorescence visualization‐negative) samples. There was a constant trend of decreasing NPS of margin samples from non‐adjacent‐fluorescence visualization margins to adjacent‐fluorescence visualization margins.ConclusionOur results suggested that using fluorescence visualization to guide surgery has the potential to spare more normal tissue at surgical margins.
Time course and clinical characterization of cisplatin‐induced ototoxicity after treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a South East Asian population
Authors: Chan Sze Ling , Ng Li Shia , Goh Xueying , Siow Chor Hiang , Goh Han Lee , Goh Boon Cher , Cheo Timothy , Loh Kwok Seng , Brunham Liam R. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical course of hearing loss in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and the clinical factors affecting its severity.MethodsThe time course of hearing loss in patients with NPC was assessed using threshold shift from baseline and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade.ResultsIn the chemoradiotherapy (CRT) groups, the threshold shift was significantly higher from 3 months at 4 kHz (P = 2.30 × 10−9, concurrent CRT only) but not within 2 years posttreatment in the radiotherapy (RT) group. The CRT groups had worse CTCAE grades than the RT group (percentage of latest CTCAE grade ≥1: 64.9% vs 29.0%, respectively). Cumulative cisplatin dose and cochlear RT dose significantly affects threshold shifts, especially at high frequencies.ConclusionAlthough cisplatin led to high frequency hearing impairment from about 3 months posttreatment, RT conferred no significant hearing impairment in the first 2 years.
Development of regenerative and flexible fibroin‐based wound dressings
Authors: Panico Angelica , Paladini Federica , Pollini Mauro 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSkin injuries represent a health problem with consequences in terms of morbidity, disability and life quality. Numerous strategies have been developed for the treatment of wounds, including skin substitutes, biomembranes, scaffolds, and smart dressings. The excellent properties of fibroin can be exploited for the development of advanced wound dressing biomaterials, aiming at promoting the wound healing process. In this work, silk fibroin films modified through the addition of glucose were developed to enhance flexibility of medical device without affecting the biocompatibility, to promote wound healing and to improve the patient well‐being. The glucose/fibroin blend was characterized through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry to analyze the protein structure. Absorption capacity, mechanical properties, wettability and bacterial biofilm formation on silk fibroin films were also analyzed to study the effect of the addition of a plasticizer on the properties of the wound dressing. The stability of the films was analyzed through in vitro biodegradability tests. The biocompatibility and regenerative properties were demonstrated through appropriate cellular assays. The results demonstrated that the addition of glucose induced crystallization and provided good flexibility and absorption capacity of silk fibroin films. Glucose modified silk fibroin films were biocompatible and had a positive effect in promoting the wound closure. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 107B: 7–18, 2019.
Atrial fibrillation and cryptogenic stroke. What is the current evidence? Role of electrocardiographic monitoring
Authors: Carmona‐Puerta Raimundo , Castro‐Torres Yaniel 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe diagnosis of cryptogenic stroke is made by exclusion. However, current evidence supports the role of atrial fibrillation episodes as a cause of this condition. Prospective data have demonstrated the benefits of long‐term electrocardiographic monitoring to identify atrial fibrillation in association with cryptogenic stroke. This aim of this article was to analyze the contemporary evidence for the possible relationship between atrial fibrillation and cryptogenic stroke and the role of continuous electrocardiographic monitoring to clarify this hypothesis.
Clinical pharmacy in a regional Australian intensive care unit
Authors: Howle Lisa M. , Kirkpatrick Carl M. J. , Trethewy Christopher E. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundMore than a quarter of reported incidents in hospitals are medication‐related. The critically ill population is at greater risk of medication‐related incidents due to a number of factors, including a higher number of drugs prescribed, lower physiological reserve and greater illness severity. Overseas studies have shown that the inclusion of on‐ward clinical pharmacy support may attenuate these drug‐related problems (DRPs); however, local evidence in regional Australian intensive care units (ICUs) is lacking.AimTo identify the frequency of DRPs and their risk to patients and the reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and incidents through the integration of a clinical pharmacist into a regional Australian ICU.MethodA single‐centre, cohort‐controlled observational study conducted in a regional ICU over a 16‐week period. Data was collected on ADR and incident reporting, on‐call pharmacy requests and medications ordered but not administered to patients. The prospective period additionally examined the number and type of DRPs, pharmacist recommendations and acceptance by clinicians. An independent panel review assessed DRP risk and clinical significance.ResultsThere were 348 DRPs requiring intervention in the prospective period with a median of two DRPs per patient. ‘Change of therapy’ was the most common recommendation (75%) and its acceptance by clinicians was 86%. Level of agreement between panel members for assigning both risk and clinical significance to DRPs was poor. Instances where medications were ordered but not administered were reduced by 62% (p = 0.0045). Requests for after‐hours pharmacy services were reduced and reporting of ADRs and incidents was marginally increased in the prospective group.ConclusionThe addition of a clinical pharmacist to the ICU facilitated the detection and resolution of DRPs in this patient group and increased both the likelihood that intended pharmaceutical care reached the patient and that drug reactions and incidents were reported. These results provide local evidence for the inclusion of clinical pharmacists to the multidisciplinary ICU team in a regional Australian hospital.
Reducing intravenous infusion errors: an observational study of 16 866 patients over five years
Authors: Wiseman Meredith L. , Poole Susan , Ahlin Andrea , Dooley Michael J. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackgroundMedication administration errors account for the largest proportion of medication errors in hospitals, impacting significantly on patient safety. Intravenous infusions carry a high risk for error due to their complex nature and use in high acuity settings. Two safety strategies for infusion safety introduced across a tertiary hospital network include the utilisation of the clinical pharmacy review and annotation of infusion orders, and the introduction of smart infusion pump technology with dose error reduction software.AimThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two medication safety strategies: clinical pharmacist review including medication order annotation, and introduction of smart infusion pumps on rate and severity medication administration errors.MethodA pre‐ and post‐intervention, observational study was undertaken at four time points over a five‐year period which included the review of 16 866 patients in a large tertiary referral hospital.ResultsPharmacist annotation independently resulted in a reduction in errors from 16.6 to 8.1%. Subsequent implementation of smart pumps with a comprehensive drug library and high user compliance resulted in a further reduction from 8.1 to 3.9%. These reductions were sustained, with an overall error rate of 5% after two years.ConclusionThe importance of timely clinical pharmacist review of intravenous infusion medication orders, and the implementation of smart infusion pump technology, along with well‐resourced drug library development with emphasis on quality management, education and training, should be prioritised, in order to reduce medication administration errors and to maximise patient safety.