bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neither an Authentic Product nor a Counterfeit: The Growing Popularity of Shanzhai Products in Global Markets
Authors: Qin Yao , Shi Linda Hui , Stöttinger Barbara , Cavusgil Erin 
Published: July 2018

AbstractCounterfeits have been a longstanding concern to global brand manufactures. However, recently, a new product category that partly imitates and partly innovates under the term shanzhai has entered into market. Shanzhai products mimic original leading brands through visual or functional similarities and may also provide additional features. Given this new copycat phenomenon, our study for the first time conceptually distinguishes shanzhai products from counterfeits, theoretically compares the values of consumers choosing shanzhai products versus counterfeits, and empirically tests such differences in one integrative model. Specifically, shanzhai buyers value product functional benefits more than counterfeit buyers, while counterfeit buyers value status consumption, yet experience less self‐clarity than shanzhai buyers. Our findings offer important implications for imitative innovation literature as well as for practitioners.
Timing of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A reductase inhibitor initiation and allograft vasculopathy progression and outcomes in heart transplant recipients
Authors: Asleh Rabea , Briasoulis Alexandros , Pereira Naveen L. , Boilson Barry A. , Edwards Brooks S. , Adigun Rosalyn , Maltais Simon , Daly Richard C. , Lerman Amir , Kushwaha Sudhir S. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractAimsEarly studies from the 1990s have shown that statins improve survival and attenuate cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV). However, little contemporary data are available on the incremental benefit of statins with the current use of new‐generation immunosuppressive agents and the use of coronary intravascular ultrasound for assessment of CAV. We sought to investigate the effect of early statin (ES) as compared with late statin (LS) initiation after heart transplantation (HT) on long‐term CAV progression and clinical outcomes in a large contemporary HT cohort.Methods and resultsWe analysed a cohort of 409 adult HT recipients. CAV progression was assessed by serial coronary intravascular ultrasound volumetric measurements of the differences between baseline and last follow‐up plaque volume (PV) and plaque index (PV/vessel volume ratio). CAV progression and clinical outcomes were compared between the ES (<2 years after HT) and the LS (>2 years after HT) groups. During a median follow‐up of 8.2 years, ES resulted in significantly lower change (Δ) of plaque index (+3.8% ± 1.7% vs. +8.2% ± 3.6%; P = 0.0008) and PV (+0.8 ± 0.3 vs. +1.9 ± 1.2; P = 0.045) compared with LS group. In a Cox proportional hazards regression model and after adjustment for baseline characteristics, ES was associated with a 52% decreased risk of CAV‐associated events (hazard ratio 0.48, 95% confidence interval: 0.27–0.91; P = 0.025) and a 42% decreased risk of the composite endpoint of all‐cause mortality and CAV‐associated events (hazard ratio 0.58, 95% confidence interval: 0.38–0.91; P = 0.019).ConclusionsEarly initiation of statin therapy after HT results in attenuated CAV progression as well as in decreased CAV‐related events and mortality.
ESI‐TOF mass spectrometry of cationic carbosilane dendrimers: A potent tool for characterization of structural defects
Authors: Cuřínová Petra , Krupková Alena , Červenková Šťastná Lucie , Müllerová Monika , Čermák Jan , Strašák Tomáš 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMacromolecular polyelectrolytes are gaining considerable attention for the application in medicine that implies their detailed characterization. We have successfully applied electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) to the analysis of defects in the structure of three generations of polycationic carbosilane dendrimers bearing series of quarternary phosphonium groups at their periphery. Besides expected defects caused by incomplete conversion of particular reaction steps during the synthesis of dendritic scaffold and subsequent peripheral functionalization, also, several products of side reactions were observed together with defects created in the course of measurement (particularly ion exchange products). Defective molecules can be to some extent separated by means of gel permeation chromatography that proves that they are not products of in source fragmentation processes. Within the reaction sequence used for the synthesis of dendrimers under study, hydrosilylation was the source of most defects; the effectivity of quarternization depends on the type of phosphine. Results confirm high sensitivity of ESI MS towards defects, stability of the carbosilane skeleton towards fragmentation under the conditions of ESI ionization, and capability to detect both lower‐ and higher‐molecular weight impurities arising from the synthetic sequence in the same m/z range as the target dendrimer, thus providing valuable view of the polydispersity.
On the data acquisition, image reconstruction, cone beam artifacts, and their suppression in axial MDCT and CBCT – A review
Authors: Tang Xiangyang , Krupinski Elizabeth A. , Xie Huiqiao , Stillman Arthur E. 
Published: July 2018

PurposeIn the clinic, computed tomography (CT) has evolved into an essential modality for diagnostic imaging by multidetector row CT (MDCT) and image guided intervention by cone beam CT (CBCT). Recognizing the increasing importance of axial MDCT/CBCT in clinical and preclinical applications, and the existence of CB artifacts in MDCT/CBCT images, we provide a review of CB artifacts’ root causes, rendering mechanisms and morphology, and possible solutions for elimination and/or reduction of the artifacts.MethodsBy examining the null space in Radon and Fourier domain, the root cause of CB artifacts (i.e., data insufficiency) in axial MDCT/CBCT is analytically investigated, followed by a review of the data sufficiency conditions and the “circle +” source trajectories. The rendering mechanisms and morphology of CB artifacts in axial MDCT/CBCT and their special cases (e.g., half/short scan and full scan with latitudinally displaced detector) are then analyzed, followed by a survey of the potential solutions to suppress the artifacts. The phenomenon of imaged zone indention and its variation over FBP, BPF/DBPF, two‐pass and iterative CB reconstruction algorithms and/or schemes are discussed in detail.ResultsAn interdomain examination of the null space provides an insightful understanding of the root cause of CB artifacts in axial MDCT/CBCT. The decomposition of CB artifacts rendering mechanisms facilitates understanding of the artifacts’ behavior under different conditions and the potential solutions to suppress them. An inspection of the imaged zone intention phenomenon provides guidance on the design and implementation of CB image reconstruction algorithms and schemes for CB artifacts suppression in axial MDCT/CBCT.ConclusionsWith increasing importance of axial MDCT/CBCT in clinical and preclinical applications, this review article can update the community with in‐depth information and clarification on the latest progress in dealing with CB artifacts and thus increase clinical/preclinical confidence.
Bubble‐echo based deconvolution of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound imaging: Simulation and experimental validations
Authors: Wang Diya , Hu Hong , Zhang Xinyu , Su Qiang , Liu Runna , Zhong Hui , Lu Shukuan , Wang Supin , Wan Mingxi 
Published: July 2018

PurposeImprovement of both the imaging resolution and the contrast‐to‐tissue ratio (CTR) is a current emphasis of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for microvascular perfusion imaging. Based on the strong nonlinear characteristics of contrast agents, the CTRs have been significantly enhanced using various advanced CEUS methods. However, the imaging resolution of these methods is limited by the finite bandwidth of the imaging process. This study aimed to propose a bubble‐echo based deconvolution (BED) method for CEUS with both improved resolution and CTR.MethodThe method is built on a modified convolution model and uses novel bubble‐echo based point‐spread‐functions to reconstruct the images by regularized inverse Wiener filtering. Performances of the proposed BED for three CEUS modes are investigated through simulations and in vivo perfusion experiments.ResultsBED of fundamental imaging was found to have the highest improvement in imaging resolution with the resolution gain up to 2.0 ± 0.2 times, which was comparable to the approved cepstrum‐based deconvolution (CED). BED of second‐harmonic imaging had the best performance in CTR with an enhancement of 9.8 ± 2.3 dB, which was much higher than CED. Pulse inversion BED had both a better resolution and a higher CTR.ConclusionAll results indicate that BED could obtain CEUS image with both an improved resolution and a high CTR, which has important significance to microvascular perfusion evaluation in deep tissue.
Comparison of cross‐sectional areas and distal‐proximal nerve ratios in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Noto Yu‐Ichi , Garg Nidhi , Li Tiffany , Timmins Hannah C. , Park Susanna B. , Shibuya Kazumoto , Shahrizaila Nortina , Huynh William , Matamala José M. , Dharmadasa Thanuja , Yiannikas Con , Vucic Steve , Kiernan Matthew C. 
Published: July 2018

ABSTRACTIntroduction: This study explored potential diagnostic markers of nerve ultrasound in differentiating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) from mimic disorders. Methods: Ultrasound of the median, ulnar, and tibial nerves was conducted in 53 patients with ALS, 32 patients with ALS‐mimic disorders, and 30 controls. Nerve cross‐sectional area (CSA) and distal–proximal ratios were calculated. Results: The median nerve CSA in the upper arm was decreased (7.9 ± 1.3 mm2 vs. 9.0 ± 1.4 mm2, P < 0.05), and the median nerve wrist–upper arm ratio was increased in ALS patients compared with controls (1.3 ± 0.4 vs. 1.1 ± 0.2; P < 0.01). In differentiating ALS from mimic presentations, assessment of median nerve CSA in the upper arm and comparison of a median and ulnar nerve CSA distal–proximal ratio provide diagnostic potential. Discussion: Assessment of nerve CSA combined with calculation of nerve CSA distal–proximal ratio provides a useful marker to aid in the diagnosis of ALS. Muscle Nerve 58:777–783, 2018
SMASH: Structured matrix approximation by separation and hierarchy
Authors: Cai Difeng , Chow Edmond , Erlandson Lucas , Saad Yousef , Xi Yuanzhe 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThis paper presents an efficient method to perform structured matrix approximation by separation and hierarchy (SMASH), when the original dense matrix is associated with a kernel function. Given the points in a domain, a tree structure is first constructed based on an adaptive partition of the computational domain to facilitate subsequent approximation procedures. In contrast to existing schemes based on either analytic or purely algebraic approximations, SMASH takes advantage of both approaches and greatly improves efficiency. The algorithm follows a bottom‐up traversal of the tree and is able to perform the operations associated with each node on the same level in parallel. A strong rank‐revealing factorization is applied to the initial analytic approximation in the separation regime so that a special structure is incorporated into the final nested bases. As a consequence, the storage is significantly reduced on one hand and a hierarchy of the original grid is constructed on the other hand. Due to this hierarchy, nested bases at upper levels can be computed in a similar way as the leaf level operations but on coarser grids. The main advantages of SMASH include its simplicity of implementation, its flexibility to construct various hierarchical rank structures, and a low storage cost. The efficiency and robustness of SMASH are demonstrated through various test problems arising from integral equations, structured matrices, etc.
Observer for nonlinear systems with unknown input using mean value theorem and genetic algorithm
Authors: Ben Messaoud Ramzi , Hajji Salah 
Published: July 2018

SummaryIn this note, we consider a new unknown inputs observer design for nonlinear systems. The main idea consists in determining the estimation error and theorem mean value parameters to introduce them into the proposed observer structure. This process is designed on the basis of mean value theorem and genetic algorithm. This observer does not use LMI technique for stability study. The stability study relies on the use of quadratic Lyapunov function. Two numerical examples are provided to show the performance of the proposed approach.
Factors contributing to cancer‐related suicide: A study of root‐cause analysis reports
Authors: Aboumrad Maya , Shiner Brian , Riblet Natalie , Mills Peter D. , Watts Bradley V. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractObjectiveVast efforts are directed toward curing or prolonging the life of patients with cancer. However, less attention is given to mental health aspects of cancer care, and there is elevated incidence of death by suicide in this population. Evaluating Root Cause Analyses (RCAs) of cancer‐related suicides may further our understanding of system‐level factors that may contribute to suicide in patients with cancer and highlight strategies to mitigate this risk.MethodsWe searched the Veterans Health Administration National Center for Patient Safety RCA database for cancer‐related suicides between 2002 and 2017 to evaluate the context of the suicides and identify root causes and suggested actions. These variables were coded by consensus and evaluated using descriptive statistics.ResultsWe identified 64 RCA reports involving cancer‐related suicide; 100% were males of older age. Many suicides occurred during treatment with palliative intent (44%, N = 28). Depression (59%, N = 38), medical comorbidities (59%, N = 38), and pain (47%, N = 30) were common suicide risk factors identified. Most suicides occurred within 7 days of a medical visit (67%, N = 43), especially within the first 24 hours (41%, N = 26). Root causes included a need to improve recognition of triggers for assessment and interdisciplinary communication.ConclusionThis analysis uncovers opportunities to mitigate risk of death by suicide among patients with cancer. Suggested actions include use of comprehensive cancer centers and development of a distress checklist using information from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines. Further studies should assess additional factors that may increase the risk of other adverse mental health outcomes in this population.
Pulmonary interstitial glycogenosis: Diagnostic evaluation and clinical course
Authors: Liptzin Deborah R. , Baker Christopher D. , Darst Jeffrey R. , Weinman Jason P. , Dishop Megan K. , Galambos Csaba , Brinton John T. , Deterding Robin R. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractObjectivesWe sought to describe the phenotype for patients with P.I.G. including presentation, evaluation, cardiac co‐morbidities, high resolution computed tomography findings, and outcomes.MethodsWith institutional review board approval, we performed a retrospective review of patients with biopsy‐proven P.I.G. Biopsies, high resolution chest computed tomography, and cardiac evaluations were reviewed and characterized by experts in each field.ResultsSixty‐two percent of the patients were male. The median gestational age was 37 weeks (range 27‐40). The median age at biopsy was 1.6 months (range 0.3‐6 months). Structural heart disease was present in 63% of patients. Pulmonary hypertension (diagnosed by echocardiogram and/or cardiac catheterization) was noted in 38% of patients. Alveolar simplification was present in 79% of patients. Fifty percent of available biopsies revealed patchy disease. An increase in age at biopsy was associated with patchy (vs diffuse) disease. Ninety‐two percent of patients were treated with systemic corticosteroids. Median age at last follow‐up was 1234 days with a range of 37 days to 15 years. At the time of last follow‐up, 12 patients were off all support, eight were on supplemental oxygen, two were mechanically ventilated, one underwent lung transplantation, and one died. CT findings commonly included ground glass opacities (86%) and cystic change (50%).ConclusionsThe P.I.G. phenotype has not been comprehensively described, and poor recognition and misconceptions about P.I.G. persist. P.I.G. is a disease that presents in early infancy, requires significant medical intervention, and frequently is seen in association with alveolar simplification and/or cardiovascular disease. CT findings include ground glass opacities and cysts. Patients should be monitored for pulmonary hypertension. Without life‐threatening comorbidities, many patients do well over time, although respiratory symptoms may persist into adolescence.
Disordered linkers in multidomain allosteric proteins: Entropic effect to favor the open state or enhanced local concentration to favor the closed state?
Authors: Li Maodong , Cao Huaiqing , Lai Luhua , Liu Zhirong 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThere are many multidomain allosteric proteins where an allosteric signal at the allosteric domain modifies the activity of the functional domain. Intrinsically disordered regions (linkers) are widely involved in this kind of regulation process, but the essential role they play therein is not well understood. Here, we investigated the effect of linkers in stabilizing the open or the closed states of multidomain proteins using combined thermodynamic deduction and coarse‐grained molecular dynamics simulations. We revealed that the influence of linker can be fully characterized by an effective local concentration [B]0. When Kd is smaller than [B]0, the closed state would be favored; while the open state would be preferred when Kd is larger than [B]0. We used four protein systems with markedly different domain–domain binding affinity and structural order/disorder as model systems to understand the relationship between [B]0 and the linker length as well as its flexibility. The linker length is the main practical determinant of [B]0. [B]0 of a flexible linker with 40–60 residues was determined to be in a narrow range of 0.2–0.6 mM, while a too short or too long length would dramatically decrease [B]0. With the revealed [B]0 range, the introduction of a flexible linker makes the regulation of weakly interacting partners possible.
On the design and efficacy assessment of self‐assembling peptide‐based hydrogel‐glycosaminoglycan mixtures for potential repair of early stage cartilage degeneration
Authors: Barco A. , Ingham E. , Fisher J. , Fermor H. , Davies R.P.W. 
Published: July 2018

Peptide‐based hydrogels are of interest for their potential use in regenerative medicine. Combining these hydrogels with materials that may enhance their physical and biological properties, such as glycosaminoglycans, has the potential to extend their range of biomedical applications, for example in the repair of early cartilage degeneration. The aim of this study was to combine three self‐assembling peptides (P11‐4, P11‐8, and P11‐12) with chondroitin sulphate at two molar ratios of 1:16 and 1:64 in 130 and 230 mM Na+ salt concentrations. The study investigates the effects of mixing self‐assembling peptide and glycosaminoglycan on the physical and mechanical properties at 37°C. Peptide alone, chondroitin sulphate alone, and peptide in combination with chondroitin sulphate were analysed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to determine the β‐sheet percentage, transmission electron microscopy to determine the fibril morphology, and rheology to determine the elastic and viscous modulus of the materials. All of the variables (peptide, salt concentration, and chondroitin sulphate molar ratio) had an effect on the mechanical properties, β‐sheet formation, and fibril morphology of the hydrogels. P11‐4 and P11‐8‐chondroitin sulphate mixtures, at both molar ratios, were shown to have a high β‐sheet percentage, dense entangled fibrillar networks, as well as high mechanical stiffness in both (130 and 230 mM) Na+ salt solutions when compared with the P11‐12/chondroitin sulphate mixtures. These peptide/chondroitin sulphate hydrogels show promise for biomedical applications in glycosaminoglycan depleted tissues.
Microsolvation of small cations and anions
Authors: Hadad Cacier , Florez Elizabeth , Acelas Nancy , Merino Gabriel , Restrepo Albeiro 
Published: July 2018

AbstractRecent advances in the theoretical treatment of microsolvation of small ions, a problem with practical implications in chemistry, physics, and biology, are exposed. In particular, we discuss sound stochastic approaches to sample complex energy landscapes and delve into the nature of bonding interactions that dictate both structural and energetical preferences. An in‐depth analysis of the effect of formal charges in the surrounding network of solvent to solvent hydrogen bonds is also presented. The problem, as expected, is more complicated than simple definitions may forecast.
Determination of four main components of gentamicin in animal tissues after solid‐phase extraction by high‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Congcong , Hu Jian , Sun Fengmei , Jia Man , Chen Gang , Wu Cuiling , Zheng Lufei 
Published: July 2018

RationaleAn analytical method for gentamicin in animal tissues was developed and validated. An alkaline mobile phase with an HPH C8 column was selected so that all the four gentamicin components were retained and eluted without using fluorinated ion‐pairing reagents.MethodsThe method is sufficiently sensitive and highly selective, using a strong cation‐exchange solid‐phase extraction cartridge (PCX) to clean up the samples. Different types of solid‐phase extraction columns and membranes were considered to obtain a high recovery. The method was validated on spiking samples, recovery, inter‐ and intra‐assay variation, to ensure its accuracy and precision.ResultsThe LOQ (S/N ≥ 10) for gentamicin in goat meat, liver, kidney and adipose tissue was 25, 50, 30 and 30 ng/g, respectively; the LOD (S/N ≥ 3) was 5, 10, 10 and 10 ng/g, respectively. The recoveries were between 88% and 106%. The method in all animal tissues was calibrated from 10 to 1000 μg/L in the matrix‐assisted standard solution.ConclusionsThe novelty of this method is that the commonly used fluorinated ion‐pairing reagent was not used in the mobile phase in our analysis, greatly reducing the contamination of the ESI source in negative mode. Moreover, the four gentamicin components were clearly separated via chromatographic separation.
Mass spectrometry in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics: Current trends and future perspectives
Authors: Cuyckens Filip 
Published: July 2018

Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK) is a core scientific discipline within drug discovery and development as well as post‐marketing. It helps to design and select the most promising drug candidate and obtain advanced insights on the processes that control absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of the final drug candidate.Mass spectrometry is one of the key technologies applied in DMPK. Therefore, the continuous advances made in the field of mass spectrometry also directly impact the way in which we investigate the ADME properties of a compound, providing us with new tools to gather more information or improve our efficiency. An overview will be given of some important current trends and future perspectives in the field.
Parameterized verification of monotone information systems
Authors: Chane-Yack-Fa Raphaël , Frappier Marc , Mammar Amel , Finkel Alain 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
In this paper, we study the information system verification problem as a parameterized verification one. Informations systems are modeled as multi-parameterized systems in a formal language based on the Algebraic State-Transition Diagrams (ASTD) notation. Then, we use the Well Structured Transition Systems (WSTS) theory to solve the coverability problem for an unbounded ASTD state space. Moreover, we define a new framework to prove the effective pred-basis condition of WSTSs, i.e. the computability of a base of predecessors for every states.