bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The characterization of flavored hookahs aroma profile and in response to heating as analyzed via headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and chemometrics
Authors: Farag Mohamed A. , Elmassry Moamen M. , El-Ahmady Sherweit H. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractFlavors profiling in flavored hookah tobacco is an issue of increasing scrutiny for the health sector owing to its adverse effects on humans, especially being heated to produce smoke. This study aims at tackling the components involved in the flavored hookah tobacco from a chemical and biological point of view. Detecting individual flavor compounds, within a complex hookah tobacco matrix was accomplished using headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME). A total of 114 volatiles were identified in 13 flavored hookah tobacco products, with esters amounting for the major component up to 40%. Whereas oxygenated monoterpenes presented another major volatile class, contributing up to 23%, including (E)-anethole. Superheating flavored hookah tobacco at 190 °C resulted in the release of a mixture of phenol derivatives and polycyclic aromatic compounds that are indicative of coal tar, a major component produced during hookah tobacco usage with potential health hazards. This study provides the first comprehensive volatile profile of hookah tobacco products from different origins identifying chemical components involved in flavors. It is expected to serve as informative grounds for the better understanding of hookah tobacco production and usage. The information presented is also expected to raise awareness on the health risks of hookah tobacco smoking.
Quantitative Gadolinium-Free Cardiac Fibrosis Imaging in End Stage Renal Disease Patients Reveals A Longitudinal Correlation with Structural and Functional Decline
Authors: Stromp Tori A. , Spear Tyler J. , Holtkamp Rebecca M. , Andres Kristin N. , Kaine Joshua C. , Alghuraibawi Wissam H. , Leung Steve W. , Fornwalt Brandon K. , Vandsburger Moriel H. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPatients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) suffer high mortality from arrhythmias linked to fibrosis, but are contraindicated to late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We present a quantitative method for gadolinium-free cardiac fibrosis imaging using magnetization transfer (MT) weighted MRI, and probe correlations with widely used surrogate markers including cardiac structure and contractile function in patients with ESRD. In a sub-group of patients who returned for follow-up imaging after one year, we examine the correlation between changes in fibrosis and ventricular structure/function. Quantification of changes in MT revealed significantly greater fibrotic burden in patients with ESRD compared to a healthy age matched control cohort. Ventricular mechanics, including circumferential strain and diastolic strain rate were unchanged in patients with ESRD. No correlation was observed between fibrotic burden and concomitant measures of either circumferential or longitudinal strains or strain rates. However, among patients who returned for follow up examination a strong correlation existed between initial fibrotic burden and subsequent loss of contractile function. Gadolinium-free myocardial fibrosis imaging in patients with ESRD revealed a complex and longitudinal, not contemporary, association between fibrosis and ventricular contractile function.
Similar recovery time of microbial functions from fungicide stress across biogeographical regions
Authors: Schreiner Verena C. , Feckler Alexander , Fernández Diego , Frisch Katharina , Muñoz Katherine , Szöcs Eduard , Zubrod Jochen P. , Bundschuh Mirco , Rasmussen Jes J. , Kefford Ben J. , Axelsen Josepha , Cedergreen Nina , Schäfer Ralf B. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractDetermining whether the structural and functional stress responses of communities are similar across space and time is paramount for forecasting and extrapolating the consequences of anthropogenic pressures on ecosystems and their services. Stream ecosystems are under high anthropogenic pressure; however, studies have only examined the response of stream communities across large scales over multiple generations. We studied the responses of leaf-associated microbial communities in streams within three European biogeographical regions to chemical stress in a microcosm experiment with multiple cycles of fungicide pollution and resource colonisation. Fungal community composition and the ecosystem function leaf decomposition were measured as response variables. Microbial leaf decomposition showed similar recovery times under environmental levels of fungicide exposure across regions. Initially, the decomposition declined (between 19 and 53%) under fungicide stress and recovered to control levels during the third cycle of pollution and colonisation. Although community composition and its stress response varied between regions, this suggests similar functional community adaptation towards fungicide stress over time. Genetic, epigenetic and physiological adaptations, as well as species turnover, may have contributed to community adaptation but further studies are required to determine if and to which extent these mechanisms are operating. Overall, our findings provide the first evidence of a similar functional response of microbial leaf decomposition to chemical stress across space and time.
Employing fingerprinting of medicinal plants by means of LC-MS and machine learning for species identification task
Authors: Kharyuk Pavel , Nazarenko Dmitry , Oseledets Ivan , Rodin Igor , Shpigun Oleg , Tsitsilin Andrey , Lavrentyev Mikhail 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA dataset of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry measurements of medicinal plant extracts from 74 species was generated and used for training and validating plant species identification algorithms. Various strategies for data handling and feature space extraction were tested. Constrained Tucker decomposition, large-scale (more than 1500 variables) discrete Bayesian Networks and autoencoder based dimensionality reduction coupled with continuous Bayes classifier and logistic regression were optimized to achieve the best accuracy. Even with elimination of all retention time values accuracies of up to around 85% were achieved on validation set for plant species and plant organ identification. Benefits and drawbacks of used algortihms were discussed. Preliminary test showed that developed approaches exhibit tolerance to changes in data created by using different extraction methods and/or equipment. Dataset with more than 2200 chromatograms was published in an open repository.
Black carbon yields highest nutrient and lowest arsenic release when using rice residuals in paddy soils
Authors: Schaller Jörg , Wang Jiajia , Islam Md. Rafiqul , Planer-Friedrich Britta 
Published: November 2018

AbstractRice straw increasingly remains on the fields for nutrient supply to the next generation of crop plants. It can be applied either fresh or after burning to black carbon or ash. A central concern during rice cultivation is accumulation of carcinogenic arsenic and the question arises how much rice straw application contributes to nutrient versus arsenic supply in paddy fields. Laboratory incubation experiments were performed to assess the effect of rice straw, black carbon and ash on element mobilization. Our experiments showed initially higher silicon and phosphorus release from black carbon compared to fresh straw amendments. However, more re-sorption to soil lead to finally slightly lower pore water concentrations for black carbon versus fresh straw amendments. Highest arsenic, iron, manganese and dissolved organic carbon concentrations were observed after fresh rice straw application. Black carbon and ash application lead to only minor increases of arsenic compared to controls without amendments. Overall, for silicon and phosphorus the soil acts as sink while for iron and arsenic it was the main source. In summary, burning of rice straw to black carbon prior to application seems to yield a high increase in desired nutrient and a decrease in undesired arsenic mobilization in paddy soils.
Graphene platelets from shungite rock modulate electropolymerization and charge storage mechanisms of soft-template synthetized polypyrrole-based nanocomposites
Authors: Politi Sara , Carcione Rocco , Tamburri Emanuela , Matassa Roberto , Lavecchia Teresa , Angjellari Mariglen , Terranova Maria Letizia 
Published: November 2018

AbstractWe report here on soft-template electropolymerizations of polypyrrole (Ppy)-based nanocomposites triggered by graphene platelets (GP) from shungite (SH) rocks. A properly designed procedure for an efficient extraction of graphene platelets from SH powders is established to produce remarkable graphene materials in a low oxidation state and with a high electrical conductivity (1490 S cm−1). By using positively and negatively charged templating surfactants the role played by the graphene units on the electropolymerization reactions is pointed out by SEM, EDX, TEM, SAED, XPS and Raman spectroscopy. The morphological/structural characterizations highlight that GP from SH have a surface chemistry suitable for selective and mutual interactions with the growing Ppy chains. CV and galvanostatic charge/discharge measurements evidence that GP improve the transport of both electrons and ions within the bulk material by means of a synergistic action with the polymer phase. This cooperative behavior induces an enhancement of the specific capacitance up to 250 F g−1 at 2 A g−1. The Ppy-GP materials produced following the settled protocols result to be appropriate for fabricating multifunctional charge transport and storage electroactive systems.
A Fréchet tree distance measure to compare phylogeographic spread paths across trees
Authors: Reimering Susanne , Muñoz Sebastian , McHardy Alice C. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPhylogeographic methods reconstruct the origin and spread of taxa by inferring locations for internal nodes of the phylogenetic tree from sampling locations of genetic sequences. This is commonly applied to study pathogen outbreaks and spread. To evaluate such reconstructions, the inferred spread paths from root to leaf nodes should be compared to other methods or references. Usually, ancestral state reconstructions are evaluated by node-wise comparisons, therefore requiring the same tree topology, which is usually unknown. Here, we present a method for comparing phylogeographies across different trees inferred from the same taxa. We compare paths of locations by calculating discrete Fréchet distances. By correcting the distances by the number of paths going through a node, we define the Fréchet tree distance as a distance measure between phylogeographies. As an application, we compare phylogeographic spread patterns on trees inferred with different methods from hemagglutinin sequences of H5N1 influenza viruses, finding that both tree inference and ancestral reconstruction cause variation in phylogeographic spread that is not directly reflected by topological differences. The method is suitable for comparing phylogeographies inferred with different tree or phylogeographic inference methods to each other or to a known ground truth, thus enabling a quality assessment of such techniques.
Three-dimensional structure of the orbicularis retaining ligament: an anatomical study using micro-computed tomography
Authors: O Jehoon , Kwon Hyun-Jin , Choi You-Jin , Cho Tae-Hyeon , Yang Hun-Mu 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe orbicularis retaining ligament (ORL) is an important structure for maintaining the eyelid and cheek skin and contouring the characteristic facial appearance. However, the ORL is a delicate structure that is easily damaged in manual dissection. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate the ORL using a micro-computed tomography (mCT) with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) preparation for the acquisition of its three-dimensional information non-destructively. Twenty-two specimens were obtained from non-embalmed human cadaver (mean age 73.7 years). Multidirectional images of the mCT showed that the ORL consisted of continuous tiny plates with a multilayered plexiform shape. The modified Verhoeff Van Gieson staining and immunofluorescence revealed a ligamentous tissue consisting of multiple fibroelastic bundles. The preorbicularis fibres of the ORL had more layers and a more intricate arrangement than its retro-orbicularis fibres. The number, complexity and ambiguity of the ORL fibres increased in the lateral area and their density and extent increased near the dermis. Its dermal anchorage was shown as a confluence of its fibroelastic tissue into the dermis. The ORL comprises a multilayered meshwork of very thin continuous fibroelastic plates and its related cutaneous deformities might be a complicated outcome of subcutaneous tissue shrinkage, lipid accumulation and ORL retention.
Midday meals do not impair mouse memory
Authors: Power Sarah C. , Michalik Mateusz J. , Couture-Nowak Sylvie , Kent Brianne A. , Mistlberger Ralph E. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractNocturnal mice fed in the middle of the light period exhibit food anticipatory rhythms of behavior and physiology under control of food-entrainable circadian clocks in the brain and body. This is presumed to be adaptive by aligning behavior and physiology with predictable mealtimes. This assumption is challenged by a report that daytime feeding schedules impair cognitive processes important for survival, including object memory and contextual fear conditioning assessed at two times of day. To further evaluate these effects, mice were restricted to a 6 h daily meal in the middle of the light or dark period and object memory was tested at four times of day. Object memory was not impaired by daytime feeding, and did not exhibit circadian variation in either group. To determine whether impairment might depend on methodology, experimental procedures used previously to detect impairment were followed. Daytime feeding induced food anticipatory rhythms and shifted hippocampal clock genes, but again did not impair object memory. Spontaneous alternation and contextual fear conditioning were also not impaired. Hippocampal memory function appears more robust to time of day and daytime feeding schedules than previously reported; day-fed mice can remember what they have seen, where they have been, and where it is dangerous.
Contributions of precipitation and temperature to the large scale geographic distribution of fleshy-fruited plant species: Growth form matters
Authors: Zhao Yuan , Cao Honglin , Xu Wubing , Chen Guoke , Lian Juyu , Du Yanjun , Ma Keping 
Published: November 2018

AbstractFruit type, an important reproductive trait, is closely related to reproduction strategy, community dynamics and biotic interactions. However, limited research has explored the geographic distribution of fruit type and the underlying abiotic factors influencing this on a large scale. Here we aim to study large-scale distribution patterns of fleshy-fruited plant species and the most important environmental drivers for different growth forms in utilizing the fruit type and distribution data for over 27000 plant species in China. Results indicated that the proportion of fleshy-fruited species was higher in southeast China, and this pattern was consistent between different growth forms. Overall, the proportion of fleshy-fruited species was higher in wet, warm, and stable environments. Notably, mean annual precipitation had the greatest predictive contribution to woody fleshy-fruited species distributions, but mean annual temperature best predicted the herbaceous fleshy-fruited species distributions. We provide the first map of a large-scale distribution of fleshy-fruited plant species for different growth forms in the northern hemisphere and show that these geographic patterns are mainly determined by contrasting climatic gradients. Recognizing that climate factors have different relationships with different growth forms of fleshy-fruited species advances our knowledge about fruit type and environment. This work contributes to predictions of the global distribution of fleshy-fruited species under future climate change scenarios and provides a reference for continued research on the complex interactions between plants, frugivores and the environment.
Small non-coding RNA expression in mouse nephrogenic mesenchymal progenitors
Authors: Phua Yu Leng , Clugston Andrew , Chen Kevin Hong , Kostka Dennis , Ho Jacqueline 
Published: November 2018

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that are essential for the regulation of gene expression and play critical roles in human health and disease. Here we present comprehensive miRNA profiling data for mouse nephrogenic mesenchymal progenitors, a population of cells enriched for nephron progenitors that give rise to most cell-types of the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney. We describe a miRNA expression in nephrogenic mesenchymal progenitors, with 162 miRNAs differentially expressed in progenitors when compared to whole kidney. We also annotated 49 novel miRNAs in the developing kidney and experimentally validated 4 of them. Our data are available as a public resource, so that it can be integrated into future studies and analyzed in the context of other functional and epigenomic data in kidney development. Specifically, it will be useful in the effort to shed light on molecular mechanisms underlying processes essential for normal kidney development, like nephron progenitor specification, self-renewal and differentiation.
Nanostructured Ti/TiO2–RuO2–La2O3 anodes prepared by sol–gel process and the effect of electrolyte composition on their stability
Authors: Pouladvand Iman , Khameneh Asl Shahin , Hoseini Mir Ghasem , Rezvani Mohammad 
Published: November 2018

Ti/TiO2–RuO2–La2O3 anodes were prepared by sol–gel process. The main aim of this work was to study nanostructured TiO2–RuO2–La2O3 coatings and the effect of electrolyte composition on their stability. For this purpose, coatings with different molar ratios applied on titanium substrate. Then, the morphology and electrochemical properties of the anodes in 0.5 M NaCl and 1 M H2SO4 solutions were studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, potentiostatic polarisation, cyclic voltammetry, and accelerated corrosion test (ACT). The results showed that the morphology of all the coatings was cracked‐mud microstructure and cracks with a width of 50–500 nm produced in the coatings. It was also observed that corrosion resistance, stability, and electrocatalytic properties of the anodes improve with increased La2O3 content. Then, the optimum TiO2–RuO2–La2O3 composition is obtained with a molar ratio of 70:15:15. Besides, the lifetime and stability of the anodes in NaCl solution were higher than H2SO4, so that the reduction of active elements in the coating with a molar ratio of 70:15:15 after ACT was obtained about 64.7 and 77.4% of before ACT in NaCl and H2SO4, respectively.
Measuring the filamentary structure of interstellar clouds through wavelets
Authors: Ossenkopf-Okada V. , Stepanov R. 
Published: November 2018

Context.The ubiquitous presence of filamentary structures in the interstellar medium asks for an unbiased characterization of their properties including a stability analysis.Aims.We propose a novel technique to measure the spectrum of filaments in any two-dimensional data set. By comparing the power in isotropic and anisotropic structures we can measure the relative importance of spherical and cylindrical collapse modes.Methods.Using anisotropic wavelets we can quantify and distinguish local and global anisotropies and measure the size distribution of filaments. The wavelet analysis does not require any assumptions on the alignment or shape of filaments in the maps, but directly measures their typical spatial dimensions. In a rigorous test program, we calibrate the scale dependence of the method and test the angular and spatial sensitivity. We apply the method to molecular line maps from magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations and observed column-density maps fromHerschelobservations.Results.When applying the anisotropic wavelet analysis to the MHD data, we find that the observed filament sizes depend on the combination of magnetic-field-dominated density–velocity correlations and radiative transfer effects. This can be exploited by observing tracers with different optical depth to measure the transition from a globally ordered large-scale structure to small-scale filaments with entangled field lines. The unbiased view toHerschelcolumn-density maps does not confirm a universal characteristic filament width. The map of the Polaris Flare shows an almost scale-free filamentary spectrum up to the size of the dominating filament of about 0.4 pc. For the Aquila molecular cloud the range of filament widths is limited to 0.05–0.2 pc. The filaments in Polaris show no preferential direction in contrast to the global alignment that we trace in Aquila.Conclusions.By comparing the power in isotropic and anisotropic structures we can measure the relative importance of spherical and cylindrical collapse modes and their spatial distribution.
The luminous late-time emission of the type-Ic supernova iPTF15dtg – evidence for powering from a magnetar?
Authors: Taddia F. , Sollerman J. , Fremling C. , Karamehmetoglu E. , Barbarino C. , Lunnan R. , West S. , Gal-Yam A. 
Published: November 2018

Context. The transient iPTF15dtg is a type-Ic supernova (SN) showing a broad light curve around maximum light, consistent with massive ejecta if we assume a radioactive-powering scenario.
Aims. We aim to study the late-time light curve of iPTF15dtg, which turned out to be extraordinarily luminous for a stripped-envelope (SE) SN, and investigate possible powering mechanisms.
Methods. We compare the observed light curves to those of other SE SNe and also to models for the 56Co decay. We analyze and compare the spectra to nebular spectra of other SE SNe. We build a bolometric light curve and fit it with different models, including powering by radioactivity, magnetar powering, and a combination of the two.
Results. Between 150 and 750 d post-explosion, the luminosity of iPTF15dtg declined by merely two magnitudes instead of the six magnitudes expected from 56Co decay. This is the first spectroscopically regular SE SN found to show this behavior. The model with both radioactivity and magnetar powering provides the best fit to the light curve and appears to be the most realistic powering mechanism. An alternative mechanism might be circumstellar-medium (CSM) interaction. However, the spectra of iPTF15dtg are very similar to those of other SE SNe, and do not show signs of strong CSM interaction.
Conclusions. The object iPTF15dtg is the first spectroscopically regular SE SN whose light curve displays such clear signs of a magnetar contributing to its late-time powering. Given this result, the mass of the ejecta needs to be revised to a lower value, and therefore the progenitor mass could be significantly lower than the previously estimated > 35 M⊙.