bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cerebrospinal fluid–suppressed T2‐weighted MR imaging at 7 T for human brain
Authors: Pan Jullie W. , Moon Chan Hong , Hetherington Hoby P. 
Published: November 2018

PurposeT2‐weighted lesional imaging is most commonly performed using inversion recovery turbo spin echoes. At 7 T, however, this acquisition is limited for specific absorption rate and resolution. This work describes and implements a method to generate CSF‐suppressed T2‐weighted imaging.MethodsThe strategy uses a driven equilibrium spin‐echo preparation within an inversion recovery with multiple 3D gradient‐echo imaging blocks. Images are combined using the self‐normalization approach, which achieves CSF suppression through optimized timing of individual blocks and minimizes sources of variation due to coil receptivity, T2*, and proton density. Simulations of the magnetization‐prepared fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery gradient‐echo (MPFLAGRE) method over T1 and T2 relaxation values are performed, and in vivo demonstrations using an 8 2 transceiver array in healthy controls are shown.ResultsThe specific absorption rate of the calculated MPFLAGRE sequence is 11.1 ± 0.5 W (n = 5 volunteers), which is 74 ± 2% of the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. This method acquires both contrasts for CSF suppression with detection of long T2 components and T2‐weighted imaging in a single acquisition. In healthy controls, the former contrast generates increased signal in the cortical rim and ependyma. A comparison is shown with a conventional 3D SPACE fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery acquisition, and sensitivity to pathology is demonstrated in an epilepsy patient.ConclusionAs applied with the 8 2 transceiver, the MPFLAGRE sequence generates both whole‐brain contrast suitable for lesional and T2‐weighted imaging at 7 T in fewer than 10 minutes within the US Food and Drug Administration's specific absorption rate guidelines.
Prevalence and heritability of benign prostatic hyperplasia and LUTS in men aged 40 years or older in Zhengzhou rural areas
Authors: Yue Limin , Wang Tao , Ge Yongchao , Ge Mengying , Zhang Chengda , Hou Quanliang , Wang Wenhua , Tian Huizi , Ren Bingnan , Du Binghui , Zhang Weidong 
Published: November 2018

BackgroundBenign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common disease among aging males, but no reports have addressed the prevalence of BPH in Zhengzhou. Therefore, we aimed to understand the prevalence of BPH in men aged 40 years or older in Zhengzhou's rural areas through a cross‐sectional study and analyzed the correlation with epidemiologic factors and the heritability of the disease.Materials and MethodsA multistage sampling method was used to randomly select male respondents in Zhengzhou's rural areas. Men who were 40 years of age or older and their first‐degree relatives were subjected to the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and related examinations. Heritability was calculated according to the prevalence of the first‐degree relatives in the case and control groups.ResultsThe prevalence of BPH was 10.04%. Its prevalence increased with age, from 2.17% in men aged 40‐44 years to 31.11% in men aged 80 years or older. The average volume of the prostate was 17.16 ± 7.96 mL, and the average IPSS was 5.89 ± 5.91. The analysis of the correlation between the associated risk factors and BPH revealed that prostatitis and a history of prostatic hyperplasia were significant factors. Obesity, smoking, drinking, diabetes, and hypertension were not correlated with BPH. Of the 94 first‐degree relatives of the cases, 53 had BPH (56.38%); of the 106 first‐degree relatives of the controls, five had BPH (4.72%). Heritability appeared to account for 40.48% of BPH cases. The heritability of incomplete emptying, frequency, intermittency, urgency, weak stream, straining, and nocturia was 43.28, 71.37, 9.67, 5.67, 2.70, 53.36, and 19.12%, respectively.ConclusionThe total prevalence of BPH in men aged 40 years or older in Zhengzhou's rural areas was 10.04%, and the heritability of prostatic hyperplasia was 40.48%.
Dual benefit of supplementary oral 5‐aminolevulinic acid to pelvic radiotherapy in a syngenic prostate cancer model
Authors: Miyake Makito , Tanaka Nobumichi , Hori Shunta , Ohnishi Sayuri , Takahashi Hiroo , Fujii Tomomi , Owari Takuya , Ohnishi Kenta , Iida Kota , Morizawa Yosuke , Gotoh Daisuke , Itami Yoshitaka , Nakai Yasushi , Inoue Takeshi , Anai Satoshi , Torimoto Kazumasa , Aoki Katsuya , Fujimoto Kiyohide 
Published: November 2018

BackgroundNormal tissue damage caused by radiotherapy remains the largest dose‐limiting factor in radiotherapy for cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the supplementary oral 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to standard radiation therapy as a novel radioprotective approach that would not compromise the antitumor effect of radiation in normal rectal and bladder mucosa in a syngenic prostate cancer (PCa) model.MethodsTo evaluate the radiosensitizing effect of ALA in vitro, clonogenic survival assays were performed in DU145, PC3, and MyC‐CaP cell lines. To evaluate the effect of ALA in vivo a single dose (25 Gy) of radiation with or without ALA was given to healthy mice. Next, a syngenic PCa model of MyC‐CaP cells in FVB mice was created, and multiple doses (12 Gy total) of radiation were administered to the mouse pelvic area with or without ALA administration. Resected tumors, recta, and urinary bladders were immunostained with antibodies against Ki‐67, γ‐H2AX, CD204, and uroplakin‐III. Total RNA levels in recta and urinary bladders were analyzed via RT2 Profiler polymerase chain reaction (PCR) arrays related to “Stress & Toxicity PathwayFinder,” “Mitochondria,” and “Inflammasomes.”ResultsThe addition of in vitro single or in vivo repeated administration of exogenous ALA acted as a radiosensitizer for PCa cells. Rectal toxicity was characterized by histological changes including loss of surface epithelium, fibrosis, severe DNA damage, and the aggregation of M2 macrophages. Urinary bladder toxicity was characterized by bladder wall thickening and urothelium denuding. The higher dose (300 mg/kg/day) of ALA exerted a better radioprotective profile than the lower dose (30 mg/kg/day) in normal recta and urinary bladders. Out of the 252 genes tested, 35 (13.4%) were detected as relevant genes which may be involved in the radioprotective role of ALA administration. These included interleukin‐1a (IL‐1a), IL‐1b, IL‐12, chemokine (C‐X‐C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), CXCL3, and NLRP3.ConclusionsOur study provides novel and comprehensive insights into the dual benefits including radiosensitizing PCa tumor tissues and radioprotection of normal pelvic organs from radiation therapy. Knowledge of the underlying mechanism will facilitate the search for optimal treatment parameters for supplemental oral ALA during radiotherapy for PCa.
Finite frequency H∞ control of singularly perturbed Euler‐Lagrange systems: An artificial delay approach
Authors: Xu Jing , Niu Yugang , Fridman Emilia , Fridman Leonid 
Published: November 2018

SummaryIn this paper, we show that small artificial delays in the feedback loops operating in different time scales may stabilize singularly perturbed systems (SPSs). An artificial delay approach is proposed for the robust stabilization and L2‐gain analysis of SPSs in the finite frequency domain. A two‐time‐scale delayed static output feedback controller is designed, in which the controller gains are formulated via a linear matrix inequality (LMI) algorithm. A distinctive feature of the proposed algorithm is setting controller parameters as free variables, which increases the degrees of freedom in controller design and leads to more flexibility in solving LMIs. Moreover, the proposed method is further extended to analyze the finite frequency system specifications of SPSs. The L2‐gain performance analysis is conducted for parameter‐independent subsystems in their dominant frequency ranges, and the disturbance attenuation level of the original high‐order system is then estimated. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed design method is verified in an active suspension system subject to multiple finite frequency disturbance.
Interaction of Indole Derivative with Human Serum Albumin: A Combined Spectroscopic and Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Pawar Suma K. , Kalalbandi Veerendra Kumar A. , Jaldappagari Seetharamappa 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn the present work, we have studied the interaction of synthesized indole derivative (ID) with a model protein, human serum albumin (HSA). Various spectroscopic and molecular dynamic simulation methods were employed to characterize the binding between ID and HSA. ID showed strong binding affinity towards HSA (1.86x106 M−1) and quenched the fluorescence intensity of HSA by dynamic quenching mechanism. The existence of dynamic quenching mechanism in ID‐HSA interaction was further confirmed by lifetime measurement study. ID‐HSA interaction was favored by hydrophobic forces. The binding site for ID on HSA was examined by site probe competitive experiments and molecular docking studies. The results revealed that ID was bound to HSA primarily at site I of subdomain IIA. Absorption, 3D fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) studies provided information on the conformational and microenvironmental changes in HSA upon binding to ID.
Semiconductor α‐Fe2O3 Hematite Fabricated Electrode for Sensitive Detection of Phenolic Pollutants
Authors: Rahman Mohammed M. , Fabregat Francisco , Guerrero Antonio , Asiri Abdullah M. , Bisquert Juan 
Published: November 2018

AbstractHematite (α‐Fe2O3) semiconductor is an abundant and non‐toxic catalyst for different (photo)electrochemical reactions. In this work, a selective p‐nitrophenol sensor was developed by fabricating a thin‐layer of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with 5% nafion coating binders onto α‐Fe2O3 thin film synthesized by a simple and inexpensive process. High sensitivity including linear dynamic range, long‐term stability, and enhanced electrochemical performance towards p‐nitrophenol were achieved by a reliable current‐voltage method. A linear calibration curve was observed over a wide range of p‐nitrophenol concentrations. Very low detection limit (0.6±0.02 nM), good limit of quantification (2.0 nM) and high sensor sensitivity (K=74.1 μA⋅cm−2) are calculated based on noise to signal ratio of ∼3 N/S. Very importantly, the detection range covers over 7 orders of magnitude concentrations, from nM to mM. Figures of merits are comparable with best reported results whilst using a very simple device configuration. We show that hematite is an excellent material for the development of chemical sensors to detect hazardous compounds for environmental safety in a broad scale of concentrations.
Anti‐Proliferative 1,4‐Dihydropyridine and Pyridine Derivatives Synthesized through a Catalyst‐Free, One‐Pot Multi‐Component Reaction
Authors: Sharma Mayank G. , Vala Ruturajsinh M. , Patel Divyang M. , Lagunes Irene , Fernandes Miguel X. , Padrón José M. , Ramkumar Venkatachalam , Gardas Ramesh L. , Patel Hitendra M. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn this study, we explored the catalyst‐free one‐pot multi‐component synthesis of 1,4‐dihydropyridine derivatives by following green chemistry protocol. The present approach shows the significant outcomes such as yield up to 94%, catalyst‐free reaction, easy workup procedure and shorter period of reaction time. In this work we also highlighted the comparison of the yields obtained under both neat and solvent media as well. The anti‐proliferative activity of all newly synthesized compounds has been assessed against six human solid tumor cell lines. Seven compounds show good activity against single cell line whereas, compounds having a pyridine scaffold showed significant anti‐proliferative activity.
Defect Chemistry in Discharge Products of Li–O2 Batteries
Authors: Dai Wenrui , Cui Xinhang , Zhou Yin , Zhao Yong , Wang Li , Peng Luming , Chen Wei 
Published: November 2018

AbstractLi–O2 batteries, possessing the highest theoretical specific energy density among all known Li‐ion‐based batteries, demonstrate great potential as energy storage devices for powering electric vehicles. However, their battery performance is significantly limited by the insulating nature of the discharge product Li2O2, which has a wide bandgap (4–5 eV), resulting in high charge overpotential. Defect engineering of the discharge product emerges as a very promising strategy to improve the electrical conductivity and hence reduce the charge overpotential. The aim of this review is to highlight recent advances and progress in understanding and controlling the defect chemistry of discharge products in Li–O2 batteries. First, the theoretical perspectives of defects in Li2O2 are reviewed, with particular emphasis on defect design and engineering strategies to significantly improve the charge transport properties of Li2O2. Then intermediate defects in Li2O2 formed during the discharge and charge processes and materials with induced defects, including Li2−

x
O2, doped Li2O2, Li2O2 with surface/grain boundaries, and amorphous Li2O2, which are tailored by engineered catalysts and electrolyte additives are discussed. Finally, other alternative energy carriers for new energy storage chemistry of Li–O2 batteries, such as lithium superoxide, lithium hydroxide, and lithium carbonate, will also be discussed.
Appraisal of patient-reported outcome measures in analogous diseases and recommendations for use in phase II and III clinical trials of pyruvate kinase deficiency
Authors: Salek M. S. , Ionova T. , Johns J. R. , Oliva E. N. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPurposePyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD) is a rare disease and understanding of its epidemiology and associated burden remains limited. With no current curative therapy, clinical manifestations can be life threatening, clinically managed by maintaining adequate hemoglobin levels through transfusion and subsequent support, but with frequent complications. Treatment goals are to maintain/improve the patient’s quality of life. With new therapies, reliable, valid, and relevant patient-reported outcome (PRO) tools are required for use in clinical trials.MethodsSystematic literature search identified no current PRO tools for capturing/measuring the impact of PKD and treatments in clinical trials. Therefore, the search strategy was revised to consider conditions analogous to PKD in terms of symptoms and impacts that might serve as parallels to the experience in PKD; this included sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and hemolytic anemia. Psychometric properties, strengths, and weakness of selected appropriate PRO instruments were compared, and recommendations made for choice of PRO tools.ResultsIn adult populations, EORTC QLQ C30 and SF-36v2 are recommended, the former being a basic minimum, covering generic HRQoL, and core symptoms such as fatigue. In pediatric populations, PedsQL Generic Core Scale to measure HRQoL and PedsQL MFS scale to measure fatigue are recommended.ConclusionsSome symptoms/life impacts may be unique to PKD and not observable in analogous conditions. A ‘Physico-Psychosocial Model’ derived from the ‘Medical Model’ is proposed to form the basis for a hypothesized conceptual framework to address the development of PKD-specific PRO instruments.
Evidence of Concomitantly Increasing Stroke and Dementia Prevalence among those 80 Years and Older in Ontario, Canada, 2003-04 to 2012-13
Authors: Cerasuolo Joshua O. , Azarpazhooh Mahmoud Reza , Kapral Moira K. , Cipriano Lauren E. , Hachinski Vladimir 
Published: November 2018

AbstractAmong those aged 80 years and older in Ontario, Canada, stroke and dementia incidence declined concomitantly from 2002-03 to 2013-14. This study aimed to report the concurrent temporal trends of stroke and dementia prevalence in Ontario among the same age demographic. The prevalence of both stroke and dementia increased from 2003-04 to 2012-13 in both sexes and the magnitude in which prevalence of dementia increased over time exceeded that of stroke. The substantial increase in the prevalence of dementia may be because of increased recognition and diagnoses of dementia and increased survival of stroke patients who are at higher risk of developing dementia.
Carbon Isotopes as Tracers of Organic and Inorganic Carbon in Baltic Sea Sediments
Authors: Lujanienė G , Li H-C , Mažeika J , Paškauskas R , Remeikaitė-Nikienė N , Garnaga-Budrė G , Levinskaitė L , Jokšas K , Bugailiškytė D , Šemčuk S , Kačergius A , Stankevičius A , Stirbys V , Povinec P P 
Published: November 2018

AbstractDistributions of Δ14CTOC studied in bottom sediments collected during 2011–2016 in the Curonian Lagoon and in the open Baltic Sea indicated wide variations of Δ14CTOC values. Laboratory experiments on differential carbon utilization by Pseudomonas putida isolated from bottom sediments were carried out for better understanding of impacts of different sources on Δ14CTOC variations. Preferential glucose uptake (up to 80%) as a carbon source and a rather low (2–10%) inorganic carbon incorporation was found in media with diesel fuel. Pseudomonas putida a specific biomarker analyzed in biomass cultivated on the media with different carbon sources has been used to characterize microbial communities responsible for degradation of organic substances in bottom sediments. Large 14C depletions observed in sediments collected in the Gotland Deep of the Baltic Sea may indicate leakage from dumped chemical weapons.
Radiocarbon-Dated Vegetal Remains from the Cave Ice Deposits of Velebit Mountain, Croatia
Authors: Kern Z , Bočić N , Sipos Gy 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACTOrganic material and a few tree trunks have been recovered from the shrinking ice deposits of Velebit Mountain, Croatia. Ten radiocarbon (14C) dates, seven new measurements and three recalibrated ones, from three cave ice deposits were evaluated. The new data argue for the preservation of a ~1000-yr-old deposit in the Kugina Ice Cave and a <500-yr-old accumulation in the Ledena Pit. A 14C age suggests that the ice in the lower section of Vukušić cave ice deposit is very likely older than 3500 yr. The work is in progress to verify this suggestion. Evaluation of the temporal distribution of the calibrated ages of the 14C-dated vegetal remains allowed constraining the accumulation and ablation history of cave ice in the northern and central Velebit. Periods lacking vegetal remains in these cave ice deposits (before the 11th century and in the 15th century) tend to match with similar patterns from other cave ice deposits from the Eastern Alps and the Swiss Jura Mountains, suggesting large-scale coherence regulating European cave ice mass balance changes over the past ~1200 yr.
Probabilistic14C Age-Depth Models Aiding the Reconstruction of Holocene Paleoenvironmental Evolution of a Marshland from Southern Hungary
Authors: Törőcsik Tünde , Gulyás Sándor , Molnár Dávid , Tapody Réka , Sümegi Balázs P , Szilágyi Gábor , Molnár Mihály , Jakab Gusztáv , Sümegi Pál , Novák Zsolt 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACTThis paper presents first chronological results for a Holocene marshland system from the southern part of the Danube-Tisza Interfluve. Radiocarbon (14C) ages were used to build age-depth models relying of probabilistic tools. Four models have been built: a linear one using dates gained via simple calibration, a P_Sequence model, fitting a polynomial function to calibrated dates; a Gamma_Sequence considering priori given and posterior accumulation rates have been constructed. As there was no significant difference between the mean values of individual models all seem suitable for establishing a reliable chronology despite differences in 95% CI ranges. While P_Sequence models underestimated SR, values calculated from the polynomial model were not significantly different from those of the G_Sequence. Based on multiproxy geochemical, sedimentological, paleoecological data the evolution of the system was reconstructed, covering a timespan of ca. 13,000 years starting from 12,000 BC and lasting until 1300 AD. Highest accumulation rates are dated to the Early Middle Ages from the 11th century. Several climate changes could have been identified which are present in other Hungarian and Western European records too, such as the 5b IRD event at ca. 5800 BC, a humid phase around 1600 BC, and a cool humid phase around the 6th century AD.
Szemerédi's Theorem in the Primes
Authors: Rimanić Luka , Wolf Julia 
Published: November 2018

AbstractGreen and Tao famously proved in 2005 that any subset of the primes of fixed positive density contains arbitrarily long arithmetic progressions. Green had previously shown that, in fact, any subset of the primes of relative density tending to zero sufficiently slowly contains a three-term progression. This was followed by work of Helfgott and de Roton, and Naslund, who improved the bounds on the relative density in the case of three-term progressions. The aim of this note is to present an analogous result for longer progressions by combining a quantified version of the relative Szemerédi theorem given by Conlon, Fox and Zhao with Henriot's estimates of the enveloping sieve weights.
New host–parasite records of siphonostomatoid copepods infesting elasmobranch fishes in Tunisian waters
Authors: Youssef Feriel , Tlig Zouari Sabiha , Benmansour Bouchra 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBetween 2013 and 2015, 2092 chondrichthyan fish belonging to eight species were collected along the Tunisian coast and examined for parasitic copepods. Eleven different species of copepods representing five families, Caligidae, Eudactylinidae, Kroyeriidae, Lernaeopodidae and Pandaridae, were collected. Three of these species are reported for the first time in Tunisia (Pseudocharopinus malleus,Perissopus dentatusandNesippus orientalis) and one new species ofKroyeriawas found. In addition, we identified a number of new host records including: the presence ofEudactylinella albaonBathytoshia centroura,Dasyatis pastinaca,Mustelus mustelusandScyliorhinus canicula. This is the first record ofNemesissp. onB. centrourain Tunisia. We report here for the first time the presence ofPseudocharopinus bicaudatusandPseudocharopinus concavusonBathytoshia centrouraandLernaeopoda galeionRaja clavata.
The ‘standard of civilization’ in international law: Intellectual perspectives from pre-war Japan
Authors: Shahabuddin Mohammad 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThis article establishes the normative connection between Japan’s responses to regional hegemonic order prior to the nineteenth century and its subsequent engagement with the European standard of civilization. I argue that the Japanese understanding of the ‘standard of civilization’ in the nineteenth century was informed by the historical pattern of its responses to hegemony and the discourse on cultural superiority in the Far East that shifted from Sinocentrism to the unbroken Imperial lineage to the national-spirit. Although Japanese scholars accepted and engaged with the European standard of civilization after the forced opening up of Japan to the Western world in the mid-nineteenth century, they did so for instrumental purposes and soon translated ‘civilization’ into a language of imperialism to reassert supremacy in the region. Through intellectual historiography, this narrative contextualizes Japan’s engagement with the European standard of civilization, and offers an analytical framework not only to go beyond Eurocentrism but also to identify various other loci of hegemony, which are connected through the same language of power.