bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cloud‐based supervision of training in focused cardiac ultrasound – A scalable solution?
Authors: Canty David J , Vijayakumar Rukman , Royse Colin F 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIntroduction/PurposeIncreasing demand for training in focused cardiac ultrasound (FCU) is constrained by availability of supervisors to supervise training on patients. We designed and tested the feasibility of a cloud‐based (internet) system that enables remote supervision and monitoring of the learning curve of image quality and interpretative accuracy for one novice learner.MethodsAfter initial training in FCU (iHeartScan and FCU TTE Course, University of Melbourne), a novice submitted the images and interpretation of 30 practice FCU examinations on hospitalised patients to a supervisor via a cloud‐based portal. Electronic feedback was provided by the supervisor prior to the novice performing each FCU examination, which included image quality score (for each view) and interpretation errors. The primary outcome of the study was the number of FCU scans required for two consecutive scans to score: (i) above the lower limit of acceptable total image quality score (64%), and (ii) below the upper limit of acceptable interpretive errors (15%).ResultsThe number of FCU practice examinations required to meet adequate image quality and interpretation error standard was 10 and 13, respectively. Improvement in image acquisition continued, remaining within limits of acceptable image quality. Conversely, interpretive in‐accuracy (error > 15%) continued.ConclusionThis electronic FCU mentoring system circumvents (but should not replace) the requirement for bed‐side supervision, which may increase the capacity of supervision of physicians learning FCU. The system also allows real‐time tracking of their progress and identifies weaknesses that may assist in guiding further training.
An alternative derivation of Harville's restricted log likelihood function for variance component estimation
Authors: Xu Shizhong 
Published: November 2018

AbstractEstimation of variance components in linear mixed models is important in clinical trial and longitudinal data analysis. It is also important in animal and plant breeding for accurately partitioning total phenotypic variance into genetic and environmental variances. Restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method is often preferred over the maximum likelihood (ML) method for variance component estimation because REML takes into account the lost degree of freedom resulting from estimating the fixed effects. The original restricted likelihood function involves a linear transformation of the original response variable (a collection of error contrasts). Harville's final form of the restricted likelihood function does not involve the transformation and thus is much easier to manipulate than the original restricted likelihood function. There are several different ways to show that the two forms of the restricted likelihood are equivalent. In this study, I present a much simpler way to derive Harville's restricted likelihood function. I first treat the fixed effects as random effects and call such a mixed model a pseudo random model (PDRM). I then construct a likelihood function for the PDRM. Finally, I let the variance of the pseudo random effects be infinity and show that the limit of the likelihood function of the PDRM is the restricted likelihood function.
Biochemistry laboratory reports: Filling in the introduction and discussion
Authors: Deutch Charles E. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractLaboratory reports written in the style of a standard scientific article are commonly used to assess student learning in biochemistry laboratory courses. While most students can complete the Materials and Methods or Results sections successfully, many have difficulty with the Introduction and Discussion. They fail to place their data in a larger experimental context or to compare their results to those previously published. To address this issue in a laboratory course focusing on l‐lactate dehydrogenase, a new exercise was introduced that was designed 1) to provide more background information about l‐lactate dehydrogenase; 2) to give students additional experience in using PubMed and Web of Science to locate specific papers about l‐lactate dehydrogenase; 3) to introduce the major bioinformatics databases at the National Center for Biological Information, ExPASy (Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics), BRENDA (Braunschweig Enzyme Database), and the Protein Data Bank; 4) to allow students to recover detailed information about l‐lactate dehydrogenases; and 5) to provide practice in reading a research article that is similar to what they do in the lab. The students completed a data sheet summarizing these activities and then prepared three laboratory reports. The lab reports improved over the course of the semester and were qualitatively better than in past years. The materials developed for this laboratory course can be adapted to similar projects that use another protein as a model system. They could also be modified for use in Course‐based Undergraduate Research Experiences or research projects for undergraduate or graduate students. © 2018 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 46(6):619–622, 2018.
A Biphasic Medium Slows Down the Transfer Hydrogenation and Allows a Selective Catalytic Deuterium Labeling of Amines from Imines Mediated by a Ru−H/D+ Exchange in D2O
Authors: Ruiz‐Castañeda Margarita , Carrión M. Carmen , Santos Lucía , Manzano Blanca R. , Espino Gustavo , Jalón Félix A. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe transfer hydrogenation (TH) of several aldimines has been studied using [RuCl(p‐cymene)(dmbpy)]BF4, 1, (dmbpy=4,4′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine) as a precatalyst. Both neat water and a biphasic water/toluene mixture (w/t) have been successfully used as solvents. In the w/t medium the corresponding precursors, amine and aldehyde, were also used as substrates for a transfer hydrogenative reductive amination. Selective deuterium labeling of the resulting alkylated amines was the main goal of this work. On using D2O the D‐content in the amine was negligible but a high level of D‐incorporation was achieved in D2O/toluene. According to calculations, this is due to the effect of the relative rates of the hydride transfer and that of the RuH/D+ exchange. The incorporation of deuterium increases with time as a consequence of the reduction in the hydride transfer rate as the substrate concentration diminishes. The recyclability assays performed reflect the importance of pH in the selectivity of the TH towards the imine or the aldehyde resulting from imine hydrolysis.
Nonconjugated Hydrocarbons as Rigid‐Linear Motifs: Isosteres for Material Sciences and Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry
Authors: Locke Gemma M. , Bernhard Stefan S. R. , Senge Mathias O. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractNonconjugated hydrocarbons, like bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, bicyclo[2.2.2]octane, triptycene, and cubane are a unique class of rigid linkers. Due to their similarity in size and shape they are useful mimics of classic benzene moieties in drugs, so‐called bioisosteres. Moreover, they also fulfill an important role in material sciences as linear linkers, in order to arrange various functionalities in a defined spatial manner. In this Review article, recent developments and usages of these special, rectilinear systems are discussed. Furthermore, we focus on covalently linked, nonconjugated linear arrangements and discuss the physical and chemical properties and differences of individual linkers, as well as their application in material and medicinal sciences.
π‐Conjugated Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Photoanodes: Revealing the Photochemical Behavior through In Situ X‐Ray Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Hsu Chia‐Shuo , Węcławski Marek K. , Koszarna Beata , Gryko Daniel T. , Chen Hao Ming 
Published: November 2018

AbstractSmall‐molecule organic semiconductors exhibit great potential for the photoelectrochemical oxidation of water because of their n‐type semiconductor nature and their tunable bandgaps. In this work, several head‐to‐tail bis‐coumarins were synthesized and their photophysical properties characterized. Their characteristics as n‐type semiconductors were modified by varying the electronic character of substituents at positions 1 and 7, which enabled the energy level of the LUMO and the photoinduced charge‐carrier‐transfer efficiency to be modulated. X‐Ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy confirmed that the charge transfer is a crucial factor contributing to the resulting activity of the photoanode. The photoactivity of the photoanodes towards water oxidation was revealed to be governed by both the LUMO energy level and transfer efficiency of the photoinduced charge carriers. Among the studied molecules, a bis‐coumarin with benzothiophenyl substituents showed the greatest potential as light absorber for photoelectrochemical water oxidation.
Strategies for Pathway Analysis Using GWAS and WGS Data
Authors: White Marquitta J. , Yaspan Brian L. , Veatch Olivia J. , Goddard Pagé , Risse‐Adams Oona S. , Contreras Maria G. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractSingle‐allele study designs, commonly used in genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) as well as the more recently developed whole genome sequencing (WGS) studies, are a standard approach for investigating the relationship of common variation within the human genome to a given phenotype of interest. However, single‐allele association results published for many GWAS studies represent only the tip of the iceberg for the information that can be extracted from these datasets. The primary analysis strategy for GWAS entails association analysis in which only the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the strongest p‐values are declared statistically significant due to issues arising from multiple testing and type I errors. Factors such as locus heterogeneity, epistasis, and multiple genes conferring small effects contribute to the complexity of the genetic models underlying phenotype expression. Thus, many biologically meaningful associations having lower effect sizes at individual genes are overlooked, making it difficult to separate true associations from a sea of false‐positive associations. Organizing these individual SNPs into biologically meaningful groups to look at the overall effects of minor perturbations to genes and pathways is desirable. This pathway‐based approach provides researchers with insight into the functional foundations of the phenotype being studied and allows testing of various genetic scenarios. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Influence of Surface‐Related Phenomena on Mechanism, Selectivity, and Conversion of TiO2‐Induced Photocatalytic Reactions
Authors: Parrino Francesco , De Pasquale Claudio , Palmisano Leonardo 
Published: November 2018

AbstractHeterogeneous photocatalysis is the result of an inextricable connection of several factors differently contributing to the overall process. Photon absorption is the “sine qua non” condition for the reaction to occur. In fact, photons can be considered as immaterial reactants, and all of the phenomena related to the interaction of light–matter play a prominent role. However, other factors contribute in a concerted way to address the reaction, so that the relative contribution of each of them is often difficult to evaluate. In this framework, the present paper highlights some aspects of the interaction of TiO2 surface‐adsorbate species that could be underestimated and their influence on the conversion, selectivity, and mechanisms of photocatalytic reactions. To this aim, some paradigmatic examples on the adsorption of water and organics on TiO2 are reported.
Plant phenological asynchrony and community structure of gall‐inducing insects associated with a tropical tree species
Authors: Fagundes Marcilio , Xavier Renata Cristiane Ferreira , Faria Maurício Lopes , Lopes Laura Giovanna Oliveira , Cuevas‐Reyes Pablo , Reis‐Junior Ronaldo 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe dynamics of occurrence of target organs in plant populations produces windows of opportunity that directly and indirectly affect the structure of herbivore communities. However, mechanisms that drive herbivore specialization between resource patches are still poorly known. In this study, we tested three hypotheses related to variation in host plant phenology and community structure (i.e., composition, richness, and abundance) of gall‐forming species: (a) plants with early leaf‐flushing in the season will have greater vegetative growth and high contents of secondary chemical compounds; (b) gall‐inducing insect community structure changes among temporary resource patches of the host; and (c) interspecific competition is a probable mechanism that drives gall‐inducing insect community structure on Copaifera langsdorffii. We monitored daily a total of 102 individuals of the super‐host C. langsdorffii from August 2012 to May 2013, to characterize the leaf flushing time of each host plant. The leaf flushing time had a positive relationship with the number of folioles per branch and a negative relationship with branch growth. We sampled a total of 4,906 galls belonging to 24 gall‐inducing insect species from 102 individuals of C. langsdorffii. In spite of some gall‐inducing species presented high abundance on early leaf‐flushing plants, direct and indirect effects of plant phenology on galling insect abundance was species dependent. At the community level, our study revealed that the quality and quantity of plant resources did not affect the richness and abundance of gall‐inducing insects associated with C. langsdorffii. However, the richness and composition of gall‐inducing species varied according to the variation in leaf flushing time of the host plant. The results of null model analysis showed that galls co‐occurrence on C. langsdorffii trees differ more than expected by chance and that interspecific competition can be one potential mechanism structuring this gall‐inducing insect community.
Cytomorphology‐based microchip with contour extraction processing for bioparticle analysis
Authors: Fu Yusheng , Ji Hong 
Published: November 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we demonstrated an integrated digital image processing framework that is training‐free for high throughput beads or biological cells detection and enumeration by the bead aggregation splitting algorithm. By making contour extraction processing, the aggregated beads can be clearly split for precise counting. It can be potentially embedded on‐chip in a miniaturized medical equipment to automatically adjust illumination condition and de‐noise. This study demonstrates that the existing hematological analysis can be updated from manual classification and counting by high‐speed and precise machine‐based programs.
Highly Stable Dual‐Phase Membrane Based on Ce0.9Gd0.1O2–δ—La2NiO4+δ for Oxygen Permeation under Pure CO2 Atmosphere
Authors: Han Ning , Wei Qing , Tian Hao , Zhang Shuguang , Zhu Zhonghua , Liu Jian , Liu Shaomin 
Published: November 2018

Dense oxygen ion–conducting ceramic membranes with CO2 resistance can promote many advanced applications such as membrane reactors for green chemical synthesis and oxy‐fuel combustion for clean energy delivery. The state‐of‐the‐art perovskite oxide membranes are characterized by their high O2 flux but low stability in a CO2‐containing atmosphere. To solve this problem, dual‐phase membranes have captured the imagination of researchers. Herein, a novel dual‐phase hollow fiber membrane with a composition of 40 wt% Ce0.9Gd0.1O2–δ (GDC)–60 wt% La2NiO4+δ (LNO) is developed via a combined phase inversion sintering process. During the high temperature treatment, La‐doping behavior is observed with La leaching out from the LNO phase and diffusing into the GDC phase. This dual phase membrane displays the O2 flux of 1.47 at 950 °C, which is reduced by 10% to 1.31 mL min−1 cm−2 when the sweep gas is switched from helium to pure CO2. Such minor O2 flux reduction is due to the strong CO2 adsorption on membrane surface occupying the O2 vacancies without permanent membrane damage, which is fully eliminated by an inert gas purge. Such a robust dual‐phase membrane exhibits the potential to overcome the low stability problem under the CO2‐containing atmosphere.
How do we take the pulse of an aquatic ecosystem? Current and historical approaches to measuring ecosystem integrity
Authors: Maloney Erin M. 
Published: November 2018

Abstract

Global environmental monitoring has indicated that the structure and function of some aquatic ecosystems has been significantly altered by human activities. There are many potential causes for these changes; however, one major concern is the increasing release of anthropogenic contaminants into aquatic environments. Although toxicological responses of individual organisms are typically well characterized, few studies have focused on characterizing toxicity at the ecosystem level. In fact, because of their scale and complexity, changes in ecosystem integrity are rarely considered in assessments of risks to ecosystems. This work attempts to move the conversation forward by defining integrity of ecosystems, reviewing current and historical approaches to measuring ecosystem integrity status (e.g., structural and functional measurements), and highlighting methods that could significantly contribute to the field of ecosystem toxicology (e.g., keystone species, environmental energetics, ecotoxicological modeling, and adverse outcome pathways [AOPs]). Through a critical analysis of current and historical methodologies, the present study offers a comprehensive, conceptual framework for the assessment of risks of contaminant exposure for whole ecosystems and proposes steps to facilitate better diagnoses of the integrity of aquatic systems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:289–301. © 2018 SETAC
CINSARC signature as a prognostic marker for clinical outcome in sarcomas and beyond
Authors: Chibon Frederic , Lesluyes Tom , Valentin Thibaud , Le Guellec Sophie 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPrognostication is a key issue for sarcoma patients' care as it triggers the therapeutic approach including chemotherapy, which is still not standard for localized patients. Current prognostic evaluation, based on the FNCLCC grading system, has recently been improved by the CINSARC signature outperforming histology‐based grading system by identifying high‐risk patients in every grade, even in those considered as low. CINSARC is an expression‐based signature related to mitosis and chromosome integrity with prognostic value in a wide range of cancers additional to sarcoma. First developed with frozen material, CINSARC is now coupled with NanoString technology allowing evaluation from FFPE blocks used in clinical practice. Consequently, CINSARC is currently evaluated in clinical trials with a dual objective of demonstrating the benefit of chemotherapy in sarcoma patients and testing its response prediction. Considering its overarching value in oncology, its development is welcome in any cancers where the prognostication needs to be improved.
Attention to number: The convergence of numerical magnitude processing, attention, and mathematics in the inferior frontal gyrus
Authors: Wilkey Eric D. , Price Gavin R. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractResearch indicates that the neurocognitive system representing nonsymbolic numerical magnitudes is foundational for the development of mathematical competence. However, recent studies found that the most common task used to measure numerical acuity, the nonsymbolic number comparison task, is heavily influenced by non‐numerical visual parameters of stimuli that increase executive function demands. Further, this influence may be a confound invalidating theoretical accounts of the relation between number comparison performance and mathematical competence. Instead of acuity, the relation may depend on one's ability to attend to numerical information in the face of competing, non‐numerical cues. The current study investigated this issue by measuring neural activity associated with numerical magnitude processing acuity, domain‐general attention, and selective attention to number via functional magnetic resonance imaging while children 8–11 years old completed a nonsymbolic number comparison task and a flanker task. Results showed that activation in the right inferior frontal gyrus during incongruent versus congruent trials of the comparison task, our construct for attention to number, predicted mathematics achievement after controlling for verbal IQ, flanker accuracy rate, and the neural congruency effect from the flanker task. In contrast, activity in frontal and parietal regions responding to differences in difficulty of numerical comparisons, our construct for numerical magnitude processing acuity, did not correlate with achievement. Together, these findings suggest a need to reframe existing models of the relation between number processing and math competence to include the interaction between attention and use of numerical information, or in other words “attention to number.”
Performance indices of AmnioQuick Duo+ versus placental α‐microglobulin‐1 tests for women with prolonged premature rupture of membranes
Authors: Eleje George U. , Ezugwu Euzebus C. , Ezebialu Ifeanyichukwu U. , Ojiegbe Nnabuike O. , Egeonu Richard O. , Obiora Chukwudi C. , Okafor Chigozie G. , Ikechebelu Joseph I. , Eke Ahizechukwu C. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo compare AmnioQuick Duo+ versus the placental α‐microglobulin‐1 (PAMG‐1) test for diagnosis of prolonged premature rupture of membranes (PROM).MethodsA multicenter prospective cohort study included women with suspected PROM at six tertiary institutions in southern Nigeria between January 1 and December 31, 2015. The inclusion criteria were features of PROM lasting at least 24 hours and a pregnancy duration of more than 24 weeks. AmnioQuick Duo+ (Biosynex, Strasbourg, France) and PAMG‐1 (AmniSure International, Boston, USA) tests were used to diagnose PROM, which was confirmed after delivery by any two of the following criteria: delivery within 48 hours to 7 days, chorioamnionitis, membranes perceptibly ruptured at delivery, and adverse perinatal outcomes considerably associated with prolonged PROM.ResultsOf 100 women assessed for eligibility, 99 were included. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were, respectively, 97.3%, 100%, and 95.9% for AmnioQuick Duo+, and 93.2%, 100%, and 90.4% for PAMG‐1. The differences were not significant and the diagnostic discordant rate between the two tests was 3.1%. In equivocal cases (i.e., negative pooling test result), AmnioQuick Duo+ and PAMG‐1 performed equally (diagnostic accuracy, 100% vs 97.7%; P>0.99).ConclusionFor diagnosis of PROM, AmnioQuick Duo+ was found to be non‐inferior and comparable in accuracy to the PAMG‐1 test, with a diagnostic discordance rate of 3.1%.