bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predicting the availability of users' devices in decentralized online social networks
Authors: De Salve Andrea , Guidi Barbara , Mori Paolo 
Published: December 2017

SummaryThe understanding of the user temporal behavior is a crucial aspect for all those systems that rely on user resources for daily operations, such as decentralized online social networks (DOSNs). Indeed, DOSNs exploit the devices of their users to take on and share the tasks needed to provide services such as storing the published data. In the last years, the increasing popularity of DOSN services has changed the way of how people interact with each other by enabling users to connect to these services at any time by using their personal devices (such as notebooks or smartphones). As a result, the availability of data in these systems is strongly affected (or reflected) by the temporal behavior of their users in terms of connections to DOSNs. In this paper, we propose the use of linear predictors to address the problem of the availability of user devices and, hence, data in DOSNs. To validate the proposed approaches, we evaluated their performance conducting a set of simulations exploiting a dataset of temporal information concerning the connections to Facebook collected from a set of users.
Remote‐sensing‐derived fractures and shrub patterns to identify groundwater dependence
Authors: Guirado E. , Alcaraz‐Segura D. , Rigol‐Sánchez J.P. , Gisbert J. , Martínez‐Moreno F.J. , Galindo‐Zaldívar J. , González‐Castillo L. , Cabello J. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe identification and location of groundwater‐dependent ecosystems are the first steps in protecting and managing them. Such identifications are challenging where the surface expressions of groundwater are not obvious. This work presents a remote‐sensing‐based approach to infer the groundwater dependence of semiarid shrubs from their association with fractures that facilitate root access to groundwater. As a case study, we used the Ziziphus lotus matorral in south‐east Spain, a priority conservation habitat in the European Union (Habitat 5220*, Directive 92/43/EEC) that is highly threatened by agricultural and urban sprawl. The approach combines object‐based image analysis of high‐resolution orthoimages to map Ziziphus individuals, geomorphometric analysis of a lidar‐derived terrain model to map bedrock fractures, and spatial statistics to assess the association between Ziziphus and fractures. Electrical resistivity tomography was used to validate the identified fractures, and the seasonal dynamics of the normalized difference vegetation index was used to prove that Z. lotus maintained higher greenness during the summer drought and was less coupled with precipitation than the nearby nonphreatophytic vegetation. A majority (61%) of the Ziziphus patches, particularly the smallest ones, occurred within 50 m of faults. This spatial association between phreatophyte shrubs and fractures contributes to the identification of groundwater‐dependent ecosystems. This approach offers several advantages because it is simple, low cost, and non‐destructive. In addition, the differentiation of shrubs into size classes provided insights into the long‐term environmental controls underlying the establishment of Ziziphus individuals. The evidence of groundwater dependence by Z. lotus in Habitat 5220* indicates the need for its urgent protection under the Water Framework Directive.
Rationale and design of TRANSITION: a randomized trial of pre‐discharge vs. post‐discharge initiation of sacubitril/valsartan
Authors: Pascual‐Figal Domingo , Wachter Rolf , Senni Michele , Belohlavek Jan , Noè Adele , Carr David , Butylin Dmytro 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAimsThe prognosis after hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) remains poor, especially <30 days post‐discharge. Evidence‐based medications with prognostic impact administered at discharge improve survival and hospital readmission, but robust studies comparing pre‐discharge with post‐discharge initiation are rare. The PARADIGM‐HF trial established sacubitril/valsartan as a new evidence‐based therapy in patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (<40%) (rEF). In common with other landmark studies, it enrolled patients who were ambulatory at the time of inclusion. In addition, there is also still limited knowledge of initiation and up‐titration of sacubitril/valsartan in ACEi/ARB‐ naïve patients and in de novo HF with rEF patients.Methods and resultsTRANSITION is a multicentre, open‐label study in which ~1000 adults hospitalized for ADHF with rEF are randomized to start sacubitril/valsartan in a pre‐discharge arm (initiated ≥24 h after haemodynamic stabilization) or a post‐discharge arm (initiated within Days 1–14 after discharge). The protocol allows investigators to select the appropriate starting dose and dose adjustments according to clinical circumstances. Over a 10 week treatment period, the primary and secondary objectives assess the feasibility and safety of starting sacubitril/valsartan in‐hospital, early after haemodynamic stabilization. Exploratory objectives also include assessment of HF signs and symptoms, readmissions, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide and high‐sensitivity troponin T levels, and health resource utilization parameters.ConclusionsTRANSITION will provide new evidence about initiating sacubitril/valsartan following hospitalization for ADHF, occurring either as de novo ADHF or as deterioration of chronic HF, and in patients with or without prior ACEI/ARB therapy. The results of TRANSITION will thus be highly relevant to the management of patients hospitalized for ADHF with rEF.
The Potential of Waxes to Alter the Microstructural Properties of Emulsion‐Templated Oleogels
Authors: Tavernier Iris , Doan Chi D. , Van der Meeren Paul , Heyman Bart , Dewettinck Koen 
Published: December 2017

In this research two oleogelation methods, in casu wax‐based oleogelation and emulsion‐templated oleogelation, were combined. Emulsion‐templated oleogels are known to have a high elastic modulus. However, they also exhibit limited structure recovery after applying shear. Oil partially leaking out of the oleogels greatly limits their application potential in food products. Wax‐based oleogelation on the other hand, requires high wax concentrations to attain the required level of structuring, causing a waxy mouthfeel upon consumption. Still, contrary to emulsion‐templated oleogels, wax‐based oleogels do demonstrate high levels of structure recovery after shear. The goal of this research is to enhance the structure recovery of the emulsion‐templated oleogels by gelling the oil within the structured protein network with low concentrations of candelilla wax, preventing a waxy mouthfeel. The microstructure of the emulsions and corresponding oleogels is elucidated with polarized light microscopy and cryo‐SEM. The newly developed oleogels are characterized rheologically using oscillatory and shear recovery measurements and by performing temperature sweeps. The addition of waxes in the emulsion‐templated oleogels did not significantly influence the gel strength, but did strongly reduce the shear sensitivity of the oleogels, as was determined with shear recovery measurements and confirmed with oil binding tests.Practical Application: To assess the true potential of these newly developed oleogels, a shortcrust pastry is developed using the emulsion‐templated oleogels as an alternative for a vegetable oil‐based margarine. Creep‐recovery tests on the doughs revealed that the emulsion‐templated oleogels had a better structuring capacity compared to the doughs prepared with wax‐based oleogels. However, neither of the two oleogel types were capable of attaining a similar level of dough structuring compared to the vegetable oil‐based reference margarine. In conclusion, combining several oleogelation methods can increases their application potential by exploiting some of the advantages while attenuating some of the disadvantages of both alternative oil structuring techniques.This research article investigates the combination of emulsion‐templated liquid oil structuring with proteins (top, left) with wax‐based oleogels (top, right). The waxes are allowed to crystallize within the oil cells of the emulsion‐templated oleogel. These oleogels were subsequently used to prepare shortcrust pastries.
Fast and Simultaneous Determination of Antioxidant Activity, Total Phenols and Bitterness of Red Wines by a Multichannel Amperometric Electronic Tongue
Authors: Merkyte Vakare , Morozova Ksenia , Boselli Emanuele , Scampicchio Matteo 
Published: December 2017

AbstractAn electronic tongue based on a flow injection system equipped with a multichannel amperometric detector was used to determine the antioxidant activity, total phenols and bitter taste of red wines. The detector composed of four glassy carbon electrodes, arranged in a square configuration, where two parallel electrodes (poised at E1=+400 and E2=+800 mV) were followed by other two electrodes (poised at E3=+800 and E4=−400 mV). This configuration allowed to gain information on the content of the antioxidants activity (E1) and total phenols (E2 and E3). E1/E2 was used to express the proportion of strong vs. weak antioxidants. E3/E4 was used to express an index of reversibility. Finally, the ratio E2/E3 was used to control the system. Overall, the four electrodes led to seven variables, which provided a characteristic pattern profile. The eleven variables in total were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) to determine, the antioxidant activity, total phenol content and bitterness value of red wine samples. The results of antioxidant activity were correlated with the Folin Ciocalteu index (R2=0.94). Bitterness was correlated with the descriptors of the e‐tongue (R2=0.81). Overall, the analysis with the proposed electronic tongue is simple (only a dilution is required), fast (the analysis takes less than 20 seconds per sample), objective (precision within 5 %, expressed as RSD%) and cheap compared to classical sensory analysis.
Assessment of erosion and settling properties of fine sediments stored in cobble bed rivers: the Arc and Isère alpine rivers before and after reservoir flushing
Authors: Legout C. , Droppo I.G. , Coutaz J. , Bel C. , Jodeau M. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCohesive sediment dynamics in mountainous rivers is poorly understood even though these rivers are the main providers of fine particles to the oceans. Complex interactions exist between the coarse matrix of cobble bed rivers and fine sediments. Given that fine sediment load in such environments can be very high due to intense natural rainfall or snowmelt events and to man‐induced reservoir or dam flushing, a better understanding of the deposition and sedimentation processes is needed in order to reduce ecohydrological downstream impacts. We tested a field‐based approach on the Arc and Isère alpine rivers combining measurements of erosion and settling properties of river bed deposits before and after a dam flushing, with the U‐GEMS (Gust Erosion Microcosm System) and SCAF (System Characterizing Aggregates and Flocs), respectively. These measurements highlight that critical shears, rates of erosion, settling velocities and propensity of particles to flocculate are highly variable in time and space. This is reflective of the heterogeneity of the hydrodynamic conditions during particle settling, local bed roughness, and nature and size of particles. Generally the deposits were found to be stable relative to what is measured in lowland rivers. It was, however, not possible to make a conclusive assessment of the extent to which the dynamics of deposits after reservoir flushing were different from those settled after natural events. The absence of any relationships between erosion and deposition variables, making it impossible to predict one from another, underlined the need to measure all of them to have a full assessment of the fine sediment dynamics and to obtain representative input variables for numerical models. While the SCAF was found to be effective, an alternative to the U‐GEMS device will have to be found for the erodibility assessment in cobble bed rivers, in order to make more rapid measurements at higher shears. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Aeolian sediment transport on a recovering storm‐eroded foredune with sand fences
Authors: Jackson Nancy L. , Nordstrom Karl F. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractStudies of sediment transport on developed coasts provide perspective on how human adjustments alter natural processes. Deployment of sand‐trapping fences is a common adjustment that changes the characteristics of the dune ramp and its role in linking sediment transfers from the backshore to the foredune. Fence effects were evaluated in the field using anemometer arrays and vertical sediment traps placed across a beach and dune at Seaside Park, New Jersey, USA during onshore and longshore winds. The foredune is 18 m wide and 4.5 m above the backshore. The mean speed of onshore winds at 0.5 m elevation decreased by 17% from the berm crest to the upper ramp and 36% in the lee of a fence there. Sediment transport during mean wind speeds up to 8.0 m s−1at 0.5 m elevation was < 0.06 kg m−1 h−1on the berm crest and backshore where fetch distances were < 45 m and surface sediment was relatively coarse (0.74–0.85 mm) but increased to 5.63 kg m−1 h−1on the upper ramp aided by the longer fetch distances (up to 82 m) and finer grain size of the source sediment there (0.52 mm). Sediment transport along the berm crest and backshore during longshore winds, where fetch distances were > 200 m, was up to 58.69 kg m−1 h−1, about three orders of magnitude greater than during the onshore winds. Fences can displace the toe of the ramp farther seaward than would occur under natural conditions. They can create a gentler slope and change the shape of the ramp to a more convex form. A fence on the ramp can cut off a portion of sediment supply to the upper slope. Decisions about fence placement thus should consider these morphologic changes in addition to the effects on dune volume. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An electro‐elastic phase‐field model for nematic liquid crystal elastomers based on Landau‐de‐Gennes theory
Authors: Keip Marc‐André , Nadgir Omkar 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe present contribution proposes a continuum‐mechanical phase‐field approach to model the electro‐elastic behavior of nematic liquid crystal elastomers. The nemato‐electro‐elastic model is embedded into the fundamental Landau‐de‐Gennes theory for isotropic–nematic phase transition and employs a tensorial order parameter as the phase field. Nematic deformations are incorporated through a constitutive ansatz in terms of the order parameter. The phase‐field formulation is implemented into the finite element method, so that the microstructure evolution of nematic elastomers under different boundary conditions can be studied. We show that the model is capable to capture characteristic features of nematic elastomers including mechanically and electrically induced microstructure evolution as well as the occurrence of stripe domains.
Stimulating neural plasticity with real‐time fMRI neurofeedback in Huntington's disease: A proof of concept study
Authors: Papoutsi Marina , Weiskopf Nikolaus , Langbehn Douglas , Reilmann Ralf , Rees Geraint , Tabrizi Sarah J 
Published: December 2017

AbstractNovel methods that stimulate neuroplasticity are increasingly being studied to treat neurological and psychiatric conditions. We sought to determine whether real‐time fMRI neurofeedback training is feasible in Huntington's disease (HD), and assess any factors that contribute to its effectiveness. In this proof‐of‐concept study, we used this technique to train 10 patients with HD to volitionally regulate the activity of their supplementary motor area (SMA). We collected detailed behavioral and neuroimaging data before and after training to examine changes of brain function and structure, and cognitive and motor performance. We found that patients overall learned to increase activity of the target region during training with variable effects on cognitive and motor behavior. Improved cognitive and motor performance after training predicted increases in pre‐SMA grey matter volume, fMRI activity in the left putamen, and increased SMA–left putamen functional connectivity. Although we did not directly target the putamen and corticostriatal connectivity during neurofeedback training, our results suggest that training the SMA can lead to regulation of associated networks with beneficial effects in behavior. We conclude that neurofeedback training can induce plasticity in patients with Huntington's disease despite the presence of neurodegeneration, and the effects of training a single region may engage other regions and circuits implicated in disease pathology.
Comparative analysis of 2 robotic thyroidectomy procedures: Transoral versus bilateral axillo‐breast approach
Authors: Chai Young Jun , Kim Hoon Yub , Kim Hong Kyu , Jun Sang Ho , Dionigi Gianlorenzo , Anuwong Angkoon , Richmon Jeremy D. , Tufano Ralph P. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe surgical outcomes of a single surgeon's initial cases of transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) were compared with the surgeon's initial cases of a bilateral axillo‐breast approach (BABA) robotic thyroidectomy.MethodsThe medical reports were retrospectively reviewed. The BABA robotic thyroidectomies were performed between 2008 and 2009, and TORTs were performed between 2012 and 2016.ResultsEach group comprised 50 patients. Operative time for total thyroidectomy was shorter, the pain scores were lower, and hospital stays were shorter in the TORT group than in the BABA robotic thyroidectomy group. There were no significant differences between groups in either vocal cord palsy or hypoparathyroidism rates. There were 9 cases of mental nerve injury in the first 12 cases of TORT, but none subsequently.ConclusionThe TORT procedure could be performed safely and showed comparable outcomes with BABA robotic thyroidectomy in selected patients. Therefore, TORT may be an alternative approach for patients who prefer a scar‐free thyroidectomy.
Evaluation of osteoblast differentiation and function when cultured on mesoporous bioactive glass adsorbed with testosterone
Authors: Gao Kai , Wang Xiaoyan , Liu Qianqian , Chen Wei , Wang Gan , Zhang Dongyi , Liu Long 
Published: December 2017

AbstractMesoporous bioactive glass (MBG), a kind of porous materials with great osteoconductive and osteoinductive ability, shows promising application in bone tissue engineering due to its high specific surface area, orderly channel structure, and large pore volume. Here we reported that the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization were promoted in MC3T3‐E1 cells cultured on MBG which adsorbed with testosterone (MBG/T). We found that transcriptional activity of Runx2 which is a critical transcription factor is increased in MC3T3‐E1 cells cultured on MBG/T. Intriguingly, we observed that ERK phosphorylation was enhanced in MC3T3‐E1 cells cultured on MBG/T. We showed that activated Runx2 in MC3T3‐E1 cells cultured on MBG/T is through Erk1/2 phosphorylation. Consistent with this result, we also found that the expression of osteoblastic marker genes were increased. Therefore, we concluded that osteoblast differentiation and mineralization was enhanced after cells cultured on MBG/T through Erk1/2‐activated Runx2 pathway. Our findings provided that MBG/T is a potential material in the process of bone repair.
Acute oral dose of sodium nitrite causes redox imbalance and DNA damage in rat kidney
Authors: Ansari Fariheen Aisha , Ali Shaikh Nisar , Khan Aijaz Ahmed , Mahmood Riaz 
Published: December 2017

AbstractSodium nitrite (NaNO2) is widely used as a food additive and preservative in fish and meat products. We have evaluated the effect of a single acute oral dose of NaNO2 on oxidative stress parameters, antioxidant capacity, and DNA in rat kidney. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups and given single oral dose of NaNO2 at 20, 40, 60, and 75 mg/kg body weight; untreated rats served as the control group. All animals in NaNO2‐treated groups showed marked alterations in various parameters of oxidative stress as compared to the control group. This included increase in lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, hydrogen peroxide levels, and decrease in reduced glutathione content and antioxidant capacity. Administration of NaNO2 also increased DNA damage as evident from release of free nucleotides and confirmed by comet assay. It also led to greater cross‐linking of DNA to proteins. Histological analysis showed marked morphological changes in the kidney of NaNO2‐treated animals. These alterations could be due to increased free radical generation or direct chemical modification by reaction intermediates. Our results suggest that nitrite‐induced nephrotoxicity is mediated through redox imbalance and results in DNA damage.
Ganoderma microsporum immunomodulatory protein induces apoptosis and potentiates mitomycin C‐induced apoptosis in urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma cells
Authors: Huang Sheng‐Yuan , Chien Chih‐Cheng , Hseu Ruey‐Shyang , Huang Victoria Ying Jen , Chiang Shang Ying , Huang Chi‐Jung , Chen Shao‐Kuan , Tsai Ru‐Yin , Lin Hsi‐Ting , Cheng Yu‐Che 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCurrent chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments followed by transurethral resection for urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC) usually suffer from poor prognosis and high recurrence rate. Design and modification of current formulation with the novel adjuvants are needed. A recombinant protein derived from Ganoderma microsporum named as Ganoderma microsporum immunomodulatory protein (GMIP) was used to treat UC cells. We found GMIP elicits a dose‐dependent and time‐dependent anti‐UC cell proliferation effect, with a half‐maximal inhibition concentration (IC50) comparable to mitomycin C (MMC), a commonly used chemotherapy agent. After GMIP treatment, UC cells showed apoptotic phenomenon including cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, elevated sub‐G1 population, mitochondrial membrane potential loss, up‐regulated p21 expression, p21 nuclear translocation, caspase activation, and PARP cleavage in a p53‐independent but p21‐mediated pathways. Unlike lung cancer cells, GMIP treated UC cells showed no autophagic scheme including Beclin‐1, an autophagy to apoptosis switch marker, was not cleaved by caspase 3 and slight LC3B‐II accumulation. Also, the classic autophagic inhibitor, chloroquine had no effect in GMIP‐mediated cell death made us conclude that GMIP induced apoptosis through caspase activation but not autophagy in UC cells. Additionally, GMIP showed synergistic effects with MMC in killing UC cells and thus decreased the concentration of MMC usage to reach the comparable apoptotic effects. Our results delineate novel strategies for treatment of UC by GMIP alone or in combination with MMC application and provide a promising therapeutic cocktail for better treatment of urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma.