bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Whole brain white matter histogram analysis of diffusion tensor imaging data detects microstructural damage in mild cognitive impairment and alzheimer's disease patients
Authors: Giulietti Giovanni , Torso Mario , Serra Laura , Spanò Barbara , Marra Camillo , Caltagirone Carlo , Cercignani Mara , Bozzali Marco ,   the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI)
Published: January 2018

BackgroundAmnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the clinical conversion from MCI to AD is unpredictable. Hence, identification of noninvasive biomarkers able to detect early changes induced by dementia is a pressing need.PurposeTo explore the added value of histogram analysis applied to measures derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for detecting brain tissue differences between AD, MCI, and healthy subjects (HS).Study TypeProspective.Population/SubjectsA local cohort (57 AD, 28 MCI, 23 HS), and an Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort (41 AD, 58 MCI, 41 HS).Field Strength3T. Dual‐echo turbo spin echo (TSE); fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR); modified‐driven‐equilibrium‐Fourier‐transform (MDEFT); inversion‐recovery spoiled gradient recalled (IR‐SPGR); diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).AssessmentNormal‐appearing white matter (NAWM) masks were obtained using the T1‐weighted volumes for tissue segmentation and T2‐weighted images for removal of hyperintensities/lesions. From DTI images, fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AXD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were obtained. NAWM histograms of FA, MD, AXD, and RD were derived and characterized estimating: peak height, peak location, mean value (MV), and quartiles (C25, C50, C75), which were compared between groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under ROC curves (AUC) were calculated. To confirm our results, the same analysis was repeated on the ADNI dataset.Statistical TestsOne‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA), post‐hoc Student's t‐test, multiclass ROC analysis.ResultsFor the local cohort, C25 of AXD had the maximum capability of group discrimination with AUC of 0.80 for “HS vs. patients” comparison and 0.74 for “AD vs. others” comparison. For the ADNI cohort, MV of AXD revealed the maximum group discrimination capability with AUC of 0.75 for “HS vs. patients” comparison and 0.75 for “AD vs. others” comparison.Data ConclusionAXD of NAWM might be an early marker of microstructural brain tissue changes occurring during the AD course and might be useful for assessing disease progression.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:767–779.
Innervation status in chronic vocal fold paralysis and implications for laryngeal reinnervation
Authors: Lin R. Jun , Smith Libby J. , Munin Michael C. , Sridharan Shaum , Rosen Clark A. 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveTreatment options for symptomatic unilateral vocal fold paralysis (VFP) include vocal fold augmentation, laryngeal framework surgery, and laryngeal reinnervation. Laryngeal reinnervation (LR) has been suggested to provide “tone” to the paralyzed VF. This implies a loss of tone as a result of denervation without reinnervation. We performed laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) in patients with chronic VFP to understand the innervation status associated with a chronically paralyzed vocal fold.Study DesignRetrospective review of LEMG data in adult patients with chronic VFP from January 2009 to December 2014.MethodsLEMG was performed at least 6 months after‐onset of VFP. Qualitative LEMG, quantitative LEMG, and adductory synkinesis testing were performed, and the parameters were collected.ResultsTwenty‐seven vocal folds were studied (23 unilateral VFP and 2 bilateral VFP). Average age was 59 ± 17 years. The median duration from recurrent laryngeal nerve injury to LEMG was 8.5 months (range 6–90 months). The majority of patients, 24 of 27 (89%), had motor unit potentials during phonation tasks on LEMG, and only 3 of 27 (11%) patients were electrically silent. Quantitative LEMG showed 287.8 mean turns per second (normal ≥ 400). Motor unit configuration was normal in 12 of 27 (44%), polyphasic in 12 of 27 (44%), and absent in the electrically silent patients. Adductory synkinesis was found in 6 of 20 (30%) patients.ConclusionChronic vocal fold paralysis is infrequently associated with absent motor‐unit recruitment, indicating some degree of preserved innervation and/or reinnervation in these patients. LEMG should be part of the routine workup for chronic VFP prior to consideration of LR.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 128:1628–1633, 2018
Ultra‐Sharp Multi‐Mode Waveguide Bending Assisted with Metamaterial‐Based Mode Converters
Authors: Xu Hongnan , Shi Yaocheng 
Published: January 2018

AbstractOn‐chip multi‐mode communication has attracted much attention for its potential to greatly expand the bandwidth of data transmission. However, the application of multi‐mode transmission is still restricted since the multi‐mode waveguide can't be compactly routed, especially in the sharp bending region. The challenge lies in decreasing the significant inter‐mode coupling in the multi‐mode bending with a small radius. Few works have been reported to achieve multi‐mode bending, but all suffer from the complex fabrication. In this paper, an ultra‐sharp multi‐mode waveguide is proposed, which is assisted with metamaterial‐based mode converters. The sub‐wavelength structures are directly written onto the polymer cladding. By engineering the effective medium index of the metamaterial cladding in the mode converters, the inter‐mode coupling is dramatically inhibited. The fabricated sharp bending with a 30‐μm radius shows that the crosstalk is <−20 dB and the loss is <1 dB over a >80 nm wavelength band.
Using Atomic Force Microscopy to Probe Crystallization in Atactic Polystyrenes
Authors: Chai Yu , Forrest James A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe use of atomic force microscopy phase imaging to study crystallization in near oligomeric atactic polystyrenes is demonstrated. By considering different thermal histories, the distribution of polymerization index in the samples can be changed, and how this effects the resulting crystallinity can be measured. Different thermal treatments in the nucleation of crystals and the effect on the resulting measured crystal formation are also examined.
A functionally personalized boundary condition model to improve estimates of fractional flow reserve with CT (CT‐FFR)
Authors: Freiman Moti , Nickisch Hannes , Schmitt Holger , Maurovich‐Horvat Pál , Donnelly Patrick M , Vembar Mani , Goshen Liran 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate a functionally personalized boundary condition (BC) model for estimating the fractional flow reserve (FFR) from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) using flow simulation (CT‐FFR).Materials and methodsThe CCTA data of 90 subjects with subsequent invasive FFR in 123 lesions within 21 days (range: 0–83) were retrospectively collected. We developed a functionally personalized BC model accounting specifically for the coronary microvascular resistance dependency on the coronary outlets pressure suggested by several physiological studies. We used the proposed model to estimate the hemodynamic significance of coronary lesions with an open‐loop physics‐based flow simulation. We generated three‐dimensional (3D) coronary tree geometries using automatic software and corrected manually where required. We evaluated the improvement in CT‐FFR estimates achieved using a functionally personalized BC model over anatomically personalized BC model using k‐fold cross‐validation.ResultsThe functionally personalized BC model slightly improved CT‐FFR specificity in determining hemodynamic significance of lesions with intermediate diameter stenosis (30%–70%, N = 72), compared to the anatomically personalized model lesions with invasive FFR measurements as the reference (sensitivity/specificity: 0.882/0.79 vs 0.882/0.763). For the entire set of 123 coronary lesions, the functionally personalized BC model improved only the area under the curve (AUC) but not the sensitivity/specificity in determining the hemodynamic significance of lesions, compared to the anatomically personalized model (AUC: 0.884 vs 0.875, sensitivity/specificity: 0.848/0.805).ConclusionThe functionally personalized BC model has the potential to improve the quality of CT‐FFR estimates compared to an anatomically personalized BC model.
Noble Metal‐Free Nanocatalysts with Vacancies for Electrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Yang Min‐Quan , Wang Jing , Wu Hao , Ho Ghim Wei 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe fast development of nanoscience and nanotechnology has significantly advanced the fabrication of nanocatalysts and the in‐depth study of the structural‐activity characteristics of materials at the atomic level. Vacancies, as typical atomic defects or imperfections that widely exist in solid materials, are demonstrated to effectively modulate the physicochemical, electronic, and catalytic properties of nanomaterials, which is a key concept and hot research topic in nanochemistry and nanocatalysis. The recent experimental and theoretical progresses achieved in the preparation and application of vacancy‐rich nanocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting are explored. Engineering of vacancies has shown to open up a new avenue beyond the traditional morphology, size, and composition modifications for the development of nonprecious electrocatalysts toward efficient energy conversion. First, an introduction followed by discussions of different types of vacancies, the approaches to create vacancies, and the advanced techniques widely used to characterize these vacancies are presented. Importantly, the correlations between the vacancies and activities of the vacancy‐rich electrocatalysts via tuning the electronic states, active sites, and kinetic energy barriers are reviewed. Finally, perspectives on the existing challenges along with some opportunities for the further development of vacancy‐rich noble metal‐free electrocatalysts with high performance are discussed.
Layered Aggregation with Steric Effect: Morphology‐Homogeneous Semiconductor MoS2 as an Alternative 2D Probe for Visual Immunoassay
Authors: Li Bang Lin , Peng Li Yu , Zou Hao Lin , Li Ling Jie , Luo Hong Qun , Li Nian Bing 
Published: January 2018

AbstractLiquid‐phase exfoliation routes unavoidably generate 2D nanostructures with inhomogeneous morphologies. Herein, thickness‐dependent sorting of exfoliated nanostructures is achieved via a treatment of differential‐zone centrifugation in the surfactant aqueous phase. With this approach, homogeneous MoS2 nanosheets are obtained, and due to the intrinsic semiconducting characteristics, those 2D nanosheets are endowed with desired optical properties, rivaling classic gold nanoparticles in sensing applications. Furthermore, MoS2 nanosheets with high uniformity and chemical inertness are coupled with proteins, exhibiting high performance in stability and anti‐interferences for bioanalysis. As a consequence of aggregation‐induced steric effect, distinguishing running shifts of antibody‐anchored conjugates in gel electrophoresis are visually responsive to those specific antigens. This assay enables the easy and fast monitoring of tumor biomarkers just according to “naked‐eye” identification of band location in electrophoresis results, which are presented by an alternative visual probe of 2D MoS2‐protein conjugates. The developed visual immunoassay with the synergistic effect of gel electrophoresis techniques and 2D semiconductors pushes significant progress in “home‐made” tests for disease early diagnosis.
The effect of thermomechanical controlled processing on recrystallisation and subsequent deformation-induced ferrite transformation textures in microalloyed steels
Authors: Gong P. , Sun Lin , Wynne B. P. , Palmiere E. J. , Rainforth W. M. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe evolution of texture components for two experimental 0.06 wt% C steels, one containing 0.03 wt% Nb (Nb steel) and the second containing both 0.03 wt% Nb and 0.02 wt% Ti (Nb–Ti steel), was investigated following a new thermomechanical controlled process route, comprising first deformation, rapid reheat to 1200 °C and final deformation to various strains. Typical deformation textures were observed after first deformation for both steels. Following subsequent reheating to 1200 °C for various times, the recrystallisation textures consisted primarily of the α-$$ \left\langle {011} \right\rangle $$

011

//RD texture fibre with a weak γ-{111}//ND texture fibre, similar to deformation textures, indicative of the dominance of a strain-induced boundary migration mechanism. The texture components after finish deformation were different from the rough deformation textures, with a strong α-$$ \left\langle {011} \right\rangle $$

011

//RD texture fibre at the beginning, and then the strong peaks move to (111)$$ \left\langle {1\bar{2}1} \right\rangle $$

1

2

¯

1

and (111)$$ \left\langle {\bar{1}\bar{1}2} \right\rangle $$

1

¯

1

¯

2

textures due to the deformation-induced ferrite (DIF) transformation. The effect of Ti on the recrystallisation textures and deformation textures has also been analysed in this study. The results illustrate that Ti significantly influences the γ-{111}//ND texture fibre. Finally, the textures after deformation and recrystallisation in the austenite were calculated based on the K–S orientation relationship between the austenite and ferrite. This allowed the understanding of the mechanism of recrystallisation between first and final deformation and the DIF textures during phase transformation.
Dietary linoleic acid‐induced hypercholesterolemia and accumulation of very light HDL in steers
Authors: Scislowski Valérie , Durand Denys , Gruffat Dominique , Bauchart Dominique 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThis experiment was designed to study the effects in fattening steers of n−6 PUFA supplementation on the plasma distribution and chemical composition of major lipoproteins (TG‐rich lipoproteins: d<1.006 g/mL; intermediate density lipoproteins + LDL: 1.019<d<1.060 g/mL; light HDL: 1.060<d<1.091 g/mL; and heavy HDL: 1.091<d<1.180 g/mL). For a period of 70 d, animals [454±20 d; 528±36 kg (mean±SD)] were given a control diet (diet C, n=6) consisting of hay and concentrate mixture (54 and 46% of diet dry matter, respectively) or the same diet supplemented with sunflower oil (4% of dry matter), given either as crushed seeds (diet S, n=6) or as free oil continuously infused into the duodenum through a chronic canula to avoid ruminal PUFA hydrogenation (diet O, n=6). Plasma lipids increased in steers given diet S (×1.4, P<0.05) and diet O (×2.3, P<0.05), leading to hyperphospholipemia and hypercholesterolemia. With diet S, hypercholesterolemia was associated with higher levels of light (×1.4, P<0.05) and heavy HDL (×1.3, NS). With diet O, it was linked to higher levels of light HDL (×1.8, P<0.005) and to very light HDL accumulation within density limits of 1.019 to 1.060 g/mL, as demonstrated by the apolipoprotein A‐I profile. Diet O favored incorporation of 18∶2n−6 into polar (×2.2, P<0.05) and neutral lipids (×1.5 to ×8, P<0.05) at the expense of SFA, MUFA, and n−3 PUFA. Thus, protection of dietary PUFA against ruminal hydrogenation allowed them to accumulate in plasma lipoproteins, but the effects of hypercholesterolemia on animal health linked to very light HDL accumulation remain to be elucidated.
Disruption of ergosterol biosynthesis, growth, and the morphological transition in Candida albicans by sterol methyltransferase inhibitors containing sulfur at C‐25 in the sterol side chain
Authors: Kanagasabai Ragu , Zhou Wenxu , Liu Jialin , Minh Nguyen Thi Thuy , Veeramachaneni Phani , Nes W. David 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe sterol substrate analog 25‐thialanosterol and its corresponding sulfonium salt were evaluated for their ability to serve as antifungal agents and to inhibit sterol methyltransferase (SMT) activity in Candida albicans. Both compounds inhibited cell proliferation, were fungistatic, interrupted the yeastlike‐form to germ‐tube‐form transition, and resulted in the accumulation of zymosterol and related Δ24‐sterols concurrent with a decrease in ergosterol, as was expected for the specific inhibition of SMT activity. Feedback on sterol synthesis was evidenced by elevated levels of cellular sterols in treated vs. control cultures. However, neither farnesol nor squalene accumulated in significant amounts in treated cultures, suggesting that carbon flux is channeled from the isoprenoid pathway to the sterol pathway with minor interruption or redirection until blockage at the C‐methylation step. Activity assays using solubilized C. albicans SMT confirmed the inhibitors impair SMT action. Kinetic analysis indicated that 25‐thialanosterol inhibited SMT with the properties of a time‐dependent mechanismbased inactivator Ki of 5 =gmM and apparent kinact of 0.013 min−1, whereas the corresponding sulfonium salt was a reversible‐type transition state analog exhibiting a Ki of 20 nM. The results are interpreted to imply changes in ergosterol homeostasis as influenced by SMT activity can control growth and the morphological transition in C. albicans, possibly affecting disease development.
The in vitro hydrolysis of phytosterol conjugates in food matrices by mammalian digestive enzymes
Authors: Moreau Robert A. , Hicks Kevin B. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractAll fruits, vegetables, and grains contain phytosterols. Numerous clinical studies have documented that phytosterols lower LDL‐cholesterol levels and thereby reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Most experts believe that the cholesterol‐lowering mechanism of phytosterols requires that they be in their “free” form. In addition to their occurrence in the free form, phytosterols also occur as four common phytosterol conjugates: (i) fatty acyl esters, (ii) hydroxycinnamate esters, (iii) steryl glycosides, and (iv) fatty acylated steryl glycosides. This study was undertaken to investigate the extent of hydrolysis of four common phytosterol conjugates by mammalian digestive enzymes (cholesterol esterase and pancreatin, a mixture of pancreatic enzymes) and for comparison purposes, by KOH. Two creatic enzymes) and for comparison purposes, by KOH. Two types of purified hydroxycinnamate esters (sitostanyl ferulate and oryzanol, a mixture of hydroxycinnamate esters purified from rice bran, oil) were hydrolyzed by cholesterol esterase and by pancreatin. Both cholesterol esterase and pancreatin hydrolyzed the phytosteryl esters in two functional food matrices, and they hydrolyzed the hydroxycinnamate esters in corn fiber oil. This is the first report to demonstrate that phytostanyl ferulate esters (which are present at levels of 3–6% in corn fiber oil) are hydrolyzed by pancreatic cholesterol esterase. It is also the first report that pancreatin contains enzymes that hydrolyze the fatty acyl moiety of fatty acylated steryl glycoside, converting it to steryl glycoside. Pancreatin had no effect on steryl glycosides. The ability of pancreatin to hydrolyze three other type of lipid conjugates was also evaluated. Phospholipids were completely hydrolyzed. About half of the galactolipids were hydrolyzed, and less than 10%, of the polyamine conjugates were hydrolyzed. The extents of hydrolysis of phytosteryl esters by base (saponification) were also studied, and conditions commonly used for the saponification of acyl lipids (1.5 N methanolic KOH, 30 min at 70°C), were found to result in a nearly 100% hydrolysis of TAG but only about 35–45% hydrolysis of the phytosteryl fatty acyl esters or phytosteryl hydroxycinnamate esters.
Parameters influencing cocrystallization and polymorphism in milk fat
Authors: Breitschuh Birgit , Windhab Erich J. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDry fractionation of milk fat is a common technique used to produce fat fractions with physical properties that are suitable for a variety of food and pharmaceutical products. During milk fat fractionation, the partial crystallization of triacylglycerols from the melt is the most important step. The efficiency of the separation of the crystals from the suspension is also important, but the crystallization itself influences the chemical composition and thereby determines the properties of the crystal fraction. At low supercooling, the crystallization kinetics are slow, and thus process time is increased. With increased kinetics due to a strong supersaturation, the chemical composition of the crystals is changed compared to crystals formed under slow kinetic conditions. This study shows to what extent controlled temperature and supercooling during milk fat crystallization influence crystal amount and the physical properties of the resulting fractions. Differences of the thermal characteristics of the crystal suspensions are directly detected by differential scanning calorimetry and nuclear magnetic resonance. At slow crystallization kinetics, the melting temperature range of the crystals in the suspensions is broader, and the resolution of the melting peak is higher. It is shown that compound crystals are formed when supercooling is performed, even if the supercooling takes place only for a short period of time. Controlled temperature conditions during crystallization govern larger differences in the fatty acid and triacylglycerol composition of the liquid and of the crystalline phases, compared to fractions crystallized under supercooling conditions, which contain a high amount of compound crystals.
Physical properties of Pseudomonas and Rhizomucor miehei lipase‐catalyzed transesterified blends of palm stearin:palm kernel olein
Authors: Lai O. M. , Ghazali H. M. , Chong C. L. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe physical properties of Pseudomonas and Rhizomucor miehei lipase‐catalyzed transesterified blends of palm stearin:palm kernel olein (PS:PKO), ranging from 40% palm stearin to 80% palm stearin in 10% increments, were analyzed for their slip melting points (SMP), solid fat content (SFC), melting thermograms, and polymorphic forms. The Pseudomonas lipase caused a greater decrease in SMP (15°C) in the PS:PKO (40:60) blend than the R. miehei lipase (10.5°C). Generally, all transesterified blends had lower SMP than their unreacted blends. Pseudomonas lipase‐catalyzed blends at 40:60 and 50:50 ratio also showed complete melting at 37°C and 40°C, respectively, whereas for the R. miehei lipase‐catalyzed 40:60 blend, a residual SFC of 3.9% was observed at 40°C. Randomization of fatty acids by Pseudomonas lipase also led to a greater decrease in SFC than the rearrangement of fatty acids by R. miehei lipase. Differential scanning calorimetry results confirmed this observation. Pseudomonas lipase also successfully changed the polymorphic forms of the unreacted blends from a predominantly β form to that of an exclusively β′ form. Both β and β′ forms existed in the R. miehei lipase‐catalyzed reaction blends, with β′ being the dominant form.