bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Engineering muscle cell alignment through 3D bioprinting
Authors: Mozetic Pamela , Giannitelli Sara Maria , Gori Manuele , Trombetta Marcella , Rainer Alberto 
Published: May 2017

AbstractProcessing of hydrogels represents a main challenge for the prospective application of additive manufacturing (AM) to soft tissue engineering. Furthermore, direct manufacturing of tissue precursors with a cell density similar to native tissues has the potential to overcome the extensive in vitro culture required for conventional cell‐seeded scaffolds seeking to fabricate constructs with tailored structural and functional properties. In this work, we present a simple AM methodology that exploits the thermoresponsive behavior of a block copolymer (Pluronic®) as a means to obtain good shape retention at physiological conditions and to induce cellular alignment. Pluronic/alginate blends have been investigated as a model system for the processing of C2C12 murine myoblast cell line. Interestingly, C2C12 cell model demonstrated cell alignment along the deposition direction, potentially representing a new avenue to tailor the resulting cell histoarchitecture during AM process. Furthermore, the fabricated constructs exhibited high cell viability, as well as a significantly improved expression of myogenic genes vs. conventional 2D cultures. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2582–2588, 2017.
Population Pharmacokinetics and Exposure Response Assessment of CC‐292, a Potent BTK Inhibitor, in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Li Yan , Ramírez‐Valle Francisco , Xue Yongjun , Ventura Judith I. , Gouedard Olivier , Mei Jay , Takeshita Kenichi , Palmisano Maria , Zhou Simon 
Published: May 2017

AbstractCC‐292, a potent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is under development for the treatment of B‐cell malignancies. An analysis was performed to develop a population pharmacokinetic model of CC‐292 and assess the influence of demographics and disease‐related covariates on CC‐292 exposure and to assess the exposure‐response (overall response rate) relationship in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Population pharmacokinetic analysis was based on a 2‐compartment base model conducted in NONMEM. Categorical exposure‐response analysis was performed using logistic regression in SAS. The population pharmacokinetic analysis results indicated that CC‐292 pharmacokinetic disposition is similar between healthy subjects and patients. CC‐292 showed a larger central compartment volume of distribution than the peripheral compartment volume of distribution (158 L and 72 L, respectively) and a faster clearance than intercompartmental clearance (134 L/h and 18.7 L/h, respectively), indicating that for CC‐292, clearance from blood occurs faster than distribution into deep tissues and organs. CC‐292 clearance is not affected by demographics or baseline clinical lab factors, except for sex. Although sex significantly reduced variation of apparent clearance, the sex effect on apparent clearance is unlikely to be clinically relevant. The exposure‐response analysis suggested that higher drug exposure is linearly correlated with higher overall response rate. A twice‐daily dose regimen showed higher overall response rate as compared to once‐daily dosing, consistent with a threshold concentration of approximately 300 ng/mL, above which the probability of overall response rate significantly increases.
Decomposing Weighted Graphs
Authors: Ban Amir 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe solve the following problem: Can an undirected weighted graph G be partitioned into two nonempty induced subgraphs satisfying minimum constraints for the sum of edge weights at vertices of each subgraph? We show that this is possible for all constraints satisfying , for every vertex x, where are, respectively, the sum and maximum of incident edge weights.
Graph properties, graph limits, and entropy
Authors: Hatami Hamed , Janson Svante , Szegedy Balázs 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe study the relation between the growth rate of a graph property and the entropy of the graph limits that arise from graphs with that property. In particular, for hereditary classes we obtain a new description of the coloring number, which by well‐known results describes the rate of growth. We study also random graphs and their entropies. We show, for example, that if a hereditary property has a unique limiting graphon with maximal entropy, then a random graph with this property, selected uniformly at random from all such graphs with a given order, converges to this maximizing graphon as the order tends to infinity.
Exponentially many 4‐list‐colorings of triangle‐free graphs on surfaces
Authors: Kelly Tom , Postle Luke 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThomassen proved that every planar graph G on n vertices has at least distinct L‐colorings if L is a 5‐list‐assignment for G and at least distinct L‐colorings if L is a 3‐list‐assignment for G and G has girth at least five. Postle and Thomas proved that if G is a graph on n vertices embedded on a surface Σ of genus g, then there exist constants such that if G has an L‐coloring, then G has at least distinct L‐colorings if L is a 5‐list‐assignment for G or if L is a 3‐list‐assignment for G and G has girth at least five. More generally, they proved that there exist constants such that if G is a graph on n vertices embedded in a surface Σ of fixed genus g, H is a proper subgraph of G, and ϕ is an L‐coloring of H that extends to an L‐coloring of G, then ϕ extends to at least distinct L‐colorings of G if L is a 5‐list‐assignment or if L is a 3‐list‐assignment and G has girth at least five. We prove the same result if G is triangle‐free and L is a 4‐list‐assignment of G, where , and .
Mild cognitive impairment and structural brain abnormalities in a sexagenarian with a history of childhood traumatic brain injury
Authors: Van Horn John Darrell , Irimia Andrei , Torgerson Carinna M. , Bhattrai Avnish , Jacokes Zachary , Vespa Paul M. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractIn this report, we present a case study involving an older, female patient with a history of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI). Magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging volumes were acquired from the volunteer in question, her brain volumetrics and morphometrics were extracted, and these were then systematically compared against corresponding metrics obtained from a large sample of older healthy control (HC) subjects as well as from subjects in various stages of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD). Our analyses find the patient's brain morphometry and connectivity most similar to those of patients classified as having early‐onset MCI, in contrast to HC, late MCI, and AD samples. Our examination will be of particular interest to those interested in assessing the clinical course in older patients having suffered TBI earlier in life, in contradistinction to those who experience incidents of head injury during aging.
Comparison of 2 versus 3 dimensional fracture mapping strategies for 3 dimensional computerized tomography reconstructions of scapula neck and body fractures
Authors: Dugarte Anthony J. , Tkany Luisa , Schroder Lisa K. , Petersik Andreas , Cole Peter A. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTFracture mapping has been used in the understanding of injury patterns in different bones. To our knowledge, there are no applications of this technique using three‐dimensional (3D) morphologic fracture characteristics. Previously, scapula fractures were mapped by transferring information from 3D computed tomography to a two‐dimensional (2D) template. Cole et al. determined that 3D Computerized Tomography (CT) scans were more reliable compared to plain radiographs in terms of scapular angulation, translation, and glenopolar angle measurements. Thus, we hypothesized that if there is a difference between fracture lines drawn in 3D and in 2D, then the 3D mapping would yield more accurate fracture patterns. We completed a retrospective, comparative study (evidence level III) utilizing CT imaging from a single center scapular registry. We studied ten patients with scapula fractures in whom bilateral CT scans were obtained. Fractures were mapped both two and three‐dimensionally, and we measured deviations between the fracture lines that were drawn with each approach. The measured deviations ranged from 10.4 mm to 28.0 mm when comparing 2D versus 3D techniques, with the mean deviation being 4.0 mm and 10.4 mm, respectively. Half of the 2D renderings possessed hidden fracture lines that were later revealed on 3D imaging. Three‐dimensional renderings were more accurate when compared to 2D fracture mapping methods. This more accurate technique will allow for better understanding of 3D morphology and provide a basis for future fracture mapping in any bone. Accurate mapping is important because surgical approach, reduction, fixation, and implant design and selection are based on fracture patterns. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:265–271, 2018.
Longest sage‐grouse migratory behavior sustained by intact pathways
Authors: Newton Rebecca E. , Tack Jason D. , Carlson John C. , Matchett Marc R. , Fargey Pat J. , Naugle David E. 
Published: May 2017

ABSTRACTExpanding human footprints across the globe are affecting animal migrations by altering their use of traditional routes and exposing them to increased costs of travel. Sustaining migratory behavior among populations requires knowledge of animal movement and space use during this critical life stage. We studied the migratory movements in a population of greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), an imperiled species endemic to the North American sagebrush steppe, with the longest‐known obligate and annual migration for a grouse: a 240‐km journey between Saskatchewan, Canada, and north central Montana, USA. Remote tracking revealed that stepping‐stone behavior in sage‐grouse is analogous to that of migratory big game populations, which frequent stopover sites along varied and individual routes. Within migratory routes, sage‐grouse chose pathways with gently rolling grasslands and sagebrush flats. Sage‐grouse avoided cropland, making punctuated movements across a 6‐km river valley dominated by cropland and trees. During autumn migration (Oct–Nov), individuals typically spent a day at an average of 9 different stopovers while traveling 41–126 km in 14 days. Sage‐grouse were faithful to winter ranges and timing of autumn migration but demonstrated adaptive behavior in response to heavy snowfalls with no effect on survival. Birds made a mass exodus north in spring (Mar–Apr) to their respective breeding ranges, traveling up to 160 km in 18 days. Migratory pathways were stitched together by an array of public and private lands, with large and intact landscapes composed of native vegetation forming the common thread. Conservation easements and public lands policy that preclude temperate grasslands from being fragmented will be critical in maintaining the largest migratory event observed among gallinaceous species. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Cell line dependent expression of EpCAM influences the detection of circulating tumor cells with CellSearch
Authors: Lindgren Gustaf , Wennerberg Johan , Ekblad Lars 
Published: May 2017

ObjectivesThe existence of circulating tumor cells has emerged as an important factor for prognosis and survival. The CellSearch method is the only circulating tumor cell detection method approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for clinical use. It relies on the detection of EpCAM (epithelial cell adhesion molecule) and is approved for colon cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer. We now investigated whether CellSearch can be used to quantify circulating tumor cells in head and neck squamous cell cancer.Study Design and MethodsIn this study, we investigated the expression of EpCAM in 12 head and neck squamous cell cancer cell lines using Western blot and how this affected their detectability with CellSearch in peripheral blood.ResultsWe found a great variation in the expression of EpCAM between our head and neck squamous cell cancer cell lines. This was accompanied by variations in counting efficiency.ConclusionWe suggest that for reliable quantification of circulating tumor cells in blood from patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer cell, an epitope independent method is preferable.Level of EvidenceNA
Large differences between carbon and nutrient loss rates along the land to ocean aquatic continuum—implications for energy:nutrient ratios at downstream sites
Authors: Weyhenmeyer Gesa A. , Conley Daniel J. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe balance between the availability of energy and nutrients is decisive for the growth and survival of organisms. Here, we evaluated how energy, in this study expressed as total carbon (TC), is lost along the land to ocean aquatic continuum (LOAC) in relation to nutrients, i.e., total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), total iron (TFe), and dissolved silica (DSi). For the evaluation, we used data from 4774 lakes, 149 streams, and 52 river mouths from the boreal region. We found that the loss of all chemical variables followed a first order decay function along the LOAC with shortest half‐lives for TFe and DSi (410 d and 568 d, respectively). The half‐life of TC was more than twice as long as for TFe and DSi, resulting in rapidly increasing TC:TFe and TC:DSi ratios along the LOAC. In contrast, TC:TP and TC:TN ratios decreased along the LOAC. The TC and TFe concentration declines along the LOAC were quantitatively similar to the TC and TFe concentration declines from winter to summer, indicating that similar drivers are responsible for spatial and seasonal TC and TFe losses in inland waters. We conclude that the energy:nutrient ratio rapidly changes along the LOAC with an increasing surplus of energy in relation to TFe and DSi the longer water stays in the landscape. These findings have implications for the growth of aquatic organisms along the LOAC, where organisms are likely to become increasingly iron and silica limited with increasing water retention in the landscape.
High‐speed optical imaging of liquid film flow and liquid macro‐slip over free surfaces with different surface energies
Authors: Polajnar M. , Bizjan B. , Širok B. , Kalin M. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractHigh‐speed optical imaging is introduced as a visualization method to investigate the film‐flow properties of liquids with different surface tensions and viscosities (water, poly‐alpha‐olefin oil, and glycerol) over free rotating surfaces with different surface energies and polarities (steel, and two different diamond‐like‐carbon ‐ DLC coatings, i.e. DLC, and F‐DLC). It was found that the polar surface energy strongly influences the structural dynamics of the liquid film's flow and the film's slip. Namely, a decrease in the polar surface energy results in a less stable film with de‐wetting areas and breakups into streams, as well as in a larger amount of film slip, which was most clearly expressed by the F‐DLC. It was also found that the combination of a high surface tension and a low viscosity provides the largest amount of liquid slip, with the most obvious breakup of the liquid film being observed with water, which clearly exhibits these properties.
Application of Bottlebrush Block Copolymers as Photonic Crystals
Authors: Liberman‐Martin Allegra L. , Chu Crystal K. , Grubbs Robert H. 
Published: May 2017

Brush block copolymers are a class of comb polymers that feature polymeric side chains densely grafted to a linear backbone. These polymers display interesting properties due to their dense functionality, low entanglement, and ability to rapidly self‐assemble to highly ordered nanostructures. The ability to prepare brush polymers with precise structures has been enabled by advancements in controlled polymerization techniques. This Feature Article highlights the development of brush block copolymers as photonic crystals that can reflect visible to near‐infrared wavelengths of light. Fabrication of these materials relies on polymer self‐assembly processes to achieve nanoscale ordering, which allows for the rapid preparation of photonic crystals from common organic chemical feedstocks. The characteristic physical properties of brush block copolymers are discussed, along with methods for their preparation. Strategies to induce self‐assembly at ambient temperatures and the use of blending techniques to tune photonic properties are emphasized.
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Intrinsic functional connectivity alterations in progressive supranuclear palsy: Differential effects in frontal cortex, motor, and midbrain networks
Authors: Rosskopf Johannes , Gorges Martin , Müller Hans‐Peter , Lulé Dorothée , Uttner Ingo , Ludolph Albert C. , Pinkhardt Elmar , Juengling Freimut D. , Kassubek Jan 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackground:The topography of functional network changes in progressive supranuclear palsy can be mapped by intrinsic functional connectivity MRI. The objective of this study was to study functional connectivity and its clinical and behavioral correlates in dedicated networks comprising the cognition‐related default mode and the motor and midbrain functional networks in patients with PSP.Methods:Whole‐brain‐based “resting‐state” functional MRI and high‐resolution T1‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging data together with neuropsychological and video‐oculographic data from 34 PSP patients (22 with Richardson subtype and 12 with parkinsonian subtype) and 35 matched healthy controls were subjected to network‐based functional connectivity and voxel‐based morphometry analysis.Results:After correction for global patterns of brain atrophy, the group comparison between PSP patients and controls revealed significantly decreased functional connectivity (P < 0.05, corrected) in the prefrontal cortex, which was significantly correlated with cognitive performance (P = 0.006). Of note, midbrain network connectivity in PSP patients showed increased connectivity with the thalamus, on the one hand, whereas, on the other hand, lower functional connectivity within the midbrain was significantly correlated with vertical gaze impairment, as quantified by video‐oculography (P = 0.004). PSP Richardson subtype showed significantly increased functional motor network connectivity with the medial prefrontal gyrus.Conclusions:PSP‐associated neurodegeneration was attributed to both decreased and increased functional connectivity. Decreasing functional connectivity was associated with worse behavioral performance (ie, dementia severity and gaze palsy), whereas the pattern of increased functional connectivity may be a potential adaptive mechanism. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Improved image quality and reduced power deposition in the spine at 3 T using extremely high permittivity materials
Authors: Koolstra Kirsten , Börnert Peter , Brink Wyger , Webb Andrew 
Published: May 2017

PurposeTo explore the effect of using extremely high permittivity (εr∼1,000) materials on image quality and power requirements of spine imaging at 3 T.Theory and MethodsA linear array of high permittivity dielectric blocks made of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) was designed and characterized by electromagnetic simulations and experiments. Their effect on the transmit efficiency, receive sensitivity, power deposition, and diagnostic image quality was analyzed in vivo in 10 healthy volunteers.ResultsSimulation results showed that for quadrature mode excitation, the PZT blocks improve the transmit efficiency by 75% while reducing the maximum 10g average specific absorption rate (SAR10) by 20%. In vivo experiments in 10 healthy volunteers showed statistically significant improvements for the transmit efficiency, and image quality. Compared to active radiofrequency shimming, image quality was similar, but the required system input power was significantly lower for quadrature excitation using the PZT blocks.ConclusionFor single‐channel transmit systems, using high permittivity PZT blocks offer a way to improve transmit efficiency and image quality in the spine. Results show that the effect, and therefore optimal design, is body mass index and sex specific. Magn Reson Med 79:1192–1199, 2018. © 2017 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Single‐commodity stochastic network design under demand and topological uncertainties with insufficient data
Authors: Shen Siqian , You Mingdi , Ma Yintai 
Published: May 2017

AbstractStochastic network design is fundamental to transportation and logistic problems in practice, yet faces new modeling and computational challenges resulted from heterogeneous sources of uncertainties and their unknown distributions given limited data. In this article, we design arcs in a network to optimize the cost of single‐commodity flows under random demand and arc disruptions. We minimize the network design cost plus cost associated with network performance under uncertainty evaluated by two schemes. The first scheme restricts demand and arc capacities in budgeted uncertainty sets and minimizes the worst‐case cost of supply generation and network flows for any possible realizations. The second scheme generates a finite set of samples from statistical information (e.g., moments) of data and minimizes the expected cost of supplies and flows, for which we bound the worst‐case cost using budgeted uncertainty sets. We develop cutting‐plane algorithms for solving the mixed‐integer nonlinear programming reformulations of the problem under the two schemes. We compare the computational efficacy of different approaches and analyze the results by testing diverse instances of random and real‐world networks. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 64: 154–173, 2017
Chemical‐exchange‐sensitive MRI of amide, amine and NOE at 9.4 T versus 15.2 T
Authors: Chung Julius Juhyun , Choi Wonmin , Jin Tao , Lee Jung Hee , Kim Seong‐Gi 
Published: May 2017

Chemical exchange (CE)‐sensitive MRI benefits greatly from stronger magnetic fields; however, field effects on CE‐sensitive imaging have not yet been studied well in vivo. We have compared CE‐sensitive Z‐spectra and maps obtained at the fields of 9.4 T and 15.2 T in phantoms and rats with off‐resonance chemical‐exchange‐sensitive spin lock (CESL), which is similar to conventional chemical exchange saturation transfer. At higher fields, the background peak at water resonance has less spread and the exchange rate relative to chemical shift decreases, thus CESL intensity is dependent on B0. For the in vivo amide and nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) composite resonances of rat brains, intensities were similar for both magnetic fields, but effective amide proton transfer and NOE values obtained with three‐point quantification or a curve fitting method were larger at 15.2 T due to the reduced spread of attenuation at the direct water resonance. When using intermediate exchange‐sensitive irradiation parameters, the amine proton signal was 65% higher at 15.2 T than at 9.4 T due to a reduced ratio of exchange rate to chemical shift. In summary, increasing magnetic field provides enhancements to CE‐sensitive signals in the intermediate exchange regime and reduces contamination from background signals in the slow exchange regime. Consequently, ultrahigh magnetic field is advantageous for CE‐sensitive MRI, especially for amine and hydroxyl protons.