bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Modified dixon‐based renal dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI facilitates automated registration and perfusion analysis
Authors: de Boer Anneloes , Leiner Tim , Vink Eva E. , Blankestijn Peter J. , van den Berg Cornelis A.T. 
Published: November 2017

PurposeRenal dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) MRI provides information on renal perfusion and filtration. However, clinical implementation is hampered by challenges in postprocessing as a result of misalignment of the kidneys due to respiration. We propose to perform automated image registration using the fat‐only images derived from a modified Dixon reconstruction of a dual‐echo acquisition because these provide consistent contrast over the dynamic series.MethodsDCE data of 10 hypertensive patients was used. Dual‐echo images were acquired at 1.5 T with temporal resolution of 3.9 s during contrast agent injection. Dixon fat, water, and in‐phase and opposed‐phase (OP) images were reconstructed. Postprocessing was automated. Registration was performed both to fat images and OP images for comparison. Perfusion and filtration values were extracted from a two‐compartment model fit.ResultsAutomatic registration to fat images performed better than automatic registration to OP images with visible contrast enhancement. Median vertical misalignment of the kidneys was 14 mm prior to registration, compared to 3 mm and 5 mm with registration to fat images and OP images, respectively (P = 0.03). Mean perfusion values and MR‐based glomerular filtration rates (GFR) were 233 ± 64 mL/100 mL/min and 60 ± 36 mL/minute, respectively, based on fat‐registered images. MR‐based GFR correlated with creatinine‐based GFR (P = 0.04) for fat‐registered images. For unregistered and OP‐registered images, this correlation was not significant.ConclusionAbsence of contrast changes on Dixon fat images improves registration in renal DCE MRI and enables automated postprocessing, resulting in a more accurate estimation of GFR. Magn Reson Med 80:66–76, 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.
Ketamine for the Acute Management of Excited Delirium and Agitation in the Prehospital Setting
Authors: Linder Lauren M. , Ross Clint A. , Weant Kyle A. 
Published: November 2017

Traditional first‐line therapy in the prehospital setting for the acutely agitated patient includes an antipsychotic in combination with a benzodiazepine. Recently, interest has grown regarding the use of ketamine in the prehospital setting as an attempt to overcome the limitations of the traditional medications and provide a more safe and effective therapy. This review provides an overview of the pharmacology of ketamine, evaluates the literature regarding ketamine use for prehospital agitation, and proposes an algorithm that may be used within the prehospital setting. A literature review was conducted to identify articles utilizing ketamine in the prehospital setting. The review was limited to English‐language articles identified in Embase (1988–June 2017) and the U.S. National Library of Medicine (1970–June 2017). References of all pertinent articles were also reviewed. Ten articles were identified including 418 patients receiving ketamine for agitation. The most commonly utilized route for administration was intramuscular (IM), with five of the seven IM administration studies using a ketamine dose of 5 mg/kg. Ketamine administered in this fashion was efficacious to achieve proper sedation during transport and did not require repeat dosing. Three studies applied a ketamine protocol to outline dosing and the management of ketamine adverse events. The most common adverse events identified were respiratory‐related events and hypersalivation. Ketamine has a role for agitation management in the prehospital setting; however, emergency personnel education and ketamine protocols should be utilized to aid in safe and effective pharmacotherapy and provide guidance on the management of adverse events. Future prospective comparative studies, with protocolized standard ketamine regimens, are needed to further delineate the role of ketamine in agitation management and identify accurate adverse event incidence rates.
Is secretion of IFN‐gamma in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in youngest children sufficient to play a role in TB diagnostics?
Authors: Bielecka Teresa , Komorowska‐Piotrowska Anna , Krenke Katarzyna , Feleszko Wojciech , Kulus Marek 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectivesTo assess whether children ≤5 years of age, produce sufficient amounts of interferon gamma (IFN‐ɣ) in response to phytohaemagglutinin (mitogen), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens (TB antigens) in the QuantiFERON‐TB Gold in‐Tube test (QFT‐GIT), (Cellestis Ltd., Australia). Working hypothesis: Is TB‐antigen‐induced IFN‐ɣ response in children ≤5 years sufficient to consider QFT‐GIT a possible tool for TB diagnostics? Study design, patient‐subject selection, and methods: We recruited children 0‐17 years old suspected of TB infection to this cross‐sectional study, in whom QFT–GIT and TST were performed. We analyzed the median IFN‐ɣ levels in mitogen and TB antigen tubes in children ≤5 years and >5 years, and the correlation between IFN‐ɣ level in both tubes and age.ResultsA total of 153 children were enrolled, age median was 7.8 (IQR:8), 45 (29.4%) aged ≤5 years (median 3.4, IQR:1.7), 108 > 5 years (median 10.55, IQR:5.93). In the mitogen tubes, the median IFN‐ɣ level was higher in children >5 years (median 17.87, IQR:2.1 vs 16.77, IQR:7.6), but surprisingly in the TB antigen tubes it was higher in the younger group (median 0.12, IQR:0.21vs 0.06, IQR:0.09, P = 0.04). We proved a positive correlation between IFN‐ɣ level and age in mitogen tubes (r = 0.18, P = 0.03) and a negative correlation in TB antigen tubes (r = −0.17, P = 0.04). In latent tuberculosis infection patients, the latter correlation was found to be even stronger (r = −0.39, P = 0.01).ConclusionsThe youngest children release sufficient amount of IFN‐ɣ in response to TB antigens thus QFT‐GIT might be a useful tool for TB diagnostics in this age group.
Regional lung function testing in children using electrical impedance tomography
Authors: Vogt Barbara , Löhr Sarah , Zhao Zhanqi , Falkenberg Christian , Ankermann Tobias , Weiler Norbert , Frerichs Inéz 
Published: November 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate regional lung function in lung‐healthy children before and after exercise challenge using electrical impedance tomography (EIT).MethodsRegional lung function was examined using EIT in 100 lung‐healthy children (three age subgroups: 74‐121, 122‐155, 156‐195 months) at baseline and 10 min after exercise. Global lung function was assessed by spirometry using Z‐Scores of FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC, and FEF75. The same lung function measures were determined in 912 EIT image pixels to enable the spatial and temporal ventilation distribution analysis. Coefficients of variation (CV) of these pixel values were calculated and histograms of pixel FEV1/FVC and times required to exhale 50% and 75% of pixel FVC (t50 and t75) generated. Additionally, we compared the findings of the studied population with three cystic fibrosis (CF) children.FindingsZ‐Scores corresponded to the worldwide reference values in all studied age groups at baseline. Global lung function was not affected by exercise, only the youngest group exhibited higher FVC and lower FEF75, FEV1/FVC attributable to the training effect. The overall degree of ventilation heterogeneity assessed by CV showed no exercise dependency. The histograms of pixel values of FEV1/FVC, t50, and t75 revealed a slight modulating effect of exercise on regional ventilation distribution in all subgroups. EIT identified the distinctly higher ventilation heterogeneity in the CF children.ConclusionGlobal and regional lung functions were not affected by exercise in lung‐healthy children. Exercise did not increase ventilation inhomogeneity. The obtained EIT‐derived regional lung parameters can serve as reference values for future studies in children with lung diseases.
Reactivity descriptors for DNA bases and the methylation of cytosine
Authors: Jerbi Jihène , Springborg Michael 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis work is devoted to the reactivity of DNA bases and base pairs. Various global molecular descriptors for reactivity were studied in addition to local descriptors for Cytosine and Cytosine‐Guanine base pairs using three different ways of analysing the charge distribution. The process of methylation was selected since it is very important during the cell formation at the embryonic state and since much is already known about this system making an assessment of the quality of the theoretical approaches possible. The results reveal that Cytosine is the least reactive molecule among the bases although it can be attacked by the DNMT enzyme while paired with Guanine. Amain finding of the present work is, however, that by analysing the Fukui function and a dual descriptor we can rationalise that carbon at position 5 of Cytosine is the most favorable site for the methyl attack.
Effect of deprotonation on the magnetic exchange coupling constant of fluorene‐based verdazyl diradical: A computational study
Authors: Shil Suranjan 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe magnetic behavior of the fluorene bridged verdazyl diradicals has been studied theoretically in their neutral and deprotonated states. The deprotonation of C9‐H site of the fluorene ring opens a new coupling pathway, which changes the nature of magnetic coupling. The transmission spectra analysis reveals that the transmission through fluorine has also increased due to the opening of a new coupling path after deprotonation.
A systematic review of the associations between HIV/HCV coinfection and biomarkers of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Osibogun Olatokunbo , Ogunmoroti Oluseye , Michos Erin D. , Spatz Erica S. , Olubajo Babatunde , Nasir Khurram , Maziak Wasim 
Published: November 2017

SummaryThe incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection has been increasing with over 10 million people affected globally. The role biomarkers play as predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among coinfected individuals is not well defined. We aimed to systematically review current evidence describing CVD biomarkers among individuals with HIV/HCV coinfection. We searched EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception to June 2017. MeSH terms and keywords were used to identify studies with information on HIV/HCV coinfection and CVD biomarkers (structural, functional, and serological) such as carotid intima‐media thickness (CIMT), endothelial markers, C‐reactive protein (CRP), homocysteine, and lipids. Among 332 articles screened, 28 were included (39,498 participants). Study designs varied: 18 cross‐sectional, 9 cohort, and 1 clinical trial. Compared with healthy controls and people with HIV or HCV monoinfection, individuals with HIV/HCV coinfection had statistically significant lower levels of lipids and CRP and higher levels of endothelial markers (sICAM‐1 and sVCAM‐1), CIMT, homocysteine, and IL‐6. One study found the odds of carotid plaque in coinfected individuals was 1.64 (0.91–2.94) compared with healthy controls, and another study showed the prevalence of vascular plaques (carotid and femoral) in coinfected individuals was higher compared with HIV monoinfected individuals (44% vs 14%, P = 0.04). Biomarkers of CVD have different patterns of association with HIV/HCV coinfection compared with monoinfection and healthy controls. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the predictive value of these biomarkers for clinical CVD risk among coinfected individuals.
Mild Thio‐Diversification of Bioactive Natural Products. Withaferin A: A Case study.
Authors: Casero C. N. , Novillo J. N. Garay , García M. E. , Oberti J. C. , Nicotra V. E. , Peñéñory A. B. , Bisogno F. R. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractA sustainable strategy was developed to create chemical diversity from bioactive scaffolds. The methodology comprises a set of simple reactions between the parent compound (i. e. withaferin A), and small sulfur nucleophiles in hydroalcoholic media, at room temperature and in open‐air atmosphere. Novel steroidal sulfur natural product‐analogs were obtained, featuring ring opening, ring formation, new stereocenters and modulation of parameters useful in medicinal chemistry.
Room Temperature Reduction of Nitroaromatics Using Pd Nanoparticles Stabilized on Nano‐CeO2
Authors: Saikia Himadri , Borah Biraj Jyoti , Bharali Pankaj 
Published: November 2017

AbstractPalladium nanoparticles stabilized on mesoporous cerium oxide nanoparticles catalyze the reduction of substituted nitroaromatics in presence of sodium borohydride as reductant. A modified two‐step methodology was developed for the synthesis of Pd/CeO2 nanoparticles. First the support CeO2 was synthesized by conventional precipitation method using ammonium oxalate as precipitant and Pd/CeO2 nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal treatment. The nanoparticles exhibit excellent catalytic activity and chemoselectivity for the reduction of nitroaromatics towards corresponding amine derivatives at room temperature. A kinetic study suggests that the reaction follows pseudo‐first order rate equation. Thus, synthesized catalyst represents significant role for the reduction of nitroaromatic compounds to value added amino compounds.
Eco‐Friendly Alkali‐Free Arginine‐Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis of Different Layered Double Hydroxides and Their Chromate Adsorption/Reduction Efficiency
Authors: Koilraj Paulmanickam , Sasaki Keiko 
Published: November 2017

AbstractA new one‐pot synthesis of highly crystalline MgAl‐, CoAl‐ and ZnAl‐layered double hydroxides (LDHs) containing NO3− as interlayer anion along with the surface functionalization of L‐arginine was demonstrated by the ecofriendly alkali‐free arginine‐assisted hydrothermal method to examine the adsorptive reduction of chromate (CrO42−) from aqueous solutions. The amino acid mediated water hydrolysis resulted abundant OH− in the medium, which served as precipitant, and the NO3− from metal precursor acts as an interlayer anion along with surface functionalization of amino acid. Adsorption studies revealed that the removal of CrO42− by anion exchange was the greatest in MgAl‐LDH with 1.619 mmol‐Cr/g of LDH. The mechanism of CrO42− removal was due to the ion‐exchange of NO3− from the interlayer as well as the counter anions present on the functionalized arginine cation. The adsorbed CrO42− was partially reduced to nontoxic Cr3+ on the surface of LDH due to the presence of amino acid functionalization. The present technique provides several advantages from the aspect of sustainable chemistry: (i) avoiding hazardous alkali for the preparation of LDH, (ii) removal of CrO42− by ion‐exchange and (iii) partial detoxification of CrO42− by reduction to Cr3+ on the surface of the LDH.
Ni‐Nanocluster Modified Black TiO2 with Dual Active Sites for Selective Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction
Authors: Billo Tadesse , Fu Fang‐Yu , Raghunath Putikam , Shown Indrajit , Chen Wei‐Fu , Lien Hsiang‐Ting , Shen Tzu‐Hsien , Lee Jyh‐Fu , Chan Ting‐Shan , Huang Kuo‐You , Wu Chih‐I , Lin M. C. , Hwang Jih‐Shang , Lee Chih‐Hao , Chen Li‐Chyong , Chen Kuei‐Hsien 
Published: November 2017

AbstractOne of the key challenges in artificial photosynthesis is to design a photocatalyst that can bind and activate the CO2 molecule with the smallest possible activation energy and produce selective hydrocarbon products. In this contribution, a combined experimental and computational study on Ni‐nanocluster loaded black TiO2 (Ni/TiO2[Vo]) with built‐in dual active sites for selective photocatalytic CO2 conversion is reported. The findings reveal that the synergistic effects of deliberately induced Ni nanoclusters and oxygen vacancies provide (1) energetically stable CO2 binding sites with the lowest activation energy (0.08 eV), (2) highly reactive sites, (3) a fast electron transfer pathway, and (4) enhanced light harvesting by lowering the bandgap. The Ni/TiO2[Vo] photocatalyst has demonstrated highly selective and enhanced photocatalytic activity of more than 18 times higher solar fuel production than the commercial TiO2 (P‐25). An insight into the mechanisms of interfacial charge transfer and product formation is explored.
Structural elucidation of novel biomarkers of known metabolic disorders based on multistage fragmentation mass spectra
Authors: Václavík Jan , Coene Karlien L. M. , Vrobel Ivo , Najdekr Lukáš , Friedecký David , Karlíková Radana , Mádrová Lucie , Petsalo Aleksanteri , Engelke Udo F. H. , van Wegberg Annemiek , Kluijtmans Leo A. J. , Adam Tomáš , Wevers Ron A. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSpecific diagnostic markers are the key to effective diagnosis and treatment of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). Untargeted metabolomics allows for the identification of potential novel diagnostic biomarkers. Current separation techniques coupled to high‐resolution mass spectrometry provide a powerful tool for structural elucidation of unknown compounds in complex biological matrices. This is a proof‐of‐concept study testing this methodology to determine the molecular structure of as yet uncharacterized m/z signals that were significantly increased in plasma samples from patients with phenylketonuria and 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA lyase deficiency. A hybrid linear ion trap‐orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometer, capable of multistage fragmentation, was used to acquire accurate masses and product ion spectra of the uncharacterized m/z signals. In order to determine the molecular structures, spectral databases were searched and fragmentation prediction software was used. This approach enabled structural elucidation of novel compounds potentially useful as biomarkers in diagnostics and follow‐up of IEM patients. Two new conjugates, glutamyl‐glutamyl‐phenylalanine and phenylalanine‐hexose, were identified in plasma of phenylketonuria patients. These novel markers showed high inter‐patient variation and did not correlate to phenylalanine levels, illustrating their potential added value for follow‐up. As novel biomarkers for 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA lyase deficiency, three positional isomers of 3‐methylglutaconyl carnitine could be detected in patient plasma. Our results highlight the applicability of current accurate mass multistage fragmentation techniques for structural elucidation of unknown metabolites in human biofluids, offering an unprecedented opportunity to gain further biochemical insights in known inborn errors of metabolism by enabling high confidence identification of novel biomarkers.
Broad scale variation in seagrass benthic macrofaunal assemblages along the coast of Japan
Authors: Leopardas Venus , Hori Masakazu , Mukai Hiroshi , Tanaka Yoshiyuki , Yokoi Ken‐ichi , Aoki Misuzu , Sato Naoto , Whanpetch Napakhwan , Nakaoka Masahiro 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBroad scale studies in seagrass benthic macrofauna are important for future regional marine conservation. We examined spatial variation in the community structure of seagrass‐associated benthic macroinvertebrates collected by sediment coring in 2010 at six seagrass sites of Japan covering the latitudinal range of 24°–43°N. Total species richness and ES(50) at site level did not show clear site variations and relationship with latitude. At core level, site variations of mean species richness, ES(50), Simpson diversity and abundance showed inconsistent pattern, but with more cases of statistically significant association with latitude. Variations were generally influenced by the seagrass species, often among subtropical species, among temperate Zostera species, and between Zostera and subtropical species. Finally, the community composition differed significantly across all sites and community similarity decreased rapidly with geographic distance, with only 5% similarity retained at the distance of 400 km. The dissimilarity among sites was higher with the similar distance compared to other types of coastal communities such as rocky intertidal assemblages, which is associated with minor occurrence of species with broad distributional range.
Plant functional traits and groups in a Californian serpentine chaparral
Authors: Hidalgo‐Triana Noelia , Pérez Latorre Andrés Vicente , Thorne James Hansen 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe studied a type of Californian ultramafic chaparral to determine functional groups which can help reduce the complexity of ecosystem management. The study was realized in McLaughlin Reserve, State of California, USA. We analysed the species of a serpentine plant association previously phytosociologically described in the area: Ceanotho albiflori‐Quercetum duratae for their functional traits and functional groups. Traits per species were measured building a trait database. We used Principal Component Analysis to identify the combination of functional traits with major weight and a neighbor‐joining clustering to define functional groups for this vegetation association. Our results indicated that the studied association is dominated by phanerophytes, with low degree of spinescence. Leaves were mainly malacophyllous with high degree of tomentosity, reduced size and a partial shedding of leaves was observed during summer. We considered six functional groups as the optimum number of clusters in a total of 18 species. The two first functional groups were composed of chamaephytes with brachyblasts and dolichoblasts with differences in the degree of tomentosity. The rest of the functional groups were composed of phanerophytes where the differences between them were based on traits in relation to the branches, leaf size and the horizontal development of the root system. The functional groups obtained show that this serpentine chaparral is composed of species with a wide range of functional traits. The study of other Mediterranean serpentine ecosystems in California and elsewhere could contribute to create new perspectives of functional ecology and help in the management of these valuable ecosystems.
Ricasolia amplissima(Lobariaceae): one species, three genotypes and a new taxon from south-eastern Alaska
Authors: CORNEJO Carolina , DERR Chiska , DILLMAN Karen 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe genetic diversity within the foliose form ofRicasolia amplissimafrom Europe and North America was studied using molecular phylogenetic analysis of the nuclear ITS andRPB2, and mitochondrial SSU. Boundaries between closely related species were also examined using morphological and chemical patterns. Four species of the recently reinstated lichen genusRicasoliaDe Not. were phylogenetically verified which necessitated a new combination,Ricasolia japonica(Asah.) Cornejo. Analyses suggest that the generic type taxonR. amplissima(Scop.) De Not. belongs to a species complex that shows two evolutionary centres, one in Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor and the Macaronesian Islands, the other from north-western North America on exposed shores of mainly forested marine islands in south-eastern Alaska, where it shows strong habitat specificity. The Alaskan lineage is very similar to the European lineage but it differs by the lack of scrobiculin and other chemical substances. It is described here asR. amplissimasubsp.sheiyiDerr & Dillman.