bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel Use of Ultrasound to Teach Reproductive System Physical Examination Skills and Pelvic Anatomy
Authors: Parikh Tejal , Czuzak Maria , Bui Naomi , Wildner Corinna , Koch Bryna , Leko Elizabeth , Rappaport William , Adhikari Srikar , Gordon Paul , Gura Mike , Ellis Susan 
Published: September 2017

ObjectivesTo determine whether integration of ultrasound (US) into a reproductive system examination clinical skills lab can increase confidence in palpating key reproductive structures during testicular and bimanual pelvic examinations, reduce anxiety about conducting testicular and bimanual pelvic examinations, and improve performance on multiple‐choice questions based on structure identification using US images.MethodsSecond‐year medical students enrolled in the Life Cycle preclinical course participated in this cross‐sectional study. A single learning activity was developed to pair the teaching of the reproductive system physical examination with the use of US in the clinical skills lab. The evaluation of the teaching session consisted of a pre‐post analysis of student self‐reported knowledge, confidence, and anxiety.ResultsThe response rate for the pre survey was 82% (n = 96), and the rate for the post survey was 79% (n = 93). Students' confidence in their ability to identify reproductive system structures on US images increased from pre to post survey. Their confidence in their ability to palpate the epididymis, uterus, and ovary during a physical examination improved, and their anxiety about conducting testicular and bimanual pelvic examinations decreased. Student satisfaction with the session was high. Students' performance on multiple‐choice questions based on structure identification using US images was at 96% or higher.ConclusionsOur study findings support the integration of US into a reproductive system examination clinical skills lab. Medical students acquire competency and confidence in reproductive system physical examination skills with US integration.
Seasonal and diel signature of eastern hellbender environmental DNA
Authors: Takahashi Mizuki K. , Meyer Mark J. , Mcphee Carolyn , Gaston Jordan R. , Venesky Matthew D. , Case Brian F. 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTExamination of environmental DNA (eDNA) is a non‐invasive conservation tool that has been used for the detection of aquatic organisms. When coupled with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), eDNA sampling may be used to infer seasonal or diel activities of target species. To survey the status of eastern hellbenders (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis), fully aquatic cryptic salamanders of conservation concern, through eDNA analyses, we collected water samples monthly from 13 sites across 8 tributaries of the West Branch Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, USA, from June through October 2014. We also examined the effects of the breeding season, diel activity, and stream environmental variables (e.g., temp, pH) on eDNA concentration estimates. We repeatedly detected hellbender eDNA from all 4 tributaries known to contain hellbenders, and from downstream sites of 2 of the 4 tributaries without known records of hellbenders. In the tributaries known to contain hellbenders, we observed notable increases in eDNA concentrations during the September breeding season, suggesting possible reproductive events. However, such seasonal eDNA signature was lacking from the eDNA positive sites of the tributaries without known records of hellbenders. There was no difference in eDNA estimates between diurnal and nocturnal samples, indicating that diel activity was inconsequential to eDNA estimates. Our statistical analyses of the eDNA positive sites revealed no effects of the stream variables on eDNA estimates. Yet, the presence of hellbenders was positively associated with stream temperature and negatively with pH. The positive association with temperature was likely to be an artifact of the sampling design, whereas the negative association with pH may indicate negative effects of farming and livestock on hellbenders. Our findings concur with recent studies on the importance of temporal sampling in interpreting eDNA signature in relation to life histories of target species. Further studies are needed to characterize the core habitats of newly found populations for future management of the declining hellbender populations. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Upslope inflow, hillslope gradient and rainfall intensity impacts on ephemeral gully erosion
Authors: Xu Ximeng , Zheng Fenli , Wilson Glenn V. , Wu Min 
Published: September 2017

AbstractEphemeral gullies (EGs) are major contributors to sediment loss and land degradation on cultivated lands. However, the topography and rainfall impacts on EG development processes are still unclear, especially on steep loessial hillslopes such as the Loess Plateau. A series of laboratory rainfall simulation experiments were conducted to investigate the impacts of topographic characteristics (3 typical slope gradients (S): 26.8%, 36.4%, and 46.6%; and 5 upslope drainage areas (A): 16, 32, 64, 96, and 128 m2) and rainfall intensities (3 representative erosive rainfall intensities 50, 75, and 100 mm hr−1) on EG erosion on a steep loessial hillslope. A large slope adjustable soil pan (8 m‐long, 2 m‐wide, and 0.6 m‐deep) and a side‐sprinkler rainfall simulation system were used in this study. The results showed that soil loss increased when rainfall intensity, slope, and upslope drainage area increased. Upslope topography and inflow had great impacts on downslope EG erosion, and the contribution percentages ranged from 52.2% to 74.1%, from 48.3% to 71.4%, and from 29.5% to 66.7% for the 50, 75, and 100 mm hr−1 rainfall treatments, respectively. Runoff velocities with upslope inflow were 22.7% to 79.4% larger than those without inflow, and the upslope inflow was more effective than rainfall intensity in increasing runoff velocities in EG channels, thus caused more soil erosion. Soil loss equation based on rainfall intensity and AS2 (product of the upslope drainage area and the square of the local slope gradient) was established and validated. The determination coefficient (R2) and Nash–Sutcliffe simulation efficiency (ENS) were 0.80 and 0.87, which showed satisfactory accuracy. This equation can be used to predict the EG erosion in various topographic and rainfall conditions on steep loessial hillslopes.
Crossing the line: Tunas actively exploit submesoscale fronts to enhance foraging success
Authors: Snyder Stephanie , Franks Peter J. S. , Talley Lynne D. , Xu Yi , Kohin Suzanne 
Published: September 2017

AbstractFronts—i.e., the boundaries between water masses—are ubiquitous in the world oceans and have been shown to significantly influence pelagic ecosystems with enhanced local productivity and increased abundances of forage fish and top predators. Here we use data from archival tags to document how four juvenile albacore tunas foraged at and exploited a thermal front. Of the 3098 observed trips, the albacore mainly swam across the front between the warm side above the thermocline and the cold side below the thermocline with an average of 78 ± 20.4 cross‐frontal trips per fish per day. The warm frontal surface waters provided a thermal resource, allowing the tuna to maintain higher body temperatures and thus forage more efficiently in the food‐rich waters of the cold side of the front. Foraging success of the tunas decreased as the cross‐front thermal gradient weakened. This first look into small‐scale use of fronts by a top predator demonstrates that ephemeral, submesoscale oceanic features can play a significant role in pelagic ecology.
Dissolution Capacity of Novel Cellulose Solvents Based on Triethyloctylammonium Chloride
Authors: Achtel Christian , Jedvert Kerstin , Kosan Birgit , Seoud Omar A. El , Heinze Thomas 
Published: September 2017

AbstractDissolution of cellulose from various sources (microcrystalline cellulose and different dissolving grade pulp fibers) is investigated in solvent systems based on triethyl(n‐octyl)ammonium chloride (N2228Cl). Clear cellulose solutions are obtained with N2228Cl in a variety of solvents, e.g., dimethyl sulfoxide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and acetone. It is possible to prepare clear cellulose solutions from pulp fibers with concentrations up to 15 wt%. However, it is found that the cellulose is degraded, especially when neat (i.e., molten) N2228Cl is used as a solvent. The present work includes comprehensive rheological characterization of the cellulose solutions, both with shear and extensional rheology. In most cases, the viscosity values are low (complex viscosities below 100 Pa s for 5–10 wt% dissolved cellulose), and the solutions show more Newtonian than viscoelastic behavior.
Design and Synthesis of Multigraft Copolymer Thermoplastic Elastomers: Superelastomers
Authors: Wang Huiqun , Lu Wei , Wang Weiyu , Shah Priyank N. , Misichronis Konstantinos , Kang Nam‐Goo , Mays Jimmy W. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) have been widely studied because of their recyclability, good processibility, low production cost, and unique performance. The building of graft‐type architectures can greatly improve mechanical properties of TPEs. This review focuses on the advances in different approaches to synthesize multigraft copolymer TPEs. Anionic polymerization techniques allow for the synthesis of well‐defined macromolecular structures and compositions, with great control over the molecular weight, polydispersity, branch spacing, number of branch points, and branch point functionality. Progress in emulsion polymerization offers potential approaches to commercialize these types of materials with low production cost via simple operations. Moreover, the use of multigraft architectures provides a solution to the limited elongational properties of all‐acrylic TPEs, which can greatly expand their potential application range. The combination of different polymerization techniques, the introduction of new chemical compositions, and the incorporation of sustainable sources are expected to be further investigated in this area in coming years.
Microbiological profile and nutritional quality of a regular diet compared to a neutropenic diet in a pediatric oncology unit
Authors: Maia Juliana Elert , da Cruz Luciane Beitler , Gregianin Lauro José 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIt has been hypothesized that a neutropenic diet has lower microbe content. Here, the microbiological and nutritional contents of regular and neutropenic diets offered to pediatric patients were analyzed. Microbiological contamination was detected in five of 36 of the food samples analyzed, yet there was no statistical differences between the diets (P = 1.00) or in their odds ratio (0.62) (95% CI = 0.05–6.35; P = 0.63). The strict neutropenic diet did have less fiber (P = 0.05) and vitamin C (P = 0.01). Thus, the regular diet appears safe, and possibly provides greater benefits, for pediatric patients with neutropenia.
Synthesis of phenylenevinylene and naphthylenevinylene homopolymers and block copolymers by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization
Authors: Yu Chin‐Yang , Wen Shih‐Hao , Yu Sheng‐Hao , Wang Chao‐Chi 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTHomopolymers and copolymers containing phenylenevinylenes and naphthylenevinylenes can be synthesized by ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of strained monomers such as tetraoctyloxy‐substituted cyclophanedienes and naphthalenophanedienes initiated by the third‐generation Grubbs’ initiator. The resulting homopolymers exhibited low polydispersities. The block copolymers can also be synthesized by the sequential ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of two individual monomers. The structures of homopolymers and block copolymers were fully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The molecular weight distribution of the block copolymers is relatively broad compared to their parent homopolymers possibly due to chain transfer reaction. The molar ratio of the two blocks can be tailored by the ratio of the monomers employed. The block copolymers exhibited a more efficient energy transfer in the solid state between the different blocks than those carried out in solution. The optical and electrochemical properties of the polymers were investigated and exhibited the potential uses in optoelectronics devices. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 67–74
Incidence of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Herbal Medicines from German Retail Markets: Risk Assessments and Implications to Consumers
Authors: Letsyo Emmanuel , Jerz Gerold , Winterhalter Peter , Lindigkeit Rainer , Beuerle Till 
Published: September 2017

The occurrence of potentially toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in herbal medicines (HMs) is currently intensely being discussed in Europe. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, particularly the 1,2‐unsaturated PAs, are undesired compounds in HMs due to their potential hepatotoxic and carcinogenic properties. In this study, 98 widely patronized HMs from six popular German retail supermarkets/drugstores, as well as from pharmacies, were analyzed by high‐performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry for the presence of PAs. The results showed that about 63% of the HMs were PA positive, whereas the average PA concentration of the samples was 201 μg/kg, the highest concentration of PAs (3270 μg/kg) was attributed to a product that was purchased from the pharmacy and contained Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's Wort) as an active ingredient. In addition, H. perforatum‐containing products were frequently contaminated with PAs from Echium spp., while both Cynara cardunculus L. products and fixed‐combination products of Gentiana lutea L., Rumex acetosa L., Verbena officinalis L., Sambucus nigra L., and Primula veris L. products were commonly contaminated with PAs of Senecio spp. The study showed that H. perforatum, C. cardunculus, Urtica dioica L., and fixed‐combination products were frequently contaminated with PA levels above the recommended values of both the German and European Medicines Agencies. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Inhibitory Effect of Thymoquinone on Testosterone‐Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Wistar Rats
Authors: Al‐Trad Bahaa , Al‐Zoubi Mazhar , Qar Janti , Al‐Batayneh Khalid , Hussien Emad , Muhaidat Riyadh , Aljabali Alaa , Alkhateeb Hakam , Al Omari Ghada 
Published: September 2017

This study addresses the possible protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) against the development of experimentally‐induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Wistar rats. Eighteen adult male rats were divided into three groups; the negative control group (n = 6) received vehicle, and two groups received subcutaneous testosterone injection (3 mg/kg). Animals receiving testosterone were randomized to untreated BPH group (n = 6) and BPH + TQ treated group (n = 6, 50 mg/kg orally for 14 days). Histological changes and the mRNA levels of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) and vascular endothelial growth factor‐A (VEGF‐A) were analyzed. Additionally, dihydrotestosterone and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) serum levels were determined. The presented research shows significant increases in prostate weight/body weight ratio, prostate epithelial thickness, serum IL‐6 and dihydrotestosterone levels, and the prostatic expressions of TGF‐β1 and VEGF‐A in the untreated BPH rats. Histological examination of the prostate tissues in the BPH rats showed an elevated level of proliferation in the stromal area and glandular epithelia with abundant intraluminal papillary folds. However, a reduction in prostate weight/body weight ratio, epithelial hyperplasia, serum IL‐6 levels, and the expressions of TGF‐β1 and VEGF‐A were observed in the BPH + TQ treated rats compared with the untreated BPH rats. The findings support TQ as a useful natural treatment for animal BPH model. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Advances on Microsized On‐Chip Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Liu Lixiang , Weng Qunhong , Lu Xueyi , Sun Xiaolei , Zhang Lin , Schmidt Oliver G. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractDevelopment of microsized on‐chip batteries plays an important role in the design of modern micro‐electromechanical systems, miniaturized biomedical sensors, and many other small‐scale electronic devices. This emerging field intimately correlates with the topics of rechargeable batteries, nanomaterials, on‐chip microfabrication, etc. In recent years, a number of novel designs are proposed to increase the energy and power densities per footprint area, as well as other electrochemical performances of microsized lithium‐ion batteries. These advances may guide the pathway for the future development of microbatteries.
A Delicately Designed Sulfide Graphdiyne Compatible Cathode for High‐Performance Lithium/Magnesium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Du Huiping , Zhang Zhonghua , He Jianjiang , Cui Zili , Chai Jingchao , Ma Jun , Yang Ze , Huang Changshui , Cui Guanglei 
Published: September 2017

AbstractNovel sulfur cathodes hold the key to the development of metal–sulfur batteries, the promising candidate of next‐generation high‐energy‐storage systems. Herein, a fascinating sulfur cathode based on sulfide graphdiyne (SGDY) is designed with a unique structure, which is composed of a conducting carbon skeleton with high Li+ mobility and short sulfur energy‐storing unites. The SGDY cathode can essentially avoid polysulfide dissolution and be compatible with commercially available carbonate‐based electrolytes and Grignard reagent‐based electrolytes (all phenyl complex (APC) type electrolytes). Both the assembled Li–S and Mg–S batteries exhibit excellent electrochemical performances including large capacity, superior rate capability, high capacity retention, and high Coulombic efficiency. More importantly, this is the first implementation case of a reliable Mg–S system based on nucleophilic APC electrolytes.
Reversible Anion‐Driven Switching of an Organic 2D Crystal at a Solid–Liquid Interface
Authors: Cui Kang , Mali Kunal S. , Wu Dongqing , Feng Xinliang , Müllen Klaus , Walter Michael , De Feyter Steven , Mertens Stijn F. L. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractIonic self‐assembly of charged molecular building blocks relies on the interplay between long‐range electrostatic forces and short‐range, often cooperative, supramolecular interactions, yet has been seldom studied in two dimensions at the solid–liquid interface. Here, we demonstrate anion‐driven switching of two‐dimensional (2D) crystal structure at the Au(111)/octanoic acid interface. Using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), three organic salts with identical polyaromatic cation (PQPC6+) but different anions (perchlorate, anthraquinonedisulfonate, benzenesulfonate) are shown to form distinct, highly ordered self‐assembled structures. Reversible switching of the supramolecular arrangement is demonstrated by in situ exchange of the anion on the pre‐formed adlayer, by changing the concentration ratio between the incoming and outgoing anion. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that perchlorate is highly mobile in the adlayer, and corroborate why this anion is only resolved transiently in STM. Surprisingly, the templating effect of the anion persists even where it does not become part of the adlayer 2D fabric, which we ascribe to differences in stabilization of cation conformations by the anion. Our results provide important insight into the structuring of mixed anion–cation adlayers. This is essential in the design of tectons for ionic self‐assembled superstructures and biomimetic adaptive materials and valuable also to understand adsorbate–adsorbate interactions in heterogeneous catalysis.
Long-Term Fate of Human Fetal Liver Progenitor Cells Transplanted in Injured Mouse Livers
Authors: Irudayaswamy Antony , Muthiah Mark , Zhou Lei , Hung Hau , Jumat Nur Halisah Bte , Haque Jamil , Teoh Narcissus , Farrell Geoffrey , Riehle Kimberly J. , Lin Jaymie Siqi , Su Lin Lin , Chan Jerry Ky , Choolani Mahesh , Wong Peng Cheang , Wee Aileen , Lim Seng Gee , Campbell Jean , Fausto Nelson , Dan Yock Young 
Published: September 2017

Abstract
Liver progenitor cells have the potential to repair and regenerate a diseased liver. The success of any translational efforts, however, hinges on thorough understanding of the fate of these cells after transplant, especially in terms of long-term safety and efficacy. Here, we report transplantation of a liver progenitor population isolated from human fetal livers into immune-permissive mice with follow-up up to 36 weeks after transplant. We found that human progenitor cells engraft and differentiate into functional human hepatocytes in the mouse, producing albumin, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and glycogen. They create tight junctions with mouse hepatocytes, with no evidence of cell fusion. Interestingly, they also differentiate into functional endothelial cell and bile duct cells. Transplantation of progenitor cells abrogated carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrosis in recipient mice, with downregulation of procollagen and anti-smooth muscle actin. Paradoxically, the degree of engraftment of human hepatocytes correlated negatively with the anti-fibrotic effect. Progenitor cell expansion was most prominent in cirrhotic animals, and correlated with transcript levels of pro-fibrotic genes. Animals that had resolution of fibrosis had quiescent native progenitor cells in their livers. No evidence of neoplasia was observed, even up to 9 months after transplantation. Human fetal liver progenitor cells successfully attenuate liver fibrosis in mice. They are activated in the setting of liver injury, but become quiescent when injury resolves, mimicking the behavior of de novo progenitor cells. Our data suggest that liver progenitor cells transplanted into injured livers maintain a functional role in the repair and regeneration of the liver.
Diffusion Entropy: A Potential Neuroimaging Biomarker of Bipolar Disorder in the Temporal Pole
Authors: Spuhler Karl , Bartlett Elizabeth , Ding Jie , DeLorenzo Christine , Parsey Ramin , Huang Chuan 
Published: September 2017

AbstractDespite much research, bipolar depression remains poorly understood, with no clinically useful biomarkers for its diagnosis. The paralimbic system has become a target for biomarker research, with paralimbic structural connectivity commonly reported to distinguish bipolar patients from controls in tractography‐based diffusion MRI studies, despite inconsistent findings in voxel‐based studies. The purpose of this analysis was to validate existing findings with traditional diffusion MRI metrics and investigate the utility of a novel diffusion MRI metric, entropy of diffusion, in the search for bipolar depression biomarkers. We performed group‐level analysis on 9 un‐medicated (6 medication‐naïve; 3 medication‐free for at least 33 days) bipolar patients in a major depressive episode and 9 matched healthy controls to compare: (1) average mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) and; (2) MD and FA histogram entropy—a statistical measure of distribution homogeneity—in the amygdala, hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex and temporal pole. We also conducted classification analyses with leave‐one‐out and separate testing dataset (N = 11) approaches. We did not observe statistically significant differences in average MD or FA between the groups in any region. However, in the temporal pole, we observed significantly lower MD entropy in bipolar patients; this finding suggests a regional difference in MD distributions in the absence of an average difference. This metric allowed us to accurately characterize bipolar patients from controls in leave‐one‐out (accuracy = 83%) and prediction (accuracy = 73%) analyses. This novel application of diffusion MRI yielded not only an interesting separation between bipolar patients and healthy controls, but also accurately classified bipolar patients from controls.