bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ambient Ultrafine Particle Ingestion Alters Gut Microbiota in Association with Increased Atherogenic Lipid Metabolites
Authors: Li Rongsong , Yang Jieping , Saffari Arian , Jacobs Jonathan , Baek Kyung In , Hough Greg , Larauche Muriel H. , Ma Jianguo , Jen Nelson , Moussaoui Nabila , Zhou Bill , Kang Hanul , Reddy Srinivasa , Henning Susanne M. , Campen Matthew J. , Pisegna Joseph , Li Zhaoping , Fogelman Alan M. , Sioutas Constantinos , Navab Mohamad , Hsiai Tzung K. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAmbient particulate matter (PM) exposure is associated with atherosclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Ultrafine particles (UFP, dp < 0.1–0.2 μm) are redox active components of PM. We hypothesized that orally ingested UFP promoted atherogenic lipid metabolites in both the intestine and plasma via altered gut microbiota composition. Low density lipoprotein receptor-null (Ldlr−/−) mice on a high-fat diet were orally administered with vehicle control or UFP (40 μg/mouse/day) for 3 days a week. After 10 weeks, UFP ingested mice developed macrophage and neutrophil infiltration in the intestinal villi, accompanied by elevated cholesterol but reduced coprostanol levels in the cecum, as well as elevated atherogenic lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC 18:1) and lysophosphatidic acids (LPAs) in the intestine and plasma. At the phylum level, Principle Component Analysis revealed significant segregation of microbiota compositions which was validated by Beta diversity analysis. UFP-exposed mice developed increased abundance in Verrocomicrobia but decreased Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Firmicutes as well as a reduced diversity in microbiome. Spearman’s analysis negatively correlated Actinobacteria with cecal cholesterol, intestinal and plasma LPC18:1, and Firmicutes and Cyanobacteria with plasma LPC 18:1. Thus, ultrafine particles ingestion alters gut microbiota composition, accompanied by increased atherogenic lipid metabolites. These findings implicate the gut-vascular axis in a atherosclerosis model.
Quantitative evaluation on the characteristics of activated sludge granules and flocs using a fuzzy entropy-based approach
Authors: Fang Fang , Qiao Li-Li , Ni Bing-Jie , Cao Jia-Shun , Yu Han-Qing 
Published: February 2017

AbstractActivated sludge granules and flocs have their inherent advantages and disadvantages for wastewater treatment due to their different characteristics. So far quantitative information on their evaluation is still lacking. This work provides a quantitative and comparative evaluation on the characteristics and pollutant removal capacity of granules and flocs by using a new methodology through integrating fuzzy analytic hierarchy process, accelerating genetic algorithm and entropy weight method. Evaluation results show a higher overall score of granules, indicating that granules had more favorable characteristics than flocs. Although large sized granules might suffer from more mass transfer limitation and is prone to operating instability, they also enable a higher level of biomass retention, greater settling velocity and lower sludge volume index compared to flocs. Thus, optimized control of granule size is essential for achieving good pollutant removal performance and simultaneously sustaining long-term stable operation of granule-based reactors. This new integrated approach is effective to quantify and differentiate the characteristics of activated sludge granules and flocs. The evaluation results also provide useful information for the application of activated sludge granules in full-scale wastewater treatment plants.
Sleep Supports the Slow Abstraction of Gist from Visual Perceptual Memories
Authors: Lutz Nicolas D. , Diekelmann Susanne , Hinse-Stern Patricia , Born Jan , Rauss Karsten 
Published: February 2017

AbstractSleep benefits the consolidation of individual episodic memories. In the long run, however, it may be more efficient to retain the abstract gist of single, related memories, which can be generalized to similar instances in the future. While episodic memory is enhanced after one night of sleep, effective gist abstraction is thought to require multiple nights. We tested this hypothesis using a visual Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm, examining gist abstraction and episodic-like memory consolidation after 20 min, after 10 hours, as well as after one year of retention. While after 10 hours, sleep enhanced episodic-like memory for single items, it did not affect gist abstraction. One year later, however, we found significant gist knowledge only if subjects had slept immediately after encoding, while there was no residual memory for individual items. These findings indicate that sleep after learning strengthens episodic-like memories in the short term and facilitates long-term gist abstraction.
Novel Preoperative Nomogram for Prediction of Futile Resection in Patients Undergoing Exploration for Potentially Resectable Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Nam Kwangwoo , Hwang Dae Wook , Shim Ju Hyun , Song Tae Jun , Lee Sang Soo , Seo Dong-Wan , Lee Sung Koo , Kim Myung-Hwan , Kim Ki-Hun , Hwang Shin , Park Kwang-Min , Lee Young-Joo , Han Minkyu , Park Do Hyun 
Published: February 2017

AbstractSurgical resection is the treatment of choice for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). However, discrepancies between preoperative workup and intraoperative findings can occur, resulting in unexpected and unfavorable surgical outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop a feasible preoperative nomogram to predict futile resection of IHCC. A total of 718 patients who underwent curative-intent surgery for IHCC between January 2005 and December 2014 were included. The patients were divided into a training cohort (2005–2010, n = 377) and validation cohort (2011–2014, n = 341). The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram were determined by the concordance index and calibration curves. In multivariate analysis of the training cohort, tumor number, lymph node enlargement, presence of intrahepatic duct stones, and elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (≥2.7) were independently correlated with the risk of futile resection. The predictive nomogram was established based on these factors. The concordance index of the nomogram for the training and the validation cohorts was 0.847 and 0.740, respectively. In this nomogram, the negative predictive value (128 points, probability of futile resection of 36%) in the validation cohort was 93.3%. In conclusion, our novel preoperatively applicable nomogram is a feasible method to predict futile resection of IHCC in curative-intent surgery.
Bisphosphonates enhance antitumor effect of EGFR-TKIs in patients with advanced EGFR mutant NSCLC and bone metastases
Authors: Zhang Guowei , Cheng Ruirui , Zhang Zengli , Jiang Tao , Ren Shengxiang , Ma Zhiyong , Zhao Sha , Zhou Caicun , Zhang Jun 
Published: February 2017

AbstractWhether bisphosphonates could enhance the effect of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutation and bone metastases (BM) remains unknown. EGFR mutation status were collected from 1560 patients with NSCLC and BM. 356 NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation and BM were identified. Among them, 91 patients received EGFR-TKIs alone and 105 patients received EGFR-TKIs plus bisphosphonates as first-line therapy. Comparing to TKIs alone, EGFR-TKIs plus bisphosphonates had a statistically significant longer progression-free survival (PFS: 11.6 vs. 9.3 months; HR = 0.68, P = 0.009), while a similar overall survival (OS: 20.5 vs. 19.5 months; HR = 0.95, P = 0.743) in patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC and BM. The incidence of skeletal-related events in combined group was numerically lower than that in EGFR-TKIs alone group (29.7% vs. 39.4%, P = 0.147). In multivariate analysis, EGFR mutation was found to be a significant independent prognostic factor for OS in NSCLC patients with BM (HR = 0.710, P = 0.021). In conclusion, EGFR mutation was the significant independent prognostic factor for OS and the addition of bisphosphonates to EGFR-TKIs could enhance the antitumor effect of EGFR-TKIs in patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC and BM.
Differences in the Clinical Characteristics of Early- and Late-Onset Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Full-Term Infants: A Retrospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Li Qiu-Yu , An Yao , Liu Li , Wang Xue-Qiu , Chen Shi , Wang Zheng-Li , Li Lu-Quan 
Published: February 2017

AbstractInformation regarding the influence of age at onset on prognosis in full-term infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is limited, and identifying differences between the clinical characteristics of early-onset NEC (EO-NEC) and late-onset NEC (LO-NEC) may be helpful in the determination of effective management strategies. In the present study, the medical records of 253 full-term infants with NEC were reviewed, and the clinical characteristics of the EO-NEC group (n = 150) and the LO-NEC group (n = 103) were compared. Infants in the EO-NEC group were characterized by increased gestational age and higher rates of stage III NEC and peritonitis when compared with LO-NEC infants (P  < 0.05). Mortality was significantly associated with stage III NEC, peritonitis, sepsis, respiratory failure and shock in univariate analysis (P < 0.05). In logistic regression analysis, peritonitis and renal failure were identified as independent risk factors for mortality in infants with EO-NEC, and peritonitis and respiratory failure were significant predictors of mortality in neonates with LO-NEC. Our finding indicated that the characteristics of the severe medical conditions identified in infants with EO-NEC were distinct from those observed in infants with LO-NEC. Peritonitis and kidney failure and peritonitis and respiratory failure were identified as risk factors for mortality in EO-NEC and LO-NEC infants, respectively.
High efficient OLED displays prepared with the air-gapped bridges on quantum dot patterns for optical recycling
Authors: Kim Hyo-Jun , Shin Min-Ho , Kim Joo-Suc , Kim Se-Eun , Kim Young-Joo 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAn optically efficient structure was proposed and fabricated to realize high brightness organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays based on a white OLED prepared with the air-gapped bridges on the quantum dot (QD) patterns. Compared with a conventional white OLED display, in our experiments, the optical intensity of the proposed OLED display shows the enhancement of 58.2% in the red color and 16.8% in the green color after applying the air-gapped bridge structure on QD patterns of 20 wt% concentration. This enhancement comes from the two facts that the QD patterns downconvert unnecessary blue or blue/green light to the required green or red light and the air-gapped bridges increase the color conversion efficiency of QDs by optical recycling using total internal reflection (TIR) at the interface. In addition, the color gamut of the proposed OLED display increases from 65.5 to 75.9% (NTSC x, y ratio) due to the narrow emission spectra of QDs.
A new model for in situ nitrogen incorporation into 4H-SiC during epitaxy
Authors: Ferro Gabriel , Chaussende Didier 
Published: February 2017

AbstractNitrogen doping of 4H-SiC during vapor phase epitaxy is still lacking of a general model explaining the apparently contradictory trends obtained by different teams. In this paper, the evolutions of nitrogen incorporation (on both polar Si and C faces) as a function of the main growth parameters (C/Si ratio, temperature, pressure and growth rate) are reviewed and explained using a model based on surface exchanges between the gas phase and the uppermost 4H-SiC atomic layers. In this model, N incorporation is driven mainly by the transient formation of C vacancies, due to H2 etching, at the surface or near the surface. It is shown that all the growth parameters are influencing the probability of C vacancies formation in a similar manner as they do for N incorporation. The surface exchange model proposes a new framework for explaining the experimental results even beyond the commonly accepted reactor type dependency.
The July Effect on Maternal Peripartum Complications before and after Resident Duty Hour Reform: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Peltan Ithan , Brown Crystal , Burke Alson , Chow Eric , Rowhani-Rahbar Ali , Crull Matthew 
Published: February 2017

Objective To compare maternal birth complications early versus late in the academic year and to evaluate the impact of resident work hour limitation on the “July effect.”
Study Design We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of 628,414 singleton births in Washington State from 1987 to 2012 measuring the adjusted risk of maternal peripartum complications early (July/August) versus late (April/May) in the academic year. To control for seasonal outcome variation unrelated to trainees' involvement in care as well as long-term trends in maternal complications unrelated to variation in trainees' effect on outcomes across the academic year, we employed difference-in-differences methods contrasting outcomes at teaching to nonteaching hospitals for deliveries before and after restriction of resident work hours in July 2003.
Results Prior to resident work hour limitation in July 2003, women delivering early in the academic year at teaching hospitals suffered more complications (relative risk [RR] 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.09; p = 0.03). After July 2003, complication risk did not vary significantly across the academic year except at teaching-intensive hospitals, where July/August deliveries experienced fewer complications (RR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.92–0.98; p = 0.001).
Conclusion Women delivering at teaching hospitals early in the academic year suffered a modest but significant increase in complications before but not after resident work hour reform.
Variation in the Hearing Threshold in Women during the Menstrual Cycle
Authors: Souza Dayse , Luckwu Brunna , Andrade Wagner , Pessoa Luciane , Nascimento João , Rosa Marine 
Published: February 2017

Introduction The hormonal changes that occur during the menstrual cycle and their relationship with hearing problems have been studied. However, they have not been well explained.
Objective The objective of our study is to investigate the variation in hearing thresholds in women during the menstrual cycle.
Method We conducted a cohort and longitudinal study. It was composed of 30 volunteers, aged 18–39 years old, of which 20 were women during the phases of the menstrual cycle and 10 were men (control group) who underwent audiometry and impedance exams, to correlate the possible audiological changes in each phase of the menstrual cycle.
Results There were significant changes in hearing thresholds observed during the menstrual cycle phases in the group of women who used hormonal contraceptives and the group who did not use such contraceptives. Improved hearing thresholds were observed in the late follicular phase in the group who did not use hormonal contraceptives and the hearing thresholds at high frequencies were better. Throughout the menstrual cycle phases, the mean variation was 3.6 db HL between weeks in the group who used hormonal contraceptives and 4.09 db HL in the group who did not use them.
Conclusions The present study found that there may be a relationship between hearing changes and hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle based on changes in the hearing thresholds of women. In addition, this study suggests that estrogen has an otoprotective effect on hearing, since the best hearing thresholds were found when estrogen was at its maximum peak.
Evaluation of the Efficacy and Tolerability of Oral Ciprofloxacin used in the Comprehensive Treatment of External Bacterial Otitis: An Observational Prospective Study
Authors: Gurov Alexander , Kriukov Andrey , Kunelskaya Vera , Isotova Galina , Shadrin Georgiy , Luchsheva Yuliya , Yakimov Vladislav , Garg Amit , Akku Shyam , Gupta Namita 
Published: February 2017

Introduction Otitis Externa is common ear infection with a prevalence of 1%.
Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical and microbiological efficacy and safety profile with oral ciprofloxacin in the external bacterial otitis (EBO) management.
Methods This is a prospective observational study conducted with EBO outpatients referred to the otorhinolaryngology center in Moscow between March and August 2013. Our study included patients from two cohorts, acute external bacterial otitis (AEBO) - Group 1 - and exacerbation of chronic otitis externa (CEBO) - Group 2. We administered Ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily with standard topical EBO treatment for up to 10 days. Patients underwent evaluation on study visit days 1, 3, 5, and 10 for the severity. Bacteriological examination of ear canal cultures took place on Day 1 and Day 10.
Results We collected data from 60 EBO outpatients (AEBO: N = 30 and CEBO: N = 30). Swimming was the major risk factor associated with the disease in addition to the most common pathogenic organisms - Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. was We attained complete resolution of the inflammatory process in 28 (93%) and 27 (90%) patients in the AEBO and CEBO group, respectively. We confirmed this by microbiological test with almost complete eradication of the causative organisms. Overall, we observed good positive dynamics of ear canal with no major side effects.
Conclusion We found that Ciprofloxacin 500 mg, when administered orally twice daily for 7 to 10 days in otitis externa patients is clinically and microbiologically effective and comparatively safer than other antimicrobials.
Epidemiology and Estimated Cost of Surgery for Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Conducted by the Unified Health System in Brazil (2005–2015)
Authors: Magalhães Marcelo , Bernardes Gabriella , Nunes Aline , Castro Denilson , Oliveira Luiza , Basílio Marcos 
Published: February 2017

Introduction Cubital tunnel syndrome (CTS) is responsible for one of the types of ulnar nerve neuropathy and is the second cause of compressive neuropathy of the upper limb, only surpassed by carpal tunnel syndrome.
Objective To describe the epidemiological data of the ulnar nerve transposition surgical code in the treatment of CTS by the United Health System (SUS) from 2005 to 2015.
Methodology This is a descriptive epidemiological study, in which data were obtained through consultation of the DATASUS database.
Results/Discussion During this period, 774 procedures were performed and, despite the addition of 20.3 million people to the Brazilian population, the incidence was 0.33/1,000,000. National and international epidemiology point to a slightly higher prevalence of the procedure between men, in the fourth and fifth decades of life. Low permanence rate, as well as the absence of hospital deaths related to the procedure, infer that the procedure is safe, with low morbidity and mortality rates.
Conclusion The annual incidence of the cubital syndrome submitted to surgical treatment at SUS in the Brazilian population was 1/7,670,833 in 2005 and ½,174,468 in 2015. The cost of each surgical procedure during the same period ranged from R$ 318.88 to R$ 539.74. The mean hospitalization time for CTS surgery was 1.85 days.
Preparation and Characterization of Gold Nanoparticles in the Presence of Citrate and Soybean Seed Extract in an Acidic Conditions
Authors: Izadi Ebrahim , Rasooli Ali , Akbarzadeh Abolfazl , Davaran Soodabeh 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThrough the present study, an eco-friendly method was used to synthesize the gold nanoparticles (GNPs) by using the sodium citrate and extract of the soybean seed as reducing the agents at PH 3. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) method was used to evaluate the crystal structure of as-synthesized NPs and it’s revealed that this method leads to well crystallized GNPs. In order to determine the particle size and their distribution, field emission scanning microscopy (FE-SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used. The results showed that, the average particle size distribution of synthesized GNPs in solutions containing of the soybean extract and 1% citrate at PH 3 is about 109.6 and 140.9 nm, respectively. Also, we find that the average size of GNPs is 40 and 33 nm from solutions of citrate and soybean extract, respectively. It was concluded that using the extract of soybean seeds as reducing agent can lead to GNPs with small size and narrow size distribution.
Role for dithiolopyrrolones in disrupting bacterial metal homeostasis
Authors: Chan Andrew N. , Shiver Anthony L. , Wever Walter J. , Razvi Sayyeda Zeenat A. , Traxler Matthew F. , Li Bo 
Published: February 2017

Significance
Antibiotic resistance is a rising health threat worldwide, against which novel strategies are urgently needed. We have taken a systems approach to examine a potent and underexplored class of broad-spectrum antibiotics, the dithiolopyrrolones (DTPs). Our results indicate that DTPs disrupt cellular processes by high-affinity chelation of essential metal ions and inhibition of a subset of metalloenzymes. This mode of action is unique amongst antibiotics and may be further explored for treatment of multidrug-resistant infections. Our study also highlights chemical genomics as a powerful approach for the identification of antimicrobial mechanisms of action.
CD6 as a potential target for treating multiple sclerosis
Authors: Li Yan , Singer Nora G. , Whitbred Joy , Bowen Michael A. , Fox David A. , Lin Feng 
Published: February 2017

SignificanceMultiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, is driven by activated T lymphocytes that invade the brain and spinal cord, leading to damage to the myelin sheaths that surround nerve axons. Current treatments are only partly successful, especially for the later stages of chronic forms of MS. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a useful animal model of MS, suitable for testing new approaches to treatment. By genetically altering mice to eliminate a T lymphocyte surface protein known as CD6, we show that the CD6 molecule is essential for the development of EAE. Furthermore, an anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody is effective in treating EAE in mice that express human CD6 but not mouse CD6 on their T lymphocytes.
General noun-modifying clause constructions in Japanese
Authors: Matsumoto Yoshiko 
Published: February 2017

Abstract
Instances of Japanese clausal modification of a noun illustrate that Japanese exhibits a single construction, the general noun-modifying clause construction (GNMCC), in which a clause in the finite form precedes the head noun. The GNMCC expresses extensive grammatical and semantic relations between the head noun and the modifying clause with apparently fewer restrictions than in most other languages. This extensiveness is a likely reflection of such properties as the low referential density and the lack of explicit marking in Japanese of the relation between the main constituents, which, in turn, make the construal of the construction rely upon an aggregate of structural, semantic and pragmatic factors. The ubiquity of GNMCC instances may reflect the lack of available alternative constructions.
General noun-modifying clause constructions in Hinuq and Bezhta, with a note on other Daghestanian languages
Authors: Comrie Bernard , Forker Diana , Khalilova Zaira 
Published: February 2017

Abstract
Hinuq and Bezhta, two languages of the Tsezic sub-group of the Nakh-Daghestanian (East Caucasian) language family, have General noun modifying clause constructions (GNMCCs), which have also been noted in some other Nakh-Daghestanian languages. While readily acceptable and interpretable, GNMCCs that do not receive an interpretation with a coreferential element in the modifying clause are rare in natural discourse, certainly in comparison with Japanese, and the range of types also seems more restricted. We speculate that this is because Japanese by and large lacks sentential complement structures independent of GNMCCs, and moreover because Hinuq and Bezhta do not have highly frequent GNMCCs with light nouns, whose presence in Japanese serves to make GNMCCs a much more salient feature of discourse.