bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Poly(Oxanorbornene)‐Protein Conjugates Prepared by Grafting‐to ROMP as Alternatives for PEG
Authors: Davis Elizabathe , Caparco Adam A. , Steinmetz Nicole F. , Pokorski Jonathan K. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPEGylation is the gold standard in protein‐polymer conjugation, improving circulation half‐life of biologics while mitigating the immune response to a foreign substance. However, preexisting anti‐PEG antibodies in healthy humans are becoming increasingly prevalent and elicitation of anti‐PEG antibodies when patients are administered with PEGylated therapeutics challenges their safety profile. In the current study, two distinct amine‐reactive poly(oxanorbornene) (PONB) imide‐based water‐soluble block co‐polymers are synthesized using ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The synthesized block‐copolymers include PEG‐based PONB‐PEG and sulfobetaine‐based PONB‐Zwit. The polymers are then covalently conjugated to amine residues of lysozyme (Lyz) and urate oxidase (UO) using a grafting‐to bioconjugation technique. Both Lyz‐PONB and UO‐PONB conjugates retained significant bioactivities after bioconjugation. Immune recognition studies of UO‐PONB conjugates indicated a comparable lowering of protein immunogenicity when compared to PEGylated UO. PEG‐specific immune recognition is negligible for UO‐PONB‐Zwit conjugates, as expected. These polymers provide a new alternative for PEG‐based systems that retain high levels of activity for the biologic while showing improved immune recognition profiles.
Amino acid ratio combinations as biomarkers for discriminating patients with pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency from other inborn errors of metabolism
Authors: Verma Anisha , Lehman April N. , Gokcan Hatice , Cropcho Lorna , Black Danielle , Dobrowolski Steven F. , Vockley Jerry , Bedoyan Jirair K. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBackgroundPyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency (PDCD) is a mitochondrial neurometabolic disorder of energy deficit, with incidence of about 1 in 42,000 live births annually in the USA. The median and mean ages of diagnosis of PDCD are about 12 and 31 months, respectively. PDCD is a major cause of primary lactic acidosis with concomitant elevation in blood alanine (Ala) and proline (Pro) concentrations depending on phenotypic severity. Alanine/Leucine (Ala/Leu) ≥4.0 and Proline/Leucine (Pro/Leu) ≥3.0 combination cutoff from dried blood spot specimens was used as a biomarker for early identification of neonates/infants with PDCD. Further investigations were needed to evaluate the sensitivity (SN), specificity (SP), and clinical utility of such amino acid (AA) ratio combination cutoffs in discriminating PDCD from other inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) for early identification of such patients.MethodsWe reviewed medical records of patients seen at UPMC in the past 11 years with molecularly or enzymatically confirmed diagnosis. We collected plasma AA analysis data from samples prior to initiation of therapeutic interventions such as total parenteral nutrition and/or ketogenic diet. Conditions evaluated included organic acidemias, primary mitochondrial disorders (MtDs), fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAOD), other IEMs on current newborn screening panels, congenital cardiac great vessel anomalies, renal tubular acidosis, and non‐IEMs. The utility of specific AA ratio combinations as biomarkers were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves, correlation analysis, principal component analysis, and cutoff SN, SP, and positive predictive value determined from 201 subjects with broad age range.ResultsAlanine/Lysine (Ala/Lys) and Ala/Leu as well as (Ala + Pro)/(Leu + Lys) and Ala/Leu ratio combinations effectively discriminated subjects with PDCD from those with other MtDs and IEMs on current newborn screening panels. Specific AA ratio combinations were significantly more sensitive in identifying PDCD than Ala alone or combinations of Ala and/or Pro in the evaluated cohort of subjects. Ala/Lys ≥3.0 and Ala/Leu ≥5.0 as well as (Ala + Pro)/(Leu + Lys) ≥2.5 and Ala/Leu ≥5.0 combination cutoffs identified patients with PDCD with 100% SN and ~85% SP.ConclusionsWith the best predictor of survival and positive cognitive outcome in PDCD being age of diagnosis, PDCD patients would benefit from use of such highly SN and SP AA ratio combination cutoffs as biomarkers for early identification of at‐risk newborns, infants, and children, for early intervention(s) with known and/or novel therapeutics for this disorder.
In vivo lymph node CEST‐Dixon MRI in breast cancer patients with metastatic lymph node involvement
Authors: Donahue Manus J. , Donahue Paula M. C. , Jones R. Sky , Garza Maria , Lee Chelsea , Patel Niral J. , Cooper Andrea , De Vis Jill B. , Meszoely Ingrid , Crescenzi Rachelle 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPurposeAxillary lymph nodes (LNs) often present a reservoir for metastatic breast cancer, yet metastatic LN involvement cannot be discerned definitively using diagnostic imaging. This study investigated whether in vivo CEST may discriminate LNs with versus without metastatic involvement.Methods3T MRI was performed in patients with breast cancer before clinically‐indicated mastectomy or lumpectomy with LN removal, after which LN metastasic involvement was determined using histological evaluation. Non‐contrast anatomical imaging, as well as B0 and B1 field maps, were acquired in sequence with three‐point CEST‐Dixon (3D turbo‐gradient‐echo; factor = 25; TR/TE1/ΔTE = 851/1.35/1.1 ms; spatial‐resolution = 2.5 × 2.5 × 6 mm; slices = 10; four sinc‐gauss pulses with duty‐cycle = 0.5, total saturation duration = 701.7 ms; B1 = 1.5 μT; saturation offsets = −5.5 to +5.5 ppm; stepsize = 0.2 ppm; scan duration = 6 min 30 s). The mean z‐spectrum from LNs with (n = 20) versus without (n = 22) metastatic involvement were analyzed and a Wilcoxon rank‐sum test (significance: p < 0.05) was applied to evaluate differences in B0, B1, and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) in differing spectral regions of known proton exchange (nuclear Overhauser effect [NOE], amide, amine, and hydroxyl) between cohorts.ResultsNo difference in axillary B1 (p = 0.634) or B0 (p = 0.689) was observed between cohorts. Elevated MTR was observed for the NOE (−1.7 ppm; MTR = 0.285 ± 0.075 vs. 0.248 ± 0.039; p = 0.048), amine (+2.5 ppm; MTR = 0.284 ± 0.067 vs. 0.234 ± 0.31; p = 0.005), and hydroxyl (+1 ppm; MTR = 0.394 ± 0.075 vs. 0.329 ± 0.055; p = 0.002) protons in LNs from participants with versus without metastatic involvement.ConclusionsFindings are consistent with a unique metastatic LN microenvironment detectable by CEST‐Dixon and suggest that CEST MRI may have potential for mapping LN metastasis non‐invasively in vivo.
Factors influencing the decision to introduce alternative nutrition in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Yamamoto Toshiyuki , Mori‐Yoshimura Madoka , Oya Yasushi , Komaki Hirofumi , Takahashi Yuji 
Published: September 2023

AbstractIntroduction/AimsNutritional management of adults with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an important clinical issue. However, it is not clear which dysphagia‐related factors should prompt introduction of alternative nutrition (AN). We aimed to determine which patients with DMD were introduced to AN.MethodsThis retrospective study included 56 patients with DMD (median age, 23.5 years). They were divided into patients able to continue oral feeding (OF) and those introduced to AN. Body weight, frequency of ventilator use, daily meals, history of steroid treatment, results of videofluoroscopic examination of swallowing (VF), and awareness of dysphagia were evaluated.ResultsOf 56 patients, 19 were in the AN group. After AN introduction, 93% of the patients continued oral intake. The proportion of patients who consumed chopped and liquid diets was higher, and body weight was lower, in the AN than in the OF group. There were no significant differences in age, upper limb function of feeding, frequency of ventilator use, or history of steroid therapy between the two groups. The frequencies of aspiration and residue in the pyriform sinus in VF were higher in the AN group than in the OF group. Decision‐tree analysis showed that food form and subjective difficulty swallowing solid foods were the most important factors affecting the decision‐making for AN.DiscussionPatients with DMD who had difficulty eating solid foods were started on AN because they were unable to maintain their weight. These findings provide information for future longitudinal studies to assess the value of AN.
Analytical solution for Fredlund–Hasan unsaturated consolidation using mode superposition method
Authors: Yuan Quan , He Qian , Lang Lin , Yang Xiaobing 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThis note presents an exact analytical solution of Fredlund–Hasan consolidation for unsaturated soils under an arbitrary loading using the mode superposition method. Air pressure and water pressure are expressed in a series of products of Eigen functions with respect to depth and normal coordinates with respect to time, respectively. A pressure function substitutes for the related homogeneous problem. Eigen functions can be first obtained based on two pairs of drainage condition. Then, the nonhomogeneous governing equations of unsaturated soils under constant loading, exponential loading, and sine loading are considered. After matrix algebraic manipulation, the normal coordinates can be obtained based on the initial conditions that compose the final solutions of the Fredlund–Hasan unsaturated consolidation. This solution can avoid inconvenient Laplace transform and inverse Laplace transform. Through comparisons with a classic example, the validation of the proposed analytical solution is verified against other analytical solutions and the finite difference method solutions.
Determinants of health‐related quality of life in children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes mellitus during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Smudja Mirjana , Milenkovic Tatjana , Minakovic Ivana , Zdravkovic Vera , Mitic Sandra , Milutinovic Dragana 
Published: September 2023

AbstractAimTo identify the determinants of self‐reported health‐related quality of life in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus during the coronavirus pandemic.DesignA cross‐sectional study.MethodsThe study sample included 182 children and adolescents who had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus at least 3 months prior. Data collection instruments included sociodemographic and glycaemic control protocol adherence questionnaires, documentation sheet for recording clinical data, and Serbian versions of the EuroQol‐5D‐Y and KidScreen27 questionnaires, which were used to assess health‐related quality of life.ResultsGlycaemic control adherence, presence of comorbidities, level of metabolic control, and type of insulin therapy were identified as key determinants of self‐reported health‐related quality of life.Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public contributions.
Study on the effect of carbon fiber ply angle on thermal response of CFRP laminate based on the thermal resistance network model
Authors: Bao Yongjie , Ma Yuxin , Yang Yuxing , Wang Jinlong , Cheng Dong 
Published: September 2023

AbstractCarbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) exhibits different heat transfer phenomena along the fiber direction and the transverse direction during the heat transfer process due to its anisotropic thermo‐physical properties, which makes it difficult to quantitatively analyze the overall thermal performance of CFRP with different ply angles. A thermal resistance network model of composite material considering fiber ply angle and heat transfer direction was developed based on the series–parallel resistance computing method, and it was applied to describe the test results measured by the thermal response tests of unidirectional carbon fiber laminates. Thermal resistance Rx along the heat transfer direction and Ry transverse to the heat transfer direction calculated by the proposed model, which are related with the thermal response of the specimen, can be utilized to reflect the temperature values and temperature distribution maps. It was found that as the fiber ply angle θ increases from 0° to 45°, thermal resistance in the x‐axis direction increases from about 0.13 K/W to 2.56 K/W, while thermal resistance in the y‐axis direction decreases about 48.7%. As a result, major axis of quasi‐ellipse temperature profile changes by about +45° relative to the x‐axis.Highlights
A CFRP thermal resistance network model considering ply angle was proposed.
The series–parallel thermal resistance method is used to calculate Rx and Ry.
The ply angle from 0° to 45°, Rx increases several times and Ry decreases by half.
Major axis of elliptic temperature curve changes by +45° relative to the x‐axis.
The mediating role of cognitive flexibility and critical thinking in the relationship between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation
Authors: Toprak Emre , Metin Ahmet , Ünalan Demet 
Published: September 2023

AbstractStudies showed that fear of negative evaluation of students may affect their academic motivation. However, which variables mediate between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation is unclear. This study aims to explore the mediating role of cognitive flexibility and critical thinking in the relationship between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation in adolescents. A correlational design was used to examine this relationship. A total of 2085 adolescents ages 13–14 (65% female) participated in this study. The data were collected via self‐report screening tools, including a personal information form, Academic Motivation Scale, Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale, Cognitive Flexibility Scale, and Critical Thinking Scale. The findings revealed a moderate negative correlation between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation (r = −.49), and cognitive flexibility and critical thinking also partially mediate. This model explains approximately 41% of the total variance. Despite some limitations, our study provides partial evidence of the mediating effect of cognitive flexibility and critical thinking between academic motivation and fear of negative evaluation. More research is needed to develop the model.
Depressive symptoms and physical activity among young adult survivors of childhood cancer
Authors: Do Bridgette , Dunton Genevieve F. , Miller Kimberly A. , Milam Joel E. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractObjectiveYoung adult survivors of childhood cancers are less likely to be physically active compared to non‐cancer affected controls, putting them at an increased risk for morbidity and mortality. Preliminary research has examined how mental health may contribute to physical activity (PA) in this population; however, those more recently diagnosed and Hispanic survivors have been understudied. The objectives were to examine associations of dimensions of depressive symptoms, demographic characteristics, and cancer‐related predictors with PA among a diverse sample of young adult childhood cancer survivors.MethodsParticipants (N = 895) diagnosed with childhood cancer between 1996 and 2010 (53% Hispanic;Mage = 26.2 ± 4.9 years;Mage = 14.8 ± 4.4 years at diagnosis) were recruited from the Los Angeles County cancer registry. Self‐report surveys assessed current PA, depressive symptoms (i.e., positive affect, negative affect, somatic symptoms, interpersonal problems), late effects of cancer treatment, and demographic factors. Multivariable ordinal regressions examined the study objectives.ResultsAbout 70% of participants engaged in low or moderate frequency PA (fewer than 3 days a week). Participants who were older, female, Asian, or reported more late effects of cancer treatment were less likely to engage in PA. Greater positive affect was significantly associated with higher frequency PA, whereas negative affect, somatic symptoms, and interpersonal problems were not associated with PA.ConclusionsThe findings suggests that positive—but not negative—mental health characteristics are more likely to facilitate or result from PA among young adult survivors of childhood cancers. Interventions seeking to increase PA may benefit from considering positive aspects of mental health/well‐being.
Deep and machine learning architecture for high accuracy prediction of interior ballistics for modular charges
Authors: Brunet Luc Emile , Fitas Toufik , Cuvelier Sébastien , Fontaine Arnaud , Nouguez Bruno 
Published: September 2023

AbstractInterior ballistics modelling intends to calculate physical quantities by solving equations requiring a set of input like thermodynamical properties linked to propellant or mechanical properties like friction coefficients, linked to the system, that are often difficult to assess experimentally. Using a consequent and high‐quality dataset of thousands of 155 mm modular charge experiments, we investigated how deep and machine learning approaches could build an efficient model for predicting muzzle velocity, pressure, and ignition time. After identifying the main variables influencing the physics and several potentially relevant to the machine learning and deep learning algorithms, a stacking ensemble learning model (SEL) was built. It is composed of eight machine learning algorithms and one deep learning algorithm, all as weak learner, reaching a consensus for predicting experimental outputs through a strong learner. The performance assessment, on a 900 experiments test data set that were not used in training, shows a prediction accuracy of 97 % at 1 % accuracy for muzzle velocity, 93 % at 3 % for pressure and 72 % at 5 ms for ignition time. The prediction ability for muzzle velocity within 2 m/s reaches 73 % that can be considered as sufficient. Furthermore, the SEL model even having zero knowledge about physics can discriminate gun barrel erosion effect at high and low pressure. This approach allows to imagine a way of modelling physical phenomena poorly described by physical equations or requiring unmeasurable figures.
Recruitment of Hippodamia variegata by active volatiles from Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Alhagi sparsifolia plants infested with Aphis atrata
Authors: Jiang Yan , Xiu Chunli , Pan Hongsheng , Liu Xiaoning 
Published: September 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDHippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a dominant predatory natural enemy species in cotton‐planting, is a key biological control agent for aphids in China. Our previous study showed that herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) from Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Fisch.) (Fabales: Fabaceae) and Alhagi sparsifolia (Desv.) (Fabales: Fabaceae) plants infested with Aphis atrata (Zhang) (Homoptera: Aphididae), were important semiochemicals for Hippodamia variegata to locate aphids. However, little was known about the varieties and function of active volatiles from HIPVs of the two plant species.RESULTSIn this study, results from gas chromatography‐electroantennography detection (GC‐EAD) demonstrated that seven HIPVs (butyl acrylate, α‐pinene, butyl isobutyrate, β‐pinene, butyl butyrate, 1,3‐diethylbenzene and 1,4‐diethylbenzene) identified from the two damaged plant species elicited antennal responses from Hippodamia variegata. Also, results from gas chromatograph–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis showed that the concentrations of the seven active volatiles were significantly higher than those from corresponding healthy plants. Hippodamia variegata exhibited varying degrees of response to each active volatile in electroantennography (EAG) trials, however, only α‐pinene, butyl isobutyrate, β‐pinene and butyl butyrate significantly attracted Hippodamia variegata in behavioral trials conducted in the laboratory. They also had a better trapping effect on Hippodamia variegata in cotton fields.CONCLUSIONFour active compounds (α‐pinene, butyl isobutyrate, β‐pinene and butyl butyrate) identified from two damaged plant species were considered the most effective HIPVs that attract Hippodamia variegata. These findings provide possibilities for the development of Hippodamia variegata attractants. They also provide a theoretical basis for the biological prevention and control of aphids using Hippodamia variegata. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Can one “prove” that a harmful event was preventable? Conceptualizing and addressing epistemological puzzles in postincident reviews and investigations
Authors: Meyer Christoph O. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractA growing part of the literature on crises, disasters, and policy failures focuses on the design, conduct, and impact of postincident reviews or inquiries, particularly whether the right lessons are identified and subsequently learned. However, such accounts underappreciate the specific challenge posed by epistemic puzzles, under what conditions their difficulty may vary, and which strategies could help to solve them. Drawing on insights from a wide range of cases, the article identifies hindsight bias, counterfactual reasoning, and root‐cause analysis as core components creating an epistemic triangle of inquiry puzzling. It advances four propositions about the conditions that help or hinder investigators' capacity to produce sound knowledge and concludes by setting out potential strategies that investigators can use to fully address or at least mitigate these epistemic challenges.
Impact of administering umbilical cord‐derived mesenchymal stem cells to cynomolgus monkeys with endometriosis
Authors: Tsuji Shunichiro , Mukai Takeo , Tsuchiya Hideaki , Iwatani Chizuru , Nakamura Akiko , Nagamura‐Inoue Tokiko , Murakami Takashi 
Published: September 2023

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed to explore whether umbilical cord‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (UC‐MSCs) could be used as a therapeutic resource for endometriosis.MethodsOf seven cynomolgus monkeys with endometriosis, five were administered UC‐MSCs (intervention group) and two were administered saline (control group). First, intravenous US‐MSC treatment was administered for three months. Second, weekly intravenous US‐MSC administration combined with monthly intraperitoneal US‐MSC administration was conducted for 3 months. Finally, weekly intraperitoneal US‐MSC administration was conducted for 3 months. The dose of UC‐MSCs was set to 2 × 106 cells/kg for all administration routes. Laparoscopic findings and serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels were also evaluated. The Revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine classification was used for laparoscopic evaluation.ResultsLaparoscopic findings showed exacerbation of endometriosis after intraperitoneal UC‐MSC administration, although no changes were observed in the control group. Intravenous UC‐MSC administration decreased the level of CA125 in all monkeys; however, the difference was not significant. Intraperitoneal UC‐MSC administration significantly exacerbated endometriosis compared with intravenous administration (p = 0.02).ConclusionsThis study revealed that intraperitoneal UC‐MSC administration exacerbates endometriosis in a nonhuman primate model of the disease.