bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Advances in mechanical biomarkers
Authors: Eroles Mar , Rico Felix 
Published: April 2023

AbstractMechanical biomarkers distinguish health conditions through quantitative mechanical measurements. The emergence and establishment of nanotechnology in the last decades have provided new tools to obtain mechanical biomarkers at the nanoscale. Mechanical measurements are reproducible, label‐free, start to be applied in vivo can be high throughput, and require small samples. Mechanical protocols in clinical practice at the macro scale like palpation or blood pressure measurement are routinely used by medical doctors. Nanotechnology brought mechanical sensing to the next scale, where cells, tissues, and proteins can be probed and linked to medical conditions. Mechanical changes in cells and tissues may be detected before other markers, such as protein expression, providing an important advantage as biomarkers. In the present review, we explore the biomarker's historical evolution, describe mechanical biomarkers on various diseases and novel discoveries in the nanomechanical field for their characterization. We conclude that mechanical biomarkers are establishing novel hallmarks in diseases, in several cases for early diagnostics of diseases and discovery of drug targets in the proteins involved in the mechanical changes, while advances in instrumentation are bringing commercial products into the clinical practice. Mechanical biomarkers along with clinical testing are establishing an important niche in the market, whose demand is increasing due to the expansion of personalized medicine and unmet needs in the clinics.
Predicting the negative conversion time of nonsevere COVID‐19 patients using machine learning methods
Authors: Ye Jiru , Shao Xiaonan , Yang Yong , Zhu Feng 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBased on the patient's clinical characteristics and laboratory indicators, different machine‐learning methods were used to develop models for predicting the negative conversion time of nonsevere coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients. A retrospective analysis was performed on 376 nonsevere COVID‐19 patients admitted to Wuxi Fifth People's Hospital from May 2, 2022, to May 14, 2022. The patients were divided into training set (n = 309) and test set (n = 67). The clinical features and laboratory parameters of the patients were collected. In the training set, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to select predictive features and train six machine learning models: multiple linear regression (MLR), K‐Nearest Neighbors Regression (KNNR), random forest regression (RFR), support vector machine regression (SVR), XGBoost regression (XGBR), and multilayer perceptron regression (MLPR). Seven best predictive features selected by LASSO included: age, gender, vaccination status, IgG, lymphocyte ratio, monocyte ratio, and lymphocyte count. The predictive performance of the models in the test set was MLPR > SVR > MLR > KNNR > XGBR > RFR, and MLPR had the strongest generalization performance, which is significantly better than SVR and MLR. In the MLPR model, vaccination status, IgG, lymphocyte count, and lymphocyte ratio were protective factors for negative conversion time; male gender, age, and monocyte ratio were risk factors. The top three features with the highest weights were vaccination status, gender, and IgG. Machine learning methods (especially MLPR) can effectively predict the negative conversion time of non‐severe COVID‐19 patients. It can help to rationally allocate limited medical resources and prevent disease transmission, especially during the Omicron pandemic.
Influence of contrasting cultivation altitudes on the physicochemical, digestive, and functional properties of four Musa starches produced in Cameroon
Authors: Ngoh Newilah Gérard , Wambo Pascal , Vepowo Cédric Kendine , Ngouno Annie Takam , Ngoungoure Solange Ulrich Manjia , Tembe Jonas Tembe , Nkouandou Mama , Ngombi Eric Ngombi , Fokou Elie , Etoa François‐Xavier , Dufour Dominique 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDBananas and plantains are important food sources for many people in the world. Their high starch content places them among the highest energy providers. This study aimed to determine the effects of altitude on banana starch properties in Cameroon. A dessert banana, a cooking banana, a plantain cultivar, and a plantain‐like hybrid were grown at low and high altitudes (respectively at 80 m and 1300 m above sea level).RESULTSStarch analyses showed an increase in moisture and pH values against a drop in total titratable acidity and dry matter content with respect to altitude. Amylose content, as well as water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity and syneresis of high‐altitude plantain and plantain‐like hybrid, were significantly higher. Starch digestibility was low and ranged between 13.4% and 37.9% after 2 h of incubation. High‐altitude plantain starches contained more amylose and were more resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis.CONCLUSIONStarches from CARBAP K74 and Kelong mekintu, grown at high altitude, showed good water and oil absorption capacities, low digestibility, and high resistance. The adequate properties of these banana starches predispose them for use as thickeners and gelling agents as well as ingredients for the formulation of low‐calorie foods. This study highlights the importance of altitude when discussing banana and plantain starch properties. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Phosphorylated walnut protein/chitosan nanocomplexes as promising carriers for encapsulation of caffeic acid phenethyl ester
Authors: Ling Min , Xu Yanfei , Huang Xuan , He Changwei , Zhou Zheng 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDWalnut proteins display poor solubility and dispersity under acidic pH conditions, which limits their application in acidic beverages and foods. This study aimed to fabricate stable nanocomplexes between phosphorylated walnut protein (PWPI) and chitosan (CS) in an acidic pH and to investigate the encapsulation capacity of the complexes.RESULTSThe PWPI/CS nanocomplexes prepared at a mass ratio of 2:1 showed small Z‐average sizes (approximately 285 nm at pH 5.5 and 222 nm at pH 3.5) with a narrow particle distribution (polydispersity index <0.3). Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) can be effectively encapsulated into PWPI/CS with improved solubility. Circular dichroism analysis indicated that PWPI/CS and CAPE‐loaded PWPI/CS (PWPI/CS‐CAPE) had reduced α‐helical content and increased β‐sheet content. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis further identified the different driving forces for the complexation of PWPI and CS at pH 3.5 and 5.5 and confirmed the successful encapsulation of CAPE. The rheological results revealed that the PWPI/CS and PWPI/CS‐CAPE formed at pH 3.5 (PWPI/CS‐CAPE‐3.5) had a higher apparent viscosity and better viscoelasticity than the complexes formed at pH 5.5. The PWPI/CS‐CAPE‐3.5 also showed good stability under heat treatment, salt treatment, and long‐term storage. The PWPI/CS‐CAPE complexes showed controlled release of CAPE.CONCLUSIONWalnut protein and chitosan nanocomplexes prepared at acidic pH levels were stable and promising carriers for CAPE, which could expand the application of walnut proteins in the food industry. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Effects of different physical factors on potato protein‐chitosan complexes considering Hofmeister series and Maillard reaction
Authors: Yuan Ruoyun , Liu Yao , Zhou Xue , Song Ruxin , Ma Chengye , Chen Shanfeng , Li Hongjun , Wang Chenjie 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDPotato protein possesses strong potential for application in the food industry due to its outstanding nutritional and functional properties. However, the inevitable industrial processing often brings adverse effects. The use of a polysaccharide and protein complex is a promising way to improve the performance of potato protein. This work aimed to investigate the effects of different physical factors on the potato protein/chitosan (PP/CS) complex system.RESULTSThe addition of NaCl was not conductive to the formation of PP/CS complexes, resulting in significantly decreased peak turbidities from 1.29 to 0.75. The effect of different ions on PP/CS system matched with the Hofmeister series in the following order: Li+ > Control > Na+ > K+; SCN− > I− > NO3− > Br− ≈ Control > Cl− > SO42−, among which the salting‐in ions (Li+, Br−, NO3−, I− and SCN−) tended to promote the formation of PP/CS complexes. The turbidity increased significantly when the reaction temperature rose to 45 °C and above, and peak turbidity was obtained at lower pH values. The PP/CS system reaction at 45 °C led to the highest whiteness value, and the Maillard reaction could occur when the temperature was above 45 °C.CONCLUSIONSThe results of the present study confirmed that different physical factors led to strong influences on PP/CS complexes, especially when considering the Hofmeister series and the Maillard reaction. These findings could have significant implications for the utilization of potato protein in complex food systems. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Structural changes and calcium bioaccessibility of calcium fortified milk containing CaCO3 loaded solid‐in‐oil‐in‐water emulsion during simulated in vitro digestion
Authors: Li Gongwei , Zhang Jie , Xu Duoxia , Cao Yanping 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn most regions around the globe, average dietary calcium intake is relatively low. Consumers increasingly supplement calcium with milk. However, commercial high‐calcium milk has the problem of low calcium bioaccessibility. This study was to explore calcium fortified milk containing calcium carbonate (CaCO3) loaded solid‐in‐oil‐in‐water emulsion as a potential novel calcium fortified milk with higher calcium bioaccessibility.RESULTSThe CaCO3 loaded solid‐in‐oil‐in‐water (S/O/W) emulsion with good physical stability (zeta potential −33.34 ± 0.96 mV, mean particle size 4.49 ± 0.02 μm) and high calcium bioaccessibility (32.34%) was prepared when the concentration of xanthan gum was 4 g L−1. Furthermore, the physicochemical properties and gastrointestinal fate of calcium fortified milk (calcium contents, 1.25 mg mL−1, 1.35 mg mL−1, and 1.45 mg mL−1) with different proportions of CaCO3 loaded S/O/W emulsion and pure milk were investigated. The calcium fortified milk (calcium content, 1.25 mg mL−1) with a small amount of CaCO3 loaded S/O/W emulsion did not significantly affect the physicochemical properties of pure milk and had similar rheological properties and higher calcium bioaccessibility to commercial high‐calcium milk. Excessive calcium ion (Ca2+) weakens the electrostatic interaction of milk sample system and causes aggregation of colloidal particles, which was attributed to more insoluble calcium soap formation.CONCLUSIONThis study showed that the S/O/W emulsion delivery system improved the dispersion stability and bioaccessibility of CaCO3. These findings contribute to the development of calcium fortified milk with improved physicochemical properties and higher calcium bioaccessibility. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Burning rate catalysts action on the trinitroresorcinol combustion wave parameters
Authors: Denisyuk Anatoly P. , Aung Zar N. , Sizov Vladimir A. , Demidova Larisa A. , Merkushkin Alexey O. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe effect of burning rate catalyst—3% nickel salicylate (NS) with 1% carbon nanotubes (CNT)—on the combustion wave parameters of trinitroresorcinol (TNR) at 2 MPa as well as on the structure and elemental composition of the carbon frame on the surface of quenched TNR samples at 2 and 15 MPa were studied. The catalyst itself increases the burning rate by ∼4.3 times. It is shown that for the sample with NS and CNT, the accumulation of nickel particles formed during the decomposition of the catalyst occurred (∼110 times) at 2 MPa on the carbon frame. The degree of catalyst particles accumulation at 15 MPa is ∼60 times lower than at 2 MPa, so the burning rate increases by only 1.3 times. At 2 MPa the catalyst significantly (by ∼68 K) increases the combustion surface temperature, by ∼2.7 times increases the temperature gradient in the carbon frame zone, and reduces the length of the primary (fizz zone) and secondary flames. As a result, the heat release rate on the frame is 13.5 times higher than on the carbon frame of the sample without a catalyst. For TNR samples the thermal conductivity coefficient, based on the characteristics of the framework obtained, was calculated, and it was shown that the thermal conductivity coefficient of the carbon frame for a sample with NS and CNT is significantly (∼8 times) higher than for a sample without a catalyst. From the calculation of the heat balance of the c‐phase at 2 MPa it follows that the combustion leading zone of the sample with a catalyst is the carbon frame, from which ∼98% of the necessary for combustion propagation heat enters the c‐phase; for a sample without a catalyst, the heat gain from the gas zone is ∼20%; the leading zone is the reaction layer of the condensed phase. Thus, the mechanism of combustion catalysis of aromatic nitro compounds is the same as for double‐base propellants. Two conditions are necessary for combustion catalysis: the formation of a carbon frame on the combustion surface, on which catalyst particles accumulate, and the carbon frame thermal conductivity coefficient must be significantly higher than that of the gas zone above combustion surface of the sample without a catalyst.
Antioxidant Polymers with Enhanced Neuroprotection Against Insulin Fibrillation
Authors: Bera Avisek , Ghosh Pooja , Ghosh Shilpendu , Mukherjee Arindam , De Priyadarsi 
Published: April 2023

AbstractLipoic acid (LA) and dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) are well established antioxidants to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, they are carboxylates with ≈4.7 pKa making them negatively charged at physiological pH (7.4) reducing their passive diffusion through cell membranes. LA is known to be capable of reducing protein fibrillation. Incorporation of LA and especially DHLA in polymer side chains are scarce. Herein, the first examples of the anti‐amyloidogenic effect of LA and DHLA incorporated into the side‐chain of a block copolymer with a water‐soluble poly(polyethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate) (PPEGMA) segment are presented. The resultant polymers show improved ROS scavenging activity and improved ability to reduce insulin fibrillation compared to free LA and DHLA. Furthermore, the resultant polymers are also capable of disintegrating preformed insulin firbrils. Interestingly, polymers with dihydro‐lipoate moieties showed 93% free radical scavenging activity with 91% anti‐fibrillating efficacies for insulin protein confirmed by 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and Thioflavin T (ThT) dye binding study, respectively. Further, the antioxidant polymers increase the cell viability against fibrillar insulin aggregates that may be involved in the etiology of several diseases. Overall, this work reveals that antioxidant polymer‐based therapeutic agents can serve as a powerful modulation strategy for developing novel drugs in future against amyloid‐related disorders.
Combination of four pedicled flaps for multilayer reconstruction of massive pelvic defect: A case report
Authors: Scaglioni Mario F. , Meroni Matteo , Fuchs Bruno 
Published: April 2023

AbstractTumors affecting the perineal region are a subtle and difficult to diagnose type of malignancy. In particular, soft tissue sarcomas (STS) may be already very large at time of diagnosis, thus impairing a normal life. In such severe cases, debulking surgery is the only possibility to offer the patient an acceptable quality of life again. These procedures inevitably result in massive defects. Depending on the affected area, there are different reconstructive options available so far, and sometimes a combination of multiple flaps is required. With the present report, we would like to share our experience with a complex genital and perineal defect. A 75‐year‐old patient presenting a massive epithelioid sarcoma in the ischio‐rectal and anal fossae underwent a surgical excision with safe margins, which included the resection of the external genitalia, the pubis, and the rectum. The end result of this procedure was a massive defect measuring 31 cm (length) × 8 cm (width) × 6 cm (depth). To accomplish the requirements of this particular case we planned to utilize mostly the nearby tissues. The reconstruction was performed layer by layer. We resorted to a pedicled chimeric anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap measuring 8 cm × 6 cm, with a large amount of the vastus lateralis (20 cm × 8 cm) to fill the deeper defect, and a duplicated fascia lata (20 cm × 6 cm) to restore the abdominal support of the pubis. Then the external coverage was completed combining a pedicled superficial circumflex (SCIP) flap measuring 9 cm × 8 cm, a pedicled gracilis flap measuring 27 cm × 4 cm and a pedicled posteromedial thigh (PMT) flap measuring 22 cm × 8 cm harvested in vertical fashion. The postoperative course was uneventful, and at 6 months follow up the reconstructive result was successful with a stable soft tissue coverage and no complaints from the patient. With the present case report, we would like to show the importance of mastering different reconstructive procedures, whose combination might be the only solution to cover very large and complex defects.
Simultaneous multislice imaging with slice‐specific z‐shim
Authors: Finsterbusch Jürgen , Chu Ying 
Published: April 2023

PurposeTo implement slice‐specific z‐shim in simultaneous multislice (SMS) imaging in order to minimize signal losses in slice‐accelerated T2*‐weighted acquisitions, such as for spinal cord functional neuroimaging.MethodsThe RF envelopes of the individual slice bands are temporally shifted on the plateau of the slice‐selection gradient pulse before being combined to the multiband RF envelope. Thus, optimum z‐shims can be realized for each slice of an SMS excitation, which is in contrast to conventional z‐shimming. EPI with 2‐fold SMS acceleration was performed on a 3T whole‐body MR system in phantoms and the cervical spinal cord of healthy volunteers (i) without z‐shim, (ii) with conventional z‐shim using the average value of the slices of the SMS excitation, and (iii) with optimal, slice‐specific z‐shims for each slice using envelope shifts.ResultsPhantom experiments demonstrate the equivalence of the envelope shift and conventional z‐shimming for non‐SMS excitations. With SMS, the best image quality is obtained with “mixed” z‐shim, where only the z‐shim differences of the slices of an SMS excitation are implemented by an envelope shift while their mean z‐shim is applied conventionally with a gradient pulse after the echoes acquired for N/2 ghost correction. In phantoms and in vivo, this setup outperforms the approaches without slice‐specific z‐shim with respect to signal amplitude and temporal SNR at the expense of slight TE differences (<1 ms) between the slices.ConclusionWith RF envelope shifts, slice‐specific z‐shims can be combined with SMS imaging, which could improve slice‐accelerated functional neuroimaging in the spinal cord.
Impact of carbamate formation on the surface tension of epoxy‐amine curing systems
Authors: Shenk Timothy M. , Benjamin Kenneth M. , Winter Robb M. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractEpoxy‐amine reactive systems, including their surface tension, have been studied due to their use and importance in composites and adhesives in laboratory and industrial applications. Understanding how the system's surface tension changes during curing could help target applications for tailored composites. Using the Wilhelmy plate method, surface tensions for epoxy‐curing agent systems were investigated under different environments. While the epoxy exhibited an expected negative temperature coefficient of −0.096 mN/m/°C, the curing agent exhibited a positive temperature coefficient of 0.073 mN/m/°C, which is due to the curing agent reacting with atmospheric CO2 to form carbamate through a zwitterion pathway and functional groups accumulating at the surface of the reacting systems. Carbamate formation results in a surface tension below that of the individual constituents in the epoxy‐amine curing agent system. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to verify in situ formation of carbamate, and by reducing the system's temperature, it was demonstrated that the system surface tension profiles displayed micellar surfactant‐like characteristics. FTIR was used to explore the difference in composition between the surface and the bulk, in particular carbamate formation at the surface, resulting in a lowering of the surface tension of reacting systems.
Registration of grain sorghum seed (A/B) and pollinator (R) parent lines for chilling and drought tolerance
Authors: Perumal Ramasamy , Tesso Tesfaye T. , Jagadish S. V. Krishna , Kumar Vipan , Aiken Robert M. , Bean Scott R. , Smolensky Dmitriy , Peiris K. H. Shantha , Prasad P. V. Vara , Little Christopher R. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractFour sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] seed parents, male sterile A and four male fertile B maintainer lines (KS148A [Reg. no. PL‐321, PI 701488], KS148B [Reg. no. PL‐322, PI 701489], KS149A [Reg. no. PL‐323, PI 701490], KS149B [Reg. no. PL‐324, PI 701491], KS150A [Reg. no. PL‐325, PI 701492], KS150B [Reg. no. PL‐326, PI 701493], KS151A [Reg. no. PL‐327, PI 701494], KS151B [Reg. no. PL‐328, PI 701495]), and six pollinator parents [KS152R (Reg. no. PL‐329, PI 701496), KS153R (Reg. no. PL‐330, PI 701497), KS154R (Reg. no. PL‐331, PI 701498), KS155R (Reg. no. PL‐332, PI 701499), KS156R (Reg. no. PL‐333, PI 701500), and KS157R (Reg. no. PL‐334, PI 701501) from the Kansas State University, Agricultural Research Center, Hays, KS, were approved for release by the Kansas State University in July 2021. These 10 lines were from different populations and were developed through recurrent selection (random mating) followed by pedigree and backcross breeding methods between the selected germplasms (PI 574562, PI 550610, PI 574599, PI 574560, PI 550607, and IS 1269C), adapted breeding lines and different genetic male sterile ms3 lines (KP 8B, N310B, B06‐41701‐167, B9614, BHF14, BH8606‐6) in different combinations. Parent lines KS148A&B, KS149A&B, KS152R, and KS153R are tolerant to chilling stress and KS150A&B, KS151A&B, KS154R, KS155R, KS156R, and KS157R are tolerant to drought stress and are recommended to develop hybrids respectively for early (end of April to first week of May) and regular (end of May to first week of June) planting for the central Great Plains. Preliminary screening of all 10 lines showed tolerance to nine postemergence herbicides. These 10 parent lines are early to medium maturity, three‐dwarf (dw1, Dw2, dw3, dw4) in height, photoperiod‐insensitive, and possess unique combinations of plant and seed color. All 10 parent lines are tannin free with acceptable grain quality, short peduncle length, compact or semi‐compact panicles, and combining ability for yield and standability.