bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of a polymeric biomedical device platform with controlled disassembly and in vivo testing in a swine intestinal model
Authors: Alghazali Karrer M. , Pedersen Alisha P. , Hamzah Rabab N. , Mulon Pierre-Yves , Rifkin Rebecca E. , Mhannawee Anwer , Nima Alsudani Zeid A. , Griffin Christopher , Muhi Malek A. H. , Mullen Nikki , Donnell Robert L. , Anderson David E. , Biris Alexandru S. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe aim of this study was to create a surgical guide platform that maintains its integrity while the surgeon performs an intestinal anastomosis or another similar procedure, which then breaks apart and is eliminated from the body in a controlled manner. The device contains mixed polymeric structures that give it a controlled rate of disassembly that could meet the requirements of a specific surgical purpose. The intraluminal anastomotic guide was manufactured as a hollow cylinder composed of layers of porous polyurethane/PCL with polyvinylpyrrolidone as the binding agent similar to a “brick–mortar” architecture. This combination of polymeric structures is a promising manufacturing method from which a variety of tunable devices can be fabricated for specific medical procedures and site-specific indications. The guide was designed to rapidly disassemble within the intestinal lumen after use, reliably degrading while maintaining sufficient mechanical rigidity and stability to support manipulation during complex surgical procedures. The nature of the device’s disassembly makes it suitable for use in hollow structures that discharge their contents, resulting in their elimination from the body. A swine model of intestinal anastomosis was utilized to validate the use and function of the device.
Four-dimensional computed tomography evaluation of shoulder joint motion in collegiate baseball pitchers
Authors: Momma Daisuke , Espinoza Orías Alejandro A. , Irie Tohru , Irie Tomoyo , Kondo Eiji , Iwasaki Norimasa , Inoue Nozomu 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the glenohumeral contact area, center of glenohumeral contact area, and center of humeral head during simulated pitching motion in collegiate baseball pitchers using four-dimensional computed tomography (4D CT). We obtained 4D CT data from the dominant and non-dominant shoulders of eight collegiate baseball pitchers during the cocking motion. CT image data of each joint were reconstructed using a 3D reconstruction software package. The glenohumeral contact area, center of glenohumeral contact area, center of humeral head, and oblateness of humeral head were calculated from 3D bone models using customized software. The center of glenohumeral contact area translated from anterior to posterior during maximum external rotation to maximum internal rotation (0.58 ± 0.63 mm on the dominant side and 0.99 ± 0.82 mm on the non-dominant side). The center of humeral head translated from posterior to anterior during maximum external rotation to maximum internal rotation (0.76 ± 0.75 mm on the dominant side and 1.21 ± 0.78 mm on the non-dominant side). The increase in anterior translation of the center of glenohumeral contact area was associated with the increase in posterior translation of the center of humeral head. Also, the increase in translation of the center of humeral head and glenohumeral contact area were associated with the increase in oblateness of the humeral head. 4D CT analyses demonstrated that the center of humeral head translated in the opposite direction to that of the center of glenohumeral contact area during external rotation to internal rotation in abduction in the dominant and non-dominant shoulders. The oblateness of the humeral head may cause this diametric translation. 4D CT scanning and the software for bone surface modeling of the glenohumeral joint enabled quantitative assessment of glenohumeral micromotion and be used for kinematic evaluation of throwing athletes.
Effects of training and using an audio-tactile sensory substitution device on speech-in-noise understanding
Authors: Cieśla K. , Wolak T. , Lorens A. , Mentzel M. , Skarżyński H. , Amedi A. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractUnderstanding speech in background noise is challenging. Wearing face-masks, imposed by the COVID19-pandemics, makes it even harder. We developed a multi-sensory setup, including a sensory substitution device (SSD) that can deliver speech simultaneously through audition and as vibrations on the fingertips. The vibrations correspond to low frequencies extracted from the speech input. We trained two groups of non-native English speakers in understanding distorted speech in noise. After a short session (30–45 min) of repeating sentences, with or without concurrent matching vibrations, we showed comparable mean group improvement of 14–16 dB in Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) in two test conditions, i.e., when the participants were asked to repeat sentences only from hearing and also when matching vibrations on fingertips were present. This is a very strong effect, if one considers that a 10 dB difference corresponds to doubling of the perceived loudness. The number of sentence repetitions needed for both types of training to complete the task was comparable. Meanwhile, the mean group SNR for the audio-tactile training (14.7 ± 8.7) was significantly lower (harder) than for the auditory training (23.9 ± 11.8), which indicates a potential facilitating effect of the added vibrations. In addition, both before and after training most of the participants (70–80%) showed better performance (by mean 4–6 dB) in speech-in-noise understanding when the audio sentences were accompanied with matching vibrations. This is the same magnitude of multisensory benefit that we reported, with no training at all, in our previous study using the same experimental procedures. After training, performance in this test condition was also best in both groups (SRT ~ 2 dB). The least significant effect of both training types was found in the third test condition, i.e. when participants were repeating sentences accompanied with non-matching tactile vibrations and the performance in this condition was also poorest after training. The results indicate that both types of training may remove some level of difficulty in sound perception, which might enable a more proper use of speech inputs delivered via vibrotactile stimulation. We discuss the implications of these novel findings with respect to basic science. In particular, we show that even in adulthood, i.e. long after the classical “critical periods” of development have passed, a new pairing between a certain computation (here, speech processing) and an atypical sensory modality (here, touch) can be established and trained, and that this process can be rapid and intuitive. We further present possible applications of our training program and the SSD for auditory rehabilitation in patients with hearing (and sight) deficits, as well as healthy individuals in suboptimal acoustic situations.
Splitting of droplet with different sizes inside a symmetric T-junction microchannel using an electric field
Authors: Fallah Keivan , Fattahi Ehsan 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn the current study, droplets dynamics under an asymmetric electric field in a T-junction are numerically studied using COMSOL Multi-physics software. The effect of different factors such as dimensionless length of mother droplet (L*), Capillary number (Ca), and electric capillary number (Cae) are investigated on the breakup process in symmetric T-junctions. Two novel patterns of droplets, namely, hybrid asymmetric splitting mode and sorting patterns, have been observed by imposing an electric field in one branch of the microchannel. It is also concluded that using an electric field is a promising strategy to reach droplets with arbitrary sizes and control over the splitting ratio of daughter droplets precisely in a T- junction by adjusting the electric field strength. After a certain electric capillary number ($$\left. {Ca_{e} } \right|_{Sorting}$$

C

a
e

Sorting

), the mother droplet does not breakup and is sorted on the side of the branch that the electric field imposes. Furthermore, $$\left. {Ca_{e} } \right|_{Sorting}$$

C

a
e

Sorting

increases with the increment of L* and Ca.
Field experiments of different fracturing designs in tight conglomerate oil reservoirs
Authors: Zhang Daiyan , Ma Shiying , Zhang Jing , Zhu Yue , Wang Bin , Zhu Jian , Fan Xibin , Yang Hu , Liang Tianbo 
Published: February 2022

AbstractMahu oilfield is currently the largest tight conglomerate reservoir in the world, where Ma-131 and Ma-18 plays are the first two commercially developed reservoirs. In order to reduce the cost and explore the best fracturing parameters, field experiments have been conducted in these two plays since 2017. Types of proppant and fracturing fluid, the slickwater ratio, and the fracture spacing are mainly changed for comparison, and fracturing effects are evaluated to establish a reference for developing neighboring plays in the Mahu oilfield. This paper summarizes the fracturing parameters and production histories of 74 wells in Ma-131 and Ma-18 plays during four years of field operations. Firstly, results indicate that silica sands perform similar to ceramics in the Ma-131 play where the reservoir depth is smaller than 3300 m; however, in the Ma-18 play where the reservoir is deeper than 3500 m, increasing the sand volume by 1.1–1.2 times still cannot reach the production in wells using ceramics. Secondly, when the fracture spacing is reduced, both oil production and water flowback become even smaller in wells using sands than those using ceramics; this is due to the increase of closure pressure and decrease of fluid volume per cluster respectively. Thirdly, when the crosslinked guar is replaced by the slickwater, no obvious change in oil production is noticed even though the volume of fracturing fluid is almost doubled; limited lengths of propped fractures due to the poor proppant-carrying ability of slickwater likely offset the production enhancement from the decrease of formation damage by slickwater. This paper summarizes learnings from the field experiments during the four-year development of the Mahu oilfield, and help guide the optimization of hydraulic fracturing parameters for future wells.
Genome-wide characterization of the sorghum JAZ gene family and their responses to phytohormone treatments and aphid infestation
Authors: Shrestha Kumar , Huang Yinghua 
Published: February 2022

AbstractJasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins are the key repressors of the jasmonic acid (JA) signal transduction pathway and play a crucial role in stress-related defense, phytohormone crosstalk and modulation of the growth-defense tradeoff. In this study, the sorghum genome was analyzed through genome-wide comparison and domain scan analysis, which led to the identification of 18 sorghum JAZ (SbJAZ) genes. All SbJAZ proteins possess the conserved TIFY and Jas domains and they formed a phylogenetic tree with five clusters related to the orthologs of other plant species. Similarly, evolutionary analysis indicated the duplication events as a major force of expansion of the SbJAZ genes and there was strong neutral and purifying selection going on. In silico analysis of the promoter region of the SbJAZ genes indicates that SbJAZ5, SbJAZ6, SbJAZ13, SbJAZ16 and SbJAZ17 are rich in stress-related cis-elements. In addition, expression profiling of the SbJAZ genes in response to phytohormones treatment (JA, ET, ABA, GA) and sugarcane aphid (SCA) was performed in two recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of sorghum, resistant (RIL 521) and susceptible (RIL 609) to SCA. Taken together, data generated from phytohormone expression and in silico analysis suggests the putative role of SbJAZ9 in JA-ABA crosstalk and SbJAZ16 in JA-ABA and JA-GA crosstalk to regulate certain physiological processes. Notably, upregulation of SbJAZ1, SbJAZ5, SbJAZ13 and SbJAZ16 in resistant RIL during JA treatment and SCA infestation suggests putative functions in stress-related defense and to balance the plant defense to promote growth. Overall, this report provides valuable insight into the organization and functional characterization of the sorghum JAZ gene family.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene expression is an independent prognostic marker for IDH mutant low-grade glioma
Authors: Naidoo Michael , Jones Leanne , Conboy Benjamin , Hamarneh Wael , D’Souza Darwin , Anthony Karen , Machado Lee R. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAlterations in the expression of the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene have been associated with the development, progression and survival outcomes of numerous cancers including tumours of the central nervous system. We undertook a detailed bioinformatic analysis of low-grade glioma (LGG) bulk RNAseq data to characterise the association between DMD expression and LGG survival outcomes. High DMD expression was significantly associated with poor survival in LGG with a difference in median overall survival between high and low DMD groups of over 7 years (P = < 0.0001). In a multivariate model, DMD expression remained significant (P = 0.02) and was an independent prognostic marker for LGG. The effect of DMD expression on overall survival was only apparent in isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutant cases where non-1p/19q co-deleted LGG patients could be further stratified into high/low DMD groups. Patients in the high DMD group had a median overall survival time almost halve that of the low DMD group. The expression of the individual DMD gene products Dp71, Dp71ab and Dp427m were also significantly associated with overall survival in LGG which have differential biological effects relevant to the pathogenesis of LGG. Differential gene expression and pathway analysis identifies dysregulated biological processes relating to ribosome biogenesis, synaptic signalling, neurodevelopment, morphogenesis and immune pathways. Genes spanning almost the entirety of chromosome 1p are upregulated in patients with high overall DMD, Dp71 and Dp427m expression which worsens survival outcomes for these patients. We confirmed dystrophin protein is variably expressed in LGG tumour tissue by immunohistochemistry and, overall, demonstrate that DMD expression has potential utility as an independent prognostic marker which can further stratify IDH mutant LGG to identify those at risk of poor survival. This knowledge may improve risk stratification and management of LGG.
Effect of berry-based supplements and foods on cognitive function: a systematic review
Authors: Bonyadi Negar , Dolatkhah Neda , Salekzamani Yaghoub , Hashemian Maryam 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn the current decade, a growing body of evidence has proposed the correlation between diet and cognitive function or dementia in the ageing population. This study was designed to appraise discoveries from the randomized controlled trials to confirm the effects of berry-based supplements or foods on cognitive function in older adults. PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and ProQuest as well as SID, Magiran, and Iranmedex electronic databases were explored for human interventional studies up to March 2021. In total, eleven articles were identified using frozen blueberry (n = 4 studies), blueberry concentrate (n = 2), beverage (n = 3), capsule (n = 1), extract and powder (n = 1). These studies had been performed among older people with no recognized cognitive impairment or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The primary outcomes included global cognitive function, psychomotor function, learning and memory, working memory capacity, executive functions, and brain perfusion/activity. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review of available clinical trials on the effects of berry-based supplements and foods on cognitive performances as well as brain perfusion parameters among the elderly with normal cognition or MCI. Existing evidence concludes that berry-based supplements and foods have beneficial effects on resting brain perfusion, cognitive function, memory performance, executive functioning, processing speed, and attention indices.
Recovery of polyphenols from distillery stillage by microwave-assisted, ultrasound-assisted and conventional solid–liquid extraction
Authors: Mikucka Wioleta , Zielinska Magdalena , Bulkowska Katarzyna , Witonska Izabela 
Published: February 2022

AbstractRecovery of bioactive compounds from distillery waste could be an option for valorizing this waste. This study investigated how the extraction of polyphenols (which have antioxidant activity) from distillery stillage was affected by solvent type and concentration, extraction time, and method of extraction (conventional solid–liquid extraction, CSLE; ultrasound-assisted extraction, UAE; microwave-assisted extraction, MAE). Although recovery was similar with UAE and MAE, 3 min MAE with 80% ethanol and 80% methanol produced the highest yields of total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and phenolic acids. With CSLE, TPC was 2.1–1.8-times lower than with MAE and 1.7–1.4-times lower than with UAE. Increasing the solvent concentration to 100% significantly decreased recovery. Six phenolic acids were recovered (ferulic and p-coumaric acid predominated), which were present mainly in the free form. There was a significant positive correlation between antioxidant activity, as measured with three methods (one based on the hydrogen atom transfer and two based on single electron transfer mechanisms), and phenolic acid content. With MAE and UAE, polyphenols were recovered more efficiently, with 2.1 times and 1.5 times higher antioxidant activity, and with 15 times and 9 times shorter extraction times, respectively, than with CSLE; thus, they can be considered "green" alternatives to CSLE.
A cell-free self-replenishing CO2-fixing system
Authors: Luo Shanshan , Lin Paul P. , Nieh Liang-Yu , Liao Guan-Bo , Tang Po-Wen , Chen Chi , Liao James C. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBiological CO2 fixation is so far the most effective means for CO2 reduction at scale and accounts for most of the CO2 fixed on Earth. Through this process, carbon is fixed in cellular components and biomass during organismal growth. To uncouple CO2 fixation from growth and cellular regulation, cell-free CO2 fixation systems represent an alternative approach since the rate can be independently manipulated. Here we designed an oxygen-insensitive, self-replenishing CO2 fixation system with opto-sensing. The system comprises a synthetic reductive glyoxylate and pyruvate synthesis (rGPS) cycle and the malyl-CoA-glycerate (MCG) pathway to produce acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA), pyruvate and malate from CO2, which are also intermediates in the cycle. We solved various problems associated with the in vitro system, and implemented opto-sensing modules to control the regeneration of cofactors. We accomplished sustained operation for 6 hours with a CO2-fixing rate comparable to or greater than typical CO2 fixation rates of photosynthetic or lithoautotrophic organisms.
The shades of grey in adipose tissue reprogramming
Authors: Qi Yue , Hui Xiaoyan 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe adipose tissue (AT) has a major role in contributing to obesity-related pathologies through regulating systemic immunometabolism. The pathogenicity of the AT is underpinned by its remarkable plasticity to be reprogrammed during obesity, in the perspectives of tissue morphology, extracellular matrix (ECM) composition, angiogenesis, immunometabolic homoeostasis and circadian rhythmicity. Dysregulation in these features escalates the pathogenesis conferred by this endometabolic organ. Intriguingly, the potential to be reprogrammed appears to be an Achilles’ heel of the obese AT that can be targeted for the management of obesity and its associated comorbidities. Here, we provide an overview of the reprogramming processes of white AT (WAT), with a focus on their dynamics and pleiotropic actions over local and systemic homoeostases, followed by a discussion of potential strategies favouring therapeutic reprogramming. The potential involvement of AT remodelling in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 is also discussed.
Sparse processing with range migration compensation capability for a frequency agile orthogonal frequency division multiplexing waveform
Authors: Wang Hao , Wang Feng , Zhang Yipeng , Ding Shoufeng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractDigital‐to‐analogue and analogue‐to‐digital in a digital array radar limits the transmission and reception of instantaneous broadband signals (IBSs), which makes it a technical bottleneck for digital array radar to obtain an instantaneous broadband high‐resolution range profile (HRRP). A frequency‐agile orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform with a high repetition frequency pulse train is proposed, which uses multiple narrowband OFDM to realise large bandwidth so that the digital array radar can easily realise the broadband working mode. This frequency hopping signal makes the digital array radar have the characteristics of broadband HRRP formation and low interception simultaneously. To solve the problem of range migration caused by high‐speed moving targets, a two‐stage sparse processing algorithm with range migration compensation capability (FS‐RMCSP) in slow time and fast time domains is proposed. By constructing a sparse processing dictionary matrix with range compensation operator according to the phase offset of the moving target echo, the proposed algorithm can complete the compensation of target range migration with high resolution, accurately recover the range‐Doppler parameters of target, and realise the coherent accumulation of target echo. The simulation results show that this waveform can obtain the range‐Doppler high‐resolution characteristics equivalent to the IBS in the radar tracking working mode. Compared with the conventional sparse signal processing algorithm, the FS‐RMCSP algorithm significantly improves the performance of target reconstruction in the scene of high‐speed moving targets.