bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Aqueous chlorination of sulfamethazine and sulfamethoxypyridazine: Kinetics and transformation products identification
Authors: Nassar Rania , Rifai Ahmad , Trivella Aurélien , Mazellier Patrick , Mokh Samia , Al‐Iskandarani Mohamad 
Published: April 2018

AbstractSulfonamides (SNs) are synthetic antimicrobial agents. These substances are continually introduced into the environment, and they may spread and maintain bacterial resistance in the different compartments. The chlorination of 2 SNs, namely, sulfamethazine (SMT) and sulfamethoxypyridazine (SMP), was investigated to study their reactivity with chlorine at typical concentrations for water treatment conditions. Experiments conducted in purified water show an acceleration of SMT and SMP degradation of a factor 1.5 by comparison to drinking water matrix. This difference is due to pH variation and competitive reactions between SNs and mineral and organic compounds, with chlorine in drinking water. In the presence of an excess of chlorine (6.7 μmol·L−1) in ultrapure water at pH 7.2, second‐order degradation rate constants were equal to 4.5 × 102M−1·s−1 and 5.2 × 102M−1·s−1 for SMT and SMP, respectively. The structures of transformation products were investigated by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analyses with equimolar concentrations between chlorine and SNs. SO2 elimination, cyclization, and electrophilic substitutions were the main pathways of by‐products formation. Moreover, the toxicity of the proposed structures was predicted by using toxicity estimation software tool program. The results indicated that most by‐products may present developmental toxicity.
Carotid Artery Stiffness Assessment by Ultrafast Ultrasound Imaging: Feasibility and Potential Influencing Factors
Authors: Pan Fu‐shun , Yu Liang , Luo Jia , Wu Ri‐dong , Xu Ming , Liang Jin‐yu , Zheng Yan‐ling , Xie Xiao‐yan 
Published: April 2018

ObjectivesTo evaluate the feasibility of the ultrafast ultrasound pulsed wave velocity (PWV) for carotid stiffness assessment and potential influencing factors.MethodsUltrafast PWV measurements of 442 carotid arteries in 162 consecutive patients (patient group) and 66 healthy volunteers (control group) were performed. High‐ and very high‐frequency transducers were used in 110 carotid segments. The ultrafast PWVs at the beginning and end of systole were automatically measured. The correlations between the intima‐media thickness (IMT) and ultrafast PWV and the equipment and carotid factors influencing the utility of ultrafast PWV were analyzed.ResultsEach ultrafast PWV acquisition was completed within 1 minute. The intraobserver variability showed mean differences ± SD of 0.12 ± 1.28 m/s for the PWV before systole and 0.06 ± 1.30 m/s for the PWV at the end of systole. Ultrafast PWV measurements were more likely obtained with the very high‐ frequency transducer when the IMT was less than 1.5 mm (P < .05). A generalized linear mixed‐effects model analysis showed that the very high‐frequency transducer had a greater ability to obtain a valid carotid ultrafast PWV measurement with an IMT of less than 1.5 mm (P < .05). The IMT was positively correlated with the PWV before systole and at the end of systole (r = 0.207–0.771; all P < .05) in the control group, patient group, and carotid subgroup with an IMT of less than 1.5 mm. A multiple regression analysis showed that the IMT and plaque were important independent factors in predicting failure of the ultrafast PWV (P < .001).ConclusionsThe ultrafast PWV is an effective and user‐friendly method for evaluating carotid stiffness. The IMT and transducer type are factors influencing the ability to obtain an ultrafast PWV measurement.
Quantitative mapping of soil salinity using the DUALEM‐21S instrument and EM inversion software
Authors: Koganti Triven , Narjary Bhaskar , Zare Ehsan , Pathan Aslam Latif , Huang Jingyi , Triantafilis John 
Published: April 2018

AbstractTo generate baseline data for the purpose of monitoring the efficacy of remediation of a degraded landscape, we demonstrate a method for 3‐dimensional mapping of electrical conductivity of saturated soil paste extract (ECe) across a study field in central Haryana, India. This is achieved by establishing a linear relationship between calculated true electrical conductivity (σ) and laboratory measured ECe at various depths (0–0.3, 0.3–0.6, 0.6–0.9, and 0.9–1.2 m). We estimate σ by inverting DUALEM‐21S apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) data using a quasi‐3‐dimensional inversion algorithm (EM4Soil‐V302). The best linear relationship (ECe = −11.814 + 0.043 × σ) was achieved using full solution (FS), S1 inversion algorithm, and a damping factor (λ) of 0.6 that had a large coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.84). A cross‐validation technique was used to validate the model, and given the high accuracy (RMSE = 8.31 dS m−1), small bias (mean error = −0.0628 dS m−1), large R2 = 0.82, and Lin's concordance (0.93), between measured and predicted ECe, we were well able to predict the ECe distribution at all the four depths. However, the predictions made in the topsoil (0–0.3 m) at a few locations were poor due to limited data availability in areas where ECa changed rapidly. In this regard, improvements in prediction can be achieved by collection of ECa in more closely spaced transects, particularly in areas where ECa varies over short spatial scales. Also, equivalent results can be achieved using smaller combinations of ECa data (i.e., DAULEM‐1S, DUALEM‐2S), although with some loss in precision, bias, and concordance.
Cabells’ Journal Whitelist and Blacklist: Intelligent data for informed journal evaluations
Authors: Bisaccio Michael 
Published: April 2018

Key points
Cabells’ Whitelist of ca. 11,000 quality journals has recently been joined by a Blacklist of over 8,300 journals that fail basic quality criteria.
Cabells’ Journal Blacklist is the only searchable database of deceptive and fraudulent journals with comprehensive reports detailing violations.
Key components for establishing the Blacklist were objectivity and transparency with respect to the evaluation process and selection criteria, and unbiased evaluations.
The Blacklist evaluation criteria were tested to ensure accurate judgement and are continually evolving to maintain suitability.
Over 800 journals are added to the Blacklist each month.
Ordering Polymer‐Grafted Nanoparticles at Oil–Air Interfaces under Magnetic Fields
Authors: Liu Siqi , Wang Haoyu , Akcora Pinar 
Published: April 2018

AbstractPolymer‐grafted magnetic nanoparticles at oil–air interfaces are examined to reveal the role of chain length and anisotropy on particle packing order in thin films. It is found that particles grafted with intermediate chain lengths and sparse grafting densities exhibit enhanced packing order with increasing magnetic field strength. Voronoi tessellation results present an increase in the cell area distribution of these samples, suggesting that chain conformations are affected. For the longest graft length, particles become more disordered under magnetic fields. It is proposed that fluctuations in the bridged chains rearrange particles into less ordered packing with field application and the mechanism of packing order differs for varying graft chain lengths. Grafting anisotropy is found to determine the spatial nanoparticle organization in assembled monolayers.
Do brain structural abnormalities differentiate separate forms of urgency urinary incontinence?
Authors: Clarkson Becky D. , Griffiths Derek , Resnick Neil M. 
Published: April 2018

AimsUrgency urinary incontinence (UUI) is a major problem for seniors. The underlying mechanisms of disease and therapy are unknown. We sought structural brain abnormalities that might underlie the functional differences previously observed by functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in UUI patients versus controls, or among UUI responders versus non‐responders to therapy—and thereby reveal potential disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets.MethodsSecondary study of a trial of biofeedback‐assisted pelvic floor muscle training (BFB) in 60 women (>60 yrs) with UUI, plus 11 age‐matched continent controls. Brain structural abnormalities were investigated using: (1) white‐matter hyperintensities (WMH); (2) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to reveal white‐matter pathways with impaired integrity; and (3) voxel‐based morphometry (VBM) to show regions of atrophy or hypertrophy.ResultsWMH burden was greater in UUI patients than controls (globally and in superior longitudinal fasciculus and cingulum), suggesting a possible causal connection. WMH burden was unexpectedly greater in responders than non‐responders to BFB, and appeared to increase in non‐responders but not in responders. DTI revealed even worse integrity of the cingulum than was apparent by WMH. VBM showed parahippocampal atrophy in UUI.ConclusionsMany women with UUI have white‐matter damage that interferes with pathways critical to bladder control; they can be taught by techniques like BFB to exert stronger control over the bladder. For others, in whom abnormalities of key brain areas are less marked, UUI's cause may reside elsewhere, and therapy targeting these brain centers may be less effective than therapy targeting the bladder or other brain centers.
Dual‐frequency irradiation CEST‐MRI of endogenous bulk mobile proteins
Authors: Goerke Steffen , Breitling Johannes , Zaiss Moritz , Windschuh Johannes , Kunz Patrick , Schuenke Patrick , Paech Daniel , Longo Dario L. , Klika Karel D. , Ladd Mark E. , Bachert Peter 
Published: April 2018

A novel MRI contrast is proposed which enables the selective detection of endogenous bulk mobile proteins in vivo. Such a non‐invasive imaging technique may be of particular interest for many diseases associated with pathological alterations of protein expression, such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Specificity to mobile proteins was achieved by the selective measurement of intramolecular spin diffusion and the removal of semi‐solid macromolecular signal components by a correction procedure. For this purpose, the approach of chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) was extended to a radiofrequency (RF) irradiation scheme at two different frequency offsets (dualCEST). Using protein model solutions, it was demonstrated that the dualCEST technique allows the calculation of an image contrast which is exclusively sensitive to changes in concentration, molecular size and the folding state of mobile proteins. With respect to application in humans, dualCEST overcomes the selectivity limitations at relatively low magnetic field strengths, and thus enables examinations on clinical MR scanners. The feasibility of dualCEST examinations in humans was verified by a proof‐of‐principle examination of a brain tumor patient at 3 T. With its specificity for the mobile fraction of the proteome, its comparable sensitivity to conventional water proton MRI and its applicability to clinical MR scanners, this technique represents a further step towards the non‐invasive imaging of proteomic changes in humans.
The oxen of Oxon Hill Manor: Pathological analyses and cattle husbandry in eighteenth‐century Maryland
Authors: Carlson Dietmeier Jenna Kay 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe methodologies for identifying and analyzing draught cattle from the archaeological record have been developed and refined over the past 20 years. In assessing the pathological manifestations present on complete Bos taurus metapodials and phalanges from the 18‐century Chesapeake plantation known as Oxon Hill Manor, this research reveals the applicability of the pathological index to studies of traction animals and animal husbandry in historical North American faunal assemblages. This research also utilizes the newly established modified pathological index as a means of assessing incomplete metapodials for possible pathological signatures of traction. As Oxon Hill Manor was home to an elite planting family, the site provides the opportunity to explore the changing roles of draught oxen with the shift from tobacco to diversified agriculture in the last half of the 18th century. Combined with evidence from the documentary record of Oxon Hill Manor, this research demonstrates that analyses of cattle pathologies can be used not only to evaluate the presence of draught oxen in the zooarchaeological record but also to illuminate nuances in husbandry practices pertaining to all cattle at the site.
Electrical conductivity and dielectric properties of nanofibrillated cellulose thin films from bagasse
Authors: Abdel‐karim Amal M. , Salama A. H. , Hassan Mohammad L. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractNanocelluloses are potential candidates for applications in flexible electronic due to their unique physical and mechanical properties. However, electrical properties of these materials have not investigated thoroughly to study their electrical properties. In the current work, electrical properties of nanocellulose films prepared from bagasse pulp were studied and compared with those of bagasse pulp fibers. Two kinds of nanocelluloses were used in the current study: microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and TEMPO‐oxidized nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC). The crystallinity, grain size, and morphology of the different nanocelluloses were studied using X‐ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The dc‐, ac‐ electrical conductivity, dielectric constant ɛ′, and dielectric loss ɛ″ of non‐plasticized and glycerol‐plasticized nanocellulose films were studied in the temperature range from 298 to 373 K and in the frequency range from 0.1 KHz to 5 MHz. The results showed that the dc‐ electrical conductivity verifies Arrhenius equation and the activation energies varied in the range of 0.9 to 0.42 eV. Ac‐electrical conductivity increased with frequency and fitted with power law equation, which ensures that the conduction goes through hopping mechanism. The dielectric constant decreased with increasing frequency and increased with increasing temperature, probably due to the free movement of dipole molecular chains within the cellulose fiber. Glycerol‐plasticized NFC (NFC‐G) film had the highest dielectric constant and ac‐electrical conductivity values of 79 800 and 2.80× 10−3ohm−1 cm−1, respectively. The high values of dielectric constant and conductivity of the prepared films support their use in electronic components.
Using disruptive insertional mutagenesis to identify the in situ structure‐function landscape of the Shigella translocator protein IpaB
Authors: Barta Michael L. , Tachiyama Shoichi , Muthuramalingam Meenakumari , Arizmendi Olivia , Villanueva Cecilia E. , Ramyar Kasra X. , Geisbrecht Brian V. , Lovell Scott , Battaile Kevin P. , Picking Wendy L. , Picking William D. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBacterial type III secretion systems (T3SS) are used to inject proteins into mammalian cells to subvert cellular functions. The Shigella T3SS apparatus (T3SA) is comprised of a basal body, cytoplasmic sorting platform and exposed needle with needle “tip complex” (TC). TC maturation occurs when the translocator protein IpaB is recruited to the needle tip where both IpaD and IpaB control secretion induction. IpaB insertion into the host membrane is the first step of translocon pore formation and secretion induction. We employed disruptive insertional mutagenesis, using bacteriophage T4 lysozyme (T4L), within predicted IpaB loops to show how topological features affect TC functions (secretion control, translocon formation and effector secretion). Insertions within the N‐terminal half of IpaB were most likely to result in a loss of steady‐state secretion control, however, all but the two that were not recognized by the T3SA retained nearly wild‐type hemolysis (translocon formation) and invasiveness levels (effector secretion). In contrast, all but one insertion in the C‐terminal half of IpaB maintained secretion control but were impaired for hemolysis and invasion. These nature of the data suggest the latter mutants are defective in a post‐secretion event, most likely due to impaired interactions with the second translocator protein IpaC. Intriguingly, only two insertion mutants displayed readily detectable T4L on the bacterial surface. The data create a picture in which the makeup and structure of a functional T3SA TC is highly amenable to physical perturbation, indicating that the tertiary structure of IpaB within the TC is more plastic than previously realized.
Disruption of the E. coli LptC dimerization interface and characterization of lipopolysaccharide and LptA binding to monomeric LptC
Authors: Schultz Kathryn M. , Fischer Matthew A. , Noey Elizabeth L. , Klug Candice S. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractLipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an essential element of nearly all Gram‐negative bacterial outer membranes and serves to protect the cell from adverse environmental stresses. Seven members of the lipopolysaccharide transport (Lpt) protein family function together to transport LPS from the inner membrane (IM) to the outer leaflet of the outer membrane of bacteria such as Escherichia coli. Each of these proteins has a solved crystal structure, including LptC, which is a largely periplasmic protein that is associated with the IM LptB2FG complex and anchored to the membrane by an N‐terminal helix. LptC directly binds LPS and is hypothesized to be involved in the transfer of LPS to another periplasmic protein, LptA. Purified and in solution, LptC forms a dimer. Here, point mutations designed to disrupt formation of the dimer are characterized using site‐directed spin labeling double electron electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy, light scattering, circular dichroism, and computational modeling. The computational studies reveal the molecular interactions that drive dimerization of LptC and elucidate how the disruptive mutations change this interaction, while the DEER and light scattering studies identify which mutants disrupt the dimer. And, using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and comparing the results to the previous quantitative characterization of the interactions between dimeric LptC and LPS and LptA, the functional consequences of monomeric LptC were also determined. These results indicate that disruption of the dimer does not affect LPS or LptA binding and that monomeric LptC binds LPS and LptA at levels similar to dimeric LptC.
A comprehensive review of phytochemical profile, bioactives for pharmaceuticals, and pharmacological attributes of Azadirachta indica
Authors: Saleem Sumaira , Muhammad Gulzar , Hussain Muhammad Ajaz , Bukhari Syed Nasir Abbas 
Published: April 2018

Azadirachta indica L. is a multipurpose medicinal tree of family Meliaceae. It occurs in tropical and semitropical regions of the world. Different parts of this miraculous tree are used to treat pyrexia, headache, ulcer, respiratory disorders, cancer, diabetes, leprosy, malaria, dengue, chicken pox, and dermal complications. The tree is popular for its pharmacological attributes such as hypolipidemic, antifertility, microbicidal, antidiabetic, anti‐inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antipyretic, hypoglycemic, insecticidal, nematicidal, antiulcer, antioxidant, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and antileishmaniasis properties. A. indica is also rich in various phytochemicals for pharmaceuticals such as alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acids, and carbohydrates. The fungicidal potential of the tree is due to the presence of azadirachtin and nimbin. Herein, we have compiled a comprehensive review of phytochemical profile, pharmacological attributes, and therapeutic prospective of this multipurpose tree.
Acute hematological and mood perception effects of bitter orange extract (p‐synephrine) consumed alone and in combination with caffeine: A placebo‐controlled, double‐blind study
Authors: Bush Jill A. , Ratamess Nicholas A. , Stohs Sidney J. , Ellis Nicole L. , Vought Ira T. , O'Grady Elizabeth A. , Kuper Jeremy D. , Kang Jie , Faigenbaum Avery D. 
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this study was to examine acute hematological and mood perception responses to supplementation with p‐synephrine alone and in combination with caffeine during quiet sitting. Sixteen subjects visited the laboratory on 6 occasions and were given (in randomized double‐blind manner) 103‐mg p‐synephrine (S), 233‐mg caffeine + 104‐mg p‐synephrine, 240‐mg caffeine, 337‐mg caffeine + 46‐mg p‐synephrine, 325‐mg caffeine, or a placebo (PL). The subjects sat quietly for 3 hr while completing mood state questionnaires every 30 min. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline (pre) and 3 hr (post) to determine immune, lipid, and chemistry panels. Compared with PL, no significant supplement differences were observed during the S trial with the exception of differential time effects seen in hematocrit (decrease in PL, no change in S), triglycerides and very low‐density lipoproteins (no changes in PL, significant decreases in S), and iron (no change in PL, significant elevation in S). Supplements containing caffeine showed increased feelings of attention, excitement, energy, and vigor. These data indicate that consumption of 103‐mg p‐synephrine does not negatively impact acute blood parameters, does not augment the effects of caffeine, or produce stimulant‐like perceptual mood effects.
Switching linear parameter‐varying control with improved local performance and optimized switching surfaces
Authors: Zhao Pan , Nagamune Ryozo 
Published: April 2018

SummaryThis paper presents a novel approach to designing switching linear parameter‐varying (SLPV) controllers with improved local performance and an algorithm for optimizing switching surfaces to further improve the performance of the SLPV controllers. The design approach utilizes the weighted average of the local L2‐gain bounds (representing the local performance) as the cost function to be minimized, whereas the maximum of the local L2‐gain bounds (representing the worst‐case performance over all subsets) is bounded with a tuning parameter. The tuning parameter is useful for taking the trade‐off between the local performance and the worst‐case performance. An algorithm based on the particle swarm optimization is introduced to optimize the switching surfaces of an SLPV controller. The efficacy of the proposed SLPV controller design approach and switching surface optimization algorithm is demonstrated on both a numerical example and a physical example of air‐fuel ratio control of an automotive engine.
Adaptive synchronization control of networked robot systems without velocity measurements
Authors: Zhang Bin , Jia Yingmin , Du Junping 
Published: April 2018

SummaryThis paper addresses the adaptive synchronization control problem of networked robot systems characterized by the Lagrangian function, where exact dynamic models are unknown and velocity measurements are unavailable. A class of distributed observers, comprised of multiple dynamic variables and static variables, are established based on no a priori restriction on the boundness of the observer states. The observer is compatible for different control schemes with or without structure uncertainties. Using the estimated states given by the observer, adaptive distributed control input is developed, and then, closed‐loop dynamic models for filtered vectors are established. It is proven that our proposed control scheme permits global exact state estimation and global asymptotic synchronization while compensating for structure uncertainties. Simulations are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the results.