bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extract of the Microalga Nitzschia laevis Prevents High‐Fat‐Diet‐Induced Obesity in Mice by Modulating the Composition of Gut Microbiota
Authors: Guo Bingbing , Liu Bin , Wei Hehong , Cheng Ka‐Wing , Chen Feng 
Published: November 2018

ScopeThe aim of the present study is to investigate the efficacy of Nitzschia laevis extract (NLE) in preventing obesity in mice fed with a high‐fat diet (HFD), and the potential underlying mechanisms focusing on modulation of the gut microbiota profile.Methods and resultsPhysiological, histological, and biochemical parameters and gut microbiota compositions are compared among four experimental groups fed respectively with the following diets for 8 weeks: Normal chow diet, HFD, HFD + low concentration of NLE, and HFD + high concentration of NLE. The results demonstrate that NLE supplementation significantly reduces body weight gain and effectively prevents lipid accumulation in the white adipose tissue and liver of the mice. Mechanistic analysis reveals that NLE promotes the expression of uncoupling protein 1 and peroxisome proliferators‐activated receptor‐γ coactivator‐1 mRNA in brown adipose tissue. Furthermore, NLE protects the gut epithelium and positively reshapes the gut microbiota composition against the damaging effect of HFD.ConclusionsNLE supplementation demonstrates a protective effect against HFD‐induced obesity in mice, which is associated with reshaping the profile of gut microbiota. To the best of our knowledge, this has been the first report on the potential of microalgal extract to prevent obesity by modulating gut microbiota.
Integrated production, inventory, and batch delivery scheduling with due date assignment and two competing agents
Authors: Yin Yunqiang , Yang Yongjian , Wang Dujuan , Cheng T.C.E. , Wu Chin‐Chia 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThis paper considers several integrated production, inventory, and batch delivery scheduling problems on a single machine with due date assignment and two competing agents, each of which seeks to optimize its own performance. All the jobs of the first agent have a common due date, which is a decision variable to be determined by the decision maker, whereas the due dates of the jobs of the second agent are exogenously given. The jobs of the same agent are processed sequentially in batches and the batch processing time is equal to the total processing time of the jobs in the batch, where the batch size can be either bounded or unbounded. A batch is available only when all the jobs in it are completed. An available batch is delivered to its agent immediately, and the cost per batch delivery is fixed and independent of the number of jobs in the batch. Finished jobs are kept in inventory, if necessary, incurring an additional holding cost. The first agent wishes to find a job sequence, a common due date, and a dispatch date for each of its jobs that jointly minimize the total cost comprising the earliness, weighted number of tardy jobs, job holding, due date assignment, and batch delivery costs, while the second agent seeks to minimize one of the following criteria plus the batch delivery cost: the maximum value of a regular scheduling criterion, total completion time, and weighted number of tardy jobs. The overall objective is to minimize the objective value of the first agent, subject to the objective value of the second agent not exceeding a given threshold. For each of the problems considered, we study its computational complexity and develop exact and/or approximation solution algorithms.
Initial and crucial genetic events in intestinal‐type gastric intramucosal neoplasia
Authors: Rokutan Hirofumi , Abe Hiroyuki , Nakamura Hiromi , Ushiku Tetsuo , Arakawa Erika , Hosoda Fumie , Yachida Shinichi , Tsuji Yosuke , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro , Koike Kazuhiko , Totoki Yasushi , Fukayama Masashi , Shibata Tatsuhiro 
Published: November 2018

AbstractGastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common and life‐threatening malignancies. The course of disease and tumor aggressiveness vary among GCs, although how early fate is determined and by what factors remains elusive. To solve this question, we collected 43 gastric intramucosal neoplasias (GINs), comprising dysplasia/intraepithelial neoplasia (D/IEN; a premalignant lesion) and minute GC (miGC; ≤10 mm) of intestinal histotype and performed targeted deep DNA sequencing of 67 GC‐related genes derived from large‐scale data. Gastric D/IEN was classified into low or high grade (LG‐D/IEN or HG‐D/IEN). The most frequent mutations in D/IENs included APC (19/25; 76%), ARID2 (6/25; 24%) and MUC6 (5/25; 20%). All LG‐D/IENs had APC mutation (12/12) and APC hotspot mutations affecting R1450 and E1554 were noted in both LG‐D/IEN and HG‐D/IEN. ARID2 mutation always co‐occurred with APC mutation, whose tumor variant allele frequency (TVAF) was higher than that of ARID2 in D/IEN. APC and TP53 mutations were mutually exclusive in D/IEN (p = 0.031 [main cohort], p = 0.025 [expanding cohort]) and TP53‐mutated D/IEN was exclusively HG‐D/IEN (4/4). TP53 mutations were highly recurrent (11/14; 79%) in MLH1‐positive miGCs and were detected even in two microscopic lesions measuring 1 and 3 mm, respectively. Furthermore, TVAF analyses suggested that TP53 mutation is the initial event in the TP53‐mutated miGCs. In contrast, TP53 mutation was absent (0/4) in MLH1‐negative small intramucosal carcinoma (8–24 mm). Advanced GC data suggested that early mutations (APC and TP53) may affect the potential of cancerous progression from D/IEN. This study revealed somatic mutational landscape and initial mutations of GINs, and we report for the first time that TP53 mutations precede other mutations in intestinal‐type GC. Our results also indicate that molecular subtyping based on APC/TP53 mutations would be a high‐priority approach for determining and predicting the malignant potential of GIN, including D/IEN. Copyright © 2018 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nano‐crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol)‐based hybrid hydrogels for drug delivery and antibacterial activity
Authors: Arsalani Nasser , Kazeminava Fahimeh , Akbari Ali , Hamishehkar Hamed , Jabbari Esmaiel , Kafil Hossein S 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe synthesis is reported of novel hybrid hydrogels based on ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid dianhydride and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with octa‐aminopropyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane hydrochloride salt (OA‐POSS) as a nano‐crosslinker under solvent‐free conditions. The molecular weight of PEG was varied between 600 and 1000 Da. The synthesized hydrogels were characterized using various techniques. Further, the swelling behavior and antibacterial activity of the hydrogels and release kinetics of metronidazole (MTZ) as a model drug from them were evaluated. Experimental results demonstrate that hydrogels with tunable properties can be synthesized by varying the PEG molecular weight and type of crosslinker (hybrid or organic). Among the synthesized hybrid hydrogels, that crosslinked by OA‐POSS with long PEG chains (1000 Da) showed the highest swelling degree (2000%), drug encapsulation efficiency (88%) and extent of MTZ release (96%). © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Bifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) based crosslinked network polymers as electrolytes for all‐solid‐state lithium ion batteries
Authors: Grewal Manjit Singh , Tanaka Manabu , Kawakami Hiroyoshi 
Published: November 2018

AbstractPolymer electrolyte based lithium ion batteries represent a revolution in the battery community due to their intrinsic enhanced safety, and as a result polymer electrolytes have been proposed as a replacement for conventional liquid electrolytes. Herein, the preparation of a family of crosslinked network polymers as electrolytes via the ‘click‐chemistry’ technique involving thiol‐ene or thiol‐epoxy is reported. These network polymer electrolytes comprise bifunctional poly(ethylene glycol) as the lithium ion solvating polymer, pentaerythritol tetrakis (3‐mercaptopropionate) as the crosslinker and lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide as the lithium salt. The crosslinked network polymer electrolytes obtained show low Tg, high ionic conductivity and a good lithium ion transference number (ca 0.56). In addition, the membrane demonstrated sterling mechanical robustness and high thermal stability. The advantages of the network polymer electrolytes in this study are their harmonious characteristics as solid electrolytes and the potential adaptability to improve performance by combining with inorganic fillers, ionic liquids or other materials. In addition, the simple formation of the network structures without high temperatures or light irradiation has enabled the practical large‐area fabrication and in situ fabrication on cathode electrodes. As a preliminary study, the prepared crosslinked network polymer materials were used as solid electrolytes in the elaboration of all‐solid‐state lithium metal battery prototypes with moderate charge–discharge profiles at different current densities leaving a good platform for further improvement. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Influence of Carbon Nanofibers on Thermal and Mechanical Properties of NC‐TEGDN‐RDX Triple‐Base Gun Propellants
Authors: Shen Jinpeng , Liu Zhitao , Xu Bin , Liang Hao , Zhu Yao , Liao Xin , Wang Zeshan 
Published: November 2018

AbstractTriple‐base gun propellants composed of nitrocellulose (NC), triethylene glycol dinitrate (TEGDN) and cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were studied to explore the effects of CNFs on the thermal and mechanical properties. The results indicated that CNFs with less than 0.50 wt % were evenly and randomly dispersed in the propellant, otherwise there existed obvious aggregation. Temperatures of initial decomposition and exothermic peak reduced with the increase of NCFs from 0.00 to 3.00 wt %. Decomposition enthalpy of the composites with 0.50 wt % NCFs was 1214.6 J g−1, increased by ∼131.4 J g−1 compared to that of NC‐TEGDN‐RDX propellants. Moreover, the mechanical properties were effectively tailored by varying the amount of CNFs added to the composition. Decomposition enthalpy of the propellant with 0.25 wt % CNFs were hardly compromised for achieving enhancement in the compressive and impact properties, while the tensile strengths decreased slightly compared to that of the propellants.
Superior Compatibility of C2N with Human Red Blood Cell Membranes and the Underlying Mechanism
Authors: Liu Lu , Zhang Shitong , Zhao Lin , Gu Zonglin , Duan Guangxin , Zhou Bo , Yang Zaixing , Zhou Ruhong 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe widespread use of nanomaterials, such as carbon based 2D nanomaterials, in biomedical applications, has been accompanied by a growing concern on their biocompatibility, and in particular, on how they may affect the integrity of cell membranes. Herein, the interactions between C2N, a novel 2D nanomaterial, and human red blood cell membranes are explored using a combined experimental and theoretical approach. The experimental microscopies show that C2N exerts a negligible hemolysis effect on the blood cells with a superior compatibility to their cell membranes, when compared with the control system, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), which is found to be highly hemolytic. The molecular dynamics simulations further reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms, which indicate that C2N prefers to be adsorbed flat on the water–membrane interface. Interaction energy analyses demonstrate the crucial role of Coulombic contributions, originating from the unique electrostatic potential surface of C2N, in preventing C2N from penetrating into cell membranes. These findings indicate a high compatibility of C2N with cell membranes, which may provide useful foundation for the future exploration of this 2D nanomaterial in related biomedical applications.
Epilogue: What’s the Matter with Rotterdam?
Authors: Vertovec Steven 
Published: November 2018

AbstractWhat’s the matter with Rotterdam? This is a question I asked in a 2017 lecture (available to view at www.mmg.mpg.de), when trying to figure out how and why the city seems to disrupt common contemporary narratives concerning migration and cities. That is, social scientists since Simmel have postulated that cities are largely incubators of cosmopolitanism, or openness (if only indifference) to socio-cultural differences. It is often presumed that such openness goes together with an acceptance of ethnic diversity and immigration. Opinion polls and ethnographic research in cities usually bears out this presumption. Hence, it comes as surprising if not shocking to learn that in super-diverse Rotterdam – with over 50% of its population stemming from some 180 nations – the urban model of cosmopolitan incubator seems to fail. Authors in this collection have pointed to developments in Rotterdam by way of negative reactions to diversity, substantial voting for rightwing, anti-immigrant parties, and an ‘unhappy version’ of super-diversity in which the growth of a disapproving atmosphere has led to sharper ethnic boundaries, retreat into white enclaves, and low levels of white-ethnic minority social contact. Indeed, what’s the matter with Rotterdam?
Innovativer HVDC-DC-Wandler für Hochspannungs-Gleichstrom-Netze – Grundsätzliche Überlegungen zu Topologie, Regelung und elektromagnetischer Verträglichkeit
Authors: Renner Herwig , Schichler Uwe , Krischan Klaus , Deutschmann Bernd , Auinger Bernhard , Horn Martin , Reichhartinger Markus , Vollmaier Franz 
Published: November 2018

ZusammenfassungVermaschte Hochspannungs-Gleichstrom-Netze werden in der Zukunft bei der elektrischen Energieübertragung eine bedeutende Rolle spielen. Netzgeführte Umrichter, wie sie heute standardmäßig bei leistungsstarken HGÜ-Verbindungen zum Einsatz kommen, werden durch selbstgeführte Umrichter abgelöst und ermöglichen einen einfacheren Mehr-Stationen-Betrieb. Um einzelne, unabhängig entstandene Gleichstromsysteme mit unterschiedlicher Nennspannung verbinden zu können, ist die Entwicklung von Hochspannungs-Gleichstromwandlern notwendig. In der vorliegenden Publikation werden grundsätzliche Überlegungen zu Topologie und Regelung angestellt und ein Demonstrator vorgestellt, der im Rahmen des institutsübergreifenden Forschungsprojektes „GriDConv“ an der Technischen Universität Graz entworfen und gebaut wurde. Die Anlage ist als hybrider, kaskadierter 2-Stufen DC-DC-Wandler mit drei Zweigen ausgeführt. Damit sollen das Funktionsprinzip sowie ausgewählte Regelfunktionalitäten im Labormaßstab demonstriert werden. Die Eckdaten dieses Demonstrators wurden mit Nennspannungen von 800 V oberspannungsseitig, 500 V unterspannungsseitig und einer Übertragungsleistung von 50 kW festgelegt. Einen wesentlichen Punkt stellt die elektromagnetische Verträglichkeit (EMV) der Anordnung dar. Unterschiedliche Maßnahmen zur Verbesserung der EMV können mit dem Demonstrator hinsichtlich ihrer Wirksamkeit untersucht werden.
High-fidelity measurements in channel flow with polymer wall injection
Authors: Elsnab John R. , Monty Jason P. , White Christopher M. , Koochesfahani Manoochehr M. , Klewicki Joseph C. 
Published: November 2018

Streamwise velocity profiles and their wall-normal derivatives were used to investigate the properties of turbulent channel flow in the low polymer drag reduction$(DR)$regime ($DR=6.5\,\%$to$26\,\%$), as realized via polymer injection at the channel surface. Streamwise velocity data were obtained over a friction Reynolds number ranging from$650$to$1800$using the single-velocity-component version of molecular tagging velocimetry (1c-MTV). This adaptation of the MTV technique has the ability to accurately capture instantaneous profiles at very high spatial resolution (${\gtrsim}850$data points per wall-normal profile), and thus generate well-resolved derivative information as well. Owing to this ability, the present study is able to build upon and extend the recent numerical simulation analysis of Whiteet al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 834, 2018, pp. 409–433) that examined the mean dynamical structure of polymer drag-reduced channel flow at friction Reynolds numbers up to$1000$. Consistently, the present mean velocity profiles indicate that the extent of the logarithmic region diminishes with increasing polymer concentration, while statistically significant increases in the logarithmic profile slope begin to occur for drag reductions less than$15\,\%$. Profiles of the r.m.s. streamwise velocity indicate that the maximum moves farther from the wall and increases in magnitude with reductions in drag. Similarly, with increasing drag reduction, the profile of the combined Reynolds and polymer shear stress exhibits a decrease in its maximum value that also moves farther from the wall. Correlations are presented that estimate the location and value of the maximum r.m.s. streamwise velocity and combined Reynolds and polymer shear stress. Over the range of$DR$investigated, these effects consistently exhibit approximately linear trends as a function of$DR$. The present measurements allow reconstruction of the mean momentum balance (MMB) for channel flow, which provides further insights regarding the physics described in the study by Whiteet al. In particular, the present findings support a physical scenario in which the self-similar properties on the inertial domain identified from the leading-order structure of the MMB begin to detectably and continuously vary for drag reductions less than$10\,\%$.
‘Upliftment’, friends and finance: everyday exchange repertoires and mobile money transfer in Kenya
Authors: Johnson Susan , Krijtenburg Froukje 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe rapid and massive adoption of mobile money transfer (MMT) services in East Africa, particularly in Kenya, stands in stark contrast to historically low use of formal financial systems on the continent. Its ‘fertile grounds’ therefore require in-depth analysis to understand the implications for African financial systems. This paper argues for the need to examine the underlying conceptual environment that enables low income and poor people's MMT adoption. It innovatively combines anthropological with ethnolinguistic analytical approaches to distinguish two repertoires around resource exchange. First, is a relational financial repertoire where relationships are developed and consolidated to create support and ‘upliftment’. A contrasting resource-focused repertoire is more like that of the formal financial sector. Identifying the conceptual features of relationality, the study offers a new perspective on the adoption and use of MMT in Africa and highlights the potential for disjunctures with policy efforts to increase financial inclusion.
Epidemics and intra-communal contestations: Ekeh, ‘les Guinéens’and Ebola in West Africa
Authors: Onoma Ato Kwamena 
Published: November 2018

AbstractAs the Ebola epidemic ravaged the Mano River Basin in 2014, there was concern in Senegal that the resident Peul community of Guinean origins will cause the spread of the disease to Senegal. These fears went unrealized as the Peul migrants embraced many of the epidemic control and prevention measures, which often distanced them from primordial publics in Guinea. While partly motivated by concern over the dangers of Ebola, Peul migrants embraced these measures also because the epidemic and measures advocated to curb it allowed them to assert greater autonomy in their often-fractious relations with primordial publics in their places of origin in Guinea. Their embrace of these measures suggests a rethink of the emphasis on intercommunal strife, intra-communal conviviality and trenchant state-society chasms, which pervades much work on the political economy of postcolonial Africa and which draws significant inspiration from the work of Peter Ekeh.
Auditory and visual hallucination prevalence in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Eversfield Charlotte Louise , Orton Llwyd David 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackgroundNon-motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), such as auditory hallucinations (AH), contribute to disease burden but are not well understood.MethodsSystematic review and random-effects meta-analyses of studies reporting AH associated with PD or DLB. Prevalence of visual hallucinations (VH) in identified studies meeting eligibility criteria were included in meta-analyses, facilitating comparison with AH. Synthesis of qualitative descriptions of AH was performed. PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched for primary journal articles, written in English, published from 1970 to 2017. Studies reporting AH prevalence in PD or DLB were screened using PRISMA methods.ResultsSearches identified 4542 unique studies for consideration, of which, 26 met inclusion criteria. AH pooled prevalence in PD was estimated to be 8.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.3–14.5], while in DLB was estimated to be 30.8% (±23.4 to 39.3). Verbal hallucinations, perceived as originating outside the head, were the most common form of AH. Non-verbal AH were also common while musical AH were rare. VH were more prevalent, with an estimated pooled prevalence in PD of 28.2% (±19.1 to 39.5), while in DLB they were estimated to be 61.8% (±49.1 to 73.0). Meta-regression determined that the use of validated methodologies to identify hallucinations produced higher prevalence estimates.ConclusionsAH and VH present in a substantial proportion of PD and DLB cases, with VH reported more frequently in both conditions. Both AH and VH are more prevalent in DLB than PD. There is a need for standardised use of validated methods to detect and monitor hallucinations.
Pulmonary effects on exercise testing in tetralogy of Fallot patients repaired with a transannular patch
Authors: Powell Adam W. , Mays Wayne A. , Knecht Sandra K. , Chin Clifford 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackgroundA transannular patch is often used in the contemporary surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot. This can lead to significant pulmonary insufficiency and increased right ventricular volumes and ultimately pulmonary valve replacement. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is used to assess exercise capacity in tetralogy of Fallot patients before pulmonary valve replacement. There is only few published literatures on how lung function affects functional capacity in tetralogy of Fallot patients repaired with a transannular patch.MethodsA retrospective chart review was done from 2015 to 2017 on patients with tetralogy of Fallot who underwent maximal effort cardiopulmonary exercise testing with cycle ergometry and with concurrent pulmonary function testing. Tetralogy of Fallot patients repaired with a transannular patch without pulmonary valve replacement were compared with age, gender, and size-matched normal controls.ResultsIn the tetralogy of Fallot group, 24 out of 57 patients underwent primary repair with a transannular patch. When compared to the normal controls, they demonstrated abnormal predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (79 ± 23.1% versus 90.7 ± 14.1%, p<0.05), predicted maximal voluntary ventilation (74 ± 18% versus 90.5 ± 16.2%, p<0.05) while having low-normal predicted forced vital capacity (80.5 ± 17.2% versus 90.2 ± 12.4%, p<0.05) and normal breathing reserve percentage (50.3 ± 11.3% versus 47.5 ± 17.3%, p = 0.52). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing abnormalities included significantly lower percent predicted oxygen consumption (63.2 ± 12.2% versus 87 ± 12.1%, p<0.05), maximal heart rate (171.8 ± 18.9 versus 184.6 ± 13.6, p<0.05), and percent predicted maximum workload (61.7 ± 15.9% versus 88.3 ± 21.5%, p<0.05).ConclusionsTetralogy of Fallot patients repaired with a transannular patch can have abnormal pulmonary function testing with poor exercise capacity in addition to chronotropic incompetence and impaired muscular power.