bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
One‐pot microwave‐assisted synthesis of size‐dependent l‐glutathione‐capped spherical silver nanoparticles suitable for materials with antibacterial properties
Authors: Nyamu Samuel N. , Ombaka Lucy , Masika Eric , Ng'ang'a Margaret 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIn the last years, there has been an alarming increase in antibiotic resistance by pathogenic microbes, which has become a major public health concern. There is a great interest in developing new antimicrobial for reducing the impact. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as antibacterial agents are currently being studied to be used to fight these pathogenic microbes. The aim of the present study was to synthesize AgNPs of different sizes through the use of microwave and determine their antimicrobial activities. Synthesis of size‐dependent l‐glutathione‐capped spherical nanoparticles through one‐pot microwave synthesis was achieved, and their antimicrobial properties were determined. Different sizes of AgNPs between 5–10, 15–35, and 50–80 nm were made by varying the concentration of silver nitrate and using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a reducing agent. l‐glutathione was used to stabilize the AgNPs to prevent them from aggregation in the colloidal solution. The synthesized AgNPs showed ultraviolet absorption at around 400 nm with high concentration of AgNO3 having sharp peaks. The formed particles were crystalline in nature with uniform spherical shape. The formed AgNPs were of crystalline size of 9.94, 18.45, 34.96, 52.40, and 58.50 nm. Fourier transform infrared analysis confirmed conjugation of glutathione as a capping agent to AgNPs as the result of the formed spectra showing the absence of ─SH stretch. The high temperature generated by microwave helped to synthesize nanoparticles within a short time and by varying the concentration of AgNO3 helped obtain the desired particle size. Glutathione conjugated well with AgNPs as a result of interaction of negative thiol resulting to colloidal stabilization and reduced aggregation. The antibacterial activity of AgNPs was found to be size dependent with the smaller size of 9.94 nm being more efficient than 18.45, 34.96, 52.40, and 58.50 nm against the tested strains Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Salmonella spp. (ATCC 700623), and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). Of the four stains, E. coli was found to be the least affected by all three different particle sizes of the synthesized AgNPs.
Climatic trends and regional climate models intercomparison over the CORDEX‐CAM (Central America, Caribbean, and Mexico) domain
Authors: Cavazos Tereza , Luna‐Niño Rosa , Cerezo‐Mota Ruth , Fuentes‐Franco Ramón , Méndez Matías , Pineda Martínez Luis Felipe , Valenzuela Ernesto 
Published: August 2019

AbstractAn intercomparison of three regional climate models (RCMs) (PRECIS‐HadRM3P, RCA4, and RegCM4) was performed over the Coordinated Regional Dynamical Experiment (CORDEX)—Central America, Caribbean, and Mexico (CAM) domain to determine their ability to reproduce observed temperature and precipitation trends during 1980–2010. Particular emphasis was given to the North American monsoon (NAM) and the mid‐summer drought (MSD) regions. The three RCMs show negative (positive) temperature (precipitation) biases over the mountains, where observations have more problems due to poor data coverage. Observations from the Climate Research Unit (CRU) and ERA‐Interim show a generalized warming over the domain. The most significant warming trend (≥0.34°C/decade) is observed in the NAM, which is moderately captured by the three RCMs, but with less intensity; each decade from 1970 to 2016 has become warmer than the previous ones, especially during the summer (mean and extremes); this warming appears partially related to the positive Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (+AMO). CRU, GPCP, and CHIRPS show significant decreases of precipitation (less than −15%/decade) in parts of the southwest United States and northwestern Mexico, including the NAM, and a positive trend (5–10%/decade) in June–September in eastern Mexico, the MSD region, and northern South America, but longer trends (1950–2017) are not statistically significant. RCMs are able to moderately simulate some of the recent trends, especially in winter. In spite of their mean biases, the RCMs are able to adequately simulate inter‐annual and seasonal variations. Wet (warm) periods in regions affected by the MSD are significantly correlated with the +AMO and La Niña events (+AMO and El Niño). Summer precipitation trends from GPCP show opposite signs to those of CRU and CHIRPS over the Mexican coasts of the southern Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula, and Cuba, possibly due to data limitations and differences in grid resolutions.
Major and trace element abundances in volcanic glass shards in visible tephras in SG93 and SG06 drillcore samples from Lake Suigetsu, central Japan, obtained using femtosecond LA–ICP–MS
Authors: Maruyama Seiji , Takemura Keiji , Hirata Takafumi , Yamashita Tohru , Danhara Tohru 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe major and trace element concentrations of volcanic glass shards from visible tephra layers in the SG93 and SG06 cores from Lake Suigetsu, central Japan, were determined by femtosecond laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. The glass‐shard analyses, together with the petrographic properties of the tephra samples, allow the Suigetsu tephra layers to be broadly classified into tephras derived from calderas on Kyushu Island, and from Daisen and Sambe volcanoes in the Chugoku district of southwest Japan. The layers correlated with tephras from Kuju caldera and Daisen volcano, and with the younger Sambe tephras, have adakitic elemental features. A Suigetsu tephra sample correlated with the Sambe−Kisuki tephra based on petrographic properties has an elemental pattern similar to that of the Toya tephra from Hokkaido Island, northeast Japan. This match implies that tephras from northeast Japan, as well as Kyushu–Chugoku tephras, are possible correlatives of the Suigetsu tephra layers. Both petrographic properties and major–trace element data of volcanic glass shards are essential for robust tephra correlations, and hierarchical cluster analysis proved additionally useful in statistically evaluating relationships among the tephras.
Cognitive implications of experiencing religious tourism: An integrated approach of means–end chain and social network theories
Authors: Lin Chin‐Feng , Fu Chen‐Su 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThis study examines religious tourism using data derived from mixed methods research and analyzed through social network and means–end chain techniques. An initial qualitative survey with 26 informants established the questionnaire items used in a subsequent survey with 148 respondents for cognitive map construction. The cognitive maps derived from opinion leaders, gatekeepers, and other members in a social network can be used to identify important attribute–consequence–value linkages of the Buddha Memorial Center. Such linkages reflect the respondents' innermost thinking and their desired psychological states to inspire people to join religious tourism.
Graphene Oxide Waveguide and Micro‐Ring Resonator Polarizers
Authors: Wu Jiayang , Yang Yunyi , Qu Yang , Xu Xingyuan , Liang Yao , Chu Sai Tak , Little Brent E. , Morandotti Roberto , Jia Baohua , Moss David J. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractIntegrated waveguide polarizers and polarization‐selective micro‐ring resonators (MRRs) incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) films are experimentally demonstrated. CMOS‐compatible doped silica waveguides and MRRs with both uniformly coated and patterned GO films are fabricated based on a large‐area, transfer‐free, layer‐by‐layer GO coating method that yields precise control of the film thickness. Photolithography and lift‐off processes are used to achieve photolithographic patterning of GO films with precise control of the placement and coating length. Detailed measurements are performed to characterize the performance of the devices versus GO film thickness and coating length as a function of polarization, wavelength and power. A high polarization dependent loss of ≈53.8 dB is achieved for the waveguide coated with 2‐mm‐long patterned GO films. It is found that intrinsic film material loss anisotropy dominates the performance for less than 20 layers whereas polarization‐dependent mode overlap dominates for thicker layers. For the MRRs, the GO coating length is reduced to 50 µm, yielding a ≈8.3 dB polarization extinction ratio between transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) resonances. These results offer interesting physical insights and trends of the layered GO films and demonstrate the effectiveness of introducing GO films into photonic‐integrated devices to realize high‐performance polarization selective components.
Extensive Thrombectomy as a Legitimate Strategy in Living Donor Liver Transplantation With Advanced Portal Vein Thrombosis
Authors: Ikegami Toru , Yoshizumi Tomoharu , Tsutsui Yuriko , Harada Noboru , Itoh Shinji , Yoshiya Shohei , Imai Daisuke , Uchiyama Hideaki , Mori Masaki 
Published: August 2019

Management of portal vein thrombosis (PVT), especially advanced PVT involving the superior mesenteric vein (SMV), in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is challenging. There were 514 adults who underwent LDLT between 2005 and 2018 included in this retrospective study, and PVT was observed in 67 (13.0%) patients. The LDLT recipients with PVT were characterized by increased portal pressure at laparotomy (26.1 ± 6.0 versus 24.3 ± 5.9 mm Hg; P = 0.03) and at closure (16.8 ± 3.9 versus 15.6 ± 3.6 mm Hg; P = 0.02), increased operative blood loss (14.6 ± 29.7 versus 5.7 ± 6.3 L; P < 0.01), and decreased 1‐year graft survival (83.5% versus 92.8%; P = 0.04). Among the 18 patients with atrophic or vanished portal vein on pre‐LDLT computed tomography, significant portal atrophy was actually observed only in 1 (5.6%) patient during LDLT surgery. For advanced PVT (n = 7) involving SMV in era 1, we performed nonanatomical inflow reconstruction using interposition grafts, resulting in significant inflow problems in 4 (57.1%) patients. Thus, for the patients with advanced PVT (n = 4) in era 2, we abandoned nonanatomical reconstruction and applied extensive thrombectomy under ultrasound guidance with secure shunt ligation, resulting in no inflow problems and no graft loss. In conclusion, even for advanced PVT involving SMV, extensive thrombectomy under sonogram guidance followed by anatomical inflow reconstruction and shunt ligation is a legitimate strategy in adult LDLT with PVT.
Corrosion inhibition of layered double hydroxide coating for Mg alloy in acidic corrosive environments
Authors: Xie Zhi‐Hui , Wu Liang 
Published: August 2019

AbstractLayered double hydroxide (LDH) shows promising prospects in the application of intelligent coatings to prevent metals from corrosion, while it is not available under acidic conditions. This investigation aims to improve the corrosion resistance of LDH coating in an acidic environment. The surface morphology, structure, and composition of the LDH coating were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The corresponding corrosion inhibition was evaluated by electrochemical methods, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel curves. The significant increase in coating resistance and charge transfer resistance and the obvious decrease in corrosion current density demonstrate the remarkable improvement of the MgAl–LDH coating in corrosion inhibition. The optical pictures and SEM images show that the coating is corroded severely when sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) is not added, while it is protected competently without any signs of corrosion after polarization in HCl solutions containing SDBS, which enables the application of a MgAl–LDH coating under an HCl‐corrosive medium.
New imidazole‐based dimers as potential inhibitors for mild steel corrosion in acidic media: Electrochemical and DFT evaluation
Authors: Abdulazeez Ismail , Al‐Hamouz Othman C. , Khaled Mazen , Al‐Saadi Abdulaziz A. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractWe report the synthesis and corrosion inhibition performance of two imidazole‐based materials, 1,1′‐(4‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylene)bis(3‐(3‐(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)propyl)urea) (PIP) and 1,1′‐(hexane‐1,6‐diyl)bis(3‐(3‐(1
H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)propyl)urea) (HIP) dimers, in 1.0 M HCl. Electrochemical assessments indicated that the synthesized dimers facilitated the formation of a protective layer at the metal‐electrolyte interface and, as a result, blocked the active corrosion sites. At a concentration of 100 ppm, PIP behaved as a potential mixed‐type anticorrosive material with an overall efficiency of 99%. Density functional theory calculations showed that the aromaticity existing in the PIP backbone plays a major role in facilitating the corrosion‐inhibition role.
Maternal Eicosapentaenoic Acid Feeding Decreases Placental Lipid Deposition and Improves the Homeostasis of Oxidative Stress Through a Sirtuin‐1 (SIRT1) Independent Manner
Authors: Peng Jie , Xiong Jia , Cui Chenbin , Huang Ningning , Zhang Hong , Wu XiaoYu , Yang Yang , Zhou Yuanfei , Wei Hongkui , Peng Jian 
Published: August 2019

ScopeMaternal obesity has been associated with increased placental lipotoxicity and impaired mitochondrial function. Sirtuin‐1 (SIRT1) is an important regulator of both lipid metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis. The present study aims to determine whether supplementation of the maternal diet with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) can decrease placental lipid deposition and improve antioxidant ability, in a SIRT1‐dependent manner.Methods and resultsPregnant SIRT1+/− mice (mated with male SIRT1+/−) are fed a high‐fat diet consisting of 60% of the kcal from fat, or an equienergy EPA diet for 18.5 d. Supplementation with EPA significantly changes maternal plasma, placental and fetal fatty acid composition, and decreases placental and fetal lipid content. In addition, placental antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation products are increased, placental uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and PPARγ coactivator‐1 α (PGC1α) expression are activated, and mitochondrial swelling decreases. While SIRT1 deficiency has little effect on placental fatty acid composition and lipid content, decreased fetal lipid deposition is observed, placental PGC1α expression decreases, mitochondrial swelling increases, and placental total superoxide dismutase (T‐SOD) activity increases. Both EPA and SIRT1 have no effect on BODIPY‐FL‐C16 uptake. Interestingly, there is no significant interaction between diet and genotype.ConclusionMaternal EPA feeding decreases placental lipid deposition and improves placental oxidative stress homeostasis independent of SIRT1.
In Utero One‐Carbon Metabolism Interplay and Metabolic Syndrome in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction
Authors: Mabasa Lawrence , Samodien Ebrahim , Sangweni Nonhlakanipho F. , Pheiffer Carmen , Louw Johan , Johnson Rabia 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe maternal obesogenic environment plays a role in programing the susceptibility of the fetus to postnatal non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). NAFLD is a multisystem disease that is characterized by hepatic fat accumulation due in part to dysregulated energy metabolism network through epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation. DNA methylation affects fetal programing and disease risk via regulation of gene transcription; it is affected by methyl donor nutrients such as vitamin B12, methionine, folic acid, vitamin B6, and choline. Although several studies have documented the role of several maternal methyl donor nutrients on obesity‐induced NAFLD in offspring, currently, data are lacking on its impact on CVD risk as an endpoint. The aim of this paper is to use current knowledge to construct a postulation for the potential role of a comprehensive gestational methyl donor nutrients supplementary approach on the susceptibility of offspring to developing metabolic‐syndrome‐related cardiovascular complications.
Measuring three‐dimensional tibiofemoral kinematics using dual‐slice real‐time magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Lin Cheng‐Chung , Zhang Shuo , Hsu Chao‐Yu , Frahm Jens , Lu Tung‐Wu , Shih Ting‐Fang 
Published: August 2019

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to propose and evaluate a slice‐to‐volume registration (SVR) method integrating an advanced dual‐slice real‐time magnetic resonance image (MRI) and three‐dimensional (3D) MRI volume of the tibiofemoral joint for determining their 3D kinematics.MethodsThe real‐time and 3D MRI of the knee were collected from 12 healthy adults at 5 static flexion positions and during dynamic flexion/extension movement. The 3D positions and orientations of the femur and tibia were obtained by registering their volumetric models constructed from the 3D MRI to dual‐slice real‐time MRI using an optimization process. The proposed method was quantitatively evaluated for its performance in terms of the robustness and measurement accuracy, and compared to those of a single‐slice SVR method. Its repeatability in measuring knee kinematics during flexion/extension movement was also determined.ResultsIn comparison to the single‐slice SVR method, the dual‐slice method was significantly superior, giving a successful registration rate > 95%, a bias less than 0.5 mm in translations and 0.6° in rotations and a precision <0.7 mm in translations and 0.9° in rotations for determining the 3D tibiofemoral poses. For repeatability of the dual‐slice SVR in measuring tibiofemoral kinematics during dynamic flexion/extension, the means of the time‐averaged standard deviations were <0.9° for joint angles and 0.5 mm for joint translations.ConclusionA dual‐slice SVR method in conjunction with real‐time MRI has been developed and evaluated for its performance in measuring 3D kinematics of the tibiofemoral joint in 12 young adults in terms of the accuracy, robustness, and repeatability. The proposed MRI‐based 3D measurement method provides a noninvasive and ionizing radiation‐free approach for 3D kinematic measurement of the tibiofemoral joint, which will be helpful for future academic and clinical applications.
Effect of Salinity on Survival, Growth, Body Composition, Oxygen Consumption, and Ammonia Excretion of Juvenile Spotted Scat
Authors: Xu Jiabo , Shui Chun , Shi Yonghai , Yuan Xincheng , Liu Yongshi , Xie Yongde 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
The effects of five salinities (5, 10, 20, 30, and 35‰) on the survival, growth, body composition, oxygen consumption, and ammonia excretion of juvenile Spotted Scat Scatophagus argus (initial body size 3.3–3.4 cm body length and 2.0–2.3 g; final body size: 5.5–5.6 cm body length and 9.2–9.8 g) were studied. Salinity did not affect survival (&gt;94%) or oxygen consumption rate (OCR) significantly, but it did affect growth, ammonia excretion rate (AER), and body composition. The growth rate was related to the combined effect of food intake (3.1–3.2%/d) and feed conversion efficiency (56.8–60.2%). The highest slope of the body length/weight with rearing time regression equation at 5‰ salinity was 0.0333/0.1137, which indicated that the growth rate of the fish at 5‰ salinity was higher than that of those at the other salinities for 70 d at 24.4 ± 0.4°C. The ammonia excretion rate decreased significantly with the increase of salinity. Low O:N ratios (5.6–19.2) occurred at salinities ranging from 5‰ to 35‰, indicating a protein-dominated catabolism. Salinity affected crude protein content significantly, and high salinity was beneficial to protein deposition. The results indicated that juvenile Spotted Scat could adapt to a wide range of salinity, from 5‰ to 35‰. However, it is recommended that juveniles be cultured at low salinity (5‰).
An efficient algorithm for bounded spectral matching with affine constraint
Authors: Dou Yan , Gu Ming , Chandrasekaran Shivkumar 
Published: August 2019

SummaryGraph matching problem appears frequently in the applications of computer vision and machine learning. In this work, based on the spectral matching with affine constraint (SMAC) formulation, we present a new formulation, named bounded SMAC (BSMAC), for the graph matching problem by adding an upper‐bound constraint on the solution norm. We demonstrate the existence of a unique solution with BSMAC, whereas SMAC needs not to have any meaningful solution in general. We develop an effective numerical method to solve the BSMAC formulation as an optimization problem. Numerical experiments are presented to verify feasibility and to show the performance of the proposed numerical method.
Assessment of pulmonary outcomes, exercise capacity, and longitudinal changes in lung function in pediatric survivors of high‐risk neuroblastoma
Authors: Stone Anne , Friedman Danielle Novetsky , Kushner Brian H. , Wolden Suzanne , Modak Shakeel , LaQuaglia Michael P. , Costello Jessica , Wu Xian , Cheung Nai‐Kong , Sklar Charles A. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractBackground/objectivesSurvivors of high‐risk neuroblastoma (NB) are exposed to multimodality therapies early in life and confront late therapy‐related toxicities. This study assessed respiratory symptoms, exercise capacity, and longitudinal changes in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) among survivors.Design/methodsSurvivors of high‐risk NB followed in the long‐term follow‐up clinic at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center were enrolled. Symptom and physical activity questionnaires were completed. Medical records were reviewed for treatments and comorbidities. Participants completed spirometry, plethysmography, diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, 6‐minute walk tests (6MWTs), and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Questionnaires and PFTs were repeated at least one year after enrollment.ResultsSixty‐two survivors participated (median age at study: 10.92 years; median age at diagnosis: 2.75 years; median time since completion of therapy: 5.29 years). Thirty‐two percent had chronic respiratory symptoms. Seventy‐seven percent had PFT abnormalities, mostly mild to moderate severity. Thirty‐three completed 6MWTs (median, 634.3 meters); eight completed cardiopulmonary exercise tests (mean VO2 max: 63% predicted); 23 completed a second PFT revealing declines over a median 2.97 years (mean percent predicted forced vital capacity: 79.9 to 70.0; mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second: 81.6 to 69.9). Risks for abnormalities included thoracic surgery, chest radiation therapy (RT), thoracic surgery plus chest RT, and hematopoietic stem cell transplant.ConclusionsIn this cohort of survivors of high‐risk NB, PFT abnormalities were common but mostly mild or moderate. Maximal exercise capacity may be affected by respiratory limitations and declines in lung function may occur over time. Continued pulmonary surveillance of this at‐risk population is warranted.