bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pathogenesis of cranial neuropathies in Moebius syndrome: Electrodiagnostic orofacial studies
Authors: Renault Francis , Flores‐Guevara Roberto , Sergent Bernard , Baudon Jean Jacques , Aouizerate Jessie , Vazquez Marie‐Paule , Gitiaux Cyril 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTIntroduction: We designed a retrospective study of 59 patients with congenital sporadic nonprogressive bilateral facial and abducens palsies. Methods: Examinations included needle electromyography (EMG) of facial and oral muscles, facial nerve motor latency and conduction velocity (FNCV), and blink responses (BR). Results: Neurogenic EMG changes were found in 1 or more muscles in 55 of 59 patients, with no abnormal spontaneous activity. EMG changes were homogeneously neurogenic in 17 patients, homogeneously myopathic in 1 patient, and heterogeneous in 41 of 59 patients. Motor latency was increased according to recordings from 52 of 137 facial muscles. An increase of motor latency was not associated with neurogenic EMG (Fischer's test: right, P = 1; left, P = 0.76). FNCV was slowed in 19 of 36 patients. BR was absent bilaterally in 35 of 58 patients; when present, R1 and R2 latencies were normal. Discussion: Our results support the hypothesis of an early developmental defect localized in motor cranial nerves with spared V–VII internuclear pathways. Muscle Nerve 58: 79–83, 2018
Thymus imaging in myasthenia gravis: The relevance in clinical practice
Authors: Klimiec Elzbieta , Quirke Mary , Leite Maria Isabel , Hilton‐Jones David 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The ability to distinguish between normal thymus, thymic hyperplasia, and thymoma should aid clinical management and decision making in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). We sought to determine the accuracy of routine imaging in predicting thymic pathology. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed records of patients with MG from the Oxford Myasthenia Centre registry who had undergone thymectomy. Each patient received 1 radiological diagnosis and 1 histological diagnosis. Results: We included 106 patients. Radiological and histological diagnoses agreed in 73 (68.9%) patients. Sensitivity and specificity, respectively, were calculated for each radiological diagnosis as follows: thymoma 90% and 95.5%, hyperplasia 17.6% and 98.6%, and normal 96.9% and 60.8%. Discussion: Routine chest computed tomography and MRI can effectively identify thymoma. However, they are not reliable tools to differentiate between thymic hyperplasia and normal thymus in patients with MG. Muscle Nerve 58: 153–156, 2018
Monitoring of macrophage recruitment enhanced by Toll‐like receptor 4 activation with MR imaging in nerve injury
Authors: Chen Mei‐Wei , Zhang Xiang , Lu Lie‐Jing , Zhang Fang , Duan Xiao‐Hui , Zheng Chu‐Shan , Chen Yue‐Yao , Shen Jun 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Macrophage recruitment is critical for nerve regeneration after an injury. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticle‐based MRI could be used to monitor the enhanced macrophage recruitment by Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation in nerve injury. Methods: Rats received intraperitoneal injections of either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or no injection (controls) after a sciatic nerve crush injury. After intravenous injection of the USPIOs (LPS and PBS groups) or PBS (control group), MRI was performed and correlated with histological findings. Results: LPS group showed more remarkable hypointense signals on T2*‐weighted imaging and lower T2 values in the crushed nerves than PBS group. The hypointense signal areas were associated with an enhanced recruitment of iron‐loaded macrophages to the injured nerves. Discussion: USPIO‐enhanced MRI can be used to monitor the enhanced macrophage recruitment by means of TLR4 signal pathway activation in nerve injury. Muscle Nerve 58: 123–132, 2018
Towards a Fully Integrated Lab‐On‐A‐Chip
Authors: Nestler Joerg , Peter Harald , Bier Frank 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe identification of pathogens in body fluids is important for proper treatment of infections with antibiotics. Besides the pure identification of the pathogen's species, however, its antibiotic profile can be crucial with regard to their resistance to certain drugs. By the use of DNA‐based microarrays, multiple of such parameters can be measured at the same time, e.g., by fluorescence imaging. Before the optical detection, however, sample preparation and labeling steps have to be performed which require the controlled transport of liquid reagents and the sample. To perform these steps at the point of care by a portable instrument, a fully‐integrated cartridge technology is presented which can perform all the required pumping and heating steps in a chip‐card‐like format, followed by fluorescence readout of the microarray.
Student experiences with traffic‐light labels at college cafeterias: a mixed methods study
Authors: Seward M. W. , Block J. P. , Chatterjee A. 
Published: February 2018

SummaryObjectiveTo assess student perceptions of traffic‐light labels (TLLs) in college cafeterias.DesignCross‐sectional, mixed‐methods study.SettingOne northeastern US college.ParticipantsA total of 1,294 survey respondents; 57 focus group participants.InterventionsSeven‐week traffic‐light labelling (green = ‘nutrient‐rich’, yellow = ‘less nutrient‐rich’, red = ‘more nutrient‐rich choice in green or yellow’) intervention at two college cafeterias.Main Outcome Measure(s)Perceptions of TLLs and food labelling; disordered eating behaviours.AnalysisPerformed χ2 analyses to test for differences between pre‐intervention and postintervention responses, and between postintervention subgroups stratified by site, gender, weight status and varsity athlete status. Qualitative analysis based on the immersion‐crystallization method.ResultsIn postintervention surveys, 60% found TLLs helpful, and 57% used them a few times a week. When asked whether TLLs increased risk of developing eating disorders, 16% of participants said they did and 47% said TLLs might exacerbate existing eating disorders. In focus groups, some students thought the red ‘colour seemed jarring’, but the vast majority agreed ‘the more nutrition information available, the better’.Conclusions and ImplicationsStudents generally supported TLLs, but future college‐based interventions should address eating disorder concerns. Labels that incorporate nutrition information and education, and avoid negative messaging or judgment of what students eat, may be more acceptable.
A narrative review of the construct of hedonic hunger and its measurement by the Power of Food Scale
Authors: Espel‐Huynh H. M. , Muratore A. F. , Lowe M. R. 
Published: February 2018

SummaryIntroductionThe term ‘hedonic hunger’ refers to one's preoccupation with and desire to consume foods for the purposes of pleasure and in the absence of physical hunger. The Power of Food Scale (PFS) was developed as a quantitative measure of this construct in 2009. Since then, over 50 published studies have used the PFS to predict appetite‐related outcomes including neural, cognitive, behavioural, anthropometric and clinical measures.ObjectiveThis narrative review evaluates how closely the PFS captures the construct it was originally presumed to assess and to more clearly define hedonic hunger itself.MethodsThe measure's relationship to four domains is reviewed and summarized: motivation to consume palatable foods; level of actual consumption of such foods; body mass; and subjective loss‐of‐control over one's eating behaviour. Findings are synthesized to generate a more accurate understanding of what the PFS measures and how it may relate to the broader definition of hedonic hunger.ResultsResults suggest that the PFS is closely related to motivation to consume palatable foods and, in extreme cases, occurrence of loss‐of‐control eating episodes. PFS scores are not consistently predictive of amount of food consumed or body mass.ConclusionsImplications of these findings are discussed in the context of behavioural health, and avenues for further inquiry are identified.
Paying for Happiness: Experimental Results from a Large Cash Transfer Program in Malawi
Authors: Kilburn Kelly , Handa Sudhanshu , Angeles Gustavo , Tsoka Maxton , Mvula Peter 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThis study analyzes the short‐term impact of an exogenous, positive income shock on caregivers’ subjective well‐being (SWB) in Malawi using panel data from 3,365 households targeted to receive Malawi's Social Cash Transfer Program that provides unconditional cash to ultra‐poor, labor‐constrained households. The study consists of a cluster‐randomized, longitudinal design. After the baseline survey, half of these village clusters were randomly selected to receive the transfer and a follow‐up was conducted 17 months later. We find that the short‐term impact of household income increases from the cash transfer leads to substantial SWB gains among caregivers. After a year's worth of transfers, caregivers in beneficiary households have higher life satisfaction and are more likely to believe in a better future. We examine whether program impacts on consumption, food security, resilience, and hopefulness could explain the increase in SWB but do not find that any of these mechanisms individually mediate our results.
THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL VALIDITY OF THE REGRESSION DISCONTINUITY DESIGN: A META‐ANALYSIS OF 15 WITHIN‐STUDY COMPARISONS
Authors: Chaplin Duncan D. , Cook Thomas D. , Zurovac Jelena , Coopersmith Jared S. , Finucane Mariel M. , Vollmer Lauren N. , Morris Rebecca E. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractTheory predicts that regression discontinuity (RD) provides valid causal inference at the cutoff score that determines treatment assignment. One purpose of this paper is to test RD's internal validity across 15 studies. Each of them assesses the correspondence between causal estimates from an RD study and a randomized control trial (RCT) when the estimates are made at the same cutoff point where they should not differ asymptotically. However, statistical error, imperfect design implementation, and a plethora of different possible analysis options, mean that they might nonetheless differ. We test whether they do, assuming that the bias potential is greater with RDs than RCTs. A second purpose of this paper is to investigate the external validity of RD by exploring how the size of the bias estimates varies across the 15 studies, for they differ in their settings, interventions, analyses, and implementation details. Both Bayesian and frequentist meta‐analysis methods show that the RD bias is below 0.01 standard deviations on average, indicating RD's high internal validity. When the study‐specific estimates are shrunken to capitalize on the information the other studies provide, all the RD causal estimates fall within 0.07 standard deviations of their RCT counterparts, now indicating high external validity. With unshrunken estimates, the mean RD bias is still essentially zero, but the distribution of RD bias estimates is less tight, especially with smaller samples and when parametric RD analyses are used.
Conductive poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) polymer glue as an ohmic and rectifying electrical contact for H‐terminated n‐Si and p‐Si wafers
Authors: Cohen Daniel , Bostian Micah E , Nguyen Li , Walter Michael G 
Published: February 2018

AbstractAn organic conductive glue based on a blend of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and d‐sorbitol was examined for laminating conductors to crystalline silicon. The PEDOT:PSS glue functions as a high‐work‐function solution processable conductor and exhibits an ohmic contact on p‐type silicon and a rectifying contact on n‐type silicon. Under illumination, the n‐Si/PEDOT:PSS:d‐sorbitol junctions exhibit current–voltage characteristics suggesting minority carrier trap states, leading to charge recombination at the silicon/polymer interface. Conductive glue for laminating to crystalline silicon is desirable for making electrical contacts to flexible materials such as molecular semiconductors, graphene or transparent conductive oxides. These materials could eliminate the need for metal contacts to the front face of silicon solar cells. Conductive glue could prove especially useful for laminating to textured silicon or novel micro‐ or nanostructured silicon materials. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Optical properties and performance of pyramidal texture silicon heterojunction solar cells: Key role of vertex angles
Authors: Mrazkova Zuzana , Sobkowicz Igor Paul , Foldyna Martin , Postava Kamil , Florea Ileana , Pištora Jaromír , Roca i Cabarrocas Pere 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSilicon heterojunction solar cells with pyramidal textured surfaces created by different etching conditions and their properties related to device efficiency (short‐circuit current density and open‐circuit voltage) are studied. An easy‐to‐apply model is proposed to estimate reflection losses, optimize the multilayer structure of the solar cell, and enhance photovoltaic conversion efficiency. The effects of etching treatments and pyramid geometry on overall device performance are discussed in detail. The study is completed by measurement of pyramid vertex angles of different textures. A difference from the expected and generally accepted theoretical value of 70.52° is demonstrated and explained based on observation from high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy. The multilayer structure of silicon heterojunction solar cells is optimized with respect to various pyramid vertex angles, using the designed optical model to minimize absorption and reflection losses.
Mechanistic aspects on molecular structure formation of polymeric networks from diisocyanates with amidine compounds
Authors: Laue Andreas , Uhlig Daniel , Fiedler Benjamin , Friedrich Joachim , Mende Carola , Kroll Lothar , Spange Stefan 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTPolymeric networks are produced by step‐growth polyaddition and co‐polyaddition reactions of 1‐ethylimidazoline in combination with various diisocyanates. Five aromatic, two aliphatic diisocyanates and a polyurethane prepolymer are used as particular reactant in N,N‐dimethylformamide as solvent at room temperature. Obviously, 1‐ethylimidazoline can serve as trifunctional monomer, which enables a crosslinking reaction with diisocyanates. Molecular structure elements of the polymeric networks were studied by solid state 13C‐NMR spectroscopy revealing that detailed molecular structure formations are determined whether aromatic or aliphatic diisocyanates are used. Quantum chemical calculations were used as supporting method to elucidate the complex reaction cascades. Hence, it can be shown that beside 3:1 stoichiometric structures 2:1 based structures are formed as well. These structures are observed as kinetically controlled products only when aromatic diisocyanate monomers are used. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 977–985
Dithienylmethanone‐Based Cross‐Conjugated Polymer Semiconductors: Synthesis, Characterization, and Application in Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Shi Keli , Zhang Weifeng , Wei Congyuan , Lin Zuzhang , Liu Xiaotong , Yu Gui 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTHerein, we report the synthesis, characterization, and field‐effect properties of two cross‐conjugated dithienylmethanone (DMO)‐based alternating polymers, namely, PDMO‐S and PDMO‐Se. Both polymers possess high thermal stability, good solubility, and broad absorption spectra. Their electrochemical properties were investigated using cyclic voltammetry, indicating that PDMO‐Se has higher HOMO/LUMO energy levels of −5.49/−3.49 eV than −5.57/−3.58 eV of PDMO‐S. The two polymers exhibited promising charge transport properties with the highest hole mobility of 0.12 cm2 V−1 s−1 for PDMO‐S and 0.025 cm2 V−1 s−1 for PDMO‐Se. AFM and 2D‐GIXRD analyses demonstrated that the PDMO‐S formed lamellar, edge‐on packing thin film with close π‐π stacking. These findings suggest that cross‐conjugated polymers might be potential semiconducting materials for low‐cost and flexible organic electronics. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018, 56, 1012–1019
The Glycoproteomics–MS for Studying Glycosylation in Cardiac Hypertrophy and Heart Failure
Authors: Yang Shuang , Chatterjee Subroto , Cipollo John 
Published: February 2018

AbstractWith recent advancements of analytical techniques and mass spectrometric instrumentations, proteomics has been widely exploited to study the regulation of protein expression associated with disease states. Many proteins may undergo abnormal change in response to the stimulants, leading to regulation of posttranslationally modified proteins. In this review, the physiological and pathological roles of protein glycosylation in cardiac hypertrophy is discussed, and how the signal pathways regulate heart function and leading to heart failure. The analytical methods for analysis of protein glycosylation, including glycans, glycosite, occupancy, and heterogeneity is emphasized. The rationale on glycoproteins as disease biomarkers is also discussed. The authors also propose potential research in this field and challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
The ω‐transaminase engineering database (oTAED): A navigation tool in protein sequence and structure space
Authors: Buß Oliver , Buchholz Patrick C. F. , Gräff Maike , Klausmann Peter , Rudat Jens , Pleiss Jürgen 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe ω‐Transaminase Engineering Database (oTAED) was established as a publicly accessible resource on sequences and structures of the biotechnologically relevant ω‐transaminases (ω‐TAs) from Fold types I and IV. The oTAED integrates sequence and structure data, provides a classification based on fold type and sequence similarity, and applies a standard numbering scheme to identify equivalent positions in homologous proteins. The oTAED includes 67 210 proteins (114 655 sequences) which are divided into 169 homologous families based on global sequence similarity. The 44 and 39 highly conserved positions which were identified in Fold type I and IV, respectively, include the known catalytic residues and a large fraction of glycines and prolines in loop regions, which might have a role in protein folding and stability. However, for most of the conserved positions the function is still unknown. Literature information on positions that mediate substrate specificity and stereoselectivity was systematically examined. The standard numbering schemes revealed that many positions which have been described in different enzymes are structurally equivalent. For some positions, multiple functional roles have been suggested based on experimental data in different enzymes. The proposed standard numbering schemes for Fold type I and IV ω‐TAs assist with analysis of literature data, facilitate annotation of ω‐TAs, support prediction of promising mutation sites, and enable navigation in ω‐TA sequence space. Thus, it is a useful tool for enzyme engineering and the selection of novel ω‐TA candidates with desired biochemical properties.
Longitudinal assessment of the impact of multiple switches between a biosimilar and its reference product on efficacy parameters
Authors: Mielke Johanna , Woehling Heike , Jones Byron 
Published: February 2018

Patients, physicians, and health care providers in Europe have more than 10 years of experience with biosimilars. However, there are still debates if switching between a biosimilar and its reference product influences the efficacy of the treatment. In this paper, we address this uncertainty by developing a formal statistical test that can be used for showing that switching has no negative impact on the efficacy of biosimilars. For that, we first introduce a linear mixed‐effects model that is used for defining the null hypothesis (switching influences the efficacy) and the alternative hypothesis (switching has no influence on the efficacy). Using this as the foundation of our work, we propose several approaches for testing for changes in the efficacy of the treatment due to switching and discuss the properties of these tests in an extensive simulation study. It is shown that all these methods have advantages and disadvantages and the decision regarding which method is preferred depends on the expectation of a switching assessment. To demonstrate the applicability of the methods in practice, the approaches were applied to the data of the EGALITY study, which compares the reference product Enbrel® (Amgen) with the approved biosimilar Erelzi® (Sandoz).
The effect of potential vorticity fluxes on the circulation of the tropical upper troposphere
Authors: Ortega Sebastián , Webster Peter J. , Toma Violeta , Chang Hai‐Ru 
Published: February 2018

With simple analytical arguments, we suggest that the subtropical westerly jets, the equatorial easterly winds, the westerly ducts (i.e. regions of westerly winds over the Equator), and the tropical upper tropospheric troughs, are coupled via potential vorticity (PV) dynamics. We suggest that deep tropical convection leads to advective PV fluxes towards the Poles over the subtropical westerly jets, triggering Rossby waves on the jet, and leading to advective PV fluxes towards the Equator when the Rossby waves break over the westerly ducts. Moreover, we show that the advective PV fluxes towards the Poles closely balance those towards the Equator, and suggest that this close balance is to be expected from the impermeability theorem. We then argue that small imbalances of these advective PV fluxes play an important role in maintaining the upper tropospheric mean flow of the tropical atmosphere.We test our ideas using a shallow‐water model of the atmosphere, where diabatic heating terms are absent, and show how imbalances in the advective PV fluxes of a shallow‐water model maintain its mean flow. We focus on the periodicity of the shallow‐water models to study the effect of transient eddies and relate our results to previous studies.
High Efficient Cu2O/TiO2 Nanocomposite Photocatalyst to Degrade Organic Polluant under Visible Light Irradiation
Authors: Ding Ruocheng C. , Fan Yuzun Z. , Wang Guangsheng S. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe enhanced photocatalytic properties of Cu2O/TiO2 nanocomposites resulting from the synthesis of uniform p‐type Cu2O and n‐type TiO2 via wet chemical method were studied. The nanocomposite also had been well characterized and tested for its photocatalytic activity. These results indicate that the photocatalytic performance of the composites is clearly improved. The degradation rate of methylene blue solution (10 mg/L) increased to 93.67% in 45 minutes. The p‐n heterojunction theory was used to explain the enhanced photocatalytic properties. The photocatalytic performances of Cu2O/TiO2 nanocomposites and its photoreaction mechanism were proposed and discussed in this work.
Oxidative Coupling of Naphthols to Ketones: An Approach to 1,2‐Diketones
Authors: Deb Mohit L. , Saikia B‐Shriya , Rastogi Gaurav K. , Baruah Pranjal K. 
Published: February 2018

Abstract1,2‐Diketones are highly useful building blocks for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, natural products and heterocycles. A simple and efficient route to 1,2‐diketones is developed here. The strategy involves coupling of naphthols to methyl ketones via oxidative C−H functionalization of methyl group of ketones. CuI (10 mol %) is used as catalyst and FeSO4.7H2O (10 mol %) as additive, both of which are environmentally benign and cheap. The reaction is carried out in DMSO solvent at 120 oC for 8–10 h. Little amount of 1,1′‐bi‐2‐naphthol (BINOL) is also formed as side product. A tentative mechanism is proposed for the reaction which demonstrates a free‐radical pathway. Although Cu(I) is used as catalyst, however, the in situ generated Cu(II) behaves as the active catalytic species. Aerial oxygen acts as the oxygen source for the newly formed carbonyl functional group.