bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antiferroelectric‐ferroelectric phase transition in lead‐free AgNbO3 ceramics for energy storage applications
Authors: Gao Jing , Zhao Lei , Liu Qing , Wang Xuping , Zhang Shujun , Li Jing‐Feng 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe high‐energy storage density reported in lead‐free AgNbO3 ceramics makes it a fascinating material for energy storage applications. The phase transition process of AgNbO3 ceramics plays an important role in its properties and dominates the temperature and electric field dependent behavior. In this work, the phase transition behavior of AgNbO3 ceramics was investigated by polarization hysteresis and dielectric tunability measurements. It is revealed that the ferrielectric (FIE) phase at room temperature possesses both ferroelectric (FE)‐like and antiferroelectric (AFE)‐like dielectric responses prior to the critical AFE‐FE transition point. A recoverable energy storage density of 2 J/cm3 was achieved at 150 kV/cm due to the AFE‐FE transition. Based on a modified Laudau phenomenological theory, the stabilities among the AFE, FE and FIE phases are discussed, laying a foundation for further optimization of the dielectric properties of AgNbO3.
Behaviors of helium in Cr2AlC from first principles
Authors: Wang Chunjie , Zhang Weiguang , Han Zhibin , Shi Liqun 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe properties of helium incorporation and transport in Cr2AlC have been investigated using first principles method. The results of calculation show that a single helium atom is preferred to reside at an interstitial position near the Al plane in perfect Cr2AlC crystal, attributing to the low predicted formation energy. Helium atoms are expected to aggregate in Al layers. The interaction between helium and lattice atoms is primarily elastic due to the closed‐shell electronic structure of helium. The Doping of helium leads to a weakening of the Cr–Al bonds. Furthermore, an interstitial helium atom is likely to migrate along an indirect migration pathway from the hexahedral interstitial position on Al plane (IAlC), passing by the nearest tetrahedral interstitial position near Al plane (IAlCr), and finally reach to another hexahedral interstitial position (IAlC) with an activation energy of 1.21 eV. The high activation energy suggests a relatively low migration for helium atoms in Cr2AlC as well as a slow growth rate of helium bubbles for the early stage of helium irradiation.
U.S. Monetary Regimes and Optimal Monetary Policy in the Euro Area
Authors: MAVROMATIS KOSTAS 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMonetary policy in the United States has been documented to have switched from reacting weakly to inflation fluctuations during the 1970s, to fighting inflation aggressively from the early 1980s onward. In this paper, I analyze the impact of the U.S. monetary policy regime switches on the Eurozone. I construct a New Keynesian two‐country model where foreign (U.S.) monetary policy switches regimes over time. I estimate the model for the U.S. and the Euro Area using quarterly data and find that the United States has switched between those two regimes, in line with existing evidence. I show that foreign regime switches affect home (Eurozone) inflation and output volatility and their responses to shocks, substantially, as long as the home central bank commits to a time‐invariant interest rate rule reacting to domestic conditions only. Optimal policy in the home country instead requires that the home central bank reacts strongly to domestic producer‐price inflation and to international variables, such as imported goods relative prices. In fact, I show that currency misalignments and relative prices play a crucial role in the transmission of foreign monetary policy regime switches internationally. Interestingly, I show that only marginal gains arise for the Euro Area when the European Central Bank (ECB) adjusts its policy according to the monetary regime in the United States. Thus, a simple time‐invariant monetary policy rule with a strong reaction to Producer Price Index (PPI) inflation and relative prices is enough to counteract the effects of monetary policy switches in the United States.
A Note on Simple Strategic Bargaining for Models of Money or Credit
Authors: ZHU YU 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMany papers on liquidity have bilateral trade with buyers constrained by their money holdings or debt limits. Axiomatic bargaining, typically Nash, determines the terms of trade. However, there are reasons to prefer strategic bargaining. I analyze a bargaining game that is useful in models of liquidity. Advantages include (i) it has simple microfoundations, both in and out of steady state; (ii) it is more tractable than Nash, but the outcomes share interesting features; (iii) the benchmark version is consistent with axiomatic approaches in the literature, while another version is not, but can still be used; and (iv) it is arguably realistic.
The Effects of Oil Supply and Demand Shocks on U.S. Consumer Sentiment
Authors: GÜNTNER JOCHEN H. F. , LINSBAUER KATHARINA 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis paper investigates how the University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment responds to oil price shocks. While oil supply shocks play only a limited role, the effect of aggregate demand shocks is positive for the first few months and negative thereafter. A typical other oil demand shock has a significant negative impact for up to 2 years. By studying the responses of individual survey questions, we find that expectations of future inflation and a change in real household income as well as perceived vehicle and house buying conditions are the main transmission channels of oil supply and demand shocks.
Prevalence and risk factors for injection site skin infections among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Tehran
Authors: Noroozi Mehdi , Armoon Bahram , Ghisvand Hesam , Noroozi Alireza , Karimy Mahmood , Bazrafshan Mohammad Rafi , Marshall Brandon D L , Dieji Bahman 
Published: May 2018

SummaryBackground/ObjectivesInjection drug use is one of the major public health problems in Iran. Injection drug use is associated with numerous negative health outcomes, such as blood‐borne infections (HIV, HCV) and injection site skin infections (abscesses, cellulitis). The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of injection site skin infections and its associated risk factors among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Tehran, Iran.MethodsThe cross‐sectional study was conducted from March to August 2016 in Tehran province. A total of 500 PWID were recruited by convenience and snowball sampling from Drop‐in Centers (DIC) in the South of Tehran. Our primary outcomes were self‐report of ever having injection sites skin infections and receiving treatment for them. We first examined associations between individual variables and lifetime history of having injection site infections in bivariate analysis using the chi‐square or Fisher's exact tests, as appropriate. Variables with P‐value <.2 were included in a multiple logistic regression model.ResultsOverall, 40% (CI95%: 30.3%, 52.2%) of participants reported ever having an injection site infection. In the multivariable model, those with low socioeconomic status (AOR = 2.4, P = .03), self‐reported as HIV positive (AOR =1.6, P = .01), reporting more than 3 injections per day (AOR = 4.1, P = .03) and reuse of their own syringes (AOR = 8.5, P = .03) were more likely to have injection sites skin infections. PWID who used needle and syringe program (NSP) services were less likely to report injection site infections (AOR = 0.5, P = .04).ConclusionWe have identified several risk factors for injection sites infections among PWID, including frequency of injection per day, reuse of their own syringes, not using NSP services, HIV status, socioeconomic status with skin infections in PWID. Prevention strategies to reduce skin infections should focus on high‐risk injection behaviors and improving access to NSP services.
A comparison between methadone and buprenorphine for perioperative analgesia in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy
Authors: Shah M. D. , Yates D. , Hunt J. , Murrell J. C. 
Published: May 2018

ObjectiveTo investigate whether preoperative methadone provides superior perioperative analgesia compared to buprenorphine in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.MethodsEighty female dogs were recruited to an assessor‐blinded, randomised, clinical trial. Dogs received a premedication dose of 0·05 mg/kg acepromazine or 10 μg/kg medetomidine combined with either 0·3 mg/kg methadone or 20 μg/kg buprenorphine intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with isoflurane. Pain was assessed using two scoring schemes (a dynamic interactive visual analogue scale and the short form of the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale) before premedication, 30 minutes later and every hour for 8 hours after premedication. If indicated, rescue analgesia was provided with methadone. Meloxicam was administered after the final assessment. The area under the curve for change in pain scores over time and the requirement for rescue analgesia were compared between groups.ResultsGroups premedicated with buprenorphine had significantly higher pain scores than those premedicated with methadone. There was no interaction between opioid and sedative for any outcome measure. Rescue analgesia was required by significantly more dogs premedicated with buprenorphine (45%) than that of methadone (20%).Clinical SignificanceAt the doses investigated, methadone produced superior postoperative analgesia compared to buprenorphine in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy.
Low level aflatoxin exposure associated with greater linear growth in southern Mexico: A longitudinal study
Authors: Leroy Jef L. , Sununtnasuk Celeste , García‐Guerra Armando , Wang Jia‐Sheng 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAflatoxins are a group of naturally occurring mycotoxins, which can lead to death and are a known cause of hepatocellular carcinoma. AF exposure has been hypothesised to lead to stunted growth in children, but separating the AF effect from other determinants of linear growth retardation is difficult. The study used secondary data from an efficacy trial conducted in young children in southern Mexico to test the comparative efficacy of a milk‐based multiple micronutrient‐fortified food, a multiple micronutrient syrup, or a multiple micronutrient powder. The effect of serum AFB1‐lysine adduct level on incremental growth was tested using a longitudinal mixed model, controlling for key individual, maternal, and household‐level covariates. AFB1‐lysine adduct was detectable in all but 2 of the 347 children in the study (median exposure: 0.82 pg/mg albumin). AF exposure was associated (p < .05) with greater linear growth: an increase equivalent to the sample interquartile range (~0.5 pg AFB1‐lysine/mg albumin) was associated (p < .05) with an increase in the child's height‐for‐age deficit of 1.5 to 2.0 mm in the 4 months from baseline (average age 8 months) to follow‐up (average age 12 months); the magnitude of the difference in the 10‐month follow‐up was smaller and not statistically significant. This study documents that low‐dose AF exposure was associated with greater child linear growth. Given its toxicity and carcinogenicity, our results do not change the urgent need to drastically reduce human AF exposure. Our findings show that the association between AF exposure and linear growth is more complex than previously thought.
The two “rules of speciation” in species with young sex chromosomes
Authors: Filatov Dmitry A. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe two “rules of speciation,” Haldane's rule (HR) and the large‐X effect (LXE), are thought to be caused by recessive species incompatibilities exposed in the phenotype due to the hemizygosity of X‐linked genes in the heterogametic sex. Thus, the reports of HR and the LXE in species with recently evolved non‐ or partially degenerate Y‐chromosomes, such as Silene latifolia and its relatives, were surprising. Here, I argue that rapid species‐specific degeneration of Y‐linked genes and associated adjustment of expression of X‐linked gametologs (dosage compensation) may lead to rapid evolution of sex‐linked species incompatibilities. This process is likely to be too slow in species with old degenerate Y‐chromosomes (e.g., in mammals), but Y‐degeneration in species with young gene‐rich sex chromosomes may be fast enough to play a significant role in speciation. To illustrate this point, I report the analysis of Y‐degeneration and the associated evolution of gene expression on the X‐chromosome of S. latifolia and Silene dioica, a close relative that shares the same recently evolved sex chromosomes. Despite the recent (≤1MY) divergence of the two species, ~7% of Y‐linked genes have undergone degeneration in one but not the other species. This species‐specific degeneration appears to drive faster expression divergence of X‐linked genes, which may account for HR and the LXE reported for these species. Furthermore, I suggest that “exposure” of autosomal or sex‐linked recessive species incompatibilities in the haploid plant gametophyte may mimic the presence of HR in plants. Both haploid expression and species‐specific Y‐degeneration need to receive more attention if we are to understand the role of these processes in speciation.
Variants in ACTG2 underlie a substantial number of Australasian patients with primary chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction
Authors: Ravenscroft G. , Pannell S. , O'Grady G. , Ong R. , Ee H. C. , Faiz F. , Marns L. , Goel H. , Kumarasinghe P. , Sollis E. , Sivadorai P. , Wilson M. , Magoffin A. , Nightingale S. , Freckmann M.‐L. , Kirk E. P. , Sachdev R. , Lemberg D. A. , Delatycki M. B. , Kamm M. A. , Basnayake C. , Lamont P. J. , Amor D. J. , Jones K. , Schilperoort J. , Davis M. R. , Laing N. G. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundPrimary chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction (CIPO) is a rare, potentially life‐threatening disorder characterized by severely impaired gastrointestinal motility. The objective of this study was to examine the contribution of ACTG2, LMOD1, MYH11, and MYLK mutations in an Australasian cohort of patients with a diagnosis of primary CIPO associated with visceral myopathy.MethodsPediatric and adult patients with primary CIPO and suspected visceral myopathy were recruited from across Australia and New Zealand. Sanger sequencing of the genes encoding enteric gamma‐actin (ACTG2) and smooth muscle leiomodin (LMOD1) was performed on DNA from patients, and their relatives, where available. MYH11 and MYLK were screened by next‐generation sequencing.Key resultsWe identified heterozygous missense variants in ACTG2 in 7 of 17 families (~41%) diagnosed with CIPO and its associated conditions. We also identified a previously unpublished missense mutation (c.443C>T, p.Arg148Leu) in one family. One case presented with megacystis‐microcolon‐intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome in utero with subsequent termination of pregnancy at 28 weeks' gestation. All of the substitutions identified occurred at arginine residues. No likely pathogenic variants in LMOD1, MYH11, or MYLK were identified within our cohort.Conclusions and inferencesACTG2 mutations represent a significant underlying cause of primary CIPO with visceral myopathy and associated phenotypes in Australasian patients. Thus, ACTG2 sequencing should be considered in cases presenting with hypoperistalsis phenotypes with suspected visceral myopathy. It is likely that variants in other genes encoding enteric smooth muscle contractile proteins will contribute further to the genetic heterogeneity of hypoperistalsis phenotypes.
Oral yeast colonization in patients with primary and secondary Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Medeiros Clarissa Castro Galvão , dos Anjos Borges Luiz Gustavo , Cherubini Karen , Salum Fernanda Gonçalves , Medina da Silva Renata , de Figueiredo Maria Antonia Zancanaro 
Published: May 2018

AbstractObjectiveThe study aimed to investigate the pattern of oral yeast colonization of Sjögren's syndrome patients and its correlation to salivary flow rates, age, and time of the disease progression.Materials and methodsSaliva and swab specimens were obtained from 45 patients (primary Sjögren's syndrome = 15/ secondary Sjögren's syndrome = 15/ healthy controls = 15). Yeast species were identified using culture method through chromogenic medium followed by polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing.ResultsEleven species from six different genera were detected. The most prevalent species found wasCandida albicansfollowed byCandida tropicalis,Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis,andCandida krusei. Both groups of Sjögren's syndrome showed higher counts ofC. albicans(Total andCFUcounts) when compared to control group. In contrast, a greater variety of yeast species was identified on samples of the control group.ConclusionsThis study showed thatC. albicansis the most prevalent yeast, but also that a variety of other yeast species can colonize the oral cavity of Sjogren's syndrome patients. The identification of most of the colonies was not obtained by culturing‐PCRmethods combined.
Remaining longevity and evidence of failure of cardiac implantable electrophysiology devices recovered from funeral homes
Authors: Laslett David , Verdino Ralph J. , Kirkpatrick James N. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundGiven the prohibitive cost of pacemakers and defibrillators for medically underserved patients in low‐income countries, these devices are sometimes recovered from funeral homes for charitable reimplantation. Many devices are implanted near the end of the patients’ lives, meaning that recovered devices from funeral homes have the potential for significant remaining longevity.MethodsAfter sending letters asking funeral directors in the Philadelphia area to donate explanted pacemakers and defibrillators, 78 devices were recovered. Sixty‐seven of these devices were successfully interrogated, and 64 devices reported estimates of remaining battery life in years. Twenty‐one defibrillators were also interrogated for evidence of failure.ResultsTwenty‐two percent of the 64 devices had greater than 4 years of longevity. Fourteen percent of the devices had between 1 and 4 years of longevity, and the remaining 64% had less than 1 year of remaining battery life. We found no evidence from 21 recovered defibrillators that the patient's cause of death was because of defibrillator failure. In almost half (10/21) of the defibrillators, however, the arrhythmia logs were nondecipherable given the entire log was replaced by episodes of signal noise likely occurring after death.ConclusionsA significant percentage of devices explanted in funeral homes have suitable remaining battery life for reuse. While no evidence of defibrillator device failure could be found, the analysis was limited by postmortem signal artifact, which may preclude accurate assessment of rates of failure in devices explanted postmortem.
BRN2, a POUerful driver of melanoma phenotype switching and metastasis
Authors: Fane Mitchell E. , Chhabra Yash , Smith Aaron G. , Sturm Richard A. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe POU domain family of transcription factors play a central role in embryogenesis and are highly expressed in neural crest cells and the developing brain. BRN2 is a class III POU domain protein that is a key mediator of neuroendocrine and melanocytic development and differentiation. While BRN2 is a central regulator in numerous developmental programs, it has also emerged as a major player in the biology of tumourigenesis. In melanoma, BRN2 has been implicated as one of the master regulators of the acquisition of invasive behaviour within the phenotype switching model of progression. As a mediator of melanoma cell phenotype switching, it coordinates the transition to a dedifferentiated, slow cycling and highly motile cell type. Its inverse expression relationship with MITF is believed to mediate tumour progression and metastasis within this model. Recent evidence has now outlined a potential epigenetic switching mechanism in melanoma cells driven by BRN2 expression that induces melanoma cell invasion. We summarize the role of BRN2 in tumour cell dissemination and metastasis in melanoma, while also examining it as a potential metastatic regulator in other tumour models.
EEG oscillations during caress‐like affective haptic elicitation
Authors: Valenza Gaetano , Greco Alberto , Bianchi Matteo , Nardelli Mimma , Rossi Simone , Scilingo Enzo Pasquale 
Published: May 2018

AbstractNoninvasive, objective quantitative techniques to gauge emotional states are fundamental for clinical psychology as they overcome subjective bias of currently used questionnaires. To this end, we investigated brain oscillatory EEG activity during caresslike, affective haptic elicitation conveyed on the forearm at two force (strength of the caress) and three velocity (velocity of the caress) levels. Thirty‐two healthy subjects (16 female) were asked to assess each haptic stimulus in terms of arousal (i.e., intensity of emotional perception) and valence (i.e., pleasantness/unpleasantness of emotional perception) scores, according to the circumplex model of affect. Changes in brain oscillations were quantified through spectral and functional connectivity analyses. EEG power spectra were estimated through the individual α frequency peak. Results, expressed in terms of p‐value topographic maps, revealed a suppression of α, β, and γ oscillations over the contralateral somatosensory cortex during unpleasant caresses performed with the lowest force (2 N) and the highest velocity (65 mm/s). Conversely, pleasant caresses at the highest force were associated with a significant decrease of EEG oscillatory activity over the midfrontal region, at frequency bands including α, β, and γ. A correlation analysis showed that EEG γ power from the somatosensory area was linked to caressing force. The more unpleasant the affective cutaneous stimuli, the more the brain dynamics decrease in activity all over the scalp, primarily showing a suppression of α power over the midfrontal cortex. These results also pave the way for the design of haptic systems eliciting a given emotional state.
Effect of various levels of dissolved oxygen on reactive oxygen species and cryocapacitation‐like changes in bull sperm
Authors: Amin Beigh Y. , Prasad Jai K. , Ghosh Subrata K. , Lone Shabir A. , Kumar Abhishek , Mustapha Abdul R. , Din Omer , Kumar Ajay 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe present investigation was carried out to study the effect of various levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cryocapacitation‐like changes in bull sperm. Egg yolk–Tris–glycerol (EYTG) extender was split into four subextenders; viz., Extender I (control; no flushing with liquid nitrogen (LN2)), Extender II, Extender III and Extender IV were flushed with LN2 for 40, 16 and 8 min, respectively. The DO levels were standardized to 11.7, 2, 4 and 8 ppm, respectively, in control (Extender I), Extender II, Extender III and Extender IV. Ejaculates with mass motility of ≥ 3+ were divided into group I (diluted with Extender I), group II (diluted with Extender II), group III (diluted with Extender III) and group IV (diluted with Extender IV) up to 80 × 106 sperm/ml. Extended semen samples were packed in French mini straws (0.25 ml), equilibrated and cryopreserved. Semen samples were evaluated at prefreeze and post‐thaw stage for various parameters (DO, progressive motility (PM), viability (VIB), acrosomal integrity (AI), hypo‐osmotic swelling (HOS) test, ROS, cholesterol (C) and phospholipid (P). The percentage of PM, VIB, AI, HOS test, cholesterol (C) and phospholipid (P) levels, and capacitated sperm were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in groups III and IV as compared to groups I and II. However, the acrosome‐reacted sperm (%; pattern AR) were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in group III as compared to all other groups. Besides the proportion of sperm displaying tyrosine‐phosphorylated pattern, EA (fluorescence at both equatorial and anterior acrosomal regions, i.e. high capacitation level) was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in group III compared to all other groups. In conclusion, varying DO levels in the extender significantly affect sperm quality, ROS production and capacitation‐like changes in bulls.