bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Carnivorous pitcher plants eat a diet of certain spiders, regardless of what's on the menu
Authors: Milne Marc A. , Waller Deborah A. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe purple pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea, is a low‐lying carnivorous plant that uses pitcher‐shaped leaves to catch arthropod prey for nutrition. Spiders make up a significant portion of these prey. To determine the tendency of specific spider taxa to be captured by the plant, we compared the composition (by taxonomic family) of three spider assemblages: those captured by the plant, those residing on or over the plant, and those found nearby in the local environment. Although there were some broad similarities within the three spider assemblages, significant differences existed when specific families and guilds were considered. While some families (e.g., Linyphiidae and Lycosidae) and guilds (e.g., low sheet/tangle weavers) were heavily represented in all three assemblages, other groups varied, and we found that the taxonomic makeup of victimized and resident spiders did not always reflect their environmental abundances. Moreover, spider assemblages captured by S. purpurea were extremely similar across distant locations regardless of environmental spider assemblage composition, suggesting that S. purpurea is very selective in its spider capture regimen.
Hollow Carbon@NiCo2O4 Core–Shell Microspheres for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Wu Xiujuan , Wu Xingqiang , Lee Husileng , Ye Qilun , Wang Xiaoxiao , Zhao Yimeng , Sun Licheng 
Published: November 2018

Earth‐abundant transition metal oxides are considered one of the most promising oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts. However, their intrinsically low electrical conductivity inhibits the fast kinetics for OER. To overcome this drawback, hollow carbon@NiCo2O4 core–shell microspheres (C@NiCo2O4 HSs) are synthesized with enhanced electrocatalytic activity and stability toward OER. The prepared C@NiCo2O4/Ni foam delivers a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a small overpotential of 268 mV and exhibits a low Tafel slope of 54 mV dec−1. The enhanced OER performance is attributed to the enlarged specific surface area induced by the combination effect between the 1D nanosheet structure and the 3D hollow microsphere structure, and the improved electrical conductivity is ascribed to the carbon core support.
Energy dissipation models for RC members and structures
Authors: Grammatikou Sofia , Fardis Michael N. , Biskinis Dionysis 
Published: November 2018

SummaryThe unloading parameters of hysteretic models for RC members are given in terms of their shear‐span‐to‐depth ratio and the viscous damping used to model other energy dissipation sources. They reflect the energy dissipation in full post‐yield load cycles in 534 tests of rectangular or circular members. Pre‐yield hysteretic energy dissipation—ignored if the model is elastic till yielding—amounts in the tests to a mean viscous damping around 8.5% and can be considered in nonlinear response‐history analysis through a new model which combines constant elastic stiffness in virgin loading with hysteretic energy dissipation both before and after yielding. Models with linear behavior till yielding and hysteretic energy dissipation only after it come closer to the results of the new model if viscous damping is 5%.
Debris‐flow volumes in northeastern Italy: Relationship with drainage area and size probability
Authors: Marchi Lorenzo , Brunetti Maria Teresa , Cavalli Marco , Crema Stefano 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA dataset of 809 debris flows that occurred in 537 basins in mountainous areas of northeastern Italy between the mid‐19th century and 2015 is collected and analyzed. A remarkable increase in the number of events is observed in the last four decades and is mainly ascribed to more systematic data collection. The correlation between debris‐flow volume and drainage basin area is obtained assuming a power‐law relationship. The exponent of the power‐law curve at the 50th percentile (0.67 ± 0.02) indicates negative allometry, which means that basin area grows out of proportion to debris‐flow volume. In contrast, the exponents at the 98th and 99th percentiles are close to one, implying that debris‐flow volumes grow linearly with basin areas. The isometric relationship between the largest debris flows and the corresponding basin areas is due to the enhanced debris supply provided by the activation of widespread sediment sources, the extent of which is proportional to the basin size. The probability density function of debris‐flow volume for a subset of the collected dataset is calculated using the kernel density estimation function, which permits estimating the probability of the occurrence of debris flows that exceed a given threshold volume. The comparison with debris flows in other hydroclimatic regions shows that, although debris‐flow volumes in northeastern Italy may attain high values, they are often exceeded by debris flows that occur in seismically active regions and/or are triggered by more intense rainstorms. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal routing approaches for IEEE 802.15.4 TSCH networks
Authors: Di Puglia Pugliese Luigi , Zorbas Dimitrios , Guerriero Francesca , Douligeris Christos 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe IEEE 802.15.4 time‐slotted channel hopping (TSCH) is a medium access control layer protocol designed for industrial internet of things applications. The TSCH focuses on the media access control layer only, while the construction of the routes relies on network layer protocols such as the routing protocol for low‐power and lossy networks. The selection of the routes toward the sink plays a significant role in the nodes duty cycle, the delay, and the reliability of the network. In this paper, we formulate a multiobjective problem taking into account the schedule length (duty cycle/delay), the average number of hops (delay), and the cost of constructing the routes (reliability). To solve this problem, we use a scalarizing version where the objective function is defined as a convex combination of the three aforementioned parameters. Optimal computational as well as simulation results are presented. The findings of the current study can be used either as an optimal static routing solution when the link qualities are known and do not considerably change through time, or as a benchmark when designing low‐power distributed protocols for TSCH networks.
Task scheduling in cloud‐based survivability applications using swarm optimization in IoT
Authors: Al‐Turjman Fadi , Hasan Mohammed Zaki , Al‐Rizzo Hussain 
Published: November 2018

AbstractInternet of Things (IoT) is dramatically growing in support of the recent revolutionary cloud‐based survivability applications. It has to meet the performance expectations for these applications in real‐time while optimizing the available cloud resources. In this paper, we propose a cooperative resource scheduling in energy‐constrained applications for a reliable and fault‐tolerant performance. We present a task scheduling algorithm based on robust canonical particle swarm optimization (CPSO) and fully informed particle swarm optimization (FIPS) algorithm to solve the problem of resource allocation in both homogeneous and heterogeneous cloud‐based IoT applications. Our objective is to satisfy the quality of service in terms of throughput and delay by performing optimal task scheduling while considering the different experienced data traffic categories. Our results show that throughput and delay can be significantly improved while using the FIPS approach in comparison to the CPSO optimization algorithm.
Fuel Cell Electrolytes of Polybenzimidazole Membranes Cross‐linked with Bis(chloromethyl) Arenes
Authors: Kirkebæk A. , Aili D. , Yue B. , Vassiliev A. , Cleemann L. N. , Jensen J. O. , Li Q. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractCross‐linking of phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole membranes as fuel cell electrolytes represents an attractive approach to improving the mechanical robustness at a high acid loading. Numerous cross‐linking concepts have been reported in the literature, but a deeper understanding of how the cross‐linking chemistry affects the physicochemical properties of the membrane and its fuel cell performance and durability remains to be assessed. In this work, a series of cross‐linked membranes are prepared using cross‐linking agents of different regio‐chemistry and steric nature. It is shown, that the nature of the cross‐linking agent has a large impact on the effective degree of cross‐linking, which in turn determines the acid doping characteristics and ultimately the fuel cell performance and acid retention during long‐term operation.
Hydrological transit times in nested urban and agricultural watersheds in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada
Authors: Parajulee Abha , Wania Frank , Mitchell Carl P.J. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractWatershed mean transit times (MTTs) are used to characterize the hydrology of watersheds. Watershed MTTs could have important implications for water quality, as relatively long MTTs imply lengthier water retention, thereby allowing more time for pollutant transformation and more moderate release of pollutants into streams. Although estimates of MTTs are common for undisturbed watersheds, only a few studies to date have applied MTT models to urbanized watersheds. In the present study, we use δ18O to compare estimates of MTTs for paired suburban‐industrial and agricultural watersheds in Toronto, Canada. Although differences in precipitation δ18O between the two watersheds were negligible, there were significant differences in stream δ18O, suggesting differences in water transport pathways. Less damping between input precipitation δ18O and output stream δ18O in the suburban‐industrial watershed indicated a larger streamflow contribution from quick‐flow transport pathways. We applied three transit time models to quantify MTTs. Considering overall model fit, root mean square error, and uncertainty in model parameters, the exponential model performed the best of the three models. Optimized MTTs using this distribution across the suburban‐industrial subwatersheds ranged from 2.1 to 2.9 months, whereas those in the agricultural subwatersheds ranged from 2.7 to 7.5 months. The relatively small difference between urban and agricultural MTTs coincides with observations elsewhere. Model efficiencies could potentially be improved, and MTTs estimated more reliably, with a higher sampling frequency that captures a greater volume of overall discharge. Overall, this work provides a distinct first glimpse into the separation of MTTs between paired watersheds with such a large contrast in their land use.
PTPN22 1858C>T polymorphism is associated with increased CD154 expression and higher CD4+ T cells percentage in rheumatoid arthritis patients
Authors: Ruiz‐Noa Yeniley , Hernández‐Bello Jorge , Llamas‐Covarrubias Mara A. , Palafox‐Sánchez Claudia A. , Oregon‐Romero Edith , Sánchez‐Hernández Pedro Ernesto , Ramírez‐Dueñas Maria Guadalupe , Parra‐Rojas Isela , Muñoz‐Valle Jose Francisco 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackgroundCD40 is a costimulatory molecule for B cells, and CD154 is a marker of CD4+ T cells activation. CD40‐CD154 interaction promotes pro‐inflammatory cytokines secretion and autoantibodies production. PTPN22 gene encodes LYP protein, an inhibitor of T‐ and B‐cell activation. PTPN22 1858C>T polymorphism confers rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility. Hence, we evaluate the relationship between 1858C>T polymorphism with CD40 and CD154 expression and IFN‐γ secretion in RA patients.MethodsPTPN22 1858C>T polymorphism was genotyped in 315 RA patients and 315 control subjects (CS) using PCR‐RFLP method. Later, we selected only ten anti‐CCP‐positive RA patients, naïve to disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs and ten CS, all with known 1858C>T PTPN22 genotype. The CD40 and CD154 membrane expressions were determined by flow cytometry in peripheral B and T cells, correspondingly.ResultsThe B cells percentage and mCD40 expression were similar between RA and CS (P > 0.05) and we did not find an association between these variables and the 1858C>T polymorphism. The CD4+ T cells percentage was higher in RA patients than CS (P = 0.003), and in the RA group, the CD4+ T cells percentage and mCD154 expression were higher in the 1858 T allele carriers (P = 0.008 and P = 0.032, respectively). The IFN‐γ levels were lower in RA patients carrying the PTPN22 risk allele (P = 0.032).ConclusionThe PTPN22 1858 T risk allele is associated with increased CD4+ T cells percentage and high mCD154 expression in RA patients, which could favor the pro‐inflammatory cytokine release and the establishment of the inflammatory response at the seropositive RA.
Early prediction of severity in acute ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack using platelet parameters and neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio
Authors: Lim Hyeon‐Ho , Jeong In‐Hwa , An Gyu‐Dae , Woo Kwang‐Sook , Kim Kyeong‐Hee , Kim Jeong‐Man , Cha Jae‐Kwan , Han Jin‐Yeong 
Published: November 2018

BackgroundIt is still not easy to predict severity promptly in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and transient ischemic attack (TIA). We investigated that platelet parameters or combinations of them could be a useful tool for early prediction of severity of AIS and TIA at admission and after 3 months.MethodsWe prospectively recruited 104 patients newly diagnosed with AIS and TIA. We investigated their neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet parameters. According to the Modified Rankin Scale scores, the patients were divided into two groups.ResultsIn receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, mean platelet volume (MPV), NLR/platelet count (PLT), MPV/PLT, MPV*NLR, and MPV*NLR/PLT showed statistically significant results in both at admission and after 3 months. Values of area under ROC curves for those tests at admission were 0.646, 0.697, 0.664, 0.708, and 0.722, respectively. Also, values after 3 months were 0.591, 0.661, 0.638, 0.662, and 0.689, respectively.ConclusionMPV*NLR/PLT could be used as a relatively good tool for predicting severity at the time of admission and after 3 months than other parameters or combinations of them. Further studies have to be carried out to investigate the best parameter for predicting the severity of AIS and TIA.
Long‐Term Outcomes in Children With Intestinal Failure–Associated Liver Disease Treated With 6 Months of Intravenous Fish Oil Followed by Resumption of Intravenous Soybean Oil
Authors: Wang Caroline , Venick Robert S. , Shew Stephen B. , Dunn James C. Y. , Reyen Laurie , Gou Rong , Calkins Kara L. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractBackgroundIntravenous soybean oil (SO) is a commonly used lipid emulsion for children with intestinal failure (IF); however, it is associated with IF‐associated liver disease (IFALD). Studies have demonstrated that intravenous fish oil (FO) is an effective treatment for IFALD. However, there is a lack of long‐term data on children who stop FO and resume SO. This study's objective was to investigate our institution's outcomes for children with IFALD treated with 6 months of FO and who then restarted SO.MethodsInclusion criteria for FO included children with IFALD. Parenteral nutrition (PN)‐dependent children resumed SO after FO and were prospectively followed for 4.5 years or until death, transplant, or PN discontinuation. The primary outcome was the cumulative incidence rate (CIR) for cholestasis after FO.ResultsForty‐eight subjects received FO, and conjugated bilirubin decreased over time (−0.22 mg/dL/week; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.25, −0.19; P < .001). The CIR for cholestasis resolution after 6 months of FO was 71% (95% CI: 54%, 82%). Twenty‐seven subjects resumed SO and were followed for a median of 16 months (range 3–51 months). While the CIR for enteral autonomy after 3 years of follow‐up was 40% (95% CI: 17%, 26%), the CIR for cholestasis and transplant was 26% (95% CI: 8%, 47%) and 6% (95% CI: 0.3%, 25%), respectively.ConclusionIn this study, FO effectively treated cholestasis, and SO resumption was associated with cholestasis redevelopment in nearly one‐fourth of subjects. Long‐term FO may be warranted to prevent end‐stage liver disease.
Friction and Mechanical Properties of Highly Filled Polybenzoxazine Composites: Nanosilica Particle Size and Surface Treatment
Authors: Mora Phattarin , Jubsilp Chanchira , Liawthanyarat Nutthaphon , Okhawilai Manunya , Rimdusit Sarawut 
Published: November 2018

AbstractFrictional and mechanical properties of highly filled polybenzoxazine [poly(BA‐a)] composites which are influenced by nanosilica contents, particle sizes, and surface treatments are investigated. The coefficient of friction and wear resistance, storage moduli, and microhardness of the nanosilica‐filled poly(BA‐a) composites systematically increase with an increase of nanosilica content, while those values of the nanocomposites are improved with decreasing particle sizes at the equivalent nanosilica content. The modulus can be predicted by the Kerner model with the maximum packing fraction, while the microhardness of the nanocomposites is in agreement with the Halpin–Tsai model. The nanocomposites fabricated with untreated nanosilica particles exhibit higher frictional and mechanical properties when compared with the surface‐treated nanocomposites at the equivalent particle sizes. The interfacial interactions via covalent bond formation between the nanosilica and the poly(BA‐a) are determinative factors for the nanocomposite properties. Highly filled nanosilica‐poly(BA‐a) composites can be employed in various applications where wear‐resistance plays an important role.
Mechanism and Factors Influencing Formation and Stability of Chitosan/Lignosulfonate Nanoparticles
Authors: Al‐Rashed Maher M. , Niknezhad Sepideh , Jana Sadhan C. 
Published: November 2018

AbstractA set of new nanoparticles are synthesized in this work at room temperature by combining two oppositely charged non‐toxic biopolymer polyelectrolytes in the form of chitosan and lignosulfonate. The effects of intensity of mixing, solid content, and reactant ratio on nanoparticle size and composition are investigated using turbidity measurements, dynamic light scattering data, zeta potential values, surface tension data, and electron microscopy. The data support nanoparticle structures with a dense hydrophobic core surrounded by a positively charged hydrophilic shell. The chitosan and lignosulfonate domains are held in these nanoparticles primarily by the electrostatic force while hydrogen bonding plays a minor role. The particle size increases with an increase of the total solid content, while the ratio of the two reactants determines the number of particles.
Morphological Control Over Three‐ and Four‐Phase Superstructures in Blends of Asymmetric ABC and BAC Triblock Terpolymers
Authors: Gil Haenelt Taida , Abetz Clarissa , Abetz Volker 
Published: November 2018

AbstractThe versatile and simple attainment of complex superstructures through binary blends of asymmetric polyisoprene‐block‐polystyrene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (ISM) and polystyrene‐block‐polyisoprene‐block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (SIM) triblock terpolymers is shown. Different well‐ordered core–shell morphologies with three or four microphases as well as interchanged core‐ and shell‐forming blocks are achieved by different spatial superposition during mixing. Superstructures with three microphases are obtained by antiparallel chain orientation, when ISM and SIM chains align in opposite directions. Similarly, the respective PS, PI, and PMMA blocks are in direct superposition and mix into each other. In contrast, with parallel chain orientation, ISM and SIM chains align in the same direction. It gives rise to four microphases because here, both PI blocks do not assemble into one microdomain, but form two isolated microdomains. These observations are attributed to inverse molecular weight ratios between both blends.
Abnormal sensory gating in patients with different types of focal dystonias
Authors: Conte Antonella , Belvisi Daniele , De Bartolo Maria Ilenia , Manzo Nicoletta , Cortese Francesca Natalia , Tartaglia Matteo , Ferrazzano Gina , Fabbrini Giovanni , Berardelli Alfredo 
Published: November 2018

ABSTRACTBackgroundMovement execution in healthy individuals increases the somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold. These changes are a result of mechanisms of sensory gating at the subcortical level. Although the somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold is abnormally increased in patients with focal dystonias, the effect of movement execution on somatosensory temporal discrimination in dystonic patients is unknown.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to determine whether somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold modulation induced by voluntary movement is normal in different forms of focal dystonia.MethodsWe enrolled 71 dystonic patients (24 with blepharospasm, 31 with cervical dystonia, and 16 with focal hand dystonia) and 39 age‐matched healthy participants. Paired stimuli for the somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold were triggered by movement execution at movement onset and at various time intervals thereafter. We analyzed the kinematic features of the motor task to ascertain whether tactile input induces changes in movement parameters.ResultsMovement execution led to greater and longer lasting increases in somatosensory temporal discrimination threshold values, both upon movement onset and at various time intervals thereafter, in patients with cervical dystonia and focal hand dystonia than in those with blepharospasm or the healthy participants. Somatosensory temporal discrimination testing did not induce any changes in the mean velocity of index finger movements in either patients or healthy participants.ConclusionsSomatosensory temporal discrimination threshold changes induced by movement execution are abnormal in focal dystonias. This abnormality is related to the type of dystonia. Abnormal gating of sensory information is likely involved in movement‐induced triggering or worsening of different forms focal dystonia. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
High‐Saturated Fat High‐Sugar Diet Accelerates Left‐Ventricular Dysfunction Faster than High‐Saturated Fat Diet Alone via Increasing Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Obese‐Insulin Resistant Rats
Authors: Apaijai Nattayaporn , Arinno Apiwan , Palee Siripong , Pratchayasakul Wasana , Kerdphoo Sasiwan , Jaiwongkam Thidarat , Chunchai Titikorn , Chattipakorn Siriporn C , Chattipakorn Nipon 
Published: November 2018

ScopeIt has been hypothesized that a high‐saturated‐fat, high‐sugar diet (HFHS) causes worse cardiometabolic dysfunction than a high‐saturated‐fat diet (HFD) due to severe mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and apoptosis in obese insulin‐resistant rats.Methods and ResultsRats are divided into three groups to receive normal diet (ND), HFD, or HFHS for 24 weeks. Cardiometabolic parameters are determined at baseline and every 4 weeks until the end of the feeding protocol. At week 24, hearts are removed to determine mitochondrial function and dynamics, apoptosis, and insulin signaling. HFD and HFHS rats develop obese insulin‐resistance at week 8. However, fasting plasma glucose level is increased only in HFHS rats. Myocardial insulin signaling is markedly impaired in HFHS rats compared to other groups. Cardiac autonomic imbalance is observed in both HFD and HFHS rats beginning at week 8. However, cardiac dysfunction is observed earlier (week 8) in HFHS rats, and later at week 12 in HFD rats. Moreover, cardiac and mitochondrial oxidative stress levels, and apoptosis are greater in HFHS rats than HFD rats.ConclusionBoth HFD and HFHS cause cardiometabolic dysfunction. HFHS causes more severe metabolic disturbance, oxidative stress, and apoptosis than HFD, which leads to an accelerated LV dysfunction in HFHS rats.