bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using High‐Resolution Data to Assess Land Use Impact on Nitrate Dynamics in East African Tropical Montane Catchments
Authors: Jacobs Suzanne R. , Weeser Björn , Guzha Alphonce C. , Rufino Mariana C. , Butterbach‐Bahl Klaus , Windhorst David , Breuer Lutz 
Published: February 2018

AbstractLand use change alters nitrate (NO3‐N) dynamics in stream water by changing nitrogen cycling, nutrient inputs, uptake and hydrological flow paths. There is little empirical evidence of these processes for East Africa. We collected a unique 2 year high‐resolution data set to assess the effects of land use (i.e., natural forest, smallholder agriculture and commercial tea plantations) on NO3‐N dynamics in three subcatchments within a headwater catchment in the Mau Forest Complex, Kenya's largest tropical montane forest. The natural forest subcatchment had the lowest NO3‐N concentrations (0.44 ± 0.043 mg N L−1) with no seasonal variation. NO3‐N concentrations in the smallholder agriculture (1.09 ± 0.11 mg N L−1) and tea plantation (2.13 ± 0.19 mg N L−1) subcatchments closely followed discharge patterns, indicating mobilization of NO3‐N during the rainy seasons. Hysteresis patterns of rainfall events indicate a shift from subsurface flow in the natural forest to surface runoff in agricultural subcatchments. Distinct peaks in NO3‐N concentrations were observed during rainfall events after a longer dry period in the forest and tea subcatchments. The high‐resolution data set enabled us to identify differences in NO3‐N transport of catchments under different land use, such as enhanced NO3‐N inputs to the stream during the rainy season and higher annual export in agricultural subcatchments (4.9 ± 0.3 to 12.0 ± 0.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1) than in natural forest (2.6 ± 0.2 kg N ha−1 yr−1). This emphasizes the usefulness of our monitoring approach to improve the understanding of land use effects on riverine N exports in tropical landscapes, but also the need to apply such methods in other regions.
Impact of Stage Measurement Errors on Streamflow Uncertainty
Authors: Horner I. , Renard B. , Le Coz J. , Branger F. , McMillan H. K. , Pierrefeu G. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractStage measurement errors are generally overlooked when streamflow time series are derived from uncertain rating curves. We introduce an original method for propagating stage uncertainties due to two types of stage measurement errors: (i) errors of the stage read during the gauging and (ii) systematic and nonsystematic (independent) errors of the recorded stage time series. The error models are generic and can be used for any probabilistic rating curve estimation method that provides an ensemble of rating curves. The new method is applied to a range of six contrasting hydrometric stations in France. Uncertainty budgets quantifying the contribution of various error sources to the total streamflow uncertainty are computed and compared for streamflow time series averaged at time intervals from hour to year. A sensitivity analysis is conducted on the stage time series error model to identify the most sensitive parameters. The results are site specific, which illustrates the key role played by the properties of both the hydrometric site and the gauged catchment. Across the range of sites, stage errors of the gaugings are found to have limited impact on rating curve uncertainty, at least for gaugings performed in fair conditions. Nonsystematic errors in the stage time series have a negligible effect, generally. However, systematic stage errors should not be neglected. Over the six hydrometric stations in this study, the 95% uncertainty component reflecting stage systematic errors (from ±0.5 cm to ±6.8 cm) alone ranged from 4% to 12% of daily average streamflow, and from 1% to 3% of yearly average streamflow as sensors were assumed to be recalibrated every 30 days. Perspectives for improving and validating the streamflow uncertainty estimation techniques are eventually discussed.
Acute vitreoretinal trauma and inflammation after traumatic brain injury in mice
Authors: Evans Lucy P. , Newell Elizabeth A. , Mahajan MaryAnn , Tsang Stephen H. , Ferguson Polly J. , Mahoney Jolonda , Hue Christopher D. , Vogel Edward W. , Morrison Barclay , Arancio Ottavio , Nichols Russell , Bassuk Alexander G. , Mahajan Vinit B. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractObjectiveLimited attention has been given to ocular injuries associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The retina is an extension of the central nervous system and evaluation of ocular damage may offer a less‐invasive approach to gauge TBI severity and response to treatment. We aim to characterize acute changes in the mouse eye after exposure to two different models of TBI to assess the utility of eye damage as a surrogate to brain injury.MethodsA model of blast TBI (bTBI) using a shock tube was compared to a lateral fluid percussion injury model (LFPI) using fluid pressure applied directly to the brain. Whole eyes were collected from mice 3 days post LFPI and 24 days post bTBI and were evaluated histologically using a hematoxylin and eosin stain.ResultsbTBI mice showed evidence of vitreous detachment in the posterior chamber in addition to vitreous hemorrhage with inflammatory cells. Subretinal hemorrhage, photoreceptor degeneration, and decreased cellularity in the retinal ganglion cell layer was also seen in bTBI mice. In contrast, eyes of LFPI mice showed evidence of anterior uveitis and subcapsular cataracts.InterpretationWe demonstrated that variations in the type of TBI can result in drastically different phenotypic changes within the eye. As such, molecular and phenotypic changes in the eye following TBI may provide valuable information regarding the mechanism, severity, and ongoing pathophysiology of brain injury. Because vitreous samples are easily obtained, molecular changes within the eye could be utilized as biomarkers of TBI in human patients.
Intramuscular Fat Accumulation and Associations With Body Composition, Strength, and Physical Functioning in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Baker Joshua F. , Mostoufi‐Moab Sogol , Long Jin , Zemel Babette , Ibrahim Said , Taratuta Elena , Leonard Mary B. 
Published: February 2018

ObjectiveRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with adverse body composition profiles and low muscle density due to the accumulation of intramuscular fat. Linear regression was used to assess differences between RA patients and controls and to determine associations between muscle density, strength, and physical functioning.MethodsPatients with RA, ages 18–70 years, and healthy control subjects underwent whole‐body dual x‐ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography, in order to quantify the appendicular lean mass index (ALMI) and the fat mass index (FMI), visceral fat area, and muscle density. Dynamometry was used to measure hand grip strength and muscle strength at the knee and lower leg. Disability and physical functioning were measured using the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Linear regression analyses were performed to assess differences related to RA and associations between muscle density, strength, and function.ResultsThe study group included 103 patients with RA (51 men) and 428 healthy control subjects. Among patients with RA, low muscle density was associated with higher disease activity, C‐reactive protein and interleukin‐6 levels, greater total and visceral fat area, lower ALMI Z scores, physical inactivity, and long‐term use of glucocorticoids (>1 year). Patients with low ALMI Z scores had lower muscle density Z scores compared with reference participants with similarly low ALMI scores. Low muscle density was independently associated with lower muscle strength, higher HAQ scores, and lower SPPB scores, after adjustment for ALMI and FMI Z scores.ConclusionThe low muscle density observed in patients with RA was associated with low muscle mass, excess adiposity, poor strength, and greater disability. Interventions to address poor muscle quality could potentially affect important functional outcomes.
Ultrasonographic Efficacy of Biologic and Targeted Synthetic Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Drug Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis From a Multicenter Rheumatoid Arthritis Ultrasound Prospective Cohort in Japan
Authors: Nishino Ayako , Kawashiri Shin‐ya , Koga Tomohiro , Iwamoto Naoki , Ichinose Kunihiro , Tamai Mami , Nakamura Hideki , Origuchi Tomoki , Ueki Yukitaka , Yoshitama Tamami , Eiraku Nobutaka , Matsuoka Naoki , Okada Akitomo , Fujikawa Keita , Hamada Hiroaki , Tsuru Tomomi , Nagano Shuji , Arinobu Yojiro , Hidaka Toshihiko , Kawakami Atsushi 
Published: February 2018

ObjectiveTo explore the variables associated with initial favorable power Doppler (PD) ultrasound (US) response induced by biologic and targeted synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsWe have been prospectively investigating the course of active RA patients using US after the introduction of b/tsDMARDs in the Kyushu region of Japan since June 2013. A total of 150 patients have completed the first 6 months of observation at present and have been evaluated. US was assessed in 22 joints of bilateral hands using gray‐scale and PD images on a scale from 0–3. The sum of these scores was used as the indicator of US disease activity. We defined PD remission as attaining a total PD score of 0 at 6 months and investigated the associated variables by multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe total PD and gray‐scale scores and the clinical composite measures significantly improved at 6 months, whereas these reductions were less in bDMARD switchers as compared with bDMARD‐naive patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that short disease duration, the absence of any previous use of bDMARDs, and low total PD scores at baseline were independent predictors of PD remission at 6 months.ConclusionThis present prospective US cohort has for the first time shown the variables that are associated with initial PD response to b/tsDMARDs.
Phenome‐Wide Association Studies Uncover a Novel Association of Increased Atrial Fibrillation in Male Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Barnado April , Carroll Robert J. , Casey Carolyn , Wheless Lee , Denny Joshua C. , Crofford Leslie J. 
Published: February 2018

ObjectivePhenome‐wide association studies (PheWAS) scan across billing codes in the electronic health record (EHR) and re‐purpose clinical EHR data for research. In this study, we examined whether PheWAS could function as an EHR‐based discovery tool for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and identified novel clinical associations in male versus female patients with SLE.MethodsWe used a de‐identified version of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center EHR, which includes more than 2.8 million subjects. We performed EHR‐based PheWAS to compare SLE patients with age‐, sex‐, and race‐matched control subjects and to compare male SLE patients with female SLE patients, controlling for multiple testing using a false discovery rate (FDR) P value of 0.05.ResultsWe identified 1,097 patients with SLE and 5,735 matched control subjects. In a comparison of patients with SLE and matched controls, SLE patients were shown to be more likely to have International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes related to the SLE disease criteria. In the PheWAS of male versus female SLE patients, with adjustment for age and race, male patients were shown to be more likely to have atrial fibrillation (odds ratio 4.50, false discovery rate P = 3.23 × 10−3). Chart review confirmed atrial fibrillation, with the majority of patients developing atrial fibrillation after the SLE diagnosis and having multiple risk factors for atrial fibrillation. After adjustment for age, sex, race, and coronary artery disease, SLE disease status was shown to be significantly associated with atrial fibrillation (P = 0.002).ConclusionUsing PheWAS to compare male and female patients with SLE, we identified a novel association of an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation in male patients. SLE disease status was shown to be independently associated with atrial fibrillation, even after adjustment for age, sex, race, and coronary artery disease. These results demonstrate the utility of PheWAS as an EHR‐based discovery tool for SLE.
Uniformly Grafting SnO2 Nanoparticles on Ionic Liquid Reduced Graphene Oxide Sheets for High Lithium Storage
Authors: Zhu Shengming , Dong Xufeng , Gao Song , Jin Xiaozhe , Huang Hao , Qi Min 
Published: February 2018

AbstractSnO2‐based anode materials for lithium ion batteries suffer from inevitable pulverization and electrical disconnection during repeated charge–discharge cycles. Stabilizing nanostructure of SnO2 particles by graphene is one of the most extensively studied strategies to achieve high capacity and long‐term cyclability. However, in the wet chemistry, the reaggregation of the solvent–dispersed graphene and the SnO2 make it difficult to fabricate SnO2/graphene composites with desirable nanostructure which can be maintained during lithiation. Herein, the ionic liquid‐assisted method is applied to prepare SnO2 nanoparticles grafted on ionic liquid reduced graphene oxide (SnO2@IL‐RGO) composite through a novel “bridging effect” generated from the interaction between these two constituents and ionic liquid which efficiently maintains the desirable nanostructure and offers more conductive pathway upon cycling. The composite as an anode material achieves an increasing capacity up to 1508 mAh g−1 in the 427th cycle at high current of 1 A g−1. The ionic liquid‐assisted strategy may be a promising approach to promote the strong combination and uniform dispersion of other metal oxides on the carbonaceous materials, providing a new way to prepare metal oxide–carbon composites for wide applications.
Improved acoustic damping in polyurethane foams by the inclusion of silicon dioxide nanoparticles
Authors: Asadi Khanouki Mostafa , Ohadi Abdolreza 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIn this research, flexible semi‐open cell polyurethane (PU) foams incorporating silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles are produced to have improved acoustic damping. Nanoparticles of different loading fractions and various sizes are employed to achieve improvement in sound absorption of foams. The effect of SiO2 nanoparticles’ size on the acoustic damping of PU foams, which is investigated in this study, has not been studied before. The mechanical, nonacoustical, and acoustical properties of the foams are measured by experiments or calculated by theoretical models. The results show that a PU foam sample incorporating only 0.05 wt% of nanoparticles has a great improvement (more than 90%) in sound absorption ability over the frequency range of 500–1,000 Hz. By the increase in the loading fraction of nanoparticles, a gradual decrease in acoustic damping is observed. Moreover, regarding size of nanoparticles, those with bigger nanometer sizes bring about a better sound absorption ability in PU foams. Besides acoustical properties, microcellular characteristics, nonacoustic parameters, and mechanical properties are also presented which are in agreement with the improved acoustical ability of foams quite well.
A Novel Domain‐Confined Growth Strategy for In Situ Controllable Fabrication of Individual Hollow Nanostructures
Authors: Tang Luping , He Longbing , Zhang Lei , Yu Kaihao , Xu Tao , Zhang Qiubo , Dong Hui , Zhu Chao , Sun Litao 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThe manipulation and tailoring of the structure and properties of semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) is significant particularly for the design and fabrication of future nanodevices. Here, a novel domain‐confined growth strategy is reported for controllable fabrication of individual monocrystal hollow NCs (h‐NCs) in situ inside a transmission electron microscope, which enables the atomic scale monitoring of the entire reaction. During the process, the preformed carbon shells serve as nanoreaction cells for the formation of CdSeS h‐NCs. Electron beam (e‐beam) irradiation is demonstrated to be the key activation factor for the solid‐to‐hollow shape transformation. The formation of CdSeS hollow NCs is also found to be sensitive to the volume ratio of the CdSe/CdS NCs to the carbon shell and only those CdSe/CdS NCs with a volume ratio in the range 0.2–0.8 are successfully converted into hollow NCs. The method paves the way to potentially use an e‐beam for the in situ tailoring of individual semiconductor NCs targeted toward future nanodevice applications.
Hydrophilicity Regulates the Stealth Properties of Polyphosphoester‐Coated Nanocarriers
Authors: Simon Johanna , Wolf Thomas , Klein Katja , Landfester Katharina , Wurm Frederik R. , Mailänder Volker 
Published: February 2018

AbstractIncreasing the plasma half‐life is an important goal in the development of drug carriers, and can be effectively achieved through the attachment of polymers, in particular poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). While the increased plasma half‐life has been suggested to be a result of decreased overall protein adsorption on the hydrophilic surface in combination with the adsorption of specific proteins, the molecular reasons for the success of PEG and other hydrophilic polymers are still widely unknown. We prepared polyphosphoester‐coated nanocarriers with defined hydrophilicity to control the stealth properties of the polymer shell. We found that the log P value of the copolymer controls the composition of the protein corona and the cell interaction. Upon a significant change in hydrophilicity, the overall amount of blood proteins adsorbed on the nanocarrier remained unchanged, while the protein composition varied. This result underlines the importance of the protein type for the protein corona and cellular uptake.
Similarly sized protein separation of charge‐selective ethylene‐vinyl alcohol copolymer membrane by grafting dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate
Authors: Huang Lilan , Ye Hui , Yu Tengfei , Zhang Xiangyu , Zhang Yuzhong , Zhao Lizhi , Xin Qingping , Wang Shaofei , Ding Xiaoli , Li Hong 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACTSimilarly sized protein separation was investigated using a charge‐selective membrane, which prepared by grafting dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) onto ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAL) membrane. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and bovine hemoglobin (BHb) was used as model proteins. P(DMAEMA), the weak cationic polyelectrolyte with ionizable tertiary amine groups, contributed to the charge‐selective separation for BSA and BHb. At pH 6.0, the grafted EVAL membrane surface was positively charged and BSA was negatively charged, while BHb was positively charged. The BSA was adsorbed onto the membrane surface due to electrostatic interaction and the BHb passed through the membrane into the permeate. The charge‐selective behavior resulted in the separation of the similarly sized protein. The maximum separation factors of static adsorption separation for model protein and binary mixture were 32.4 and 37.2, respectively. In the dynamic separation process, the maximum separation factor value was 6.2. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46374.
Inflammation Intensity–Dependent Expression of Osteoinductive Wnt Proteins Is Critical for Ectopic New Bone Formation in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Li Xiang , Wang Jianru , Zhan Zhongping , Li Sibei , Zheng Zhaomin , Wang Taiping , Zhang Kuibo , Pan Hehai , Li Zemin , Zhang Nu , Liu Hui 
Published: February 2018

ObjectiveTo investigate the molecular mechanism underlying inflammation‐related ectopic new bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).MethodsSpinal tissues and sera were collected from patients with AS and healthy volunteers and examined for the expression of Wnt proteins. An in vitro cell culture system mimicking the local inflammatory microenvironment of bone‐forming sites was established to study the relationship between inflammation and Wnt expression, the regulatory mechanism of inflammation‐induced Wnt expression, and the role of Wnt signaling in new bone formation. Modified collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) and proteoglycan‐induced spondylitis (PGIS) animal models were used to confirm the key findings in vivo.ResultsThe levels of osteoinductive Wnt proteins were increased in sera and spinal ligament tissues from patients with AS. Constitutive low‐intensity tumor necrosis factor (TNF) stimulation, but not short‐term or high‐intensity TNF stimulation, induced persistent expression of osteoinductive Wnt proteins and subsequent bone formation through NF‐κB (p65) and JNK/activator protein 1 (c‐Jun) signaling pathways. Furthermore, inhibition of either the Wnt/β‐catenin or Wnt/protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) pathway significantly suppressed new bone formation. The increased expression of Wnt proteins was confirmed in both the modified CIA and PGIS models. A kyphotic and ankylosing phenotype of the spine was seen during long‐term observation in the modified CIA model. Inhibition of either the Wnt/β‐catenin or Wnt/PKCδ signaling pathway significantly reduced the incidence and severity of this phenotype.ConclusionInflammation intensity–dependent expression of osteoinductive Wnt proteins is a key link between inflammation and ectopic new bone formation in AS. Activation of both the canonical Wnt/β‐catenin and noncanonical Wnt/PKCδ pathways is required for inflammation‐induced new bone formation.
Comparison of the Reactivities and Selectivities of Group 9 [Cp*MIII] Catalysts in C−H Functionalization Reactions
Authors: Park Juhyeon , Chang Sukbok 
Published: February 2018

AbstractPentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp*)‐based Group 9 metal (Co, Rh, or Ir) catalysts have emerged as powerful tools for C−H functionalization reactions. Whilst a diverse range of organic transformations have been developed by using [Cp*MIII] catalysts, they have often exhibited orthogonal reactivities and varied selectivities that depended on the choice of the central metal atom. An understanding of the physicochemical properties of the metals, as well as of their reaction mechanisms, has led to significant expansion of the synthetic scope of C−H functionalization reactions. This Focus Review summarizes and discusses the comparative catalytic reactivities and selectivities of the [Cp*MIII] catalysts, with an emphasis on metal‐dependent pathway‐switching by considering the mechanistic rationale.