bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from a non‐lignocellulosic component of sugarcane bagasse: fueling a biobased economy
Authors: Tyagi Priyam , Saxena Nitesh Kumar , Sharma Aarti 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe present study examines the use of residual sugar from sugarcane bagasse for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), a class of biodegradable microbial polymers. To achieve this, 26 bacterial isolates were screened for PHA production. From the strains isolated, ART_MKT2E was found to produce PHA and was selected to discover its capability to use a bagasse‐based medium (BGM). To date, the lignocellulosic component of bagasse has been used as a substrate by treating bagasse with acids. This study demonstrates the use of residual sugar from bagasse as a substrate for PHA production. The concentration of bagasse filtrate was found to be optimum at 60%, along with yeast extract and additional salts (pH 7.0 ± 0.5). The maximum PHA production (w/w) was 55%. These results indicate the successful use of non‐lignocellulosic BGM. The remaining lignocellulosic component of bagasse could be fed as a substrate for another production process, promoting a sustainable, biobased economy. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Development of a novel ion‐pairing HPLC‐FL method for the separation and quantification of hydroxychloroquine and its metabolites in whole blood
Authors: Charlier Bruno , Pingeon Marine , Dal Piaz Fabrizio , Conti Valeria , Valentini Gabriele , Filippelli Amelia , Izzo Viviana 
Published: April 2018

AbstractHydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an old antimalarial drug that has proven to be a safe and effective treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases. Since hematic concentration of HCQ is closely related to the therapeutic response, monitoring the levels of the drug and its metabolites in the blood of HCQ‐treated patients helps the clinician in the evaluation of partial or complete unresponsiveness to treatment. We developed and validated a novel ion‐pairing HPLC‐FL method for the simultaneous dosage of HCQ, and its major metabolites desethylhydroxychloroquine, desethylchloroquine and bisdesethylchloroquine, after extraction from whole blood. This methodological approach was used for the analysis of real samples obtained from patients affected by SLE and undergoing HCQ treatment. The same samples were also analyzed using a previously validated LC/MS/MS method and data obtained with the two approaches were in substantial agreement with each other. Results presented in this work indicate that this approach can be successfully used to monitor the level of HCQ and its metabolites in the blood of various categories of patients (i.e. low and high responders, or those not adhering to the therapy). Comparison of HPLC‐FL and LC/MS/MS data confirmed the efficacy of the proposed method for routine clinical analyses.
The dissociations of visual processing of “hole” and “no‐hole” stimuli: An functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Meng Qianli , Huang Yan , Cui Ding , He Lixia , Chen Lin , Ma Yuanye , Zhao Xudong 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIntroduction“Where to begin” is a fundamental question of vision. A “Global‐first” topological approach proposed that the first step in object representation was to extract topological properties, especially whether the object had a hole or not. Numerous psychophysical studies found that the hole (closure) could be rapidly recognized by visual system as a primitive property. However, neuroimaging studies showed that the temporal lobe (IT), which lied at a late stage of ventral pathway, was involved as a dedicated region. It appeared paradoxical that IT served as a key region for processing the early component of visual information. Did there exist a distinct fast route to transit hole information to IT? We hypothesized that a fast noncortical pathway might participate in processing holes.MethodsTo address this issue, a backward masking paradigm combined with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was applied to measure neural responses to hole and no‐hole stimuli in anatomically defined cortical and subcortical regions of interest (ROIs) under different visual awareness levels by modulating masking delays.ResultsFor no‐hole stimuli, the neural activation of cortical sites was greatly attenuated when the no‐hole perception was impaired by strong masking, whereas an enhanced neural response to hole stimuli in non‐cortical sites was obtained when the stimulus was rendered more invisible.ConclusionsThe results suggested that whereas the cortical route was required to drive a perceptual response for no‐hole stimuli, a subcortical route might be involved in coding the hole feature, resulting in a rapid hole perception in primitive vision.
Adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with operable granulosa cell tumors of the ovary: a surveillance, epidemiology, and end results cohort study
Authors: Oseledchyk Anton , Gennarelli Renee L. , Leitao Mario M. , Aghajanian Carol A. , Iasonos Alexia , Zivanovic Oliver , Zamarin Dmitriy 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAdjuvant chemotherapy is recommended for patients with resected high‐risk adult granulosa cell tumors (GCT), although strong data to support this are lacking. The objective of this study was to assess the outcomes of GCT patients, with the specific focus on patients that received adjuvant chemotherapy with curative intent (stage I‐III), reported in a large national cancer registry. Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2000 and 2013 were used for analysis. Patient and disease characteristics were extracted and analyzed for association with administration of chemotherapy. Impact on disease‐specific survival (DSS) was analyzed using log‐rank test. A total of 739 patients with surgically treated adult GCT were identified. Median age was 51 years. 570 (77%) patients were stage I, 87 (12%) were stage II, and 82 (11%) were stage III. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 176 (24%) patients. Young age, higher stage, and hysterectomy were associated with chemotherapy administration. Higher disease stage was associated with decreased five‐year DSS (IA/B 98.5%, IC 95.1%, II 86.1%, III 83.5%, P < 0.01). Notably, administration of adjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with improved five‐year DSS (P = 0.45) regardless of disease stage (stage IA/B: 96% with chemotherapy vs. 99% without chemotherapy; P = 0.64), (stage IC: 97% with chemotherapy vs. 94% without chemotherapy; P = 0.49), (stage II: 89% with chemotherapy vs. 83% without chemotherapy; P = 0.56), (stage III: 73% with chemotherapy vs. 93% without chemotherapy; P = 0.18). In this analysis, chemotherapy was not found to be associated with improved DSS of patients with operable disease regardless of stage, questioning the role for adjuvant chemotherapy in GCT.
Manipulating augmented virtual character using dynamic hierarchical pointing interface
Authors: Kim Hyejin , Hwang Jae‐In 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this paper, we introduce a bare‐hand interaction method for controlling an augmented virtual character. Our method is utilizing a dynamic hierarchical structure of virtual buttons on the natural marker of the environment. Unlike the existing virtual button method, the proposed method can be used to select a very fine level. This method is adequate for controlling an augmented virtual character with a users' various intentions. We implemented several examples of manipulating an augmented virtual character such as guiding the character, selecting part of the character, and selecting a target object for the character. We also compared the performance of full arrangement and dynamic hierarchical arrangement of virtual buttons. Our method outperforms the full arrangement method, especially in the low index of difficulty. In the user study with 15 participants, the users responded that the proposed method was significantly better than the existing full arrangement method regarding efficiency and satisfaction in the case of the fine level selection.
Ligand‐Tuneable, Red‐Emitting Iridium(III) Complexes for Efficient Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Upconversion Performance
Authors: Phillips Kaitlin A. , Stonelake Thomas M. , Chen Kepeng , Hou Yuqi , Zhao Jianzhang , Coles Simon J. , Horton Peter N. , Keane Shannon J. , Stokes Emily C. , Fallis Ian A. , Hallett Andrew J. , O'Kell Sean P. , Beames Joseph M. , Pope Simon J. A. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractA series of substituted 2‐phenylquinoxaline ligands have been explored to finely tune the visible emission properties of a corresponding set of cationic, cyclometallated iridium(III) complexes. The electronic and redox properties of the complexes were investigated through experimental (including time‐resolved luminescence and transient absorption spectroscopy) and theoretical methods. The complexes display absorption and phosphorescent emissions in the visible region that are attributed to metal to ligand charge‐transfer transitions. The different substitution patterns of the ligands induce variations in these parameters. Time‐dependent DFT studies support these assignments and show that there is likely to be a strong spin‐forbidden contribution to the visible absorption bands at λ=500–600 nm. Calculations also reliably predict the magnitude and trends in triplet emitting wavelengths for the series of complexes. The complexes were assessed as potential sensitisers in triplet–triplet annihilation upconversion experiments by using 9,10‐diphenylanthracene as the acceptor; the methylated variants performed especially well with impressive upconversion quantum yields of up to 39.3 %.
Wet Oxidation of Process Waters from the Hydrothermal Carbonization of Sewage Sludge
Authors: Weiner Barbara , Breulmann Marc , Wedwitschka Harald , Fühner Christoph , Kopinke Frank‐Dieter 
Published: April 2018

AbstractCombing hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of sewage sludge with wet oxidation of the resulting process waters (PWs) is a favorable economic process leading to a wastewater that is better amenable to biological treatments. Five PWs from HTC of sewage sludge and straw were oxidized with molecular oxygen. A good removal of chemical oxygen demand and dissolved organic carbon was shown. The oxidized waters proved good substrates for a subsequent anaerobic digestion. However, the oxidized PWs were identified as more toxic in germination tests with cress (Lepidium sativum L.) compared to the untreated PWs.
Molecular Arrangements of Corannulene and Sumanene in Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Iizumi Yoko , Liu Zheng , Suenaga Kazu , Okada Susumu , Higashibayashi Shuhei , Sakurai Hidehiro , Okazaki Toshiya 
Published: April 2018

AbstractMolecular arrangements of bowl‐shaped molecules, corannulene and sumanene, in single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were investigated using high‐resolution transmission microscopy and near‐infrared photoluminescence spectroscopy. The results indicated that corannulenes are nested in SWCNTs with a random orientation, whereas sumanenes form stacked structures. The trends are consistent with the molecular orientations of corannulene and sumanene in single crystals.
The triple bottom line and organizational attractiveness ratings: The role of pro‐environmental attitude
Authors: Bohlmann Clarissa , Krumbholz Leonie , Zacher Hannes 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe triple bottom line refers to companies' economic, social and environmental performance. In this study, we examined effects of these three factors on organizational attractiveness ratings using an experimental vignette methodology. In addition, we investigated pro‐environmental attitude as a moderator of these effects. Forty‐nine participants rated 27 vignettes describing different constellations of companies' triple bottom line and, in total, provided 1321 ratings of organizational attractiveness. Results of a multilevel analysis showed that the positive effect of social performance on organizational attractiveness ratings was stronger than the positive effects of economic and environmental performance. Moreover, environmental performance was more important for individuals with a more positive pro‐environmental attitude and economic performance was less important for individuals with a more positive pro‐environmental attitude. We discuss implications for future research and organizational practice.
Are corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives such as sustainable development and environmental policies value enhancing or window dressing?
Authors: Taylor Joseph , Vithayathil Joseph , Yim Dobin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe natural‐resource‐based view of the firm suggests that there are benefits associated with voluntary disclosure of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, in that this signals quality of management, as well as the quality of the firm's financial strategy, to its investors. With increased demand for transparency of firm activities, this assertion needs re‐examination. We examine the effects of governance, environmental and social responsibility performance on the firm, and find moderate support for CSR disclosure increasing firm value. However, only the disclosure of social responsibility scores was associated with higher levels of firm value, as measured by Tobin's q. This relationship was positively moderated by the extent to which a firm was consumer facing. These findings suggest that strategic engagement in social responsibility, rather than merely sponsoring environmental initiatives, contributes to increasing firm value through CSR.
Does sustainability marketing strategy achieve payback profits? A signaling theory perspective
Authors: Taoketao Eerdun , Feng Taiwen , Song Yongtao , Nie Yu 
Published: April 2018

AbstractDespite the importance of sustainability marketing strategy, its influence on firm performance is still inconclusive. In this study, we explore how and under what conditions sustainability marketing strategy influences firm performance by including the customer as an external stakeholder. Drawing on signaling theory, we test the hypothesized relationships using survey data collected from 264 Chinese firms. The results reveal that customer loyalty partially mediates the relationship between sustainability marketing strategy and firm performance. In addition, our findings indicate that competitive intensity positively moderates the relationship between sustainability marketing strategy and customer loyalty, and the mediating effect of customer loyalty. However, customer trust negatively moderates the relationship between sustainability marketing strategy and customer loyalty, while its moderated mediation is not significant. This study contributes to sustainability marketing literature and practice by providing novel insights into how to enhance firm performance by developing sustainability marketing strategy.
The role of IL‐22 in the resolution of sterile and nonsterile inflammation
Authors: Alabbas Saleh Y , Begun Jakob , Florin Timothy H , Oancea Iulia 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn a broad sense, inflammation can be conveniently characterised by two phases: the first phase, which is a pro‐inflammatory, has evolved to clear infection and/or injured tissue; and the second phase concerns regeneration of normal tissue and restitution of normal physiology. Innate immune cell‐derived pro‐inflammatory cytokines and chemokines activate and recruit nonresident immune cells to the site of infection, thereby amplifying the inflammatory responses to clear infection or injury. This phase is followed by a cytokine milieu that promotes tissue regeneration. There is no absolute temporal distinction between these two phases, and cytokines may have dual pleiotropic effects depending on the timing of release, inflammatory microenvironment or concentrations. IL‐22 is a cytokine with reported pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory roles; in this review, we contend that this protein has primarily a function in restitution of normal tissue and physiology.
A based on blinded CP‐ABE searchable encryption cloud storage service scheme
Authors: Cao Laicheng , Zhang Jinbo , Dong Xiaoye , Xi Chengzhe , Wang Yafei , Zhang Yangyang , Guo Xian , Feng Tao 
Published: April 2018

SummaryCloud computing has great economical advantages and wide application, more and more data owners store their data in the cloud storage server (CSS) to avoid tedious local data management and insufficient storage resources. But the privacy of data owners faces enormous challenges. The most recent searchable encryption technology adopts the ciphertext‐policy attribute‐based encryption (CP‐ABE), which is one good method to deal with this security issue. However, the access attributes of the users are transmitted and assigned in plaintext form. In this paper, we propose a based on blinded CP‐ABE searchable encryption cloud storage service (BCP‐ABE‐SECSS) scheme, which can blind the access attributes of the users in order to prevent the collusion attacks of the CSS and the users. Data encryption and keyword index generation are performed by the data owners; meanwhile, we construct that CSS not only executes the access control policy of the data but also performs the pre‐decryption operation about the encrypted data to solve higher time cost of decryption calculation to the data users. Security proof results show that this scheme has access attribute security, data confidentiality, indistinguishable security against chosen keyword attack, and resisting the collusion attack between the data user and the CSS. Performance analysis and the experimental results show that this scheme can effectively reduce the computation time cost of the data owners and the data users.
Geographical distribution of zooplankton biodiversity in highly polluted running water ecosystems: Validation of fine‐scale species sorting hypothesis
Authors: Yang Yuzhan , Ni Ping , Gao Yangchun , Xiong Wei , Zhao Yan , Zhan Aibin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractDispersal, rather than species sorting, is widely recognized as the dominant driver for determining meta‐community structure at fine geographical scales in running water ecosystems. However, this view has been challenged by a recently proposed “fine‐scale species sorting hypothesis,” where community structure can be largely determined by an environmental gradient formed by local pollution at fine scales. Here, we tested this hypothesis by studying community composition and geographical distribution of metazoan zooplankton in a heavily polluted river—the North Canal River in the Haihe River Basin, China. Analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) showed that the community composition of metazoan zooplankton differed significantly (p = .001) along the environmental gradient. Ammonium (NH4‐N) was the leading factor responsible for changes in zooplankton community structure and geographical distribution, followed by total dissolved solid (TDS), Na, dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature (T). Variation partitioning revealed a larger contribution of environmental variables (21.6%) than spatial variables (1.1%) to the total explained variation of zooplankton communities. Our results support that species sorting, rather than dispersal, played a key role in structuring communities. Threshold Indicator Taxa ANalysis (TITAN) also revealed significant change points at both taxon and community levels along the gradient of NH4‐N, providing further support for the influence of environmental variables on zooplankton communities. Collectively, we validate the fine‐scale species sorting hypothesis when an environmental gradient exists in running water ecosystems at fine geographical scales. However, future studies on interactions between pollutants and zooplankton communities are still needed to better understand mechanisms responsible for the meta‐community dynamics.
Numerical simulation of shrink‐fit motor using gradient Si steel
Authors: Koseki Shinji , Oda Yoshihiko , Hiratani Tatsuhiko , Kasai Shoji , Zaizen Yoshiaki 
Published: April 2018

AbstractA gradient Si steel sheet shows low iron loss in the high‐frequency range and lower iron loss deterioration under compressive stresses, therefore, it is suitable for use as the core material of high‐speed motors, which have seen considerable downsizing in recent years. By performing shearing and shrink‐fitting, the advantages of gradient Si steel as a motor material are investigated in this study. In both shearing and compressive stress experiments, gradient Si steel showed lower iron loss compared to conventional nonoriented electrical steel (0.2 mm thick). By numerical simulation, the efficiencies of the shrink‐fitted motors using gradient Si steel and 3% Si steel were calculated. The motor using the gradient Si steel showed significantly higher efficiency than that using the 3% Si steel. Moreover, even under city driving conditions, gradient Si steel showed good efficiency, because of lower iron loss deterioration. Therefore, gradient Si steel can be used for a wide variety of motors in addition to high‐frequency devices.
Evaluation of capacitance changes of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers for ultrasonic diagnoses by charge‐injection
Authors: Aono Takanori , Yoshimura Yasuhiro , Machida Shuntaro 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThis research reports capacitance–voltage (CV) changes of capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUT) for ultrasonic diagnoses. The CMUT constitutes an electrostatically vibrating film, which is fabricated by deposition processes of SiO2 and SiN films as insulator and TiN and Al films as top electrode on a Si substrate. The ultrasonic waves are transmitted by addition of AC voltage between the top electrode and the Si substrate, whereas the reflective ultrasonic wave are received with the vibrating film and converted to the electrical signals for ultrasonic diagnostic images. There is a problem that the CV changes of CMUT occur due to charge‐injection into the insulator, since a high AC and DC voltages are applied for driving the vibrating film. Thus, it is necessary to suppress the change in CV characteristics of the CMUT due to charge‐injection. It is clarified that the CV drift due to charge‐injection can be decreased by forming the top electrode so as to cover the vibrating film. Also, the CV drift is able to be suppressed by setting the driving voltage to be equal to or less than the collapse voltage.