bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of task relevance instructions on memory for text with seductive details
Authors: McCrudden Matthew T. 
Published: September 2018

SummarySeductive details in text are interesting but unimportant text segments. Although seductive details can make expository text more interesting, they do not necessarily promote learning of main ideas. This study investigated whether task relevance instructions that targeted main ideas would promote memory for main ideas when students read a text with seductive details.Undergraduates (n = 102) read a text with seductive detail sentences and then did a free recall task. Before reading, participants received pre‐reading questions that either targeted main ideas or seductive details, or they read for understanding. The main finding was that students in the main idea relevance instruction condition recalled main ideas better than students in the control or seductive detail relevance instruction conditions. Theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed, and directions for future research are provided.
Tocilizumab and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: Direct Comparison Among Biologic Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: Xie Fenglong , Yun Huifeng , Levitan Emily B. , Muntner Paul , Curtis Jeffrey R. 
Published: September 2018

ObjectiveMultiple studies have shown seemingly unfavorable changes in lipid profiles associated with interleukin‐6 receptor (IL‐6R) antagonists and some other therapies for rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study was to assess the real‐world cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk associated with tocilizumab, the first anti–IL‐6R medication approved for the treatment of RA.MethodsWe conducted a cohort study using 2006–2015 Medicare and MarketScan claims for patients with RA in whom treatment with biologic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs was initiated after January 1, 2010. The primary outcome was a composite of myocardial infarction, stroke, and fatal CVD, assessed using a validated method. The influence of potential confounding due to RA disease activity was assessed in a subgroup analysis (~5–10% of biologic therapy initiations) using the multi‐biomarker disease activity (MBDA) score.ResultsA total of 88,463 patients with RA were included. The crude incidence rate (IR) per 1,000 patient‐years for composite CVD events among Medicare patients ranged from 11.8 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 9.7–14.4) for etanercept users to 17.3 (95% CI 15.2–19.7) for infliximab users. The crude IR for pooled users of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor was 15.0 (95% CI 13.9–16.3). Compared to tocilizumab, the corresponding adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were 1.01 (95% CI 0.79–1.28) for abatacept, 1.16 (95% CI 0.89–1.53) for rituximab, 1.10 (95% CI 0.80–1.51) for etanercept, 1.33 (95% CI 0.99–1.80) for adalimumab, and 1.61 (95% CI 1.22–2.12) for infliximab. There were no statistically significant differences in the risk of CVD between tocilizumab and any other biologic when MarketScan data were used. Results were robust in numerous subgroup analyses and after external adjustment to control for RA disease activity in the subgroup of patients with linked MBDA test results (n = 4,156).ConclusionTocilizumab was associated with a CVD risk comparable to that for etanercept as well as a number of other biologics used for the treatment of RA.
The Application of Biomaterials to Tissue Engineering Neural Retina and Retinal Pigment Epithelium
Authors: Hunt Nicola C. , Hallam Dean , Chichagova Valeria , Steel David H. , Lako Majlinda 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe prevalence of degenerative retinal disease is ever increasing as life expectancy rises globally. The human retina fails to regenerate and the use of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human‐induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to engineer retinal tissue is of particular interest due to the limited availability of suitable allogeneic or autologous tissue. Retinal tissue and its development are well characterized, which have resulted in robust assays to assess the development of tissue‐engineered retina. Retinal tissue can be generated in vitro from hESCs and hiPSCs without biomaterial scaffolds, but despite advancements, protocols remain slow, expensive, and fail to result in mature functional tissue. Several recent studies have demonstrated the potential of biomaterial scaffolds to enhance generation of hESC/hiPSC‐derived retinal tissue, including synthetic polymers, silk, alginate, hyaluronic acid, and extracellular matrix molecules. This review outlines the advances that have been made toward tissue‐engineered neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) for clinical application in recent years, including the success of clinical trials involving transplantation of cells and tissue to promote retinal repair; and the evidence from in vitro and animal studies that biomaterials can enhance development and integration of retinal tissue.
Development of Organic Semiconductor Photodetectors: From Mechanism to Applications
Authors: Yang Dezhi , Ma Dongge 
Published: September 2018

AbstractPhotodetectors that convert a light signal into an electrical signal have wide applications in light signal detection. As an emerging candidate for next‐generation light sensing, organic photodetectors compensate well for the shortages of the traditional inorganic photodetectors in terms of ease of processing, compatibility with flexible substrates, tunable absorption characteristics, low‐cost manufacturing, and being lightweight. Currently, regular improvements in organic photodetectors are made with respect to their important figure‐of‐merit performances, which have caught up to or even surpassed the performances of inorganic Si and Ge‐based photodetectors. Importantly, the spectral response of organic photodetectors covers a wide range of wavelengths, from the ultraviolet to near‐infrared regions, with low‐band‐gap organic semiconductors as the active medium. In this paper, the working mechanism and recent advances in organic semiconductor photodetectors are comprehensively reviewed and the challenges in the field, mainly focusing on the performance of organic photodetectors, studies oriented toward applications, and the expectations of organic semiconductor photodetectors in the future, are disclosed.
Highly Efficient and Stable Self‐Powered Ultraviolet and Deep‐Blue Photodetector Based on Cs2AgBiBr6/SnO2 Heterojunction
Authors: Wu Cuncun , Du Bowen , Luo Wei , Liu Yang , Li Tieyi , Wang Duo , Guo Xuan , Ting Hungkit , Fang Zheyu , Wang Shufeng , Chen Zhijian , Chen Yanxue , Xiao Lixin 
Published: September 2018

AbstractUltraviolet (UV) photodetectors with high responsivity and fast response are crucial for practical applications. Double perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6 has emerged as a promising optoelectronic material due to its excellent physics and photoelectric properties. However, no work is reported based on its film for photodetector applications. Herein, an ITO/SnO2/Cs2AgBiBr6/Au hole‐transport layer free planar heterojunction device is fabricated for photodetector application. The device is self‐powered with two responsivity peaks at 350 and 435 nm, which is suitable for ultraviolet‐A (320–400 nm) and deep‐blue light detecting. A high responsivity of 0.11 A W−1 at 350 nm and a quick response time of less than 3 ms are obtained, which is significantly higher than other semiconductor oxide heterojunction‐based UV detectors. More importantly, the stability is significantly better than most of the hybrid perovskite photodetectors reported so far. Its photocurrent shows no obvious degradation after more than 6 months storage in ambient conditions without any encapsulation. Consequently, the utilization of Cs2AgBiBr6 film is a practical approach for high performance, large‐area lead‐free perovskite photodetector applications. For the mechanism, it is found that photogenerated carriers in Cs2AgBiBr6 film are separated at the Cs2AgBiBr6/SnO2 heterojunction interface by its built‐in field. The low toxicity and high stability of this double perovskite active layer make it very promising for practical applications.
Segregation Induced Self‐Assembly of Highly Active Perovskite for Rapid Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Li Yifeng , Zhang Wenqiang , Wu Tong , Zheng Yun , Chen Jing , Yu Bo , Zhu Jianxin , Liu Meilin 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe development of high‐performance electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies hinges largely on the creation of highly efficient and durable electrode materials. For many promising perovskite‐based electrode materials, however, nanosized islands of inert or insulating oxides, induced by cation segregation, are often formed on the surfaces under operating conditions, which severely degrade the electrocatalytic activity and long‐term stability. Here, the findings in effectively mitigating the challenges by controlling localized surface chemical states via surface decoration are reported. It is found that addition of SrO at La0.6Sr0.4CoO3−δ surface can induce self‐assembly of highly active perovskite coatings, avoiding the formation of inactive islands. Such coatings are found to act as active centers providing more than 10 times higher localized conductivity than the segregated islands and twice faster oxygen exchange kinetics than the perovskite surfaces, resulting in nearly 30 times improvement in electrochemical performances at 600 °C. The findings provide a novel approach to rational design and modification of perovskite electrode surfaces for higher and more durable electrochemical performance.
Open‐Shell Characters, Aromaticities and Third‐Order Nonlinear Optical Properties of Carbon Nanobelts Composed of Five‐ and Six‐Membered Rings
Authors: Yamane Masaki , Kishi Ryohei , Tonami Takayoshi , Okada Kenji , Nagami Takanori , Kitagawa Yasutaka , Nakano Masayoshi 
Published: September 2018

AbstractGeometric features, electronic structures and third‐order nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of belt‐shaped hydrocarbons, namely, carbon nanobelts, are investigated by using the density functional theory (DFT) methods. A carbon nanobelt composed of five‐ and six‐membered rings (IF‐CNB, 42π), which involves repeating indenofluorene (IF) units, is expected to exhibit both open‐shell multiradical character and relatively strong aromatic nature in the singlet state, while that composed only of six‐membered rings (CNB, 48π) is shown to be a closed‐shell weak antiaromatic species. These features of electronic structure of IF‐CNB are shown to be closely related to its p‐quinodimethane (pQM)‐like substructures and several geometric features (bond‐length alternations and symmetry) of the system. Third‐order NLO properties of open‐shell IF‐CNB is expected to be enhanced more than three times as large as those of the closed‐shell CNB. These results indicate the possibility of further multi‐functionalizations of belt‐shaped hydrocarbons by fusing five‐membered rings.
A Ferrocene‐Based Dicationic Iron(IV) Carbonyl Complex
Authors: Malischewski Moritz , Seppelt Konrad , Sutter Jörg , Munz Dominik , Meyer Karsten 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe 16‐valence electron species [Cp*2Fe]2+ (Cp*=η‐C5Me5), formally featuring a tetravalent iron ion, quantitatively binds CO in HF solution to form the stable, diamagnetic carbonyl species [Cp*2Fe(CO)]2+. This dication forms salts in the presence of AsF6− and SbF6− that were crystallographically characterized. The molecular structure in crystals of [Cp*2Fe(CO)](AsF6)2 displays cyclopentadienyl rings that are clearly not parallel and an equatorially bound η1‐CO ligand. The formal oxidation state +IV of iron was investigated by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and is supported by DFT computational analysis. A detailed spectroscopic characterization of the hitherto unprecedented high‐valent iron carbonyl compounds is reported.
Effective removal of ammonia from wastewater using hollow fiber renewal liquid membrane
Authors: Liu Weidong , He Lichao , Wang Mengyao , Wei Lu , Xu Lei , Zhou Zhiyong , Ren Zhongqi 
Published: September 2018

AbstractA new method using hollow fiber renewal liquid membrane (HFRLM) for treatment of ammonia wastewater was proposed. Di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid (D2EHPA)‐kerosene and hydrogen chloride solution were selected as the extraction system and stripping phase for removal of ammonia from wastewater, respectively. The extraction equilibrium experiments were performed to confirm the feasibility of the extraction process. Effects of operating conditions and the composition of liquid membrane phase on mass transfer behavior of HFRLM were investigated. The treatment of ammonia wastewater with Mode 2 had a better mass transfer performance than that with Mode 1. In Mode 2, the feed phase and stripping phase flowed through the shell side and tube side, respectively. To a certain extent, the increases of D2EHPA concentration, hydrochloric acid concentration, and ammonia concentration were conducive to the increase of mass transfer flux of ammonia. After 10 stages of cascade experiments, the concentration of ammonia in wastewater at the outlet was less than 15 mg L−1. Besides, the final ammonia concentration decreased to 8.4 mg L−1 through the HFRLM recycling experiments. Based on series‐resistance model and the surface renewal theory, an appropriate mass transfer model was established and verified, which could be used to predict experimental results.
Silicon dioxide/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite hydrogels with high mechanical properties and low swellability
Authors: Luo X. , Akram M. Y. , Yuan Y. , Nie J. , Zhu X. 
Published: September 2018

ABSTRACTPoly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) hydrogels with tissue‐like viscoelasticity, excellent biocompatibility, and hydrophilicity have been considered as promising cartilage replacement materials. However, the low mechanical properties of pure PVA hydrogels limit their applications for bearing complicated loads. Herein, we report silicon dioxide (SiO2)/PVA composite hydrogels fabricated by fabricated cyclically freezing/thawing the aqueous mixture of PVA and methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS). MTMS hydrolyzes and forms SiO2 particles in situ to reinforce PVA hydrogel. Meanwhile, silanol group condenses with hydroxyl groups of PVA and chemically bonds with PVA. The resulting SiO2/PVA hydrogels exhibit much better mechanical properties than bare PVA hydrogel. In addition, the composite hydrogels keep very low swellable property. This prepared composite hydrogels are promising in a variety of biomedical applications such as artificial articular cartilage, drug delivery, and biosensors. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 46895.
Suppressive Regulation by MFG‐E8 of Latent Transforming Growth Factor β–Induced Fibrosis via Binding to αv Integrin: Significance in the Pathogenesis of Fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Fujiwara Chisako , Uehara Akihito , Sekiguchi Akiko , Uchiyama Akihiko , Yamazaki Sahori , Ogino Sachiko , Yokoyama Yoko , Torii Ryoko , Hosoi Mari , Suto Chiaki , Tsunekawa Katsuhiko , Murakami Masami , Ishikawa Osamu , Motegi Sei‐ichiro 
Published: September 2018

ObjectiveSeveral studies have demonstrated that the secreted glycoprotein and integrin ligand milk fat globule–associated protein with epidermal growth factor– and factor VIII–like domains (MFG‐E8) negatively regulates fibrosis in the liver, lungs, and respiratory tract. However, the mechanisms and roles of MFG‐E8 in skin fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc) have not been characterized. We undertook this study to elucidate the role of MFG‐E8 in skin fibrosis in SSc.MethodsWe assessed expression of MFG‐E8 in the skin and serum in SSc patients. We examined the effect of recombinant MFG‐E8 (rMFG‐E8) on latent transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)–induced gene/protein expression in SSc fibroblasts. We examined the effects of deficiency or administration of MFG‐E8 on fibrosis mouse models.ResultsWe demonstrated that MFG‐E8 expression around dermal blood vessels and the serum MFG‐E8 level in SSc patients (n = 7 and n = 44, respectively) were lower than those in healthy individuals (n = 6 and n = 28, respectively). Treatment with rMFG‐E8 significantly inhibited latent TGFβ–induced expression of type I collagen, α‐smooth muscle actin, and CCN2 in SSc fibroblasts (n = 3–8), which suggested that MFG‐E8 inhibited activation of latent TGFβ as well as TGFβ signaling via binding to αv integrin. In a mouse model of bleomycin‐induced fibrosis (n = 5–8) and in a TSK mouse model (a genetic model of SSc) (n = 5–10), deficient expression of MFG‐E8 significantly enhanced both pulmonary and skin fibrosis, and administration of rMFG‐E8 significantly inhibited bleomycin‐induced dermal fibrosis.ConclusionThese results suggest that vasculopathy‐induced dysfunction of pericytes and endothelial cells, the main cells secreting MFG‐E8, may be associated with the decreased expression of MFG‐E8 in SSc and that the deficient inhibitory regulation of latent TGFβ–induced skin fibrosis by MFG‐E8 may be involved in the pathogenesis of SSc and may be a therapeutic target for fibrosis in SSc patients.
Monitoring futility and efficacy in phase II trials with Bayesian posterior distributions—A calibration approach
Authors: Kopp‐Schneider Annette , Wiesenfarth Manuel , Witt Ruth , Edelmann Dominic , Witt Olaf , Abel Ulrich 
Published: September 2018

AbstractA multistage single arm phase II trial with binary endpoint is considered. Bayesian posterior probabilities are used to monitor futility in interim analyses and efficacy in the final analysis. For a beta‐binomial model, decision rules based on Bayesian posterior probabilities are converted to “traditional” decision rules in terms of number of responders among patients observed so far. Analytical derivations are given for the probability of stopping for futility and for the probability to declare efficacy. A workflow is presented on how to select the parameters specifying the Bayesian design, and the operating characteristics of the design are investigated. It is outlined how the presented approach can be transferred to statistical models other than the beta‐binomial model.
Effects of Tm3+ concentration on upconversion luminescence and temperature‐sensing behavior in Tm3+/Yb3+:Y2O3 nanocrystals
Authors: Chen Guangrun , Lei Ruoshan , Huang Feifei , Wang Huanping , Zhao Shilong , Xu Shiqing 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThe effects of Tm3+ concentration on upconversion emission and temperature‐sensing behavior of Tm3+/Yb3+:Y2O3 nanocrystals were investigated. Blue and red emissions were observed under 980 nm excitation. Both upconversion emissions and the blue to red intensity ratio were found to decrease with increasing Tm3+ concentration. The temperature‐sensing performances of the samples were studied, the fluorescence intensity ratio of 1G4(a)→3H6 (477 nm) and 1G4(b)→3H6 (490 nm) transitions from Tm3+ ions was chosen as the thermometric index. The results showed that the sensor sensitivity was sensitive to Tm3+ ion concentration. The maximum sensitivity of ~32 × 10−4 K−1 was obtained for 0.1%Tm3+/5%Yb3+:Y2O3 nanocrystals at 344 K. Moreover, a marked optical induced heating effect was also found in the nanocrystals. The prepared Tm3+/Yb3+:Y2O3 nanocrystals could be used in temperature‐sensing probes and in optical heaters.
Plasmatic free light chains as inflammatory marker in insulin resistance: comparison of metabolic syndrome with adult growth hormone deficiency
Authors: Basile Umberto , Bruno Carmine , Napodano Cecilia , Vergani Edoardo , Pocino Krizia , Brunetti Alessandro , Gulli Francesca , Santini Stefano Angelo , Mancini Antonio 
Published: September 2018

AbstractBiological functions of immunoglobulin‐free light chains (FLCs), other than in chronic inflammatory diseases, are still poorly defined; the field of insulin resistance (IR) has not been investigated, despite the strict relationships with oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. Therefore, we evaluated FLCs levels and their relationships with metabolic parameters in adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS), both characterized by IR. One hundred subjects were enrolled: group A, patients with GHD [n =31, 24–69 years, mean ± SEM body mass index (BMI) 26.8 ± 1.5 kg/m2]; group B, patients with MetS (n = 29, 21–70 years, BMI 31.9 ± 1.3); group C, controls (N = 40, 21–62 years, BMI 21.6 ± 1.1). Groups were matched by age range and, for patients, by BMI. Morning blood sample was collected for metabolic parameters and FLCs, assessed by turbidimetric assay. GHD patients show levels of FLCs significantly higher than MetS and controls (mean ± SEM κ 37.21 ± 6.97, 15.27 ± 0.86, 12.34 ± 0.85 mg/l; λ 19.44 ± 2.61, 11.78 ± 0.72 and 11.67 ± 0.77 mg/l; κ/λ ratio 1.77 ± 0.13, 1.38 ± 0.09; and 1.10 ± 0.06, respectively); only κ were higher in MetS versus controls. Therefore, the ratio showed progressive declining values in GHD versus MetS versus controls. Our data show increased FLCs levels in GHD and MetS, with the highest values in the former. Both conditions show OS, but with different molecular patterns. FLCs may contribute to chronic inflammation, leading to OS, and cardiovascular complications of GHD. Prognostic and therapeutic implications require further investigation. © 2018 BioFactors, 44(5):480–484, 2018
Simultaneous determination of tiopronin and its primary metabolite in plasma and ocular tissues by HPLC
Authors: Beltz Justin , Pfaff Annalise , Ercal Nuran 
Published: September 2018

AbstractTiopronin, formally 2‐mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG), is currently prescribed to treat cystinuria and rheumatoid arthritis, and its antioxidant properties have led to its investigation as a treatment for cataracts, a condition in which oxidative stress is strongly implicated. To study its accumulation in the eye, a reliable, isocratic HPLC method was developed for the determination of MPG and its primary metabolite 2‐mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) in plasma and relevant ocular tissues. This method utilizes pre‐column derivatization and fluorescence detection. The 3.5 min separation enables high‐throughput analysis, and validation experiments demonstrated that this method is suitable for evaluating ocular accumulation of MPG and MPA at concentrations as low as 66 and 33 nm, respectively. Excellent linearity was achieved over the working concentration range with R2 > 0.997. Extraction recovery was reproducible within each matrix and exceeded 97%. Accuracy was within 13.3% relative error, and intra‐ and inter‐day precisions were within 6% CV and 7% CV, respectively. Sample stability was demonstrated under various storage conditions, and the use of an internal standard conferred exceptional ruggedness. This method has been successfully applied for the determination of MPG and MPA in plasma, cornea, lens and retina following intraperitoneal administration of the drug in Wistar rats.
Environmental policy, environmental performance, and financial distress in China: Do top management team characteristics matter?
Authors: Shahab Yasir , Ntim Collins G. , Chengang Ye , Ullah Farid , Fosu Samuel 
Published: September 2018

AbstractThis study investigates the effect of environmental performance that is driven by good environmental policies, regulations, and management on firm's financial distress and, consequently, ascertains the extent to which top management teams' (TMTs') characteristics can moderate the environmental performance–financial distress nexus in China using 749 firms over the 2009–2014 period (i.e., generating over 3,000 individual observations). Our findings are twofold. First, our results indicate that increased environmental performance that is driven by good environmental policies tends to strategically reduce the extent of firm financial distress. Second, this nexus is moderated by TMT gender diversity, foreign exposure, and political connection. We interpret our findings within neo‐institutional, upper echelons, and risk management theoretical perspectives. The findings are robust to the use of alternative measures of financial distress, estimation techniques, and endogeneity problems.