bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association of circulating proinflammatory marker, leucine‐rich‐α2‐glycoprotein (LRG1), following metabolic/bariatric surgery
Authors: Pek Sharon Li Ting , Cheng Anton Kui Sing , Lin Michelle Xueqin , Wong Moh Sim , Chan Eric Zit Liang , Moh Angela Mei Chung , Sum Chee Fang , Lim Su Chi , Tavintharan Subramaniam 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundObesity confers substantial excess risk for morbidity and mortality, especially for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Leucine‐rich‐α2‐glycoprotein 1 (LRG1), a novel proinflammatory factor, was recently reported to be higher in patients with T2D with complications of peripheral arterial disease. Association of LRG1, obesity, and weight loss is unknown. We examined whether plasma LRG1 is associated with obesity in health screening participants and if it predicts future weight loss in morbidly obese patients after metabolic/bariatric surgery.MethodsCohort 1 was a cross‐sectional study from a Health Screening program (n = 616) in a tertiary hospital. Cohort 2 was a prospective study of morbidly obese patients (n = 231) who underwent metabolic/bariatric surgery with follow‐up weight measurements. Anthropometric data, baseline fasting glucose, plasma adiponectin, high sensitivity C‐reactive protein (HsCRP), and LRG1 were measured. Postsurgery blood, after metabolic/bariatric surgery, were available for LRG1and HsCRP measurements in 57 patients.ResultsIn the group with highest tertile of LRG1, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and HsCRP were significantly higher, while total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein, low‐density lipoprotein, and adiponectin were lower than tertiles 1 and 2. Generalized linear model analysis showed that female gender (P < .0001), non‐Chinese ethnicity (P < .019), and higher HsCRP (P < .0001) levels were independent and significant determinants of higher plasma LRG1 levels. After adjustment for age, gender, ethnicity, and baseline BMI, female gender (P = .020), higher presurgery BMI (P = .001), and lower presurgery LRG1 (P = .002) remained statistically significant predictors for greater weight loss. Plasma LRG1 increased significantly [from 28.2 (21.9‐36.8) to 34.9 (22.6‐49.5)] μg/mL (P = .003) within 1.5 months, after metabolic/bariatric surgery.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that LRG1 level is positively associated with obesity and a lower level of plasma LRG1 predicts weight loss in metabolic/bariatric surgery. Our novel findings suggest LRG1, itself or in combination with other known factors, is a potential biomarker of inflammation and obesity.
Upconversion nanoparticle bioconjugates characterized by capillary electrophoresis
Authors: Vaneckova Tereza , Smerkova Kristyna , Zitka Jan , Hynek David , Zitka Ondrej , Hlavacek Antonin , Foret Frantisek , Adam Vojtech , Vaculovicova Marketa 
Published: June 2018

AbstractUpconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are an emerging class of optical materials with high potential in bioimaging due to practically no background signal and high penetration depth. Their excellent optical properties and easy surface functionalization make them perfect for conjugation with targeting ligands. In this work, capillary electrophoretic (CE) method with laser‐induced fluorescence detection was used to investigate the behavior of carboxyl‐silica‐coated UCNPs. Folic acid, targeting folate receptor overexpressed by wide variety of cancer cells, was used for illustrative purposes and assessed by CE under optimized conditions. Peptide‐mediated bioconjugation of antibodies to UCNPs was also investigated. Despite the numerous advantages of CE, this is the first time that CE was employed for characterization of UCNPs and their bioconjugates. The separation conditions were optimized including the background electrolyte concentration and pH. The optimized electrolyte was 20 mM borate buffer with pH 8.
Chronology of an ancient water reservoir and the history of human activity in the Negev Highlands, Israel
Authors: Junge Andrea , Lomax Johanna , Shahack‐Gross Ruth , Finkelstein Israel , Fuchs Markus 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn antiquity, the development of techniques to collect and store water was fundamental to sustain life in arid regions. One way to overcome the problem of water supply in the desert was to construct water reservoirs and cisterns which collect surface runoff during rare rain events. Indeed, open reservoirs and rock‐cut cisterns are widely spread over the arid zone of the Negev Highlands. They were an important component of human activity in the area. Today, they can serve as sedimentary archives for archaeological and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. To shed more light on this valuable archive, the chronology of an ancient stone‐lined, open reservoir was established by optically stimulated luminescence dating. By determining the age of the deposition of sediments associated with the reservoir, it was possible to constrain its construction (8th–11th centuries C.E.), duration of use (up to ca. 15th century C.E.), and final refilling (from the 15th century C.E. to the modern era). These results indicate that most human activity related to the reservoir occurred between the 8th‐to‐11th and the 15th centuries C.E., when permanent settlements are not recorded archaeologically in the region, suggesting that the studied water reservoir was primarily utilized by pastoral nomads.
Emergency departments key performance indicators: A unified framework and its practice
Authors: Núñez Alicia , Neriz Liliana , Mateo Ricardo , Ramis Francisco , Ramaprasad Arkalgud 
Published: June 2018

SummaryContextAn emergency department (ED) in a hospital provides 24‐hour care for the injured/severely ill patients. EDs are essential in any health care system. However, they face many challenges to provide timely treatment such as shortage of specialists, inadequate infrastructure, and unavailability of hospital beds, among others. These challenges are worldwide and undermine the effectiveness of operations and quality of services throughout the hospital.MethodsThis study aims to improve the performance of EDs using key performance indicators (KPIs). The KPIs will help decision makers to monitor and manage the performance of EDs systematically. Based on an in‐depth field study, expert opinions, and literature review, we propose 5 categories of KPIs regarding Capacity for, Temporality of, Quality of, Outcomes of, and Economics of emergency care. The KPIs are applicable to the basic stages of emergency care. The achievement of the KPIs in each stage will be a function of (1) how the KPIs are used, (2) resources for achieving the KPIs, and (3) management of the resources. The unified systemic framework to manage EDs is presented as an ontology that articulates the very large number of potential ways of ED performance management.ResultsSeventy‐five KPIs were defined for monitoring purposes. The KPIs and the proposed framework were validated and applied in 2 EDs at a public children's hospital and a medium size clinic in Chile.ConclusionsBased on the study, we propose to standardize the essential information necessary to assess the performance of EDs in Chile using KPIs for their continuous improvement.
Radiative nanofluid flow and heat transfer between parallel disks with penetrable and stretchable walls considering Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model
Authors: Dogonchi A.S. , Chamkha Ali J. , Seyyedi S.M. , Ganji D.D. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn this work, we explore the unsteady squeezing flow and heat transfer of nanofluid between two parallel disks in which one of the disks is penetrable and the other is stretchable/shrinkable, in the presence of thermal radiation and heat source impacts, and considering the Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model instead of the more conventional Fourier's law of heat conduction. A similarity transformation is utilized to transmute the governing momentum and energy equations into nonlinear ordinary differential equations with the proper boundary conditions. The achieved nonlinear ordinary differential equations are solved by the Duan–Rach Approach (DRA). This method modifies the standard Adomian Decomposition Method by evaluating the inverse operators at the boundary conditions directly. The impacts of diverse active parameters, such as the suction/injection parameter, the solid volume fraction, the heat source parameter, the thermal relaxation parameter, and the radiation parameter on flow and heat transfer traits are examined. In addition, the value of the Nusselt number is calculated and portrayed through figures.
Galectin-3-binding protein: A multitask glycoprotein with innate immunity functions in viral and bacterial infections
Authors: Loimaranta Vuokko , Hepojoki Jussi , Laaksoaho Olli , Pulliainen Arto T 
Published: June 2018

AbstractGalectin-3-binding protein (Gal-3BP) is a ubiquitous and multifunctional secreted glycoprotein originally identified and mainly studied in the context of neoplastic transformation and cancer progression. However, Gal-3BP expression is induced in viral infection and by a multitude of molecules that either mimic or are characteristic for an ongoing inflammation and microbial infection, such as IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, poly(I:C), dsRNA, and dsDNA. Furthermore, Gal-3BP belongs to the scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) domain-containing protein family, by virtue of its N-terminal SRCR domain. The SRCR domain is found in soluble or membrane-associated innate immunity-related proteins and is implicated in self-nonself discrimination. This review summarizes the current knowledge of structural features of Gal-3BP and its proposed intracellular and extracellular innate immunity functions with special emphasis on viral and bacterial infections.Review on structural features of Gal-3BP and its proposed innate immunity functions with special emphasis on viral and bacterial infections.
Tracing the developmental origin of a lizard skull: Chondrocranial architecture, heterochrony, and variation in lacertids
Authors: Yaryhin Oleksandr , Werneburg Ingmar 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe sand lizard, Lacerta agilis, is a classical model species in herpetology. Its adult skull anatomy and its embryonic development are well known. The description of its fully formed primordial skull by Ernst Gaupp, in 1900, was a key publication in vertebrate morphology and influenced many comparative embryologists. Based on recent methodological considerations, we restudied the early cranial development of this species starting as early as the formation of mesenchymal condensations up to the fully formed chondrocranium. We traced the formation of the complex chondrocranial architecture in detail, clarified specific homologies for the first time, and uncovered major differences to old textbook descriptions. Comparison with other lacertid lizards revealed a very similar genesis of the primordial skull. However, we detected shifts in the developmental timing of particular cartilaginous elements, mainly in the nasal region, which may correlate to specific ecological adaptation in the adults. Late timing of nasal elements might be an important innovation for the successful wide range distribution of the well‐known sand lizard.
Shared leadership: A state‐of‐the‐art review and future research agenda
Authors: Zhu Jinlong , Liao Zhenyu , Yam Kai Chi , Johnson Russell E. 
Published: June 2018

SummaryThe traditional “great man” approaches to leadership emphasize qualities of individual leaders for leadership success. In contrast, a rapidly growing body of research has started to examine shared leadership, which is broadly defined as an emergent team phenomenon whereby leadership roles and influence are distributed among team members. Despite the progress, however, the extant literature on shared leadership has been fragmented with a variety of conceptualizations and operationalizations. This has resulted in little consensus regarding a suitable overarching theoretical framework and has undermined developing knowledge in this research domain. To redress these problems, we provide a comprehensive review of the growing literature of shared leadership by (a) clarifying the definition of shared leadership; (b) conceptually disentangling shared leadership from other theoretically overlapping constructs; (c) addressing measurement issues; and (d) developing an integrative framework of the antecedents, proximal and distal consequences, and boundary conditions of shared leadership. We end our review by highlighting several new avenues for future research.
Generalized contact model for polyhedra in three‐dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis
Authors: Zheng Fei , Jiao Yu‐Yong , Sitar Nicholas 
Published: June 2018

SummaryWe present a generalized contact computation model for arbitrarily shaped polyhedra to simplify the contact analysis in discontinuous deformation analysis. A list of generalized contact constraints can be established for contacting polyhedra during contact detection. Each contact constraint contains information for 2 contact points, unique contact plane, and related contact modes (open, locked, or sliding). Computational aspects of the generalized contact model include identification of contact positions and contact modes, uniform penalty formulation of generalized contact constraint, and uniform updating of contact modes and contact planes in the open‐close iteration. Compared with previous strategies, the generalized contact computation model has a simpler data structure and fewer memory requirements. Meanwhile, it simplifies the penalty formulation and facilitates the open‐close iteration check while producing enough accuracy. Illustrative examples show the ability of the method to handle the full range of polyhedral shapes.
Priority issues for pressure injury research: An Australian consensus study
Authors: Haesler Emily , Carville Keryln , Haesler Paul 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACTPressure injuries are a significant health concern in all clinical settings. The current body of research on pressure injuries reported in the literature presents primarily low level evidence. The purpose of the current study was to identify and prioritize pressure injury research issues. The approach entailed evidence scoping and implementing a formal consensus process using a modified nominal group technique based on the Research and Development/University of California at Los Angeles appropriateness method. Sixteen Australian pressure injury experts participated in five consensus voting rounds in May to June 2015. From 60 initial research issues, the experts reached agreement that 26 issues are a priority for future pressure injury research. The highest priorities were strategies to assess skin and tissues, appropriate outcome measures for indicators of pressure injury healing and recurrence, heel pressure off‐loading and shear reduction strategies, economic cost of pressure injuries and their management and effectiveness of skin moisturizers and barrier products. Developing a prioritized research agenda, informed by clinical and academic pressure injury experts, can assist in reducing the burden of pressure injuries by identifying topics of the highest need for further research. A web‐based nominal group voting process was successful in engaging expert decision‐making and has wide‐reaching international appeal in facilitating cost‐effective consensus methodologies. The priority list generated from this research is currently used in Australia to inform government investment in pressure injury research.
Future Prospects of Spectral Clustering Approaches in Proteomics
Authors: Perez‐Riverol Yasset , Vizcaíno Juan Antonio , Griss Johannes 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn this article, current and future applications of spectral clustering are discussed in the context of mass spectrometry‐based proteomics approaches. First of all, the main algorithms and tools that can currently be used to perform spectral clustering are introduced. In addition, its main applications and their use in current computational proteomics workflows are explained, including the generation of spectral libraries and spectral archives. Finally, possible future directions for spectral clustering, including its potential use to achieve a deeper coverage of the proteome and the discovery of novel post‐translational modifications and single amino acid variants.
HIV‐1 Tat Peptide‐Gemcitabine Gold (III)‐PEGylated Complex—Nanoflowers: A Sleek Thermosensitive Hybrid Nanocarrier as Prospective Anticancer
Authors: Liu Hui , Jiang Peng , Li Zhonghu , Li Xiaowu , Djaker Nadia , Spadavecchia Jolanda 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThis paper focuses on the synthesis of novel metal‐drugs nanoparticles based onto gold‐gemcitabine complexes relevant for biomedical applications. Gold (HAuCl4) is mixed with antitumor compounds (gemcitabine (GEM)) and dicarboxylic acid–terminated polyethylene‐glycol (PEG), which plays a double role as surfactants and reducing agent. The proposed methodology is fast and reproducible and leads the formation of hybrid‐metal nanoflowers called GEM ION‐PEG‐AuNPs, in which drug solubility and efficiency are improved. The emerging role of GEM ION PEG‐AuNPs in the hyperthermic treatment was applied in pancreatic cancer cells under specific experimental conditions. For this purpose GEM ION‐PEG‐AuNPs are decorated with HIV‐1 Tat peptide, a potent trans‐activator of transcription from the viral promoter and is essential for viral replication containing an activation domain and a nucleic acid‐binding domain. All products are evaluated by various spectroscopic techniques (Raman and UV–vis) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This study, revealing an original chemical approach, will employ an important position in the field of nanomedicine, with novel perspectives that will be proposed for the development of new drugs and active targeting in cancer therapy.
Writing in the STEM classroom: Faculty conceptions of writing and its role in the undergraduate classroom
Authors: Moon Alena , Gere Anne Ruggles , Shultz Ginger V. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWriting is widely recognized as fundamental to the construction and communication of scientific knowledge. Building on this relationship between writing and knowledge construction, writing‐to‐learn (WTL) activities have shown to be effective in many science classrooms, but have not been widely implemented at the postsecondary level. To address the lack of implementation, we investigated potential adopters of this pedagogy. Potential adopters, postsecondary faculty, are unique given the key role writing plays in their professional practice as researchers. Because of this unique feature and the fact that an instructor's theoretical orientation toward a construct impacts their instruction of that construct, an investigation of postsecondary faculty's conceptions of writing instruction is necessary to understand the way writing is being used in the postsecondary classroom. To this end, 33 STEM faculty across multiple disciplines and positions were interviewed about writing and its role in their classes. A phenomenographic analysis resulted in four faculty “types” consisting of unique combinations of concept and practice, organized according to compatibility with WTL. Profiles were built that describe unique conceptions, desired outcomes, and challenges for each type. These profiles provide an understanding of the relationship between faculty's conceptions and instructional practices regarding writing and lay the groundwork for understanding how writing is used in the postsecondary classroom.
Damping Capacities of Porous Mg–based Ternary Alloys Prepared by a Stir–casting Method
Authors: Wang Yun‐si , Niu Rui‐long , Yan Fang‐jia , Duan Dong‐ping , Yang Xue‐min 
Published: June 2018

AbstractA new approach for preparing porous Mg–Al–Sr ternary alloys has been proposed using stir–casting method. Experimental results indicate that porosity and pore diameters have close relation with chemical composition of Mg–based ternary alloys. The proposed formation mechanism of pores in Mg–based ternary alloys can be described as that the oxidization reaction between [Sr] and O2 in air provides enough heat source to vaporize small amount of Mg–based ternary alloys, while the vaporized products promote formation of embodied pores with various sizes and shapes in Mg–based ternary alloys during solidification process. Meanwhile, some oxides in shape of sheets will be formed and precipitated, while other oxides will also be precipitated on surface of pore wall during cooling. Moreover, the measured damping capacities expressed by internal friction tan δ indicate that changing temperature from ambient temperature to 343 K cannot cause a large effect on damping capacities, however the inverse V–shape plots of damping capacities against temperature from 343 to 573 K are obtained. In addition, increasing vibration frequencies can result in a decrease of internal friction tan δ. The optimized chemical composition as 50%Mg–47%Al–3%Sr and 50%Mg–45%Al–5%Sr are recommended for Mg–based ternary alloys with greater porosity and higher damping performance under temperature and vibration frequency.
The influence of mastery on mother's health in middle years: Moderating role of stressful life context
Authors: King Victoria , Wickrama K.A.S. , Klopack Eric T. , Lorenz Frederick O. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractUsing data from 416 middle‐aged mothers gathered over the course of a decade, this study examined the influence of mastery trajectories (the initial level and change), on change in physical health. Mastery is defined as one's ability to control and influence his/her life and environment to reach a desired outcome or goal. Both the initial level and change in mastery from 1991 to 1994 were associated with decreased physical health problems over the middle years (1991–2001). Contextual moderation of this association by stressful life contexts including negative life events and work–family conflict was investigated. Moderation analysis showed that under conditions of low contextual life stressors, the level and increase in mastery significantly contributed to decreases in physical health problems in middle‐aged mothers. Alternatively, conditions of high contextual life stressors inhibited the ability of mastery to influence physical health of mothers, suggesting that the positive health impact of mastery on physical health is mitigated by stressful life experiences. Implications for the need to maintain important personal resources, such as mastery, during times of stress are discussed.
Tailoring NiO Nanostructured Arrays by Sulfate Anions for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Yingmeng , Lim Yew Von , Huang Shaozhuan , Pam Mei Er , Wang Ye , Ang Lay Kee , Shi Yumeng , Yang Hui Ying 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn this contribution, a novel sulfate‐ion‐controlled synthesis is developed to fabricate freestanding nickel hydroxide nanoarrays on Ni substrate. As an inorganic morphology‐controlled agent, SO42− ions play a critical role in controlling the crystal growth and the nanoarray morphologies, by modulating the growth rate of adsorbed crystal facets or inserting into the metal hydroxide interlayers. By controlling the SO42− concentration, the nanostructured arrays are tailored from one‐dimensional (1D) Ni(SO4)0.3(OH)1.4 nanobelt arrays to hierarchical β‐Ni(OH)2 nanosheet arrays. With further graphene oxide modification and postheat treatment, the obtained NiO/graphene hybrid nanoarrays show great potential for high‐performance sodium‐ion batteries, which exhibit a cyclability of 380 mAh g−1 after undergoing 100 cycles at 0.5 C and reach a rate capability of 335 mA h g−1 at 10 C.