bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polymeric Janus Nanoparticles: Recent Advances in Synthetic Strategies, Materials Properties, and Applications
Authors: Fan Xiaoshan , Yang Jing , Loh Xian Jun , Li Zibiao 
Published: June 2018

AbstractPolymeric Janus nanoparticles with two sides of incompatible chemistry have received increasing attention due to their tunable asymmetric structure and unique material characteristics. Recently, with the rapid progress in controlled polymerization combined with novel fabrication techniques, a large array of functional polymeric Janus particles are diversified with sophisticated architecture and applications. In this review, the most recently developed strategies for controlled synthesis of polymeric Janus nanoparticles with well‐defined size and complex superstructures are summarized. In addition, the pros and cons of each approach in mediating the anisotropic shapes of polymeric Janus particles as well as their asymmetric spatial distribution of chemical compositions and functionalities are discussed and compared. Finally, these newly developed structural nanoparticles with specific shapes and surface functions orientated applications in different domains are also discussed, followed by the perspectives and challenges faced in the further advancement of polymeric Janus nanoparticles as high performance materials.
An efficient intensity‐based ready‐to‐use X‐ray image stitcher
Authors: Wang Junchen , Zhang Xiaohui , Sun Zhen , Yuan Fuzhen 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackground: The limited field of view of the X‐ray image intensifier makes it difficult to cover a large target area with a single X‐ray image. X‐ray image stitching techniques have been proposed to produce a panoramic X‐ray image.Methods: This paper presents an efficient intensity‐based X‐ray image stitcher, which does not rely on accurate C‐arm motion control or auxiliary devices and hence is ready to use in clinic. The stitcher consumes sequentially captured X‐ray images with overlap areas and automatically produces a panoramic image. The gradient information for optimization of image alignment is obtained using a back‐propagation scheme so that it is convenient to adopt various image warping models.Results: The proposed stitcher has the following advantages over existing methods: (1) no additional hardware modification or auxiliary markers are needed; (2) it is robust against feature‐based approaches; (3) arbitrary warping models and shapes of the region of interest are supported; (4) seamless stitching is achieved using multi‐band blending. Experiments have been performed to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.Conclusion: The proposed X‐ray image stitcher is efficient, accurate and ready to use in clinic.
Disciplinary authenticity and personal relevance in school science
Authors: Kapon Shulamit , Laherto Antti , Levrini Olivia 
Published: June 2018

AbstractPursuing both disciplinary authenticity and personal relevance in the teaching and learning of science in school generates tensions that should be acknowledged and resolved. This paper problematizes and explores the conceptualizations of these tensions by considering personal relevance, disciplinary authenticity, and common school science as three perspectives that entail different educational goals. Based on an analysis of the literature, we identify five facets of the tensions:content fidelity,content coverage,language and discursive norms,epistemic structure and standards, andsignificance. We then explore the manifestations of these facets in two different examples of the instruction and learning of physics at the advanced high school level in Israel and Italy. Our analysis suggests that (1) the manifestations of these tensions and their resolution are highly contextual. (2) While maintaining personal relevance and disciplinary authenticity requires some negotiation, the main tension that needs to be resolved is between personal relevance and common school science. (3) Disciplinary authenticity, when considered in terms of its full depth and scope, can be equipped to resolve this tensionwithinthe discipline. (4) To achieve resolution, teachers’ expertise should include not only pedagogical expertise but also a deep and broad disciplinary understanding.
Tunable, Hybrid 1D ZnO Nanostructures Obtained by Using Bio‐renewable Ferulic Acid as Support and its Applications
Authors: Vasantha Vivek Arjunan , Biying Algin Oh , Wenguang Zhao , Huat Heng Teck , Shiong Simon Choo Sze , Parthiban Anbanandam 
Published: June 2018

AbstractInorganic oxides such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) are desired as ultraviolet (UV) filters. Such UV‐filters derived from naturally occurring oxides are promising components for formulating personal care products sustainably. However, UV‐filters based on inorganic oxides pose challenges to formulators and users in terms of strong adherence to skin and high photocatalytic activity. As a means to influence the morphology of such functional oxides, a simple one‐dimensional (1D) ZnO nanorod was synthesized via solvothermal technique assisted by the seed‐growth method. Thus bio‐renewable ferulic acid (FA) was used as a capping and structure‐directing agent to obtain tunable nanostructures such as spheres, sheets, and rods. SEM and TEM analyses revealed the self‐assembled elongated morphology with increased aspect ratio. Based on these as well as other analyses the growth mechanism of zinc oxide functionalized ferulic acid (ZnO@FA) was investigated. ZnO@FA also exhibited broad absorption in the UV−B and A regions, unique antioxidant behavior along with a highly suppressed photocatalytic activity. The ZnO@FA are sustainable, functional materials. These materials are potentially useful in areas such as cosmetics, functional coatings, sensors and solar cells.
Cerebroplacental ratio assessment in early labor in uncomplicated term pregnancy and prediction of adverse perinatal outcome: prospective multicenter study
Authors: Dall'Asta A. , Ghi T. , Rizzo G. , Cancemi A. , Aloisio F. , Arduini D. , Pedrazzi G. , Figueras F. , Frusca T. 
Published: June 2018

ObjectiveIt has been suggested that the use of Doppler ultrasound in term pregnancies with normal‐sized fetuses is able to identify those at high risk of subclinical placental function impairment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) measured in early labor and perinatal and delivery outcomes in a cohort of uncomplicated singleton term pregnancies.MethodsThis was a prospective multicenter observational study conducted at three tertiary centers between January 2016 and July 2017. Low‐risk term pregnancies, defined by the absence of maternal morbidity or pregnancy complication, accompanied by normal ultrasound and clinical screening of fetal growth in the third trimester, with spontaneous onset of labor were included. Umbilical artery (UA) and fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) Doppler was assessed on admission for early labor. All measurements were performed in between uterine contractions and according to international standards. CPR was computed by dividing MCA pulsatility index by UA pulsatility index and converted into multiples of the median (MoM) in order to adjust for gestational age. Doctors and midwives involved in the clinical management of the women were blinded to the results of the Doppler evaluation. Mode of delivery and perinatal outcome were compared between pregnancies with reduced CPR MoM, defined as CPR MoM within the lowest decile of the study population, and those with normal CPR MoM. Receiver–operating characteristics curve analysis was used to assess the predictive performance of CPR for obstetric intervention due to fetal distress and composite adverse perinatal outcome.ResultsOverall, 562 women were included. The rate of obstetric intervention for suspected fetal distress in labor was more than three times higher among cases with reduced CPR MoM compared to those with normal CPR MoM (9/54 (16.7%) vs 28/508 (5.5%); P = 0.004). Furthermore, a significantly higher rate of composite adverse perinatal outcome was found in fetuses with CPR MoM < 10th percentile compared to those with CPR MoM ≥ 10th percentile (6/54 (11.1%) vs 19/508 (3.7%); P = 0.012). CPR had low sensitivity and low positive predictive value for prediction of obstetric intervention due to fetal distress (24.3% and 18.0%, respectively) and composite adverse perinatal outcome (24.0% and 11.1%, respectively).ConclusionsData on a wide cohort of low‐risk term pregnancies in early labor showed that, while reduced CPR is associated with a higher risk of obstetric intervention due to fetal distress and composite adverse perinatal outcome, it is a poor predictor of adverse perinatal outcome. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Plasma jet cleaning of optics
Authors: Gerhard Christoph , ten Bosch Lars 
Published: June 2018

SummaryOptical components used in normal ambient conditions are usually contaminated by hydrocarbons from the ambient air in the course of time. This contamination gives rise to a decrease in the particular optical performance, i.e. the reflectance of mirrors or the transmittance of lenses and windows. In order to address this issue, the impact of ageing at ambient conditions as well as subsequent plasma cleaning on relevant parameters of standard silver‐coated mirrors was investigated in this work. For plasma cleaning, a jet source based on a dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure was applied. It is shown that ageing leads to an adhesion of carbonaceous contaminations and an accompanying decrease in reflectance of the mirrors. The subsequent plasma cleaning process allows the efficient removal of surface‐adherent carbon and an alteration of remaining bonds. Finally, this effect gives rise to an increase in reflectance, nearly restoring the initial value before ageing.
Quasi-local energy and compactification
Authors: Alvarez Enrique , Anero Jesus , del Bosch Guillermo Milans , Santos-Garcia Raquel 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBased on the quasi-local energy definition of Brown and York, we compute the integral of the trace of the extrinsic curvature over a codimension-2 hypersurface. In particular, we study the difference between the uncompactified Minkowski spacetime and the toroidal Kaluza-Klein compactification. For the latter, we find that this quantity interpolates between zero and the value for the uncompactified spacetime, as the size of the compact dimension increases. Thus, the quasi-local energy is able to discriminate between the two spacetimes.
Reversible RNA ModificationN1-Methyladenosine (m1A) in mRNA and tRNA
Authors: Zhang Chi , Jia Guifang 
Published: June 2018

AbstractMore than 100 modifications have been found in RNA. Analogous to epigenetic DNA methylation, epitranscriptomic modifications can be written, read, and erased by a complex network of proteins. Apart from N6-methyladenosine (m6A), N1-methyladenosine (m1A) has been found as a reversible modification in tRNA and mRNA. m1A occurs at positions 9, 14, and 58 of tRNA, with m1A58 being critical for tRNA stability. Other than the hundreds of m1A sites in mRNA and long non-coding RNA transcripts, transcriptome-wide mapping of m1A also identifies &gt;20 m1A sites in mitochondrial genes. m1A in the coding region of mitochondrial transcripts can inhibit the translation of the corresponding proteins. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of m1A in mRNA and tRNA, covering high-throughput sequencing methods developed for m1A methylome, m1A-related enzymes (writers and erasers), as well as its functions in mRNA and tRNA.
The effects of low protein products availability on growth parameters and metabolic control in selected amino acid metabolism disorders patients
Authors: Handoom Bedour , Megdad Eman , Al-Qasabi Dana , Al Mesned Munirah , Hawary Reem , Al-Nufiee Samir , Al-Hassnan Zuhair , Alsayed Moeenaldeen Dia , Eldali Abdelmoneim 
Published: June 2018

Background:
In Saudi Arabia, a diet for life policy has been adopted in the management of amino acid metabolism disorders for years. However, the specially designed low protein products/medical foods - which are one of the important treatment tools - were not available up until several years ago in Saudi Arabia (SA). Our aim was to measure the compliance and quality of life in patients affected with these disorders followed in the metabolic nutrition clinic at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh, SA.

Methodology:
We used a non-randomized retrospective/prospective study which utilized the growth parameters, biochemical data of patients plus questionnaires collected from patients and their family/ caregivers. A total of n = 182 patients affected with selected amino acid metabolism disorders were enrolled. Some were excluded n = 84 for various reasons. Sample analyzed were: Phenylketonuria (PKU) (44), Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) (30), Tyrosinemia (TYR) (17) and Homocystinuria (HCU) (7). Tandem Mass Spectrometry (TMS) used to quantitate plasma amino acid concentrations. Data was obtained using (COMPLE) Microsoft-Access which was designed by the metabolic nutrition clinic at KFSH&RC-Riyadh. Student's paired t-test was used to investigate relationship between variables.

Results:
The main findings were the improvement of selected amino acid levels pre and post the usage of medical foods. In PKU patients, the TMS Phenylalanine (PHE) levels post usage was significantly decreased (P value < .0001). This was also the case in MSUD patients with significant decrease in Leucine & Isoleucine levels (P value .0008) but not in Valine levels (P value .1148) as 36.7% of them received Valine supplements while enrolled in the study.

Conclusion:
Low protein products availability was successful in improving outcomes for selected amino acid metabolic disorders. However, due to compliance issues and impracticality of the diet, the results were not significant in all enrolled patients.
The Andaman Islands Penal Colony: Race, Class, Criminality, and the British Empire
Authors: Anderson Clare 
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACTThis article explores the British Empire’s configuration of imprisonment and transportation in the Andaman Islands penal colony. It shows that British governance in the Islands produced new modes of carcerality and coerced migration in which the relocation of convicts, prisoners, and criminal tribes underpinned imperial attempts at political dominance and economic development. The article focuses on the penal transportation of Eurasian convicts, the employment of free Eurasians and Anglo-Indians as convict overseers and administrators, the migration of “volunteer” Indian prisoners from the mainland, the free settlement of Anglo-Indians, and the forced resettlement of the Bhantu “criminal tribe”. It examines the issue from the periphery of British India, thus showing that class, race, and criminality combined to produce penal and social outcomes that were different from those of the imperial mainland. These were related to ideologies of imperial governmentality, including social discipline and penal practice, and the exigencies of political economy.
Heating of accretion-disk coronae and jets by general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic turbulence
Authors: Chandran Benjamin D. G. , Foucart Francois , Tchekhovskoy Alexander 
Published: June 2018

Turbulence in an accretion disk launches Alfvén waves (AWs) that propagate away from the disk along magnetic-field lines. Because the Alfvén speed varies with distance from the disk, the AWs undergo partial non-WKB reflection, and counter-propagating AWs subsequently interact, causing AW energy to cascade to small scales and dissipate. To investigate this process, we introduce an Elsasser-like formulation of general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) and develop the theory of general relativistic reduced MHD in an inhomogeneous medium. We then derive a set of equations for the mean-square AW amplitude $M_{+}$and turbulent heating rate $Q$under the assumption that, in the plasma rest frame, AWs propagating away from the disk are much more energetic than AWs propagating toward the disk. For the case in which the background flow is axisymmetric and time independent, we solve these equations analytically to determine$M_{+}$and $Q$as functions of position. We find that, for an idealized thin disk threaded by a large-scale poloidal magnetic field, the AW energy flux is${\sim}(\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{\text{b}}/\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{\text{d}})^{1/2}\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}_{\text{net,d}}^{-1/2}$times the disk’s radiative flux, where$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{\text{b}}$and$\unicode[STIX]{x1D70C}_{\text{d}}$are the mass densities at the coronal base and disk midplane, respectively, and$\unicode[STIX]{x1D6FD}_{\text{net,d}}$is the ratio (evaluated at the disk midplane) of plasma-plus-radiation pressure to the pressure of the average vertical magnetic field. This energy flux could have a significant impact on disk coronae and outflows. To lay the groundwork for future global simulations of turbulent disk coronae and jets, we derive a set of averaged GRMHD equations that account for reflection-driven AW turbulence using a sub-grid model.
A one-dimensional tearing mode equation for pedestal stability studies in tokamaks
Authors: Connor J. W. , Hastie R. J. , Marchetto C. , Roach C. M. 
Published: June 2018

Starting from expressions in Connor et al. (Phys. Fluids, vol. 31, 1988, p. 577), we derive a one-dimensional tearing equation similar to the approximate equation obtained by Hegna & Callen (Phys. Plasmas, vol. 1, 1994, p. 2308) and Nishimura et al. (Phys. Plasmas, vol. 5, 1998, p. 4292), but for more realistic toroidal equilibria. The intention is to use this approximation to explore the role of steep profiles, bootstrap currents and strong shaping in the vicinity of a separatrix, on the stability of tearing modes which are resonant in the H-mode pedestal region of finite aspect ratio, shaped cross-section tokamaks, e.g. the Joint European Torus (JET). We discuss how this one-dimensional model for tearing modes, which assumes a single poloidal harmonic for the perturbed poloidal flux, compares with a model that includes poloidal coupling Fitzpatrick et al. (Nucl. Fusion, vol. 33, 1993, p. 1533).
Anti-α-Gal antibodies detected by novel neoglycoproteins as a diagnostic tool for Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis caused byLeishmania major
Authors: Subramaniam Krishanthi S. , Austin Victoria , Schocker Nathaniel S. , Montoya Alba L. , Anderson Matthew S. , Ashmus Roger A. , Mesri Mina , Al-Salem Waleed , Almeida Igor C. , Michael Katja , Acosta-Serrano Alvaro 
Published: June 2018

AbstractOutbreaks of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) have significantly increased due to the conflicts in the Middle East, with most of the cases occurring in resource-limited areas such as refugee settlements. The standard methods of diagnosis include microscopy and parasite culture, which have several limitations. To address the growing need for a CL diagnostic that can be field applicable, we have identified five candidate neoglycoproteins (NGPs): Galα (NGP3B), Galα(1,3)Galα (NGP17B), Galα(1,3)Galβ (NGP9B), Galα(1,6)[Galα(1,2)]Galβ (NGP11B), and Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)Glcβ (NGP1B) that are differentially recognized in sera from individuals withLeishmania majorinfection as compared with sera from heterologous controls. These candidates contain terminal, non-reducing α-galactopyranosyl (α-Gal) residues, which are known potent immunogens to humans. Logistic regression models found that NGP3B retained the best diagnostic potential (area under the curve from receiver-operating characteristic curve = 0.8). Our data add to the growing body of work demonstrating the exploitability of the human anti-α-Gal response in CL diagnosis.
Reputation assessment: a review and unifying abstraction
Authors: Taylor Phillip , Barakat Lina , Miles Simon , Griffiths Nathan 
Published: June 2018

AbstractTrust and reputation allow agents to make informed decisions about potential interactions. Trust in an agent is derived from direct experience with that agent, while reputation is determined by the experiences reported by other witness agents with potentially differing viewpoints. These experiences are typically aggregated in a trust and reputation model, of which there are several types that focus on different aspects. Such aspects include handling subjective perspectives of witnesses, dishonesty, or assessing the reputation of new agents. In this paper, we distil reputation systems into their fundamental aspects, discussing first how trust and reputation information is represented and second how it is disseminated among agents. Based on these discussions, a unifying abstraction is presented for trust and reputation systems, which is demonstrated by instantiating it with a broad range of reputation systems found in the literature. The abstraction is then instantiated to combine the range of capabilities of existing reputation systems in the Machine Learning Reputation System, which is evaluated using a marketplace simulation.
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) diversity of cassava genotypes in relation to cassava brown streak disease in Mozambique
Authors: Oyesigye Elias , Zacarias Anabela , Mondjana Ana , Magaia Hilário , Ferguson Morag 
Published: June 2018

AbstractCassava brown streak disease (CBSD) remains a major threat to cassava production in Mozambique. Breeding for CBSD resistant varieties that are also preferred by farmers is an integral part of managing the disease. The main objective of the study was to determine the genetic relationship between farmer-preferred varieties from Mozambique with those from Tanzania whose resistance to CBSD is known and some of which are being used as parents in quantitative trait loci (QTL) detection studies. To achieve this, 103 genotypes collected from farmers’ field in three provinces of Mozambique were genotyped together with five varieties from Tanzania whose CBSD response is well known. Thirty-five single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers with a high minor allele frequency in East African landraces were used. Results indicated that seven Mozambican genotypes were genetically similar to either one of the four Tanzanian CBSD resistant genotypes while Xino Nn'gole was genetically identical to Namikonga a CBSD resistant variety, based on the SNPs used here. Little genetic differentiation was observed in cassava between provinces, with the majority of genetic variation distributed within individual genotypes (98%) rather than among provinces (2%). Both observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity in three provinces were generally high (Ho = 0.496) and (He = 0.455). There is a high likelihood that the eight genotypes similar/identical to those from Tanzania may share the same QTL associated with CBSD resistance thus should be further evaluated for agronomic traits as well as response to CBSD.
The Effect of Obliquity‐Driven Changes on Paleoclimate Sensitivity During the Late Pleistocene
Authors: Köhler Peter , Knorr Gregor , Stap Lennert B. , Ganopolski Andrey , de Boer Bas , van de Wal Roderik S. W. , Barker Stephen , Rüpke Lars H. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWe reanalyze existing paleodata of global mean surface temperature ΔTg and radiative forcing ΔR of CO2 and land ice albedo for the last 800,000 years to show that a state‐dependency in paleoclimate sensitivity S, as previously suggested, is only found if ΔTg is based on reconstructions, and not when ΔTg is based on model simulations. Furthermore, during times of decreasing obliquity (periods of land ice sheet growth and sea level fall) the multimillennial component of reconstructed ΔTg diverges from CO2, while in simulations both variables vary more synchronously, suggesting that the differences during these times are due to relatively low rates of simulated land ice growth and associated cooling. To produce a reconstruction‐based extrapolation of S for the future, we exclude intervals with strong ΔTg‐CO2 divergence and find that S is less state‐dependent, or even constant state‐independent), yielding a mean equilibrium warming of 2–4 K for a doubling of CO2.