bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
OPTIMIZATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF EXO-POLYGALACTURONASE BY Aspergillus niger CULTURED VIA SOLID STATE FERMENTATION
Authors: Pagarra Halifah , A. Rahman Roshanida , Wan Azelee Nur Izyan , Md Illias Rosli 
Published: December 2018

Polygalacturonases represent an important member of pectinases group of enzymes with immense industrial applications. The activity of exo-polygalacturonase produced by Aspergillus niger was studied in solid state fermentation (SSF) using Nephrolepis biserrata leaves as substrate. Central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize four significant variables resulted from the screening process that has been initially analyzed for the production of exo-polygalacturonase which are incubation time, temperature, concentration of pectin and moisture content. The optimum exo-polygalacturonase production obtained was 54.64 U/g at 120 hours of incubation time, temperature at 340C, 5.0 g/L of pectin concentration and 75.26% of moisture content. For partial characterization of exo-polygalacturonase, the optimum temperature and pH were obtained at 50°C and pH 4.0, respectively. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that molecular weight of exo-polygalacturonase were 35 and 71 kDa. This study has revealed a significant production of exo-polygalacturonase by A. niger under SSF using cheap and easily available substrate and thus could found immense potential application in industrial sectors and biotechnology
Point-of-care ultrasound in management of gallstone ileus – a case report
Authors: Rotaru Magda Iuliana , Necula Alexandru Horia , Caraiani Cosmin Nicolae , Badea Alexandru Florin , Tantau Marcel Vasile , Badea Radu Ion 
Published: December 2018

Point-of-care ultrasound has become of utmost importance in the management of critically ill patients, changing everyday clinical practice. With this case report, we highlight the role of abdominal ultrasound in the management of elderly patientswith gallstone ileus (a rare cause of intestinal obstructions caused by a cholecysto-duodenal fistula) and with contraindications for contrast-enhanced CT scan.
Independent predictors for longer radiographic resolution in patients with refractoryMycoplasma pneumoniaepneumonia: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Huang Lizhen , Huang Xia , Jiang Wujiang , Zhang Rong , Yan Yongdong , Huang Li 
Published: December 2018

ObjectivesTo examine prospectively the radiographic clearance of refractoryMycoplasma pneumoniaepneumonia (RMPP) in immunocompetent children, and to identify independent predictors of time to complete radiographic resolution in patients with RMPP.DesignA prospective cohort study.SettingChildren’s Hospital of Soochow University, China.ParticipantsA total of 187 patients with RMPP treated with bronchoscopy were prospectively enrolled in the study between January 2012 and December 2015.MethodsSerial chest radiographs were obtained after discharge every 4 weeks up to a maximum of 24 weeks after diagnosis or until large infiltration on chest radiographs had resolved. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of time to complete radiographic resolution.ResultsOf the 187 patients with RMPP, bronchial mucus plug formation was detected in 73 (39.0%). C reactive protein (CRP) ≥50 mg/L, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) ≥480 U/L, total fever duration ≥10 days and presence of mucus plugs were associated with longer time to radiographic clearance (all p<0.01). Compared with children without mucus plugs, those with mucus plugs were significantly more likely to have longer time to radiographic clearance (adjusted OR: 11.5; 95% CI 2.5 to 45.7; p<0.01).ConclusionClinicians might use duration of fever, CRP, LDH and presence of mucus plugs as parameters to identify children at a longer time to radiographic clearance in patients with RMPP.
Influencing factors of the neurodevelopment of high-risk infants
Authors: Tian Yuan , Zhang Chuncao , Yu Guangjun , Hu Xiangying , Pu Zheng , Ma Liyu 
Published: December 2018

BackgroundHigh-risk infants refer to newborns exposed to high-risk factors in the prenatal, natal or postnatal period. High-risk infants are at high risk of developmental retardation, and early identification of developmental abnormalities plays a vital role in improving high-risk infants’ quality of life.AimsTo describe the neurodevelopment of high-risk infants aged less than 1 year old, and to analyse the incidences and influencing factors of neurodevelopmental abnormalities in order to provide a basis for neurodevelopment monitoring and management of high-risk infants.MethodsHigh-risk infants born between January 2016 and December 2016 in the maternity and infant health hospitals of three districts in Shanghai were followed up. The Gesell Developmental Scale was used to assess the neurodevelopmental level at the time of recruitment (0–2 months) and at 9 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the influencing factors were conducted.Results484 high-risk infants (male 51%, female 49%) with an average gestation age of 36.5±2.2 weeks were recruited. At the time of recruitment, the average age was 2.1 (0.8) months, and the developmental quotient (DQ) scores of full-term high-risk infants in motor (t=3.542,p=0.001), cognitive (t=3.125,p=0.002), language (t=3.189,p=0.002) and social (t=3.316,p=0.001) areas were higher than those of preterm infants. The incidences of developmental abnormalities of full-term high-risk infants in motor (χ2=9.452,p=0.002), cognitive (χ2=6.258,p=0.012), language (χ2=12.319,p=0.001) and social (χ2=6.811,p=0.009) areas were lower than the preterm infants. At 9 months, there was no difference in the DQ scores and incidences of developmental abnormalities in four areas between full-term and preterm high-risk infants, and the incidence of developmental abnormalities was around 10%.ConclusionThe incidence of neurodevelopmental abnormalities in high-risk infants aged less than 1 year old is high. Preterm birth and parental bad habits are significant factors affecting the neurodevelopment. Monitoring and early interventions help to improve high-risk infants’ neurodevelopment.
Gun ownership among US women
Authors: Wolfson Julia A , Azrael Deborah , Miller Matthew 
Published: December 2018

IntroductionLittle is known about female gun owners in the USA. We describe the number and type of firearms owned, and reasons for owning, by sex.MethodsAn online survey conducted in 2015 of 3949 US adults; cross-tabulations using survey weights generated nationally representative estimates.ResultsTwelve per cent (95% CI 10.6% to 13.6%) of women and 33.3% of men (95% CI 30.3% to 36.5%) personally owned guns. Male and female gun owners are demographically similar and cite similar reasons for owning firearms, but female gun owners own fewer guns (3.6 vs 5.6). Among female gun owners, 40.4% (95% CI 35.5% to 45.5%) own handguns only, whereas 20.7% (95% CI 18.2% to 23.4%) of male gun owners own handguns only. Approximately three of four male (73.4% (95% CI 70.3% to 76.3%)) and female (76.7% (95% CI 71.6% to 81.1%)) handgun owners own guns for protection from strangers. Males and female gun owners are equally likely to store at least one gun loaded and unlocked.ConclusionsMale and female gun owners in the USA are demographically similar, cite similar reasons for owning guns and, despite males owning more guns, are equally likely to store at least one gun loaded and unlocked.
Platelet abnormalities in Huntington’s disease
Authors: Denis Hélèna L , Lamontagne-Proulx Jérôme , St-Amour Isabelle , Mason Sarah L , Rowley Jesse W , Cloutier Nathalie , Tremblay Marie-Ève , Vincent Antony T , Gould Peter V , Chouinard Sylvain , Weyrich Andrew S , Rondina Matthew T , Barker Roger A , Boilard Eric , Cicchetti Francesca 
Published: December 2018

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a hereditary disorder that typically manifests in adulthood with a combination of motor, cognitive and psychiatric problems. The pathology is caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene which results in the production of an abnormal protein, mutant huntingtin (mHtt). This protein is ubiquitously expressed and known to confer toxicity to multiple cell types. We have recently reported that HD brains are also characterised by vascular abnormalities, which include changes in blood vessel density/diameter as well as increased blood–brain barrier (BBB) leakage.ObjectivesSeeking to elucidate the origin of these vascular and BBB abnormalities, we studied platelets that are known to play a role in maintaining the integrity of the vasculature and thrombotic pathways linked to this, given they surprisingly contain the highest concentration of mHtt of all blood cells.MethodsWe assessed the functional status of platelets by performing ELISA, western blot and RNA sequencing in a cohort of 71 patients and 68 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. We further performed haemostasis and platelet depletion tests in the R6/2 HD mouse model.ResultsOur findings indicate that the platelets in HD are dysfunctional with respect to the release of angiogenic factors and functions including thrombosis, angiogenesis and vascular haemostasis.ConclusionTaken together, our results provide a better understanding for the impact of mHtt on platelet function.
Food allergies are associated with increased disease activity in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Fakih Rami , Diaz-Cruz Camilo , Chua Alicia S , Gonzalez Cindy , Healy Brian C , Sattarnezhad Neda , Glanz Bonnie I , Weiner Howard L , Chitnis Tanuja 
Published: December 2018

ObjectiveThe association between allergy and multiple sclerosis (MS) is still unclear. In our study, we assessed the association between a self-reported history of allergic conditions with MS clinical and MRI disease activity.MethodsA subset of 1349 patients enrolled in the Comprehensive Longitudinal Investigation of Multiple Sclerosis at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (CLIMB) study completed a self-administered questionnaire on environmental, food and drug allergies. Patients were distributed among four allergy groups: (1) environmental, (2) food, (3) drug, (4) no known allergies (NKA). Clinical (number of attacks, expanded disability status scale (EDSS), MS severity score (MSSS)) and radiological variables (presence of gadolinium-enhancing lesions and lesion count), and their associations with the different allergy groups or those with NKA, were assessed.ResultsThe food allergy group had a 1.38 times higher rate for cumulative number of attacks compared with the NKA group (P=0.0062); this difference remained significant in the adjusted analysis (relapse rate ratio 1.27, P=0.0305). The food allergy group showed more than twice the likelihood (OR 2.53, P=0.0096) of having gadolinium-enhancing lesions on MRI. The environmental and drug allergy groups did not show significant differences when compared with the NKA group. The EDSS and MSSS were not affected by any type of allergy.ConclusionsMS patients with food allergy had more relapses and a higher likelihood of gadolinium-enhancing lesions compared with patients with no known allergy. Future prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings and investigate underlying biological mechanisms, which may unveil new therapeutic and preventative strategies for MS.
Quantization commutes with singular reduction: Cotangent bundles of compact Lie groups
Authors: Boeijink Jord , Landsman Klaas , van Suijlekom Walter 
Published: December 2018

We analyze the ‘quantization commutes with reduction’ problem (first studied in physics by Dirac, and known in the mathematical literature also as the Guillemin–Sternberg Conjecture) for the conjugate action of a compact connected Lie group [Formula: see text] on its own cotangent bundle [Formula: see text]. This example is interesting because the momentum map is not proper and the ensuing symplectic (or Marsden–Weinstein quotient) [Formula: see text] is typically singular.In the spirit of (modern) geometric quantization, our quantization of [Formula: see text] (with its standard Kähler structure) is defined as the kernel of the Dolbeault–Dirac operator (or, equivalently, the spin[Formula: see text]–Dirac operator) twisted by the pre-quantum line bundle. We show that this quantization of [Formula: see text] reproduces the Hilbert space found earlier by Hall (2002) using geometric quantization based on a holomorphic polarization. We then define the quantization of the singular quotient [Formula: see text] as the kernel of the twisted Dolbeault–Dirac operator on the principal stratum, and show that quantization commutes with reduction in the sense that either way one obtains the same Hilbert space [Formula: see text].
Crystal electric field contribution to the thermoelectric power of the CeCoAl4 antiferromagnetic
Authors: Toliński Tomasz 
Published: December 2018

We report on the thermoelectric power S(T), electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity measurements on the antiferromagnetic CeCoAl4 compound and on the nonmagnetic reference compound, LaCoAl4. The Néel temperature of CeCoAl4 is T[Formula: see text] = 13.5 K and a metamagnetic-like transition occurs in the magnetic field of about 7.5 T. We show that the magnetic contribution to the thermoelectric power, S[Formula: see text](T), exhibits a large peak due to the crystal electric field (CEF) at about 240 K and a small anomaly around the ordering temperature. Surprisingly, the CEF related S[Formula: see text](T) peak is close to the upper CEF excitation energy [Formula: see text] = 202 K, in contrast to the usual case of the peak position being located at a fraction of the observed CEF energy level. The applicability of different theoretical and phenomenological models describing the temperature dependence of the Seebeck effect S[Formula: see text](T) has been tested and finally a calculation is proposed, which incorporates a full CEF levels scheme.
Effect of C addition on the corrosion properties of amorphous Fe-based amorphous alloys
Authors: Li Xiang , Zhao Xu , Liu Fang , Yu Lu , Wang Yuxin 
Published: December 2018

Fe-based amorphous alloys are important materials with a high potential for commercialization by evaluating their corrosion performances. In this work, amorphous Fe[Formula: see text]Cu1Nb3Si[Formula: see text]B9 alloy was chosen as a target material to investigate the effects of the addition of C on the corrosion properties by an electrochemical method. Alloy ingots Fe[Formula: see text]Cu1Nb3Si[Formula: see text]C[Formula: see text]B[Formula: see text] (x = 0, 1, 2, 3 at.%) were prepared using an arc melting system, under argon atmosphere. Planar flow melt spinning of the alloys was carried out to obtain amorphous ribbons of the width [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]5 mm and the thickness about 30 [Formula: see text]m. Effects of the addition of C into Fe[Formula: see text]Cu1Nb3Si[Formula: see text]B9 amorphous soft magnetic alloys were investigated in acidic solutions. Studies of potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance revealed the passivation ability and corrosion resistance of the amorphous ribbons with C in the 0.1M H2SO4 media at room-temperature. The amorphous ribbons showed excellent corrosion resistance with formation of a stable passive film. It can be obviously observed that the addition of C significantly improves the corrosion resistance.
Friction wear property of laser surface processed Ni-based amorphous alloy coatings
Authors: Li Ruifeng , Qiu Yi , Zhu Yanyan 
Published: December 2018

A Ni–Fe–B–Si–Nb amorphous alloy was deposited on a steel substrate surface via a laser cladding process, and a laser cladding plus laser remelting process. The wear behavior of the laser processed samples and the bulk metallic glass (BMG) sample with the same nominal composition were tested using a pin-on-disc type testing machine. The nano-mechanical properties of the samples were measured with a nano-characterization system. The friction wear tests showed that deep grooves and wear debris were formed on the worn surface of the laser cladded coating, while only shallow grooves for the laser remelted coatings. The friction coefficients of laser remelted coatings and BMG were lower than the laser cladded coating. The wear mass losses of the laser remelted coating were less than the BMG when the laser remelting scanning speed was higher than 6 mm/min. The nano-hardness and elastic modulus of the remelted coating is higher than that of the laser cladded coating. Also, they increase with the increasing laser scanning speed with 1227.9 HV and 277.4 GPa when the remelting scanning speed is 8 m/min. Based on the nano-indentation and friction wear tests results, it was found that the friction wear properties of the laser cladded coating, laser remelted coatings and BMG related well to the ratio of H3/E2. A higher value of H3/E2 can lead to a better wear resistance property.
Physicochemical characterization of PEG-modified PbO2 coatings electrodeposited from a methanesulfonate bath
Authors: He Zhen , Hayat Muhammad Dilawer , Wang Xingang , Cao Peng 
Published: December 2018

This study explores the preparation and application of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified PbO2 electrodes. The PEG-modified PbO2 coatings were electrodeposited on a Ti/SnO2-Sb substrate from a methanesulfonate electrolytic bath containing different amounts of PEG. Structural and morphologic characterization was carried out for the deposited electrodes. The presence of PEG in the deposition bath represses the nucleation process and grain growth process in PbO2 deposition. Increasing PEG addition results in an increased [Formula: see text]-PbO2 content and decreased crystallite size. At a limited PEG addition [Formula: see text]4 g/L, a rough and pyramidal surface morphology is presented in the PbO2 coatings. A higher PEG addition at 6 g/L leads to a dense and smooth coating surface yet with less uniformity. Electrochemical characterization reveals a great electrocatalytic activity for the modified PbO2 electrodes when the PEG addition is [Formula: see text]4 g/L.
Simulation and experimentation of wide frequency electromagnetic shielding coating used for carbon fiber composite materials of track vehicles
Authors: Gong Ming , Sun Shou-Guang , Sun Lin , Tian Ai-Qin , Li Qiang 
Published: December 2018

Computer Simulation Technology EM and Computer Simulation Technology Microwave Studio electromagnetic simulation software were used to simulate the carbon fiber composite materials with a new type of wide frequency electromagnetic shielding coating. DC magnetic field, low-frequency electromagnetic fields, and mid-high frequency electromagnetic shielding effectiveness analysis model were established in order to study the influence of permeability, conductivity, coating thickness and other parameters in the typical frequency range research on the shielding effectiveness. The results show that the composite coating material with reasonable design can effectively enhance the electromagnetic shielding performance of carbon fiber composite materials in the DC [Formula: see text]18 GHz frequency range.
Speeding up Iterative Polyhedral Schedule Optimization with Surrogate Performance Models
Authors: Ganser Stefan , Größlinger Armin , Siegmund Norbert , Apel Sven , Lengauer Christian 
Published: December 2018

Iterative program optimization is known to be able to adapt more easily to particular programs and target hardware than model-based approaches. An approach is to generate random program transformations and evaluate their profitability by applying them and benchmarking the transformed program on the target hardware. This procedure’s large computational effort impairs its practicality tremendously, though.
To address this limitation, we pursue the guidance of a genetic algorithm for program optimization via feedback from surrogate performance models. We train the models on program transformations that were evaluated during previous iterative optimizations. Our representation of programs and program transformations refers to the polyhedron model. The representation is particularly meaningful for an optimization of loop programs that profit a from coarse-grained parallelization for execution on modern multicore-CPUs. Our evaluation reveals that surrogate performance models can be used to speed up the optimization of loop programs. We demonstrate that we can reduce the benchmarking effort required for an iterative optimization and degrade the resulting speedups by an average of 15%.
Heterogeneity of neuronal responses in the nucleus of the solitary tract suggests sensorimotor integration in the neural code for taste
Authors: Denman Alexander J. , Sammons Joshua D. , Victor Jonathan D. , Di Lorenzo Patricia M. 
Published: December 2018

Theories of neural coding in the taste system typically rely exclusively on data gleaned from taste-responsive cells. However, even in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), the first stage of central processing, neurons with taste selectivity coexist with neurons whose activity is linked to motor behavior related to ingestion. We recorded from a large ( n = 324) sample of NTS neurons recorded in awake rats, examining both their taste selectivity and the association of their activity with licking. All subjects were implanted with a bundle of microelectrodes aimed at the NTS and allowed to recover. Following moderate water deprivation, rats were placed in an experimental chamber where tastants or artificial saliva (AS) were delivered from a lick spout. Electrophysiological responses were recorded, and waveforms from single cells were isolated offline. Results showed that only a minority of NTS cells responded to taste stimuli as determined by conventional firing-rate measures. In contrast, most cells, including taste-responsive cells, tracked the lick pattern, as evidenced by significant lick coherence in the 5- to 7-Hz range. Several quantitative measures of taste selectivity and lick relatedness showed that the population formed a continuum, ranging from cells dominated by taste responses to those dominated by lick relatedness. Moreover, even neurons whose responses were highly correlated with lick activity could convey substantial information about taste quality. In all, data point to a blurred boundary between taste-dominated and lick-related cells in NTS, suggesting that information from the taste of food and from the movements it evokes are seamlessly integrated. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Neurons in the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) are known to encode information about taste. However, recordings from awake rats reveal that only a minority of NTS cells respond exclusively to taste stimuli. The majority of neurons track behaviors associated with food consumption, and even strongly lick-related neurons could convey information about taste quality. These findings suggest that the NTS integrates information from both taste and behavior to identify food.