bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High-resolution monochromator for iron nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy of biological samples
Authors: Yoda Yoshitaka , Okada Kyoko , Wang Hongxin , Cramer Stephen P. , Seto Makoto 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
A new high-resolution monochromator for 14.4-keV X-rays has been designed and developed for the Fe nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopy of biological samples. In addition to high resolution, higher flux and stability are especially important for measuring biological samples, because of the very weak signals produced due to the low concentrations of Fe-57. A 24% increase in flux while maintaining a high resolution better than 0.9 meV is achieved in the calculation by adopting an asymmetric reflection of Ge, which is used as the first crystal of the three-bounce high-resolution monochromator. A 20% increase of the exit beam size is acceptable to our biological applications. The higher throughput of the new design has been experimentally verified. A fine rotation mechanics that combines a weak-link hinge with a piezoelectric actuator was used for controlling the photon energy of the monochromatic beam. The resulting stability is sufficient to preserve the intrinsic resolution.
Effects of remote hydrogen plasma on chemical bonding features and electronic states of 4H-SiC(0001) surface
Authors: Truyen Nguyen Xuan , Ohta Akio , Makihara Katsunori , Ikeda Mitsuhisa , Miyazaki Seiichi 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
We have demonstrated a novel dry cleaning process for the 4H-SiC surface using remote hydrogen plasma (H2-RP). The effects of H2-RP exposure on the chemical structures and electronic states of the wet-cleaned 4H-SiC surface have been evaluated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and total photoelectron yield spectroscopy (PYS). XPS shows that H2-RP exposure is effective in removing contaminants from the 4H-SiC surface. PYS indicates that the defect states at the surface are generated after the H2-RP exposure and such generated defect states are drastically decreased by annealing at 850 °C. The combination of H2-RP exposure with the subsequent annealing is found to be effective in 4H-SiC surface cleaning.
Energy-efficient and low-voltage design methodology for a supply-sensing CMOS biosensor using biofuel cells for energy-autonomous healthcare applications
Authors: Kobayashi Atsuki , Ikeda Kei , Nakazato Kazuo , Niitsu Kiichi 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
The power sources of wearable sensors play a key role in sensing-system architecture. As potential power sources for sensors monitoring physiological signals near the human body, biofuel cells, which generate energy from the biological environment through chemical methods, have attracted much attention. However, the insufficient open-circuit voltage of biofuel cells owing to thermodynamic limitation is a basic issue. Thus, the use of biofuel cells as a power supply for a sensor imposes a strict limitation upon the power budget. In this report, we propose a design methodology for a low-voltage supply-sensing CMOS biosensor using biofuel cells. To explore the design methodology for performance optimization, a SPICE simulation was conducted. The simulated results reveal an optimum energy-efficient point in the biosensor design parameters. A fabricated 250 nm CMOS test chip was used to verify the validity of the design methodology and the measurement results matched the simulated results.
Cloning, expression and characterization of a cold-adapted endo-1, 4-β-glucanase from Citrobacter farmeri A1, a symbiotic bacterium of Reticulitermes labralis
Authors: Bai Xi , Yuan Xianjun , Wen Aiyou , Li Junfeng , Bai Yunfeng , Shao Tao 
Published: November 2016

Background
Many biotechnological and industrial applications can benefit from cold-adapted EglCs through increased efficiency of catalytic processes at low temperature. In our previous study, Citrobacter farmeri A1 which was isolated from a wood-inhabiting termite Reticulitermes labralis could secrete a cold-adapted EglC. However, its EglC was difficult to purify for enzymatic properties detection because of its low activity (0.8 U/ml). The objective of the present study was to clone and express the C. farmeri EglC gene in Escherichia coli to improve production level and determine the enzymatic properties of the recombinant enzyme.

Methods
The EglC gene was cloned from C. farmeri A1 by thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR. EglC was transformed into vector pET22b and functionally expressed in E. coli. The recombination protein EglC22b was purified for properties detection.

Results
SDS-PAGE revealed that the molecular mass of the recombinant endoglucanase was approximately 42 kDa. The activity of the E. coli pET22b-EglC crude extract was 9.5 U/ml. Additionally, it was active at pH 6.5–8.0 with an optimum pH of 7.0. The recombinant enzyme had an optimal temperature of 30–40 °C and exhibited >50% relative activity even at 5 °C, whereas it lost approximately 90% of its activity after incubation at 60 °C for 30 min. Its activity was enhanced by Co2+ and Fe3+, but inhibited by Cd2+, Zn2+, Li+, Triton X-100, DMSO, acetonitrile, Tween 80, SDS, and EDTA.

Conclusion
These biochemical properties indicate that the recombinant enzyme is a cold-adapted endoglucanase that can be used for various industrial applications.
Program Implementation as Predictor of Students' Performance in Technical Vocational Education
Authors: Nachon Elaine Rose G. 
Published: November 2016

The ultimate goal of any institution has always been to produce quality outcomes and create sound impact. The study is a descriptive evaluation of the Operational Management of Technical-Vocational High School in Laguna, Philippines. Data were obtained from 270 graduates conveniently chosen; 88 randomly selected students; complete enumeration of 61 teaching and non-teaching staff from a public technical vocational high school in Laguna, Philippines; and complete enumeration of 27 workers from the school's partner industries within its geographic location. Documentary analysis, SWOT analysis, and unstructured interviews were used to support quantitative data. Program implementation either taken singly or in combination with student development services appeared to be a highly significant predictor of students' performance in TVE but not of their performance in on-the-job training. It further revealed that each area thrust in the implementation of the TVE curriculum has strengths and opportunities that reduce its vulnerability to external threats. The study concludes that program implementation affects students' performance in TVE since it includes activities meant to deepen understanding of important concepts and to provide experiential learning for students.
Renal Interlobar Vein Impedance Index as a First‐Trimester Marker Does Not Predict Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy
Authors: Bezerra Maia e Holanda Moura Sammya , Praciano Paulo Cesar , Gurgel Alves Julio Augusto , Martins Wellington P. , Araujo Júnior Edward , Kane Stefan C. , da Silva Costa Fabrício 
Published: November 2016

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to examine whether the maternal renal interlobar vein impedance index as assessed by first‐trimester sonography is able to predict the later development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.MethodsVenous Doppler parameters of both maternal kidneys were studied in 214 pregnant women at gestational ages of 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days. Patients were classified according to outcomes related to hypertensive disorders. Detection rates and areas under receiver operating characteristic curves were determined for the maternal renal interlobar vein impedance index as a first‐trimester predictor of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.ResultsAmong the 214 patients, 22 (10.3%) developed preeclampsia; 10 (4.7%) developed gestational hypertension; and 182 were unaffected by hypertensive disorders (controls; 85.0%). In the overall study population, there was no difference in the impedance index between the right (0.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.35–0.50) and left (0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.35–0.53) sides (P = .86). The average impedance index did not differ among women destined to develop preeclampsia (0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.38–0.57), gestational hypertension (0.39; 95% confidence interval, 0.33–0.46), or pregnancies uncomplicated by hypertensive disease (0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.37–0.50; P = .15). Low detection rates and the area under the curve analysis demonstrated that the impedance index was not predictive of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.ConclusionsThe maternal renal interlobar vein impedance index should not be considered a first‐trimester marker of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Characterization of slow slip rate faults in humid areas: Cimandiri fault zone, Indonesia
Authors: Marliyani G. I. , Arrowsmith J. R. , Whipple K. X. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractIn areas where regional tectonic strain is accommodated by broad zones of short and low slip rate faults, geomorphic and paleoseismic characterization of faults is difficult because of poor surface expression and long earthquake recurrence intervals. In humid areas, faults can be buried by thick sediments or soils; their geomorphic expression subdued and sometimes undetectable until the next earthquake. In Java, active faults are diffused, and their characterization is challenging. Among them is the ENE striking Cimandiri fault zone. Cumulative displacement produces prominent ENE oriented ranges with the southeast side moving relatively upward and to the northeast. The fault zone is expressed in the bedrock by numerous NE, west, and NW trending thrust‐ and strike‐slip faults and folds. However, it is unclear which of these structures are active. We performed a morphometric analysis of the fault zone using 30 m resolution Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation model. We constructed longitudinal profiles of 601 bedrock rivers along the upthrown ranges along the fault zone, calculated the normalized channel steepness index, identified knickpoints and use their distribution to infer relative magnitudes of rock uplift and locate boundaries that may indicate active fault traces. We compare the rock uplift distribution to surface displacement predicted by elastic dislocation model to determine the plausible fault kinematics. The active Cimandiri fault zone consists of six segments with predominant sense of reverse motion. Our analysis reveals considerable geometric complexity, strongly suggesting segmentation of the fault, and thus smaller maximum earthquakes, consistent with the limited historical record of upper plate earthquakes in Java.
Gold‐ N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes of Mineral Acids
Authors: Brill Marcel , Nahra Fady , Gómez‐Herrera Alberto , Zinser Caroline , Cordes David B. , Slawin Alexandra M. Z. , Nolan Steven P. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractWe have synthesized and characterized new gold‐N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes derived from the deprotonation of mineral acids. The use of sulfuric acid was a particularly interesting case. These complexes were tested in known gold‐catalyzed reactions, such as the hydration of alkynes and the Meyer–Schuster rearrangement. They proved to be highly efficient in both reactions.
Solvent‐Free Synthesis of c‐Axis Oriented ZSM‐5 Crystals with Enhanced Methanol to Gasoline Catalytic Activity
Authors: Liu Ziyu , Wu Dan , Ren Shu , Chen Xinqing , Qiu Minghuang , Wu Xian , Yang Chengguang , Zeng Gaofeng , Sun Yuhan 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe front cover artwork for Issue 21/2016 is provided by Prof. Yuhan Sun's group at the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The image shows a sheet‐like zeolite with c‐axis orientation, synthesized following a new one‐pot solvent‐free route. The catalyst exhibits high activity on methanol to gasoline (MTG) conversion. See the Communication itself at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cctc.201600896.
Charting Biologically Relevant Spirocyclic Compound Space
Authors: Müller Gerhard , Berkenbosch Tim , Benningshof Jorg C. J. , Stumpfe Dagmar , Bajorath Jürgen 
Published: November 2016

AbstractSpirocycles frequently occur in natural products and experience increasing interest in drug discovery, given their richness in sp3 centers and distinct three‐dimensionality. We have systematically explored chemical space populated with currently available bioactive spirocycles. Compounds containing spiro systems were classified and their scaffolds and spirocyclic ring combinations analyzed. Nearly 47 000 compounds were identified that contained spirocycles in different structural contexts and were active against roughly 200 targets, among which several pharmaceutically relevant members of the G protein‐coupled receptor (GPCR) family were identified. Spirocycles and corresponding compounds displayed notable scaffold diversity but contained only limited numbers of combinations of differently sized rings. These observations indicate that there should be significant potential to further expand spirocyclic chemical space for drug discovery, exploiting the privileged substructure concept. Inspired by those findings, we embarked on the design and chemical synthesis of three distinct novel spirocyclic scaffolds that qualify for downstream library synthesis, thus exploring principally new chemical space with high potential for pharmaceutical research.
Performance comparison of JPEG, JPEG 2000, and newly developed CSI‐JPEG by adopting different color models
Authors: Safdar Muhammad , Ronnier Luo Ming , Liu Xiaoyu 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe major issues of using less storage space and wanting higher transmission rates for information in the form of high quality color images was taken into consideration. Two experiments were conducted in order to investigate and compare performance of compression standard including JPEG 1992 and JPEG 2000, and a newly developed CSI‐JPEG. The CSI‐JPEG is an amalgamation of Cubic Spline Interpolation (CSI) with baseline JPEG 1992 algorithm. The performance of different image compression algorithms was evaluated using different color models/spaces in terms of compression rate, color accuracy, and visual quality. The results from three assessment methods consistently showed that JPEG 2000 and CSI‐JPEG performed significantly better compared with JPEG 1992 for small color differences (in the range of acceptability). Moreover, the CAM02‐UCS performed best among other selected models in terms of compression rate and image performance for all three image compression algorithms. The results from the visual assessment also confirmed this. It was also found that CIEDE2000 can be reliably used for assessing quality of compressed images with low levels of distortion. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 42, 460–473, 2017
Selective Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols over Atomically‐Dispersed Non‐Precious Metal Catalysts
Authors: Xie Jiahan , Yin Kehua , Serov Alexey , Artyushkova Kateryna , Pham Hien N. , Sang Xiahan , Unocic Raymond R. , Atanassov Plamen , Datye Abhaya K. , Davis Robert J. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractCatalytic oxidation of alcohols often requires the presence of expensive transition metals. Herein, it is shown that earth‐abundant Fe atoms dispersed throughout a nitrogen‐containing carbon matrix catalyze the oxidation of benzyl alcohol and 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural by O2 in the aqueous phase. The activity of the catalyst can be regenerated by a mild treatment in H2. An observed kinetic isotope effect indicates that β‐H elimination from the alcohol is the kinetically relevant step in the mechanism, which can be accelerated by substituting Fe with Cu. Dispersed Cr, Co, and Ni also convert alcohols, demonstrating the general utility of metal–nitrogen–carbon materials for alcohol oxidation catalysis. Oxidation of aliphatic alcohols is substantially slower than that of aromatic alcohols, but addition of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperidinyloxy as a co‐catalyst with Fe can significantly improve the reaction rate.
Diabetes mellitus and long‐term mortality of ovarian cancer patients. A systematic review and meta‐analysis of 12 cohort studies
Authors: Zhang Dongyu , Zhao Yuan , Wang Tengteng , Xi Yuzhi , Li Nan , Huang Hongtai 
Published: November 2016

SummaryOvarian cancer (OC) is the sixth most common cancer among women, and its prognosis is not favorable. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is hypothesized to be associated with a higher mortality in ovarian cancer patients, but evidence is inconsistent. Thus, we aim to investigate if DM is associated with the long‐term all‐cause and long‐term cancer‐specific mortality in ovarian cancer patients by synthesizing available epidemiologic evidences. We used 4 electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus) to search for eligible articles. Title/abstract screening, full‐text review, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed by reviewers independently. In meta‐analysis, studies reporting risk ratio (RR) or hazard ratio that investigated the association between DM and mortality of OC patients were synthesized by a random‐effect model. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed by certain stratification or restrictive rules. Publication bias was assessed by funnel plots and Egger test. Statistical heterogeneity was evaluated by the I‐squared value and a chi‐squared test for the Cochrane Q statistic. Twelve cohort studies involving 14 outcome measures were included. In overall meta‐analysis, the synthesized RR for all‐cause mortality was 1.44 (95% CI 1.16‐1.79) without substantial statistical heterogeneity (PCochrane = .145, I2 = 34.1%); the synthesized RR for cancer‐specific mortality was 1.44 (95% CI 1.08‐1.93) with substantial heterogeneity (PCochrane < .001, I2 = 90.1%). No publication bias was observed. Our results suggest DM is associated with a higher all‐cause and cancer‐specific mortality in ovarian cancer patients. Future studies should be done to examine the association between type 1 DM and ovarian cancer mortality.
Species' traits and food‐web complexity interactively affect a food web's response to press disturbance
Authors: Wootton K. L. , Stouffer D. B. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractGiven current levels of biodiversity loss and environmental change, studies of how food webs respond to disturbance should broaden their focus beyond short‐term disturbances to explore the effects of long‐term, “press” disturbances. Press disturbances often disproportionately impact one or a few species, but these impacts invariably propagate to the remaining species in the food web. Additionally, the way species interact with each other within the food web influences the impact they have on the rest of the food web if it is disturbed. Here, we investigate the effect of species‐level press disturbances in a large set of model food webs. We simulated disturbances as a reduction in growth rate of a single species within the food web, which is analogous to a targeted disturbance such as selective fishing. In these simulations, we were particularly interested in the resistance of the food web—the magnitude of disturbance it could tolerate before any species went extinct. We found that more highly connected and biodiverse food webs had lower resistance and were more likely to lose species at a low level of disturbance than sparsely connected food webs with few species. Food‐web complexity also influenced which species were likely to go extinct due to the disturbance. At low species richness and/or low connectance, food webs could tolerate a large disturbance, and it was usually the focal species which went extinct. In contrast, webs were less stable at higher levels of complexity and a small disturbance rapidly propagated and caused the extinction of a non‐focal species. Lastly, the disturbed species' traits were also important: Disturbance of a species with few interactions usually resulted in its own extinction, while disturbance of a species with many interactions more often caused the extinction of the disturbed species' predator(s). Likewise, the trophic level of the disturbed species influenced which species went extinct, although this was modulated by the complexity of the food web. Overall, our study indicates that both the traits of disturbed species and the complexity of the food web need to be considered in attempts to predict or manage the ecological impact of press disturbances.
Population‐specific life histories contribute to metapopulation viability
Authors: Halsey Samniqueka J. , Bell Timothy J. , McEachern Kathryn , Pavlovic Noel B. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractRestoration efforts can be improved by understanding how variations in life‐history traits occur within populations of the same species living in different environments. This can be done by first understanding the demographic responses of natural occurring populations. Population viability analysis continues to be useful to species management and conservation with sensitivity analysis aiding in the understanding of population dynamics. In this study, using life‐table response experiments and elasticity analyses, we investigated how population‐specific life‐history demographic responses contributed to the metapopulation viability of the Federally threatened Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri). Specifically, we tested the following hypotheses: (1) Subpopulations occupying different environments within a metapopulation have independent demographic responses and (2) advancing succession results in a shift from a demographic response focused on growth and fecundity to one dominated by stasis. Our results showed that reintroductions had a positive contribution to the metapopulation growth rate as compared to native populations which had a negative contribution. We found no difference in succession on the contribution to metapopulation viability. In addition, we identified distinct population‐specific contributions to metapopulation viability and were able to associate specific life‐history demographic responses. For example, the positive impact of Miller High Dunes population on the metapopulation growth rate resulted from high growth contributions, whereas increased time of plant in stasis for the State Park Big Blowout population resulted in negative contributions. A greater understanding of how separate populations respond in their corresponding environment may ultimately lead to more effective management strategies aimed at reducing extinction risk. We propose the continued use of sensitivity analyses to evaluate population‐specific demographic influences on metapopulation viability. In understanding the underlying causes of the projected extinction probabilities of each population and identifying broad‐scale contributions of different populations to the metapopulation, the process of pinpointing target populations is simplified. More detailed analyses can then be applied to the target populations to increase population viability and consequently metapopulation viability. Based on our research, we suggest that the best approach to improve the overall metapopulation viability is to manage the contributions to population growth for each population separately.