bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the miniemulsion polymerization of very hydrophobic monomers initiated by a completely water‐insoluble initiator: thermodynamics, kinetics, and mechanism
Authors: Jansen Tom G. T. , Meuldijk Jan , Lovell Peter A. , van Herk Alex M. 
Published: May 2016

ABSTRACTSuccessful miniemulsion polymerizations of very hydrophobic monomers, such as lauryl methacrylate and 4‐tert‐butyl styrene, initiated by very hydrophobic (i.e., completely water‐insoluble) lauroyl peroxide, are reported. Conversion‐time histories, as well as final latex properties, for example, the particle size distribution, are different from similar miniemulsion polymerizations in the presence of water‐soluble initiators. The observed differences can be attributed to the average number of radicals inside a miniemulsion particle; the system obeys Smith‐Ewart case I rather than Case II kinetics. Albeit the pairwise generation of radicals in the monomer droplets, substantial polymerization rates are observed. Water, present in the droplet interfacial layer, is supposed to act as chain transfer agent. The product of a chain transfer event is a hydroxyl radical, exit of this hydroxyl radical allows for the presence of single radicals in particles. The proposed mechanisms allow for agreement between initial droplet and final particle size distributions in miniemulsion polymerization initiated by lauroyl peroxide. © 2016 The Authors Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 2731–2745
Visualization of robust L1PCA
Authors: Zhou Yi‐Hui , Marron J. S. 
Published: May 2016

Robust principal components are particularly challenging to find for high‐dimensional data sets, including genomic data. Conventional principal component analysis is often unduly influenced by a few closely related family members. This phenomenon is explained using the ideas of a high‐dimensional low sample size geometric representation. These ideas further show why the earlier robust method of spherical principal components fails to solve this problem. A solution is provided, which is called the visual L1 principal component analysis (VL1PCA). This approach is based on a backwards L1‐norm best‐fit idea. VL1PCA improves upon the best previous version of L1PCA by providing interpretable scores and a scatterplot visualization of the data. Another contribution is a new notion of robust centre, the backwards L1 median. The utility of VL1PCA is illustrated on examples and a real high‐dimensional data set. Our VL1PCA is not only robust to outliers but also gives a meaningful population stratification for data even in the presence of special family structure, when other methods fail. © 2016 The Authors. Stat Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Análisis complementario del reporte de confiabilidad de Glaría et al.
Authors: Dominguez-Lara Sergio Alexis , Fernández-Arata Manuel , Calderón-De la Cruz Gustavo 
Published: May 2016

En el estudio de Glaría et al.1, estimaron la confiabilidad de los puntajes con el coeficiente α de Cronbach, procedimiento que cuantifica el error de medida al aplicar un instrumento de evaluación. Los resultados indican un bajo coeficiente α aún para efectos de investigación (α ≥ 0.70)2 en la dimensión Despersonalización del MBI-SS (0.57),y para la dimensión Falta de realización personal (0.71) del MBISS y Satisfacción con los estudios (0.74) del UWES-S17 los α están cercanos a ese límite.
What Kinds of Skills Are Necessary for Physicians Involved in International Disaster Response?
Authors: Noguchi Norihito , Inoue Satoshi , Shimanoe Chisato , Shibayama Kaoru , Matsunaga Hitomi , Tanaka Sae , Ishibashi Akina , Shinchi Koichi 
Published: May 2016

AbstractIntroductionPhysicians are key disaster responders in foreign medical teams (FMTs) that provide medical relief to affected people. However, few studies have examined the skills required for physicians in real, international, disaster-response situations.ProblemThe objectives of this study were to survey the primary skills required for physicians from a Japanese FMT and to examine whether there were differences in the frequencies of performed skills according to demographic characteristics, previous experience, and dispatch situations to guide future training and certification programs.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey used a self-administered questionnaire given to 64 physicians with international disaster-response site experience. The questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics (sex, age, years of experience as a physician, affiliation, and specialty), previous experience (domestic disaster-relief experience, international disaster-relief experience, or disaster medicine training experience), and dispatch situation (length of dispatch, post-disaster phase, disaster type, and place of dispatch). In addition, the frequencies of 42 performed skills were assessed via a five-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the participants’ characteristics and total scores as the frequencies of performed skills. Mean scores for surgical skills, health care-related skills, public health skills, and management and coordination skills were compared according to the demographic characteristics, previous experience, and dispatch situations.ResultsFifty-two valid questionnaires (81.3% response rate) were collected. There was a trend toward higher skill scores among those who had more previous international disaster-relief experience (P=.03). The more disaster medicine training experience the participants had, the higher their skill score was (P<.001). Physicians reported involvement in 23 disaster-relief response skills, nine of which were performed frequently. There was a trend toward higher scores for surgical skills, health care-related skills, and management and coordination skills related to more disaster medicine training experience.ConclusionThis study’s findings can be used as evidence to boost the frequency of physicians’ performed skills by promoting previous experience with international disaster relief and disaster medicine training. Additionally, these results may contribute to enhancing the quality of medical practice in the international disaster relief and disaster training curricula.NoguchiN,
InoueS,
ShimanoeC,
ShibayamaK,
MatsunagaH,
TanakaS,
IshibashiA,
ShinchiK. What kinds of skills are necessary for physicians involved in international disaster response?Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(4):397–406.
Visual Perceptual Organization Ability in Autopsy-Verified Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Mitolo Micaela , Hamilton Joanne M. , Landy Kelly M. , Hansen Lawrence A. , Galasko Douglas , Pazzaglia Francesca , Salmon David P. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractObjectives:Prominent impairment of visuospatial processing is a feature of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and diagnosis of this impairment may help clinically distinguish DLB from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The current study compared autopsy-confirmed DLB and AD patients on the Hooper Visual Organization Test (VOT), a test that requires perceptual and mental reorganization of parts of an object into an identifiable whole. The VOT may be particularly sensitive to DLB since it involves integration of visual information processed in separate dorsal and ventral visual “streams”.Methods:Demographically similar DLB (n=28), AD (n=115), and normal control (NC;n=85) participants were compared on the VOT and additional neuropsychological tests. Patient groups did not differ in dementia severity at time of VOT testing. High and Low AD-Braak stage DLB subgroups were compared to examine the influence of concomitant AD pathology on VOT performance.Results:Both patient groups were impaired compared to NC participants. VOT scores of DLB patients were significantly lower than those of AD patients. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the VOT for patientsversuscontrols was good, but marginal for DLBversusAD. High-Braak and low-Braak DLB patients did not differ on the VOT, but High-Braak DLB performed worse than Low-Braak DLB on tests of episodic memory and language.Conclusions:Visual perceptual organization ability is more impaired in DLB than AD but not strongly diagnostic. The disproportionate severity of this visual perceptual deficit in DLB is not related to degree of concomitant AD pathology, which suggests that it might primarily reflect Lewy body pathology. (JINS, 2016,22, 609–619)
Essential amino acids: master regulators of nutrition and environmental footprint?
Authors: Tessari Paolo , Lante Anna , Mosca Giuliano 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe environmental footprint of animal food production is considered several-fold greater than that of crops cultivation. Therefore, the choice between animal and vegetarian diets may have a relevant environmental impact. In such comparisons however, an often neglected issue is the nutritional value of foods. Previous estimates of nutrients’ environmental footprint had predominantly been based on either food raw weight or caloric content, not in respect to human requirements. Essential amino acids (EAAs) are key parameters in food quality assessment. We re-evaluated here the environmental footprint (expressed both as land use for production and as Green House Gas Emission (GHGE), of some animal and vegetal foods, titrated to provide EAAs amounts in respect to human requirements. Production of high-quality animal proteins, in amounts sufficient to match the Recommended Daily Allowances of all the EAAs, would require a land use and a GHGE approximately equal, greater o smaller (by only ±1-fold), than that necessary to produce vegetal proteins, except for soybeans, that exhibited the smallest footprint. This new analysis downsizes the common concept of a large advantage, in respect to environmental footprint, of crops vs. animal foods production, when human requirements of EAAs are used for reference.
Exercise-like effects by Estrogen-related receptor-gamma in muscle do not prevent insulin resistance in db/db mice
Authors: Badin Pierre-Marie , Vila Isabelle K. , Sopariwala Danesh H. , Yadav Vikas , Lorca Sabina , Louche Katie , Kim Eun Ran , Tong Qingchun , Song Min Sup , Moro Cedric , Narkar Vihang A. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractDissecting exercise-mimicking pathways that can replicate the benefits of exercise in obesity and diabetes may lead to promising treatments for metabolic disorders. Muscle estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ) is induced by exercise, and when over-expressed in the skeletal muscle mimics exercise by stimulating glycolytic-to-oxidative myofiber switch, mitochondrial biogenesis and angiogenesis in lean mice. The objective of this study was to test whether muscle ERRγ in obese mice mitigates weight gain and insulin resistance. To do so, ERRγ was selectively over-expressed in the skeletal muscle of obese and diabetic db/db mice. Muscle ERRγ over-expression successfully triggered glycolytic-to-oxidative myofiber switch, increased functional mitochondrial content and boosted vascular supply in the db/db mice. Despite aerobic remodeling, ERRγ surprisingly failed to improve whole-body energy expenditure, block muscle accumulation of triglycerides, toxic diacylglycerols (DAG) and ceramides or suppress muscle PKCε sarcolemmal translocation in db/db mice. Consequently, muscle ERRγ did not mitigate impaired muscle insulin signaling or insulin resistance in these mice. In conclusion, obesity and diabetes in db/db mice are not amenable to selective ERRγ-directed programming of classic exercise-like effects in the skeletal muscle. Other biochemical pathways or integrated whole-body effects of exercise may be critical for resisting diabetes and obesity.
Tuning the ferromagnetic phase in the CDW compound SmNiC2 via chemical alloying
Authors: Prathiba G. , Kim I. , Shin S. , Strychalska J. , Klimczuk T. , Park T. 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWe report a study on tuning the charge density wave (CDW) ferromagnet SmNiC2 to a weakly coupled superconductor by substituting La for Sm. X-ray diffraction measurements show that the doped compounds obey Vegard’s law, where La (Lu) alloying expands (shrinks) the lattice due to its larger (smaller) atomic size than Sm. In the series Sm1−xLaxNiC2, CDW transition (TCDW = 148 K) for SmNiC2 is gradually suppressed, while the ferromagnetic (FM) ordering temperature (TC) at 17 K slightly increases up to x = 0.3. For x > 0.3, TC starts to decrease and there is no signature that could be related with the CDW phase. Electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements point toward the possible presence of a FM quantum critical point (QCP) near x = 0.92, where the TC is extrapolated to zero temperature. Superconductivity in LaNiC2 (Tsc = 2.9 K) is completely suppressed with small amount of Sm inclusion near the proposed FM critical point, indicating a competition between the two ordered phases. The tunable lattice parameters via chemical substitution (La,Lu) and the ensuing change among the ordered phases of ferromagnetism, CDW and superconductivity underscores that SmNiC2 provides a rich avenue to study the rare example of a FM QCP, where the broken symmetries are intricately correlated.
Self-assembly of PEGylated tetra-phenylalanine derivatives: structural insights from solution and solid state studies
Authors: Diaferia Carlo , Mercurio Flavia Anna , Giannini Cinzia , Sibillano Teresa , Morelli Giancarlo , Leone Marilisa , Accardo Antonella 
Published: May 2016

AbstractWater soluble fibers of PEGylated tetra-phenylalanine (F4), chemically modified at the N-terminus with the DOTA chelating agent, have been proposed as innovative contrast agent (CA) in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) upon complexation of the gadolinium ion. An in-depth structural characterization of PEGylated F4-fibers, in presence (DOTA-L6-F4) and in absence of DOTA (L6-F4), is reported in solution and at the solid state, by a multiplicity of techniques including CD, FTIR, NMR, DLS, WAXS and SAXS. This study aims to better understand how the aggregation process influences the performance of nanostructures as MRI CAs. Critical aggregation concentrations for L6-F4 (43 μM) and DOTA-L6-F4 (75 μM) indicate that self-aggregation process occurs in the same concentration range, independently of the presence of the CA. The driving force for the aggregation is the π-stacking between the side chains of the aromatic framework. CD, FTIR and WAXS measurements indicate an antiparallel β-sheet organization of the monomers in the resulting fibers. Moreover, WAXS and FTIR experiments point out that in solution the nanomaterials retain the same morphology and monomer organizations of the solid state, although the addition of the DOTA chelating agent affects the size and the degree of order of the fibers.
Antennal transcriptome analysis of the Asian longhorned beetle Anoplophora glabripennis
Authors: Hu Ping , Wang Jingzhen , Cui Mingming , Tao Jing , Luo Youqing 
Published: May 2016

AbstractOlfactory proteins form the basis of insect olfactory recognition, which is crucial for host identification, mating, and oviposition. Using transcriptome analysis of Anoplophora glabripennis antenna, we identified 42 odorant-binding proteins (OBPs), 12 chemosensory proteins (CSPs), 14 pheromone-degrading enzymes (PDEs), 1 odorant-degrading enzymes (ODE), 37 odorant receptors (ORs), 11 gustatory receptors (GRs), 2 sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), and 4 ionotropic receptor (IR). All CSPs and PBPs were expressed in antennae, confirming the authenticity of the transcriptome data. CSP expression profiles showed that AglaCSP3, AglaCSP6, and AglaCSP12 were expressed preferentially in maxillary palps and AglaCSP7 and AglaCSP9 were strongly expressed in antennae. The vast majority of CSPs were highly expressed in multiple chemosensory tissues, suggesting their participation in olfactory recognition in almost all olfactory tissues. Intriguingly, the PBP AglaPBP2 was preferentially expressed in antenna, indicating that it is the main protein involved in efficient and sensitive pheromone recognition. Phylogenetic analysis of olfactory proteins indicated AglaGR1 may detect CO2. This study establishes a foundation for determining the chemoreception molecular mechanisms of A. glabripennis, which would provide a new perspective for controlling pest populations, especially those of borers.
Analysis of receptor tyrosine kinase genetics identifies two novel risk loci in GAS6 and PROS1 in Behçet’s disease
Authors: Qin Jieying , Li Lin , Zhang Donglei , Yu Hongsong , Tan Handan , Zhang Jun , Deng Bolin , Kijlstra Aize , Yang Peizeng 
Published: May 2016

AbstractThe TAM kinase (Tyro3, Axl, Mer) and its two ligands (Gas6 and protein S) have been shown to play an important regulatory role in the innate immune response. The present study aimed to investigate whether the tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms (tag SNPs) of these 5 protein-coding genes are associated with Behçet’s disease (BD). A two-stage association study was performed in a total of 907 BD patients and 1780 healthy controls. Altogether 32 polymorphisms were tested, using a Sequenom MassARRAY genotyping method in the first stage and a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay in the replication phase. Real-time PCR was performed to test the relative mRNA expression level of GAS6 and PROS1 from different SNP genotyped healthy individuals. The frequency of the C allele and CC genotype of rs9577873 in GAS6 (Pc = 4.92 × 10−5, Pc = 1.91 × 10−5, respectively) and A allele and AA genotype of rs4857037 in PROS1 (Pc = 1.85 × 10−6, Pc = 4.52 × 10−7, respectively) were significantly increased in BD. GAS6 expression in CC carriers of rs9577873 was significantly lower than that in CT/TT individuals (P = 0.001). Decreased expression of GAS6 and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and IFN-γ: P = 4.23 × 10−4, P = 0.011, respectively) in individuals carrying the CC genotype suggest that the TAM-GAS6/PROS1 signal pathway may be involved in the pathogenesis of BD.
Inhibition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on pathogenic biofilm formation and invasion to host cells
Authors: Yu Qilin , Li Jianrong , Zhang Yueqi , Wang Yufan , Liu Lu , Li Mingchun 
Published: May 2016

AbstractOwing to the growing infectious diseases caused by eukaryotic and prokaryotic pathogens, it is urgent to develop novel antimicrobial agents against clinical pathogenic infections. Biofilm formation and invasion into the host cells are vital processes during pathogenic colonization and infection. In this study, we tested the inhibitory effect of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) on pathogenic growth, biofilm formation and invasion. Interestingly, although the synthesized AuNPs had no significant toxicity to the tested pathogens,Candida albicansandPseudomonas aeruginosa, the nanoparticles strongly inhibited pathogenic biofilm formation and invasion to dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs). Further investigations revealed that AuNPs abundantly bound to the pathogen cells, which likely contributed to their inhibitory effect on biofilm formation and invasion. Moreover, treatment of AuNPs led to activation of immune response-related genes in DPSCs, which may enhance the activity of host immune system against the pathogens. Zeta potential analysis and polyethylene glycol (PEG)/polyethyleneimine (PEI) coating tests further showed that the interaction between pathogen cells and AuNPs is associated with electrostatic attractions. Our findings shed novel light on the application of nanomaterials in fighting against clinical pathogens, and imply that the traditional growth inhibition test is not the only way to evaluate the drug effect during the screening of antimicrobial agents.
The Talbot Effect for two-dimensional massless Dirac fermions
Authors: Walls Jamie D. , Hadad Daniel 
Published: May 2016

AbstractA monochromatic beam of wavelength λ transmitted through a periodic one-dimensional diffraction grating with lattice constant d will be spatially refocused at distances from the grating that are integer multiples of "Equation missing". This self-refocusing phenomena, commonly referred to as the Talbot effect, has been experimentally demonstrated in a variety of systems ranging from optical to matter waves. Theoretical predictions suggest that the Talbot effect should exist in the case of relativistic Dirac fermions with nonzero mass. However, the Talbot effect for massless Dirac fermions (mDfs), such as those found in monolayer graphene or in topological insulator surfaces, has not been previously investigated. In this work, the theory of the Talbot effect for two-dimensional mDfs is presented. It is shown that the Talbot effect for mDfs exists and that the probability density of the transmitted mDfs waves through a periodic one-dimensional array of localized scatterers is also refocused at integer multiples of zT. However, due to the spinor nature of the mDfs, there are additional phase-shifts and amplitude modulations in the probability density that are most pronounced for waves at non-normal incidence to the scattering array.
Selective Chemical Conversion of Sugars in Aqueous Solutions without Alkali to Lactic Acid Over a Zn-Sn-Beta Lewis Acid-Base Catalyst
Authors: Dong Wenjie , Shen Zheng , Peng Boyu , Gu Minyan , Zhou Xuefei , Xiang Bo , Zhang Yalei 
Published: May 2016

AbstractLactic acid is an important platform molecule in the synthesis of a wide range of chemicals. However, in aqueous solutions without alkali, its efficient preparation via the direct catalysis of sugars is hindered by a side dehydration reaction to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural due to Brønsted acid, which originates from organic acids. Herein, we report that a previously unappreciated combination of common two metal mixed catalyst (Zn-Sn-Beta) prepared via solid-state ion exchange synergistically promoted this reaction. In water without a base, a conversion exceeding 99% for sucrose with a lactic acid yield of 54% was achieved within 2 hours at 190 °C under ambient air pressure. Studies of the acid and base properties of the Zn-Sn-Beta zeolite suggest that the introduction of Zn into the Sn-Beta zeolite sequentially enhanced both the Lewis acid and base sites and the base sites inhibited a series of side reactions related to fructose dehydration to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and its subsequent decomposition.
Thermal conductivity of polymer composites with the geometrical characteristics of graphene nanoplatelets
Authors: Kim Hyun Su , Bae Hyun Sung , Yu Jaesang , Kim Seong Yun 
Published: May 2016

AbstractOne of the most important physical factors related to the thermal conductivity of composites filled with graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) is the dimensions of the GNPs, that is, their lateral size and thickness. In this study, we reveal the relationship between the thermal conductivity of polymer composites and the realistic size of GNP fillers within the polymer composites (measured using three-dimensional (3D) non-destructive micro X-ray CT analysis) while minimizing the effects of the physical parameters other than size. A larger lateral size and thickness of the GNPs increased the likelihood of the matrix-bonded interface being reduced, resulting in an effective improvement in the thermal conductivity and in the heat dissipation ability of the composites. The thermal conductivity was improved by up to 121% according to the filler size; the highest bulk and in-plane thermal conductivity values of the composites filled with 20 wt% GNPs were 1.8 and 7.3 W/m·K, respectively. The bulk and in-plane thermal conductivity values increased by 650 and 2,942%, respectively, when compared to the thermal conductivity values of the polymer matrix employed (0.24 W/m·K).