bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interaction between moisture transport and Kelvin waves events over Equatorial Africa through ERA‐interim
Authors: Zebaze Sinclaire , Lenouo André , Tchawoua Clément , Gaye Amadou T. , Kamga François M. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis study examines the moisture transport variability and its interaction between rainfall and Kelvin wave's events over Equatorial Africa using 1979–2010 ERA‐interim reanalysis data, precipitation from Global Precipitation Climatology Project and outgoing long‐wave radiation. Kelvin waves events influenced in Congo basin varies within each rainy season, as the intertropical convergence zone moves through the region. The moisture flux is calculated for the entire tropospheric column (1000–300 hPa) over Central Africa (5–10°N; 5–30°E). Analysis of mean monthly fluxes shows a progressive penetration of the flux into Gulf of Guinea (5°S–5°N; 0–15°E). Mean seasonal values of moisture components across boundaries indicate that the zonal component is the largest contributor to mean moisture over Central Africa, while the meridional component contributes the most over the Gulf of Guinea. Lag correlation between precipitation and moisture is largely dominated over land with a coefficient greater than 0.5, while moisture increases with enhanced phase of Kelvin waves.
Varying iron release from transferrin and lactoferrin proteins. A laboratory experiment
Authors: Carmona Fernando , González Ana , Sánchez Manu , Gálvez Natividad , Cuesta Rafael , Capdevila Mercè , Dominguez‐Vera Jose M. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIron metabolism is an important subject of study for undergraduate students of chemistry and biochemistry. Relevant laboratory exercises are scarce in the literature but would be very helpful in assisting students grasp key concepts. The experiment described here deals with different iron release mechanisms of two protagonists in iron metabolism: serum transferrin (Tf) and lactoferrin (Lf). Despite having very similar structures and iron‐binding sites, Tf releases practically all its iron at pH 5.5 while Lf requires a significantly lower pH of 3. This difference in behavior is directly related to their respective biological functions as Tf blood‐borne iron into the cell, while Lf competes with pathogens to sequester iron in biological fluids at more acidic pHs. During this experiment, the students will carry out iron loading and unloading on both human Lf and Tf and monitor the iron release at different pHs using UV–Vis spectroscopy. With this simple approach, the students will discover the different patterns of iron release of Tf and Lf and how this variance in behavior relates to their biological functions. Furthermore, this laboratory practice can be expanded to allow students to investigate a variety of iron proteins. © 2017 by The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 45(6):521–527, 2017.
Cell‐free DNA results lead to unexpected diagnosis
Authors: Smith Jessica , Kean Victoria , Bianchi Diana W. , Feldman Gerald , Petrucelli Nancie , Simon Michael , Gonik Bernard 
Published: July 2017

Key Clinical MessageMaternal cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) results that are discordant with the diagnostic fetal karyotype should prompt further investigation. If deeper analysis of the cfDNA results demonstrates a “saw‐tooth” pattern characteristic of genome‐wide imbalance, maternal malignancy is suggested. Identifying the maternal malignancy can, however, be difficult.
Core‐shell MnO@MnFe2O4 Anchored by Reduced Graphene Oxide as Anode of Li‐Ion Batteries Operated under Ultrawide Temperature Range
Authors: Du Yao , Liu Chun , Sun Shuijing , Wu Songping 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA facile high‐temperature solution route to a monodisperse core‐shell structure of MnO (core) and MnFe2O4 (shell) (abbreviated as MFO) nanoparticles anchored on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has been established. Subsequently, MnO@MnFe2O4@rGO nanocomposites are utilized as advanced anode materials for high‐performance Li‐ion batteries. MnO@3MFO@rGO containing 22.5 wt% of the rGO composite (with a 1 : 3 molar ratio of MnO/MFO) as the electrodes delivered a remarkable cycling performance, that is, 587.8 mAh g−1 at a current density of 200 mA g−1 after 200 cycles at ambient temperature with an ultralow capacity fading (0.10 % per cycle). More importantly, the electrodes afforded excellent capacity stability under various operation temperatures (ca. −20 to 70 °C), such as an excellent reversible capacity of 1067 mA h g−1 at a current density of 500 mA g−1 after 300 cycles at 60 °C, and remarkable low‐temperature performance of a reversible capacity of 208.7 mA h g−1 at a current density of 200 mA g−1 at −20 °C. Therefore, MnO@3MFO@rGO nanocomposites are considered as promising battery materials that can be operated in harsh environments.
The First Triple‐Decker Complex with a Carbenium Center, [CpCo(μ‐C3B2Me5)RuC5Me4CH2]+: Synthesis, Reactivity, X‐Ray Structure, and Bonding
Authors: Muratov Dmitry V. , Romanov Alexander S. , Corsini Maddalena , Kudinov Alexander R. , de Biani Fabrizia Fabrizi , Siebert Walter 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe first derivative of the methylium cation with the triple‐decker substituent, [CpCo(C3B2Me5)RuC5Me4CH2]PF6 (2PF6), was synthesized from the reaction of the triple‐decker complex CpCo(C3B2Me5)RuCp* (1) with the salt of the trityl cation [CPh3]+. The X‐ray crystal structure of 2PF6 reveals that the methylium carbon is bound to the ruthenium with Ru−C bond length of 2.259 Å and corresponds to the description of its structure as η6‐fulvene‐ruthenium. Reactions of 2PF6 with nucleophiles OH−, Ph3P, Et3N led to the corresponding derivatives of 1 in high yields. Aromatic amines PhNEt2 and 4‐MeC6H4NH2 react with 2PF6 to give the electrophilic aromatic substitution products quantitatively. Chemical reduction of 2PF6 with Zn powder in tetrahydrofuran leads to the formation of the bis(triple‐decker) derivative (CpCo(C3B2Me5)RuC5Me4CH2)2 (10) with a CH2CH2‐bridge. The structures of complexes 4, 7–10 were determined by X‐ray diffraction. Density functional calculations support the crystallographically determined geometry of 2 and allow rationalization of some characteristics of its structure, spectroscopy, and reactivity.
Phenol‐yne Click Polymerization: An Efficient Technique to Facilely Access Regio‐ and Stereoregular Poly(vinylene ether ketone)s
Authors: Shi Yang , Bai Tianwen , Bai Wei , Wang Zhe , Chen Ming , Yao Bicheng , Sun Jing Zhi , Qin Anjun , Ling Jun , Tang Ben Zhong 
Published: July 2017

AbstractAlkyne‐based click polymerizations have been well‐established. However, in order to expand the family to synthesize polymers with new structures and novel properties, new types of click polymerizations are highly demanded. In this study, for the first time, we established a new efficient and powerful phenol‐yne click polymerization. The activated diynes and diphenols could be facilely polymerized in the presence of the Lewis base catalyst of 4‐dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) under mild reaction conditions. Regio‐ and stereoregular poly(vinylene ether ketone)s (PVEKs) with high molecular weights (up to 35 200) were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99.0 %). The reaction mechanism was well explained under the assistance of density functional theory (DFT) calculation. Furthermore, since the vinyl ether sequence acts as a stable but acid‐liable linkage, the polymers could be decomposed under acid conditions, rendering them applicable in biomedical and environmental fields.
Exploiting Pincer Ligands to Perturb the Geometry at Boron
Authors: Huang Kexuan , Dutton Jason L. , Martin Caleb D. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBoranes are ubiquitous in synthesis and materials but advancements in their development have been primarily restricted to the geometric energetic minima, trigonal planar complexes. This report discloses a class of boranes with expanded bond angles achieved by taking advantage of the structural rigidity of tridentate pincer ligands. The bonding of these novel boranes is investigated by X‐ray crystallography and computationally.
Distributed environment for efficient virtual machine image management in federated Cloud architectures
Authors: Kimovski Dragi , Marosi Attila , Gec Sandi , Saurabh Nishant , Kertesz Attila , Kecskemeti Gabor , Stankovski Vlado , Prodan Radu 
Published: July 2017

SummaryThe use of virtual machines (VMs) in Cloud computing provides various benefits in the overall software engineering lifecycle. These include efficient elasticity mechanisms resulting in higher resource utilization and lower operational costs. The VMs as software artifacts are created using provider‐specific templates, called virtual machine images (VMI), and are stored in proprietary or public repositories for further use. However, some technology‐specific choices can limit the interoperability among various Cloud providers and bundle the VMIs with nonessential or redundant software packages, leading to increased storage size, prolonged VMI delivery, stagnant VMI instantiation, and ultimately vendor lock‐in. To address these challenges, we present a set of novel functionalities and design approaches for efficient operation of distributed VMI repositories, specifically tailored for enabling (1) simplified creation of lightweight and size optimized VMIs tuned for specific application requirements; (2) multi‐objective VMI repository optimization; and (3) efficient reasoning mechanism to help optimizing complex VMI operations. The evaluation results confirm that the presented approaches can enable VMI size reduction by up to 55%, while trimming the image creation time by 66%. Furthermore, the repository optimization algorithms can reduce the VMI delivery time by up to 51% and cut down the storage expenses by 3%. Moreover, by implementing replication strategies, the optimization algorithms can increase the system reliability by 74%.
The Structure of Ethylbenzene, Styrene and Phenylacetylene Determined by Total Neutron Scattering
Authors: Szala‐Bilnik Joanna , Falkowska Marta , Bowron Daniel T. , Hardacre Christopher , Youngs Tristan G. A. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractOrganic solvents such as phenylacetylene, styrene and ethylbenzene are widely used in industrial processes, especially in the production of rubber or thermoplastics. Despite their important applications detailed knowledge about their structure is limited. In this paper the structures of these three aromatic solvents were investigated using neutron diffraction. The results show that many of their structural characteristics are similar, although the structure of phenylacetylene is more ordered and has a smaller solvation sphere than either ethylbenzene or styrene. Two regions within the first coordination sphere, in which the surrounding molecules show different preferable orientations with respect to the central molecule, were found for each liquid. Additionally, the localisation of the aliphatic chains reveals that they tend to favour closer interactions with each other than to the aromatic rings of the adjacent molecules.
Cystic major salivary gland lesions: Utilizing fine needle aspiration to optimize the clinical management of a broad and diverse differential diagnosis
Authors: Allison Derek B. , McCuiston Austin M. , Kawamoto Satomi , Eisele David W. , Bishop Justin A. , Maleki Zahra 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIntroductionThe use of fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) cytology for the preoperative evaluation of salivary gland lesions is an accepted but, currently, nonstandardized practice. More specifically, cystic major salivary gland lesions are relatively rare and can be very challenging to diagnose on FNA due to low cellularity and an incredibly broad differential diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic utility of preoperative FNA cytology for cystic major salivary gland lesions.Methods and MaterialsThe electronic pathology archives of The Johns Hopkins Hospital were searched to identify FNA specimens of cystic major salivary gland lesions over a 15 year period (January 1, 2000 to December 21, 2015). The age, race, sex, biopsy site, use of ultrasound guidance, cytopathologic diagnosis, and presence or absence of clinical follow‐up were recorded for each patient. Cases were divided into those with and without follow‐up. Diagnostic performance between FNA and follow‐up data were recorded.ResultsA total of 145 cases met the inclusion criteria, while 123 (84.8%) patients had follow‐up data available. Of these patients, 67.5% underwent FNA as the only pathologic diagnostic modality. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the detection of cystic neoplasms were 41.6%, 99.0%, 90.9%, and 87.6%, respectively. For cases containing mucin, 100.0% sensitivity and specificity were achieved.ConclusionFNA of cystic salivary gland lesions is a useful clinical decision‐making tool that can reduce the number of patients ultimately requiring surgical excision. Although specificity is high, a relatively low overall sensitivity makes clinical and radiologic correlation imperative.
Heroin in Malaysia and Singapore
Authors: Sulaiman Maimonah , Kunalan Vanitha , Yap Angeline T. W. , Lim Wendy J. L. , Ng Joey Joo Yee , Loh Samuel Wei Xiong , Chan K. B. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractClandestine heroin laboratories have been a feature of the Malaysian illicit drug scene since soon after the abuse of heroin emerged in 1972. The first few clandestine heroin laboratories which synthesised heroin via the acetylation of imported morphine were uncovered in 1973 and 1977. By the mid‐1980s, this type of laboratory was replaced by heroin‐cutting laboratories whereby imported high‐grade heroin was cut to street heroin. This was to meet the rising demand for the drug owing to the rapid escalation of the number of drug users. Over the years, the most significant change in the composition of the street heroin is the decrease in its purity from 30%–50% to 3%–5%. Caffeine has remained the major adulterant and chloroquine is detected in virtually all recent seizures.
The influence of small doses of ethanol on the urinary testosterone to epitestosterone ratio in men and women
Authors: Albeiroti Sami , Ahrens Brian D. , Sobolevskii Timofei , Butch Anthony W. 
Published: July 2017

Endogenous steroid use can increase urinary testosterone/epitestosterone (T/E) values. In addition, ethanol in amounts >0.5 g per kg of body weight (g/kg) can also increase T/E values. However, the effect of smaller doses of ethanol on T/E values is unknown. The influence of 0.2 and 0.4 g/kg of ethanol on baseline T/E values in 20 men and 20 women with low and high baseline T/E values was investigated and correlated with ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) concentrations. T/E values for 7 of the women were excluded from the study because of undetectable T concentrations or for other reasons. One man and 1 woman with a high T/E baseline value had a significant increase in their T/E value after ingestion of 0.2 g/kg of ethanol. One man and 2 women with a high T/E baseline, and 1 woman with a low T/E baseline had significantly increased T/E values after ingestion of 0.4 g/kg of ethanol. There was wide variability in peak EtG concentrations and a lack of correlation between ethanol dose and EtG concentrations. Interestingly, 1 man and 2 women with increased T/E values following ethanol ingestion had EtG concentrations below the World Anti‐Doping Agency (WADA) cut‐off of 5000 ng/mL. These findings demonstrate that small amounts of ethanol can elevate T/E values, with women being more susceptible. In addition, consideration should be given to the lowering of the WADA EtG cut‐off to detect samples with elevated T/E values from ingestion of low doses of ethanol.
Resurgence of cucurbit downy mildew in the United States: Insights from comparative genomic analysis of Pseudoperonospora cubensis
Authors: Thomas Anna , Carbone Ignazio , Choe Kisurb , Quesada‐Ocampo Lina M. , Ojiambo Peter S. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractPseudoperonospora cubensis, the causal agent of cucurbit downy mildew (CDM), is known to exhibit host specialization. The virulence of different isolates of the pathogen can be classified into pathotypes based on their compatibility with a differential set composed of specific cucurbit host types. However, the genetic basis of host specialization within P. cubensis is not yet known. Total genomic DNA extracted from nine isolates of P. cubensis collected from 2008 to 2013 from diverse cucurbit host types (Cucumis sativus, C. melo var. reticulatus, Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, C. pepo, and Citrullus lanatus) in the United States were subjected to whole‐genome sequencing. Comparative analysis of these nine genomes confirmed the presence of two distinct evolutionary lineages (lineages I and II) of P. cubensis. Many fixed polymorphisms separated lineage I comprising isolates from Cucurbita pepo, C. moschata, and Citrullus lanatus from lineage II comprising isolates from Cucumis spp. and Cucurbita maxima. Phenotypic characterization showed that lineage II isolates were of the A1 mating type and belonged to pathotypes 1 and 3 that were not known to be present in the United States prior to the resurgence of CDM in 2004. The association of lineage II isolates with the new pathotypes and a lack of genetic diversity among these isolates suggest that lineage II of P. cubensis is associated with the resurgence of CDM on cucumber in the United States.
Oxygen minimum zone: An important oceanographic habitat for deep‐diving northern elephant seals,Mirounga angustirostris
Authors: Naito Yasuhiko , Costa Daniel P. , Adachi Taiki , Robinson Patrick W. , Peterson Sarah H. , Mitani Yoko , Takahashi Akinori 
Published: July 2017

AbstractLittle is known about the foraging behavior of top predators in the deep mesopelagic ocean. Elephant seals dive to the deep biota‐poor oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) (>800 m depth) despite high diving costs in terms of energy and time, but how they successfully forage in theOMZremains largely unknown. Assessment of their feeding rate is the key to understanding their foraging behavior, but this has been challenging. Here, we assessed the feeding rate of 14 female northern elephant seals determined by jaw motion events (JME) and dive cycle time to examine how feeding rates varied with dive depth, particularly in theOMZ. We also obtained video footage from seal‐mounted videos to understand their feeding in theOMZ. While the diel vertical migration pattern was apparent for most depths of theJME, some very deep dives, beyond the normal diel depth ranges, occurred episodically during daylight hours. The midmesopelagic zone was the main foraging zone for all seals. Larger seals tended to show smaller numbers ofJMEand lower feeding rates than smaller seals during migration, suggesting that larger seals tended to feed on larger prey to satisfy their metabolic needs. Larger seals also dived frequently to the deepOMZ, possibly because of a greater diving ability than smaller seals, suggesting their dependency on food in the deeper depth zones. Video observations showed that seals encountered the rarely reported ragfish (Icosteus aenigmaticus) in the depths of theOMZ, which failed to show an escape response from the seals, suggesting that low oxygen concentrations might reduce prey mobility. Less mobile prey inOMZwould enhance the efficiency of foraging in this zone, especially for large seals that can dive deeper and longer. We suggest that theOMZplays an important role in structuring the mesopelagic ecosystem and for the survival and evolution of elephant seals.
Long-term effects of sulfidized silver nanoparticles in sewage sludge on soil microflora
Authors: Kraas Marco , Schlich Karsten , Knopf Burkhard , Wege Franziska , Kägi Ralf , Terytze Konstantin , Hund-Rinke Kerstin 
Published: July 2017

Abstract

The use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in consumer products such as textiles leads to their discharge into wastewater and consequently to a transfer of the AgNPs to soil ecosystems via biosolids used as fertilizer. In urban wastewater systems (e.g., sewer, wastewater treatment plant [WWTP], anaerobic digesters) AgNPs are efficiently converted into sparingly soluble silver sulfides (Ag2S), mitigating the toxicity of the AgNPs. However, long-term studies on the bioavailability and effects of sulfidized AgNPs on soil microorganisms are lacking. Thus we investigated the bioavailability and long-term effects of AgNPs (spiked in a laboratory WWTP) on soil microorganisms. Before mixing the biosolids into soil, the sludges were either anaerobically digested or directly dewatered. The effects on the ammonium oxidation process were investigated over 140 d. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) suggested an almost complete sulfidation of the AgNPs analyzed in all biosolid samples and in soil, with Ag2S predominantly detected in long-term incubation experiments. However, despite the sulfidation of the AgNPs, soil ammonium oxidation was significantly inhibited, and the degree of inhibition was independent of the sludge treatment. The results revealed that AgNPs sulfidized under environmentally relevant conditions were still bioavailable to soil microorganisms. Consequently, Ag2S may exhibit toxic effects over the long term rather than the short term. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:3305–3313. © 2017 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were applied via biosolids into soil after four different treatments (aerobic and anaerobic digestion, each with and without an additional increase of sulfur (S) during wastewater treatment) and the effect of the sulfidized AgNPs on the soil nitrification process determined. Despite of the sulfidation of the AgNPs, the soil nitrification was significantly inhibited on a long term and the degree of inhibition was independent of the sludge treatment.
Twelve months of implementation of health care performance‐based financing in Burkina Faso: A qualitative multiple case study
Authors: Ridde Valéry , Yaogo Maurice , Zongo Sylvie , Somé Paul‐André , Turcotte‐Tremblay Anne‐Marie 
Published: July 2017

AbstractTo improve health services' quantity and quality, African countries are increasingly engaging in performance‐based financing (PBF) interventions. Studies to understand their implementation in francophone West Africa are rare. This study analysed PBF implementation in Burkina Faso 12 months post‐launch in late 2014.The design was a multiple and contrasted case study involving 18 cases (health centres). Empirical data were collected from observations, informal (n = 224) and formal (n = 459) interviews, and documents.Outside the circle of persons trained in PBF, few in the community had knowledge of it. In some health centres, the fact that staff were receiving bonuses was intentionally not announced to populations and community leaders. Most local actors thought PBF was just another project, but the majority appreciated it. There were significant delays in setting up agencies for performance monitoring, auditing, and contracting, as well as in the payment. The first audits led rapidly to coping strategies among health workers and occasionally to some staging beforehand. No community‐based audits had yet been done. Distribution of bonuses varied from one centre to another.This study shows the importance of understanding the implementation of public health interventions in Africa and of uncovering coping strategies.