bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Punica Granatum Seed Hydromethanol Extract on Contractility of Isolated Aorta in Female Albino Rats
Authors: Al-Habib Omar A. M. , Adam Lina N. 
Published: June 2017

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the physiological effect of the Punica granatum hydromethanol seeds extract on the contractility of isolated rat aortic rings. The isolated rat’s thoracic aorta was placed in an organ bath containing Krebs solution and the contraction was recorded isometrically. The results demonstrated that P. granatum hydro- methanol extract (1.5 to 5 mg/ml) caused a significant relaxant effect on the contractions induced by phenylephrine (0.01 mM) with IC50 ± SEM of 2.682 ± 0.197 mg/ml and the percentage of relaxation for PE-induced contraction was 52.88 ± 0.831. In endothelium intact and denuded aortic rings, the extract induced more or less the same response, except at high concentrations used (4.5 – 5.0 mg/ml) in which the endothelium denuded rings produced a significant reduction in the percent of relaxation from 49.91 to 25.42. Relaxant effect of hydromethanol seed extracts on intact aorta was not affected by nitric oxide synthase sinhsibitor ( L-NAME, 3*10-4), gaunyl cyclase inhibitor ( methylene blue 1*10-5) and PGI2 inhibitor (Indomethacin, 3*10-5), and thus, the percentages of relaxation were 59.85 ± 0.084, 58.59 ± 0.566 and 56.76 ± 0.693 respectively. In addition, incubation of aortic rings with the K+ channels blockers TEA, GLIB,, 4AP and BaCl2, that Kca, KATP and Kv channels played no role on vasorelaxation induced by hydromethanol extract, while Kir enhanced the relaxation induced by the extract to76.40%. Finally, hydro methanol extract significantly enhanced dose-response relaxation after incubation of thoracic aortic rings with Nifedipine (10-6 M) to 91.91 % with IC50 ± SEM 1.774 ± 0.096. It can be concluded from the results of the current work that the fraction of Punica granatum hydromethanol seed extract has vasorelaxant effects on rat aortic which was partially dependent on endothelium, Kir and Ca channels.
Representing subgrid convective initiation in the Community Earth System Model
Authors: Tawfik Ahmed B. , Lawrence David M. , Dirmeyer Paul A. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractA widely recognized issue found in most Earth System Models is that of convective precipitation being triggered too early during the day over land, often resulting in persistent light rainfall. In an effort to address this issue, a model‐consistent subgrid convective trigger is demonstrated in the Community Earth System Model (CESM). Subgrid convective initiation is achieved by first calculating a convective threshold within the Community Atmosphere Model (version 5.3). The convective threshold is then passed to each subgrid land cover type within the Community Land Model (version 4.0) and convection is considered to be active if the convective threshold is exceeded and the convective available potential energy (CAPE) exceeds 70 J kg−1 (the default trigger). In total, three simulations are performed: (1) a Control (CTL) with the default CAPE trigger, (2) a simulation with the default CAPE trigger as well as the subgrid trigger (HCF trigger) applied over land and ocean, and (3) a simulation the same as the HCF trigger but only applied over land (HCF land). By including this subgrid trigger, convective onset time is delayed by 1–4 h; however, the time of peak precipitation is unchanged. This diurnal shift improves the number of hours the deep convective scheme is invoked from more than 75% to less than 50%, alleviating the overactivity problem. The delayed onset time of deep convection allows for greater CAPE accumulation and a greater proportion of precipitation generated outside the convective scheme. More CAPE consequently produces an overall increase in intense precipitation events.
Probabilistic global maps of the CO2 column at daily and monthly scales from sparse satellite measurements
Authors: Chevallier Frédéric , Broquet Grégoire , Pierangelo Clémence , Crisp David 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe column‐average dry air‐mole fraction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (XCO2) is measured by scattered satellite measurements like those from the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO‐2). We show that global continuous maps of XCO2 (corresponding to level 3 of the satellite data) at daily or coarser temporal resolution can be inferred from these data with a Kalman filter built on a model of persistence. Our application of this approach on 2 years of OCO‐2 retrievals indicates that the filter provides better information than a climatology of XCO2 at both daily and monthly scales. Provided that the assigned observation uncertainty statistics are tuned in each grid cell of the XCO2 maps from an objective method (based on consistency diagnostics), the errors predicted by the filter at daily and monthly scales represent the true error statistics reasonably well, except for a bias in the high latitudes of the winter hemisphere and a lack of resolution (i.e., a too small discrimination skill) of the predicted error standard deviations. Due to the sparse satellite sampling, the broad‐scale patterns of XCO2 described by the filter seem to lag behind the real signals by a few weeks. Finally, the filter offers interesting insights into the quality of the retrievals, both in terms of random and systematic errors.
Atmospheric form drag coefficients over Arctic sea ice using remotely sensed ice topography data, spring 2009–2015
Authors: Petty Alek A. , Tsamados Michel C. , Kurtz Nathan T. 
Published: June 2017

Sea ice topography significantly impacts turbulent energy/momentum exchange, e.g., atmospheric (wind) drag, over Arctic sea ice. Unfortunately, observational estimates of this contribution to atmospheric drag variability are spatially and temporally limited. Here we present new estimates of the neutral atmospheric form drag coefficient over Arctic sea ice in early spring, using high‐resolution Airborne Topographic Mapper elevation data from NASA's Operation IceBridge mission. We utilize a new three‐dimensional ice topography data set and combine this with an existing parameterization scheme linking surface feature height and spacing to form drag. To be consistent with previous studies investigating form drag, we compare these results with those produced using a new linear profiling topography data set. The form drag coefficient from surface feature variability shows lower values (<0.5–1 ×10−3) in the Beaufort/Chukchi Seas, compared with higher values (>0.5–1 ×10−3) in the more deformed ice regimes of the Central Arctic (north of Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago), which increase with coastline proximity. The results show moderate interannual variability, including a strong increase in the form drag coefficient from 2013 to 2014/2015 north of the Canadian Archipelago. The form drag coefficient estimates are extrapolated across the Arctic with Advanced Scatterometer satellite radar backscatter data, further highlighting the regional/interannual drag coefficient variability. Finally, we combine the results with existing parameterizations of form drag from floe edges (a function of ice concentration) and skin drag to produce, to our knowledge, the first pan‐Arctic estimates of the total neutral atmospheric drag coefficient (in early spring) from 2009 to 2015.
Effects of artificial local compensation of convective mass flux in the cumulus parameterization
Authors: Ong Hing , Wu Chien‐Ming , Kuo Hung‐Chi 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIn this study, a hybrid mass flux cumulus scheme (HYMACS) is developed for the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF). Idealized experiments are performed to evaluate its effects on tropical cyclone simulations. Classical cumulus schemes assume artificial local compensation of convective mass flux. In contrast, HYMACS treats subgrid‐scale mass flux convergence or divergence as parameterized mass sources or sinks. When the mass sources or sinks are introduced to the mass continuity equation in a nonhydrostatic fully compressible model, the model dynamics would resolve the mass‐compensating motion, i.e., dynamic compensation of convective mass flux. A hierarchy of experiments is conducted to demonstrate the effects of the artificial local compensation. The results of the mass compensation experiment show that the amplitude of the column mass change with the artificial local compensation is more sensitive to the change of the horizontal resolution between 3 and 27 km than the dynamic compensation. The results of the piggybacking tropical cyclone simulations at 9 km resolution suggest that the artificial local compensation in the Kain‐Fritsch scheme (KF) concentrates vertical exchange of dry static energy and moisture and induces secondary circulation, which could lead to sea level pressure decrease and enhanced precipitation. These results indicate that the artificial local compensation at the gray‐zone resolution could cause significant effects on tropical cyclone dynamics, so it is important to avoid the artificial local compensation for cumulus parameterization at such resolution.
Manganese‐Catalyzed C−H Functionalizations: Hydroarylations and Alkenylations Involving an Unexpected Heteroaryl Shift
Authors: Wang Chengming , Wang Ai , Rueping Magnus 
Published: June 2017

AbstractA manganese‐catalyzed regio‐ and stereoselective hydroarylation of allenes is reported. The C−H functionalization method provides access to various alkenylated indoles in excellent yields. Moreover, a hydroarylation/cyclization cascade involving an unexpected C−N bond cleavage and aryl shift has been developed, which provides a new synthetic approach to substituted pyrroloindolones.
Plasticizing effect of coconut oil on morphological, mechanical, thermal, rheological, barrier, and optical properties of poly(lactic acid): A promising candidate for food packaging
Authors: Bhasney Siddharth Mohan , Patwa Rahul , Kumar Amit , Katiyar Vimal 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTThis study explores the plasticizing effect of coconut oil (CO) on PLA for evaluating its suitability for flexible packaging. Changes in morphological, mechanical, thermal, rheological, barrier and optical properties of melt compounded Poly(lactic acid)–Coconut oil (PLA–CO) blend were investigated by varying the mixing ratio. Water vapor permeability of blends decreased by 58% at 7 wt % plasticizer content. The tensile strength showed a decreasing trend with increasing plasticizer percentage while the % elongation showed an increasing trend. At 7 wt % plasticizer content tensile strength decreased from 60 to 41 MPa and % elongation increased from 12% to 54%. Molecular weight (Mn) and onset of degradation (Tonset), upon 1 wt % plasticizer addition showed a reduction of 6% and 0.6%, respectively, which were well within permissible limits required for polymer processing. The melt flow properties of the blends were slightly improved (∼16%) upon 5 wt % addition of CO. Transparency of the PLA films was improved by addition of plasticizer. FTIR spectra of PLA‐CO sample confirmed the interaction between PLA and coconut oil via hydrogen bonding. At higher loading, coconut oil shows very limited compatibility with PLA. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45390.
Effects of coating solvent and thermal treatment on transport and morphological characteristics of PDMS/Torlon composite hollow fiber membrane
Authors: Rownaghi Ali A. , Bhandari Dhaval , Burgess Steven K. , Mikkilineni Dharmik S. 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTA new approach for formation of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer on Torlon polyamide‐imide hollow fiber (PAI‐HF) support has been developed by directly after fiber spinning without the need to undergo the final conventional solvent exchange and drying step, thereby saving postspinning processing steps. The produced PDMS/PAI‐HF composite membranes were found to have high CO2 permeance (i.e., 1100 GPU) and exhibited good CO2/N2 selectivities of 8–10 which is close to 90% of that of a PDMS dense film. The effects of coating solution, rewetting and crosslinking temperature on the PAI‐HF morphological features, that is, gas transport, skin thickness, skin integrity, and substructure resistance are investigated. The rewetting and thermal treatment of the PAI‐HF caused the densification of the skin layer and reduced the pore sizes on the top layer. In addition, the potential use of the PAI‐HF support with polymers that are insoluble in hexane is also considered. Effects of water, methanol, and hexane exposure of PAI‐HF to these solvents are considered. This evaluation calls attention to issues that must be addressed in any eventual use of the PAI‐HF with water‐soluble or methanol‐soluble selective layer polymers, rather than simple hexane‐soluble polymers such as PDMS. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45418.
Animal Embryotoxicity Studies of Key Non‐Artemisinin Antimalarials and Use in Women in the First Trimester
Authors: Clark Robert L. 
Published: June 2017

The World Health Organization currently recommends quinine+clindamycin for use against malaria in the first trimester. This may soon change to recommending artemisinin‐based combination therapies (standard duration of dosing = 3 days). The non‐artemisinin partner drugs include amodiaquine, lumefantrine, mefloquine, piperaquine, sulfadoxine+pyrimethamine, and pyronaridine. For quinine, clindamycin, and mefloquine and the combinations of sulfadoxine+pyrimethamine and artemether+lumefantrine, there are reports (including studies without internal comparison groups) that combined describe 304 to >1100 exposures of women in the first trimester for each drug with no conclusive evidence of adverse effects on pregnancy at therapeutic doses. This is despite the fact that all of these drugs or drug combinations caused embryo deaths and/or malformations in at least one animal species and all except lumefantrine had at least one exposure ratio <1.It now seems that these animal studies overestimated the risk of developmental toxicity in women with malaria. Three other non‐artemisinins (amodiaquine, piperaquine, and pyronaridine) have few or no reported exposures in women in the first trimester and have exposure ratios ≤2 based on studies in pregnant rats and rabbits with dosing throughout organogenesis. However, none of these drugs caused embryo deaths or malformations in pregnant rats and rabbits with the exception of pyronaridine, which caused embryo deaths only at a dose that was excessively toxic to the mothers. Thus, for amodiaquine, piperaquine, and pyronaridine, the testing in animals did not reveal findings of concern and the exposure ratios were in the range of the other non‐artemisinin antimalarials described above. Birth Defects Research 109:1075–1126, 2017. © 2017 The Authors. Birth Defects Research Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hypomethylation and decreased expression of BRG1 in the myocardium of patients with congenital heart disease
Authors: Qian Yanyan , Xiao Deyong , Guo Xiao , Chen Hongbo , Hao Lili , Ma Xiaojing , Huang Guoying , Ma Duan , Wang Huijun 
Published: June 2017

BackgroundBRG1, an ATPase subunit of the SWItch/Sucrose Non‐Fermentable complex, is tightly associated with cardiac development. However, little is known about the association between the pathogenesis of CHD and BRG1.MethodsThe methylation of a BRG1 promoter and a novel CpG island in the second intron was analyzed in the myocardium of congenital heart disease (CHD) patients (n = 24) and normal controls (n = 11) using pyrosequencing and the MassARRAY platform. BRG1 expression was sketched in the normal fetal and postnatal heart using real‐time PCR. BRG1 mRNA and protein expression was detected by means of real‐time PCR and immunohistochemistry. The expression of GATA4 was analyzed with real‐time PCR.ResultsThe CpG shore in the second intron of BRG1 was hypomethylated in the myocardium of patients (p < 0.05). BRG1 showed a high level of expression in the normal fetal heart in the second trimester (p < 0.01). Compared with that of the normal subjects, BRG1 expression was decreased by 70% in the myocardium of patients (n = 92; p < 0.05). Of note, the expression of GATA4 was significantly correlated with BRG1 expression (r = 0.7475; p = 0.0082) in the myocardium, and it was also decreased by 70% in these patients (n = 92; p < 0.05).ConclusionThese results suggested that the early high expression of BRG1 in fetal hearts maintained normal cardiac development and that the abnormal hypomethylation and decreased expression of BRG1 in human hearts probably affect the expression of GATA4, which affects the pathogenesis of CHD. Birth Defects Research 109:1183–1195, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Two‐Dimensional Layered Materials as Catalyst Supports
Authors: Kumar Amit , Xu Qiang 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSince the successful isolation of graphene, two‐dimensional (2D) materials have attracted immense interest in contemporary chemical research owing to their unique structural and chemical properties with potential scientific applications. Layered 2D materials show different characteristics from bulk 3D materials owing to significant alterations in their electronic and structural behavior. From the last decade, 2D materials including graphene have been extensively investigated as supports for metal nanoparticles (NPs) exhibiting excellent catalytic activity towards various chemical and electrochemical reactions. This review focuses on the recent advances of graphene and other 2D layered materials as catalyst supports, their interactions with metal precursors, and catalytic applications. The catalytic behavior of metal NPs supported on 2D materials has been discussed regarding various electrochemical oxidation and reduction reactions in fuel cells as well as numerous organic reactions and catalytic hydrogen generation from the dehydrogenation of hydrogen storage materials. We appraise that the catalytic behavior of the nanomaterials can be improved by simply modifying the interactions between precursors and supports by changing the chemical and physical properties of the support materials. Finally, we summarize the review with an outlook on future opportunities and challenges of 2D materials to provide access to a variety of low‐cost and high‐performance catalysts in terms of both academic and industrial applications.
Facile Synthesis of a Porous Pd/Cu Alloy and its Enhanced Performance toward Methanol and Formic Acid Electrooxidation
Authors: Yan Bo , Wang Caiqin , Xu Hui , Zhang Ke , Li Shumin , Du Yukou 
Published: June 2017

AbstractReported is a porous Pd/Cu alloy catalyst synthesized by a one‐pot method, in which the Pd/Cu alloy is formed by using l‐ascorbic acid as reducing agent to simultaneously reduce the copper precursor and the palladium precursor. The copper incorporated with Pd can reduce the cost of the catalyst and enhance the catalytic performance. The morphology of the Pd/Cu alloy catalyst can be controlled by altering the ratios of Pd to Cu. Electrochemical characterizations indicate that Pd/Cu alloy catalysts possess good activity and long‐term stability for the electrooxidation of methanol and formic acid. Compared with commercial Pd/C, the as‐prepared Pd65Cu35 shows enhanced activities of electrooxidation of methanol and formic acid. This study highlights an easy strategy to obtain the shape‐controlled Pd/Cu alloyed catalysts and their potential application as electrocatalysts in fuel cells or other fields.
The impact of parasitism on resource allocation in a fungal host: the case of Cryphonectria parasitica and its mycovirus, Cryphonectria Hypovirus 1
Authors: Brusini Jérémie , Wayne Marta L. , Franc Alain , Robin Cécile 
Published: June 2017

AbstractParasites are known to profoundly affect resource allocation in their host. In order to investigate the effects of Cryphonectria Hypovirus 1 (CHV1) on the life‐history traits of its fungal host Cryphonectria parasitica, an infection matrix was completed with the cross‐infection of six fungal isolates by six different viruses. Mycelial growth, asexual sporulation, and spore size were measured in the 36 combinations, for which horizontal and vertical transmission of the viruses was also assessed. As expected by life‐history theory, a significant negative correlation was found between host somatic growth and asexual reproduction in virus‐free isolates. Interestingly this trade‐off was found to be positive in infected isolates, illustrating the profound changes in host resource allocation induced by CHV1 infection. A significant and positive relationship was also found in infected isolates between vertical transmission and somatic growth. This last relationship suggests that in this system, high levels of virulence could be detrimental to the vertical transmission of the parasite. Those results underscore the interest of studying host–parasite interaction within the life‐history theory framework, which might permit a more accurate understanding of the nature of the modifications triggered by parasite infection on host biology.
Fluid filling of the digestive tract for improved proton resonance frequency shift‐based MR thermometry in the pancreas
Authors: Ferrer Cyril J. , Bartels Lambertus W. , van Stralen Marijn , Denis de Senneville Baudouin , Moonen Chrit T.W. , Bos Clemens 
Published: June 2017

PurposeTo demonstrate that fluid filling of the digestive tract improves the performance of respiratory motion‐compensated proton resonance frequency shift (PRFS)‐based magnetic resonance (MR) thermometry in the pancreas.Materials and MethodsIn seven volunteers (without heating), we evaluated PRFS thermometry in the pancreas with and without filling of the surrounding digestive tract. All data acquisition was performed at 1.5T, then all datasets were analyzed and compared with three different PRFS respiratory motion‐compensated thermometry methods: gating, multibaseline, and referenceless. The temperature precision of the different methods was evaluated by assessing temperature standard deviation over time, while a simulation experiment was used to study the accuracy of the methods.ResultsWithout fluid intake, errors in temperature precision in the pancreas up to 10°C were observed for all evaluated methods. After liquid intake, temperature precision improved to median values between 1.8 and 2.9°C. The simulations showed that gating had the lowest accuracy, with errors up to 7°C. Multibaseline and referenceless thermometry performed better, with a median error in the pancreas between –3 and +3°C after fluid intake, for all volunteers.ConclusionPreparation of the digestive tract near the pancreas by filling it with fluid improved MR thermometry precision and accuracy for all common respiratory motion‐compensated methods evaluated. These improvements are attributed to reducing field inhomogeneity in the pancreas.Level of Evidence: 2Technical Efficacy: Stage 1J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:692–701.