bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Observed precipitation trend changes in the western Mediterranean region
Authors: Valdes‐Abellan J. , Pardo M.A. , Tenza‐Abril A.J. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTThis paper analyses the daily precipitation data recorded for the last 75–80 years in SE Spain. Prior to statistical analysis, homogeneity tests were performed to determine the usefulness of the data (recorded in six pluviometric stations). If the data were homogeneous, the Mann–Kendall test was performed to detect monotonic trends for variables such as total precipitation, number of days with precipitation greater than 1, 20 or 40 mm, number of consecutive dry days and number of consecutive wet days. Moreover, the linear tendency was calculated and accepted (or rejected) by performing a Student's t‐test of the calculated residual values. The results showed, on average, a clear change in precipitation patterns for the last 20 years. Annual rainfall had decreased, with values ranging from 0 to 15%, dry periods had increased in length, and the number of rainy days had decreased (especially when high daily precipitation was considered). This latter notion did not exactly concur with the conclusions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2014 Synthesis Report related to the study area.
Raman microspectroscopic studies of unirradiated homogeneous (U0.76Pu0.24)O2+x: the effects of Pu content, non‐stoichiometry, self‐radiation damage and secondary phases
Authors: Talip Zeynep , Peuget Sylvain , Magnin Magali , Berardo Lydie , Valot Christophe , Vauchy Romain , Jégou Christophe 
Published: January 2017

In this study, micro‐Raman spectroscopy technique was implemented to characterize an unirradiated homogeneous Gigondas (U0.76Pu0.24)O2+x sample, which had been stored for 30 years at room temperature under air. The impacts of Pu content, deviation from stoichiometry, self‐radiation damage and formation of secondary phases were assessed by comparing the Raman spectra of the aged Gigondas with an annealed sample [(U0.76Pu0.24)O2]. The Pu content of the sample was measured by electron probe microanalysis technique, while the stoichiometry of the annealed Gigondas sample was determined by the results of electron probe microanalysis technique and X‐ray diffraction. Two methods were proposed to explain the Raman spectrum of the aged Gigondas sample. They considered the presence of MO2+x phase and the mixture of MO2+x and M4O9 (M: U and Pu) phases respectively. Formation of the secondary phases, which were detected on the surface of the aged Gigondas sample, could be mostly due to alpha radiolysis. It was suggested that self‐radiation damage up to about 0.6 dpa leads to a shift of MO2+x T2g band by about 1 to 2 cm−1 towards lower wavenumbers. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Raman spectroscopy and imaging of Bernal‐stacked bilayer graphene synthesized on copper foil by chemical vapour deposition: growth dependence on temperature
Authors: Fabiane M. , Madito M. J. , Bello A. , Manyala N. 
Published: January 2017

We report on the effect of temperature on the growth of bilayer graphene on a copper foil under atmospheric pressure chemical vapour deposition (AP‐CVD). Before characterization of the AP‐CVD bilayer graphene, a high‐quality graphene flake was obtained from the Kish bulk graphite by micro‐mechanical exfoliation and characterized by using Raman spectroscopy and imaging. The Raman data of the exfoliated, high‐quality graphene flake show monolayer and bilayer graphenes and were compared with the Raman data of AP‐CVD graphene. Raman spectroscopy of AP‐CVD graphene shows bilayer films that exhibit predominantly Bernal stacking with an I2D/IG ratio of ~1. At low growth temperature (~780 °C), Raman disorder‐related peak intensity in the AP‐CVD graphene is high and decreases with an increase in growth temperature to the lowest disorder intensity at ~973 °C. The selected area electron diffraction and atomic force microscopy average step height analysis showed the thickness of the bilayer graphene. The AP‐CVD graphene is uniform at low growth temperatures (~780 °C) with a high disorder and becomes non‐uniform at high growth temperatures (~867–973 °C) with a very low disorder as bilayer graphene evolves to form islands with an average lateral size of <10 μm. Competition between carbon adatoms supply through dehydrogenation of the CHx species, mobility and desorption rate of the carbon‐adatom species for nucleation of the bilayer graphene as a function of temperature is elucidated. This study provides further insight into the growth mechanisms of bilayer graphene by AP‐CVD on Cu. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ribose operon repressor (RbsR) contributes to the adhesion of Aeromonas hydrophila to Anguilla japonica mucus
Authors: Lin Guifang , Chen Wenbo , Su Yongquan , Qin Yingxue , Huang Lixing , Yan Qingpi 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe characterization of adhesion between pathogenic bacteria and the host is critical. Pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila was shown to adhere in vitro to the mucus of Anguilla japonica. To further investigate the adhesion mechanisms of A. hydrophila, a mini‐Tn10 transposon mutagenesis system was used to generate an insertion mutant library by cell conjugation. Seven mutants that were impaired in adhesion to mucus were selected out of 332 individual colonies, and mutant M196 was the most severely impaired strain. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) blast analysis showed that mutant M196 was inserted by mini‐Tn10 with an ORF of approximately 1,005 bp (GenBank accession numbers KP280172). This ORF is predicted to encode a protein consist of 334 amino acid, which displays the highest identity (98%) with the RbsR of A. hydrophila ATCC 7966. Random inactivation of rbsR gene affected the pleiotropic phenotypes of A. hydrophila. The adhesion ability and the survival level of the rbsR gene mutant (M196) were attenuated compared with the wild‐type and rbsR complementary type. The findings of this study indicated that RbsR plays roles in the bacterial adhesion and intracellular survival of A. hydrophila.
Potential Therapeutic Applications of Adenosine A2A Receptor Ligands and Opportunities for A2A Receptor Imaging
Authors: van Waarde Aren , Dierckx Rudi A. J. O. , Zhou Xiaoyun , Khanapur Shivashankar , Tsukada Hideo , Ishiwata Kiichi , Luurtsema Gert , de Vries Erik F. J. , Elsinga Philip H. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractAdenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) are highly expressed in the human striatum, and at lower densities in the cerebral cortex, the hippocampus, and cells of the immune system. Antagonists of these receptors are potentially useful for the treatment of motor fluctuations, epilepsy, postischemic brain damage, or cognitive impairment, and for the control of an immune checkpoint during immunotherapy of cancer. A2AR agonists may suppress transplant rejection and graft‐versus‐host disease; be used to treat inflammatory disorders such as asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis; be locally applied to promote wound healing and be employed in a strategy for transient opening of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) so that therapeutic drugs and monoclonal antibodies can enter the brain. Increasing A2AR signaling in adipose tissue is also a potential strategy to combat obesity. Several radioligands for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of A2ARs have been developed in recent years. This review article presents a critical overview of the potential therapeutic applications of A2AR ligands, the use of A2AR imaging in drug development, and opportunities and limitations of PET imaging in future research.
Assessment of small sensory fiber function across the spectrum of severity in carpal tunnel syndrome patients
Authors: Clarke Christopher , Christensen Christopher , Curran Matthew W.T. , Chan K. Ming 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTIntroduction: In compressive neuropathies, large myelinated nerve fibers are generally thought to be more susceptible. In this study, we investigated small myelinated Aδ and unmyelinated C fiber function in patients with mild, moderate, and severe carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods: Forty‐four healthy controls and 81 carpal tunnel syndrome patients in the mild, moderate, or severe categories were recruited. Small fiber sensation in the affected hand was determined with quantitative sensory testing. Results: Cold detection thresholds in the severe carpal tunnel syndrome group (18.9 ± 6.8°C) were significantly impaired compared with controls (27.2 ± 2.1°C) (P < 0.01). Similarly, warm detection thresholds were also impaired in the severe carpal tunnel syndrome group (41.2 ± 3.5°C) compared with control (37.1 ± 2.1°C) (P < 0.01). Conclusions: These results support the growing body of evidence that carpal tunnel syndrome can affect small afferent fibers. Muscle Nerve 56: 814–816, 2017
Clinical, biochemical, molecular, and histological features of 65 Portuguese patients with mitochondrial disorders
Authors: Cruz Simão , Taipa Ricardo , Nogueira Célia , Pereira Cristina , Almeida Lígia S. , Neiva Raquel , Geraldes Tiago , Guimarães António , Melo‐Pires Manuel , Vilarinho Laura 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTIntroductionMitochondrial disorders display remarkable genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical, histological, biochemical, and genetic features of 65 patients with molecular diagnoses of mitochondrial disorders.ResultsThe most common genetic diagnosis was a single large‐scale mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion (41.5%), and the most frequent clinical phenotype was chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO). It occurred in 41.5% of all patients, primarily in those with mtDNA deletions. Histological signs of mitochondrial dysfunction were found in 73.8% of patients, and respiratory chain enzyme assay (RCEA) abnormalities were detected in 51.9%.ConclusionsThis study confirms the high relative frequency of single large‐scale deletions among mitochondrial disorders as well as its particular association with CPEO. Muscle histology seems to be particularly useful in older patients and those with mtDNA deletions, whereas RCEA might be more helpful in young children or individuals with mtDNA depletion. Muscle Nerve 56: 868–872, 2017
A hash‐based distributed mapping control scheme in mobile locator‐identifier separation protocol networks
Authors: Gohar Moneeb , Bashir Faisal , Choi Jin‐Ghoo , Koh Seok‐Joo , Ahmad Waleed 
Published: January 2017

SummaryIn the locator‐identifier separation protocol (LISP), the existing mapping control scheme is based on a centralized approach, in which a map server is used as a mobility anchor for mobile hosts. However, such a centralized scheme has some limitations that include traffic overhead at the central map server, service degradation by a single point of failure, and large data transmission delay. In this article, we propose a new hash‐based distributed mapping control scheme of endpoint identifier (EID) and local locator in the LISP‐based mobile networks. In the proposed scheme, each access router in the mobile network has a distributed local map server. For a mobile host, a distributed local map server is designated to manage the associated EID‐local locator mapping by using a hash function. For roaming support, each gateway has a distributed global map server, which maintains visiting EID‐locator register. From the numerical results, we see that the proposed scheme can reduce the amount of control traffic at the map server and total signaling delay compared to the existing mapping control schemes.
Direct evaluation of stress intensity factors for curved cracks using Irwin's integral and XFEM with high‐order enrichment functions
Authors: Wang Yongxiang , Waisman Haim , Harari Isaac 
Published: January 2017

SummaryThis paper presents a comprehensive study on the use of Irwin's crack closure integral for direct evaluation of mixed‐mode stress intensity factors (SIFs) in curved crack problems, within the extended finite element method. The approach employs high‐order enrichment functions derived from the standard Williams asymptotic solution, and SIFs are computed in closed form without any special post‐processing requirements. Linear triangular elements are used to discretize the domain, and the crack curvature within an element is represented explicitly. An improved quadrature scheme using high‐order isoparametric mapping together with a generalized Duffy transformation is proposed to integrate singular fields in tip elements with curved cracks. Furthermore, because the Williams asymptotic solution is derived for straight cracks, an appropriate definition of the angle in the enrichment functions is presented and discussed. This contribution is an important extension of our previous work on straight cracks and illustrates the applicability of the SIF extraction method to curved cracks.The performance of the method is studied on several circular and parabolic arc crack benchmark examples. With two layers of elements enriched in the vicinity of the crack tip, striking accuracy, even on relatively coarse meshes, is obtained, and the method converges to the reference SIFs for the circular arc crack problem with mesh refinement. Furthermore, while the popular interaction integral (a variant of the J‐integral method) requires special auxiliary fields for curved cracks and also needs cracks to be sufficiently apart from each other in multicracks systems, the proposed approach shows none of those limitations. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hyperbranched narrow‐bandgap DPP homopolymers synthesized via direct arylation polycondensation
Authors: Wang Kai , Wang Mingfeng 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTNarrow bandgap and hyperbranched polymers (h‐PTDPP) are synthesized by directly arylation polymerization (DAP) of 2‐bromo‐thiophene‐flanked diketopyrrolopyrrole (Br‐TDPP) as the monomer. Their optical properties as well as chemical structures are studied. The detailed optimization of DAP conditions from catalyst, temperature, solvent, ligand to additive not only leads to high molecular weight h‐PTDPP, but also provides some insight to minimize structural defects in DAP when brominated TDPP is involved as a monomer. The increase in the degree of branching results in lower charge‐carrier mobilities in organic field‐effect transistors involving h‐PTDPP‐3 as the semiconducting channel. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 1040–1047
Synthesis and characterization of chiral poly(l‐lactide‐b‐hexyl isocyanate) macromonomers with norbornenyl end groups and their homopolymerization through ring opening metathesis polymerization to afford polymer brushes
Authors: Choinopoulos Ioannis , Koinis Spyros , Pitsikalis Marinos 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTWe report the synthesis of the novel half‐titanocene alkoxide complex bischloro‐η5‐cyclopentadienyl(bicyclo[2.2.1]‐hept‐5‐en‐2‐oxy) titanium (IV), [CpTiCl2(O‐NBE)]. This complex was employed for the synthesis of chiral poly(l‐lactide‐b‐hexyl isocyanate) diblock copolymer bearing a norbornene end group with sequential addition of monomers. The poly(hexyl isocyanate) block is chiral due to the last l‐lactide unit of the poly(l‐lactide) block. This macromonomer was polymerized towards a chiral polymer brush structure with polynorbornene backbone and chiral poly(l‐lactide‐b‐hexyl isocyanate) side chains using Grubbs first‐generation catalyst. The polymers were characterized using size exclusion chromatography (SEC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and their thermal properties were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 1102–1112
Structural Versatility in Slide‐Ring Gels: Influence of Co‐Threaded Cyclodextrin Spacers
Authors: Murakami Takuya , Schmidt Bernhard V. K. J. , Brown Hugh R. , Hawker Craig J. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTWe describe a one‐pot strategy for the fabrication of novel slide‐ring (SR) gels based on supramolecular polyrotaxane structures with cyclodextrin‐derived cross‐links and additional free cyclodextrin ring spacers co‐threaded onto the polymer backbones. Photoinitiated thiol‐yne click coupling leads to facile hydrogel fabrication from pseudo‐polyrotaxanes prepared in situ from β‐cyclodextrin derivatives and bifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG). The obtained SR gels were characterized by NMR spectroscopy using a polyrotaxane model compound with the ratio of cyclodextrin sliding spacers to PEG backbone controlled by adjusting the feed ratio of the starting materials. This structural tuning leads to dramatic changes in the rheological properties, mechanical properties, and swelling behavior of the SR gels. In addition, the coupling of simple synthetic procedures with enhanced properties offers a versatile approach to novel elastomeric materials. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 55, 1156–1165
Crystallographic and mutational analyses of cystathionine β‐synthase in the H2S‐synthetic gene cluster in Lactobacillus plantarum
Authors: Matoba Yasuyuki , Yoshida Tomoki , Izuhara‐Kihara Hisae , Noda Masafumi , Sugiyama Masanori 
Published: January 2017

AbstractCystathionine β‐synthase (CBS) catalyzes the formation of l‐cystathionine from l‐serine and l‐homocysteine. The resulting l‐cystathionine is decomposed into l‐cysteine, ammonia, and α‐ketobutylic acid by cystathionine γ‐lyase (CGL). This reverse transsulfuration pathway, which is catalyzed by both enzymes, mainly occurs in eukaryotic cells. The eukaryotic CBS and CGL have recently been recognized as major physiological enzymes for the generation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). In some bacteria, including the plant‐derived lactic acid bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum, the CBS‐ and CGL‐encoding genes form a cluster in their genomes. Inactivation of these enzymes has been reported to suppress H2S production in bacteria; interestingly, it has been shown that H2S suppression increases their susceptibility to various antibiotics. In the present study, we characterized the enzymatic properties of the L. plantarum CBS, whose amino acid sequence displays a similarity with those of O‐acetyl‐l‐serine sulfhydrylase (OASS) that catalyzes the generation of l‐cysteine from O‐acetyl‐l‐serine (l‐OAS) and H2S. The L. plantarum CBS shows l‐OAS‐ and l‐cysteine‐dependent CBS activities together with OASS activity. Especially, it catalyzes the formation of H2S in the presence of l‐cysteine and l‐homocysteine, together with the formation of l‐cystathionine. The high affinity toward l‐cysteine as a first substrate and tendency to use l‐homocysteine as a second substrate might be associated with its enzymatic ability to generate H2S. Crystallographic and mutational analyses of CBS indicate that the Ala70 and Glu223 residues at the substrate binding pocket are important for the H2S‐generating activity.
Transport capabilities of environmental Pseudomonads for sulfur compounds
Authors: Zerbs Sarah , Korajczyk Peter J. , Noirot Philippe H. , Collart Frank R. 
Published: January 2017

AbstractSulfur is an essential element in plant rhizospheres and microbial activity plays a key role in increasing the biological availability of sulfur in soil environments. To better understand the mechanisms facilitating the exchange of sulfur‐containing molecules in soil, we profiled the binding specificities of eight previously uncharacterized ABC transporter solute‐binding proteins from plant‐associated Pseudomonads. A high‐throughput screening procedure indicated eighteen significant organosulfur binding ligands, with at least one high‐quality screening hit for each protein target. Calorimetric and spectroscopic methods were used to validate the best ligand assignments and catalog the thermodynamic properties of the protein‐ligand interactions. Two novel high‐affinity ligand‐binding activities were identified and quantified in this set of solute‐binding proteins. Bacteria were cultured in minimal media with screening library components supplied as the sole sulfur sources, demonstrating that these organosulfur compounds can be metabolized and confirming the relevance of ligand assignments. These results expand the set of experimentally validated ligands amenable to transport by this ABC transporter family and demonstrate the complex range of protein‐ligand interactions that can be accomplished by solute‐binding proteins. Characterizing new nutrient import pathways provides insight into Pseudomonad metabolic capabilities which can be used to further interrogate bacterial survival and participation in soil and rhizosphere communities.
Nonlinear output‐feedback control of torsional vibrations in drilling systems
Authors: Vromen T. , van de Wouw N. , Doris A. , Astrid P. , Nijmeijer H. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryThis paper considers the design of a nonlinear observer‐based output‐feedback controller for oil‐field drill‐string systems aiming to eliminate (torsional) stick–slip oscillations. Such vibrations decrease the performance and reliability of drilling systems and can ultimately lead to system failure. Current industrial controllers regularly fail to eliminate stick–slip vibrations under increasingly challenging operating conditions caused by the tendency towards drilling deeper and inclined wells, where multiple vibrational modes play a role in the occurrence of stick–slip vibrations. As a basis for controller synthesis, a multi‐modal model of the torsional drill‐string dynamics for a real rig is employed, and a bit–rock interaction model with severe velocity‐weakening effect is used. The proposed model‐based controller design methodology consists of a state‐feedback controller and a (nonlinear) observer. Conditions, guaranteeing asymptotic stability of the desired equilibrium, corresponding to nominal drilling operation, are presented. The proposed control strategy has a significant advantage over existing vibration control systems as it can effectively cope with multiple modes of torsional vibration. Case study results using the proposed control strategy show that stick–slip oscillations can indeed be eliminated in realistic drilling scenarios in which industrial controllers fail to do so. Moreover, key robustness aspects of the control system involving the robustness against uncertainties in the bit–rock interaction and changing operational conditions are evidenced. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of N‐Butyl‐N‐Methyl‐Morpholinium Bromide Ionic Liquid on the Conformation Stability of Human Serum Albumin
Authors: Kumari Meena , Singh Upendra Kumar , Singh Prashant , Patel Rajan 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThe present work reports the interaction of morpholinium based ionic liquid with the transporter protein, human serum album (HSA). The ionic liquids with morpholinium cationic groups are reported to be comparatively less toxic than other cationic groups of the ionic liquids such as imidazolium, pyridinium, piperidinium, pyrrolidinium etc. This work highlight the effect of N‐butyl‐N‐methyl‐morpholinium bromide, [Mor1,4][Br] ionic liquid on the structural stability of HSA. The effect was analyzed by using fluorescence, time resolved fluorescence, UV‐visible, CD spectroscopic techniques and molecular docking method. The results show that [Mor1,4][Br] binds with HSA through weak interactions in which hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces play major role. [Mor1,4][Br] has a binding site on HSA and binds in the hydrophobic pocket of subdomain IIA of HSA. It was observed that [Mor1,4][Br] retain native conformation of HSA upto certain concentration range. This study endows new insight for designing of such type of non‐toxic ILs that augments their protein stabilizing nature.