bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tuning the nano/micro‐structure and properties of melt‐processed ternary composites of polypropylene/ethylene vinyl acetate blend and nanoclay: The influence of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters
Authors: Mofokeng Tladi Gideon , Ray Suprakas Sinha , Ojijo Vincent , Salehiyan Reza 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTThe present study reports the dependence of the nano/micro‐structure and properties of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/nanoclay ternary composites on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the melt‐mixing process. The size of dispersed EVA particles in the blends increased in the presence of the nanoclay particles, whereas in the ternary blend composites the size of the EVA dispersions decreased with increasing processing time. Intercalation and exfoliation were achieved more efficiently in ternary composites prepared with a longer EVA processing time. Moreover, the incorporation of the nanoclay particles within the EVA phase and interphase, as well as a long processing time stabilized the morphology. The degree of crystallinity, melting behavior, and crystallization temperature of PP in the ternary composites were not influenced by the presence of the nanoclay particles or by the duration of the melt‐mixing process. The thermal stability of the ternary composites improved with increasing melt‐mixing time. The rheological and thermomechanical properties were found to be dependent on the processing time and on the resulting structure. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45585.
Polymer nanocomposites with cellulose nanocrystals made by co‐precipitation
Authors: Natterodt Jens C. , Shirole Anuja , Sapkota Janak , Zoppe Justin O. , Weder Christoph 
Published: August 2017

ABSTRACTA premixing method to produce polymer nanocomposites with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) is reported. This method involves the dissolution and dispersion of a polymer and CNCs in an organic solvent, co‐precipitation into water, drying of the resulting particles, and subsequent melt processing. The key aspect of the method is that it allows the kinetic trapping of well‐dispersed CNCs in the polymer. Although the nanocomposite must be dried before subsequent melt‐processing, the organic solvent can be removed by extraction in water and recycled, leaving only residual water in the composite, which is easily eliminated. This process presents numerous advantages compared with the time‐consuming solvent casting process, which often suffers from incomplete organic solvent evaporation. As a testbed, polyurethane (PU) composites with up to 30% of CNCs were prepared. These materials were either melt‐processed as produced or used as a masterbatch, i.e., they were diluted via melt‐mixing with neat polymer toward nanocomposites with lower filler content. All nanocomposites prepared using this approach had a homogeneous appearance. They displayed similar mechanical properties as the corresponding reference materials made by solvent casting, and significantly better properties than materials prepared by direct melt mixing. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 45648.
Metformin promotes neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth through AMPK activation in human bone marrow–mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Ahn Min‐Ji , Cho Goang‐Won 
Published: August 2017

AbstractMetformin is an AMP‐activated kinase (AMPK) activator that plays a role in glucose energy metabolism and cell protection. It is widely used to treat several diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated whether AMPK activation upon treatment with metformin may promote neurite outgrowth during the progression of neuronal differentiation in human bone marrow–mesenchymal stem cells (hBM–MSCs). Differentiation of metformin‐treated MSCs (Met‐MSCs to Met‐diMSCs) in the neuronal induction media resulted in an increase in the number of differentiated cells in a metformin concentration dependent manner. The differentiation rate reached its maximum at 3 H after the initial treatment with neuronal induction media. At 3 H of induction, the neurite length increased significantly in Met‐diMSCs as compared with control cells without metformin treatment (diMSCs). diMSCs showed a significant increase in the expression of neuronal‐specific marker genes; however, the expression of dendrite‐specific markers MAP‐2 and Tuj‐1 was significantly increased in Met‐diMSCs as compared to diMSCs, as confirmed by immunoblotting. This effect was abolished upon treatment with the AMPK inhibitor, compound C, as evident by quantitative PCR, immunoblotting, and immunocytochemical staining. Thus, metformin treatment promotes neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth in hBM–MSCs through AMPK activation.
Dynamic predictions with time‐dependent covariates in survival analysis using joint modeling and landmarking
Authors: Rizopoulos Dimitris , Molenberghs Geert , Lesaffre Emmanuel M.E.H. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA key question in clinical practice is accurate prediction of patient prognosis. To this end, nowadays, physicians have at their disposal a variety of tests and biomarkers to aid them in optimizing medical care. These tests are often performed on a regular basis in order to closely follow the progression of the disease. In this setting, it is of interest to optimally utilize the recorded information and provide medically relevant summary measures, such as survival probabilities, which will aid in decision making. In this work, we present and compare two statistical techniques that provide dynamically updated estimates of survival probabilities, namely landmark analysis and joint models for longitudinal and time‐to‐event data. Special attention is given to the functional form linking the longitudinal and event time processes, and to measures of discrimination and calibration in the context of dynamic prediction.
Identification of the constituents and metabolites in rats after oral administration of Zi Shen Formula by UPLC‐Q‐TOF/MS combined pattern recognition analysis
Authors: Zheng Yanchao , Zhang Yidan , Geng Shihan , Xu Mengxi , Yin Qingshen , Song Lili , Zhuang Pengwei , Zhang Yanjun 
Published: August 2017

AbstractAn ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method was established to detect and identify the chemical constituents of Zi Shen Formula (ZSF) and its metabolites in serum, urine and feces, after oral administration to rats. A total of 68 compounds were characterized in ZSF extracts. In vivo, 38 prototype components and 32 metabolites of ZSF were tentatively identified in rat serum, urine and feces. Seven metabolic pathways including demethylation, hydroxylation, oxidation, sulfation, glucuronidation, methylation and de‐caffeoyl were proposed to be involved in the generation of these metabolites. It was found that glucuronidation, methylation and demethylation were the major metabolic processes of alkaloids, while demethylation, methylation, sulfation and de‐caffeoyl were the major metabolic pathways of phenylethanoid glycosides. The main metabolic pathways of steroidal saponins were oxidation and isotype reactions. These findings are significant for our understanding of the metabolism of ZSF. The proposed metabolic pathways of bioactive components might be crucial for further studies of the mechanisms of action and pharmacokinetic evaluations of ZSF.
Curcumin mitigates cerebral vasospasm and early brain injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage via inhibiting cerebral inflammation
Authors: Cai Jun , Xu Dandan , Bai Xiaoxin , Pan Ruihuan , Wang Bei , Sun Shuangxi , Chen Ruicong , Sun Jingbo , Huang Yan 
Published: August 2017

AbstractBackground and PurposeSubarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)‐induced cerebral vasospasm and early brain injury is a fatal clinical syndrome. Cerebral vasospasm and early brain injury are associated with inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Whether curcumin, which plays important roles to regulate inflammatory cytokines and inhibit oxidative stress, inhibits SAH‐induced inflammation and oxidative stress are largely unknown.MethodsAdult male rats underwent autologous blood injection into prechiasmatic cistern to induce SAH. Curcumin (150 mg/kg) was administered at 0.5, 24 and 48 hr post‐SAH. Mortality calculation and neurological outcomes as well as morphological vasospasm of anterior cerebral artery were studied. Superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory cytokines (MCP‐1 and TNF‐α) expression in prefrontal region were quantified. Furthermore, p65 and phosphor‐p65 were quantitatively analyzed.ResultsCurcumin remarkedly reduced mortality and ameliorated neurological deficits after SAH induction (p < .05); morphological results showed that cerebral vasospasm in curcumin‐treated group was mitigated (p < .05). SAH‐induced MCP‐1 and TNF‐α overexpression were inhibited in curcumin‐treated group (p < .05). Importantly, phosphor‐p65 was significantly inhibited after curcumin treatment (p < .05).ConclusionsCurcumin can inhibit SAH‐induced inflammatory response via restricting NF‐κB activation to alleviate cerebral vasospasm and early brain injury.
Apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 (APOE‐ε4) genotype is associated with decreased 6‐month verbal memory performance after mild traumatic brain injury
Authors: Yue John K. , Robinson Caitlin K. , Burke John F. , Winkler Ethan A. , Deng Hansen , Cnossen Maryse C. , Lingsma Hester F. , Ferguson Adam R. , McAllister Thomas W. , Rosand Jonathan , Burchard Esteban G. , Sorani Marco D. , Sharma Sourabh , Nielson Jessica L. , Satris Gabriela G. , Talbott Jason F. , Tarapore Phiroz E. , Korley Frederick K. , Wang Kevin K.W. , Yuh Esther L. , Mukherjee Pratik , Diaz‐Arrastia Ramon , Valadka Alex B. , Okonkwo David O. , Manley Geoffrey T. ,   the TRACK‐TBI Investigators
Published: August 2017

AbstractIntroductionThe apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele associates with memory impairment in neurodegenerative diseases. Its association with memory after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is unclear.MethodsmTBI patients (Glasgow Coma Scale score 13–15, no neurosurgical intervention, extracranial Abbreviated Injury Scale score ≤1) aged ≥18 years with APOE genotyping results were extracted from the Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury Pilot (TRACK‐TBI Pilot) study. Cohorts determined by APOE‐ε4(+/−) were assessed for associations with 6‐month verbal memory, measured by California Verbal Learning Test, Second Edition (CVLT‐II) subscales: Immediate Recall Trials 1–5 (IRT), Short‐Delay Free Recall (SDFR), Short‐Delay Cued Recall (SDCR), Long‐Delay Free Recall (LDFR), and Long‐Delay Cued Recall (LDCR). Multivariable regression controlled for demographic factors, seizure history, loss of consciousness, posttraumatic amnesia, and acute intracranial pathology on computed tomography (CT).ResultsIn 114 mTBI patients (APOE‐ε4(−)=79; APOE‐ε4(+)=35), ApoE‐ε4(+) was associated with long‐delay verbal memory deficits (LDFR: B = −1.17 points, 95% CI [−2.33, −0.01], p = .049; LDCR: B = −1.58 [−2.63, −0.52], p = .004), and a marginal decrease on SDCR (B = −1.02 [−2.05, 0.00], p = .050). CT pathology was the strongest predictor of decreased verbal memory (IRT: B = −8.49, SDFR: B = −2.50, SDCR: B = −1.85, LDFR: B = −2.61, LDCR: B = −2.60; p < .001). Seizure history was associated with decreased short‐term memory (SDFR: B = −1.32, p = .037; SDCR: B = −1.44, p = .038).ConclusionThe APOE‐ε4 allele may confer an increased risk of impairment of 6‐month verbal memory for patients suffering mTBI, with implications for heightened surveillance and targeted therapies. Acute intracranial pathology remains the driver of decreased verbal memory performance at 6 months after mTBI.
Cost‐effectiveness analysis of potentially curative and combination treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma with person‐level data in a Canadian setting
Authors: Thein Hla‐Hla , Isaranuwatchai Wanrudee , Qiao Yao , Wong Kenny , Sapisochin Gonzalo , Chan Kelvin K. W. , Yoshida Eric M. , Earle Craig C. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractPatients with early‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are potential candidates for curative treatments such as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), surgical resection (SR), or liver transplantation (LT), which have demonstrated a significant survival benefit. We aimed to estimate the cost‐effectiveness of curative and combination treatment strategies among patients diagnosed withHCCduring 2002–2010. This study used Ontario Cancer Registry‐linked administrative data to estimate effectiveness and costs (2013USD) of the treatment strategies from the healthcare payer's perspective. Multiple imputation by logistic regression was used to handle missing data. A net benefit regression approach of baseline important covariates and propensity score adjustment were used to calculate incremental net benefit to generate incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) and uncertainty measures. Among 2,222 patients diagnosed withHCC, 10.5%, 14.1%, and 10.3% receivedRFA,SR, andLTmonotherapy, respectively; 0.5–3.1% dual treatments; and 0.5% triple treatments. Compared with no treatment (53.2%), transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) + RFA(average $2,465, 95%CI: −$20,000–$36,600/quality‐adjusted life years [QALY]) orRFAmonotherapy ($15,553, 95%CI: $3,500–$28,500/QALY) appears to be the most cost‐effective modality with lowestICERvalue. The cost‐effectiveness acceptability curve showed that if the relevant threshold was $50,000/QALY,RFAmonotherapy andTACE+ RFAwould have a cost‐effectiveness probability of 100%. Strategies usingLTdelivered the most additionalQALYs and became cost‐effective at a threshold of $77,000/QALY. Our findings found thatTACE+ RFAdual treatment orRFAmonotherapy appears to be the most cost‐effective curative treatment for patients with potential early stage ofHCCin Ontario. These findings highlight the importance of identifying and measuring differential benefits, costs, and cost‐effectiveness of alternativeHCCcurative treatments in order to evaluate whether they are providing good value for money in the real world.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Carbonylative Homocoupling of Aryl Iodides for the Synthesis of Symmetrical Diaryl Ketones with Formic Acid
Authors: Wu Fu‐Peng , Peng Jin‐Bao , Qi Xinxin , Wu Xiao‐Feng 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA convenient method for the palladium‐catalyzed carbonylative homocoupling of aryl iodides was developed. With formic acid as the CO source, various symmetrical diaryl ketones were synthesized in moderate to good yield in the presence of a palladium catalyst.
Bead‐Level Characterization of Early‐Stage Amyloid β42 Aggregates: Nuclei and Ionic Concentration Effects
Authors: Hu Dingkun , Zhao Wei , Zhu Yong , Ai Hongqi , Kang Baotao 
Published: August 2017

AbstractA growing body of evidence shows that soluble β‐amyloid (Aβ) aggregates, oligomers, and even protofibrils, may be more neurotoxic than fibrils. Here, we employ a coarse grain model to investigate the aggregation of 75mer Aβ42 oligomers and the salt effect, the cornerstone of fibril evolution. We find that the oligomer morphologies generated by seventy‐five monomers or mixed by both fifty monomers and five preset pentameric nuclei are different (spherical vs. bar‐/disk‐shaped) and are characterize by a full of coil content (former) and >70 % β‐turn content (latter), indicating a novel role of the nuclei played in the early aggregation stage. The aggregation for the former oligomer adopts a master‐nucleus mechanism, whereas for the latter combination of monomers and pentamers a multi‐nuclei one is found. The random salt ions will distribute around the aggregates to form several ion shells as the aggregation develops. A unique two‐fold gap between the shells is observed in the system containing 100 mm NaCl, endowing the physiological salt concentration with special implications. Meanwhile, an accurate ion–solute cutoff distance (0.66 nm) is predicted, and recommended to apply to many other aggregated biomolecular systems. The present distribution scenario of ions can be generalized to other aggregated systems, although it is strictly dependent on the identity of a specific aggregate, such as its charge and composition.
Understanding Carbon Dioxide Solubility in Ionic Liquids by Exploring the Link with Liquid Clathrate Formation
Authors: Kelley Steven P. , Flores Luis A. , Shannon Matthew S. , Bara Jason E. , Rogers Robin D. 
Published: August 2017

AbstractThe solubilities of the quadrupolar molecules benzene and CO2 in various ionic liquids (ILs) are compared in order to determine the connection between aromatic liquid clathrate formation and CO2 dissolution in ILs. It was found that both CO2 Henry's law constants and benzene solubility are remarkably well correlated with each other and with IL molar volume, suggesting both phenomena depend more on the strength of interionic interactions between the ions of an IL rather than the identity of either ion. However, IL ion‐quadrupole interactions were found to have an effect for dicyanamide ([N(CN)2]−), where solubility of CO2 and benzene are affected by destabilizing and stabilizing interactions with [N(CN)2]−, respectively. The results suggest both solubility phenomena are related to the incorporation of the solute into an IL host network. Aromatic liquid clathrate formation thus has potential as a facile experimental probe for predicting the relative ability of ILs to physisorb CO2.
DEM DEVELOPMENT AND PRECISION ANALYSIS FOR ANTARCTIC ICE SHEET USING CRYOSAT‐2 ALTIMETRY DATA
Authors: Fei LI , Feng XIAO , Sheng‐Kai ZHANG , Dong‐Chen E , Xiao CHENG , Wei‐Feng HAO , Le‐Xian YUAN , Yao‐Wen ZUO 
Published: August 2017

AbstractDigital elevation models (DEMs) are of fundamental importance to many geoscientific and environmental studies in Antarctic and due to relatively poor coverage by ground based surveys, the main data source for constructing an Antarctic DEM is satellite altimetry. The newest operating satellite‐borne altimeter with ice applications is the ESA satellite CryoSat‐2, which was launched in April 2010. CryoSat‐2 provides altimetry data up to a latitude of 88°S/N, which is a significant improvement to previous satellite‐borne altimeters. Based on two full cycles of CryoSat‐2 observations acquired between December 2012 and January 2015, we derived a new DEM for the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The accuracy of generated DEM depends largely on the interpolation method adopted and five widely used interpolation methods were compared using the Cross Validation method. The Kriging method yielded better estimates for the Antarctic Ice Sheet and was adopted when constructing the final DEM. For the CryoSat‐2 LRM data we followed an iterative approach to correct for the surface slope, and the slope correction was applied to each data point using the relocation method. Data gap beyond the latitudinal limit of the CryoSat‐2 mission (88°S) was filled by contour data from Antarctic Digital Database (ADD). Finally, we present a new Antarctic DEM with a pixel size of 1 km×1 km. The accuracy of the final DEM was assessed by ICESat, IceBridge and GPS data and compared with four widely used Antarctic DEMs namely Bamber 1 km DEM, ICESat DEM, RAMPv2 DEM and JLB97 DEM. The results show that the CryoSat‐2 DEM has an uncertainty of 0.73±8.398 m. The vertical accuracy of the DEM is better than 1 m at domes, better than 4 m for the ice shelves, better than 10 m for the interior ice sheet and over 150 m for the rugged mountainous and coastal areas.
Solid‐State NMR H–N–(C)–H and H–N–C–C 3D/4D Correlation Experiments for Resonance Assignment of Large Proteins
Authors: Fraga Hugo , Arnaud Charles‐Adrien , Gauto Diego F. , Audin Maxime , Kurauskas Vilius , Macek Pavel , Krichel Carsten , Guan Jia‐Ying , Boisbouvier Jerome , Sprangers Remco , Breyton Cécile , Schanda Paul 
Published: August 2017

AbstractSolid‐state NMR spectroscopy can provide insight into protein structure and dynamics at the atomic level without inherent protein size limitations. However, a major hurdle to studying large proteins by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy is related to spectral complexity and resonance overlap, which increase with molecular weight and severely hamper the assignment process. Here the use of two sets of experiments is shown to expand the tool kit of 1H‐detected assignment approaches, which correlate a given amide pair either to the two adjacent CO–CA pairs (4D hCOCANH/hCOCAcoNH), or to the amide 1H of the neighboring residue (3D HcocaNH/HcacoNH, which can be extended to 5D). The experiments are based on efficient coherence transfers between backbone atoms using INEPT transfers between carbons and cross‐polarization for heteronuclear transfers. The utility of these experiments is exemplified with application to assemblies of deuterated, fully amide‐protonated proteins from approximately 20 to 60 kDa monomer, at magic‐angle spinning (MAS) frequencies from approximately 40 to 55 kHz. These experiments will also be applicable to protonated proteins at higher MAS frequencies. The resonance assignment of a domain within the 50.4 kDa bacteriophage T5 tube protein pb6 is reported, and this is compared to NMR assignments of the isolated domain in solution. This comparison reveals contacts of this domain to the core of the polymeric tail tube assembly.
The role of feared possible selves in obsessive–compulsive and related disorders: A comparative analysis of a core cognitive self‐construct in clinical samples
Authors: Aardema Frederick , Moulding Richard , Melli Gabriele , Radomsky Adam S. , Doron Guy , Audet Jean‐Sebastien , Purcell‐Lalonde Magali 
Published: August 2017

Increasingly, cognitive‐behavioural models have been considering the role of beliefs about the self in the development and maintenance of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), including sensitive domains of self‐concept and feared self‐perceptions. This has led to the development of the Fear of Self Questionnaire (FSQ; Aardema et al., ), which has shown strong internal consistency, divergent and convergent validity, and found to be a major predictor of unwanted thoughts and impulses (i.e., repugnant obsessions). The current study aimed to investigate fear of self‐perceptions using the FSQ in an OCD sample (n = 144) and related psychological disorders (eating disorders, n = 57; body dysmorphic disorder, n = 33) in comparison to a non‐clinical (n = 141) and clinical comparison group (anxiety/depressive disorders, n = 27). Following an exploratory factor analysis of the scale in the OCD sample, the results showed that participants with OCD in general did not score significantly higher on fear of self‐perceptions than did the clinical comparison participants. However, consistent with previous findings, fear of self was highly characteristic among OCD patients with unwanted repugnant thoughts and impulses. In addition, fear of self‐perceptions were significantly more elevated in those with eating or body dysmorphic disorders relative to the other non‐clinical and clinical groups. The construct of a “feared possible self” may be particularly relevant in disorders where negative self‐perception is a dominant theme, either involving concerns about one's inner self or concerns related to perceived bodily faults.