bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development and optimisation of a novel three‐way extraction technique based on a combination of Soxhlet extraction, membrane assisted solvent extraction and a molecularly imprinted polymer using sludge polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as model compounds
Authors: Ncube Somandla , Lekoto Goitsemang , Cukrowska Ewa , Chimuka Luke 
Published: November 2017

AbstractA novel technique that integrates extraction and clean‐up into a single step format is reported as part of the search for new sample preparation techniques in the analysis of persistent organic pollutants from complex samples. This was achieved by combining the extraction efficiency of the Soxhlet extractor, the selectivity of a size exclusion membrane and the specificity of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from wastewater sludge followed by quantitation using gas chromatography with time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry. The approach is described as the Soxhlet extraction membrane‐assisted solvent extraction molecularly imprinted polymer technique. This technique was optimised for various parameters such as extraction solvent, reflux time and membrane acceptor phase. The applicability of the developed technique was optimised using a wastewater sludge certified reference material and then tested on real wastewater sludge samples. The method detection limits ranged from 0.14 to 12.86 ng/g with relative standard deviation values for the extraction of the 16 US‐EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from wastewater sludge samples ranging from 0.78 to 18%. The extraction process was therefore reproducible and showed remarkable selectivity. The developed technique is a promising prospect that can be applied in the analysis of organic pollutants from complex solid samples.
Disproportionate Mental Health Burden Associated With Past‐Year Intimate Partner Violence Among Women Receiving Care in the Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Dichter Melissa E. , Sorrentino Anneliese , Bellamy Scarlett , Medvedeva Elina , Roberts Christopher B. , Iverson Katherine M. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractExperience of intimate partner violence (IPV) can lead to mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and unhealthy substance use. Women seen in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) face high rates of both IPV and mental health morbidity. This study aimed to identify associations between recent IPV experience and mental health diagnoses among women VHA patients. We examined medical records data for 8,888 female veteran and nonveteran VHA patients across 13 VHA facilities who were screened for past‐year IPV between April, 2014 and April, 2016. Compared with women who screened negative for past‐year IPV (IPV−), those who screened positive (IPV+; 8.7%) were more than twice as likely to have a mental health diagnosis, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.95, 2.64]; or more than two mental health diagnoses, AOR = 2.29, 95% CI [1.93, 2.72]). Screening IPV+ was also associated with significantly higher odds of each type of mental health morbidity (AOR range = 1.85–3.19) except psychoses. Over half (53.5%) of the women who screened IPV+ had a mental health diagnosis, compared with fewer than one‐third (32.6%) of those who screened IPV−. Each subtype of IPV (psychological, physical, and sexual violence) was significantly associated with having a mental health diagnosis (AOR range = 2.25–2.37) or comorbidity (AOR range = 2.17–2.78). Associations remained when adjusting for military sexual trauma and combat trauma among the veteran subsample. These findings highlight the mental health burden associated with past‐year IPV among female VHA patients and underscore the need to address psychological and sexual IPV, in addition to physical violence.
Posttraumatic Stress Symptom Trajectories Among Children After Disaster Exposure: A Review
Authors: Lai Betty S. , Lewis Rayleen , Livings Michelle S. , La Greca Annette M. , Esnard Ann‐Margaret 
Published: November 2017

AbstractNatural disasters, such as hurricanes and floods, are increasing in frequency and scope. Youth exposed to disasters are at risk for developing posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, not all youth who report initially elevated PTSS report persistent PTSS that last beyond the first three to six months postdisaster. Thus, it is crucial to understand how and why youth differ in their patterns of PTSS. This study reviewed the literature on children's postdisaster PTSS, evaluating the typical number and types of patterns for children's PTSS trajectories, as well as risk and protective factors predicting trajectory membership. This review identified eight empirical studies on youth PTSS trajectories following natural disasters; these studies included 8,306 children aged 3 to 18 years. All studies identified resilience, recovery, and chronic trajectories. Evidence for a delayed trajectory was mixed. Proportions of children falling into each trajectory varied widely across studies, but overall, resilience was the most prevalent trajectory. These findings were consistent across study factors (i.e., analytic strategy, assessment timing, and study selection criteria). Female gender, disaster exposure, negative coping, and lack of social support were significant risk factors for chronic trajectories across several studies. Future research should combine individual level participant data across studies of children's responses to disasters to better understand PTSS trajectories.
Storage of C, N, and P affected by afforestation with Salix cupularis in an alpine semiarid desert ecosystem
Authors: Hu Yu‐Fu , Shu Xiang‐Yang , He Jia , Zhang Yu‐Lin , Xiao Hai‐Hua , Tang Xiao‐Yan , Gu Yun‐Fu , Lan Ting , Xia Jian‐Guo , Ling Jing , Chen Guang‐Deng , Wang Chang‐Quan , Deng Liang‐Ji , Yuan Shu 
Published: November 2017

AbstractFew systemic assessments have evaluated the success of these afforestation programs in alpine semiarid desert ecosystems in the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau. In this study, we investigated the influences of three Salix cupularis plantation age classes (6, 18, and 34 years) on the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) storages and stoichiometry of the soil–plant ecosystem. The consequences of S. cupularis plantation induced soil spatial heterogeneity. The soil–plant ecosystem C storage increased after the plantation. The N storage showed an increasing trend from 6 to 18 years and then slightly decreased. The P storage presented a continuously declining trend. The result indicated that the imbalance in soil N, P, C occurred with plantation age because of the imbalance of their inputs. The N and P uptakes from subsoil and redistribution to topsoil by S. cupularis may contribute to meet N and P demands for the understory plants. Leaf N:P ratios varied from 8.3 to 17.5. These results imply that N and P status are the main factors limiting plant growth in the alpine‐cold desert ecosystem. Thus, we recommend adding N and P fertilizers during plant growth.
RUSLE erodibility of heavy‐textured soils as affected by soil type, erosional degradation, and rainfall intensity: A field simulation
Authors: Wu Xinliang , Wei Yujie , Wang Junguang , Cai Chongfa , Deng Yusong , Xia Jinwen 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSoil erosion is a serious problem world‐wide for the environment or humankind, exacerbating land degradation. However, little systematic knowledge is available about the erodibility of various types of soils at different erosional degradation levels, especially at the field scale. In this research, the spatiotemporal variations of the erodibility for 5 soil types (calcic luvisol, ferric luvisol, plinthic alisol, plinthic acrisol, and acric ferralsol) from temperate to tropical climate were investigated with field rainfall simulation experiments on prewetted bare fallow heavy‐textured soils (silty clay loam, silty clay, and clay) derived separately from loess deposits, quaternary red clays, and basalt. The experiments were performed in 3 erosion classes (noneroded, moderately eroded, and very severely eroded) and at 2 rainfall intensities (45 and 90 mm hr−1). Soil erodibility was represented by the K factor of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation. Soil erodibility was the lowest for the ferralsols among all the soil types and was significantly lower in the very severe than in the no or moderate erosion classes. Soil erodibility tended to be larger at the high than at the low rainfall intensity (p < .05) except for the very severely eroded luvisols, and their difference between rainfall intensities in the erodibility varied with rainfall duration. Soil erodibility could be well predicted by the combination of illite, dry aggregate stability, and amorphous aluminium oxides (adjusted R2 = .51, p < .001), and its temporal variations were significantly related with particle density, 1.4‐nm intergrade mineral, and capillary porosity (p < .05). Furthermore, soil properties selected to account for soil erodibility varied with rainfall intensity. The integrated data indicated that soil erodibility was mainly influenced by clay minerals at the region scale and soil degradation degree at the pedon scale.
Convergence of the regularized short pulse equation to the short pulse one
Authors: Coclite Giuseppe Maria , di Ruvo Lorenzo 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe consider the regularized short‐pulse equation, which contains nonlinear dispersive effects. We prove that as the diffusion parameter tends to zero, the solutions of the dispersive equation converge to discontinuous weak solutions of the short‐pulse one. The proof relies on deriving suitable a priori estimates together with an application of the compensated compactness method in the setting.
Potential Impact of Metabolic and Gut Microbial Response to Pregnancy and Lactation in Lean and Diet‐Induced Obese Rats on Offspring Obesity Risk
Authors: Paul Heather A. , Collins Kelsey H. , Bomhof Marc R. , Vogel Hans J. , Reimer Raylene A. 
Published: November 2017

ScopeMaternal obesity programs metabolic dysfunction in offspring, increasing their susceptibility to obesity and metabolic diseases in later life. Moreover, pregnancy and lactation are associated with many metabolic adaptations, yet it is unclear how diet‐induced maternal obesity may interrupt these processes.Methods and results1H NMR serum metabolomics analysis was performed on samples collected pre‐pregnancy and in pregnant and lactating lean and high fat/sucrose (HFS) diet‐induced obese Sprague‐Dawley rats to identify maternal metabolic pathways associated with developmental programming of offspring obesity. Gut microbial composition was assessed using qPCR. Offspring of HFS dams had nearly 40% higher adiposity at weaning compared to offspring of lean dams. While pregnancy and lactation were associated with distinct maternal metabolic changes common to both lean and obese dams, we identified several metabolic differences, potentially implicating dysregulated one‐carbon and mammary gland metabolism in the metabolic programming of obesity. Gut microbial composition was significantly altered with obesity, and both gestation and lactation were accompanied by changes in gut microbiota.ConclusionDiet‐induced maternal obesity and consumption of an obesogenic maternal diet results in differential metabolic and gut microbial adaptations to pregnancy and lactation; these maladaptations may be directly involved in maternal programming of offspring susceptibility to obesity.
Characterization of tumor vascular permeability using natural dextrans and CEST MRI
Authors: Li Yuguo , Qiao Yuan , Chen Hanwei , Bai Renyuan , Staedtke Verena , Han Zheng , Xu Jiadi , Chan Kannie W.Y. , Yadav Nirbhay , Bulte Jeff W.M. , Zhou Shibin , van Zijl Peter C.M. , Liu Guanshu 
Published: November 2017

PurposeTo investigate the use of natural dextrans as nano‐sized chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI probes for characterizing size‐dependent tumor vascular permeability.MethodsDextrans of different molecular weight (10, 70, 150, and 2000 kD) were characterized for their CEST contrast. Mice (N = 5) bearing CT26 subcutaneous colon tumors were injected intravenously with 10 kD (D10, 6 nm) and 70 kD (D70, 12 nm) dextran at a dose of 375 mg/kg. The CEST‐MRI signal in the tumors was assessed before and approximately 40 min after each injection using a dynamic CEST imaging scheme.ResultsAll dextrans of different molecular weights have a strong CEST signal with an apparent maximum of approximately 0.9 ppm. The detectability and effects of pH and saturation conditions (B1 and Tsat) were investigated. When applied to CT26 tumors, the injection of D10 could produce a significant “dexCEST” enhancement in the majority of the tumor area, whereas the injection of D70 only resulted in an increase in the tumor periphery. Quantitative analysis revealed the differential permeability of CT26 tumors to different size particles, which was validated by fluorescence imaging and immunohistochemistry.ConclusionsAs a first application, we used 10‐ and 70‐kD dextrans to visualize the spatially variable, size‐dependent permeability in the tumor, indicating that nano‐sized dextrans can be used for characterizing tumor vascular permeability with dexCEST MRI and, potentially, for developing dextran‐based theranostic drug delivery systems. Magn Reson Med 79:1001–1009, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Motion‐tolerant diffusion mapping based on single‐shot overlapping‐echo detachment (OLED) planar imaging
Authors: Ma Lingceng , Cai Congbo , Yang Hongyi , Cai Shuhui , Qian Junchao , Xiao Lizhi , Zhong Kai , Chen Zhong 
Published: November 2017

PurposeA new diffusion‐mapping method based on single‐shot overlapping‐echo detachment (DM‐OLED) planar‐imaging sequence, along with a corresponding separation algorithm, is proposed to achieve reliable quantitative diffusion mapping in a single shot. The method can resist the effects of motion and help in detecting the quick variation of diffusion under different physiological status.MethodsThe echo‐planar imaging method is combined with two excitation pulses with small flip angle to gain overlapping‐echo signal in a single shot. Then the overlapping signals are separated by a separation algorithm and used for diffusion computation. Numerical simulation, phantom, and in vivo rat experiments were performed to verify the efficiency, accuracy, and motion tolerance of DM‐OLED.ResultsThe DM‐OLED sequence could obtain reliable diffusion maps within milliseconds in numerical simulation, phantom, and in vivo experiments. Compared with conventional diffusion mapping with spin‐echo echo‐planar imaging, DM‐OLED has higher time resolution and fewer motion‐incurred errors in the apparent diffusion coefficient maps.ConclusionsAs a reliable fast diffusion measurement tool, DM‐OLED shows promise for real‐time dynamic diffusion mapping and functional magnetic resonance imaging. Magn Reson Med 80:200–210, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Engineered agrin attenuates the severity of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis
Authors: Li Zhiguo , Li Minshu , Wood Kristofer , Hettwer Steffan , Muley Suraj A. , Shi Fu‐Dong , Liu Qiang , Ladha Shafeeq S. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Agrin is essential for the formation and maintenance of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). NT‐1654 is a C‐terminal fragment of mouse neural agrin. In this study, we determined the effects of NT‐1654 on the severity of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG). Methods: EAMG was induced in female Lewis rats by immunization with the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor (tAChR) and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). NT‐1654 was dissolved in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) and injected daily subcutaneously into tAChR immunized rats during the first 10 days after immunization, and then every other day for the following 20 days. Results: We showed that NT‐1654 attenuated clinical severity, effectively promoted the clustering of AChRs at NMJs, and alleviated the impairment of NMJ transmission and the reduction of muscle‐specific kinase (MuSK) in EAMG rats. Discussion: We demonstrated that NT‐1654 attenuated clinical severity, effectively promoted the clustering of AChRs at NMJs, and alleviated the impairment of NMJ transmission and the reduction of muscle‐specific kinase (MuSK) in EAMG rats. Muscle Nerve 57: 814–820, 2018
New device for nonvolitional evaluation of quadriceps force in ventilated patients
Authors: Laghi Franco , Khan Najeeb , Schnell Thimothy , Aleksonis Dinas , Hammond Kendra , Shaikh Hameeda , Collins Eileen , Jubran Amal , Tobin Martin J 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACTIntroductionIn mechanically ventilated patients, nonvolitional assessment of quadriceps weakness using femoral‐nerve stimulation (twitch force) while the leg rests on a right‐angle trapezoid or dangles from the bed edge is impractical. Accordingly, we developed a knee‐support apparatus for use in ventilated patients.MethodsNinety subjects (12 ventilated patients, 28 ambulatory patients, and 50 healthy subjects) were enrolled. Twitches with leg‐dangling, trapezoid, and knee‐support setups were compared.ResultsKnee‐support twitches were similar to trapezoid twitches but smaller than leg‐dangling twitches (P < 0.0001). Inter‐ and intraoperator agreement was high for knee‐support twitches at 1 week and 1 month. In ventilated patients, knee‐support twitches were smaller than in healthy subjects and ambulatory patients (P < 0.004).DiscussionThe new knee‐support apparatus allows accurate recording of quadriceps twitches. The ease of use in ventilated patients and excellent inter‐ and intraoperator agreement suggest that this technique is suitable for cross‐sectional and longitudinal studies in critically ill patients. Muscle Nerve 57: 784–791, 2018
Wilkinson's inertia‐revealing factorization and its application to sparse matrices
Authors: Druinsky Alex , Carlebach Eyal , Toledo Sivan 
Published: November 2017

SummaryWe propose a new inertia‐revealing factorization for sparse symmetric matrices. The factorization scheme and the method for extracting the inertia from it were proposed in the 1960s for dense, banded, or tridiagonal matrices, but they have been abandoned in favor of faster methods. We show that this scheme can be applied to any sparse symmetric matrix and that the fill in the factorization is bounded by the fill in the sparse QR factorization of the same matrix (but is usually much smaller). We describe our serial proof‐of‐concept implementation and present experimental results, studying the method's numerical stability and performance.
FEM×DEM multiscale modeling: Model performance enhancement from Newton strategy to element loop parallelization
Authors: Argilaga A. , Desrues J. , Dal Pont S. , Combe G. , Caillerie D. 
Published: November 2017

SummaryThis paper presents a multiscale model based on a FEM×DEM approach, a method that couples discrete elements at the microscale and finite elements at the macroscale. FEM×DEM has proven to be an effective way to treat real‐scale engineering problems by embedding constitutive laws numerically obtained using discrete elements into a standard finite element framework. This proposed paper focuses on some numerical open issues of the method. Given the nonlinearity of the problem, Newton's method is required. The standard full Newton method is modified by adopting operators different from the consistent tangent matrix and by developing ad‐hoc solution strategies. The efficiency of several existing operators is compared, and a new and original strategy is proposed, which is shown to be numerically more efficient than the existing propositions. Furthermore, a shared memory parallelization framework using OpenMP directives is introduced. The combination of these enhancements allows to overcome the FEM×DEM computational limitations, thus making the approach competitive with classical FEM in terms of stability and computational cost.
A quasi‐implicit characteristic–based penalty finite‐element method for incompressible laminar viscous flows
Authors: Jiang Chen , Zhang Zhi‐Qian , Han Xu , Liu Guirong , Gao Guang‐Jun , Lin Tao 
Published: November 2017

SummaryIn this paper, a novel characteristic–based penalty (CBP) scheme for the finite‐element method (FEM) is proposed to solve 2‐dimensional incompressible laminar flow. This new CBP scheme employs the characteristic‐Galerkin method to stabilize the convective oscillation. To mitigate the incompressible constraint, the selective reduced integration (SRI) and the recently proposed selective node–based smoothed FEM (SNS‐FEM) are used for the 4‐node quadrilateral element (CBP‐Q4SRI) and the 3‐node triangular element (CBP‐T3SNS), respectively. Meanwhile, the reduced integration (RI) for Q4 element (CBP‐Q4RI) and NS‐FEM for T3 element (CBP‐T3NS) with CBP scheme are also investigated. The quasi‐implicit CBP scheme is applied to allow a large time step for sufficient large penalty parameters. Due to the absences of pressure degree of freedoms, the quasi‐implicit CBP‐FEM has higher efficiency than quasi‐implicit CBS‐FEM. In this paper, the CBP‐Q4SRI has been verified and validated with high accuracy, stability, and fast convergence. Unexpectedly, CBP‐Q4RI is of no instability, high accuracy, and even slightly faster convergence than CBP‐Q4SRI. For unstructured T3 elements, CBP‐T3SNS also shows high accuracy and good convergence but with pressure oscillation using a large penalty parameter; CBP‐T3NS produces oscillated wrong velocity and pressure results. In addition, the applicable ranges of penalty parameter for different proposed methods have been investigated.
Formulation characterization and in vitro evaluation of acacia gum–calcium alginate beads for oral drug delivery systems
Authors: Benfattoum Kahina , Haddadine Nabila , Bouslah Naima , Benaboura Ahmed , Maincent Philippe , Barillé Régis , Sapin‐Minet Anne , El‐Shall M. Samy 
Published: November 2017

In the present work, new matrix bead formulations based on linear and branched polysaccharides have been developed using an ionic gelation technique, and their potential use as oral drug carriers has been evaluated. Using calcium chloride as a cross‐linking agent and sodium diclofenac (SD), as a model drug, acacia gum–calcium alginate matrix beads were formulated. The response surface methodology based on 32 factorial design was used as a statistical method to evaluate and optimize the effects of the biopolymers‐blend ratio and the concentration of calcium chloride on the particle size (mm), density (g/cm3), drug encapsulation efficiency (%), and the cumulative drug release after 8 hours (R8h,%). The optimized beads with the highest drug encapsulation efficiency were examined for a drug‐excipients compatibility by powder X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermo‐gravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy analyses. The swelling and degradation of the matrix beads were found to be influenced by the pH of medium. Higher degrees of swelling were observed in intestinal pH than in stomach pH. Accordingly, the drug release study showed that the amount of SD released from the acacia gum–calcium alginate beads was higher in intestinal pH than in stomach pH. Therefore, the in vitro drug release from the SD‐loaded beads appears to follow the controlled‐release (Hixson‐Crowell) pattern involving a case‐2 transport mechanism operated by swelling and relaxation of the polymeric blend matrix.