bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy composites filled with hybrid filler system of aluminium nitride and boron nitride
Authors: Permal Anithambigai , Devarajan Mutharasu , Huong Ling Hung , Zahner Thomas , Lacey David , Ibrahim Kamarulazizi 
Published: January 2017

The study aims to enhance the thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy composite materials. This is done based on combination of micron sized aluminium nitride (AlN) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) particles. A set of AlN/BN hybrid epoxy composites with filler content ranging from 35, 40, and 42 wt% was prepared by conventional casting method. The use of these hybrid fillers was found to be very effective in increasing the composite thermal conductivity due to synergetic connectivity offered by the fillers with different geometries; polyhedral AlN and hBN platelets. Maximum thermal conductivity of 0.57 W mK−1 was achieved for the formulation of AlN:BN = 2:1 at 42 wt% filler loading. Glass transition (Tg), coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and modulus of the composites were measured experimentally. The integrated properties of AlN/BN epoxy composites are expected to enhance the heat dissipating capabilities in microelectronic industry. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E1372–E1380, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Side chain flexibility and coupling between the S4‐S5 linker and the TRP domain in thermo‐sensitive TRP channels: Insights from protein modeling
Authors: Romero‐Romero Sergio , Gomez Lagunas Froylan , Balleza Daniel 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTThe transient receptor potential (TRP) superfamily is subdivided into several subfamilies on the basis of sequence similarity, which is highly heterogeneous but shows a molecular architecture that resembles the one present in members of the Kv channel superfamily. Because of this diversity, they produce a large variety of channels with different gating and permeability properties. Elucidation of these particular features necessarily requires comparative studies based on structural and functional data. The present study aims to compilate, analyze, and determine, in a coherent way, the relationship between intrinsic side‐chain flexibility and the allosteric coupling in members of the TRPV, TRPM, and TRPC families. Based on the recently determined structures of TRPV1 and TRPV2, we have generated protein models for single subunits of TRPV5, TRPM8, and TRPC5 channels. With these models, we focused our attention on the apparently crucial role of the GP dipeptide at the center of the S4‐S5 linker and discussed its role in the interaction with the TRP domain, specifically with the highly‐conserved Trp during this coupling. Our analysis suggests an important role of the S4‐S5L flexibility in the thermosensitivity, where heat‐activated channels possess rigid S4‐S5 linkers, whereas cold‐activated channels have flexible ones. Finally, we also present evidence of the key interaction between the conserved Trp residue of the TRP box and of several residues in the S4‐S5L, importantly the central Pro. Proteins 2017; 85:630–646. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
X‐ray crystal structure of the N‐terminal region of Moloney murine leukemia virus integrase and its implications for viral DNA recognition
Authors: Guan Rongjin , Aiyer Sriram , Cote Marie L. , Xiao Rong , Jiang Mei , Acton Thomas B. , Roth Monica J. , Montelione Gaetano T. 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTThe retroviral integrase (IN) carries out the integration of a dsDNA copy of the viral genome into the host DNA, an essential step for viral replication. All IN proteins have three general domains, the N‐terminal domain (NTD), the catalytic core domain, and the C‐terminal domain. The NTD includes an HHCC zinc finger‐like motif, which is conserved in all retroviral IN proteins. Two crystal structures of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M‐MuLV) IN N‐terminal region (NTR) constructs that both include an N‐terminal extension domain (NED, residues 1–44) and an HHCC zinc‐finger NTD (residues 45–105), in two crystal forms are reported. The structures of IN NTR constructs encoding residues 1–105 (NTR1–105) and 8–105 (NTR8–105) were determined at 2.7 and 2.15 Å resolution, respectively and belong to different space groups. While both crystal forms have similar protomer structures, NTR1–105 packs as a dimer and NTR8–105 packs as a tetramer in the asymmetric unit. The structure of the NED consists of three anti‐parallel β‐strands and an α‐helix, similar to the NED of prototype foamy virus (PFV) IN. These three β‐strands form an extended β‐sheet with another β‐strand in the HHCC Zn2+ binding domain, which is a unique structural feature for the M‐MuLV IN. The HHCC Zn2+ binding domain structure is similar to that in HIV and PFV INs, with variations within the loop regions. Differences between the PFV and MLV IN NEDs localize at regions identified to interact with the PFV LTR and are compared with established biochemical and virological data for M‐MuLV. Proteins 2017; 85:647–656. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Discovery and characterisation of field resistance to organophosphorus chemicals in a major mite pest, Halotydeus destructor
Authors: Umina Paul A , Lord Alan , Micic Svetlana , Edwards Owain 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor) is an agricultural pest in Australia that attacks a wide variety of crops and pasture species. Chemicals remain an important part of control strategies for H. destructor, despite the existence of resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in this species. Recent chemical control failures involving a second insecticide class, organophosphates, were investigated using pesticide bioassays.RESULTSWe confirmed, for the first time, resistance to organophosphates in H. destructor, and show that resistance is not confined to a single property, or region. There was no evidence that resistance to organophosphorus chemicals has evolved in Australian states outside of Western Australia.CONCLUSIONThese findings demonstrate the strong evolutionary capability of H. destructor and highlight the need for ongoing resistance surveillance within Australia. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
How glyphosate affects plant disease development: it is more than enhanced susceptibility
Authors: Hammerschmidt Ray 
Published: January 2017

AbstractGlyphosate has been shown to affect the development of plant disease in several ways. Plants utilize phenolic and other shikimic acid pathway‐derived compounds as part of their defense against pathogens, and glyphosate inhibits the biosynthesis of these compounds via its mode of action. Several studies have shown a correlation between enhanced disease and suppression of phenolic compound production after glyphosate. Glyphosate‐resistant crop plants have also been studied for changes in resistance as a result of carrying the glyphosate resistance trait. The evidence indicates that neither the resistance trait nor application of glyphosate to glyphosate‐resistant plants increases susceptibility to disease. The only exceptions to this are cases where glyphosate has been shown to reduce rust diseases on glyphosate‐resistant crops, supporting a fungicidal role for this chemical. Finally, glyphosate treatment of weeds or volunteer crops can cause a temporary increase in soil‐borne pathogens that may result in disease development if crops are planted too soon after glyphosate application. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
DeliveringBeauveria bassianawith electrostatic powder for the control of stored‐product beetles
Authors: Athanassiou Christos G , Rumbos Christos I , Sakka Maria , Potin Olivier , Storm Clare , Dillon Aoife B 
Published: January 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe efficacy of aBeauveria bassiana‐based formulation (Bb38) with Entostat, an electrostatically charged powder, was investigated as a surface treatment againstCryptolestes ferrugineus,Oryzaephilus surinamensisandSitophilus granariusadults. In lab bioassays, the efficacy of Bb38 against the aforementioned species was examined on concrete, plywood, steel and ceramic, whereas its residual efficacy against the same species was assessed on concrete and steel in the presence or absence of illumination. Finally, the efficacy of Bb38 againstO. surinamensisandS. granariusadults was assessed in a commercial grain storage facility under realistic field conditions.RESULTSIn the lab trials,O. surinamensisandC. ferrugineuswere much more susceptible to Bb38 thanS. granariuson all types of surfaces. Moreover, Bb38 was, at least forO. surinamensisandC. ferrugineus, as effective as the chemical standard (deltamethrin) for at least 2 months after the application, regardless of the presence or absence of illumination. Finally, in the field trial Bb38 provided a satisfactory level of control againstO. surinamensis.CONCLUSIONBb38 is an effective surface treatment, but its efficacy varies according to the target species, the type of surface and the time post‐application. This is the first published report that examines the efficacy of Bb38 as a surface treatment for wider uses in empty warehouses and related storage facilities. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Output feedback stabilization for a Kirchhoff‐type nonlinear beam with general corrupted boundary observation
Authors: Guo Wei , Chen Yunlan , Feng Hongyinping 
Published: January 2017

SummaryThis paper is concerned with the boundary output feedback stabilization for a Kirchhoff‐type nonlinear beam equation with boundary observation subject to a general disturbance. The active disturbance rejection control approach is adopted to design the controller and the disturbance estimator. By this approach, the disturbance is estimated by a relatively independent estimator and then canceled in the feedback loop. The existence and uniqueness of the classical solution to the closed‐loop system are proved. The asymptotical convergence of the closed‐loop system is obtained. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Adaptive finite‐time consensus tracking for multiple uncertain mechanical systems with input saturation
Authors: Cai Mingjie , Xiang Zhengrong 
Published: January 2017

SummaryThis paper investigates the problem of finite‐time consensus tracking for a class of multiple uncertain mechanical systems under switching topologies. In the presence of uncertainties and input saturations, a distributed observer‐based adaptive finite‐time tracking protocol is proposed. At the first step, a distributed observer is proposed for each mechanical system to observe the leader's state in finite time; then, an adaptive finite‐time tracking protocol is designed to track the estimated state via recursive design method. Neural networks are used to approximate the unknown continuous functions. It is proved that under the designed protocol, the consensus tracking of position and velocity can be achieved in finite time. Finally, an example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Research methods for exploring the links between climate change and conflict
Authors: Ide Tobias 
Published: January 2017

The potential links between climate change and conflict have received much attention in recent years, but there is little consensus on the issue in the relevant literature. So far, few methodological reflections exist in climate–conflict research. This is unfortunate given the tremendous innovations in methods the research field has experienced in recent years and the potential of diverse methods to shed light on different aspects of the subject matter, thereby increasing our understanding of potential climate–conflict links. In order to counteract this shortcoming, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the developments and innovations in methods in climate–conflict research. It first identifies and discusses the most common methods in the research field: large‐N statistical analysis and qualitative case study. The study goes on to evaluate four new methods that have emerged particularly since 2012: integration of statistical techniques and qualitative case studies; field experiment; risk analysis based on geographical information systems (GIS); and qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). The review provides an overview of these methods and their potentials and pitfalls when used to study climate–conflict links. It also discusses how future research can deal with a pluralism of methods in order to gain deeper insights into the relationship between climate change and conflict. WIREs Clim Change 2017, 8:e456. doi: 10.1002/wcc.456This article is categorized under:

Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Evaluating Future Impacts of Climate Change
Traditional and novel tools to probe the mitochondrial metabolism in health and disease
Authors: Zhang Yanfei , Avalos José L. 
Published: January 2017

Mitochondrial metabolism links energy production to other essential cellular processes such as signaling, cellular differentiation, and apoptosis. In addition to producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as an energy source, mitochondria are responsible for the synthesis of a myriad of important metabolites and cofactors such as tetrahydrofolate, α‐ketoacids, steroids, aminolevulinic acid, biotin, lipoic acid, acetyl‐CoA, iron‐sulfur clusters, heme, and ubiquinone. Furthermore, mitochondria and their metabolism have been implicated in aging and several human diseases, including inherited mitochondrial disorders, cardiac dysfunction, heart failure, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Therefore, there is great interest in understanding mitochondrial metabolism and the complex relationship it has with other cellular processes. A large number of studies on mitochondrial metabolism have been conducted in the last 50 years, taking a broad range of approaches. In this review, we summarize and discuss the most commonly used tools that have been used to study different aspects of the metabolism of mitochondria: ranging from dyes that monitor changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential and pharmacological tools to study respiration or ATP synthesis, to more modern tools such as genetically encoded biosensors and trans‐omic approaches enabled by recent advances in mass spectrometry, computation, and other technologies. These tools have allowed the large number of studies that have shaped our current understanding of mitochondrial metabolism. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2017, 9:e1373. doi: 10.1002/wsbm.1373This article is categorized under:

Analytical and Computational Methods > Analytical Methods
Biological Mechanisms > Metabolism
Physiology > Mammalian Physiology in Health and Disease
An overview of structural equation modeling: its beginnings, historical development, usefulness and controversies in the social sciences
Authors: Tarka Piotr 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThis paper is a tribute to researchers who have significantly contributed to improving and advancing structural equation modeling (SEM). It is, therefore, a brief overview of SEM and presents its beginnings, historical development, its usefulness in the social sciences and the statistical and philosophical (theoretical) controversies which have often appeared in the literature pertaining to SEM. Having described the essence of SEM in the context of causal analysis, the author discusses the years of the development of structural modeling as the consequence of many researchers’ systematically growing needs (in particular in the social sciences) who strove to effectively understand the structure and interactions of latent phenomena. The early beginnings of SEM models were related to the work of Spearman and Wright, and to that of other prominent researchers who contributed to SEM development. The importance and predominance of theoretical assumptions over technical issues for the successful construction of SEM models are also described. Then, controversies regarding the use of SEM in the social sciences are presented. Finally, the opportunities and threats of this type of analytical strategy as well as selected areas of SEM applications in the social sciences are discussed.
Active resistance to democratic diffusion
Authors: Vanderhill Rachel 
Published: January 2017

Recent research on the international diffusion of democracy has focused on demonstrating how diffusion can change regime outcomes. Although there is still debate within the field of democratization over how important democratic diffusion is relative to domestic factors, autocratic leaders believe that democratic diffusion can be a threat to their rule. It is clear that some countries, such as North Korea, prevent diffusion by severely restricting interactions with foreigners and forbidding access to external sources of information. The more intriguing question is how the states that have economic, diplomatic, and social linkages with democratic states prevent democratic diffusion. In other words, what methods do globally-engaged, autocratic governments use to limit exposure to and reduce receptivity to democratic diffusion?
In addition to using coercion and economic patronage, autocratic states utilize two nonmaterial mechanisms to prevent democratic diffusion: 1) restricting exposure to democratic ideas and 2) developing alternative narratives about democracy to reduce local receptivity to democratic diffusion. Sophisticated autocratic leaders can limit receptivity to democratic diffusion if they convince citizens that those ideas are “foreign,” will cause “chaos,” or if they believe they already have their own form of democracy. I explore these methods of establishing firewalls to prevent diffusion by examining the cases of China and Kazakhstan, two countries where a high level of economic linkage coincides with a successful continuation of autocratic rule, despite the global spread of democratic norms. China has developed extensive methods to restrict access to foreign ideas about democracy while Kazakhstan has mainly focused on developing an alternative narrative about democracy. This article contributes to the literature on authoritarian persistence and democratic diffusion by investigating the internal methods autocratic leaders adopt to ensure that democratic diffusion does not threaten their rule.
Mega-Sporting Events and Human Rights—A Time for More Teamwork?
Authors: AMIS Lucy 
Published: January 2017

AbstractMega-Sporting Events (MSEs) like the Olympics and FIFA World Cup inspire humanity and have the potential to promote human rights, including through job creation and urban regeneration. Yet for over a decade MSEs have been linked to a pattern of human rights abuses that reads like a panoply of Business and Human Rights themes. The very legitimacy and social license of MSEs is increasingly on the line. Yet we may have reached a tipping point. In the past year the Commonwealth Games Federation, FIFA, and the International Olympic Committee have begun to instigate human rights reforms. A new multi-stakeholder coalition, chaired by Mary Robinson and facilitated by IHRB, meanwhile is pursuing innovative collaborate solutions to the human rights issues at stake. Supported by international agencies, governments, sports bodies, sponsors and broadcasters, and civil society, this coalition seeks to promote learning and accountability in a sector for whom business and human rights is new territory.
Testing the START Triage Protocol: Can It Improve the Ability of Nonmedical Personnel to Better Triage Patients During Disasters and Mass Casualties Incidents ?
Authors: Badiali Stefano , Giugni Aimone , Marcis Lucia 
Published: January 2017

AbstractObjectiveSTART (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) triage is a tool that is available even to nonmedical rescue personnel in case of a disaster or mass casualty incident (MCI). In Italy, no data are available on whether application of the START protocol could improve patient outcomes during a disaster or MCI. We aimed to address whether “last-minute” START training of nonmedical personnel during a disaster or MCI would result in more effective triage of patients.MethodsIn this case-control study, 400 nonmedical ambulance crew members were randomly assigned to a non-START or a START group (200 per group). The START group received last-minute START training. Each group examined 6000 patients, obtained from the Emergo Train System (ETS Italy, Bologna, Italy) victims database, and assigned patients a triage code (black-red-yellow-green) along with a reason for the assignment. Each rescuer triaged 30 patients within a 30-minute time frame. Results were analyzed according to Fisher’s exact test for a P value<0.01. Under- and over-triage ratios were analyzed as well.ResultsThe START group completed the evaluations in 15 minutes, whereas the non-START group took 30 minutes. The START group correctly triaged 94.2% of their patients, as opposed to 59.83% of the non-START group (P<0.01). Under- and over-triage were, respectively, 2.73% and 3.08% for the START group versus 13.67% and 26.5% for the non-START group. The non-START group had 458 “preventable deaths” on 6000 cases because of incorrect triage, whereas the START group had 91.ConclusionsEven a “last-minute” training on the START triage protocol allows nonmedical personnel to better identify and triage the victims of a disaster or MCI, resulting in more effective and efficient medical intervention. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:305–309)
The effect of gender norms on the association between violence and hope among girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Stark L. , Asghar K. , Meyer S. , Yu G. , Bakemore T. , Poulton C. , Falb K. 
Published: January 2017

Background.Girls at early stages of adolescence are vulnerable to violence victimization in humanitarian contexts, but few studies examine factors that affect girls’ hope in these settings. We assessed attitudes toward traditional gender norms as an effect modifier of the relationship between violence exposure and future orientation in displaced girls.Methods.Secondary analysis, using multivariable regression of cross-sectional data from girls ages 10–14 in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Key variables of interest were attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV), Children's Hope Scale (CHS) score, and exposure to physical, emotional, and sexual violence within the last 12 months. Additional covariates included age, educational status, and territory.Results.The interaction of exposure to violence and attitudes toward IPV magnified the association between violence exposure and lower CHS score for physical violence (β = −0.09, p = 0.040) and unwanted sexual touching (β = −0.20, p = 0.003) among girls age 10–14, when adjusting for other covariates. The interaction of exposure to violence and attitudes toward IPV magnified the association between violence exposure and lower CHS score for forced sex (β = −0.22, p = 0.016) among girls age 13–14, when adjusting for covariates. Findings for emotional violence, any form of sexual violence, and coerced sex trended toward lower CHS scores for girls who reported higher acceptance of IPV, but did not reach significance.Conclusions.Findings support the utility of gender norms-transformative programming in increasing resilience of girls who have experienced sexual violence in humanitarian contexts.