bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Allometry data and equations for coastal marsh plants
Authors: Lu Meng , Caplan Joshua S. , Bakker Jonathan D. , Adam Langley J. , Mozdzer Thomas J. , Drake Bert G. , Patrick Megonigal J. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractCoastal marshes are highly valued for ecosystem services such as protecting inland habitats from storms, sequestering carbon, removing nutrients and other pollutants from surface water, and providing habitat for fish, shellfish, and birds. Because plants largely determine the structure and function of coastal marshes, quantifying plant biomass is essential for evaluating these ecosystem services, understanding the biogeochemical processes that regulate ecosystem function, and forecasting tidal wetland responses to accelerated sea level rise. Allometry is a convenient and efficient technique for nondestructive estimation of plant biomass, and it is commonly used in studies of carbon and nitrogen cycles, energy flows, and marsh surface elevation change. We present plant allometry data and models developed for three long‐term experiments at the Smithsonian Global Change Research Wetland, a brackish marsh in the Rhode River subestuary of the Chesapeake Bay. The dataset contains 9,771 measurements of stem height, dry mass, and (in 9638 cases) stem width across 11 plant species. The vast majority of observations are for Schoenoplectus americanus (8430) and Phragmites australis (311), with fewer observations for other common species: Amaranthus cannabinus, Atriplex patula, Iva frutescens, Kosteletzkya virginica, Polygonum hydropiper, Solidago sempervirens, Spartina alterniflora, Spartina cynosuroides, and Typha angustifolia. Allometric relationships take the form of linear regressions of biomass (transformed using the Box‐Cox procedure) on either stem height and width, or on stem height alone. Allometric relationships for Schoenoplectus americanus were not meaningfully altered by elevated CO2, N enrichment, the community context, interannual variation in climate, or year, showing that a single equation can be used across a broad range of conditions for this species. Archived files include: (1) raw data used to derive allometric equations for each species, (2) reports and evaluations of the allometric equations we derived from the data, and (3) R code with which our derivations can be replicated. Methodological details of our experiments, data collection efforts, and statistical modeling are described in the metadata. The allometric equations can be used for biomass estimation in empirical and modeling studies of North American coastal wetlands, and the data can be used in ecological studies of terrestrial plant allometry.
Eugenol ameliorates renal damage in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats
Authors: Garud Mayuresh Sudamrao , Kulkarni Yogesh Anant 
Published: September 2016

AbstractEugenol is an important phenylpropanoid present in essential oil obtained from a number of plant species. It is responsible for the typical flavour and the aroma of these plants. Eugenol is known for its various pharmacological activities including anti‐diabetic activity. No systematic and scientific reports were available on its effect in diabetic nephropathy. Transforming growth factor β (TGF‐β) plays a central role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Down regulation of TGF‐β can prove a better approach for treatment of diabetic nephropathy. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of eugenol in streptozotocin (STZ) induced type I diabetic nephropathy.Diabetes was induced in male Sprague Dawley rats by administration of streptozotocin (55 mg kg‐1, i.p.). The effect of eugenol was studied at the dose of 5 and 10 mg kg‐1 day‐1. Treatment was done for 28 days. Assessment of plasma biochemical and urine parameters was done at the end of study. Oxidative stress markers in kidney were also evaluated. Changes in kidney histology were observed by Hematoxylin‐Eosin, Periodic Acid Schiff and Masson Trichrome staining. Expression of TGF‐β1 was determined by measuring the optical density in immunostained kidney sections.Parameters associated with diabetic nephropathy were significantly shifted towards the normal level after treatment with eugenol. Eugenol also ameliorated the histological changes in the diabetic kidney. Expression of TGF‐β1 was increased significantly in the diabetic control group. However, eugenol treatment decreases this increased expression.Results suggest that treatment with eugenol involved amelioration of diabetic nephropathy by decreasing TGF‐β1 expression. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Concentrating Emergency Rooms: Penny‐Wise and Pound‐Foolish? An Empirical Research on Scale Economies and Chain Economies in Emergency Rooms in Dutch Hospitals
Authors: Blank Jos L. T. , van Hulst Bart L. , Valdmanis Vivian G. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractIn this paper, we address the issue of whether it is economically advantageous to concentrate emergency rooms (ERs) in large hospitals. Besides identifying economies of scale of ERs, we also focus on chain economies. The latter term refers to the effects on a hospital's costs of ER patients who also need follow‐up inpatient or outpatient hospital care. We show that, for each service examined, product‐specific economies of scale prevail indicating that it would be beneficial for hospitals to increase ER services. However, this seems to be inconsistent with the overall diseconomies of scale for the hospital as a whole. This intuitively contradictory result is indicated as the economies of scale paradox. This scale paradox also explains why, in general, hospitals are too large. There are internal (departmental) pressures to expand certain services, such as ER, in order to benefit from the product‐specific economies of scale. However, the financial burden of this expansion is borne by the hospital as a whole. The policy implications of the results are that concentrating ERs seems to be advantageous from a product‐specific perspective, but is far less advantageous from the hospital perspective. © 2016 The Authors. Health Economics Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Can CuO nanoparticles lead to epigenetic regulation of antioxidant enzyme system?
Authors: Chibber Sandesh , Shanker Rishi 
Published: September 2016

AbstractCopper has been used from ancient time in various applications. Scientists have exploited its means of exposure and consequences to living organisms. The peculiar property of nanomaterials that is a high surface to volume ratio has increased the range of application in products. Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are widely used in industrial applications such as semiconductor devices, gas sensor, batteries, solar energy converter, microelectronics, heat transfer fluids and consumer products. In contrast, acute toxicity of CuO NPs has also been reported. Subsequently, human and environmental health may be at a high risk. Their frequent use can also contaminate ecosystems. Therefore, the toxicity of CuO NPs needs to be thoroughly understood. In this review, we have tried to discuss the recent facts and mechanism that have been explored for CuO NPs‐induced toxicity at a cellular, in vivo and ecotoxicological level. Accordingly, the main cause for induction of toxicity by CuO NPs is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) followed by the mitochondrial destruction that leads to apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway or under the condition such as hypoxia cell on exposure to CuO NPs may commit to necrosis. Moreover, CuO NPs also result in activation of MAPK pathways, ERKs and JNK/SAPK thus play an important role in the activation of AP‐1. Furthermore, CuO NPs also leads to up‐regulation of p53 and caspase three genes. Therefore, careful measures are required to explore omic technology to understand the molecular mechanism of the deleterious effects caused by CuO NPs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Manipulations of black bear and coyote affect caribou calf survival
Authors: Lewis Keith P. , Gullage Stephen E. , Fifield David A. , Jennings David H. , Mahoney Shane P. 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTThe population of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Newfoundland declined from approximately 94,000 to 32,000 animals between 1996 and 2013. Poor calf survival was the primary cause of the population decline, largely because of predation of newborn calves by American black bear (Ursus americanus) and the non‐native coyote (Canis latrans). This situation offered an opportunity to test the efficacy of preventative management options such as diversionary feeding and lethal removal of predators for improving calf survival. We monitored caribou calves (n = 536) in 4 calving areas (3 untreated, 1 treatment) for 2 years (2008–2009) followed by diversionary feeding of black bears and coyotes in 2010–2011 and lethal removal of coyotes in 2012–2013. We estimated calf survival for 70 days, the period calves and females remain on the calving grounds, and for 182 days, after which calves were considered recruited into the population. Calf survival was nearly constant over the 6‐year study period on the untreated areas. Calf survival was initially lower on the treatment area compared to the untreated areas but increased substantially on the treatment area during the lethal removal period, especially during the initial 70‐day period. Predation on calves by coyote decreased substantially during the lethal removal period. Diversionary feeding had little influence on survival rates. This study suggests that lethal removal of coyotes could be a viable management option for improving calf survival, but it is expensive and logistically challenging in remote field settings. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.
Topoisomerases: Resistance versus Sensitivity, How Far We Can Go?
Authors: Bansal Sandhya , Bajaj Priyanka , Pandey Stuti , Tandon Vibha 
Published: September 2016

AbstractDNA topoisomerases are ubiquitously present remarkable molecular machines that help in altering topology of DNA in living cells. The crucial role played by these nucleases during DNA replication, transcription, and recombination vis‐à‐vis less sequence similarity among different species makes topoisomerases unique and attractive targets for different anticancer and antibacterial drugs. However, druggability of topoisomerases by the existing class of molecules is increasingly becoming questationable due to resistance development predominated by mutations in the corresponding genes. The current scenario facing a decline in the development of new molecules further comprises an important factor that may challenge topoisomerase‐targeting therapy. Thus, it is imperative to wisely use the existing inhibitors lest with this rapid rate of losing grip over the target we may not go too far. Furthermore, it is important not only to design new molecules but also to develop new approaches that may avoid obstacles in therapies due to multiple resistance mechanisms. This review provides a succinct account of different classes of topoisomerase inhibitors, focuses on resistance acquired by mutations in topoisomerases, and discusses the various approaches to increase the efficacy of topoisomerase inhibitors. In a later section, we also suggest the possibility of using bisbenzimidazoles along with efflux pump inhibitors for synergistic bactericidal effects.
Structural and functional quantitative susceptibility mapping from standard fMRI studies
Authors: Sun H. , Seres P. , Wilman A.H. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractStandard functional MRI (fMRI), which includes resting‐state or paradigm‐driven designs, is widely used in studies of brain function, aging, and disease. These fMRI studies typically use two‐dimensional gradient echo‐planar imaging, which inherently contains phase data that enables quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). This work focuses on the dual value of QSM within fMRI studies, by providing both a localized analysis of functional changes in activated tissue, and iron‐sensitive structural maps in deep grey matter (DGM). Using a visual paradigm fMRI study on healthy volunteers at clinical (1.5 T) and high field strength (4.7 T), we perform functional analysis of magnitude and QSM time series, and at the same time harness structural QSM of iron‐rich DGM, including globus pallidus, putamen, caudate head, substantia nigra, and red nucleus. The effects of fMRI spatial resolution and time series variation on structural DGM QSM are investigated. Our results indicate that structural DGM QSM is feasible within existing fMRI studies, provided that the voxel dimensions are equal to or less than 3 mm, with higher resolutions preferred. The mean DGM QSM values were about 40 to 220 ppb, while the interquartile ranges of the DGM QSM time series varied from about 3 to 9 ppb, depending on structure and resolution. In contrast, the peak voxel functional QSM (fQSM) changes in activated visual cortex ranged from about −10 to −30 ppb, and functional clusters were consistently smaller on QSM than magnitude fMRI. Mean‐level DGM QSM of the time series was successfully extracted in all cases, while fQSM results were more prone to residual background fields and showed less functional change compared with standard magnitude fMRI. Under the conditions prescribed, standard fMRI studies may be used for robust mean‐level DGM QSM, enabling study of DGM iron accumulation, in addition to functional analysis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Emotional Intelligence and Personality Traits as Predictors of Occupational Therapy students' Practice Education Performance: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Brown Ted , Williams Brett , Etherington Jamie 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis study investigated whether occupational therapy students' emotional intelligence and personality traits are predictive of specific aspects of their fieldwork performance. A total of 114 second and third year undergraduate occupational therapy students (86.6% response rate) completed the Genos Emotional Intelligence Inventory (Genos EI) and the Ten‐Item Personality Inventory (TIPI). Fieldwork performance scores were obtained from the Student Practice Evaluation Form Revised (SPEF‐R). Linear regressions were completed with the SPEF‐R domains being the dependent variables and the Genos EI and TIPI factors being the independent variables. Regression analysis results revealed that the Genos EI subscales of Emotional Management of Others (EMO), Emotional Awareness of Others (EAO), Emotional Expression (EEX) and Emotional Reasoning (ERE) were significant predictors of various domains of students' fieldwork performance. EAO and ERE were significant predictors of students' Communication Skills accounting for 4.6% of its variance. EMO, EAO, EEX and ERE were significant predictors of students' Documentation Skills explaining 6.8% of its variance. EMO was a significant predictor of students' Professional Behaviour accounting for 3.2% of its variance. No TIPI factors were found to be significant predictors of the SPEF‐R domains. Occupational therapy students' emotional intelligence was a significant predictor of components of their fieldwork performance while students' personality traits were not. The convenience sampling approach used, small sample size recruited and potential issue of social desirability of the self‐reported Genos EI and TIPI data are acknowledged as study limitations. It is recommended that other studies be completed to investigate if any other relevant constructs or factors are predictive of occupational therapy students' fieldwork performance. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nickel dithiolene complexes encapsulated in biocompatible amphiphilic diblock copolymer nanoparticles
Authors: Vlassi Eleni , Mousdis George A. , Pispas Stergios 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTThe goal of this study is to prepare novel hybrid nanoparticles, in the form of micellar nanoparticles in aqueous media, which will combine the properties of the amphiphilic diblock copolymers (such as PEO‐b‐PPhOx and PI‐b‐PEO) with the ones of the nickel 1,2‐dithiolene (1,2‐Ni DT) complexes. The structural and morphological analysis of these nanoparticles have revealed that they can be promising for photodynamic therapy and near‐infrared (NIR) optical imaging due to their size and absorption in NIR. The micellar nanoparticles have been studied not only in aqueous solutions but also under other physiological conditions, that is, PBS and PBS‐FBS buffer solutions. Their solutions are characterized by several methods, including UV–vis spectroscopy, light scattering, and FTIR. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 2507–2513
GSI‐based ensemble‐variational hybrid data assimilation for HWRF for hurricane initialization and prediction: impact of various error covariances for airborne radar observation assimilation
Authors: Lu Xu , Wang Xuguang , Li Yongzuo , Tong Mingjing , Ma Xulin 
Published: September 2016

The hybrid Ensemble Kalman Filter ‐ Variational (EnKF‐Var) data assimilation (DA) system based on Grid‐point Statistical Interpolation (GSI) is extended for the Hurricane‐WRF model (HWRF). Background ensemble forecasts initialized by the EnKF are used to provide the flow‐dependent error covariance to be ingested by GSI using the extended control variable method. The hybrid system is then applied to assimilate airborne radar data.In this article, the newly developed HWRF hybrid system capable of assimilating airborne radar observations is introduced. The impact of using variously estimated background error covariances on tropical cyclone (TC) core analyses and subsequent forecasts is explored by a detailed study of Hurricane Sandy (2012) and by systematic comparison of various sensitivity experiments for multiple cases during the 2012–2013 seasons. The hybrid system using the HWRF EnKF ensemble covariance (Hybrid‐HENS) is able to correct both the wind and mass fields in a dynamically and thermodynamically coherent fashion. In contrast, the wind and pressure adjustments by GSI three‐dimensional variation (GSI3DVar) using the static covariance are inconsistent. The wind and pressure relation in the covariances derived from the GFS ensemble (Hybrid‐GENS) improves upon the static covariance, but is still inconsistent compared to that of HWRF. Verifications against independent flight‐level and Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR) wind data, and Hurricane Research Division (HRD) radar wind composite reveal that the Hybrid‐HENS system improves the analysed TC structure upon both GSI3DVar and Hybrid‐GENS. Hybrid‐HENS and Hybrid‐GENS improve the track, minimum sea‐level pressure (MSLP) and Vmax forecast relative to GSI3DVar. Hybrid‐HENS further improves track forecasts compared to Hybrid‐GENS. Hybrid‐HENS provides the largest positive impact of the airborne radar data. In comparison, GSI3DVar shows consistently negative impact of the data when analysing the structure and verifying track forecasts. Blending the static background error covariance in the hybrid system improves the maximum wind forecast while little benefit is found in the analysed structures and the MSLP and track forecasts.
Generalized RSA using 2k prime numbers with secure key generation
Authors: Lone Auqib Hamid , Khalique Aqeel 
Published: September 2016

AbstractCryptography is used for secure communication since ancient days for providing confidentiality, integrity and availability of the information. Public key cryptography is a classification of cryptography having pair of keys for encryption and decryption. Public key cryptography provides security and authentication using several algorithms. The Rivest–Shamir –Adleman (RSA) algorithm is prominent since its inception and is widely used. Several modified schemes were introduced to increase security in the RSA algorithm involving additional complexity. In this paper, we introduce a generalized algorithm over RSA that is advanced, adaptable and scalable in using a number of primes. Our algorithm uses 2k prime numbers with secure key generation involving additional complexity, making it computationally infeasible to determine decryption key. A user can use 4, 8, 16, 32, … (2k) prime numbers for generating public and private components securely. In our algorithm, public key and private key components are generated by making use of N, where N is a function of 2k prime numbers. When an attacker obtains a public key component n out of {E, n} by using factorization techniques such as general number field sieve or elliptic curve factorization, he or she can only obtain two initial prime numbers (because n is a product of the first two prime numbers). However, finding the remaining prime numbers is computationally infeasible as no relevant information is available to the attacker. Hence, it is difficult for the attacker to determine the private key component D out of {D, n} knowing the public key component {E, n}. Thus, it is practically impossible to break our system using a brute force attack. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stochastic Prebiotic Chemistry within Realistic Geological Systems
Authors: Dass Avinash Vicholous , Hickman‐Lewis Keyron , Brack André , Kee Terence P. , Westall Frances 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis review introduces its readers to a ‘stochastic approach’ to origins of life research, from the viewpoints of both prebiotic chemistry and geology. The idea of a “primordial soup” has been subject to extensive criticism from thermodynamic, biochemical and geochemical perspectives, yet recent advancements have made clearer the plausibility of this theory. Herein, we review the theoretical and experimental approaches which have previously been explored, among these modelling, laboratory‐confined and geologically motivated experimentation. Of these, we consider organo‐mineral interactions, uniting aspects of prebiotic chemistry and geology, to be an especially promising way forward. However, we aim here to advance current approaches by advocating a methodology involving chemical systems and their stochastic reactivity on heterogeneous geological surfaces. This models the origins of life as a continuity of chemical reactions in an analogue to the early Earth (Hadean) environment.
Synthesis and Human Anticancer Cell Line Studies on Coumarin‐β‐carboline Hybrids as Possible Antimitotic Agents
Authors: Samundeeswari S. , Kulkarni Manohar V. , Joshi Shrinivas D. , Dixit Sheshagiri R. , Jayakumar Srinivasan , Ezhilarasi R. M. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractA series of coumarin tetrahydro‐β‐carboline hybrids 3 have been synthesized by the Pictet‐Spengler reaction. Stoichiometrically controlled DDQ oxidation has led to dihydro 4 and β‐carboline 5. In vitro anticancer activity against 60 cell lines has revealed the potency of 3 f, 4 a and 5 c. In silico studies indicate the binding properties of 5 c with Kinesin spindle protein (KSP) and tubulin protein. Gel electrophoresis studies revealed that compound 3 f partially cleaved the CT‐DNA, whereas the ring C aromatized compound 5 c completely cleaved the CT‐DNA. Structures of the newly synthesized compounds are confirmed by spectroscopic and X‐ray studies.