bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Process measures or patient reported experience measures (PREMs) for comparing performance across providers? A study of measures related to access and continuity in Swedish primary care
Authors: Glenngård Anna H. , Anell Anders 
Published: September 2017

AimTo study (a) the covariation between patient reported experience measures (PREMs) and registered process measures of access and continuity when ranking providers in a primary care setting, and (b) whether registered process measures or PREMs provided more or less information about potential linkages between levels of access and continuity and explaining variables.BackgroundAccess and continuity are important objectives in primary care. They can be measured through registered process measures or PREMs. These measures do not necessarily converge in terms of outcomes. Patient views are affected by factors not necessarily reflecting quality of services. Results from surveys are often uncertain due to low response rates, particularly in vulnerable groups. The quality of process measures, on the other hand, may be influenced by registration practices and are often more easy to manipulate. With increased transparency and use of quality measures for management and governance purposes, knowledge about the pros and cons of using different measures to assess the performance across providers are important.MethodsFour regression models were developed with registered process measures and PREMs of access and continuity as dependent variables. Independent variables were characteristics of providers as well as geographical location and degree of competition facing providers. Data were taken from two large Swedish county councils.FindingsAlthough ranking of providers is sensitive to the measure used, the results suggest that providers performing well with respect to one measure also tended to perform well with respect to the other. As process measures are easier and quicker to collect they may be looked upon as the preferred option. PREMs were better than process measures when exploring factors that contributed to variation in performance across providers in our study; however, if the purpose of comparison is continuous learning and development of services, a combination of PREMs and registered measures may be the preferred option. Above all, our findings points towards the importance of a pre-analysis of the measures in use; to explore the pros and cons if measures are used for different purposes before they are put into practice.
Relating quantum coherence and correlations with entropy-based measures
Authors: Wang Xiao-Li , Yue Qiu-Ling , Yu Chao-Hua , Gao Fei , Qin Su-Juan 
Published: September 2017

AbstractQuantum coherence and quantum correlations are important quantum resources for quantum computation and quantum information. In this paper, using entropy-based measures, we investigate the relationships between quantum correlated coherence, which is the coherence between subsystems, and two main kinds of quantum correlations as defined by quantum discord as well as quantum entanglement. In particular, we show that quantum discord and quantum entanglement can be well characterized by quantum correlated coherence. Moreover, we prove that the entanglement measure formulated by quantum correlated coherence is lower and upper bounded by the relative entropy of entanglement and the entanglement of formation, respectively, and equal to the relative entropy of entanglement for all the maximally correlated states.
Invisibility Cloaking Scheme by Evanescent Fields Distortion on Composite Plasmonic Waveguides with Si Nano-Spacer
Authors: Galutin Yakov , Falek Eran , Karabchevsky Alina 
Published: September 2017

AbstractA new, composite plasmonic waveguide based electromagnetic cloaking scheme is proposed with Si nano-spacer. Here we show, that the scattering fields of an object located on the cloak do not interact with the evanescent field, resulting in object’s invisibility. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) numerical calculations were performed to extract the modal distributions and surface intensities on a composite plasmonic waveguide with a metasurface overlayer. Spatially varying effective permittivity was analytically calculated using transformation optics. Cloaking was demonstrated for a cylindrical object with diameter of 70% from the waveguide width on a high index ridge waveguide structure with silicon nitride guiding layer on silica substrate. Our results open the door to new integrated photonic devices, harnessing from evanescent fields distortion on composite plasmonic waveguides and dielectric nano-spacers for the variety of applications from on-chip optical devices to all-optical processing.
Cannabidiol attenuates alcohol-induced liver steatosis, metabolic dysregulation, inflammation and neutrophil-mediated injury
Authors: Wang Yuping , Mukhopadhyay Partha , Cao Zongxian , Wang Hua , Feng Dechun , Haskó György , Mechoulam Raphael , Gao Bin , Pacher Pal 
Published: September 2017

AbstractCannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive component of marijuana, which has anti-inflammatory effects. It has also been approved by FDA for various orphan diseases for exploratory trials. Herein, we investigated the effects of CBD on liver injury induced by chronic plus binge alcohol feeding in mice. CBD or vehicle was administered daily throughout the alcohol feeding study. At the conclusion of the feeding protocol, serums samples, livers or isolated neutrophils were utilized for molecular biology, biochemistry and pathology analysis. CBD significantly attenuated the alcohol feeding-induced serum transaminase elevations, hepatic inflammation (mRNA expressions of TNFα, MCP1, IL1β, MIP2 and E-Selectin, and neutrophil accumulation), oxidative/nitrative stress (lipid peroxidation, 3-nitrotyrosine formation, and expression of reactive oxygen species generating enzyme NOX2). CBD treatment also attenuated the respiratory burst of neutrophils isolated from chronic plus binge alcohol fed mice or from human blood, and decreased the alcohol-induced increased liver triglyceride and fat droplet accumulation. Furthermore, CBD improved alcohol-induced hepatic metabolic dysregulation and steatosis by restoring changes in hepatic mRNA or protein expression of ACC-1, FASN, PPARα, MCAD, ADIPOR-1, and mCPT-1. Thus, CBD may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of alcoholic liver diseases associated with inflammation, oxidative stress and steatosis, which deserves exploration in human trials.
Intergrative metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses unveil nutrient remobilization events in leaf senescence of tobacco
Authors: Li Wei , Zhang Hailiang , Li Xiaoxu , Zhang Fengxia , Liu Cheng , Du Yongmei , Gao Xiaoming , Zhang Zenglin , Zhang Xiaobing , Hou Zhihui , Zhou Hui , Sheng Xiaofei , Wang Guodong , Guo Yongfeng 
Published: September 2017

AbstractLeaf senescence in plants is a coordinated process that involves remobilization of nutrients from senescing leaves to sink tissues. The molecular events associated with nutrient remobilization are however not well understood. In this study the tobacco system with a source-sink relationship between different leaf positions was used in analyzing the spatiotemporal changes of 76 metabolites from leaves at 3 different stalk positions and 8 developmental stages. The metabolomic data was then compared with RNA-seq data from the same samples to analyze the activities of the metabolic pathways that are important for nutrient remobilization. Integrative analyses on metabolites accumulation and expression changes of enzyme-encoding genes in corresponding metabolic pathways indicated a significant up-regulation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and related metabolism of sugars, amino acids and fatty acids, suggesting the importance of energy metabolism during leaf senescence. Other changes of the metabolism during tobacco leaf senescence include increased activities of the GS/GOGAT cycle which is responsible for nitrogen recycling, and increased accumulation of nicotine. The results also suggested that a number of compounds seemed to be transported from senescing leaves at lower positions to sink leaves at upper positions. Some of these metabolites could play a role in nutrient remobilization.
Tunable Polarization Conversion and Rotation based on a Reconfigurable Metasurface
Authors: Zhang M. , Zhang W. , Liu A. Q. , Li F. C. , Lan C. F. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractPolarization is an important property of electromagnetic (EM) wave and different polarization manipulations are required for varied optical applications. Here we report a reconfigurable metasurface which achieves both the polarization conversion and the polarization rotation in THz regime. The metasurface is reconfigured through the micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) actuation. The cross polarization transmittance from a linear polarized incidence is experimentally tuned from 0 to 28% at 2.66 THz. In addition, the polarization rotation angle is effectively changed from −12.8° to 13.1° at 1.78 THz. The tunable bi-functional metasurface for polarization conversion and the polarization rotation can be flexibly applied in various applications such as imaging, polarization microscopy and material analysis, etc.
Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β Inhibition Links Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Extracellular Matrix Remodelling and Terminal Differentiation in Chondrocytes
Authors: Guidotti S. , Minguzzi M. , Platano D. , Santi S. , Trisolino G. , Filardo G. , Mariani E. , Borzì R. M. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractFollowing inflammatory stimuli, GSK3 inhibition functions as a hub with pleiotropic effects leading to cartilage degradation. However, little is known about the effects triggered by its direct inhibition as well as the effects on mitochondrial pathology, that contributes to osteoarthritis pathogenesis. To this aim we assessed the molecular mechanisms triggered by GSK3β inactivating stimuli on 3-D (micromass) cultures of human articular chondrocytes. Stimuli were delivered either at micromass seeding (long term) or after maturation (short term) to explore “late” effects on terminal differentiation or “early” mitochondrial effects, respectively. GSK3β inhibition significantly enhanced mitochondrial oxidative stress and damage and endochondral ossification based on increased nuclear translocation of Runx-2 and β-catenin, calcium deposition, cell death and enhanced remodelling of the extracellular matrix as demonstrated by the increased collagenolytic activity of supernatants, despite unmodified (MMP-1) or even reduced (MMP-13) collagenase gene/protein expression. Molecular dissection of the underlying mechanisms showed that GSK3β inhibition achieved with pharmacological/silencing strategies impacted on the control of collagenolytic activity, via both decreased inhibition (reduced TIMP-3) and increased activation (increased MMP-10 and MMP-14). To conclude, the inhibition of GSK3β enhances terminal differentiation via concerted effects on ECM and therefore its activity represents a tool to keep articular cartilage homeostasis.
Scaling of Memories and Crossover in Glassy Magnets
Authors: Samarakoon A. M. , Takahashi M. , Zhang D. , Yang J. , Katayama N. , Sinclair R. , Zhou H. D. , Diallo S. O. , Ehlers G. , Tennant D. A. , Wakimoto S. , Yamada K. , Chern G-W. , Sato T. J. , Lee S.-H. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractGlassiness is ubiquitous and diverse in characteristics in nature. Understanding their differences and classification remains a major scientific challenge. Here, we show that scaling of magnetic memories with time can be used to classify magnetic glassy materials into two distinct classes. The systems studied are high temperature superconductor-related materials, spin-orbit Mott insulators, frustrated magnets, and dilute magnetic alloys. Our bulk magnetization measurements reveal that most densely populated magnets exhibit similar memory behavior characterized by a relaxation exponent of $$1-n\approx 0.6(1)$$
1
−
n
≈
0.6
(
1
)
. This exponent is different from $$1-{\boldsymbol{n}}\approx 1/3$$
1
−
n
≈

1
/
3

of dilute magnetic alloys that was ascribed to their hierarchical and fractal energy landscape, and is also different from $$1-{\boldsymbol{n}}=1$$
1
−
n
=
1
of the conventional Debye relaxation expected for a spin solid, a state with long range order. Furthermore, our systematic study on dilute magnetic alloys with varying magnetic concentration exhibits crossovers among the two glassy states and spin solid.
Structural properties of thin-film ferromagnetic topological insulators
Authors: Richardson C. L. , Devine-Stoneman J. M. , Divitini G. , Vickers M. E. , Chang C.-Z. , Amado M. , Moodera J. S. , Robinson J. W. A. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractWe present a comprehensive study of the crystal structure of the thin-film, ferromagnetic topological insulator (Bi, Sb)2−x
V
x
Te3. The dissipationless quantum anomalous Hall edge states it manifests are of particular interest for spintronics, as a natural spin filter or pure spin source, and as qubits for topological quantum computing. For ranges typically used in experiments, we investigate the effect of doping, substrate choice and film thickness on the (Bi, Sb)2Te3 unit cell using high-resolution X-ray diffractometry. Scanning transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy measurements provide local structural and interfacial information. We find that the unit cell is unaffected in-plane by vanadium doping changes, and remains unchanged over a thickness range of 4–10 quintuple layers (1 QL ≈ 1 nm). The in-plane lattice parameter (a) also remains the same in films grown on different substrate materials. However, out-of-plane the c-axis increases with the doping level and thicknesses >10 QL, and is potentially reduced in films grown on Si (1 1 1).
Bioinspired Fabrication of one dimensional graphene fiber with collection of droplets application
Authors: Song Yun-yun , Liu Yan , Jiang Hao-bo , Li Shu-yi , Kaya Cigdem , Stegmaier Thomas , Han Zhi-wu , Ren Lu-quan 
Published: September 2017

AbstractWe designed a kind of smart bioinspired fiber with multi-gradient and multi-scale spindle knots by combining polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and graphene oxide (GO). Multilayered graphene structures can produce obvious wettability change after laser etching due to increased roughness. We demonstrate that the cooperation between curvature and the controllable wettability play an important role in water gathering, which regulate effectively the motion of tiny water droplets. In addition, due to the effective cooperation of multi-gradient and multi-scale hydrophilic spindle knots, the length of the three-phase contact line (TCL) can be longer, which makes a great contribution to the improvement of collecting efficiency and water-hanging ability. This study offers a novel insight into the design of smart materials that may control the transport of tiny drops reversibly in directions, which could potentially be extended to the realms of in microfluidics, fog harvesting filtration and condensers designs, and further increase water collection efficiency and hanging ability.
A high selective methanol gas sensor based on molecular imprinted Ag-LaFeO3 fibers
Authors: Rong Qian , Zhang Yumin , Wang Chao , Zhu Zhongqi , Zhang Jin , Liu Qingju 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAg-LaFeO3 molecularly imprinted polymers (ALMIPs) were fabricated, which provided special recognition sites to methanol. Then ALMIPs fiber 1, fiber 2 and fiber 3 were prepared using filter paper, silk and carbon fibers template, respectively. Based on the observation of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and Nitrogen adsorption surface area analyzer (BET), the structure, morphology and surface area of the fibers were characterized. The ALMIPs fibers (fiber 1, fiber 2 and fiber 3) show excellent selectivity and good response to methanol. The responses to 5 ppm methanol and the optimal operating temperature of ALMIPs fibers are 23.5 and 175 °C (fiber 1), 19.67 and 125 °C (fiber 2), 17.59 and 125 °C (fiber 3), and a lower response (≤10, 3, 2) to other test gases including formaldehyde, acetone, ethanol, ammonia, gasoline and benzene was measured, respectively.
Membrane tension increases fusion efficiency of model membranes in the presence of SNAREs
Authors: Kliesch Torben-Tobias , Dietz Jörn , Turco Laura , Halder Partho , Polo Elena , Tarantola Marco , Jahn Reinhard , Janshoff Andreas 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe large gap in time scales between membrane fusion occurring in biological systems during neurotransmitter release and fusion observed between model membranes has provoked speculations over a large number of possible factors that might explain this discrepancy. One possible reason is an elevated lateral membrane tension present in the presynaptic membrane. We investigated the tension-dependency of fusion using model membranes equipped with a minimal fusion machinery consisting of syntaxin 1, synaptobrevin and SNAP 25. Two different strategies were realized; one based on supported bilayers and the other one employing sessile giant liposomes. In the first approach, isolated patches of planar bilayers derived from giant unilamellar vesicles containing syntaxin 1 and preassembled SNAP 25 (ΔN-complex) were deposited on a dilatable PDMS sheet. In a second approach, lateral membrane tension was controlled through the adhesion of intact giant unilamellar vesicles on a functionalized surface. In both approaches fusion efficiency increases considerably with lateral tension and we identified a threshold tension of 3.4 mN m−1, at which the number of fusion events is increased substantially.
Melanoblast development coincides with the late emerging cells from the dorsal neural tube in turtle Trachemys scripta
Authors: Rice Ritva , Cebra-Thomas Judith , Haugas Maarja , Partanen Juha , Rice David P. C. , Gilbert Scott F. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractEctothermal reptiles have internal pigmentation, which is not seen in endothermal birds and mammals. Here we show that the development of the dorsal neural tube-derived melanoblasts in turtleTrachemys scriptais regulated by similar mechanisms as in other amniotes, but significantly later in development, during the second phase of turtle trunk neural crest emigration. The development of melanoblasts coincided with a morphological change in the dorsal neural tube between stages mature G15 and G16. The melanoblasts delaminated and gathered in the carapacial staging area above the neural tube at G16, and differentiated into pigment-forming melanocytes duringin vitroculture. The Mitf-positive melanoblasts were not restricted to the dorsolateral pathway as in birds and mammals but were also present medially through the somites similarly to ectothermal anamniotes. This matched a lack of environmental barrier dorsal and lateral to neural tube and the somites that is normally formed by PNA-binding proteins that block entry to medial pathways. PNA-binding proteins may also participate in the patterning of the carapacial pigmentation as both the migratory neural crest cells and pigment localized only to PNA-free areas.
Zebrafish In-Vivo Screening for Compounds Amplifying Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells: - Preclinical Validation in Human CD34+ Stem and Progenitor Cells
Authors: Arulmozhivarman Guruchandar , Kräter Martin , Wobus Manja , Friedrichs Jens , Bejestani Elham Pishali , Müller Katrin , Lambert Katrin , Alexopoulou Dimitra , Dahl Andreas , Stöter Martin , Bickle Marc , Shayegi Nona , Hampe Jochen , Stölzel Friedrich , Brand Michael , von Bonin Malte , Bornhäuser Martin 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThe identification of small molecules that either increase the number and/or enhance the activity of human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (hHSPCs) duringex vivoexpansion remains challenging. We used an unbiasedin vivochemical screen in a transgenic (c-myb:EGFP) zebrafish embryo model and identified histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs), particularly valproic acid (VPA), as significant enhancers of the number of phenotypic HSPCs, bothin vivoand duringex vivoexpansion. The long-term functionality of these expanded hHSPCs was verified in a xenotransplantation model with NSG mice. Interestingly, VPA increased CD34+cell adhesion to primary mesenchymal stromal cells and reduced theirin vitrochemokine-mediated migration capacity. In line with this, VPA-treated human CD34+cells showed reduced homing and early engraftment in a xenograft transplant model, but retained their long-term engraftment potentialin vivo, and maintained their differentiation ability bothin vitroandin vivo. In summary, our data demonstrate that certain HDACIs lead to a net expansion of hHSPCs with retained long-term engraftment potential and could be further explored as candidate compounds to amplifyex-vivoengineered peripheral blood stem cells.
Stepwise Evolution Improves Identification of Diverse Peptides Binding to a Protein Target
Authors: Lyamichev Victor I. , Goodrich Lauren E. , Sullivan Eric H. , Bannen Ryan M. , Benz Joerg , Albert Thomas J. , Patel Jigar J. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractConsiderable efforts have been made to develop technologies for selection of peptidic molecules that act as substrates or binders to a protein of interest. Here we demonstrate the combination of rational peptide array library design, parallel screening and stepwise evolution, to discover novel peptide hotspots. These hotspots can be systematically evolved to create high-affinity, high-specificity binding peptides to a protein target in a reproducible and digitally controlled process. The method can be applied to synthesize both linear and cyclic peptides, as well as peptides composed of natural and non-natural amino acid analogs, thereby enabling screens in a much diverse chemical space. We apply this method to stepwise evolve peptide binders to streptavidin, a protein studied for over two decades and report novel peptides that mimic key interactions of biotin to streptavidin.
The Effect of Stimulus Variability on Learning and Generalization of Reading in a Novel Script
Authors: Adwan-Mansour Jasmeen , Bitan Tali 
Published: September 2017

Purpose
The benefit of stimulus variability for generalization of acquired skills and knowledge has been shown in motor, perceptual, and language learning but has rarely been studied in reading. We studied the effect of variable training in a novel language on reading trained and untrained words.

Method
Sixty typical adults received 2 sessions of training in reading an artificial script. Participants were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: a variable training group practicing a large set of 24 words, and 2 nonvariable training groups practicing a smaller set of 12 words, with twice the number of repetitions per word.

Results
Variable training resulted in higher accuracy for both trained and untrained items composed of the same graphemes, compared to the nonvariable training. Moreover, performance on untrained items was correlated with phonemic awareness only for the nonvariable training groups.

Conclusions
High stimulus variability increases the reliance on small unit decoding in adults reading in a novel script, which is beneficial for both familiar and novel words. These results show that the statistical properties of the input during reading acquisition influence the type of acquired knowledge and have theoretical and practical implications for planning efficient reading instruction methods.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5302195