bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Photoactive Surface‐Grafted Polymer Brushes with Phthalocyanine Bridging Groups as an Advanced Architecture for Light‐Harvesting
Authors: Szuwarzyński Michał , Wolski Karol , Pomorska Agata , Uchacz Tomasz , Gut Arkadiusz , Łapok Łukasz , Zapotoczny Szczepan 
Published: June 2017

AbstractSurface‐grafted polymer brushes of novel ladder‐like architecture were proposed for inducing ordering of chromophores embedded therein. The brushes with acetylene side groups were obtained by surface‐initiated photoiniferter‐mediated polymerization. The acetylene moieties reacted then through a “click” process with an axially azide‐bifunctionalized silicon phthalocyanine bridging the neighboring chains that inherently adopt extended conformations in dense brushes. FTIR, quartz crystal microbalance, and atomic force microscopy were used to study formation and structure of the photoactive brushes varying in grafting densities. Importantly, photophysical properties of the chromophores were virtually unaffected upon embedding them into the brushes, as evidenced by UV/Vis absorption and emission spectroscopy. Owing to the unique ordering of the chromophores, the proposed method may open new opportunities for the fabrication of light‐harvesting systems suitable for photovoltaic or sensing applications.
Preparation, Single‐Molecule Manipulation, and Energy Transfer Investigation of a Polyfluorene‐graft‐DNA polymer
Authors: Madsen Mikael , Christensen Rasmus S. , Krissanaprasit Abhichart , Bakke Mette R. , Riber Camilla F. , Nielsen Karina S. , Zelikin Alexander N. , Gothelf Kurt V. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractConjugated polymers have been intensively studied due to their unique optical and electronic properties combined with their physical flexibility and scalable bottom up synthesis. Although the bulk qualities of conjugated polymers have been extensively utilized in research and industry, the ability to handle and manipulate conjugated polymers at the nanoscale lacks significantly behind. Here, the toolbox for controlled manipulation of conjugated polymers was expanded through the synthesis of a polyfluorene‐DNA graft‐type polymer (poly(F‐DNA)). The polymer possesses the characteristics associated with the conjugated polyfluorene backbone, but the protruding single‐stranded DNA provides the material with an exceptional addressability. This study demonstrates controlled single‐molecule patterning of poly(F‐DNA), as well as energy transfer between two different polymer–DNA conjugates. Finally, highly efficient DNA‐directed quenching of polyfluorene fluorescence was shown.
Treatment at high‐volume facilities and academic centers is independently associated with improved survival in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer
Authors: David John M. , Ho Allen S. , Luu Michael , Yoshida Emi J. , Kim Sungjin , Mita Alain C. , Scher Kevin S. , Shiao Stephen L. , Tighiouart Mourad , Zumsteg Zachary S. 
Published: June 2017

BACKGROUNDThe treatment of head and neck cancers is complex and associated with significant morbidity, requiring multidisciplinary care and physician expertise. Thus, facility characteristics, such as clinical volume and academic status, may influence outcomes.METHODSThe current study included 46,567 patients taken from the National Cancer Data Base who were diagnosed with locally advanced invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the oropharynx, larynx, and hypopharynx and were undergoing definitive radiotherapy. High‐volume facilities (HVFs) were defined as the top 1% of centers by the number of patients treated from 2004 through 2012. Multivariable Cox regression and propensity score matching were performed to account for imbalances in covariates.RESULTSThe median follow‐up was 55.1 months. Treatment at a HVF (hazard ratio, 0.798; 95% confidence interval, 0.753‐0.845 [P<.001]) and treatment at an academic facility (hazard ratio, 0.897; 95% confidence interval, 0.871‐0.923 [P<.001]) were found to be independently associated with improved overall survival in multivariable analysis. In propensity score‐matched cohorts, the 5‐year overall survival rate was 61.6% versus 55.5% for patients treated at an HVF versus lower‐volume facilities, respectively (P<.001). Similarly, the 5‐year overall survival rate was 52.3% versus 49.7% for patients treated at academic versus nonacademic facilities (P<.001). Analysis of facility volume as a continuous variable demonstrated continual improvement in survival with an increased number of patients treated. The impact of facility volume and academic designation on survival was observed when using a variety of thresholds to define HVF, and across the vast majority of subgroups, including both oropharyngeal and nonoropharyngeal subsites.CONCLUSIONSPatients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who are undergoing curative radiotherapy at HVFs and academic centers appear to have improved survival. Cancer 2017;123:3933‐42. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Quantitative Insights into the Fast Pyrolysis of Extracted Cellulose, Hemicelluloses, and Lignin
Authors: Carrier Marion , Windt Michael , Ziegler Bernhard , Appelt Jörn , Saake Bodo , Meier Dietrich , Bridgwater Anthony 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into bio‐based commodity chemicals is technically possible. Among thermochemical processes, fast pyrolysis, a relatively mature technology that has now reached a commercial level, produces a high yield of an organic‐rich liquid stream. Despite recent efforts to elucidate the degradation paths of biomass during pyrolysis, the selectivity and recovery rates of bio‐compounds remain low. In an attempt to clarify the general degradation scheme of biomass fast pyrolysis and provide a quantitative insight, the use of fast pyrolysis microreactors is combined with spectroscopic techniques (i.e., mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy) and mixtures of unlabeled and 13C‐enriched materials. The first stage of the work aimed to select the type of reactor to use to ensure control of the pyrolysis regime. A comparison of the chemical fragmentation patterns of “primary” fast pyrolysis volatiles detected by using GC‐MS between two small‐scale microreactors showed the inevitable occurrence of secondary reactions. In the second stage, liquid fractions that are also made of primary fast pyrolysis condensates were analyzed by using quantitative liquid‐state 13C NMR spectroscopy to provide a quantitative distribution of functional groups. The compilation of these results into a map that displays the distribution of functional groups according to the individual and main constituents of biomass (i.e., hemicelluloses, cellulose and lignin) confirmed the origin of individual chemicals within the fast pyrolysis liquids.
Assessment of executive functioning in binge‐eating disorder independent of weight status
Authors: Eneva Kalina T. , Arlt Jean M. , Yiu Angelina , Murray Susan M. , Chen Eunice Y. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractObjectiveExecutive functioning (EF) problems may serve as vulnerability or maintenance factors for Binge‐Eating Disorder (BED). However, it is unclear if EF problems observed in BED are related to overweight status or BED status. The current study extends this literature by examining EF in overweight and normal‐weight BED compared to weight‐matched controls.MethodParticipants were normal‐weight women with BED (n = 23), overweight BED (n = 32), overweight healthy controls (n = 48), and normal‐weight healthy controls (n = 29). The EF battery utilized tests from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toolbox and Delis‐Kaplan Executive Function System (D‐KEFS).ResultsAfter controlling for years of education and minority status, overweight individuals performed more poorly than normal‐weight individuals on a task of cognitive flexibility requiring generativity (p < .01), and speed on psychomotor performance tasks (p = .01). Normal‐weight and overweight BED performed worse on working memory tasks compared to controls (p = .04). Unexpectedly, normal‐weight BED individuals out‐performed all other groups on an inhibitory control task (p < .01). No significant differences were found between the four groups on tasks of planning.DiscussionRegardless of weight status, BED is associated with working memory problems. Replication of the finding that normal‐weight BED is associated with enhanced inhibitory control is needed.
Parasite and host elemental content and parasite effects on host nutrient excretion and metabolic rate
Authors: Chodkowski Nicole , Bernot Randall J. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractEcological stoichiometry uses the mass balance of elements to predict energy and elemental fluxes across different levels of ecological organization. A specific prediction of ecological stoichiometry is the growth rate hypothesis (GRH), which states that organisms with faster growth or reproductive rates will require higher phosphorus content for nucleic acid and protein synthesis. Although parasites are found ubiquitously throughout ecosystems, little is understood about how they affect nutrient imbalances in ecosystems. We (1) tested the GRH by determining the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) content of parasitic trematodes and their intermediate host, the freshwater snail Elimia livescens, and (2) used this framework to determine the trematode effects on host nutrient excretion and metabolism. Snail and parasite tissues were analyzed for elemental content using a CHN analyzer and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) methods. Ammonium and SRP assays were used to estimate N and P excretion rates. A respirometer was used to calculate individual snail metabolism. Trematode tissues contained lower C:P and N:P (more P per unit C and N) than the snail tissues. Snail gonadal tissues more closely resembled the elemental content of parasite tissues, although P content was 13% higher in the gonad than the trematode tissues. Despite differences in elemental content, N and P excretion rates of snails were not affected by the presence of parasites. Parasitized snails maintained faster metabolic rates than nonparasitized snails. However, the species of parasite did not affect metabolic rate. Together, this elemental imbalance between parasite and host, and the altered metabolic rate of infected snails may lead to broader parasite effects in stream ecosystems.
Genome size in arthropods; different roles of phylogeny, habitat and life history in insects and crustaceans
Authors: Alfsnes Kristian , Leinaas Hans Petter , Hessen Dag Olav 
Published: June 2017

AbstractDespite the major role of genome size for physiology, ecology, and evolution, there is still mixed evidence with regard to proximate and ultimate drivers. The main causes of large genome size are proliferation of noncoding elements and/or duplication events. The relative role and interplay between these proximate causes and the evolutionary patterns shaped by phylogeny, life history traits or environment are largely unknown for the arthropods. Genome size shows a tremendous variability in this group, and it has a major impact on a range of fitness‐related parameters such as growth, metabolism, life history traits, and for many species also body size. In this study, we compared genome size in two major arthropod groups, insects and crustaceans, and related this to phylogenetic patterns and parameters affecting ambient temperature (latitude, depth, or altitude), insect developmental mode, as well as crustacean body size and habitat, for species where data were available. For the insects, the genome size is clearly phylogeny‐dependent, reflecting primarily their life history and mode of development, while for crustaceans there was a weaker association between genome size and phylogeny, suggesting life cycle strategies and habitat as more important determinants. Maximum observed latitude and depth, and their combined effect, showed positive, and possibly phylogenetic independent, correlations with genome size for crustaceans. This study illustrate the striking difference in genome sizes both between and within these two major groups of arthropods, and that while living in the cold with low developmental rates may promote large genomes in marine crustaceans, there is a multitude of proximate and ultimate drivers of genome size.
Seedling tolerance to cotyledon removal varies with seed size: A case of five legume species
Authors: Hu Xiao Wen , Zhang Rui , Wu Yan Pei , Baskin Carol C. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIt is generally accepted that seedlings from large seeds are more tolerant to defoliation than those from small seeds due to the additional metabolic reserves present in the large seeds. However, information on the effects of amount of seed reserves (cotyledon removal) from seedlings resulting from large vs. small seeds on seedling growth and long‐term survival in the field is limited. Five legume species with different sizes of seeds were sown in the field and none, one, or both cotyledons removed 7 days after seedling emergence. Seedling biomass, relative growth rate (RGR) and survival were determined at different time. Cotyledon removal, species, and their interaction had significant effects on seedling growth and survival. During the period between 33 and 70 days, seedlings from large seeds had a significantly lower RGR than those from small seeds. Biomass, RGR, and survival of seedlings from large seeds were significantly reduced by removal one or both cotyledons, whereas those of seedlings from small seeds were not affected. Seed energy reserves are more important for the early growth of seedlings from large seeds than for those from small seeds. The overall effect of cotyledon removal on growth and survival varies with seed size (i.e., energy reserves) with seedlings from small seeds being less sensitive than those from large seeds under field conditions.
Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) Activity of a Phenol‐Substituted Linear FeIII–Porphyrin Dimer
Authors: Tei Go , Tamaki Takashi , Hayashi Takao , Nakajima Kosuke , Sakai Akihiro , Yotsuhashi Satoshi , Ogawa Takuji 
Published: June 2017

AbstractInvited for the cover of this issue are the groups of Go Tei (Panasonic Corporation, Osaka) and Takuji Ogawa (University of Osaka), Japan. The cover image shows the mechanism of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the phenol‐substituted Fe–porphyrin dimer catalyst.
Cyclic tests of steel plate shear walls using box‐shape vertical boundary elements with or without infill concrete
Authors: Li Chao‐Hsien , Tsai Keh‐Chyuan , Huang Hsuan‐Yu , Tsai Ching‐Yi 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe steel plate shear wall (SPSW) is an effective lateral force resisting system in which unstiffened steel infill plates are connected to the horizontal and vertical boundary elements (VBEs) on all sides of the plates. The boundary elements must be designed to resist the tension field force of the infill panels. When the VBEs are made from a steel box section, the flange of each box VBE connected with the infill panels can be pulled out‐of‐plane by significant panel forces, called pull‐out action. This study investigates capacity design methods for box VBEs in SPSWs. Simplified fixed beam and portal frame models aim to estimate the pull‐out responses of the flange of the box sections with and without infill concrete, respectively. In this study, cyclic tests of three full‐scale two‐story SPSWs using box VBEs with or without the infill concrete are conducted. Inelastic pushover analyses of the finite element models are conducted. The tests and analytical results confirm that the proposed design methods, which aimed to prevent the full yield of the flange under the pull‐out action, are applicable. Furthermore, the test and analytical results suggest that the initial yielding of the flange of box VBEs under the collective effects of the pull‐out action on the flange, the gravity load, and the sway action on the SPSW represents a local yielding. A strict prohibition of the initial yielding on the flange under the aforementioned collective effects is not recommended for pursuing a cost‐effective design. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Variability in Percentage Above Cut Scores Due to Discreteness in Score Scale
Authors: Lu Ying 
Published: June 2017

AbstractFor standard‐ or criterion‐based assessments, the use of cut scores to indicate mastery, nonmastery, or different levels of skill mastery is very common. As part of performance summary, it is of interest to examine the percentage of examinees at or above the cut scores (PAC) and how PAC evolves across administrations. This paper shows that discreteness in score scales can affect the PAC statistics considerably, especially when the test is short and when there are high examinee density and low item density near the cut score on the reporting score scale. This paper also includes recommendations on how to adjust the PAC statistics when they are used in trend analyses.
Unified one‐fluid formulation for incompressible flexible solids and multiphase flows: Application to hydrodynamics using the immersed structural potential method (ISPM)
Authors: Yang Liang , Gil Antonio J. , Carreño Aurelio Arranz , Bonet Javier 
Published: June 2017

SummaryIn this paper, we present a two‐dimensional computational framework for the simulation of fluid‐structure interaction problems involving incompressible flexible solids and multiphase flows, further extending the application range of classical immersed computational approaches to the context of hydrodynamics. The proposed method aims to overcome shortcomings such as the restriction of having to deal with similar density ratios among different phases or the restriction to solve single‐phase flows. First, a variation of classical immersed techniques, pioneered with the immersed boundary method (IBM), is presented by rearranging the governing equations, which define the behaviour of the multiple physics involved. The formulation is compatible with the “one‐fluid” formulation for two‐phase flows and can deal with large density ratios with the help of an anisotropic Poisson solver. Second, immersed deformable structures and fluid phases are modelled in an identical manner except for the computation of the deviatoric stresses. The numerical technique followed in this paper builds upon the immersed structural potential method developed by the authors, by adding a level set–based method for the capturing of the fluid‐fluid interfaces and an interface Lagrangian‐based meshless technique for the tracking of the fluid‐structure interface. The spatial discretisation is based on the standard marker‐and‐cell method used in conjunction with a fractional step approach for the pressure/velocity decoupling, a second‐order time integrator, and a fixed‐point iterative scheme. The paper presents a wide d range of two‐dimensional applications involving multiphase flows interacting with immersed deformable solids, including benchmarking against both experimental and alternative numerical schemes.
Mutational profiles of Brenner tumors show distinctive features uncoupling urothelial carcinomas and ovarian carcinoma with transitional cell histology
Authors: Pfarr Nicole , Darb‐Esfahani Silvia , Leichsenring Jonas , Taube Eliane , Boxberg Melanie , Braicu Ioana , Jesinghaus Moritz , Penzel Roland , Endris Volker , Noske Aurelia , Weichert Wilko , Schirmacher Peter , Denkert Carsten , Stenzinger Albrecht 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBrenner tumors (BT) are rare ovarian tumors encompassing benign, borderline, and malignant variants. While the histopathology of BTs and their clinical course is well described, little is known about the underlying genetic defects. We employed targeted next generation sequencing to analyze the mutational landscape in a cohort of 23 BT cases (17 benign, 2 borderline, and 4 malignant) and 3 ovarian carcinomas with transitional cell histology (TCC). Copy number variations (CNV) were validated by fluorescence in‐situ hybridization (FISH) and quantitative PCR‐based copy number assays. Additionally, we analyzed the TERT promotor region by conventional Sanger sequencing. We identified 25 different point mutations in 23 of the analyzed genes in BTs and 10 mutations in 8 genes in TCCs. About 57% percent of mutations occurred in genes involved in cell cycle control, DNA repair, and epigenetic regulation processes. All TCC cases harbored TP53 mutations whereas all BTs were negative and none of the mutations observed in BTs were present in TCCs. CNV analysis revealed recurrent MDM2 amplifications in 3 out of 4 of the malignant BT cases with one case harboring a concomitant amplification of CCND1. No mutations were observed in the TERT promoter region in BTs and TCCs, which is mutated in about 50%‐75% of urothelial carcinoma and in 16% of ovarian clear‐cell carcinomas. In conclusion, our study highlights distinct genetic features of BTs, and detection of the triplet phenotype MDM2 amplification/TP53 wt/TERT wt may aid diagnosis of malignant BT in difficult cases. Moreover, selected genetic lesions may be clinically exploitable in a metastatic setting.
TRPV4 channels contribute to calcium transients in astrocytes and neurons during peri‐infarct depolarizations in a stroke model
Authors: Rakers Cordula , Schmid Matthias , Petzold Gabor C. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractStroke is one of the leading causes of death and long‐term disability. In the penumbra, that is, the area surrounding the infarct core, peri‐infarct depolarizations (PIDs) are accompanied by strong intracellular calcium elevations in astrocytes and neurons, thereby negatively affecting infarct size and clinical outcome. The dynamics of PIDs and the cellular pathways that are involved during PID formation and progression remain incompletely understood. We have previously shown that inositol triphosphate‐gated calcium release from internal stores is a major component of PID‐related astroglial calcium signals, but whether external calcium influx through membrane‐localized channels also contributes to PIDs has remained unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of two astroglial membrane channels, transient receptor vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel and aquaporin‐4 (AQP4). We combined in vivo multiphoton microscopy, electrophysiology as well as laser speckle contrast imaging with the middle cerebral artery occlusion stroke model. Using knockout mice and pharmacological inhibitors, we found that TRPV4 channels contribute to calcium influx into astrocytes and neurons and subsequent extracellular glutamate accumulation during PIDs. AQP4 neither influenced PID‐related calcium signals nor PID‐related edema of astrocyte somata. Both channels did not alter the dynamics, frequency and cerebrovascular response of PIDs in the penumbra. These data indicate that TRPV4 channels may represent a potential target to ameliorate the PID‐induced calcium overload of astrocytes and neurons during acute stroke.