bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stroke effect on legibility of Japanese characters
Authors: Cai Dengchuan 
Published: January 2017

AbstractThis study applied a computer program to analyze the descriptors of Japanese characters, including 56 Hiragana, 56 Katakana, and 98 Kanji characters. An experiment was designed to test the legibility of these characters by 40 Japanese students studying in university. Subjects were asked to identify characters displayed in the screen center, shown initially at an illegible size and gradually enlarged until the subject recognized them. The results illustrated that the Hiragana characters were more legible than the Katakana, and the Katakana characters were more legible than the Kanji. Although the legibility thresholds were increased with the number of strokes in these three kinds of Japanese characters, the effects of the number of strokes on legibility among them were different. Increasing one stroke in a Kanji character would necessitate a 0.4‐arcminute enlargement to maintain legibility, whereas no linear stroke effect was found in Hiragana and Katakana characters. This may because of the features of stroke of Hiragana and Katakana are quite different from that of Kanji. Furthermore, for Hiragana and Katakana, adding a semivoiced consonant sign ‘o’ to a common character would necessitate a 7‐arcminute enlargement to maintain legibility and adding a voiced consonant sign ‘ ” ’ to a common character would necessitate a 10.3‐arcminute enlargement to maintain legibility. The results can be used as reference for information and interface design.
Downregulation of lncRNA ANRIL represses tumorigenicity and enhances cisplatin‐induced cytotoxicity via regulating microRNA let‐7a in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Wang Yandan , Cheng Nan , Luo Junpeng 
Published: January 2017

AbstractMany studies have demonstrated that upregulation of long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) antisense non‐coding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) plays an oncogenic role in various tumors, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The aim of this study is to explore the effect of ANRIL in NPC progression and cisplatin (DDP)‐induced cytotoxicity. The results showed that ANRIL was highly expressed and let‐7a was downregulated in NPC tissues and cells. Luciferase assay revealed that ANRIL could negatively regulate miR‐let‐7a expression. ANRIL knockdown inhibited NPC cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, while anti‐let‐7a reversed these effects. Combination treatment of si‐ANRIL and DDP led to a lower viability, a more DNA strand breaks damage and a higher comet tail length compared with any single treatment, whereas let‐7a inhibitor abolished these effects. Furthermore, depletion of ANRIL exacerbated DDP‐induced cytotoxicity in NPC cells in vivo. Taken together, these data indicated that knockdown of ANRIL represses tumorigenicity and enhances DDP‐induced cytotoxicity via regulating microRNA let‐7a in NPC cells, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for NPC patients.
Alanine aminotransferase is more sensitive to the decrease in hepatitis B virus‐DNA load than other liver markers in chronic hepatitis B patients
Authors: Wang Hua‐Bin , Wang Qiong‐Yu , Yuan Qing , Shan Xiao‐Yun , Fu Guan‐Hua 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundA direct correlation between hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV‐DNA) and liver markers has not been identified in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. However, the effect of HBV‐DNA changes on liver markers remains unclear. We explored the association between decreased HBV‐DNA and liver makers in CHB patients.MethodsChronic hepatitis B patients who visited Jinhua Central Hospital twice were selected for analysis. Finally, 171 participants with a 1‐log reduction in HBV‐DNA between the two visits were enrolled as the case group, and 158 participants with no significant changes in HBV‐DNA were enrolled as the control group.ResultsThere was no significant correlation between HBV‐DNA and liver markers (P>.05). However, in longitudinal analysis, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were significantly different between the two tests (P<.05) in the case group. Conversely, there was no significant difference in the control group. When HBV‐DNA decreased >26 times, ALT was reduced by half or more. A similar trend was observed with a decrease of >63 times for AST and a decrease of >76 times for GGT.ConclusionsA large change in HBV‐DNA can lead to a significant variation in liver markers. In particular, ALT was more sensitive than other liver markers to a reduction in HBV‐DNA.
Diffusion tensor tractography of pyramidal tracts in patients with brainstem and intramedullary spinal cord tumors: Relationship with motor deficits and intraoperative MEP changes
Authors: Czernicki Tomasz , Maj Edyta , Podgórska Anna , Kunert Przemysław , Prokopienko Marek , Nowak Arkadiusz , Cieszanowski Andrzej , Marchel Andrzej 
Published: January 2017

PurposeTo evaluate whether pyramidal tracts course alterations observed in diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) in cases of brainstem and intramedullary spinal cord tumors reflect patient clinical status and prognosis.Materials and MethodsFor this purpose, we assessed in 17 patients relationships between pyramidal tracts course alterations observed in DTT (classified into four categories: unaffected; displaced or interspaced; partially disintegrated and completely disintegrated) performed on a 1.5 Tesla scanner and the presence of preoperative motor deficits, changes observed in motor evoked potentials (MEPs) records at the beginning of the operation, deterioration of the MEPs records during the operation, and perioperative deterioration of muscle strength.ResultsWe found that, if the picture of pyramidal tracts in DTT was worse, motor deficit was more common (P = 0.062). This observation was even more evident (P = 0.027), when cases with at least partially destroyed pyramidal tracts were compared with cases with normal or at most displaced or interspaced by tumor but still preserved pyramidal tracts. Significant relationships were also found between changes in DTT and abnormal MEP records at the beginning of the operation (P = 0.032) and perioperative deterioration of muscle strength (P = 0.0058).ConclusionA close relationship was found between pyramidal tracts course alterations in DTT imaging and preoperative motor status and especially with changes in the MEP records at the beginning of the operation. DTT may be a method that allows the better planning of brainstem and intramedullary spinal cord tumors operations and may help in the risk assessment of postoperative motor deficits.Level of Evidence: 3Technical Efficacy: Stage 4J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:715–723
Quantitative assessment of lung stiffness in patients with interstitial lung disease using MR elastography
Authors: Marinelli John P. , Levin David L. , Vassallo Robert , Carter Rickey E. , Hubmayr Rolf D. , Ehman Richard L. , McGee Kiaran P. 
Published: January 2017

PurposeTo investigate the use of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in the quantitative assessment of pulmonary fibrosis by comparing quantitative shear stiffness measurements of lung parenchyma in patients diagnosed with fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD) and healthy controls.Materials and MethodsA 1.5T spin‐echo, echo planar imaging MRE (SE‐EPI MRE) pulse sequence was utilized to assess absolute lung shear stiffness in 15 patients with diagnosed ILD and in 11 healthy controls. Data were collected at residual volume (RV) and total lung capacity (TLC). Spirometry data were obtained immediately prior to scanning. To test for statistical significance between RV and TLC shear stiffness estimates a two‐sample t‐test was performed. To assess variability within individual subject shear stiffness estimates, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Krippendorff's alpha were calculated.ResultsPatients with ILD exhibited an average (±1 standard deviation) shear stiffness of 2.74 (±0.896) kPa at TLC and 1.32 (±0.300) kPa at RV. The corresponding values for healthy individuals were 1.33 (±0.195) kPa and 0.849 (±0.250) kPa, respectively. The difference in shear stiffness between RV and TLC was statistically significant (P < 0.001). At TLC, the ICC and alpha values were 0.909 and 0.887, respectively. At RV, the ICC and alpha values were 0.852 and 0.862, respectively.ConclusionIn subjects with known fibrotic interstitial lung disease, parenchymal shear stiffness is increased when compared to normal controls at both RV and TLC, with TLC demonstrating the most significant difference. MRE‐derived parenchymal shear stiffness is a promising new noninvasive imaging‐based biomarker of interstitial lung disease.Level of Evidence: 1Technical Efficacy: Stage 2J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;46:365–374
Best practice recommendations for scale construction in organizational research: The development and initial validation of the Character Strength Inventory (CSI)
Authors: Wright Thomas A. , Quick James Campbell , Hannah Sean T. , Blake Hargrove M. 
Published: January 2017

SummaryProper scale development and validation provide the necessary foundation to facilitate future quantitative research in the organizational sciences. Using the framework provided by the Researcher's Notebook, the purpose of this study is twofold. First, we present a modern summary of best practice procedures for scale development, reliability analysis, and validity analysis. Second, we explain and illustrate these best practice procedures by describing each procedure in the context of developing and psychometrically analyzing a new Character Strength Inventory (CSI). Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Removing the relocation bias from the 155‐year Haparanda temperature record in Northern Europe
Authors: Dienst Manuel , Lindén Jenny , Engström Erik , Esper Jan 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTThe village Haparanda in northern Sweden hosts one of the longest meteorological station records in Europe depicting climate conditions in the subarctic. Since the station was relocated several times, moving gradually from urbanized to more rural areas, the record is likely biased by anthropogenic influences. We here assess these influences and demonstrate that even in villages urban heat island biases might affect the temperature readings. We detail a method to quantify this bias and remove it from the long Haparanda station record running since 1859. The correction is based on parallel temperature measurements at previous station locations in Haparanda. These measurements revealed a distinct urban warming pattern, largest in minimum temperatures during summer, since urban geometry and its heat capacity amplify additional warming and night‐time heat release, especially during a period of high insolation and calm conditions. Due to the station movement from the village centre to the outskirts, the net correction results in an additional warming trend over the past 155 years. The trend increase is most substantial for minimum temperatures (+0.03 °C 10 years−1). Maximum and mean temperatures are less affected (+0.01 °C 10 years−1). An increase in trend is even more severe if the 20th century is regarded exclusively, displaying a rise in annual mean temperature trend by +0.03 °C 10 years−1 and +0.07 °C 10 years−1 in annual minimum temperatures, respectively. Our approach of using actual temperature differences between historical station locations did not take into account other factors that might have influenced the data such as changes in instruments or observers. The presented adjustment for temperature residuals caused by a change in historical station locations might be considered as a minimum approach to improve long‐term temperature readings. The adjustment of the Haparanda station record results in an increased warming trend, thereby adding critical information to the evaluation and explanation of 20th century anthropogenic warming.
Tropical cyclogenesis associated with four types of summer monsoon circulation over the South China Sea
Authors: Wang Lei 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTDuring the summer monsoon period from 1958 to 2013, 80% of tropical cyclone (TC) genesis over the South China Sea (SCS) occurs in four types of East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) circulation which are named the monsoon trough (MT), the monsoon gyre (MG), the southwesterly (SW), and the monsoon shear (MS), respectively. The first three types account for about 90% of TC geneses. These circulation types provide favorable environmental fields for TC genesis. In the northern‐central SCS, lower‐level positive relative vorticity anomalies are accompanied by mid‐troposphere ascent and upper‐level positive divergence anomalies, which match with positive relative humidity anomalies in the mid‐low troposphere. Corresponding to these environmental fields, the eddy kinetic energy (EKE) growth from the barotropic energy conversion in four circulation types is obvious, which can help evolve incipient disturbances to tropical cyclones. In the transformation from the mean kinetic energy (MKE) to the EKE, the zonal wind shear and the meridional wind convergence make a crucial contribution to the EKE growth.
Characterizing present and future drought changes over eastern China
Authors: Chen Huopo , Sun Jianqi 
Published: January 2017

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to characterize present and future drought changes over eastern China using observations and Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) simulations. We used the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) to characterize droughts at the timescales of 3‐ and 12‐month. We distinguished the spatial patterns of drought regimes (DRs) using the rotated empirical orthogonal function (EOF) on the SPEI. Our results identified three DRs centered in northern China (DR1), northeastern China (DR2), and southern China (DR3). Droughts in these regimes have increased in recent decades. Most CMIP5 models reproduce at least two of the DRs. The rotated EOF results indicate that the three DRs can jointly explain 46–68% of the SPEI variance (compared with approximately 60% in the observations). Among the 33 CMIP5 models analysed in this study, 13 simulated all three DRs well and showed a strong correlation pattern (>0.5). Further analysis indicated that both the external natural and greenhouse gas forcing experiments in CMIP5 reproduced the DRs, implying that natural variability and anthropogenic activity play important roles in the formation of these DRs. With continued climate warming, the three DRs over eastern China will persist. Despite the uncertainties in drought changes that mainly depend on the potential evapotranspiration methods, climate model results suggest that droughts would be aggravated under warming scenarios. The probability of severe droughts increase by the end of the century: 33% in DR1, 25% in DR2, 34% in DR3 in RCP4.5 and almost double in RCP8.5 scenario in Thornthwaite method based SPEI estimates.
Early use of CO2 lasers and silicone gel on surgical scars: Prospective study
Authors: Alberti Luiz Ronaldo , Vicari Eduardo Faria , De Souza Jardim Vicari Roselaine , Petroianu Andy 
Published: January 2017

IntroductionSome publications have shown good aesthetic results for scars through the early application of fractional CO2 lasers on elective surgery scars. The aim of this randomized, double‐blinded clinical trial was to compare the aesthetic quality of the scar from a group of patients submitted to super‐pulsed fractional CO2 laser applications (10,600 nm fractional CO2, set at a density of 20% and an energy of 10 mJ, a scanner of 03 × 03 mm, and a pulse repetition time of 0.3 seconds) in contrast with the other group that used only the silicone gel on the scar after plastic surgery.MethodA prospective study was conducted by analyzing 42 patients with recent scars of up to three weeks in patients with a I–IV Fitz‐Patrick skin phototype. The scars were evaluated aesthetically in the second and sixth months by applying the Vancouver scale.ResultsAt 2 months of treatment, the statistical data showed a discrete superiority in the LASER group's treatment, as compared to that of the SILICONE group, in both percentage and significance concerning flexibility (P = 0.05) and pigmentation (P = 0.01). Laser group presented better results in the sixth month (P = 0,03).ConclusionThe early use of the fractional CO2 laser contributed to improving the aesthetic quality of scars from elective surgeries in the second and in the 6th months. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:570–576, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimization of Injectable Thermosensitive Scaffolds with Enhanced Mechanical Properties for Cell Therapy
Authors: Ceccaldi Caroline , Assaad Elias , Hui Eve , Buccionyte Medeine , Adoungotchodo Atma , Lerouge Sophie 
Published: January 2017

Strong injectable chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels can be created, without chemical modification, by combining sodium hydrogen carbonate with another weak base, namely, beta‐glycerophosphate (BGP) or phosphate buffer (PB). Here the influence of gelling agent concentration on the mechanical properties, gelation kinetics, osmolality, swelling, and compatibility for cell encapsulation, is studied in order to find the most optimal formulations and demonstrate their potential for cell therapy and tissue engineering. The new formulations present up to a 50‐fold increase of the Young's modulus after gelation compared with conventional chitosan‐BGP hydrogels, while reducing the ionic strength to the level of iso‐osmolality. Increasing PB concentration accelerates gelation but reduces the mechanical properties. Increasing BGP also has this effect, but to a lesser extent. Cells can be easily encapsulated by mixing the cell suspension within the hydrogel solution at room temperature, prior to rapid gelation at body temperature. After encapsulation, L929 mouse fibroblasts are homogeneously distributed within scaffolds and present a strongly increased viability and growth, when compared with conventional chitosan‐BGP hydrogels. Two particularly promising formulations are evaluated with human mesenchymal stem cells. Their viability and metabolic activity are maintained over 7 d in vitro.
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Precise Synthesis of Functional Block Copolymers by Living Anionic Polymerization of Vinyl Monomers Bearing Nitrogen Atoms in the Side Chain
Authors: Kim Myung‐Jin , Yu Yong‐Guen , Kang Nam‐Goo , Kang Beom‐Goo , Lee Jae‐Suk 
Published: January 2017

Precise synthetic methods to prepare functional block copolymers with heteroatoms (nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, phosphorous, halogen, etc.) have received much attention for the fabrication of practical nanomaterials. Specifically, well‐defined materials containing nitrogen‐based functional groups show unique electrical, optical, and amphiphilic properties. To synthesize these products, living anionic polymerization is the most powerful method. However, the disruption of undesirable reactions is considered to be a great challenge in the anionic polymerization of functional monomers with heteroatoms. To overcome these problems, facile methods such as polymerization at low temperature, careful choice of additives and initiators, and the introduction of protective groups can be used. In this review, recent advances in the anionic polymerization of vinyl monomers with triphenylamine, carbazole, and pyridine moieties in the side chains will be discussed. Also covered is the morphological control of these polymers to obtain well‐defined block copolymers for practical applications such as organic memory devices and light emitting diodes.
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Tuning Block Polymer Structure, Properties, and Processability for the Design of Efficient Nanostructured Materials Systems
Authors: Morris Melody A. , Gartner Thomas E. , Epps Thomas H. 
Published: January 2017

Block polymers (BPs) are ideal building blocks for nanoporous membranes, microelectronics templates, energy storage devices, and other technologies. For these systems, precise control over morphology, properties, and processability are essential to optimize performance. The Epps group has used a multidisciplinary approach to control BP nanostructure ordering and orientations, order‐disorder and glass transition temperatures, and mechanical and transport properties through the informed manipulation of BP effective segregation strengths and interfacial energetics. For example, alterations in macromolecular interactions between BP chains were achieved through the introduction of composition gradients between copolymer blocks or by adding dopants. In thin films, high‐throughput approaches were designed to modify and characterize substrate‐polymer interactions, and solvent annealing techniques were developed to facilitate nanoscale alignment and ordering. By manipulating BP interfacial energetics to gain exquisite tunability of nanostructures and materials' properties, the group is accelerating the development of next‐generation BPs that will be harnessed to fabricate inexpensive, efficient, and high‐performance devices.
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Nanoporous Films with Sub‐10 nm in Pore Size from Acid‐Cleavable Block Copolymers
Authors: Li Yayuan , Xu Yawei , Cao Shubo , Zhao Yongbin , Qu Ting , Iyoda Tomokazu , Chen Aihua 
Published: January 2017

Nanoporous thin films with pore size of sub‐10 nm are fabricated using an acid‐cleavable block copolymer (BCP), a benzoic imine junction between poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(methacrylate) (PMAAz) bearing an azobenzene side chain (denoted as PEO‐bei‐PMAAz) as the precursor. After a thermal annealing, the block copolymers are self‐assembled to form highly ordered PEO cylinders within a PMAAz matrix normal to the film, even in the case of low BCP molecular weight due to the existing of the liquid crystalline (LC) azobenzene rigid segment. Thus, PMAAz thin films with pore size of ≈7 nm and density of ≈1012 cm−2 are obtained after removal of the PEO minor phase by breaking the benzoic imine junction under mild acidic conditions. This work enriches the nanoporous polymer films from BCP precursors and introduces the LC property as a functionality which can further enhance the mechanical properties of the films and broaden their applications.
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Hydrothermal Conditioning of Physical Hydrogels Prepared from a Midblock‐Sulfonated Multiblock Copolymer
Authors: Mineart Kenneth P. , Dickerson Joshua D. , Love Dillon M. , Lee Byeongdu , Zuo Xiaobing , Spontak Richard J. 
Published: January 2017

Since nanostructured amphiphilic macromolecules capable of affording high ion and water transport are becoming increasingly important in a wide range of contemporary energy and environmental technologies, the swelling kinetics and temperature dependence of water uptake are investigated in a series of midblock‐sulfonated thermoplastic elastomers. Upon self‐assembly, these materials maintain a stable hydrogel network in the presence of a polar liquid. In this study, real‐time water‐sorption kinetics in copolymer films prepared by different casting solvents are elucidated by synchrotron small‐angle X‐ray scattering and gravimetric measurements, which directly correlate nanostructural changes with macroscopic swelling to establish fundamental structure–property behavior. By monitoring the equilibrium swelling capacity of these materials over a range of temperatures, an unexpected transition in the vicinity of 50 °C has been discovered. Depending on copolymer morphology and degree of sulfonation, hydrothermal conditioning of specimens to temperatures above this transition permits retention of superabsorbent swelling at ambient temperature.image