bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of life 1 year after a maternal near‐miss event
Authors: Soma‐Pillay Priya , Makin Jennifer D. , Pattinson Robert C. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate quality of life (QoL) parameters among women categorized with a maternal near‐miss during pregnancy.MethodsThe present prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital in South Africa between April 1, 2013, and March 31, 2016. Patients who experienced maternal near‐miss events were included and patients with uncomplicated low‐risk pregnancies were enrolled as a control group. Various parameters were assessed using a WHO QoL questionnaire.ResultsThe maternal near‐miss and uncomplicated low‐risk pregnancy (control) groups comprised 95 and 51 women. The maternal near‐miss group scored lower than the control group in all four domains of the questionnaire (P<0.001). Overall, 42 (82%) women in the control group and 41 (43%) women in the maternal near‐miss group desired future fertility (P<0.001). Women in the maternal near‐miss group who had experienced perinatal loss scored lower in the physical health and well‐being (P=0.009), psychological health and well‐being (P=0.007), and environment (P=0.031) domains compared with women in the maternal near‐miss group who experienced a live delivery. Nonetheless, QoL scores among women in the maternal near‐miss group who had experienced perinatal loss remained lower than those reported by women in the control group (P<0.001).ConclusionA maternal near‐miss event during pregnancy was associated with reduced QoL, especially among women who had experienced perinatal loss.
ORP150‐CHIP chaperone antagonism control BACE1‐mediated amyloid processing
Authors: Chanana Neha , Pati Uttam 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBACE1, a key protein involved in Alzheimer's progression, initiates Aβ42 generation that induce senile plaques in brain. However, the role of chaperone synergy or antagonism on BACE1‐mediated amyloid processing is unknown. We have discovered that BACE1 as well as Aβ42 are antagonistically controlled by ER chaperone ORP150 and cellular chaperone CHIP. We have shown ORP150 as a chaperone interacts with and stabilizes BACE1 at post‐translational level. Furthermore, ORP150 enhances BACE1‐mediated amyloid processing thus masking CHIP‐mediated BACE1 degradation. Conversely, siORP150 reversed the chaperone function of ORP150 resulting in BACE1 degradation. ORP150 and CHIP demonstrate antagonism under normal and stress conditions wherein they inversely regulate each other thus affecting BACE1 level. In conclusion, we have uncovered for the first time a phenomenon of chaperone antagonism on BACE1‐mediated Aβ42 generation. Future strategy would require both suppression of ORP150 as well as activation of E3‐ligase activity of CHIP that might prevent Aβ42 in Alzheimer's disease.
The role of human activity in decreasing ecologically sound land use in China
Authors: Wang Jing , Lin Yifan , Zhai Tianlin , He Ting , Qi Yuan , Jin Zhifeng , Cai Yumei 
Published: December 2017

AbstractEcologically sound land (ESL) represents a meaningful geographical spatial unit that provides ecological goods and services at various scales. However, few studies focusing on national‐ or regional‐scale changes in ESL use and the degradation of the land ecosystem in China have been based on reliable and up‐to‐date land survey data. The study aimed to analyze the relationship between the changes in ESL use and human activities and regional policies, as well as land ecosystem degradation. The results indicated that land capitalization, resulting from rapid industrialization, urbanization, and the effects of regional land policies and large land projects, caused a clear decrease in grassland and wetland ecosystems, and an increase in forest ecosystem, varying in extent during different periods. Land ecosystem degradation, according to the decreased ecosystem service provision index (ESPI), was concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta, the southwestern regions, and the Inner Mongolia Plateau, where human activity was concentrated. From 2009 to 2015, such degraded land amounted to 9.51% of the Counties. The degradation in ESL use caused a decrease in the ecological goods and services provided by the ecosystems. Land ecosystem degradation resulting from the abandonment of natural grassland and farmland is a prominent and complex problem in China. Optimizing the regional spatial patterns of ESL use was critical for sustainable ecosystem management. Balancing compromises and synergies between providing ecological goods or socioeconomic benefits and ecological costs at a regional or national scale was found crucial for land policy making.
Synthesis and Characterization of a Phthalimide‐Containing Redox‐Active Polymer for High‐Voltage Polymer‐Based Redox‐Flow Batteries
Authors: Winsberg Jan , Benndorf Stefan , Wild Andreas , Hager Martin D. , Schubert Ulrich S. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractA phthalimide‐containing redox‐active polymer is designed and synthesized in particular for the application in all‐organic redox‐flow batteries. 4‐Vinylbenzyl phthalimide is prepared in a one‐step reaction and copolymerized with a solubility promoting comonomer. The novel polymer is electrochemically characterized in various electrolytes via cyclic voltammetry and features a quasireversible reduction reaction at E0½ = −1.89 V versus AgNO3/Ag. Afterward, the polymer is applied as anode‐active material in a first preliminary battery test in combination with a 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperdinyl‐N‐oxyl‐containing polymer as cathode‐active material and a porous membrane as separator, yielding a polymer‐based all‐organic battery system with a high cell voltage of 2.0 V.
Risk factors for acute nerve injury after total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Shetty Teena , Nguyen Joseph T. , Sasaki Mayu , Wu Anita , Bogner Eric , Burge Alissa , Cogsil Taylor , Dalal Aashka , Halvorsen Kristin , Cummings Kelianne , Su Edwin P. , Lyman Stephen 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACTIntroduction: In this we study identified potential risk factors for post−total knee arthroplasty (TKA) nerve injury, a catastrophic complication with a reported incidence of 0.3%−1.3%. Methods: Patients who developed post‐TKA nerve injury from 1998 to 2013 were identified, and each was matched with 2 controls. A multivariable logistic regression model was built to calculate odds ratios (ORs). Results: Sixty‐five nerve injury cases were identified in 39,990 TKAs (0.16%). Females (OR 3.28, P = 0.003) and patients with history of lumbar pathology (OR 6.12, P = 0.026) were associated with increased risk of nerve injury. Tourniquet pressure < 300 mm Hg and longer duration of anesthesia may also be risk factors. Discussion: Surgical planning for females and patients with lumbar pathology should be modified to mitigate their higher risk of neurologic complications after TKA. Our finding that lower tourniquet pressure was associated with higher risk of nerve injury was unexpected and requires further investigation. Muscle Nerve 57: 946–950, 2018
The joint signature of coherent systems
Authors: Mohammadi Leila 
Published: December 2017

AbstractWe investigate the joint signature of coherent systems, under the assumption that the components have independent and identically distributed lifetimes. The joint signature, for a particular ordering of failure times, is an ‐dimensional matrix depending solely on the composition of the systems and independent of the underlying distribution function of the component lifetimes. The elements of the ‐dimensional matrix are formulated based on the joint signatures of numerous series of parallel systems. The number of the joint signatures involved is an exponential function of the number of the minimal cut sets of each original system and may, therefore, be significantly large. We prove that although this number is typically large, a great number of the joint signatures are repeated, or removed by negative signs. We determine the maximum number of different joint signatures based on the number of systems and components. It is independent of the number of the minimal cut sets of each system and is polynomial in the number of components. Moreover, we consider all permutations of failure times and demonstrate that the results for one permutation can be of use for the others. Our theorems are applied to various examples. The main conclusion is that the joint signature can be computed much faster than expected.
Low‐rank approximation of tensors via sparse optimization
Authors: Wang Xiaofei , Navasca Carmeliza 
Published: December 2017

SummaryThe goal of this paper is to find a low‐rank approximation for a givennth tensor. Specifically, we give a computable strategy on calculating the rank of a given tensor, based on approximating the solution to an NP‐hard problem. In this paper, we formulate a sparse optimization problem via anl1‐regularization to find a low‐rank approximation of tensors. To solve this sparse optimization problem, we propose a rescaling algorithm of the proximal alternating minimization and study the theoretical convergence of this algorithm. Furthermore, we discuss the probabilistic consistency of the sparsity result and suggest a way to choose the regularization parameter for practical computation. In the simulation experiments, the performance of our algorithm supports that our method provides an efficient estimate on the number of rank‐one tensor components in a given tensor. Moreover, this algorithm is also applied to surveillance videos for low‐rank approximation.
Optimal sliding‐mode control of linear systems with uncertainties and input constraints using projection neural network
Authors: Toshani Hamid , Farrokhi Mohammad 
Published: December 2017

SummaryIn this paper, an optimal sliding‐mode control (SMC) method based on the projection recurrent neural networks for a class of linear systems with uncertainties and input constraint is developed. The chattering in the SMC is eliminated by introducing a performance index for minimizing the sliding‐surface variations and the control effort. Moreover, the constraints on the actuators are considered in the optimization problem, which is solved using projection recurrent neural network. The main advantages of the proposed method are obtaining an optimal and chattering‐free control law in a feasible space. Moreover, the parameters of the proposed control method are determined based on the closed‐loop stability and robustness analysis. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated by considering uncertainties and input constraints in the system and is compared with the conventional and a second‐order SMC in the view of chattering, input saturation, and robustness.
The Enhancement of Polysulfides Adsorption for Stable Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries Cathode Enabled by N‐Doped Wrinkled Graphene Using Solvothermal Method
Authors: Yang Rong , Li Lan , Chen Dan , Chen Liping , Ren Bing , Yan Yinglin , Xu Yunhua 
Published: December 2017

AbstractLithium‐sulfur (Li−S) batteries have become a promising candidate in battery field recently due to their high theoretical energy density. However, the achievable energy density in the reality is much lower than the theoretical value for the reason that the sulfur is easily lost from active substances to the electrolyte. The main purpose of the present study has been intended to relieve this loss of sulfur, in which the nitrogen‐doped wrinkled graphene (NRGO) with nitrogen doping level of 7.63 wt% was thereby prepared by solvothermal method with urea as both nitrogen source and reducer. XPS reveals that pyrrolic‐N, pyridinic‐N and graphitic‐N were existed in NRGO and micro‐nano cavities were shown in the SEM morphology. The nano‐sulfur was in situ deposited on NRGO at low temperature to obtain nitrogen doped wrinkled graphene/sulfur composites (NRGO/S). The initial discharge capacity and columbic efficiency of NRGO/S composites are 1464.6 mA⋅h⋅g−1 and 96.3%, respectively, presenting a high reversible capacity comparing to reduced graphene oxide/sulfur composites (RGO/S). This can be explained by the pyridinic‐N and micro‐nano cavities within the present study, which are acting as favorable adsorption sites for polysulfides. It thereafter facilitates to depress the soluble polysulfides diffusion and further promotes the cycle ability of Li−S batteries.
Environmentally Benign, Highly Efficient and Expeditious Solvent‐Free Synthesis of Trisubstituted Methanes Catalyzed by Sulfated Polyborate
Authors: Jejurkar Valmik P. , Khatri Chetan K. , Chaturbhuj Ganesh U. , Saha Satyajit 
Published: December 2017

AbstractHighly efficient and environmental friendly one‐pot synthesis of trisubstituted methanes form aldehydes and heteroaryls with sulfated polyborate catalyst was conveniently performed under solvent‐free grinding condition at room temperature. The catalyst is recyclable up to five consecutive runs and column chromatography‐free isolation of the trisubstituted methanes in excellent yields was achieved.
Loving Care and Funky Pens: Motivating Young Writers
Authors: Julien Karen 
Published: December 2017

AbstractHow can teachers boost motivation and interest in writing when a student has disengaged from writing? This article looks at the case of a student with sensory and social challenges who lost interest in writing. Possible reasons for the loss of interest are explored through the elements that contribute to motivation for learning and for writing. Suggestions are presented for engaging young writers and piquing their interest in writing.
Prognostic Significance of the Preoperative Ratio of C‐Reactive Protein to Albumin and Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio in Gastric Cancer Patients
Authors: Saito Hiroaki , Kono Yusuke , Murakami Yuki , Shishido Yuji , Kuroda Hirohiko , Matsunaga Tomoyuki , Fukumoto Yoji , Osaki Tomohiro , Ashida Keigo , Fujiwara Yoshiyuki 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBackgroundThe ratio of C‐reactive protein to albumin (CRP/Alb) is a biochemical marker of systemic inflammatory response and has been associated with poor survival in cancer. This study retrospectively investigated the relationship between the CRP/Alb ratio and prognosis in gastric cancer patients.MethodsThis study enrolled 453 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent curative surgery.ResultsA statistically significant weak correlation was observed between CRP/Alb ratio and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (r = 0.19; P < 0.0001). There were statistically significant correlations between high CRP/Alb ratio and age (P = 0.0004), tumor size (P = 0.02), depth of invasion (P = 0.012), and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.022). A high NLR was significantly correlated with age (P = 0.0027), tumor size (P = 0.0006), depth of invasion (P < 0.0001), lymphatic involvement (P = 0.0031), venous involvement (P = 0.0022), and stage of disease (P = 0.0024). Based on results by receiver operating characteristic analysis, patients were divided as follows: CRP/Alb ratio ≥ 0.0232 (CARHigh), CRP/Alb ratio < 0.0232 (CARLow), NLR ≥ 2.43 (NLRHigh), and NLR < 2.43 (NLRLow). Five‐year survival rates of patients with both CARHigh and NLRHigh, either CARHigh or NLRHigh, and both CARLow and NLRLow were 59.6, 75.8, and 87.5%, respectively, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the combination of CRP/Alb ratio and NLR was an independent prognostic indicator.ConclusionsThe combination of CRP/Alb ratio and NLR may be useful in predicting prognosis in gastric cancer patients.
Associations Between Personality Disorder Characteristics, Psychological Symptoms, and Sexual Functioning in Young Women
Authors: Grauvogl Andrea , Pelzer Britt , Radder Veerle , van Lankveld Jacques 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

Background
Recently, the etiology of sexual dysfunctions in women has been approached from different angles. In clinical practice and in previous studies, it has been observed that women with sexual problems experience anxiety problems and express more rigid and perfectionistic personality traits than women without these problems.

Aim
To investigate whether personality disorder characteristics according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) and psychological symptoms are associated with sexual problems in women.

Methods
188 women 18 to 25 years old participated in this cross-sectional study. Questionnaires measuring sexual functioning (Female Sexual Function Index), personality disorder characteristics (Assessment of DSM-IV-TR Personality Disorders Questionnaire), and psychological symptoms (Brief Symptom Inventory and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) were used.

Outcome
The main outcome measure used was sexual functioning assessed by self-report.

Results
Results, using analysis of variance, indicated that women with sexual problems report significantly more cluster A (specifically schizoid) and C (specifically avoidant and obsessive-compulsive) personality disorder characteristics than women without sexual problems. Furthermore, using multiple regression analyses, higher cluster A (specifically schizoid) and lower cluster B (specifically borderline and antisocial) personality disorder characteristics indicated lower levels of sexual functioning. Psychological symptoms partly mediated the effect of cluster A personality disorder characteristics on sexual functioning.

Clinical Implications
The results of this study indicate that clinical practice should extend its scope by focusing more on improving adaptive personality characteristics, such as extraversion and individualism seen in cluster B personality characteristics, and decreasing the perfectionistic, introvert, and self-doubting characteristics seen in cluster C personality characteristics.

Strengths and Limitations
Because of the correlational design and use of self-report measures, causal relations cannot be established between personality disorder characteristics and sexual functioning.

Conclusion
Overall, the results indicate that personality disorder characteristics can play an important associative role in the development and maintenance of sexual functioning problems in women.
Human–wildlife interactions and attitudes towards wildlife and wildlife reserves in Rajasthan, India
Authors: Karanth Krithi K. , Jain Shivangi , Weinthal Erika 
Published: December 2017

AbstractHuman–wildlife interactions affect people's livelihoods, attitudes and tolerance towards wildlife and wildlife reserves. To investigate the effect of such interactions on people's attitudes and livelihoods, we surveyed 2,233 households located around four wildlife reserves in Rajasthan, India. We modelled respondents’ attitudes towards wildlife and wildlife reserves, experience of crop damage and livestock predation, and likelihood of mitigation use. Crop damage was reported by 76% of surveyed households, and livestock predation was reported by 15%. Seventy-one percent of households used at least one of eight mitigation measures against crop damage, and 19% used at least one of seven mitigation measures against livestock predation. We found that male respondents and households with a higher level of education valued wildlife and wildlife reserves more. Households at higher elevations and growing a greater variety of crops were more prone to crop damage. Proximity to reserves, elevation and larger livestock herds were associated with a higher incidence of livestock predation. Households in which a member had > 12 years of schooling and households with a history (6–10 years) of interaction with wildlife (i.e. crop damage) were most likely to use mitigation against crop damage. Households that owned more livestock and had a history of interaction (1–5 years and > 10 years) were most likely to mitigate against predation. Our comparative study provides insights into factors that influence interaction and tolerance, which could be used to improve existing management and prevention efforts in Rajasthan.
Developments in Egypt's early Islamic postal system (with an edition ofP.KhaliliII 5)
Authors: Bruning Jelle 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThe importance of documentary sources for the history of the official postal system (barīd) in the first century of Islam has long been acknowledged. In addition to a small number of documents from the eastern part of the Muslim Empire, Egyptian papyri from the 90s/710s and 130s/750s form the main documentary sources for modern studies on the postal system. These papyri belong to a distinct phase in Islamic history. Papyri from other, especially earlier, phases have largely been neglected. The present article addresses the history of Egypt's official postal system from the Muslim conquest up toc.132/750. It argues that the postal system gradually developed out of Byzantine practices and was shaped by innovations by Muslim rulers through which their involvement in the postal system's administration gradually increased. The article ends with an edition ofP.KhaliliII 5, a papyrus document from 135/753 on the provisioning of postal stations.
Talker Differences in Clear and Conversational Speech: Perceived Sentence Clarity for Young Adults With Normal Hearing and Older Adults With Hearing Loss
Authors: Ferguson Sarah Hargus , Morgan Shae D. 
Published: December 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine talker differences for subjectively rated speech clarity in clear versus conversational speech, to determine whether ratings differ for young adults with normal hearing (YNH listeners) and older adults with hearing impairment (OHI listeners), and to explore effects of certain talker characteristics (e.g., gender) on perceived clarity. Relationships among clarity ratings and other speech perceptual and acoustic measures were also explored.

Method

Twenty-one YNH and 15 OHI listeners rated clear and conversational sentences produced by 41 talkers on a scale of 1 (
lowest possible clarity
) to 7 (
highest possible clarity
).

Results
While clarity ratings varied significantly among talkers, listeners rated clear speech significantly clearer than conversational speech for all but 1 talker. OHI and YNH listeners gave similar ratings for conversational speech, but ratings for clear speech were significantly higher for OHI listeners. Talker gender effects differed for YNH and OHI listeners. Ratings of clear speech varied among subgroups of talkers with different amounts of experience talking to people with hearing loss.

Conclusions
Perceived clarity varies widely among talkers, but nearly all produce clear speech that sounds significantly clearer than their conversational speech. Few differences were seen between OHI and YNH listeners except the effect of talker gender.
Construcciones españolas consey la interpretación de propiedad
Authors: Devís Márquez P. Pablo 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis work focuses on a variety of Spanishseconstructions which are often assigned a property interpretation and which are usually referred to aspassive middle(Esta camisa se lava muy bien) andimpersonal middlestructures (A los políticos se les soborna fácilmente). On the basis of a nonlogical conception of the sentence and a genuinely functional understanding of sentential syntactic functions, our goals are: (1) to demonstrate that it is not convenient to characterize the so-calledpassive middleconstructions as passive nor the so-calledimpersonal middleconstructions as impersonal; (2) to establish the role of information structure and modality in the property interpretation of these structures; (3) to determine the function ofsein this type of constructions, specifically,whether or not this function is related with the property interpretation and whether it manages to distinguish these structures from otherseconstructions, and (4) to define the requirements that verbs occurring in this type of structures must fulfill.