bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mesenchymal stem cell‐derived factors: Immuno‐modulatory effects and therapeutic potential
Authors: Volarevic Vladislav , Gazdic Marina , Simovic Markovic Bojana , Jovicic Nemanja , Djonov Valentin , Arsenijevic Nebojsa 
Published: July 2017

Abstract.Stem cell‐based therapy is considered to be a new hope in transplantation medicine. Among stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are, due to their differentiation and immuno‐modulatory characteristics, the most commonly used as therapeutic agents in the treatment of immune‐mediated diseases. MSCs migrate to the site of inflammation and modulate immune response. The capacity of MSC to alter phenotype and function of immune cells are largely due to the production of soluble factors which expression varies depending on the pathologic condition to which MSCs are exposed. Under inflammatory conditions, MSCs‐derived factors suppress both innate and adaptive immunity by attenuating maturation and capacity for antigen presentation of dendritic cells, by inducing polarization of macrophages towards alternative phenotype, by inhibiting activation and proliferation of T and B lymphocytes and by reducing cytotoxicity of NK and NKT cells. In this review, we emphasized current findings regarding immuno‐modulatory effects of MSC‐derived factors and emphasize their potential in the therapy of immune‐mediated diseases. © 2017 BioFactors, 43(5):633–644, 2017
Accessible platforms for e‐learning: A case study
Authors: Batanero Concha , Fernández‐Sanz Luis , Piironen Antti K. , Holvikivi Jaana , Hilera Jose Ramón , Otón Salvador , Alonso Jaime 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThis paper presents a technical solution to improve accessibility in e‐learning platforms. The guidelines for the solution were concluded from the analysis of literature with the goal of achieving scalable, reusable, and easily manageable platforms. The method has been tested through a case study conducted on Moodle where a sample of the target population experimented it through several Engineering Education courses resulting in a high degree of perceived usefulness. We also found out that deaf students encountered less problems accessing the information than blind students due to different reasons.
Synthesis and Properties of New N‐Heteroheptacenes for Solution‐Based Organic Field Effect Transistors
Authors: Zhou Fei , Liu Sheng , Santarsiero Bernard D. , Wink Donald J. , Boudinet Damien , Facchetti Antonio , Driver Tom 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA series of N‐heteroheptacenes was synthesized from ortho‐thiophene‐substituted aryl azides using a Rh2II‐catalyzed C−H bond amination reaction to construct the thienoindole moieties. This reaction tolerated the presence of electron‐donating or withdrawing groups on the aryl azide without adversely affecting the yield of the amination reaction. The central thiophene ring was created from two thienoindole pieces through a Pd‐catalyzed Stille reaction to install the thioether followed by a Cu‐mediated Ullman reaction to trigger the cyclization. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the resulting focused library of N‐heteroheptacenes revealed that the electronic nature is controlled by the arene substituent while single crystals grown reveal that the packing motif is influenced by the N‐substituent. Solution‐processed thin‐film OFET devices were fabricated with the N‐heteroheptacenes, and one exhibited a hole‐mobility of 0.02 cm2 V−1 s−1.
Pyrene Molecular Orbital Shuffle—Controlling Excited State and Redox Properties by Changing the Nature of the Frontier Orbitals
Authors: Merz Julia , Fink Julian , Friedrich Alexandra , Krummenacher Ivo , Al Mamari Hamad H. , Lorenzen Sabine , Haehnel Martin , Eichhorn Antonius , Moos Michael , Holzapfel Marco , Braunschweig Holger , Lambert Christoph , Steffen Andreas , Ji Lei , Marder Todd B. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWe show that by judicious choice of substituents at the 2‐ and 7‐positions of pyrene, the frontier orbital order of pyrene can be modified, giving enhanced control over the nature and properties of the photoexcited states and the redox potentials. Specifically, we introduced a julolidine‐like moiety and Bmes2 (mes=2,4,6‐Me3C6H2) as very strong donor (D) and acceptor (A), respectively, giving 2,7‐D‐π‐D‐ and unsymmetric 2,7‐D‐π‐A‐pyrene derivatives, in which the donor destabilizes the HOMO−1 and the acceptor stabilizes the LUMO+1 of the pyrene core. Consequently, for 2,7‐substituted pyrene derivatives, unusual properties are obtained. For example, very large bathochromic shifts were observed for all of our compounds, and unprecedented green light emission occurs for the D/D system. In addition, very high radiative rate constants in solution and in the solid state were recorded for the D‐π‐D‐ and D‐π‐A‐substituted compounds. All compounds show reversible one‐electron oxidations, and Jul2Pyr exhibits a second oxidation, with the largest potential splitting (ΔE=440 mV) thus far reported for 2,7‐substituted pyrenes. Spectroelectrochemical measurements confirm an unexpectedly strong coupling between the 2,7‐substituents in our pyrene derivatives.
Patterns of mortality in a montane mixed‐conifer forest in San Diego County, California
Authors: Freeman Mary Pyott , Stow Douglas A. , An Li 
Published: July 2017

AbstractWe examine spatial patterns of conifer tree mortality and their changes over time for the montane mixed‐conifer forests of San Diego County. These forest areas have recently experienced extensive tree mortality due to multiple factors. A spatial contextual image processing approach was utilized with high spatial resolution digital airborne imagery to map dead trees for the years 1997, 2000, 2002, and 2005 for three study areas: Palomar, Volcan, and Laguna mountains. Plot‐based fieldwork was conducted to further assess mortality patterns. Mean mortality remained static from 1997 to 2002 (4, 2.2, and 4.2 trees/ha for Palomar, Volcan, and Laguna) and then increased by 2005 to 10.3, 9.7, and 5.2 trees/ha, respectively. The increase in mortality between 2002 and 2005 represents the temporal pattern of a discrete disturbance event, attributable to the 2002–2003 drought. Dead trees are significantly clustered for all dates, based on spatial cluster analysis, indicating that they form distinct groups, as opposed to spatially random single dead trees. Other tests indicate no directional shift or spread of mortality over time, but rather an increase in density. While general temporal and spatial mortality processes are uniform across all study areas, the plot‐based species and quantity distribution of mortality, and diameter distributions of dead vs. living trees, vary by study area. The results of this study improve our understanding of stand‐ to landscape‐level forest structure and dynamics, particularly by examining them from the multiple perspectives of field and remotely sensed data.
Microwave assisted synthesis of metal‐organic framework MIL‐101 nanocrystals as sorbent and pseudostationary phase in capillary electrophoresis for the separation of anthraquinones in environmental water samples
Authors: Liu Yue , Hu Jia , Li Yan , Shang Yun‐Tao , Wang Jia‐Qi , Zhang Ye , Wang Zhong‐Liang 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIn this work, a CE method was developed to separate five anthraquinones: aloe‐emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion. The CE method used a nano‐sized metal organic framework MIL‐101 (nMIL‐101) as pseudostationary phase (PSP) and sorbent for dispersed particle extraction (DPE). The nMIL‐101 was synthesized by microwave technique and was characterized by UV‐vis, TEM, Zeta potential, X‐ray diffraction spectrometry and micropore physisorption. In this method, anthraquinones were adsorbed by nMIL‐101 of a fast kinetics within 10 min and then separated by CE. The CE conditions were optimized considering time, pH, buffer ionic strength, and nanoparticles concentration. The optimal CE condition is using 20 mM sodium borate buffer (pH 9.1) containing 15% methanol (v/v) and 400 mg/L nMIL‐101 as additives within 8 min. The LODs varied from 24 to 57 μg/L, which were lower than those previously reported. Our method has been successfully applied to determine trace anthraquinones in environmental water samples.
Checking transfer efficiency and equal loading via qualitative optical way in western blotting
Authors: Gong Jun‐Hua , Gong Jian‐Ping , Zheng Kai‐Wen 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe ability to determine that successful transfer and equal loading occur prior to using primary antibodies is important. And total protein staining is commonly used to check transfer efficiency and normalization, which play a crucial role in western blotting. Ponceau S and coomassie blue are commonly used, but there are disadvantages reported in recent years. Therefore, we are interested in finding another method, which is cheap, easy and fast. As we know, protein binding region of PVDF membrane is still hydrophilic when carbinol volatilizes, however, the non‐protein binding region of PVDF membrane became hydrophobic again. And this different wettability between non‐protein binding region and protein binding region of Polyvinylidene difluoride membrane may be used to check transfer efficiency and equal loading in western blotting. Based on the principle above, we describe an optical approach where an experimenter can observe that the proteins have been transferred to the membrane without any staining within minutes.
Estimating the distribution of welfare effects using quantiles
Authors: Hoderlein Stefan , Vanhems Anne 
Published: July 2017

SummaryThis paper proposes a framework to model welfare effects that are associated with a price change in a population of heterogeneous consumers. The framework is similar to that of Hausman and Newey (Econometrica, 1995, 63, 1445–1476), but allows for more general forms of heterogeneity. Individual demands are characterized by a general model that is nonparametric in the regressors, as well as monotonic in unobserved heterogeneity, allowing us to identify the distribution of welfare effects. We first argue why a decision maker should care about this distribution. Then we establish constructive identification, propose a sample counterparts estimator, and analyze its large‐sample properties. Finally, we apply all concepts to measuring the heterogeneous effect of a change of gasoline price using US consumer data and find very substantial differences in individual effects across quantiles.
Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture Prevalence Varies Widely Between Qualitative and Quantitative Radiological Assessment Methods: The Rotterdam Study
Authors: Oei Ling , Koromani Fjorda , Breda Stephan J , Schousboe John T , Clark Emma M , van Meurs Joyce BJ , Ikram M Arfan , Waarsing Jan H , van Rooij Frank JA , Zillikens Maria C , Krestin Gabriel P , Oei Edwin HG , Rivadeneira Fernando 
Published: July 2017

ABSTRACT

Accurate diagnosis of vertebral osteoporotic fractures is crucial for the identification of individuals at high risk of future fractures. Different methods for radiological assessment of vertebral fractures exist, but a gold standard is lacking. The aim of our study was to estimate statistical measures of agreement and prevalence of osteoporotic vertebral fractures in the population-based Rotterdam Study, across two assessment methods. The quantitative morphometry assisted by SpineAnalyzer® (QM SA) method evaluates vertebral height loss that affects vertebral shape whereas the algorithm-based qualitative (ABQ) method judges endplate integrity and includes guidelines for the differentiation of vertebral fracture and nonfracture deformities. Cross-sectional radiographs were assessed for 7582 participants aged 45 to 95 years. With QM SA, the prevalence was 14.2% (95% CI, 13.4% to 15.0%), compared to 4.0% (95% CI, 3.6% to 4.5%) with ABQ. Inter-method agreement according to kappa (κ) was 0.24. The highest agreement between methods was among females (κ = 0.31), participants age &gt;80 years (κ = 0.40), and at the L1 level (κ = 0.40). With ABQ, most fractures were found at the thoracolumbar junction (T12–L1) followed by the T7–T8 level, whereas with QM SA, most deformities were in the mid thoracic (T7–T8) and lower thoracic spine (T11–T12), with similar number of fractures in both peaks. Excluding mild QM SA deformities (grade 1 with QM) from the analysis increased, the agreement between the methods from κ = 0.24 to 0.40, whereas reexamining mild deformities based on endplate depression increased agreement from κ = 0.24 to 0.50 (p &lt;0.001). Vertebral fracture prevalence differs significantly between QM SA and ABQ; reexamining QM mild deformities based on endplate depression would increase the agreement between methods. More widespread and consistent application of an optimal method may improve clinical care. © 2017 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
The influence of the Asian summer monsoon onset on the northward movement of the South Asian high towards the Tibetan Plateau and its thermodynamic mechanism
Authors: Ge Jing , You Qinglong , Zhang Yuqing 
Published: July 2017

ABSTRACTThe influence of the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) onset on the northward movement of the South Asian high (SAH) in the upper troposphere towards the Tibetan Plateau (TP) in early summer and its thermodynamic mechanism are studied using ERA‐Interim reanalysis data for the period 1979–2014. Results show that the SAH shifts northward from the southern slope of the TP and moves onto the TP on the 33rd pentad with strengthened intensity. As the SAH moves northward towards the TP, divergence at upper troposphere over the TP region, ascending motions and diabatic heating over South Asia and the southern slope of the TP increase significantly. The onset dates of the ASM, including the summer monsoon over the eastern Bay of Bengal, South China Sea, and Indian Peninsula, are earlier than the mean date of the SAH shifting onto the TP. Accompanied by the ASM onset occurring over South Asia from May to June, much condensation heating is released to the atmosphere. The diabatic heating related to ASM rainfall is the major reason for warming over the southern slope of the TP, leading to the northward movement of the temperature ridgeline towards the TP. Consequently, the meridional temperature gradient in the mid‐upper troposphere over the southern slope of the TP reverses. According to the thermal wind relationship, the sign in the vertical shear of the zonal wind changes, implying that the SAH moves onto the TP. After the SAH shifts onto the TP, the divergence pumping effect caused by the enhancement of the SAH over the TP is favourable for the further prevalence of the summer monsoon over South Asia and East Asia.
T2‐prepared balanced steady‐state free precession (bSSFP) for quantifying whole‐blood oxygen saturation at 1.5T
Authors: Rodríguez‐Soto Ana E. , Abdulmalik Osheiza , Langham Michael C. , Schwartz Nadav , Lee Hyunyeol , Wehrli Felix W. 
Published: July 2017

PurposeTo establish a calibration equation to convert human blood T2 to the full range of oxygen saturation levels (HbO2) and physiologic hematocrit (Hct) values using a T2‐prepared balanced steady‐state free precession sequence (T2‐SSFP) at 1.5T.MethodsBlood drawn from 10 healthy donors (29.1 ± 3.9 years old) was prepared into samples of varying HbO2 and Hct (n = 79), and imaged using T2‐SSFP sequence at 37°C and interrefocusing interval τ180 = 12 ms. The relationship between blood T2, HbO2, and Hct was established based on the model
. Measured R2 and HbO2 levels were fit by the model yielding values of
,
, and k. T2‐SSFP and the established calibration equation were applied to extract HbO2 at the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) in vivo and were compared with susceptometry‐based oximetry.ResultsConstants derived from the fit were: k = 74.2 [s−1],
= 1.5 [s−1],
= 11.6 [s−1], the R2 of the fit was 0.95. Average HbO2 at the SSS in seven healthy volunteers was 65% ± 7% and 66% ± 7% via T2‐ and susceptometry‐based oximetry, respectively. Bland‐Altman analysis indicated agreement between the two oximetric methods with no significant bias.ConclusionThe calibration constants presented here should ensure improved accuracy for whole‐blood oximetry based on T2‐SSFP at 1.5T. Magn Reson Med 79:1893–1900, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
A system for providing load‐aware virtual network service in a software‐defined data center network
Authors: Khosravi Habib Allah , Khayyambashi Mohammad Reza 
Published: July 2017

SummaryVirtual networks may be used in a cloud data center to provide personalized networking services for the applications running in the cloud. As the virtual networks come to the data center and leave it, the data center network load may become unbalanced where some parts of the data center has accommodated many virtual networks while a few virtual networks are mapped to other parts of the data center. This situation may lead to packet loss and service level agreement violations in an oversubscribed data center. This unbalanced state of the load in data center can be resolved by migration of virtual networks from overloaded parts of the data center to places where the load is in a lower level.This paper presents implementation details of the prototype of a system that provides virtual networking service in a cloud data center and focuses primarily on virtual network migration as a means for controlling the state of load in data center. Experimental results show that the system has an acceptable performance in reducing the packet loss ratio and keeping the load in a balanced state.
Measurement and Modelling of Pyrotechnic Time Delay Burning Rates: Application and Prediction of a Fast Burning Delay Composition
Authors: Montgomery Yolandi C. , Focke Walter W. , Kelly Cheryl 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA predictive numerical model was implemented for a time delay based on the Si+Pb3O4 system. The reaction kinetic parameters were estimated by comparing predicted surface temperature profiles with experimental data acquired with an infrared camera. Fair agreement between the modelled and measured burning rates was achieved. The burning rate is predicted to increase by 9.4 % for every 50 °C increase in ambient temperature. The core diameter was found to have a slightly larger impact on the burning rate than the wall thickness. The effect of using different wall thickness materials was evaluated and indicated that the burning rate is significantly influenced by the wall material when the thermal conductivity is increased and the volumetric heat capacity is reduced. The shape of the combustion front was found to widen with a long tail for materials with a low thermal conductivity and a narrower combustion front with a short tail for materials with high thermal conductivity. Preheating occurred for pyrolytic graphite‐ and diamond‐based elements but no radial combustion was observed. The external heat transfer parameters (convection and radiation) did not affect the burning rate of the fast delay composition. It is concluded that the ambient temperature, volume fraction solids, molar heat of reaction, core and outer diameter are the factors that most significantly influence the burning rate of the Si+Pb3O4 composition in long cylindrical elements.
Highly Acidic, Thermal Stable NbPO4@Fullerene Catalyst for Dehydration of Cyclohexanol
Authors: Shah Sneha , Tiwari Nidhi , Kumar Yogesh , Jha S. N. , Auroux Aline , Pandey Jai K. , Chowdhury Biswajit 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA highly acidic fullerene containing niobium phosphate catalyst demonstrating high thermal stability is synthesized by one pot Sol‐Gel EISA method. The ratio of niobium, phosphorous and surfactant plays a key role for the in‐situ fullerene generation. A thorough study of elemental, textural and chemical properties using different experimental techniques and an extensive catalytic investigation has been done using a series of catalysts synthesized by varying different parameters. The high conversion and selectivity for cyclohexanol and ethanol dehydration reaction and also five regeneration upto fine five consecutive cycle could be useful for conversion of biomass to fine chemicals.
Using a Battery to Synthesize New Vanadium Oxides
Authors: Guignard Marie , Delmas Claude 
Published: July 2017

AbstractSodium electrochemical deintercalation in a battery was used as a route to synthesize new vanadium oxides. Sodium layered oxides were used as positive electrode materials in batteries and sodium was electrochemically deintercalated up to a precise composition resulting in the discovery of a new phase Na1/2VO2. As for many vanadium oxides, this compound presents a magnetic transition, slightly above room temperature, around 325 K, as well as a structural transition involving displacements of vanadium ions. The discovery of this new vanadium oxide and the study of its unique electronic properties have only been possible because the battery permits the synthesis of this new phase at room temperature. This shows that many more new systems could be explored using electrochemical (de)intercalation in a battery and new materials that would be impossible to synthesize by classical solid state reaction could be obtained.
Data mining in distributed environment: a survey
Authors: Gan Wensheng , Lin Jerry Chun‐Wei , Chao Han‐Chieh , Zhan Justin 
Published: July 2017

Due to the rapid growth of resource sharing, distributed systems are developed, which can be used to utilize the computations. Data mining (DM) provides powerful techniques for finding meaningful and useful information from a very large amount of data, and has a wide range of real‐world applications. However, traditional DM algorithms assume that the data is centrally collected, memory‐resident, and static. It is challenging to manage the large‐scale data and process them with very limited resources. For example, large amounts of data are quickly produced and stored at multiple locations. It becomes increasingly expensive to centralize them in a single place. Moreover, traditional DM algorithms generally have some problems and challenges, such as memory limits, low processing ability, and inadequate hard disk, and so on. To solve the above problems, DM on distributed computing environment [also called distributed data mining (DDM)] has been emerging as a valuable alternative in many applications. In this study, a survey of state‐of‐the‐art DDM techniques is provided, including distributed frequent itemset mining, distributed frequent sequence mining, distributed frequent graph mining, distributed clustering, and privacy preserving of distributed data mining. We finally summarize the opportunities of data mining tasks in distributed environment. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2017, 7:e1216. doi: 10.1002/widm.1216This article is categorized under:

Application Areas > Business and Industry
Fundamental Concepts of Data and Knowledge > Motivation and Emergence of Data Mining
Technologies > Computer Architectures for Data Mining