bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Controlled Randomized Preliminary Trial of a Modified Dissonance‐Based Eating Disorder Intervention Program
Authors: Green M. A. , Willis M. , Fernandez‐Kong K. , Reyes S. , Linkhart R. , Johnson M. , Thorne T. , Lindberg J. , Kroska E. , Woodward H. 
Published: March 2017

ObjectiveWe conducted a controlled randomized preliminary trial of a modified dissonance‐based eating disorder program (n = 24) compared to an assessment‐only control condition (n = 23) via a longitudinal design (baseline, postintervention, 2‐month follow‐up) in a community sample of women (N = 47) with clinical (n = 22) and subclinical (n = 25) eating disorder symptoms.MethodThe traditional content of the Body Project, a dissonance‐based eating disorder prevention program, was modified to include verbal, written, and behavioral exercises designed to dissuade self‐objectification and maladaptive social comparison. Women with clinical and subclinical symptoms were included in the target audience to investigate both the treatment and the indicated prevention utility of the modified dissonance program. Body dissatisfaction, self‐esteem, self‐objectification, thin‐ideal internalization, maladaptive social comparison, trait anxiety, and eating disorder symptoms were evaluated in the control and the modified dissonance condition at baseline, postintervention, and 2‐month follow‐up.ResultsWe predicted a statistically significant 2 (condition: control, modified dissonance) x 3 (time: baseline, postintervention, 2‐month follow‐up) interaction in the mixed factorial multivariate analyses of variance results. Results confirmed this hypothesis. Eating disorder risk factors and symptoms decreased significantly among participants in the modified dissonance condition at postintervention and 2‐month follow‐up compared to baseline; symptom improvement was greater among participants in the modified compared to the control condition. A secondary analysis indicated symptom improvement did not vary as a function of symptom status (clinical, subclinical), suggesting the program is efficacious in both indicated prevention and treatment applications.ConclusionResults provide preliminary support for the modified dissonance program.
The long‐term effects of youth mentoring on student mentors' civic engagement attitudes and behavior
Authors: Goldner Limor , Golan Daphna 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe current study was designed to explore the delayed effect of participating in youth mentoring programs, training in civic engagement, and activism on a sample of 337 Israelis 5 to 10 years after serving as student mentors. Qualitative and quantitative findings showed that these former mentors' perception of the contribution of mentoring was correlated with their current civic engagement attitudes and activism. Further, the perceived quality of training during mentoring was correlated with the overall perceived contribution of mentoring and current civic engagement attitudes. A mediation model showed that the perceived quality of training was correlated with the former mentors' perceived mentoring contribution. This in turn was correlated with current civic engagement attitudes, which themselves were correlated with their current civic engagement activism. The former mentors' narratives revealed their attainment of new skills and abilities, including an increased ability to relate to and understand young children and disadvantaged populations.
Temperature Preference and Sex Differentiation in African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus
Authors: Santi Saïdou , Rougeot Carole , Toguyeni Aboubacar , Gennotte Vincent , Kebe Ibrahima , Melard Charles 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTThe African catfish Clarias gariepinus has a genetic sex determination system in which high temperature induces masculinization. The thermosensitive period for sex differentiation is short and occurs very early (from 6 to 8 days posthatching [dph]). As young juveniles can encounter high masculinizing temperature (36.5°C) in African water points, we aimed to determine the thermal preference of sexually undifferentiated juveniles and investigate if they spontaneously move toward high masculinizing temperature. Experiments were carried out in an environmental continuum (28–28–28°C and 28–32–36.5°C) made up of three 50‐L aquariums connected together. Four hundred larvae from 10 different full‐sib progenies were reared successively from 2 to 14 dph in these facilities. Before and after thermal treatments, fish were reared at 28°C until sex ratio determination at 70 dph. In the control continuum, fish were nearly equally distributed in the three compartments. Conversely, in the thermal continuum, compartment occupation significantly differed with progeny and period. During the highly thermosensitive period, two of five progenies significantly preferred (54.7% and 39.8% occupation) the 36.5°C compartment. All tested progenies reared in thermal continuum and separated 36.5°C aquarium showed a skewed sex ratio toward the male phenotype (78–100%). Nevertheless, no correlation was found between 36.5°C compartment occupation and sex ratio in thermal continuum groups. As masculinization temperature could be encountered in African water points during the spawning season, we discussed the adaptive advantage for the African catfish to display a sex differentiation process controlled by a temperature effect.
A novel phase‐unwrapping method based on pixel clustering and local surface fitting with application to Dixon water–fat MRI
Authors: Cheng Junying , Mei Yingjie , Liu Biaoshui , Guan Jijing , Liu Xiaoyun , Wu Ed X. , Feng Qianjin , Chen Wufan , Feng Yanqiu 
Published: March 2017

PurposeTo develop and evaluate a novel 2D phase‐unwrapping method that works robustly in the presence of severe noise, rapid phase changes, and disconnected regions.Theory and MethodsThe MR phase map usually varies rapidly in regions adjacent to wraps. In contrast, the phasors can vary slowly, especially in regions distant from tissue boundaries. Based on this observation, this paper develops a phase‐unwrapping method by using a pixel clustering and local surface fitting (CLOSE) approach to exploit different local variation characteristics between the phase and phasor data. The CLOSE approach classifies pixels into easy‐to‐unwrap blocks and difficult‐to‐unwrap residual pixels first, and then sequentially performs intrablock, interblock, and residual‐pixel phase unwrapping by a region‐growing surface‐fitting method. The CLOSE method was evaluated on simulation and in vivo water–fat Dixon data, and was compared with phase region expanding labeler for unwrapping discrete estimates (PRELUDE).ResultsIn the simulation experiment, the mean error ratio by CLOSE was less than 1.50%, even in areas with signal‐to‐noise ratio equal to 0.5, phase changes larger than π, and disconnected regions. For 350 in vivo knee and ankle images, the water–fat swap ratio of CLOSE was 4.29%, whereas that of PRELUDE was 25.71%.ConclusionsThe CLOSE approach can correctly unwrap phase with high robustness, and benefit MRI applications that require phase unwrapping. Magn Reson Med 79:515–528, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Placebo response in pain, fatigue, and performance: Possible implications for neuromuscular disorders
Authors: Shaibani Aziz , Frisaldi Elisa , Benedetti Fabrizio 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTThe placebo response in neuromuscular disorders is not well understood. The only available data regarding its underlying mechanisms are related to neuropathic pain. In this review, we describe the factors that contribute to improved outcomes in the placebo arm, with specific attention to pain and fatigue, as well as some of the most important psychobiological mechanisms that may explain such a response. This approach may also improve our insight into the symptomatology and therapeutic responses of other neuromuscular disorders. The fact that >90% of tested analgesics for neuropathic pain have failed in advanced phases of clinical trials should prompt a greater investment of effort and resources into understanding the mechanisms and impact of placebos in clinical research. Such an endeavor will help improve the design of clinical trials and will provide information that informs clinical neuromuscular practice. Muscle Nerve 56: 358–367, 2017
Geotechnical applications of chemically enhanced drainage
Authors: Minder P. , Puzrin A.M. 
Published: March 2017

SummaryThe paper explores application of the engineered increase in soil permeability, achieved using reaction of guanidinium solutions with smectite soils, to geotechnical problems. The comparison between the finite element analysis of the enhanced permeability model for axisymmetric conditions and a simplified analytical solution demonstrates the importance of accounting for diffusive and dispersive fluxes. In order to illustrate possible practical application of the proposed soil improvement technique, two geotechnical examples have been numerically explored: improving performance of a ground water well and the stabilization of a slope by chemically enhanced drainage. For the well application, it has been demonstrated that for a relatively small degree of treatment, the power consumption can be reduced to a half, compared with the non‐treated soil. For the slope stability application, the water table downstream of the drain can be significantly lowered using moderate pump/collector pressures at the centre of the drain, causing a higher increase in the factor of safety for a larger area subjected to the chemically enhanced drainage. The particularly promising result is that in both applications the largest gain in the well/drain efficiency has been observed for smaller chemically enhanced areas, where a short duration of treatment and small amounts of chemicals decrease the power consumption and increase the safety factor at the highest rate. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Autonomy and Performance: Decentralization Reforms in Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: Wu Xun , Ramesh M , Yu Jianxing 
Published: March 2017

SummaryDecentralization reforms rarely live up to the high hopes and expectations of the reformers for a variety of reasons rooted in actions and omissions of the governments pursuing it or in the context in which it is undertaken. The paper examines the experience of Zhejiang Province where decentralization was successful in achieving and indeed exceeding initial expectations. The remarkable feature of its reforms was ‘performance‐based’ decentralization wherein localities showing superior performance were awarded additional autonomy at a faster speed while the rest were given additional support to build their capacity for assuming more responsibility in the future. To understand the effects of this unique pattern of decentralization, the paper compares the performance of participating and non‐participating counties under five waves of reforms between 1992 and 2008, based on indicators such as gross domestic product, industrial output and local government revenue. It finds that performance‐based decentralization not only helped overcome the problem of capacity deficits but also fostered capacity in weaker counties to assume more autonomy in the future. The paper confirms that speed and sequence of transfer of autonomy and responsibilities to local governments are as important as the content of decentralization. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stimuli‐responsive antifouling polyisobutylene‐based biomaterials via modular surface functionalization
Authors: Alvarez Albarran Alejandra , Rosenthal‐Kim Emily Q. , Kantor Jozsef , Liu Lingyun , Nikolov Zhorro , Puskas Judit E. 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTThis article demonstrates a new, modular approach to surface functionalization that harnesses chain entanglement. A layer of functionalized polyisobutylene, (PIB)‐ω, where ω = ‐OH, ‐thymine (T), ‐hexaethylene glycol (HEG), poly(ethylene glycol) (‐PEG‐OH), methoxy‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (‐PEG‐OCH3), and ‐tetraethylene glycol‐α‐lipoate (TEG‐αL) was adhered to PIB‐based thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) surfaces. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) at angles ranging from 20° to 75° showed decreasing polar group concentration with increasing penetration depth, confirming segregation of polar groups toward the surface. Water contact angle (WCA) of the PIB‐based TPE dropped from 95° to 79°−83° upon coating, and soaking in water for 24 h further decreased the WCA. Dynamic WCA measurements showed 40–30° receding angles, showing that stimulus from an aqueous environment elicits enrichment of polar groups on the surface. Fibrinogen (Fg) adsorption on the various surfaces was quantified using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Static and dynamic WCA did not vary significantly among TPE + PIB‐ω surfaces, but there were dramatic differences in Fg adsorption: 256 ng/cm2 was measured on the native TPE, which dropped to 40 and 22 ng/cm2 on PIB‐PEG‐OCH3 and PIB‐PEG‐OH‐coated surfaces. PIB‐TEG‐αL‐coated surfaces presented the lowest Fg adsorption with 14 ng/cm2. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 1742–1749
Temperature compensation of dye doped polymeric microscale lasers
Authors: Manzo Maurizio 
Published: March 2017

ABSTRACTIn this article, a new technique for building temperature compensated microscale lasers that are based on the morphology dependent resonances phenomenon is presented. The dome shaped resonator is made with a mixture of NBA 107 UV curable polymer and rhodamine 6 g dissolved in ethanol solution. Since polymers usually exhibit linear thermal expansion and thermo‐optic coefficients that are opposite in sign but similar in order of magnitude, it is possible to compensate for temperature over the dome shaped resonator by tuning the dye concentration and the ratio between the polymer and dye solution. Experiments with dye concentration between 10−2 to 10−3 M and polymer and dye solution ratios between 1:1 and 4:1 are conducted. The sensitivity for all cases is presented, and the quality factor Q is investigated. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017, 55, 789–792
Monobodies and other synthetic binding proteins for expanding protein science
Authors: Sha Fern , Salzman Gabriel , Gupta Ankit , Koide Shohei 
Published: March 2017

AbstractSynthetic binding proteins are constructed using nonantibody molecular scaffolds. Over the last two decades, in‐depth structural and functional analyses of synthetic binding proteins have improved combinatorial library designs and selection strategies, which have resulted in potent platforms that consistently generate binding proteins to diverse targets with affinity and specificity that rival those of antibodies. Favorable attributes of synthetic binding proteins, such as small size, freedom from disulfide bond formation and ease of making fusion proteins, have enabled their unique applications in protein science, cell biology and beyond. Here, we review recent studies that illustrate how synthetic binding proteins are powerful probes that can directly link structure and function, often leading to new mechanistic insights. We propose that synthetic proteins will become powerful standard tools in diverse areas of protein science, biotechnology and medicine.
Estimating Heritability of Prostate Cancer‐Specific Survival Using Population‐Based Registers
Authors: Szulkin Robert , Clements Mark S. , Magnusson Patrik K.E. , Wiklund Fredrik E. , Kuja‐Halkola Ralf 
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUNDThere is a strong genetic component in prostate cancer development with an estimated heritability of 58%. In addition, recent epidemiological assessments show a familial component in prostate cancer‐specific survival, which could be due to either common genetics or environment. In this study we sought to estimate the heritability of prostate cancer‐specific survival by studying brothers and father–son pairs in Sweden.METHODSWe used linkage records from three Swedish national registers: the Multi‐Generation Register, the Cancer Register, and the Cause of Death Register. One thousand seven hundred twenty‐eight brother pairs and 6,444 father–son pairs, where both family members were diagnosed with prostate cancer, were followed for prostate cancer mortality. By assuming that (i) brothers on average share 50% of their segregating alleles and 100% environment and (ii) fathers and sons share 50% of their segregating alleles and no environment, we implemented a model including influences of additive genetics (heritability), shared environment and non‐shared environment for survival data. A conditional likelihood estimation procedure was developed to fit the model. Data simulation was applied to validate model assumptions.RESULTSIn a model that adjusted for age at diagnosis and calendar period, the estimated heritability of prostate cancer‐specific survival was 0.10 (95% CI = 0.00–0.20) that was borderline significantly different from zero (P = 0.057). The shared environment component was not significantly different from zero with a point estimate of 0.00 (95% CI = 0.00–0.13). Simulation studies and sensitivity analysis revealed that the estimated heritability component was robust, whereas the shared environmental component may be underestimated.CONCLUSIONSHeritability of prostate cancer‐specific survival is considerably lower than for prostate cancer incidence. This supports a hypothesis that susceptibility of disease and progression of disease are separate mechanisms that involve different genes. Further assessment of the genetic basis of prostate cancer‐specific survival is warranted.Prostate 77:900–907, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Discovery and quantitative structure–activity relationship study of lepidopteran HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors as selective insecticides
Authors: Zang Yang‐yang , Li Yuan‐mei , Yin Yue , Chen Shan‐shan , Kai Zhen‐peng 
Published: March 2017

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn a previous study we have demonstrated that insect 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA reductase (HMGR) can be a potential selective insecticide target. Three series of inhibitors were designed on the basis of the difference in HMGR structures from Homo sapiens and Manduca sexta, with the aim of discovering potent selective insecticide candidates.RESULTSAn in vitro bioassay showed that gem‐difluoromethylenated statin analogues have potent effects on JH biosynthesis of M. sexta and high selectivity between H. sapiens and M. sexta. All series II compounds {1,3,5‐trisubstituted [4‐tert‐butyl 2‐(5,5‐difluoro‐2,2‐dimethyl‐6‐vinyl‐4‐yl) acetate] pyrazoles} have some effect on JH biosynthesis, whereas most of them are inactive on human HMGR. In particular, the IC50 value of compound II‐12 (37.8 nm) is lower than that of lovastatin (99.5 nm) and similar to that of rosuvastatin (24.2 nm). An in vivo bioassay showed that I‐1, I‐2, I‐3 and II‐12 are potential selective insecticides, especially for lepidopteran pest control. A predictable and statistically meaningful CoMFA model of 23 inhibitors (20 as training sets and three as test sets) was obtained with a value of q2 and r2 of 0.66 and 0.996 respectively. The final model suggested that a potent insect HMGR inhibitor should contain suitable small and non‐electronegative groups in the ring part, and electronegative groups in the side chain.CONCLUSIONFour analogues were discovered as potent selective lepidopteran HMGR inhibitors, which can specifically be used for lepidopteran pest control. The CoMFA model will be useful for the design of new selective insect HMGR inhibitors that are structurally related to the training set compounds. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Highly Efficient Differentiation of Endothelial Cells from Pluripotent Stem Cells Requires the MAPK and the PI3K Pathways
Authors: Harding Aja , Cortez-Toledo Elizabeth , Magner Nataly L. , Beegle Julie R. , Coleal-Bergum Dane P. , Hao Dake , Wang Aijun , Nolta Jan A. , Zhou Ping 
Published: March 2017

Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells are a promising source of endothelial cells (ECs) for the treatment of vascular diseases. We have developed a robust protocol to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (hESCs) into ECs with high purities (94%-97% CD31+ and 78%-83% VE-cadherin+) in 8 days without cell sorting. Passaging of these cells yielded a nearly pure population of ECs (99% of CD31+ and 96.8% VE-cadherin+). These ECs also expressed other endothelial markers vWF, Tie2, NOS3, and exhibited functions of ECs such as uptake of Dil-acetylated low-density lipoprotein and formation of tubes in vitro or vessels in vivo on matrigel. We found that FGF2, VEGF, and BMP4 synergistically induced early vascular progenitors (VPs) from hiPSC-derived mesodermal cells. The MAPK and PI3K pathways are crucial not only for the initial commitment to vascular lineages but also for the differentiation of vascular progenitors to ECs, most likely through regulation of the ETS family transcription factors, ERG and FLI1. We revealed novel roles of the p38 and JNK MAPK pathways on EC differentiation. Furthermore, inhibition of the ERK pathway markedly promoted the differentiation of smooth muscle cells. Finally, we demonstrate that pluripotent stem cell-derived ECs are capable of forming patent blood vessels that were connected to the host vasculature in the ischemic limbs of immune deficient mice. Thus, we demonstrate that ECs can be efficiently derived from hiPSCs and hESCs, and have great potential for vascular therapy as well as for mechanistic studies of EC differentiation.
The increasingly important role of science competency beliefs for science learning in girls
Authors: Vincent‐Ruz Paulette , Schunn Christian D. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe number of women studying STEM careers and pursuing graduate degrees has not changed in the last decade (National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, 2015; Science & Engineering Degree Attainment: 2004–2014). Most prior research to explain this problem has focused on the topics of identity, access, pedagogy, and choice (Brotman & Moore, 2008; Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 45, 971–1002). Additional research is needed on how internal and external factors interact with one another to demotivate girls and young women from pursuing science careers. Here, we show how girls’ competency beliefs are an essential foundation for science content learning during middle school and how these effects of competency beliefs are mediated by in and out‐of‐school factors. We recruited over 2,900 6th and 8th grade students from two different regions in the United States. At two different time points, students completed surveys asking about their stance toward science such as competency beliefs in science, willingness to engage in argumentation, and choice preferences toward optional science experiences. We also collected a reasoning ability measure, and pre‐ and post‐tests on science content knowledge. Moreover, students also reported on their cognitive behavioral engagement during a sampled science class on two separate occasions. Multiple regression and mediation analyses show that as boys grow older, their willingness to engage in argumentation and to participate in science experiences suppresses the role of competency beliefs on their learning science content. By contrast, as girls grew older, they showed an increasing need to have high competency beliefs to achieve strong content learning gains. Our results demonstrate that despite girls’ willingness to participate in scientific argumentation and to take part in science experiences, they probably do not receive enough support in their environment to access the benefits of these experiences, and hence they have a stronger need to have high competency beliefs in order to achieve significant growth in science learning. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 54:790–822, 2017