bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamic interaction of plates in an inhomogeneous transversely isotropic space weakened by a crack
Authors: Amiri‐Hezaveh A. , Moghaddasi H. , Karimi P. , Ostoja‐Starzewski M. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe problem of axisymmetric vibration of a flat thin rigid circular plate located inside a vertically exponentially graded, transversely isotropic material of infinite extent is addressed by means of a displacement potential method. The contact condition on one side of the foundation is assumed to be the perfect adhesion with the media but known to be faced by a penny‐shaped crack at the other side as it occurs in anchors. The mixed boundary value problem is formulated with the aid of Hankel integral transforms and is written in the form of a set of singular integral equations. The analytical procedure for the special case of vertical movement of the rigid plate results in a closed form solution. The solution is pursued numerically for the general elastodynamic case. The physical quantities, such as contact stress on the plate and the stress and displacement fields in the non‐homogeneous medium are obtained for different materials.
Food and feeding ecology of Northeast Atlantic swordfish (Xiphias gladius) off the Bay of Biscay
Authors: Chancollon Odile , Pusineri Claire , Ridoux Vincent 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAs part of a larger project on the feeding ecology of large pelagic predators off the Bay of Biscay, this study analyses the diet of the swordfish, Xiphias gladius. Stomachs were collected from 86 swordfish. The diet was analysed in terms of prey occurrence, relative abundance, reconstituted mass, and size distribution. It consisted mainly of fish, 40.5% by mass (%M) and cephalopods, 59.3%M; crustaceans, 0.2%M, were considered secondary prey. When considering only the fresh fraction to allow for differential digestion rates, these figures were 77.3%M, 22.7%M, and trace amounts, respectively. Lanternfish, including Notoscopelus kroeyeri and Symbolophorus veranyi, were abundant, but paralepidids, Atlantic pomfret (Brama brama), and the squid Todarodes sagittatus, Ommastrephes bartramii, and Gonatus steenstrupi, dominated the diet by mass. The overall prey size range was 11–1420 mm, but sizes of 60–360 mm accounted for 80% of the distribution by number and of 140–760 mm for 80% of the distribution by mass. Intraspecifically, larger swordfish ate larger prey as a result of a change in species composition of the diet. The swordfish appears to show feeding plasticity both between different areas and between animals in the same area.
RISK SHARING WITH EXPECTED AND DUAL UTILITIES
Authors: Boonen Tim J. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThis paper analyzes optimal risk sharing among agents that are endowed with either expected utility preferences or with dual utility preferences. We find that Pareto optimal risk redistributions and the competitive equilibria can be obtained via bargaining with a hypothetical representative agent of expected utility maximizers and a hypothetical representative agent of dual utility maximizers. The representative agent of expected utility maximizers resembles an average risk-averse agent, whereas representative agent of dual utility maximizers resembles an agent that has lowest aversion to mean-preserving spreads. This bargaining leads to an allocation of the aggregate risk to both groups of agents. The optimal contract for the expected utility maximizers is proportional to their allocated risk, and the optimal contract for the dual utility maximizing agents is given by “tranching” of their allocated risk. We show a method to derive equilibrium prices. We identify a condition under which prices are locally independent of the expected utility functions, and given in closed form. Moreover, we characterize uniqueness of the competitive equilibrium.
Efficacy of Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: Is it the Stimulation or Medication?
Authors: Arcand Jaylynn , Waterhouse Karen , Hernandez-Ronquillo Lizbeth , Vitali Aleksander , Tellez-Zenteno Jose F. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractBackground: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) therapy has been widely recognized as an alternative for the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy, although modification of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) during VNS treatment could explain the improvement in patients. Methods: We retrospectively assessed the efficacy of VNS in 30 adult patients with epilepsy treated with >6 months of follow-up. The criteria for implantation were the following: (1) not a candidate for resective epilepsy surgery, (2) drug-resistant epilepsy, (3) impairment of quality of life, (4) no other option of treatment, and (5) patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy who fail to be controlled with appropriate AEDs. We assessed sociodemographics, seizure etiology, seizure classification, and AEDs used during treatment with VNS. We assessed adverse effects and efficacy. Responder rate was defined as >50% seizure improvement from baseline. Results: Thirty patients (females, 18; males, 12; age, 35.1±13.3 years) were included. After 6, 12, 24, and 36 months of follow-up, the response rates were: 13/30 (43%), 13/27 (48%), 9/22 (41%), and 8/16 (50%), respectively; none was seizure free. Fifty-seven percent, 33%, 59%, and 81% of patients had changes of medication type or dose at 6, 12, 24, and 36 months respectively. In the majority of patients, the change of medication consisted of an increase in the dose of AEDs. Conclusions: Our study shows that VNS is an effective therapy, although significant changes in medications were done along with the therapy; therefore, the real effect of VNS could be controversial.
Utilizing Strategic and Operational Methods for Whole-Community Disaster Planning
Authors: Franks Stevee , Seaton Ellen 
Published: May 2017

AbstractAnalysis of response and recovery efforts to disasters over the past 2 decades has identified a consistent gap that plagues the nation in regard to persons with access and functional needs. This gap can be highlighted by Hurricane Katrina, where the majority of those killed were a part of the access and functional needs population. After a disaster, many individuals with access and functional needs require assistance recovering but often have difficulty accessing services and resources. These difficulties are due to a combination of issues, such as health problems and the disruption of community support services. We sought to help bridge this gap by focusing on strategic and operational methods used while planning for the whole community. This article highlights the many partnerships that must be fostered for successful whole-community planning. These partnerships include, but are not limited to, local government departments, health agencies, nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations, and other volunteer organizations. We showcase these methods by using a developmental Post-Disaster Canvassing Plan to highlight planning methods that may aid jurisdictions across the United States in disaster planning for the whole community. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:741–746)
The history effect on bubble growth and dissolution. Part 2. Experiments and simulations of a spherical bubble attached to a horizontal flat plate
Authors: Peñas-López Pablo , Moreno Soto Álvaro , Parrales Miguel A. , van der Meer Devaraj , Lohse Detlef , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Javier 
Published: May 2017

The accurate description of the growth or dissolution dynamics of a soluble gas bubble in a super- or undersaturated solution requires taking into account a number of physical effects that contribute to the instantaneous mass transfer rate. One of these effects is the so-called history effect. It refers to the contribution of the local concentration boundary layer around the bubble that has developed from past mass transfer events between the bubble and liquid surroundings. In Part 1 of this work (Peñas-Lópezet al.,J. Fluid Mech., vol. 800, 2016b, pp. 180–212), a theoretical treatment of this effect was given for a spherical, isolated bubble. Here, Part 2 provides an experimental and numerical study of the history effect regarding a spherical bubble attached to a horizontal flat plate and in the presence of gravity. The simulation technique developed in this paper is based on a streamfunction–vorticity formulation that may be applied to other flows where bubbles or drops exchange mass in the presence of a gravity field. Using this numerical tool, simulations are performed for the same conditions used in the experiments, in which the bubble is exposed to subsequent growth and dissolution stages, using stepwise variations in the ambient pressure. Besides proving the relevance of the history effect, the simulations highlight the importance that boundary-induced advection has to accurately describe bubble growth and shrinkage, i.e. the bubble radius evolution. In addition, natural convection has a significant influence that shows up in the velocity field even at short times, although given the supersaturation conditions studied here, the bubble evolution is expected to be mainly diffusive.
A molecular engineering toolbox for the structural biologist
Authors: Debelouchina Galia T. , Muir Tom W. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractExciting new technological developments have pushed the boundaries of structural biology, and have enabled studies of biological macromolecules and assemblies that would have been unthinkable not long ago. Yet, the enhanced capabilities of structural biologists to pry into the complex molecular world have also placed new demands on the abilities of protein engineers to reproduce this complexity into the test tube. With this challenge in mind, we review the contents of the modern molecular engineering toolbox that allow the manipulation of proteins in a site-specific and chemically well-defined fashion. Thus, we cover concepts related to the modification of cysteines and other natural amino acids, native chemical ligation, intein and sortase-based approaches, amber suppression, as well as chemical and enzymatic bio-conjugation strategies. We also describe how these tools can be used to aid methodology development in X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, cryo-electron microscopy and in the studies of dynamic interactions. It is our hope that this monograph will inspire structural biologists and protein engineers alike to apply these tools to novel systems, and to enhance and broaden their scope to meet the outstanding challenges in understanding the molecular basis of cellular processes and disease.
A new paradigm for atomically detailed simulations of kinetics in biophysical systems
Authors: Elber Ron 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe kinetics of biochemical and biophysical events determined the course of life processes and attracted considerable interest and research. For example, modeling of biological networks and cellular responses relies on the availability of information on rate coefficients. Atomically detailed simulations hold the promise of supplementing experimental data to obtain a more complete kinetic picture. However, simulations at biological time scales are challenging. Typical computer resources are insufficient to provide the ensemble of trajectories at the correct length that is required for straightforward calculations of time scales. In the last years, new technologies emerged that make atomically detailed simulations of rate coefficients possible. Instead of computing complete trajectories from reactants to products, these approaches launch a large number of short trajectories at different positions. Since the trajectories are short, they are computed trivially in parallel on modern computer architecture. The starting and termination positions of the short trajectories are chosen, following statistical mechanics theory, to enhance efficiency. These trajectories are analyzed. The analysis produces accurate estimates of time scales as long as hours. The theory of Milestoning that exploits the use of short trajectories is discussed, and several applications are described.
Social Citizenship, Social Policy and Refugee Integration: a Case of Policy Divergence in Scotland?
Authors: MULVEY GARETH 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe relationship between Holyrood and Westminster is an evolving one where there is some evidence of policy divergence. Underpinning policy approaches are different views of social citizenship, with the Holyrood approach maintaining elements of the post-1945 welfare settlement. The place of refugees and asylum seekers within these differing approaches is currently underexplored. This article looks at the Scottish and UK Governments’ views of social rights and how they apply to asylum seekers and refugees. It suggests that despite refugee ‘policy’ being at least partly reserved, the Scottish Government has been able to take a different approach from that of Westminster, an approach underpinned by these differing welfare outlooks.
The Introduction of Administration and Research Activities into Regional Input-Output Models
Authors: Brucker Sharon M. , Hastings Steven E. 
Published: May 2017

Input-output analysis has been used extensively to identify the interrelationships in local, state, regional and national economies. One type of economic activity that is prevalent in several states in the Northeast has not typically been included in regional input-output models: that carried on at administrative offices and auxiliary establishments.This paper appraises the need for a sector representing administration and auxiliary activities in regional I-O models in the Northeast and provides a method for estimating a direct requirements column for such a sector from secondary data. The method proposed is used to estimate the direct requirements column for this sector in an input-output model for Delaware. The importance of including administration and auxiliary activities in an input-output model used for impact analysis is demonstrated.
Farm Planning Models Including the Use of Sewage Sludge on Pennsylvania Dairy Farms
Authors: Zimmerman Dona C. 
Published: May 2017

A five year linear programming farm planning model was constructed to include the use of sewage sludge as a primary crop nutrient source. The five year planning period permitted the inclusion of nitrogen decay rates reflecting the residual amounts of nitrogen from sludge and manure which are mineralized over time. Net farm incomes were maximized and compared for a medium sized dairy farm representative of those found in Pennsylvania. Twenty-two scenarios depicting various operating conditions were examined. Some of the variations included the purchase of sludge at different prices, the use of free nine percent nitrogen or 4.2 percent nitrogen sludge, spring and fall application of sludge and manure, the use of free sludge when heifer corral manure was sold, and sludge use under various nitrogen application restrictions. Variables of interest in the optimal programs were than compared and discussed.Under the conditions assumed for the analyses, net revenues were higher when sludge was used than when it was not. However, only a small percentage difference between the highest and the lowest net revenues resulted over the five year period, given a variety of operating circumstances. The combination of nine percent nitrogen sludge, manure, and fertilizer yielded the highest net revenue when sludge was free and applied either annually in the spring or semiannually in the spring and fall. Further, when sludge was purchased at $10.00/dry ton and $20.00/dry ton for spring and fall application, the combination of nine percent nitrogen sludge and manure again resulted in the highest net revenue.The nitrogen application restrictions were at their upper limits when sludge use was included in the optimal solution, but were not binding when sludge was not used. More sludge was applied when the nitrogen application restrictions were relaxed, resulting in higher net income. The reduced costs associated with the non-negativity constraint on sludge indicated that it would often be more costly to use more than the optimal amount of sludge, than less than the optimal amount, because less manure would be used and more fertilizer would have to be purchased to maintain nitrogen application limits and meet crop nutrient requirements.The calculation of net present values for the two sludge contents considered provided value estimates which were in accord with the linear programming solutions. Although the programming results are situation-specific, the model's structure and coefficients may be modified to accommodate different farm activities and restrictions.
Regional Self-Sufficiency in Food Production – The New England States
Authors: Bahn Henry M. , Christensen Robert L. 
Published: May 2017

New England's dependence upon other regions for much of its food supply has become a cause for concern for farmers, consumers, and public officials. As the debate on the region's need and ability to become more self-sufficient in food production continues, the need for an estimate of current levels of self-sufficiency becomes obvious.This paper estimates New England's level of self-sufficiency for 1975 using secondary data for population, retail expenditures and farm marketing receipts. The region was found to be about 38 percent self-sufficient in overall food production. It produces a high of 176 percent of its seafood requirements and a low of 3 percent of its red meat. Maine and Vermont are surplus food producers.
Powering and Shaping Planetary Nebulae: The Physics of Common Envelopes
Authors: Nordhaus Jason , Spiegel David S. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractThe diversity of collimated outflows in post-asymptotic-giant-branch stars and their planetary nebula progeny are often explained by a combination of close binary interactions and accretion. The viability of such scenarios can be tested by comparing kinematic outflow data to determine minimum accretion rates necessary to power observed outflows. While many binary channels have been ruled out with this technique, common envelope interactions can accommodate the current observational constraints, are potentially common, lead to a diverse array of planetary-nebula shapes, and naturally produce period gaps for companions to white dwarfs.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: LncRNA HOTAIR regulates HIF-1α/AXL signaling through inhibition of miR-217 in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Hong Quan , Li Ou , Zheng Wei , Xiao Wen-zhen , Zhang Lu , Wu Di , Cai Guang-yan , He John Cijiang , Chen Xiang-mei 
Published: May 2017

AbstractLong non-coding RNA HOTAIR was regarded as an oncogene in multiple cancers. Previous studies have shown that HOTAIR is involved in the proliferation and tumorigenesis of renal carcinoma cells, while microRNA (miR)-217 functions as a tumor suppressor in renal cell carcinoma (Rcc). However, the underlying molecular mechanism of HOTAIR in Rcc, especially in association with miR-217, has not been studied. In this study, we first demonstrated that HOTAIR expression was upregulated, which was correlated with tumor progression, and miR-217 downregulated in Rcc tissues and cells. Importantly, HOTAIR expression was negatively correlated with miR-217 expression in Rcc tissues. Gain- and loss-of-function of HOTAIR revealed that HOTAIR functioned as a ceRNA for miR-217 to facilitate HIF-1α expression and then upregulated AXL level promoting Rcc proliferation, migration, and EMT process, and inhibiting apoptosis. Furthermore, HOTAIR knockdown suppressed tumor growth and reduced the expression of proliferation antigen ki-67, HIF-1α, and AXL, but upregulated the expression of miR-217 in vivo. Finally, with AXL inhibitor BGB324, we confirmed that HOTAIR promoted Rcc activity through AXL signaling both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, these results suggest that HOTAIR promotes Rcc tumorigenesis via miR-217/HIF-1α/AXL signaling, which may provide a new target for the diagnosis and therapy of Rcc disease.
Enhanced neuroprotective efficacy of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells co-overexpressing BDNF and VEGF in a rat model of cardiac arrest-induced global cerebral ischemia
Authors: Zhou Lili , Lin Qingming , Wang Peng , Yao Lan , Leong Kahong , Tan Zhiqun , Huang Zitong 
Published: May 2017

AbstractCardiac arrest-induced global cerebral ischemia injury (CA-GCII) usually leads to a poor neurological outcome without an effective treatment. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) may provide a potential cell-based therapy against neurologic disorders through induction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). To optimize the neuroprotective efficacy of BMMSCs further, in this study we have derived BMMSCs, which co-overexpress both BDNF and VEGF, and tested them for the treatment of CA-GCII in a rat model. Lentiviruses that express rat BDNF exon IV or VEGF-A were created using the bicistronic shuttle vectors of pLVX-IRES-ZsGreen1 and pLVX-IRES-tdTomato, respectively. BMMSCs that were co-transduced with the engineered lentiviruses with co-overexpression of both BDNF and VEGF along with corresponding fluorescent protein reporters were injected via jugular vein of rats that just recovered from a cardiac arrest. Animals were then scored for neurofunctional deficits and examined for brain pathology and gene expression relevant to the engraftment seven days after the treatments. We demonstrate that anchorage of lentiviral vector-transduced BMMSCs, which co-overexpressed both BDNF and VEGF in the hippocampus and temporal cortex along with significantly ameliorated brain pathology and improved neurofunctional performance in CA-GCII rats after transplantation. These findings provide a proof of concept for the further validation of engineered BMMSCs for the treatment of CA-GCII patients in clinical practice in the future.
NMI inhibits cancer stem cell traits by downregulating hTERT in breast cancer
Authors: Feng Xu , Xu Xiangdong , Xiao Xiangsheng , Zou Kun , Yu Wendan , Wu Jiali , Tang Ranran , Gao Yue , Hao Jiaojiao , Zhao Xinrui , Liao Yina , Chen Yiming , Huang Wenlin , Guo Wei , Kang Lan , Deng Wuguo 
Published: May 2017

AbstractN-myc and STAT interactor (NMI) has been proved to bind to different transcription factors to regulate a variety of signaling mechanisms including DNA damage, cell cycle and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. However, the role of NMI in the regulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the regulation of NMI on CSCs traits in breast cancer and uncovered the underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that NMI was lowly expressed in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs)-enriched populations. Knockdown of NMI promoted CSCs traits while its overexpression inhibited CSCs traits, including the expression of CSC-related markers, the number of CD44+CD24− cell populations and the ability of mammospheres formation. We also found that NMI-mediated regulation of BCSCs traits was at least partially realized through the modulation of hTERT signaling. NMI knockdown upregulated hTERT expression while its overexpression downregulated hTERT in breast cancer cells, and the changes in CSCs traits and cell invasion ability mediated by NMI were rescued by hTERT. The in vivo study also validated that NMI knockdown promoted breast cancer growth by upregulating hTERT signaling in a mouse model. Moreover, further analyses for the clinical samples demonstrated that NMI expression was negatively correlated with hTERT expression and the low NMI/high hTERT expression was associated with the worse status of clinical TNM stages in breast cancer patients. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the interaction of YY1 protein with NMI and its involvement in NMI-mediated transcriptional regulation of hTERT in breast cancer cells. Collectively, our results provide new insights into understanding the regulatory mechanism of CSCs and suggest that the NMI-YY1-hTERT signaling axis may be a potential therapeutic target for breast cancers.