bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation on Two Compounds of O,O’-dithiophosphate Derivatives as Corrosion Inhibitors for Q235 Steel in Hydrochloric Acid Solution
Authors: Lai Chuan , Guo Xiaogang , Wei Jian , Xie Bin , Zou Like , Li Xiaolong , Chen Zongxin , Wang Changmao 
Published: December 2017

AbstractIn this work, the O,O’-dithiophosphate derivatives of S-4-methylbenzyl-O,O’-di(phenyl) dithiophosphate (Inhi-Ph) and S-4-methyl benzyl-O,O’-di(4-bromophenyl) dithiophosphate (Inhi-BrPh) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR,1H,13C and31P NMR. Meanwhile, the corrosion inhibition of Q235 steel in HCl solution by synthesized inhibitors was evaluated by weight loss and electrochemical measurements. Measurement results indicate that the two inhibitors of Inhi-Ph and Inhi-BrPh are mixed-type inhibitor, the inhibition efficiency increase with inhibitor concentration increasing, decrease with HCl concentration and temperature increasing. The adsorption of Inhi-Ph and Inhi-BrPh on Q235 steel surface obeys Langmuir isotherm, which belongs to chemical adsorption.
Adaptive Test Selection for Factorization-based Surrogate Fitness in Genetic Programming
Authors: Krawiec Krzysztof , Liskowski Paweł 
Published: December 2017

AbstractGenetic programming (GP) is a variant of evolutionary algorithm where the entities undergoing simulated evolution are computer programs. A fitness function in GP is usually based on a set of tests, each of which defines the desired output a correct program should return for an exemplary input. The outcomes of interactions between programs and tests in GP can be represented as an interaction matrix, with rows corresponding to programs in the current population and columns corresponding to tests. In previous work, we proposed SFIMX, a method that performs only a fraction of interactions and employs non-negative matrix factorization to estimate the outcomes of remaining ones, shortening GP’s runtime. In this paper, we build upon that work and propose three extensions of SFIMX, in which the subset of tests drawn to perform interactions is selected with respect to test difficulty. The conducted experiment indicates that the proposed extensions surpass the original SFIMX on a suite of discrete GP benchmarks.
Real-time PCR and high-resolution melt analysis methods for detection of pathogenic species of Brucella
Authors: Masjedian Jazi Faramarz , Mirnejad Reza , Piranfar Vahhab , Amir Mozafari Noor , Zahraei Salehi Taghi , Khormali Mahmoud , Sedighi Mansour , Irajian Gholam Reza 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

Background:
It is of great importance to quickly and accurately detect Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis from clinical and non-clinical samples because of their high prevalence and high risk in causing brucellosis, a life-threating infectious disease affecting both humans and animals.

Methods:
The current study describes a new method for the detection of brucellosis in clinical samples using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and high-resolution melt (HRM) curve analysis. This study was conducted on 70 human and 55 animal isolates with more than 1/80 serum antibody titers. Additionally, the accuracy and specificity of the methods were compared.

Results:
The mean range [cycles threshold±standard deviation (CT±SD)] for the amplified samples was 15.39–25.15 by real-time PCR. The melting peak range (°C) ±SD for B. abortus and B. melitensis was 90.10±0.4 and 89.70±0.4, respectively, and 10 was reported on peak height.

Conclusions:
The results of HRM analysis can be used for species differentiation and bacterial genotyping according to nucleotide polymorphism. This molecular method could help in diagnosing Brucella quickly and precisely. Quick recognition of Brucella species could decrease its prevalence among humans and animals and mitigate economic loss.
VEGF overexpression predicts poor survival in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Choi Sae Byeol , Han Hyung Joon , Kim Wan Bae , Song Tae Jin , Choi Sang Yong 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

Objective
The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological and immunohistochemical (including VEGF, Akt, HSP70, and HSP20 expression) factors that affect the overall and disease-free survival of HCC patients following surgical resection.

Methods
234 patients with HCC following surgical resection were enrolled. Clinicopathological and survival data were analyzed, and immunohistochemical staining was performed on tissue microarray sections using the anti-VEGF, anti-Akt, anti-HSP70, and anti-HSP27 antibodies.

Results
The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 86.5 and 81.54%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that VEGF expression (P = 0.017, HR = 2.573) and T stage (P < 0.001, HR = 4.953) were independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of Akt, HSP70, and HSP27 did not affect the overall survival rate. The 3- and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 58.2 and 49.4%, respectively. Compared to the VEGF(−)/(+) group, the VEGF(++)/(+++) group demonstrated significantly higher proportion of patients with AFP levels > 400 ng/mL, capsule invasion, and microvascular invasion.

Conclusion
VEGF overexpression was associated with capsule invasion, microvascular invasion, and a poor overall survival rate.
The Indifferent, the Good Samaritan, the Brave and the Agent in Allais Paradox situation – or How Endowment Effect Influences Our Decision in Case of Allais Paradox?
Authors: Kolnhofer-Derecskei Anita 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBackground and purpose:Mainstream economic models do not take ownership into consideration. Only after the findings of behavioural economists was endowment effect widely observed. Endowment effect means that goods that one owns are valued higher than other goods not held in endowment. At the same time the principal-agent literature is concerned with how the principal (such as employer) can motivate his agent (say the employee), to act in the principal’s interests and also for their holdings. The main problem is that acting in somebody’s else’s interests can influence our values as well. Moreover, the principal as owner suffers from endowment effect. Both situations can be treated as a risky decision. Risk confuses our rationality in a predictable way.Design/Methodology/Approach:Due to this it was observed how foreign students from various cultural backgrounds decided (n=186 answers) in a risky financial situation by focusing on Allais’ classic gambles. I also presented their preferences over certain and uncertain outcomes regarding the owner of the final win; i.e. how they choose for themselves or on behalf of one of their best friends. One famous experiment - which tested the descriptive validity of the axioms’ expected utility theory - was Allais. Allais handled probabilities and outcomes in high hypothetical payoff financial gamble situations; he found that when offering two similar options, the common consequences will not be removed by the actors. I was interested in what happens when the actors take risks on behalf of others. It was used between-subjects technique on an extended multicultural sample. Regarding the two different topics, three hypotheses were tested (1); based on Allais paradox (2); observed ownerships (3); the comparison of two phenomena.Results:The results show that the subjects responded differently when they needed to decide about their own properties rather when their friends’ properties were concerned. When a sure safe outcome was offered to the subjects, they took more risk on behalf of their friends rather than own. Moreover, the subjects do not take into consideration that the same attributes must be ignored, so Allais paradox was verified.Conclusion:The goal of this paper is then twofold. First, it was established a conceptual link between Allais-type behaviour and ownership problem. Second, Allais axiom was used to characterize different roles. Knowing predictable patterns of seemingly irrational heuristics in human behaviour can improve economic theory. At the same time, this knowledge helps us to avoid irrational decisions.
Use of communication strategies in an interactional context: The interlocutor influence
Authors: Rosas-Maldonado Maritza 
Published: December 2017

AbstractDespite the vast body of research on communication strategies (CSs) and the way L2 learners manage to get their message across via these mechanisms, there is little research on Spanish as L2 in an interactional context and between different types of dyads. This is why this study attempts to examine a possible relationship between Spanish L2 learners’ use of communication strategies and the type of interactant (learner and native speaker). For this, twenty-four face-to-face interactions of two types of dyads carrying out two tasks were analysed by drawing on
In defense of linguists’ introspections. A view from a generativist’s perspective
Authors: Tajsner Przemysław 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThere is a widespread criticism of the use of linguists’ introspective judgments as data in syntactic generative research. The critics point to a few major inadequacies of this type of data. First of all, data from introspections are claimed to be unreliable and heavily biased, but also simply irrelevant by not representing real utterances produced in real situations. In view of some critics such inadequacies disqualify linguists’ judgments as legitimate data, other authors concede that they remain a viable source of data but should always be cross-checked by other types of evidence which typically include: corpus data, experimental syntax data, and empirical evidence provided by neuro- and psycholinguistic experimentation.The aims of the paper are: (i) to raise a point in defense of the validity and practical non-substitutability of introspective data in generative research, (ii) to assess the practical utility of the new types of evidence for generativists’ needs. The way to achieve these goals will be by analyzing how a specific research problem (
Study on the effect of organic fertilizers on soil organic matter and enzyme activities of soil in forest nursery
Authors: Piaszczyk Wojciech , Błoñska Ewa , Lasota Jarosław 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the effects of organic fertilization on selected chemical properties of the soil and the activity of dehydrogenase and β-glucosidase in the soil of forest nursery. The main goal was to evaluate the role of organic fertilizers in carbon storage in the forest nursery soil. Sample plots were located in northern Poland in the Polanów Forest District on a forest nursery. Soil samples were collected from horizon 0–20 cm for laboratory analyzes. In soil samples pH, soil texture, and organic carbon, nitrogen, base cation contents, dehydrogenase activity and β-glucosidase activity were determined. The obtained results were used to evaluate the carbon storage. The results confirm the beneficial effect of the applied organic fertilizer on chemical properties of the soils under study and their biological activity. The applied organic fertilizers had an impact on increased accumulation of soil organic matter. In the soils investigated, there was an increase in the activity of such enzymes as dehydrogenases and β-glucosidase.
A Parametric Investigation of Wake Loss Reduction by using Serrated Trailing Edge in a High-speed Compressor Cascade
Authors: Liu Huaping , Yu Yongchuan , Yu Feipeng , Zhang Dongfei , Chen Huanlong 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
The influence of the serration with different widths, angles and spanwise locations on the wake of a high-speed compressor cascade is parametrically investigated by numerical simulation. The effect mechanisms of the serration on the cascade performance are discussed in detail and the potential at the off-design points is also validated. The results show that the momentum inputted by the serration jet and the fluid exchange induced by the dominant jet vortex could reenergize the low energy corner region and weaken the trailing edge shedding vortex. With the upstream shift of the serration valley, the loss reduction and pressure rise are enhanced due to the strengthened jet and counter-rotating vortex pair, whereas the flow turning is reduced by the decreased camber angle and the enhanced jet deflection. The serration at the blade height corresponding to the core of the low energy fluid could perform better for the loss reduction, whereas the serration close to the endwall could obtain higher pressure rise. For the optimal serration located at 12.5 % blade height with a width of 5 mm and an angle of 45 °, the loss is reduced by 8.9 % and the pressure rise is increased by 2.2 %, with the flow turning slightly reduced by 0.93 °
Morphological Constraints on Cerebellar Granule Cell Combinatorial Diversity
Authors: Gilmer Jesse I. , Person Abigail L. 
Published: December 2017

Combinatorial expansion by the cerebellar granule cell layer (GCL) is fundamental to theories of cerebellar contributions to motor control and learning. Granule cells (GrCs) sample approximately four mossy fiber inputs and are thought to form a combinatorial code useful for pattern separation and learning. We constructed a spatially realistic model of the cerebellar GCL and examined how GCL architecture contributes to GrC combinatorial diversity. We found that GrC combinatorial diversity saturates quickly as mossy fiber input diversity increases, and that this saturation is in part a consequence of short dendrites, which limit access to diverse inputs and favor dense sampling of local inputs. This local sampling also produced GrCs that were combinatorially redundant, even when input diversity was extremely high. In addition, we found that mossy fiber clustering, which is a common anatomical pattern, also led to increased redundancy of GrC input combinations. We related this redundancy to hypothesized roles of temporal expansion of GrC information encoding in service of learned timing, and we show that GCL architecture produces GrC populations that support both temporal and combinatorial expansion. Finally, we used novel anatomical measurements from mice of either sex to inform modeling of sparse and filopodia-bearing mossy fibers, finding that these circuit features uniquely contribute to enhancing GrC diversification and redundancy. Our results complement information theoretic studies of granule layer structure and provide insight into the contributions of granule layer anatomical features to afferent mixing.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTCerebellar granule cells are among the simplest neurons, with tiny somata and, on average, just four dendrites. These characteristics, along with their dense organization, inspired influential theoretical work on the granule cell layer as a combinatorial expander, where each granule cell represents a unique combination of inputs. Despite the centrality of these theories to cerebellar physiology, the degree of expansion supported by anatomically realistic patterns of inputs is unknown. Using modeling and anatomy, we show that realistic input patterns constrain combinatorial diversity by producing redundant combinations, which nevertheless could support temporal diversification of like combinations, suitable for learned timing. Our study suggests a neural substrate for producing high levels of both combinatorial and temporal diversity in the granule cell layer.
Conditional Deletion ofRic-8bin Olfactory Sensory Neurons Leads to Olfactory Impairment
Authors: Machado Cleiton F. , Nagai Maíra H. , Lyra Cassandra S. , Reis-Silva Thiago M. , Xavier André Machado , Glezer Isaias , Felicio Luciano F. , Malnic Bettina 
Published: December 2017

The olfactory system can discriminate a vast number of odorants. This ability derives from the existence of a large family of odorant receptors expressed in the cilia of the olfactory sensory neurons. Odorant receptors signal through the olfactory-specific G-protein subunit, Gαolf. Ric-8b, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, interacts with Gαolf and can amplify odorant receptor signal transductionin vitro. To explore the function of Ric-8bin vivo, we generated a tissue specific knock-out mouse by crossing OMP-Cre transgenic mice to Ric-8b floxed mice. We found that olfactory-specific Ric-8b knock-out mice of mixed sex do not express the Gαolf protein in the olfactory epithelium. We also found that in these mice, the mature olfactory sensory neuron layer is reduced, and that olfactory sensory neurons show increased rate of cell death compared with wild-type mice. Finally, behavioral tests showed that the olfactory-specific Ric-8b knock-out mice show an impaired sense of smell, even though their motivation and mobility behaviors remain normal.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTRic-8b is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) expressed in the olfactory epithelium and in the striatum. Ric-8b interacts with the olfactory Gαolf subunit, and can amplify odorant signaling through odorant receptorsin vitro. However, the functional significance of this GEF in the olfactory neuronsin vivoremains unknown. We report that deletion of Ric-8b in olfactory sensory neurons prevents stable expression of Gαolf. In addition, we demonstrate that olfactory neurons lacking Ric-8b (and consequently Gαolf) are more susceptible to cell death. Ric-8b conditional knock-out mice display impaired olfactory guided behavior. Our results reveal that Ric-8b is essential for olfactory function, and suggest that it may also be essential for Gαolf-dependent functions in the brain.
Graded Elevation of c-Jun in Schwann CellsIn Vivo: Gene Dosage Determines Effects on Development, Remyelination, Tumorigenesis, and Hypomyelination
Authors: Fazal Shaline V. , Gomez-Sanchez Jose A. , Wagstaff Laura J. , Musner Nicolo , Otto Georg , Janz Martin , Mirsky Rhona , Jessen Kristján R. 
Published: December 2017

Schwann cell c-Jun is implicated in adaptive and maladaptive functions in peripheral nerves. In injured nerves, this transcription factor promotes the repair Schwann cell phenotype and regeneration and promotes Schwann-cell-mediated neurotrophic support in models of peripheral neuropathies. However, c-Jun is associated with tumor formation in some systems, potentially suppresses myelin genes, and has been implicated in demyelinating neuropathies. To clarify these issues and to determine how c-Jun levels determine its function, we have generated c-Jun OE/+ and c-Jun OE/OE mice with graded expression of c-Jun in Schwann cells and examined these lines during development, in adulthood, and after injury using RNA sequencing analysis, quantitative electron microscopic morphometry, Western blotting, and functional tests. Schwann cells are remarkably tolerant of elevated c-Jun because the nerves of c-Jun OE/+ mice, in which c-Jun is elevated ∼6-fold, are normal with the exception of modestly reduced myelin thickness. The stronger elevation of c-Jun in c-Jun OE/OE mice is, however, sufficient to induce significant hypomyelination pathology, implicating c-Jun as a potential player in demyelinating neuropathies. The tumor suppressor P19ARFis strongly activated in the nerves of these mice and, even in aged c-Jun OE/OE mice, there is no evidence of tumors. This is consistent with the fact that tumors do not form in injured nerves, although they contain proliferating Schwann cells with strikingly elevated c-Jun. Furthermore, in crushed nerves of c-Jun OE/+ mice, where c-Jun levels are overexpressed sufficiently to accelerate axonal regeneration, myelination and function are restored after injury.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTIn injured and diseased nerves, the transcription factor c-Jun in Schwann cells is elevated and variously implicated in controlling beneficial or adverse functions, including trophic Schwann cell support for neurons, promotion of regeneration, tumorigenesis, and suppression of myelination. To analyze the functions of c-Jun, we have used transgenic mice with graded elevation of Schwann cell c-Jun. We show that high c-Jun elevation is a potential pathogenic mechanism because it inhibits myelination. Conversely, we did not find a link between c-Jun elevation and tumorigenesis. Modest c-Jun elevation, which is beneficial for regeneration, is well tolerated during Schwann cell development and in the adult and is compatible with restoration of myelination and nerve function after injury.
Interlayer Repulsion of Retinal Ganglion Cell Mosaics Regulates Spatial Organization of Functional Maps in the Visual Cortex
Authors: Jang Jaeson , Paik Se-Bum 
Published: December 2017

In higher mammals, orientation tuning of neurons is organized into a quasi-periodic pattern in the primary visual cortex. Our previous model studies suggested that the topography of cortical orientation maps may originate from moiré interference of ON and OFF retinal ganglion cell (RGC) mosaics, but did not account for how the consistent spatial period of maps could be achieved. Here we address this issue with two crucial findings on the development of RGC mosaics: first, homotypic local repulsion between RGCs can develop a long-range hexagonal periodicity. Second, heterotypic interaction restrains the alignment of ON and OFF mosaics, and generates a periodic interference pattern map with consistent spatial frequency. To validate our model, we quantitatively analyzed the RGC mosaics in cat data, and confirmed that the observed retinal mosaics showed evidence of heterotypic interactions, contrary to the previous view that ON and OFF mosaics are developed independently.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTOrientation map is one of the most studied functional maps in the brain, but it has remained unanswered how the consistent spatial periodicity of maps could be developed. In the current study, we address this issue with our developmental model for the retinal origin of orientation map. We showed that local repulsive interactions between retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) can develop a hexagonal periodicity in the RGC mosaics and restrict the alignment between ON and OFF mosaics, so that they generate a periodic pattern with consistent spatial frequency for both the RGC mosaics and the cortical orientation maps. Our results demonstrate that the organization of functional maps in visual cortex, including its structural consistency, may be constrained by a retinal blueprint.
Growth ofCaenorhabditis elegansin Defined Media Is Dependent on Presence of Particulate Matter
Authors: Flavel Matthew R , Mechler Adam , Shahmiri Mahdi , Mathews Elizabeth R , Franks Ashley E , Chen Weisan , Zanker Damien , Xian Bo , Gao Shan , Luo Jing , Tegegne Surafel , Doneski Christian , Jois Markandeya 
Published: December 2017

AbstractCaenorhabditis elegans are typically cultured in a monoxenic medium consisting of live bacteria. However, this introduces a secondary organism to experiments, and restricts the manipulation of the nutritional environment. Due to the intricate link between genes and environment, greater control and understanding of nutritional factors are required to push the C. elegans field into new areas. For decades, attempts to develop a chemically defined, axenic medium as an alternative for culturing C. elegans have been made. However, the mechanism by which the filter feeder C. elegans obtains nutrients from these liquid media is not known. Using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting based approach, we demonstrate growth in all past axenic C. elegans media to be dependent on the presence of previously unknown particles. This particle requirement of C. elegans led to development of liposome-based, nanoparticle culturing that allows full control of nutrients delivered to C. elegans.