bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accelerated skin wound healing using electrospun nanofibrous mats blended with mussel adhesive protein and polycaprolactone
Authors: Kim Bum Jin , Cheong Hogyun , Choi Eun‐Som , Yun So‐Hee , Choi Bong‐Hyuk , Park Ki‐Soo , Kim Ick Soo , Park Dae‐Hwan , Cha Hyung Joon 
Published: September 2016

AbstractNanofibrous scaffolds have been assessed as one of many promising tissue engineering scaffolds to be utilized for wound‐healing applications. Previously, we reported multi‐functionalized electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds blended with mussel adhesive protein (MAP) and polycaprolactone (PCL), which provide durable mechanical strength, cell‐friendly environments, and a substantial ability to capture diverse bioactive molecules without any surface modifications. In the present work, we applied the blended nanofibrous mats of MAP and PCL for in vivo skin wound healing. The nanofibrous mats showed accelerated regeneration in a rat skin wound‐healing model, which might be attributed to a highly compatible environment for keratinocyte cell growth, an ability to capture inherent growth factors, and an efficient exudate absorption capacity. Thus, this work would suggest that adhesive property of scaffold could be a factor of successful application for wound healing. The MAP‐blended nanofibers could also be potentially exploited for diverse tissue regeneration applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 218–225, 2017.
Effect of amine content and chemistry on long‐term, three‐dimensional hepatocyte spheroid culture atop aminated elastin‐like polypeptide coatings
Authors: Weeks C. Andrew , Aden Bethany , Zhang Junlin , Singh Anisha , Hickey Raymond D. , Kilbey S. Michael , Nyberg Scott L. , Janorkar Amol V. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractCulture conditions that induce hepatic spheroidal aggregates sustain liver cells with metabolism that mimics in vivo hepatocytes. Here we present an array of elastin‐like polypeptide conjugate coating materials (Aminated‐ELPs) that are biocompatible, have spheroid‐forming capacity, can be coated atop traditional culture surfaces, and maintain structural integrity while ensuring adherence of spheroids over long culture period. The Aminated‐ELPs were synthesized either by direct conjugation of ELP and various polyelectrolytes or by conjugating both ELP and various small electrolytes to the reactive polymer poly(2‐vinyl‐4,4‐dimethyl azlactone) (PVDMA). Spheroid morphology, cellular metabolic function, and liver‐specific gene expression over the long‐term, 20‐day culture period were assessed through optical microscopy, measurement of total protein content and albumin and urea production, and quantitative real‐time (qRT) PCR. We found that the amine content of the Aminated‐ELP coatings dictated the initial hepatocyte attachment, but not the subsequent hepatocyte spheroid formation and their continued attachment. A lower amine content was generally found to sustain higher albumin production by the spheroids. Out of the 19 Aminated‐ELP coatings tested, we found that the lysine‐containing substrates comprising ELP‐polylysine or ELP‐PVDMA‐butanediamine proved to consistently culture productive spheroidal hepatocytes. We suggest that the incorporation of lysine functional groups in Aminated‐ELP rendered more biocompatible surfaces, increasing spheroid attachment and leading to increased liver‐specific function. Taken together, the Aminated‐ELP array presented here has the potential to create in vitro hepatocyte culture models that mimic in vivo liver functionality and thus, lead to better understanding of liver pathophysiology and superior screening methods for drug efficacy and toxicity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 377–388, 2017.
Outcome of Long-Term Bisphosphonate Therapy in McCune-Albright Syndrome and Polyostotic Fibrous Dysplasia
Authors: Majoor Bas CJ , Appelman-Dijkstra Natasha M , Fiocco Martha , van de Sande Michiel AJ , Dijkstra PD Sander , Hamdy Neveen AT 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACT

McCune-Albright syndrome (MAS) is a rare bone disorder characterized by fibrous dysplasia (FD), endocrinopathies, and café-au-lait patches. FD patients have been shown to respond favorably to treatment with bisphosphonates, but data are scarce in the more severe polyostotic form (PFD), including MAS, and factors determining treatment outcome are not known, particularly in the long-term. We evaluated the biochemical (bone turnover markers [BTMs]) and clinical (pain reduction) outcome of bisphosphonate therapy in 11 patients with MAS and 30 patients with PFD: median duration of treatment 6 years (range, 2 to 25 years). Prognostic factors for treatment outcome were identified in both groups. Patients with MAS were younger at diagnosis (p = 0.001), all had precocious puberty, and four (36%) had additional growth hormone (GH) excess associated with severe craniofacial FD. Extent of skeletal disease was more severe in MAS compared to PFD. MAS patients had higher serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations (p = 0.005), higher skeletal burden scores (p &lt; 0.001), and more fractures (p = 0.021). MAS patients had also higher levels of FGF-23 (p = 0.008) and higher prevalence of hypophosphatemia (p = 0.013). Twenty-four of 30 PFD patients (80%) demonstrated a complete clinical and biochemical response within a year of starting treatment (p = 0.015), compared to only four of 11 MAS patients (36%). There were no nonresponders. In the whole group, FGF-23, total ALP, P1NP, and CTX positively correlated with skeletal burden scores (all p ≤ 0.001), which was the only significant risk factor for an incomplete response to bisphosphonate therapy (p &lt; 0.01). Our data suggest a beneficial and safe outcome of long-term bisphosphonate therapy in the majority of patients with PFD, although response to therapy was limited by the higher skeletal disease burden in MAS patients. In the PFD/MAS population studied, the only identified prognostic factor that influenced the outcome of bisphosphonate therapy was a high skeletal burden score. © 2016 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Sylow Theory for Quasigroups II: Sectional Action
Authors: Kinyon Michael K. , Smith Jonathan D. H. , Vojtěchovský Petr 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThe first paper in this series initiated a study of Sylow theory for quasigroups and Latin squares based on orbits of the left multiplication group. The current paper is based on so‐called pseudo‐orbits, which are formed by the images of a subset under the set of left translations. The two approaches agree for groups, but differ in the general case. Subsets are described as sectional if the pseudo‐orbit that they generate actually partitions the quasigroup. Sectional subsets are especially well behaved in the newly identified class of conflatable quasigroups, which provides a unified treatment of Moufang, Bol, and conjugacy closure properties. Relationships between sectional and Lagrangean properties of subquasigroups are established. Structural implications of sectional properties in loops are investigated, and divisors of the order of a finite quasigroup are classified according to the behavior of sectional subsets and pseudo‐orbits. An upper bound is given on the size of a pseudo‐orbit. Various interactions of the Sylow theory with design theory are discussed. In particular, it is shown how Sylow theory yields readily computable isomorphism invariants with the resolving power to distinguish each of the 80 Steiner triple systems of order 15.
Creativity as a Factor in Persistence and Academic Achievement of Engineering Undergraduates
Authors: Atwood Sara A. , Pretz Jean E. 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBackgroundTo date, there has been little research to establish how creativity relates to engineering student persistence and academic achievement.PurposeThis study used creativity to predict engineering student persistence and achievement relative to demographics, academic aptitude, and personality. It further evaluated those predictors for consistency throughout the undergraduate engineering program.Design/MethodParticipants were entering first‐year engineering students in 2011 and 2012. Academic aptitude was measured by high school rank and SAT scores. Personality was characterized using the Big Five inventory, which measures the traits of Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness. Creativity was assessed using student artifacts on three tasks and a modified creativity questionnaire. Outcome measures were students' persistence and GPA over four years. Multinomic logistic regression and multivariate regression were used to model the relationship between predictor variables and persistence and achievement.ResultsSAT math, high school rank, and Conscientiousness were predictors of persistence and achievement. Creativity measures did not predict GPA, and creative self‐efficacy was negatively related to engineering student persistence in the major.ConclusionsOur results suggest that creativity is not appropriately taught or rewarded in some engineering curricula, and those engineering students who view themselves as highly creative are less likely to graduate in engineering.
The relationship between polymorphisms of BDNFOS and BDNF genes and heroin addiction in the Han Chinese population
Authors: Jin Tianbo , Zhang Hongxing , Yang Qi , Li Lei , Ouyang Yongri , Yang Min , Wang Fengjiao , Wang Zhenyuan , Zhang Ji , Yuan Dongya 
Published: September 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe number of heroin addicts is increasing in the world. Both environmental and genetic factors both play critical roles in the process of heroin addiction. We aimed to investigate the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in LIN7C, BDNFOS and BDNF genes and drug addiction in the Han Chinese population.MethodsWe conducted a case–control study among 692 cases and 700 healthy controls from Xi'an, China. Eight SNPs were selected and genotyped using MassARRAY technology (Sequenom, San Diego, CA, USA). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by unconditional logistic regression adjusting for age and sex.ResultsUsing the chi‐squared test, we found that rs7481311 (OR =1.275, 95% CI = 1.087–1.497, p = 0.009) and rs11030096 (OR =1.227, 95% CI = 1.049–1.436, p = 0.011) in the BNDFOS were associated with an increased risk of heroin addiction. By contrast, rs988712 located in BDNFOS showed a decreased risk of heroin addiction (OR =0.734, 95% CI = 0.582–0.925, p = 0.003). By genetic model analysis, we found that the ‘T’ allele of rs988712 in BDNFOS had a protective role for heroin addiction in the additive model and dominant model (p < 0.05). By contrast, the allele ‘T’ of rs7481311 in BDNFOS significantly elevated the risk of heroin addiction in the additive model, recessive model and dominant model (p < 0.05). We also found that allele ‘C′ of rs11030096 was associated with an increased risk of addiction in the dominant model and additive model (p < 0.05). Additionally, we found that rs6265, rs11030104 and rs10767664 in BDNF were associated with a decreased risk of heroin addiction (p < 0.05). However, only rs7481311 in BDNFOS remained significant after Bonferroni correction (p < 0.00625).ConclusionsThese results suggest that polymorphisms of BDNFOS play an important role in heroin addiction susceptibility in the Chinese Han population.
‘You have hands, make use of them!’ Child labour in Artisanal and Small‐scale Mining in Tanzania
Authors: Potter Cuz , Lupilya Alexander Constantine 
Published: September 2016

AbstractThis paper examines child labour in artisanal mining through ethnographic research in Tanzania. The poverty hypothesis argues that households send children to work to bolster household income. The sociocultural approach suggests that child mining offers valuable vocational training. This paper builds on a growing literature that complicates these approaches' straightforward claims by illustrating how household fragmentation is generated through the encounter of traditional cultural practices with mining's culture of consumption. This encounter exacerbates household fragmentation, which in turn increases child poverty and labour. These findings suggest that policy interventions should also address these mediating factors rather than poverty per se. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exocrine glands of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Copepoda: Caligidae): Distribution, developmental appearance, and site of secretion
Authors: Øvergård Aina‐Cathrine , Hamre Lars A. , Harasimczuk Ewa , Dalvin Sussie , Nilsen Frank , Grotmol Sindre 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTExocrine glands of blood‐feeding parasitic copepods are believed to be important in host immune response modulation and inhibition of host blood coagulation, but also in the production of substances for integument lubrication and antifouling. In this study, we aimed to characterize the distribution of different types of salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) exocrine glands and their site of secretion. The developmental appearance of each gland type was mapped and genes specifically expressed by glands were identified. Three types of tegumental (teg 1–3) glands and one labial gland type were found. The first glands to appear during development were teg 1 and teg 2 glands. They have ducts extending both dorsally and ventrally suggested to be important in lubricating the integument. Teg 1 glands were found to express two astacin metallopeptidases and a gene with fibronectin II domains, while teg 2 glands express a heme peroxidase. The labial glands were first identified in planktonic copepodids, with reservoirs that allows for storage of glandular products. The last gland type to appear during development was named teg 3 and was not seen before the preadult I stage when the lice become more virulent. Teg 3 glands have ducts ending ventrally at the host‐parasite contact area, and may secrete substances important for the salmon lice virulence. Salmon lice teg 3 and labial glands are thus likely to be especially important in the host‐parasite interaction. Proteins secreted from the salmon louse glands to its salmonid host skin or blood represents a potential interface where the host immune system can meet and elicit effective responses to sea lice antigens. The present study thus represents a fundamental basis for further functional studies and identification of possible vaccine candidates. J. Morphol. 277:1616–1630, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lymphoma and inflammation in the orbit: Diagnostic performance with diffusion‐weighted imaging and dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI
Authors: Sun Bo , Song Liyuan , Wang Xinyan , Li Jing , Xian Junfang , Wang Feifei , Tan Pan 
Published: September 2016

PurposeTo investigate the diagnostic performance of diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and the combination of both in the differential diagnosis of lymphoma and inflammation in the orbit.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and the informed consent requirement was waived. A total of 53 patients underwent preoperative 3T MRI. Parameters of DWI and DCE MRI were evaluated in these 30 patients with orbital lymphoma and 23 patients with orbital inflammation. The diagnostic performance was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.ResultsApparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and parameters derived from DCE MRI of orbital lymphoma and orbital inflammation differed significantly (ADC, Tmax, contrast index [CI], enhancement ratio [ER], and washout ratio [WR]: P < 0.001, P = 0.008, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.005 for reviewer 1, respectively; P < 0.001, P = 0.004, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001 for reviewer 2, respectively). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values of DWI were 76.67%, 100%, and 86.79% for reviewer 1; 70%, 95.65%, and 81.13% for reviewer 2, respectively. The combination of both were 90%, 86.96%, and 88.68% for reviewer 1; 93.33%, 78.26%, and 86.79% for reviewer 2, respectively. The combination of both was significantly superior to DWI for differentiation of orbital lymphoma from orbital inflammation (P = 0.016 for reviewer 1; P = 0.001 for reviewer 2).ConclusionThe combination of DWI and DCE MRI can improve diagnostic performance in differentiating lymphoma from inflammation in the orbit compared with DWI alone.Level of Evidence: 3J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2017;45:1438–1445
Decrease in climatic conditions favouring floods in the south‐east of Belgium over 1959–2010 using the regional climate model MAR
Authors: Wyard Coraline , Scholzen Chloé , Fettweis Xavier , Van Campenhout Jean , François Louis 
Published: September 2016

ABSTRACTThe Ourthe River, in the south‐east of Belgium, has a catchment area of 3500 km2 and is one of the main tributaries of the Meuse River. In the Ourthe, most of the flood events (FE) occur during winter and about 50% of them are due to heavy rainfall events combined with an abrupt melting of the snowpack covering the Ardennes massif during winter. This study aims to determine whether trends in extreme hydroclimatic events generating floods can be detected over the last century in Belgium, where a global warming signal can be observed. Hydroclimatic conditions favourable to floods were reconstructed over 1959–2010 using the regional climate model MAR (‘Modèle Atmosphérique Régional’) forced by the ERA‐Interim/ERA‐40, the ERA‐20C and the NCEP/NCAR‐v1 reanalyses. Extreme run‐off events, which could potentially generate floods, were detected using run‐off caused by precipitation events and snowpack melting from the MAR model. In the validation process, the MAR‐driven temperature, precipitation and snow depth were successfully compared to daily weather data over the period 2008–2014 for 20 stations in Belgium. MAR also showed its ability to detect up to 90% of the hydroclimatic conditions which effectively generated observed floods in the Ourthe River over the period 1974–2010. Conditions favourable to floods in the Ourthe River catchment present a negative trend over the period 1959–2010 as a result of a decrease in snow accumulation and a shortening of the snow season. This trend is expected to accelerate in a warmer climate. However, regarding the impact of the extreme precipitation events evolution on conditions favouring floods, the signal is less clear because the trends depend on the reanalysis used to force the MAR model.
Sulfur‐Based Polymer Composites from Vegetable Oils and Elemental Sulfur: A Sustainable Active Material for Li–S Batteries
Authors: Hoefling Alexander , Lee Young Joo , Theato Patrick 
Published: September 2016

A simple and environmentally friendly method for the preparation of composite cathode materials from cost‐effective waste‐product elemental sulfur and sustainable, nonhazardous vegetable oils is presented. High sulfur contents of up to 80 wt% are achieved. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the composite materials consist of micrometer sized sulfur particles which are embedded in a crosslinked polymeric network. The polymeric network formed upon copolymerization of the fatty acid residues and elemental sulfur is similar to factice. For the first time factice‐like sulfur containing composites are utilized successfully as the active cathode material in Li–S batteries. Upon employment, high initial specific capacities up to 880 mAh g−1, good capacity retention abilities (63% after 100 cycles) as well as high coulombic efficiencies are achieved, suggesting reasonable suppression of polysulfide diffusion as a consequence of the embedment.image
Capillary Nematization of Semiflexible Polymers
Authors: Egorov Sergei A. , Milchev Andrey , Binder Kurt 
Published: September 2016

Semiflexible polymers under good solvent conditions confined by two planar parallel repulsive walls are investigated for a wide range of monomer concentrations and distances between the walls, for a case where persistence length and contour length of the macromolecules are almost equal. Chain conformations and local nematic ordering near the walls are studied by both molecular dynamics methods and density functional theory, putting it in perspective with the recent work where the isotropic phase of semiflexible polymer solutions in the vicinity of a single repulsive wall in semi‐infinite geometry is considered. Profiles of the total density of monomers as well as densities of end‐ and middle‐monomers and also the local orientational order parameter across the slit are computed. For small distances between the walls, the increase of monomer density causes a gradual onset of nematic order without a sharp transition while for large distances between the walls a first‐order “capillary nematization” transition is found at a monomer concentration somewhat smaller than needed for the onset of nematic order in the bulk. A brief comparison with related treatments for other models is made.image
Copolymerization of Ethylene with 1,9‐Decadiene: Part I – Prediction of Average Molecular Weights and Long‐Chain Branching Frequencies
Authors: Brandão Amanda L. T. , Alberton André L. , Pinto José C. , Soares João B. P. 
Published: September 2016

Long chain branches improve the viscoelastic properties of polyolefins and make them easier to process. The frequency of long chain branching in polyethylenes made with coordination catalysts can be substantially increased by copolymerizing ethylene with small amounts of nonconjugated dienes using an adequate catalyst. In this work, the kinetics of copolymerization of ethylene and 1,9‐decadiene is investigated using a constrained geometry catalyst in a solution polymerization semi‐batch reactor, and a novel mathematical model is proposed to describe the resulting molecular weight distributions. A hybrid approach, combining particle swarm optimization, parameter identifiability procedures, and the Gauss–Newton method is applied to estimate the model parameters. The proposed mechanism includes macromonomer reincorporation through pendant double bonds that result from diene incorporation. The predicted long chain branching frequencies are validated by Monte Carlo simulation. Experimental average molecular weights and ethylene feed flow rates are successfully predicted by both methods.
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A Simple and Resource‐efficient Setup for the Computer‐aided Drug Design Laboratory
Authors: Moretti Loris , Sartori Luca 
Published: September 2016

AbstractUndertaking modelling investigations for Computer‐Aided Drug Design (CADD) requires a proper environment. In principle, this could be done on a single computer, but the reality of a drug discovery program requires robustness and high‐throughput computing (HTC) to efficiently support the research. Therefore, a more capable alternative is needed but its implementation has no widespread solution. Here, the realization of such a computing facility is discussed, from general layout to technical details all aspects are covered.