bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Degradation and Voltage Response of Lithium‐Ion Battery Based on Impedance and Electromotive Force Measurement
Authors: INUI YOSHITAKA , SAKAMOTO SHINICHI , TANAKA TADASHI 
Published: July 2017

SUMMARYDetailed information on degradation process of lithium‐ion batteries is essential to manage the batteries throughout their lifetime because degradation of the batteries associated with long‐term usage is inevitable. To evaluate degradation degree of the batteries in detail, it is necessary to separately make clear the decrease in output power due to the increase in AC impedance and the decrease in battery capacity caused by the decrease in electromotive force. In this study, therefore, the authors at first propose a new evaluation method of detailed degradation process of lithium‐ion batteries through measurements of AC impedance and electromotive force of degraded batteries. It is made clear that this proposed evaluation method can provide simple but detailed diagnosis of battery degradation degree, indicating usefulness of the proposed method. Next, as a first step for performance simulation of degraded lithium‐ion batteries, the authors make clear that the already developed simulation method of battery transient voltage response, validity of which has been confirmed only for new batteries, is also applicable to degraded batteries.
Diagnosis Criterion of Abnormality of Transformer Winding by Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) ‐ Urgent Diagnosis of Turn Short and Heavy Deformation ‐
Authors: MIYAZAKI SATORU , MIZUTANI YOSHINOBU , TAGUCHI AKIRA , MURAKAMI JUNICHI , TSUJI NAOKAZU , TAKASHIMA MASAHIRO , KATO OSAMU 
Published: July 2017

SUMMARYSoundness confirmation of internal windings of power transformers is important for reliable operation. In urgent situations such as invasions of lightning surge and external short‐circuit faults, it is important to diagnose turn shorts and/or deformation of winding. In this paper, criteria in diagnosing turn shorts or heavy deformations of transformer windings using frequency response analysis (FRA) are proposed. In FRA, measured transfer functions are compared with past measured data in principle. However, past measured data are not necessary in proposed diagnosis criteria. Therefore, proposed criteria are useful in soundness confirmation of transformer winding in the urgent situation.
Association between chronic musculoskeletal pain and executive function in community‐dwelling older adults
Authors: Murata S. , Sawa R. , Nakatsu N. , Saito T. , Sugimoto T. , Nakamura R. , Misu S. , Ueda Y. , Ono R. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundWe examined the association of chronic musculoskeletal pain with executive function in community‐dwelling older adults.MethodThis cross‐sectional study recruited 234 community‐dwelling older adults in Japan (mean age: 72.7, women: 62.8%). Chronic musculoskeletal pain was defined as having moderate or more severe pain lasting ≥ 3 months. Executive function was assessed using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Trail Making Test (TMT) parts A and B, Letter Verbal Fluency Test (LVFT) and Category Verbal Fluency Test (CVFT).ResultsPrevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain was 19% (n = 44). In the univariate analysis, the DSST and CVFT scores were significantly lower in the chronic musculoskeletal pain group than in the control group (DSST: chronic musculoskeletal pain group vs. control group, 40.2 vs. 45.4, respectively, p < 0.05; CVFT: 13.7 vs. 15.6, respectively, p < 0.05), whereas the TMT parts A and B and LVFT scores were not. The multivariate linear regression models adjusted for covariates showed that the chronic musculoskeletal pain group had significantly lower DSST (adjusted β = –0.13, p < 0.05) and CVFT scores (adjusted β = –0.17, p < 0.05) than the control group.ConclusionChronic musculoskeletal pain may interfere with the elements of executive function, processing speed and semantic fluency, in community‐dwelling older adults. The association of chronic musculoskeletal pain with executive function requires further investigation.SignificanceOur results suggest an association between moderate‐severe chronic musculoskeletal pain and impairments of semantic fluency and processing speed in community‐dwelling older adults.
Delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol decreases masticatory muscle sensitization in female rats through peripheral cannabinoid receptor activation
Authors: Wong H. , Hossain S. , Cairns B.E. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundThis study investigated whether intramuscular injection of delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), by acting on peripheral cannabinoid (CB) receptors, could decrease nerve growth factor (NGF)‐induced sensitization in female rat masseter muscle; a model which mimics the symptoms of myofascial temporomandibular disorders.MethodsImmunohistochemistry was used to explore the peripheral expression of cannabinoid receptors in the masseter muscle while behavioural and electrophysiology experiments were employed to assess the functional effects of intramuscular injection of THC.ResultsIt was found that CB1 and CB2 receptors are expressed by trigeminal ganglion neurons that innervate the masseter muscle and also on their peripheral endings. Their expression was greater in TRPV1‐positive ganglion neurons. Three days after intramuscular injection of NGF, ganglion neuron expression of CB1 and CB2, but not TPRV1, was decreased. In behavioural experiments, intramuscular injection (10 μL) of THC (1 mg/mL) attenuated NGF‐induced mechanical sensitization. No change in mechanical threshold was observed in the contralateral masseter muscles and no impairment of motor function was found after intramuscular injections of THC. In anaesthetized rats, the same concentration of THC increased the mechanical thresholds of masseter muscle mechanoreceptors. Co‐administration of the CB1 antagonist AM251 blocked the effect of THC on masseter muscle mechanoreceptors while the CB2 antagonist AM630 had no effect.ConclusionsThese results suggest that reduced inhibitory input from the peripheral cannabinoid system may contribute to NGF‐induced local myofascial sensitization of mechanoreceptors. Peripheral application of THC may counter this effect by activating the CB1 receptors on masseter muscle mechanoreceptors to provide analgesic relief without central side effects.SignificanceOur results suggest THC could reduce masticatory muscle pain through activating peripheral CB1 receptors. Peripheral application of cannabinoids could be a novel approach to provide analgesic relief without central side effects.
Surface isoelectric focusing (sIEF) with carrier ampholyte pH gradient
Authors: Wang Zhichao , Ivory Cornelius , Minerick Adrienne R. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIsoelectric focusing (IEF) is a powerful tool for amphoteric protein separations because of high sensitivity, bio‐compatibility, and reduced complexity compared to chromatography or mechanical separation techniques. IEF miniaturization is attractive because it enables rapid analysis, easier adaptation to point of care applications, and smaller sample demands. However, existing small‐scale IEF tools have not yet been able to analyze single protein spots from array libraries, which are ubiquitous in many pharmaceutical discovery and screening protocols. Thus, we introduce an in situ, novel, miniaturized protein analysis approach that we have termed surface isoelectric focusing (sIEF). Low volume printed sIEF gels can be run at length scales of ∼300 μm, utilize ∼0.9 ng of protein with voltages below 10 V. Further, the sIEF device platform is so simple that it can be integrated with protein library arrays to reduce cost; devices demonstrate reusability above 50 uses. An acrylamide monomer solution containing broad‐range carrier ampholytes was microprinted with a Nano eNablerTM between micropatterned gold electrodes spaced 300 μm apart on a glass slide. The acrylamide gel was polymerized in situ followed by protein loading via printed diffusional exchange. A pH gradient formed via carrier ampholyte stacking when electrodes were energized; the gradient was verified using ratiometric pH‐sensitive FITC/TRITC dyes. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and R‐phycoerythrin (R‐PE) were utilized both as pI markers and to test sIEF performance as a function of electric field strength and ampholyte concentration. Factors hampering sIEF included cathodic drift and pH gradient compression, but were reduced by co‐printing non‐ionic Synperonic® F‐108 surfactant to reduce protein–gel interactions. sIEF gels achieved protein separations in <10 min yielding bands < 50 μm wide with peak capacities of ∼8 and minimum pI differences from 0.12 to 0.14. This new sIEF technique demonstrated comparable focusing at ∼100 times smaller dimensions than any previous IEF. Further, sample volumes required were reduced four orders of magnitude from 20 μL for slab gel IEF to 0.002 μL for sIEF. In summary, sIEF advantages include smaller volumes, reduced power consumption, and microchip surface accessibility to focused bands along with equivalent separation resolutions to prior IEF tools. These attributes position this new technology for rapid, in situ protein library analysis in clinical and pharmaceutical settings.
The preparation of microfluidic architecture with monolithic materials using a dual porous silica structure
Authors: Birch Christopher , Esfahani Mohammad Mehdi Nasr , Shaw Kirsty J , Kemp Cordula , Haswell Stephen James , Dyer Charlotte 
Published: July 2017

AbstractA microfluidic device (MD) has been developed which features a porous silica (PS) monolithic disk synthesized from tetramethyl orthosilicate, incorporated into the device post‐fabrication and sealed in place with a second PS monolithic layer, synthesized from potassium silicate. This dual porous silica (DPS) structure provides a pathway for sample introduction to the MD and offers an ideal platform for solid phase extraction (SPE) methodologies which can be rapidly and efficiently integrated into a chip‐based format. All silica disk manufacture and functionalization was carried out in batch to provide a readily scalable method of production. Application of this design for processing samples was demonstrated using two alternative nucleic acid purification chemistries, yielding polymerase chain reaction amplifiable DNA extracted from 150 μL of human urine in less than 35 min. It is proposed that this DPS system could be further developed for a diverse range of chip‐based SPE applications, providing an interface facilitating sample delivery and enabling SPE on‐chip. Furthermore, to the author's knowledge it is the first reporting of two different types of PS amalgamated in a single MD.
Molybdenum Ditelluride Rendered into an Efficient and Stable Electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by Polymorphic Control
Authors: McGlynn Jessica C. , Cascallana‐Matías Irene , Fraser James P. , Roger Isolda , McAllister James , Miras Haralampos N. , Symes Mark D. , Ganin Alexey Y. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of central importance for the production of H2 from sustainable sources. Currently, Pt is the best electrocatalyst for this transformation, but other materials based on less‐precious elements are now attracting increased attention. Of these alternatives, the molybdenum chalcogenides show particular promise. MoS2 has been explored extensively in this regard, which has highlighted the important role of polymorphism for catalytic activity. However, the conversion into an active polymorph is complex, and the stability of the catalyst under electrochemical conditions is poor. In contrast, MoTe2 has been barely studied as an electrocatalyst for the HER. Herein, we isolate the semiconducting and metallic polymorphs of MoTe2 using an easy solid‐state route and show that interconversion between the two polymorphs of MoTe2 can be achieved without a change in morphology by a simple temperature‐annealing protocol. Although the semiconducting form is a rather poor electrocatalyst for the HER, the metallic 1T′‐MoTe2 polymorph is an efficient and stable electrocatalyst for the HER in 1 m H2SO4. Even in the bulk form, it achieved a low overpotential with a Tafel slope of (78±4) mV dec−1 and full Faradaic efficiency. These findings highlight the importance of polymorphic control in the development of HER catalysts and suggest an efficient route for the discovery of new and improved electrocatalysts.
Bioaccumulation-based silver nanoparticle toxicity in Daphnia magna and maternal impacts
Authors: Pakrashi Sunandan , Tan Cheng , Wang Wen-Xiong 
Published: July 2017

Abstract

In the present study, we tested whether bioaccumulation in specific tissues of Daphnia magna could explain silver nanoparticle (AgNP) toxicity. Daphnids were exposed to different concentrations of well-suspended AgNPs and AgNO3. The accumulations of Ag in the whole body, gut, and nongut tissues, as well as the mortality of daphnids, were recorded over a period of 7 d. Regression analysis showed a higher degree of positive correlation between the concentration of Ag in the nongut tissues than gut tissues and the mortality of daphnids. The results strongly suggested that the toxicity of AgNPs could be better explained in terms of bioaccumulation of AgNPs in the nongut tissues. We further tested the maternal transfer of AgNPs in daphnids into the next generation using radioactive tracers, which were able to detect as low as 1.0 to 3.2% of total accumulated Ag transferred to the neonates. The AgNPs significantly affected the reproduction process during the first 2 broods after exposure, whereas AgNO3 only had significant effects on the first brood. It is possible that AgNPs have longer adverse effects than AgNO3 on the reproduction of Daphnia. The present study identified the sensitive site of AgNP toxic action in daphnids and documented the extent of maternal transfer and the significant influence of AgNPs on the reproduction of daphnids. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:3359–3366. © 2017 SETAC
Astrocytes follow ganglion cell axons to establish an angiogenic template during retinal development
Authors: O'Sullivan Matthew L. , Puñal Vanessa M. , Kerstein Patrick C. , Brzezinski Joseph A. , Glaser Tom , Wright Kevin M. , Kay Jeremy N. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractImmature astrocytes and blood vessels enter the developing mammalian retina at the optic nerve head and migrate peripherally to colonize the entire retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL). Retinal vascularization is arrested in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a major cause of bilateral blindness in children. Despite their importance in normal development and ROP, the factors that control vascularization of the retina remain poorly understood. Because astrocytes form a reticular network that appears to provide a substrate for migrating endothelial cells, they have long been proposed to guide angiogenesis. However, whether astrocytes do in fact impose a spatial pattern on developing vessels remains unclear, and how astrocytes themselves are guided is unknown. Here we explore the cellular mechanisms that ensure complete retinal coverage by astrocytes and blood vessels in mouse. We find that migrating astrocytes associate closely with the axons of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), their neighbors in the RNFL. Analysis of Robo1; Robo2 mutants, in which RGC axon guidance is disrupted, and Math5 (Atoh7) mutants, which lack RGCs, reveals that RGCs provide directional information to migrating astrocytes that sets them on a centrifugal trajectory. Without this guidance, astrocytes exhibit polarization defects, fail to colonize the peripheral retina, and display abnormal fine‐scale spatial patterning. Furthermore, using cell type‐specific chemical–genetic tools to selectively ablate astrocytes, we show that the astrocyte template is required for angiogenesis and vessel patterning. Our results are consistent with a model whereby RGC axons guide formation of an astrocytic network that subsequently directs vessel development.
Minocycline reduces microgliosis and improves subcortical white matter function in a model of cerebral vascular disease
Authors: Manso Yasmina , Holland Philip R. , Kitamura Akihiro , Szymkowiak Stefan , Duncombe Jessica , Hennessy Edel , Searcy James L. , Marangoni Martina , Randall Andrew D. , Brown Jon T. , McColl Barry W. , Horsburgh Karen 
Published: July 2017

AbstractChronic cerebral hypoperfusion is a key mechanism associated with white matter disruption in cerebral vascular disease and dementia. In a mouse model relevant to studying cerebral vascular disease, we have previously shown that cerebral hypoperfusion disrupts axon‐glial integrity and the distribution of key paranodal and internodal proteins in subcortical myelinated axons. This disruption of myelinated axons is accompanied by increased microglia and cognitive decline. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether hypoperfusion impairs the functional integrity of white matter, its relation with axon‐glial integrity and microglial number, and whether by targeting microglia these effects can be improved. We show that in response to increasing durations of hypoperfusion, the conduction velocity of myelinated fibres in the corpus callosum is progressively reduced and that paranodal and internodal axon‐glial integrity is disrupted. The number of microglial cells increases in response to hypoperfusion and correlates with disrupted paranodal and internodal integrity and reduced conduction velocities. Further minocycline, a proposed anti‐inflammatory and microglia inhibitor, restores white matter function related to a reduction in the number of microglia. The study suggests that microglial activation contributes to the structural and functional alterations of myelinated axons induced by cerebral hypoperfusion and that dampening microglia numbers/proliferation should be further investigated as potential therapeutic benefit in cerebral vascular disease.
Validation of brain‐derived signals in near‐infrared spectroscopy through multivoxel analysis of concurrent functional magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Moriguchi Yoshiya , Noda Takamasa , Nakayashiki Kosei , Takata Yohei , Setoyama Shiori , Kawasaki Shingo , Kunisato Yoshihiko , Mishima Kazuo , Nakagome Kazuyuki , Hanakawa Takashi 
Published: July 2017

AbstractNear‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a convenient and safe brain‐mapping tool. However, its inevitable confounding with hemodynamic responses outside the brain, especially in the frontotemporal head, has questioned its validity. Some researchers attempted to validate NIRS signals through concurrent measurements with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), but, counterintuitively, NIRS signals rarely correlate with local fMRI signals in NIRS channels, although both mapping techniques should measure the same hemoglobin concentration. Here, we tested a novel hypothesis that different voxels within the scalp and the brain tissues might have substantially different hemoglobin absorption rates of near‐infrared light, which might differentially contribute to NIRS signals across channels. Therefore, we newly applied a multivariate approach, a partial least squares regression, to explain NIRS signals with multivoxel information from fMRI within the brain and soft tissues in the head. We concurrently obtained fMRI and NIRS signals in 9 healthy human subjects engaging in an n‐back task. The multivariate fMRI model was quite successfully able to predict the NIRS signals by cross‐validation (interclass correlation coefficient = ∼0.85). This result confirmed that fMRI and NIRS surely measure the same hemoglobin concentration. Additional application of Monte‐Carlo permutation tests confirmed that the model surely reflects temporal and spatial hemodynamic information, not random noise. After this thorough validation, we calculated the ratios of the contributions of the brain and soft‐tissue hemodynamics to the NIRS signals, and found that the contribution ratios were quite different across different NIRS channels in reality, presumably because of the structural complexity of the frontotemporal regions. Hum Brain Mapp 38:5274–5291, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impairment due to combined sleep restriction and alcohol is not mitigated by decaying breath alcohol concentration or rest breaks
Authors: Manousakis Jessica E. , Anderson Clare 
Published: July 2017

AbstractObjectiveEpidemiological and laboratory‐based driving simulator studies have shown the detrimental impact of moderate, legal levels of alcohol consumption on driving performance in sleepy drivers. As less is known about the time course of decaying alcohol alongside performance impairment, our study examined impairment and recovery of performance alongside decaying levels of alcohol, with and without sleep restriction.MethodsSixteen healthy young males (18–27 years) underwent 4 counterbalanced conditions: Baseline, Alcohol (breath alcohol concentration [BrAC] < 0.05%), Sleep Restriction (5 hr time in bed), and Combined. Participants consumed alcohol (or control drink) ~4.5 hr post wake (12:30 p.m.). To test on the descending limb of alcohol, attention and vigilance test batteries commenced 1 hr after consumption and were completed every 30 min for 2 hr (1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m.).ResultsThe Combined condition impaired subjective and objective sleepiness. Here, performance deficits peaked 90 min after alcohol consumption or 30 min after the BrAC peak. Performance did not return to baseline levels until 2.5 hr following consumption, despite receiving rest breaks in between testing.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that (a) falling BrACs are an inadequate guide for performance/safety and (b) rest breaks without sleep are not a safety measure for mitigating performance impairment when consuming alcohol following restricted sleep.
The Mincle ligand trehalose dibehenate differentially modulates M1‐like and M2‐like macrophage phenotype and function via Syk signaling
Authors: Kodar Kristel , Harper Jacquie L. , McConnell Melanie J. , Timmer Mattie S. M. , Stocker Bridget L. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIntroductionMacrophages play a significant role in the progression of diseases, such as cancer, making them a target for immune‐modulating agents. Trehalose dibehenate (TDB) is known to activate M1‐like macrophages via Mincle, however, the effect of TDB on M2‐like macrophages, which are found in the tumor microenvironment, has not been studied.MethodsqRT‐PCR, flow cytometry, cytokine ELISA, and Western Blotting were used to study the effect of TDB on GM‐CSF and M‐CSF/IL‐4 derived bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) from C57BL/6 and Mincle−/− mice.ResultsTDB treatment up‐regulated M1 markers over M2 markers by GM‐CSF BMMs, whereas M‐CSF/IL‐4 BMMs down‐regulated marker gene expression overall. TDB treatment resulted in Mincle‐independent down‐regulation of CD11b, CD115, and CD206 expression by GM‐CSF macrophages and CD115 in M‐CSF/IL‐4 macrophages. GM‐CSF BMMs produced of significant levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, IL‐6, TNF‐α), which was Mincle‐dependent and further enhanced by LPS priming. M‐CSF BMMs produced little or no cytokines in response to TDB regardless of LPS priming. Western blot analysis confirmed that the absence of cytokine production was associated with a lack of activation of the Syk kinase pathway.ConclusionThis study illustrates that TDB has the potential to differentially regulate M1‐ and M2‐like macrophages in the tumor environment.